My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

This year, Jiang Jinyan ought to be in his second year of university but because he repeated a grade in junior high, he became a freshman instead. Alas—again—because of the car accident, his sport scholarship and the guaranteed place in the Olympics sport major came to naught and he turned into a wild ghost, drifting around with no destination in mind.

Ever since Jiang Jinyan was small, he had no interest in study. However, he had an unusually sharp mind, able to calculate his steps far ahead and resilient toward challenges. Jiang Huocheng said that he was born to be in business but Jiang Jinyan didn't think so.

He didn't want to mingle with people who put on fake masks as they tried to probe each other's thoughts, pretending to be friends in front only to stab the other on the back. Such a life was very tiring.

Sometimes, he imagined that if he lived in the ancient era, he would be a soldier instead. Brandishing swords around, fighting with skill and technique, making war strategies, away from political struggle…alas, Heaven didn't concede and now, the world was as peaceful as it could be. When Jiang Jinyan said that he wanted to apply to military school, Jiang Huocheng instantly lost his temper and cut off his allowance. He was only thirteen at that time and his life depended on the money Jiang Huocheng gave.

Once he cut it off, Jiang Jinyan was helpless to do anything. He wanted to rebel, but at that time, he was in the period when he especially wished to please Jiang Huocheng, wishing that he could concede to his every wish and request just so that the man could give him more attention. Of course, it was to no avail. Jiang Huocheng was very angry and the way he showed it was to disappear completely.

It truly…traumatized the thirteen years old Jiang Jinyan. And from then on, he never clamored about becoming a soldier ever again.

Thus, entered the rebellious period of a chuuni[1] teenager. He fought, smoked, raced, broke many rules, but Jiang Huocheng never cared. If Jiang Jinyan hurt somebody, then he would pay for the compensation fee. If Jiang Jinyan broke traffic rules, got a police ticket to the point where he had to squat in the prison for a night, then Jiang Huocheng would simply bail him out.

For him, the problem that could be solved with money and authority simply wasn't a problem.

Fortunately, Jiang Jinyan still had some logic not to venture into drugs. After he experienced growth spurt and his height shot up like a bamboo, he repented. More like, he gave up trying to attract Jiang Huocheng's attention and started to live only for himself.

For the first time in his life, Jiang Jinyan found something that he really liked to do.

Running, propelling against the ground to jump high. The sensation of wind that passed through his sleeves and caressed his skin. The split second weightlessness that seemed able to bring all of his worry away. The way the spotlights up ahead pierced his eyes when he turned in the air. It was very addicting and he liked it very much.

But now—even that—even the only thing that he managed to find among countless things, he had to give it up.

Jiang Huocheng said that he had an innate talent in which he had more insight than anybody else. Due to that, he wouldn't have to worry about the future because he had it all planned out. But never in Jiang Jinyan's wildest dream that he would get into a car accident and end up with a disabled leg.

All of those insights crumbled in a single night without anything left.

Without his high jump, Jiang Jinyan realized that…he was very empty inside.

The living room was dim without a light turn on, only the glow from the TV that illuminated Jiang Jinyan's chiseled features. His eyes were glued to the screen that was currently showing the live opening of the Olympic Games. This year, athletics would be one of the opening competitions, third in the list after archery and badminton but both of it had been showing since days before and the main event today was athletics-high jump, gymnastics, fencing and hockey.

"…this year, we have many contestants from China! There is the national gold medalist gymnast, Ruo Lan! For fencing, we have women's individual; Ou Shuyi and men's individual sabre; Sheng Qu and Shao Jinghe! And last but not least, our first time high jump athlete; Qing Si!"

The camera spanned across the athletes whose name was being called out and with each shout out, there would be a loud cheer from the audience. Qing Si's youthful and handsome face appeared, smiling so wide that his rows of teeth could be seen.

"Qing Si! Qing Si! Qing Si!"

Qing Si bowed toward the audience and blew a kiss. The women instantly burst into shrieks and the men whistled loudly. And then, Jiang Jinyan saw her. Carrying a banner like she always had, jumping and cheering together with the crowd of fans, cheeks flushed in excitement with her eyes twinkling like no other.

It was such a familiar sight. But the difference was, the name in the banner was no longer his and the person whom she was cheering on was no longer him.

Jiang Jinyan's fingers twitched and he felt a soft nudge at the bottom of his feet.

He snapped out of his thoughts and lowered his eyes to find a small fluff of grey ball. The ball had a pair of shining golden eyes that stared up at him followed by a soft, almost inaudible mewl. The little feline was fetched only a week ago. But before that, Jiang Jinyan had changed his thoughts countless times before he brought himself to the vet again.

In the end, he still couldn't bear to abandon it.

When Jiang Jinyan met with a soft, round and fat kitten, he almost couldn't believe his eyes. Where was the skinny, dirty and malnourished little thing he picked up a month ago? He pointed at the kitten's head, brows furrowing. "Who is it?"

The assistant almost died of laughter. Jiang Jinyan learned that his name was Guang Weiyuan. "Yes, Mr.Jiang. It is indeed your little kitten. Now that it's well fed and regularly cleaned, its appearance has improved tremendously. British shorthair was beautiful to begin with. It's only when it was abandoned that it looked horrible before."

As if supporting Guang Weiyuan's words, the little kitten with short, plump legs waddled to Jiang Jinyan and rubbed its head against his palm. Then, as Jiang Jinyan's fingers curled in reflex, it opened its mouth and bit his fingers affectionately. Its golden eyes were watery and shining as it peered up at him, as if protesting sadly, "How can you not recognize me?"

…okay, it was his kitten for sure.

Thus, due to the momentary impulse, Jiang Jinyan ended up bringing it home.

However, right up to this moment, the little kitten still hadn't got its name yet. Jiang Jinyan always called it 'little fella' 'stupid shorty' when he was in a good mood and 'hey' 'you' when he was in a bad mood.

He reached out and brought the struggling kitten who was fighting to climb his pants up onto the sofa by his side. His fingers rubbed the scruff of its fluffy neck. It felt very warm and soft to the touch. His rippling emotion calmed down in an instant. "Stupid shorty, what do you want?"

The kitten couldn't withstand the temptation of being caressed and ended up rolling onto its belly. Its four paws reached out and kneaded onto air as it purred softly against Jiang Jinyan's fingers. He spent some time in a daze as he kneaded the kitten's soft and fleshy paw.

"Behave." He said as he returned his gaze toward the screen.

Coincidentally, it was showing the start of the high jump athletics competition. The audience's bursting cheer shot through the roof and in every single frame of the camera, there would be banners with Qing Si's name on it.

[1] Chuuni = chuunibyou. A Japanese term used to describe teens who have grandiose delusions, who desperately want to stand out and think that they have a super power. Typically a middle school syndrome.

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A/N: we are getting to the climax in volume 1! Thank you very much ArcaneMag for the 30 golden tickets!!! I almost can't believe my eyes lol QAQ this chappie is dedicated for you!