My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

The landlord himself had declared thus the tenants could do nothing but obey. Xu Binchen's room was situated on the twentieth as well as the highest floor. The higher it was, the wider each space of the room would be. From the first floor to the fifteenth, there were five rooms on each floor. Sixteenth to nineteenth, three rooms and the mighty twentieth floor only had two rooms. One of which was Xu Binchen's and the other would be occupied by Qiang Fei and Shi Nian from here on.

It was honestly too luxurious, so to speak and Qiang Fei was ready to give a final struggle but the man's reason had been too logical. "It's safer to live beside a police officer. If something happens, you can directly cross the floor to my door and in case are there any suspicious people, we can identify them easily. There is 360 degree CCTV on my floor, no blind spot. Safety guaranteed. It's much more efficient this way."

…it was the best situation for both Shi Nian and Qiang Fei.

The latter had to go to work by day and if Shi Nian lived alone, she would worry too. But now, because of Xu Binchen, she could put her worries aside for the time being.

Thus, the moving process continued smoothly.

The room was very wide, cozy and beautiful. The floor to ceiling window was placed on one side of the wall which faced the multiple sky high building. If it was nighttime, then the scenery would surely be as beautiful as the sky of twinkling stars flowing through the darkness. There was a hammock and bean bag placed by the window. The room came with a wide 32 inch TV with a long couch and two separate bedrooms with personal bathroom in it.

Shi Nian opened the door to her bedroom to see soft sky blue wallpaper, floor covered in thin carpet, queen size bed with canopy curtain in the middle of the room, dressing table, a huge wardrobe,and with each breath she took, she could smell the warm scent of sunshine in the air.

"Do you like it?" Xu Binchen's voice came from behind her. "If you don't, you may change it as you please."

Shi Nian shook her head furiously.

Xu Binchen might not have seen her former house. Even this bedroom was as wide as her living room plus kitchen. She placed her luggage on the floor and bowed to the man. He had given her a new cell phone, rented them his private plane and now, offered them a place to live.

Even though he was frank, insensitive and annoying, deep down, Xu Binchen was honestly a truly good person.

Xu Binchen waved his hand nonchalantly. "It's your place from now on. I am just across the door if you need me." He fished out his ringing phone from his pocket and gave it a glance. "I will get going now. See you later." As usual, he didn't need to wait for anyone's answer as he directly strode out after greeting Qiang Fei.

Shi Nian snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly pried open her luggage bag and dug into it. Her hands made a ruckus and clothes ended up scattered all across the floor. After finding what she sought for, she dashed out to Qiang Fei's room and gave a few gestures in urgency.

"Where are you going? Hey—come back soon!" Qiang Fei's voice trailed behind her as she waved in reply.

Shi Nian didn't even have any time to wear her shoes as she ran out barefooted and barely caught Xu Binchen in front of the elevator. The man's deep voice echoed within the hallway. "Yes, I am going down soon. We will go together." He raised his brows as he saw Shi Nian. "Okay, later."

He hung up the call and asked. "What's wrong?"

In her scurry, she didn't even bring her phone. She patted around her body helplessly and found nothing that she could use to write. Xu Binchen's frown got deeper with each second. He handed her his phone. "Here, type on it."

Shi Nian directly grasped Xu Binchen's wrist, much to his surprise.

The girl lifted her head to meet his eyes. The sunshine from the window illuminated her golden eyes and dark pupils, like an unpolished precious gem with hidden treasure within, swirling in the form of molten gold. Xu Binchen fell into a trance as Shi Nian closed her eyes for two seconds before opening them again.

"…what?" She repeated the movement and Xu Binchen slowly had an inkling of what she wanted to say. "You want me to close my eyes?"

Shi Nian smiled, her eyes curved into crescents.

His sharp and dark eyes bore down onto her, as if trying to seek her soul through the depth of her smile. He didn't move nor did he comply with her request. Gradually, awkwardness brewed within Shi Nian as she pulled her hand back.

She had thought that he wouldn't possibly concede to her childish request but much to her surprise, the man spat out in a great reluctance and impatience. "Fine." Notwithstanding how he was still frowning as if the whole world owed him a million dollars.

Shi Nian suppressed a smile and quickly took the things out of her pocket.

Xu Binchen only felt her fingers—soft and pliant—did wonder to his wrist. It felt ticklish, like feathers grazing mischievously across his skin. The sensation shot right through his arms, making it slightly numb. Then, something wrapped around his wrist and Shi Nian tapped two times on the back of his palm.

Lucky. If she took a few seconds more, Xu Binchen might not hold on much longer.

His eyes snapped open and he directly lowered his eyes. His whole person became stunned at the sight of a red braid bracelet that circled snugly against his wrist. His brows rose to his forehead as he fiddled with it. "What the heck is this rope?"

