My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Shi Nian sucked in a shaking breath and tried to enunciate with her lips, "Don't remember."

Xu Binchen realized belatedly that the girl was in no condition to speak. Thus, he went out to get a cup of warm water. Meanwhile, Shi Nian ran her fingers through her hair and found that her body was still trembling so hard and her palms were soaked in sweat.

In this immaculate hospital room, she felt suffocated and the anxiety pressed down on her to the point where she couldn't breathe.

Before she knew it, she had run out of the door and met Xu Binchen who had returned with a cup in his hand. The man frowned. "What's wrong?"

Shi Nian unknowingly heaved a sigh of relief and shook her head.

Seeing her pale face and tear stained cheeks, Xu Binchen felt a rare emotion known as softheartedness. Unbeknownst to him, his tone softened and his previous anger had flown out to space. "Get back in. What are you waiting for?"

Shi Nian hesitated in front of the door.

Xu Binchen didn't say anything for a while then motioned her to come over. Shi Nian obediently trailed behind him until they reached the floor to ceiling window where she stood a while ago. There was a row of benches there and he pointed, "Sit down."

Without any words, Shi Nian sat down and a cup of water was stuffed into her hand. "Drink," he said curtly. The warmth of the plastic cup travelled from her fingers to her whole body and her tremble lessened somewhat.

The rain turned heavier, pounding on the window with a loud pitter patter sound. It was quiet all around, and the two police officers had been dismissed elsewhere, Shi Nian couldn't find them anymore.

Late into the night, there were only the two of them.

Even the nurses in the receptionist area were conversing in a low voice. Shi Nian and Xu Binchen's movement went unnoticed.

This was a non-smoking area, to Xu Binchen's dismay. His fingers itched to smoke, but he bit down on the impulse and spoke up, "Do you feel better?"

Silently, she nodded.

"Really to talk now?"

She drank the warm water sip by sip, slowly nodding.

"Great." Once again, he crouched down and looked her right in the eye. "Remember, whoever it is, he can't get close to you. You're safe here. There's nothing to be afraid of. Okay?"

Shi Nian was surprised at how reliable he sounded. She nodded again with a faint smile on her lips.

Xu Binchen licked his gums and started, this time his tone was a lot softer and lower, it perfectly complemented the rainy night and slightly cold weather. "So, you're triggered by butterflies."

Shi Nian's hands jerked and she almost flung her cup away but Xu Binchen held her hands steadily. His palm was wide, coarse, filled with callouses as well as an unknown sense of security. It was large enough to envelop her two palms."Don't be afraid."

She looked into his eyes and found the calmness and steadiness in it that slowly affected her. Her tense shoulder loosened and she gave a nod.

"Just nod and shake your head if you're not comfortable answering. You're afraid of butterflies."

Shi Nian nodded.

"Why? Did the culprit show something to you related to butterflies?"

Stunned, Shi Nian started to ponder. From start to end, there wasn't any butterfly in her recollection, only the vague sounds of screaming and some blurry images filled with blood. So…why? Why was she so scared of butterflies? What did she often dream of countless butterflies around her? Where did it come from?

Xu Binchen kept his eyes on her and changed his words. "Before, you told me that the culprit asked you not to scream. Where did this happen? Was it during your kidnapping?"

Shi Nian shook her head.

"After kidnapping?" Xu Binchen contemplated. "He locked you in a place?"

Shi Nian nodded.

"With other victims?"

Nod.

"Do you remember them?"

She hesitated and shook her head.

"Then…" He paused. "Do you remember anything about the culprit?"

Shi Nian sucked in a deep breath and flipped Xu Binchen's palm, writing there. [Young. Male. Has a nice voice.] She paused and a piece of image floated in her mind. [Scar! There's a scar on his waist!]

This was a new development. Xu Binchen's eyes brightened but his tone remained even and calming. "What kind of scar? Burn scar? Knife scar? Bullet scar?"

Shi Nian shook her head. [Bite scar. Someone…bit him on his waist. He bled and got angry. Then, he killed that person.]

