My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Shi Nian waited until 9 pm to know that Qiang Fei was working overtime again. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence. Qiang Fei often worked until late at night and returned early in the morning. By then, Shi Nian had already been asleep and when she woke up, Qiang Fei was either still sleeping or had gone to work again.

They could maintain this kind of habit of not meeting face to face even though they lived in the same house for more than five days.

After weekend arrived, Qiang Fei would return much earlier than usual and they could finally have dinner together.

Thus, when she received Qiang Fei's message at 6 pm, telling her to eat dinner first, Shi Nian obediently whisked out two eggs and started to cook. She fried one while the other was made into egg soup. It was both fulfilling and delicious as she was the kind of person who could survive on eggs for days without getting bored.

When Shi Nian was in the middle of eating, the doorbell rang. She jolted in surprise, inwardly musing on whether Qiang Fei suddenly clocked off work early and forgotten her keys. With cheeks bulging with rice and eggs, Shi Nian sauntered toward the door and opened it directly, only to meet face to face with Xu Binchen's dark face.

Shi Nian: "…" She almost choked on her rice.

Opening the door wider, she welcomed the man inside. However, Xu Binchen didn't take a step though, which made her look at him in confusion.

"Do you always open the door without making sure who it is?" he asked in a low tone.

Shi Nian blinked. In her former house, even though there was a peephole, people never bothered to use it. Anyway, they were considered the lower class of society anyway. Who would want to rob them? It wasn't worth it.

Realization dawned on her as she put her hands together in apology and closed the door right in front of Xu Binchen's face.

Xu Binchen: "…"

In the next second, the peephole's color turned brighter, proof that there's someone peeking out from behind the door. Xu Binchen waited expressionlessly until Shi Nian opened the door once again. With her cheeks bulging with food and a grain of rice stuck on her lower jaw, she cut an amusing yet adorable figure.

Xu Binchen originally had a belly of lectures, but upon seeing her like that, it all deflated like a balloon.

He summarized his words in concise points. "First, remember to make sure who is beyond the door before opening it. Second, don't casually invite anyone inside, especially men."

Shi Nian swallowed her rice, nodded and gave him a thumbs up.

Xu Binchen's face loosened up as he put one hand inside his pocket. "Are you alone at home?"

Shi Nian nodded.

"Then, the more reason you must not invite me inside, got it?" His dark eyes fixed its stare on her. The more she looked at her clueless and innocent eyes, the more he couldn't put his heart at ease. Thus, he started to preach seriously about the border between men and women and how she ought to understand the degree of propriety.

Shi Nian listened to this impromptu lecture until her head turned dizzy. It wasn't that she was an idiot. But…

But this was Xu Binchen ah.

For Shi Nian, he was equal to half a relative. In the hospital, when she was alone without anyone to visit her, she would always have Xu Binchen by her side. When she was scared, Xu Binchen was there to accompany her. It was him who stayed with her during the hardest period of when she realized that there was a blankness in her memory and when her life was in danger due to the serial killer.

Even though Shi Nian knew that he was just doing his job, it didn't diminish the gratitude she felt toward him.

By now, she had subconsciously treated Xu Binchen as an elder. Well…although she felt that the man wouldn't be pleased about that.

Shi Nian got her board and wrote. [Uncle detective, why have you come? Is something the matter?]

Xu Binchen snorted. "Do you think that I am so free to check up on you?"

Shi Nian: "…" Here it is, the sarcastic Xu Binchen is back. Will it kill him to speak properly?

Seeing her stare at him speechlessly, Xu Binchen continued. "What are you eating? It can't be instant noodles right?"

Shi Nian shook her head. But then, she felt embarrassed for pointing out her lousy fried egg and egg soup. She didn't want Xu Binchen to feel that she was a sloppy person. [Just casually cook some dishes.]

"Is there vegetables and meat in it?"

Shi Nian was once again rendered speechless.

Xu Binchen gave her a glance that said 'I know it'. "You are going to be a third year high schooler soon. Look at you, you're so thin and tiny that people can squish you dead in the train station. Does your mother not give you enough money for food?"

Shi Nian had gotten used to how straightforward Xu Binchen was and knew that he didn't mean anything by it. She pursed her lips and shook her head. [I have enough money.] Just that…looking at the empty space in front of her, she couldn't gather the motivation to cook something more lavish for herself. It just felt…too lonely and miserable.

Xu Binchen didn't bother with her anymore and said. "Come."

Shi Nian lifted her head, confused.

"Come with me to eat. I haven't introduced you yet to our apartment's cafeteria. If you're not willing to cook, you can go down and buy some food. It's quite delicious and healthy." His tone didn't have room for refusal so Shi Nian could only go back, put her dirty plate into the sink and grabbed her jacket.

She looked at Xu Binchen who was leaning outside the door. [Will you eat together with me?]

Xu Binchen gave her a look full of contempt. "Or else? Do you want me to watch you eat?"

She broke into a wide grin and strode toward him.

"Have you got your phone, key and wallet?"

She nodded like chicken pecking rice and showed the thing in her pocket for him to look. Only when Xu Binchen saw that she was fully prepared did he show a satisfied expression. They then rode the elevator to the first floor and went out of the apartment building.

The sky had gotten dark and there were only a few streaks of orange across the horizon. The sun had fully rested in its slumber, replaced by the crescent moon and faint dot of sparkling stars. Cold air blew into her face, slightly dissipating the humid air of summer.

Xu Binchen didn't talk at all so they spent the time walking in silence.

Shi Nian stole some glances at him every few seconds until the man couldn't bear it anymore. "If you have something to say, just say it directly." He suddenly spoke without looking at her.

His cold and rigid side profiles, soft hair blowing against the wind, icy look and thin pursed lips gave off the impression that he was someone difficult to approach. However, Shi Nian felt an unprecedented sense of security whenever Xu Binchen was around.

[Have you gotten off work?]

"No, after dinner, I will go back again."

Shi Nian fell silent for a moment. She knew that Xu Binchen deliberately returned just to accompany her to eat. Honestly, after spending months together in the hospital and then with Qiang Fei's companion these past few days, Shi Nian had no time to feel lonely.

Only now—when Qiang Fei and Xu Binchen returned to work, when she turned her head and didn't find their familiar presence around her, was she finally reminded of how lonely she was before.

Unexpectedly, Xu Binchen noticed it.

She felt…somewhat moved.

[Thank you, uncle detective.] She smiled. Her golden eyes glittered as she looked up at him.

"Save it when you treat me to a meal." He cut her off curtly yet somehow, Shi Nian could catch a glint of awkwardness flashing through his face. She blinked a few times. Was Xu Binchen…shy?

He cleared his throat. "…don't call me 'uncle' again.. I am not as old as you think I am."