My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Early in the morning, Jiang Jinyan discovered that the whole hospital was restless, even the nurse who was charged for changing his bandages was absent minded. She was often in a daze for a split second before snapping out of her thoughts.

Jiang Jinyan patiently waited until she finished wrapping the bandages around his leg before asking, "Is there something wrong with the hospital? I heard many people walking around."

The nurse was caught off guard by his question and hurriedly shook her head, but then, as if thinking of something terrifying, her face turned a bit pale. She looked young, maybe only one or two years older than Jiang Jinyan and her nametag was white, different from ordinary nurses which was green. She must be a probationary or intern nurse, Jiang Jinyan speculated.

As he expected, this young nurse named Ying Ruirui was an intern from City A's University, she just reported here less than one week ago and all of a sudden, the young girl who only had human anatomy and medicine in her mind was faced with a bunch of rowdy and fierce police officers.

Especially their leader. His eyes were so cold and terrifying. When he looked at her, she felt like she was surrounded by a cold blooded python, eager to swallow her whole. Even thinking about it made her fingers tremble.

"J—Jiang…Mr. Jiang," The rims of Ying Ruirui's eyes reddened. "Maybe—Maybe you should change hospitals soon."

Ying Ruirui had good intentions in her heart. She saw that Jiang Jinyan was handsome, docile and pitiful. She had met this man a few times and a kind of compassion bloomed in her heart. It wasn't love, just simply like a good neighbor who wanted to warn the people around her of the recent robbery.

Jiang Jinyan's face didn't change. "Change hospitals? Why?"

She glanced out and saw no one walking around. Then, she leaned forward and whispered fearfully. "I heard that there's a serial killer who sneaked into our hospital at dawn today. Do you know the serial killer who is often reported on TV? It's that person!" Once she started to speak, everything became easier. Jiang Jinyan showed a shock expression and Ying Ruirui's eyes brightened as if finding a friend in misfortune, her gossip soul roaring.

"You don't know right, Mr. Jiang? It's so terrifying. I heard that this morning, the patient in the diagonal room from you was almost killed! The distance between your rooms was so close, what if the serial killer came here instead?! The hospital isn't safe any longer!" Ying Ruirui shuddered. "I really want to finish my internship as soon as possible…"

Jiang Jinyan's face soon returned to its calmness. He spoke calmly with logic, "Don't worry, there are many police officers around. There is also a skilled detective here. It will be safe."

"Are you talking about Detective Xu?" She gasped, horrified. "Well, you're not wrong…between Detective Xu and the serial killer, I don't know which one is more terrifying…"

Jiang Jinyan: "…" What had Detective Xu done to her?

Ying Ruirui didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Her smile was worse than crying. "I braced myself before coming here, thinking that every hospital has its own ghost story but I didn't expect that a real ghost would really come! The nurses are terrified because the police haven't found the culprit yet, they said that he has disappeared without a trace, just like a ghost! What if…What if he returns tonight…?"

Jiang Jinyan just smiled faintly without saying anything.

Nurse Ying was done with Jiang Jinyan's routine checkup and reminded him to be careful once again. Then, she went out and closed the door behind her.

Jiang Jinyan leaned back to the bed and closed his eyes. Behind his eyelids, he saw Shi Nian's tearful and terrified eyes, looking at him like he was her sole savior, her hands grabbing onto him tightly as she pleaded. "I am scared…"

But before it, did she say something else? 'General'?

He shook his head and reached for his phone. The notification for Weib8 had been shut off so there were no annoying noises disturbing him. He opened the interface for WeChat and found the pinned chat column with the profile picture of a girl smiling brightly with a rabbit headband on her head, her eyes crinkled with smiles and there was a small mole on the corner of her eyes which made her look especially lovely.

Jiang Jinyan remembered that it was last year when they went to Disneyland together. At that time, he had just won his first gold medal and Couch Yong granted him three days of vacation.

He had always felt guilty because due to the continuous competitions he joined, Wei Xiameng, his poor girlfriend, would always be thrown to the back of his mind. If he was engrossed in the hardcore practice, he would even forget to check his phone. The high intensity training drained his mind and every time he returned home, he would always flop into the bed and fall asleep.

Thus, he dedicated his mere three days of free time to bring her to the place she always yearned to go.

They were so happy back then. Even though it was tiring and sometimes, he would feel frustrated because of Coach Yong's unreasonable demand. Looking back, he was truly, genuinely happy, it was the kind of happiness which brought him immense satisfaction…

He shook his head and smiled bitterly.

The chat ended last night with Wei Xiameng sending him a kiss sticker with good night. He scrolled up a bit and discovered that the frequency of their chat had been decreasing more and more lately.

Well, it was almost May and Wei Xiameng's architecture department would be especially busy, moreover, she was in her third year and she ought to search for a good internship.

Jiang Jinyan started to type.

[Jiang Jinyan]: Xiaxia, you don't have to come to the hospital in the next few days. Something happened here and it's not safe.

Jiang Jinyan had to wait until it was almost noon for her reply.

[Xiaxia]: Ah? What happened to the hospital?

[Xiaxia]: What about you? Are you okay?

The simple question of 'Are you okay?' managed to bring Jiang Jinyan warmth. His expression eased as he replied.

[Jiang Jinyan]: I am okay. Nothing happened to me.

[Xiaxia]: Is it related to Miss Shi?

[Jiang Jinyan]: Hmm, I am not sure.

The words 'Xiaxia is typing…' appeared on the screen. Jiang Jinyan waited patiently.

[Xiaxia]: Okay then, be careful. Call me if there's anything.

It has been more than a day since Jiang Jinyan became a trending topic in Weib8. He didn't know whether the girl was so busy that she didn't check social media or she was trying to be sensible, but she never asked anything.

[Jiang Jinyan]: What do you think about my post—

He deleted it.

[Jiang Jinyan]: Xiaxia, I am not an athlete anymore. Do you mind—

He deleted it again.

[Jiang Jinyan]: Have you read my post in Weib8—

Delete again.

In the end, he just asked simple questions.

[Jiang Jinyan]: How is your day? Have you found a good company for an internship yet?

[Xiaxia]: I am sooo tired! Even a dog isn't as tired as me! Professor Hong is merciless, he even asked us to do model analysis in the suburb area and it's almost summer soon!

[Xiaxia]: It's so hot that I am getting sunburn! Xiao Bai was complaining that we are going to be tanned sooner or later!

[Xiaxia]: cry.jpg

[Xiaxia]: Don't worry! An acquaintance of mine has recommended me to his internship company so I am safe!

[Xiaxia]: peace.jpg

Jiang Jinyan smiled faintly.

[Jiang Jinyan]: rubhead.jpg

[Jiang Jinyan]: Good luck!

If he wasn't in the hospital, if his leg wasn't disabled, then at this time, maybe he would have been by her side, driving her around everywhere, and as she complained because of the heat, he would go out and wait for her with a cup of iced milk tea, wiping the sweat on her forehead while she smiled sweetly at him.

Alas…

Everything had changed.. He clenched his fist tight, his eyes lowered and the sunshine that poured into the room did nothing to warm the chill around his heart.