Shi Nian almost rolled her eyes up to the sky. She typed on Xu Binchen's phone.

[It's a Buddhist bracelet that I got when I visited the temple with Sister Meiqi before. The monk said that it can bring good luck and prosperity to the wearer and it can also shield you from evil and any dangerous accidents. You're a detective and your work is dangerous…]

Just one glance and Xu Binchen could tell that it was all a bunch of marketing nonsense. If a mere rope could deflect evil, then there would be no crime in this world. But the words which came out from his mouth became, "It's for me?"

Shi Nian beamed and nodded.

He fiddled with it with his fingers and hummed quietly. "…Thank you."

[You're welcome, Uncle detective. Stay safe doing your work.]

Whatever it was that passed through Xu Binchen's heart in that fleeting moment, before he could define it clearly, it was all awashed by the uncle detective that was typed in a huge font right in front of his very eyes. Xu Binchen didn't know why he felt very disgruntled and he almost had the urge to flick her forehead until she cried out in pain.

He huffed in annoyance. "Well, even though I never believe in those superstitious things, I accept your sentiment. Just make sure that you aren't scammed by those glib tongue sellers again in the future."

Shi Nian: "…"

The elevator arrived in a timely manner and Xu Binchen nodded curtly. "See you later." Then, the man took two steps forward with his long legs and pressed on the ground floor number. Shi Nian's puffy cheeks were the last thing he saw before the door fully closed.

His eyes focused on the descending number on the screen in front of him yet his fingers were still pulling and playing on the red bracelet. Then, slowly...a small, gentle smile made its way up to his face.

***

"Say, what do you think he's doing?" Qin Weizhe whined incessantly. "He isn't flirting with any woman inside right? He said that he's coming down but the elevator has been going up and down for ages and he's still nowhere to be found!"

Ru Meiqi shot him a glance. "You think he's like you?"

"M—Me?" He pointed at his own nose, half laughing and half flabbergasted. "I don't flirt with anyone, you know!"

"Sure, sure." She said offhandedly.

"What are you busy with?" He hastily changed the topic as he saw Ru Meiqi didn't even lift her head to see him.

"Giving updates to my captain."

"Captain, Captain," He grumbled quietly with a scoff. "Does he think that he's a babysitter that you ought to update him every minute?"

The corner of Ru Meiqi's lips curled upward as amusement flashed past her eyes. "Nice, babysitter Jin. It suits him very much. Let me tell him in a moment. He will surely offer his immense gratitude to you."

Qin Weizhe: "…" I am not complimenting him!

"Are you done talking?" Xu Binchen approached them, the hem of his coat fluttering along with the wind. His long legs stretched out, its sole covered in shiny, polished shoes. His gait was cool and unhurried as if this ordinary stony road was his red carpet. Qin Weizhe felt like his eyes were going to burn from looking at him.

"Done." Ru Meiqi pocketed her phone. "Let's go back to the headquarters. I need to meet Chief Song."

Qin Weizhe grumbled incessantly in his heart. His sight inadvertently passed through Xu Binchen's hands and saw a new red bracelet that wasn't there before. "Yi[1]? What is that? You aren't wearing that before, are you?"

Sometimes, Xu Binchen really hated how a great observational skill within Qin Weizhe was paired with the dense and insensitive nature of his. He hummed in a low tone and slipped onto the passenger seat. "Let's go. I am hungry."

"Aiyah, don't brush me off!" Qin Weizhe's gossip soul was ignited and even when he started the car and drove out from the apartment district, he still latched on and didn't want to let it go. "Tell me, who gave it to you? Let me guess…is it the little miss, Shi Nian?"

Of course, Xu Binchen pretended to have selective deafness.

"Binchen…Binchen ah~tell me, pleaseeee..."

Ru Meiqi and Xu Binchen: "Shut up!"

"If you dare to whine with that sticky tone again, I will kick you out!" Ru Meiqi scowled threateningly.

Qin Weizhe shut up obediently and didn't dare to let out any beep anymore.

Ru Meiqi huffed in irritation and brushed her fingers through her hair. Her eyes caught sight of the red bracelet around Xu Binchen's wrist and she recalled when Shi Nian bought three of them. One for Xu Binchen, one for Qiang Fei and the other…who was it for?

Ru Meiqi didn't ruminate on it further and only warned him. "She's still a minor. I don't want to put you in jail for this."

Xu Binchen almost rolled his eyes out of its sockets. "What the hell are you two thinking about? I treat her as a little sister." His eyes drawled to the passing blurry scenery out of the window, as fleeting as time which flowed away in a blink of an eye.

"Just as a little sister..." He repeated in a low, inaudible murmur. Whether to himself or the two others in the car, only he knew.

[1] Yi = surprise exclaim

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End of Volume 1 - [Cherry Blossom - Rebirth]