My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Qin Weizhe leaned against the wall as he observed the youth who was hugging his knees on the bed. Nan Xukun had stayed in the same position since he woke up. He was clearly very shaken up. It seemed like Ru Meiqi was right. Even though Nan Xukun had no recollection of the crime the serial killer had done, at least he was aware that there's something wrong with him otherwise he wouldn't have reacted so strongly like this.

He also said that he would only talk if he could meet Shi Nian. Perhaps he wanted some answers from her or perhaps he wanted to assure himself that everything was just a nightmare.

Qin Weizhe had kicked Xu Binchen out of the room, especially when the nurse found the latter missing yet again, leaving only him and Nan Xukun. 

It was absolutely quiet with only the rhythmic ticking sound of the clock resounding through the room. Honestly, Qin Weizhe could stay here until the end of the time as long as Nan Xukun was willing to open his mouth but he guessed that the higher-ups might be getting antsy soon, demanding for answers as soon as possible.

"You're still unwilling to talk?" He broke the silence and the sudden voice caused Nan Xukun to flinch, his hold around himself tightened to the point where his knuckles turned white.

The youth buried his head deeper and kept mum stubbornly.

Qin Weizhe sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. Fortunately, in a timely manner, the door slid open, revealing Wang Chengbing, Ru Meiqi and Jin Renguang. But no Shi Nian. 

Nan Xukun's shoulders slumped down, dejected. Then, he pretended as if everyone was nothing but air and returned to hugging himself and curled up as small as possible as if he could disappear this way.

Wang Chengbing took a seat on the corner of the room and yawned. Jin Renguang leaned on the door, seemingly without any intention of joining. It was only Ru Meiqi who walked in. "We have asked Shi Nian whether she was willing to meet you. She said no." She stated.

Nan Xukun lifted his head up. His round eyes trembled in disbelief. "Why?"

Instead of answering, Ru Meiqi pulled out her phone. "I will let you listen to it yourself."

The audio recording started with a slight rustle, then Shi Nian's clear voice rang out, no emotion could be detected from her tone. [I don't know why you want to see me again, but sorry...I can't bring myself to meet you. Not when you have hurt the most important people to me; my mother...and then Jinyan. I can't forgive you for that. I have no idea why you become like this, Nan Xukun, but no matter what it is, I won't justify the crime you have done nor do I have the right to judge you either. However, the fact you have harmed many people is indisputable. If you have something more to say, you may relay it to Sister Meiqi. Maybe then, I will be able to receive it. Farewell…Xiao Chun.]

"No…! NO!" Nan Xukun turned hysterical and scrambled to reach for Ru Meiqi's phone. His eyes bloodshot with unshed tears. "Why? It's not me... it's not me who did that! Xiao Nian…Xiao Nian!"

Jin Renguang pulled Ru Meiqi back at the same time when Qin Weizhe caught Nan Xukun and pressed him back down to the bed. "Don't make unnecessary movement, kiddo."

"Let me go…!" He snarled and thrashed around, eyes staring maliciously at Qin Weizhe's face. "Let me go, you son of a bitch! Who gives you the right to treat me like this?! Don't you know who I am? I can make you get fired as soon as you step out of this place!"

Qin Weizhe smirked. "Oh? Who do you want to rely on? Your father who currently can't even save his own ass?"

Nan Xukun froze. "What did you say…?"

"I forgot to tell you, didn't I?" The man smiled even brighter. "Your father has been charged with human trafficking, drug distribution, homicides and other crimes that can make him be in the first row of death penalty."

Nan Xukun's body shook and his face morphed in disbelief. Until the end, when everyone thought he would break down, the corner of his lips ticked upward until he burst into a fit of cackles instead. "He's caught…? He's finally caught?! You're telling me the truth, right?!"

The reaction was so different from what Qin Weizhe had expected, rendering him at a loss of words for a moment. Ru Meiqi patted his arm and gave him a nod. Sighing, he let go of Nan Xukun who wasn't struggling anymore. Instead, the youth was immersed in the euphoria of his own father being thrown into jail, possibly for the rest of his life. "He's doomed...he finally got his own retribution!"

