My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Jiang Jinyan's visit was always short, only spanning around twenty minutes to half an hour. In the end, he bowed politely and bid his farewell, saying that he would come and visit again later. Guan Xiaoxiao waved happily. "If you come again later, please bring Huocheng with you, alright?"

Jiang Jinyan smiled mildly but didn't promise anything.

He walked out of the sanatorium toward the main road. Pedestrians were crowding the street and the road was filled with cars honking intermittently. Exhaust fumes billowed up, mixing with the air, making the rowdy atmosphere seem a bit suffocating. The boisterous chatter and laughter around him contrasted as to how he stood alone.

In the middle of the lively street, his back looked particularly lonely. Just like the seed of dandelion which flew wherever the wind brought it, not knowing its destination, and not having any root to return to either.

With the mindset of 'why should I go home if there's no one waiting for me there', Jiang Jinyan started to walk absentmindedly, his mind empty. The billboard on the highest building was showing the advertisement of a newest smart watch produced by Jiang Corporation and Jiang Jinyan could hear the conversation around him.

"It's finally out! The newest fifth edition smart watch! Damn it, it actually came with a limited edition series!"

"Haven't you asked your father to buy it for you?"

"Of course, but my dad told me that I have to get into the top 100 for this semester's grade if I want it."

His friends all laughed at him in schadenfreude.

"Jiang Corp is too awesome. Isn't it just last month that they launched the first underwater amusement park?"

"Awesome, I really can't think of what CEO Jiang's brain is made of. He must be very rich ah!"

"Ah, I really wish to be his son! Then, I can play and laze around all day! Of course, I can also be the first person to get the sample of the smart watch!"

Jiang Jinyan walked through them, the sun burning onto his head. Wishing to be his father's son? He scoffed softly. It ought to be the greatest joke he had ever heard.

Summer came in full swing and everywhere was full of people on vacation.

He was like a ghost that drifted around without destination. Sweat soaked his skin and his shirt became damp in no time at all. The heat caused his head to smoke and the strands of hair stuck to his nape. Jiang Jinyan walked and walked until he felt a dull ache on his right knee.

He snapped out of his stupor and realized that he had no idea where he was right now. His feet had brought him up to a high end area where luxury brand shops lined up along the street. Even the floor was covered with marbles and the streetlamp was antique as if he had entered a totally new world.

Because of the expensive goods, not many people were here. Jiang Jinyan tried to walk normally but his leg was getting numb. He gritted his teeth and limped to the nearest bench, disregarding the strange looks that people gave him.

After plopping his butt down, he straightened his legs and let out a sigh in relief. It turned out that he had overestimated himself. He had just walked for less than two kilometers but his leg had started to give up. Compared to the past, let alone two kilometers, he could even run five kilometers without breaking out in sweat.

He gripped his aching knee and felt the hard material under it.

Jiang Jinyan's head buzzed and there were many things swirling in his mind. His life before the accident, Guan Xiaoxiao's cries, Jiang Huocheng's cold back as he walked away and the continuous unanswered calls and then, Wei Xiameng's smiling face as she looked up at Qing Si affectionately.

He didn't know what he was thinking as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The dull, ringing tone echoed in his ears. Up until the call was almost cut off, someone finally picked it up.

"…Dad?"

A slightly awkward and accented voice answered. "Young master, this is Deng Chuqian. Sir is in the meeting right now and left his phone with me. Do you have something you'd like me to pass to him?"

Deng Chuqian. Jiang Jinyan had very little impression of him. He was one of his father's many assistants. Si Zhening was tasked to hold the fort in City A while Deng Chuqian followed Jiang Huocheng as he flew everywhere. "Uncle Qian." Jiang Jinyan greeted after a while. "My father, he…is he very busy?"

"Yes, the meeting has been going on since nine. It is estimated that it will conclude in one more hour. But after it, Sir still has another appointment to attend to. Is something the matter, young master?"

Jiang Jinyan pursed his lips. "Can you tell him to call me back later?"

"Of course. Of course, I will tell him that. Are you sure that there's nothing urgent?"

"Yes." He fell silent and decided to bite the bullet. "Tell him that my mother has been looking for him."

Deng Chuqian had never seen a woman beside Jiang Huocheng before so he was slightly stunned. He thought that the madam was no more so he didn't dare to touch Jiang Huocheng's bottom line. His tone was airy and light as he promised, "Sure, I will tell Sir to call you and Madam as soon as he's finished with the meeting."

They exchanged brief pleasantries before hanging up.

The sun was still boiling up ahead but fortunately, the bench where Jiang Jinyan sat was shaded by the roof. He had long legs, good body proportions, exceeding temperament and his face was covered in a mask, thus people kept on giving him glances.

Two girls stood in the distance whispering. Upon seeing that Jiang Jinyan was finished with his call, they pushed each other and finally decided to step forward together. Giggling, their voices soft and a bit coquettish as they asked. "Handsome, can we exchange contact numbers?"

Jiang Jinyan looked up from his phone, his eyes frozen in a deep chill like a pair of unthawed pools. No light was reflected there, making it look more mysterious and terrifying.

The girls were stunned and they stuttered, "Um—"

Jiang Jinyan didn't pay them any attention, he got up and left.

The girls were dumbfounded. Heat crept up their cheeks from anger and humiliation as they stomped their feet. "What the hell? So arrogant!"

"Hmph! Leave him alone, shall we? We're just a lil bit curious. Seems like he's not so great. Oh damn, look at how he walks. Is he lame?"

"Lame…pfft. We have wasted our time here. Let's go!"

Jiang Jinyan endured the discomfort on his legs and tried to walk normally but the throbbing ache compelled him to shift the pressure to his other leg and he couldn't help limping.. It was like his heart was blazed with flame, scorchingly hot but his limbs were heartrendingly cold.