My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"Sssh, lower your voice!" Fang Xiaoyuan chided softly. "It's so terrifying right? Qian Ke is such a good girl. Aiyah, how can she…" Fang Xiaoyuan shook her head and sighed. "Last year, Uncle Qian had just created a large feast and invited the whole village, saying that his daughter had finally graduated from a good university and instantly received a job offer instantly. Qian Ke came back to fetch Uncle Qian and said that she was going to bring him to the city to live. There were only the two of them remaining, Aunt Qian had died of cancer five years ago, but who could expect that the thing that awaited them in the bustling city was grief and despair?"

Ru Meiqi pursed her lips, her brows tightening.

Fang Xiaoyuan saw that she was listening intently and her gossip soul was triggered. "You can't expect it right? Qian Ke was killed not even two months after they moved there! Her body was chopped to pieces and dumped into the sports field in City S High School! It even got into hot news back then!"

"She was chopped to pieces?" Ru Meiqi asked, incredulous. "Who has such a huge grudge against Qian Ke?"

"Grudge?" Fang Xiaoyuan was confused. "I don't really know, but Qian Ke was such a good girl. Everyone liked her here but maybe…she offended someone in the city?"

"Qian Ke didn't have any enemies here?" Ru Meiqi continued to ask.

"How could she?" Fang Xiaoyuan slapped the countertop and spoke enthusiastically. "I saw Qian Ke grow up with my own eyes. Who has a grudge with who, can I not know it? You can go around and ask casually, they will definitely say that Qian Ke was such a dear and she didn't deserve such a violent death! Damn the murderer, he actually hasn't been caught yet! How many victims has it been? Ten? Twenty? What the hell is the police doing?! They must have been corrupted and secretly buried Qian Ke's case because she was just a countryside girl!"

"I know right?" Ru Meiqi smiled sweetly. "The police is full of incompetent bastards."

Fang Xiaoyuan was startled because of Ru Meiqi's curse that came out of nowhere. A look of surprise and astonishment flashed through her eyes as if she didn't believe that such a soft and petite woman like her could curse like that.

"R—Right." Fang Xiaoyuan laughed dryly and patted Ru Meiqi's shoulder. "Be careful in the city, girl. It's so dangerous nowadays. Look at Uncle Qian. He returned with his daughter's ashes and locked himself at home all day long. He used to be a vigorous fisherman but now, he's just a withered tired old man. His wife and daughter died, leaving him alone." Fang Xiaoyuan shook her head in distress.

Ru Meiqi hummed and took the plastic bag. "Thank you for the chat, Miss Fang. I guess that I should go now."

"Ah? Oh, yes. See you again next time!" Fang Xiaoyuan waved her hand as Ru Meiqi walked out, her mind in chaos.

She didn't know where she walked to, but all of a sudden, she caught sight of a familiar figure. Her eyes lit up. That's right, that was Uncle Qian. The old man was throwing away a bag of trash full of instant noodle cups. As Fang Xiaoyuan said, even though Uncle Qian was only in his fifties, but he had a hunch back, his hair was wholly white and there was an unspeakable gloom in his eyes that couldn't be hidden.

Ru Meiqi walked closer and Uncle Qian noticed her. He reacted intensely in an instant. "Go away!" Snarling, he growled. Have you had enough already?! Go and don't bother me anymore!"

He strode away in large steps but Ru Meiqi ran after him. "Uncle Qian, please, I need to ask you something. It is very beneficial to us. We can catch the culprit faster with you—"

"Shut up!" Uncle Qian stopped and abruptly turned around. The rims of his eyes reddened and the way he looked at Ru Meiqi was as if he was itching to swallow her whole. Ru Meiqi was stunned to find the intense indignation, hatred and repulsion that emanated from him. "Always, it's to catch the culprit, catch the culprit! I have given my statement countless times so go back and ask your colleagues!"

"Uncle Qian…" Ru Meiqi tried to soften her voice. "You saying it yourself is different than reading a printed paper. I beg you. This will be the last time. I swear on my life that I will catch the culprit and bring him to kneel in front of you and your daughter." She put up three fingers to the sky, her expression solemn and earnest.

Ru Meiqi saw that the man started to waver and launched another attack. "Uncle Qian, you know, we have a victim in our protection. She's the same as your daughter, kidnapped by the murderer. But she escaped alive and returned to us."

Uncle Qian was stunned and his red, bloodshot eyes lit up with hope. "R—Really? Then…"

"The investigation is running smoothly and we have other clues. This time, we are sure to catch the murderer. Uncle Qian, I am not saying this to sweet talk you, but the girl is currently in danger. She is only sixteen and upon returning, she turned into a mute and suffered a great blow psychologically. The faster we can catch the culprit, the more we can guarantee her safety. You can't bear for her to suffer the same fate right?"

Uncle Qian grumbled under his breath, hesitated for a while and surrendered. Huffing, he said. "Then, follow me."

"No, don't bother. I will be fast. I just want to ask whether your daughter had ever told you that she experienced any hardship in her job or circle of friends."

"No." Uncle Qian shook his head resolutely. "My Keke was meek and a little too soft for her own good. If she suffered any grievances, she would have told me. She always told me. But this time…" Uncle Qian rubbed his face roughly. "Everyday, she returned home happily saying that she loved her job and her boss was very kind to everyone. Sometimes, she would go out with her colleagues on weekends. Sometimes, they would visit our home and have dinner together. I'm sure that no one—absolutely no one—could ever think of killing her. Is that clear, Miss police officer?" Uncle Qian asked tiredly. His wrinkled face looked like he had just aged ten more years.

That was consistent with the police's report. The culprit had no motive for killing Qian Ke. Ru Meiqi nodded briefly and patted the old man's shoulder. "I'm very sorry for making you recall bad memories. Leave it to me, I will make sure that justice comes to you. Uncle Qian," Ru Meiqi's eyes softened. "You can't eat instant noodles everyday. Cook something healthy, even a bowl of vegetable soup is fine. You can't give up on yourself, not until I bring the murderer to you."

Uncle Qian was stunned, his eyes staring at her in daze. Some time ago, there was also a girl who would be angry if he ate instant noodles for three days straight. She would say, "Dad! Why are you saving money and eating instant noodles again?! Don't worry, our finances aren't that bad. Look, I have got a job! I will support you in the future!"

"You have to be healthy and live a long life, Dad. I want you to stay with me for a long, long time."

Uncle Qian's eyes watered and he buried his head in his palm, weeping silently. The rims of Ru Meiqi's eyes reddened as she hugged the fragile old man and patted his hunched back.

She spent some time comforting Uncle Qian and walked away. Her eyes shone in determination. She pulled up her phone and pressed on the latest recipient in her log call. Not even half a ring later, the call connected. "Meiqi, what's wrong?"

"Renguang." Ru Meiqi's throat rolled and she took a deep breath. "We might have been wrong from the start.. Qian Ke isn't the first victim."