Ru Meiqi pulled a chair and sat down. "I see that you're finally ready to talk." She smiled. "First, may I ask which Nan Xukun I am talking to?"

Nan Xukun's laugh suddenly halted and he tilted his head blankly. "What do you mean?"

"Let me rephrase my question. Am I talking to Nan Xukun or...is it Xiao Chun?"

"What are you talking about?" Nan Xukun looked at her strangely. Not only his gaze, but his voice also changed in an instant, turning deeper and hoarser. "We're both Xiao Chun. It's the nickname Xiao Nian gave us. Very precious, only Xiao Nian is allowed to call us like that. You...have no right."

Ru Meiqi's heart skipped a beat and she felt as if she was going to be sucked into Nan Xukun's void eyes. So this was how it felt to talk face to face with someone with a dual personality. It was as if Nan Xukun suddenly switched with another person. The experience sent shivers down her spine and goosebumps erupted along her arms. In no time at all, she could feel cold sweat running down her back. 

All of a sudden, a palm gently landed on her shoulder from behind, snapping her out of her thoughts. Warmth travelled through that palm to her entire body and she felt herself relaxing. Even without turning around, she could guess who it was. 

Right. She wasn't alone here. There was nothing to be scared about. 

As if knowing that she had regained her wits, Jin Renguang gave one last squeeze before retracting his arm. 

"Fine." Ru Meiqi nodded. "Then Nan Xukun it is. You seem happy to hear your father, Nan Cheng, being apprehended by the police. Is there a reason why?"

Nan Xukun turned his head away and sneered. "Why should I tell you?"

Ru Meiqi pressed further. "Did he do something to you? Or your mother? Her death has always been dubious and we certainly don't believe that she died of an accident. Nan Xukun, you might be the only person who knows the truth. If you can bring it to light, you will be able to bring justice to your mother. Don't you want to avenge her?"

"Avenge her…" His eyes gradually turned blank as if immersed in a certain memory. "That's right. I have to let him pay for what he did to Mother..."

Ru Meiqi leaned forward and mustered the most persuasive tone she had ever learned. "What has he done to your mother? Tell us, Nan Xukun. We will help you."

Nan Xukun suddenly glared at her, furious. "That annoying person also said that he would be able to help me! But he's of no help at all! He always got in my way!"

"Who is it?" Ru Meiqi guessed. "Si Zhening?"

Hearing that name, Nan Xukun grew even more enraged. "I am going to kill him! He took my prey away from me! He let Shi Nian go and he also locked me up!"

"He locked you up?"

"Yes! If you want to help me, then you should catch that person too! I don't want to see him keep hanging around me. It's so annoying!" His teeth chattered and he bit his nails anxiously. 

The subconscious sign of a body under extreme stress, Ru Meiqi noted.

"Fine, I will help you catch him." She gave a reassuring nod. "Trust me. I will catch whoever has wronged you. So, can you tell me now what Nan Cheng has done to your mother?"

"Mother…" Nan Xukun blinked and his twisted expression mellowed in an instant. His voice also returned to its usual higher pitch, letting Ru Meiqi know that his personality had swapped back again. "Mother often cried. She told me to be careful around Father, because Father isn't someone we can trust. She was right..." He lifted his head and looked at Ru Meiqi with a pair of sorrowful eyes. "I saw it. A car crashed into Mother on the street outside our home. Father was watching everything from behind the curtain. He saw mother bleeding until she was no longer breathing. I was right beside him…" He hugged himself and shivered violently. 

"Then he told me," Nan Xukun mimicked his father's tone and face. Cold glints flashed through his eyes—cruel and ruthless— yet his smile remained gentle and loving nonetheless. It was as if they could vividly imagine how Nan Cheng's expression was. The sight was absolutely bizarre and uncanny. "Watch and learn, child. You have to know how to cut off unnecessary people in your life. This is how you emerge as the victor."

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A/N: Double update! The serial killer's backstory is finally here! Found out how our adorable Xiao Chun can grow up to be such a cruel criminal QAQ

I remember saying that MDG will end in less than ten chapters. I guess I overestimated myself lol please bear with me~