"What else? Do you remember the culprit's face?"

Shi Nian blinked. [I don't, but…mole. He has a mole.]

***

"Yes, that's right. That's all Butterfly said." Shi Nian stole a few glances toward Xu Binchen who was talking to his phone beside the window with her legs dangling in midair, a cup of newly made hot cocoa in her hand. Of course, it was Xu Binchen who bought it. Who knows where he went to search for it in the middle of the night.

Silence for a while. "Okay, I know, Captain Jin. Sure, I will do it." He hung up and their gazes met in midair.

Shi Nian blew on her hot cocoa and took a sip, her gaze scrutinizing.

Xu Binchen strode toward her and asked, "What are you looking for?"

She looked around to search for her board and found it atop of the table. Without a word, Xu Binchen brought it to her along with her pen which had rolled to the ground. He sat opposite her on the couch. The curtain was drawn in her room and it was dark, only the light from the hallway that poured into the room from the door which was slightly ajar.

The weather forecaster was right. It was one o'clock in the middle of the night, and the rain turned into a heavy downpour. Shi Nian put down her hot cocoa and wrote, [Nothing. It's just…you're a good detective.]

Black lines formed on Xu Binchen's forehead. "Should I say thank you?"

Shi Nian had been immune to his sarcastic words to the point where she was able to return a witty remark. [No, it's okay. I am a magnanimous person.]

Xu Binchen: "…"

Shi Nian blinked innocently. She bowed her head and this time, wrote at a much slower pace. [About today, thank you.]

"Which part? The one where I comforted you or the one where I broke the hospital rules and hid your condition from Doctor Chun?"

True, it was Shi Nian who told him to tell Doctor Chun tomorrow. It had been late into the night, she was not willing to disturb the elderly doctor. But hearing Xu Binchen's words…her lips twitched. [Everything.]

The man waved his hand. "Don't be. I am a magnanimous person."

Shi Nian: "…"

Xu Binchen: "What?"

Surely, she still wasn't Xu Binchen's match.

Seeing her pouting, a fleeting smile crossed Xu Binchen's face and this time, Shi Nian caught it with her eagle eyes. Her eyes widened dramatically and excitement was written in large capital on her forehead.

Xu Binchen frowned and his smile vanished as if it was only an illusion. "What happened?"

[You smiled! You just smiled!] Shi Nian grinned widely. Being able to make uncle detective smile filled her with an unprecedented sense of achievement.

"I did?" he frowned. "Why are you so excited?"

[You never smiled!]

He raised one brow. "And what does it have to do with you?"

Shi Nian's excitement was instantly doused and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It wasn't because she was scared of Xu Binchen, it's just that she didn't want to develop cross eyes. The hot cocoa and high emotional rollercoaster successfully drained her and she yawned.

Shi Nian didn't know whether she imagined it or not but Xu Binchen's voice sounded especially soft and patient, which was really unheard before. "Sleep."

The rain outside formed a curtain to the outside world, enveloping the two of them in a comfortable silence. Shi Nian went to her bed and laid down while Xu Binchen fixed his position on the couch. His long legs hung from the edge uncomfortably.

[Are you sleeping here?]

"Yes. What should I do if you get into another coma again?"

She harrumphed but still, the fear of being alone was squished away by his presence. Shi Nian's eyes quickly became sleepy but as she was ready to enter dreamland, all of a sudden, something clicked in her mind and she got up with a whosh.

"What is it?" Xu Binchen asked, alert.

Shi Nian reached for her board. [Uncle, may I ask you for a favor?]

Xu Binchen really wanted to refuse but seeing her eyes, he changed his words at the last second. "Ask."

[Can you stop by the flower shop and buy some daffodils for me?]

Xu Binchen scowled. First it was dessert and now it was flower. "What do you want it for?"

Angry, she rebuked. [You're visiting a patient! You should bring flowers!]

Xu Binchen: "…fine."

[Remember, it has to be daffodils!]

"Yes, yes," Xu Binchen closed his eyes and rested his arms above his forehead.. "Now, rest."