My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Ever since Jiang Jinyan was hospitalized, Shi Nian took over to feed his kitten. She also slept with it and took a bunch of photos together. Shi Nian wondered if he would smile more if she showed it to him.

Wednesday morning was a self study session thus Shi Nian directly took half a day of absence and departed to the hospital, carrying a bag of homemade dishes and broth soup with her. It was still quite early for Jiang Jinyan to have breakfast so it was the perfect time to bring him the food. As she walked into the hospital lobby, Shi Nian\'s lips curled upward as she imagined how Jiang Jinyan would react when he saw her at this hour. Would he be pleasantly surprised or…would he be angry instead?

The elevator brought Shi Nian up and she had just stepped out when Nurse Xia Yu caught sight of her. "Miss Shi!" Surprise, she asked. "So, have you heard of the news too?"

Shi Nian blinked in confusion. "What news?"

"Ah, you haven\'t heard of it?" Nurse Xia frowned. "I thought you know and that\'s why you come here so early in the morning."

Shi Nian felt foreboding sinking down her heart. "What\'s wrong? Did…something happen to Jiang Jinyan?"

"No," Shi Nian was only relieved for a split second before Nurse Xia continued. "For some reason, he wants to be discharged from the hospital today. Aiyah, it\'s so troublesome, his wounds hadn\'t even dried properly yet…"

Shi Nian didn\'t hear what Nurse Xia was grumbling about anymore. Bowing slightly, she dashed toward Jiang Jinyan\'s room and coincidentally overheard him talking to the doctor. 

"...There\'s something important I have to attend."

The doctor showed a half-helpless and half-annoyed expression. "It\'s not a matter of urgency, Mr. Jiang. The problem is, your condition isn\'t suited yet for you to be discharged from the hospital. Moreover, we have just done another operation on your leg and you can\'t put on the artificial leg just yet."

Jiang Jinyan pondered for a while. "Then, if I don\'t put it on, can I be discharged?"

"You—!"

Slight movements from the door attracted the two people\'s attention and they turned to see Shi Nian standing there, her face pale and anxious. The doctor recognized Shi Nian and almost sighed in relief. She smiled more sincerely, "It seems like you have a visitor. I will leave you two to talk alone then. Mr. Jiang, please carefully reconsider my words."

Shi Nian bowed toward the doctor and gingerly walked into the room. 

This was the first time they met again since Shi Nian\'s abrupt confession.

After she got carried away and professed her feelings in a bold manner, Shi Nian hugged him and the two snuggled against each other quietly, none wanted to separate from the warmth and comfort it brought. The wetness on her shoulder made Shi Nian panic. Even if she was given ten times the courage, she still didn\'t dare to look at his face.

Still, just knowing that Jiang Jinyan was crying was enough to break her heart into pieces. Shi Nian racked her brain, trying to divert his attention. "S—Shall I tell you a story?" She blurted out the first thing in her mind and waited nervously for Jiang Jinyan\'s answer.

It wasn\'t until sweat formed on her forehead that she finally heard a soft grunt of approval.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Shi Nian hummed. "Let\'s see, what story should I tell you?" A sudden idea formed in Shi Nian\'s mind. "Do you remember what I talked about last time, something about reincarnation and the cycle of life and death?"

"…what about it?"

Shi Nian sat on his bedside and let his head rest on her shoulder. She stared out of the window, the corner of her lips curled up slightly. "Actually, there\'s a story behind it. Let\'s see… A long, long time ago, there existed a great General, the leader of the troops and the Emperor\'s most precious vessel named Jiang Jinyan." Pausing for a while, Shi Nian added, "His reputation spread beyond the nation. Everytime he stepped onto the battlefield, it was as if the God of War was standing behind him. News of victories came one after another. He protected the nation very well and the people loved him very much."

Jiang Jinyan gave a soft, inaudible chuckle. "So formidable?"

"Yes! He\'s the strongest, handsomest and bravest person ever!" Shi Nian laughed, her fingers raked across his head, stroking there tenderly. "One day, when he was on a mission to wipe out the fugitives, he saved a little girl that was almost beheaded in public. The little girl\'s body was ladened in injuries and her tongue was cut, making her a mute. The Great General took pity on her and offered her shelter. He also gave her a name." She whispered. "…Shi Nian. He gave her the name Shi Nian."

Shi Nian felt Jiang Jinyan\'s breathing on the side of his neck, soft and smooth. She was ready to continue when Jiang Jinyan asked, "Then, what happened to both of them?"

The corner of Shi Nian\'s lips curled upward. A hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "The General taught her literature, taught her how to protect herself, he also taught her how to live her life properly. Although flowers wilted in winter, they would also bloom tenaciously when spring arrived. The General had always been the girl\'s mentor, friend, guardian as well as the person she admired the most."

"And then?"

"And then what?"

"How does the story end?"

Shi Nian hummed vaguely. The lowered eyelashes quivered. "In the end...they stayed together until death separated them, living a life full of happiness and bliss."

"…Shi Nian?" The call brought Shi Nian out of her reverie and she blinked to see Jiang Jinyan staring at her, frowning. "Why are you here at this time? Did you…hear what I was talking about with the doctor?"

The memories from that night dissipated and Shi Nian returned her focus to the matter in hand. She put the bag on the table and nodded. "The nurse in front also told me about it." She gave Jiang Jinyan a perplexed look. "You want to be discharged? Why? Can you…tell me the reason?"

Jiang Jinyan was taken aback. In the next second, the anxiety and irritation in his eyes melted away. "I thought you would be the first one to go against my decision…"

"No, how can I be?" Shi Nian hastily defended herself. "I know that you\'re not such an unreasonable person. If you said that you have an important matter to attend to, then it\'s definitely urgent. But you…" She scanned his unhealthy complexion and the black circles under his eyes, feeling distress and heartache. "Can you tell me? Maybe…Maybe I will be able to help you and you won\'t have to be discharged?"

Jiang Jinyan fell silent for a moment. He quietly reached out a hand toward her.

Shi Nian, albeit confused, still shuffled closer and gingerly put her palm into his hand. In an instant, Jiang Jinyan yanked her closer and hugged her tightly, head buried into the girl\'s stomach.

"J—Jiang Jinyan?!" Shi Nian cried out in surprise.

"Thank you…" He whispered. "However, you can\'t help me this time. I have to do it myself."

Somehow, Shi Nian could sense the tension and unease radiating from him. She patted his back in comfort and tried to plead again. "Then, can I come with you? Please? Jiang Jinyan, I am very, very worried about you… If I have to stay here and wait for you, maybe I will die from worry."

Jiang Jinyan let out a mirthful chuckle. "Die from worry? You—"

A series of knocks interrupted the warm atmosphere surrounding the two. Shi Nian snapped her head up to see a familiar looking man standing outside the door, smiling politely. He wore a dark blue two piece suit, straight, uncrease black pants and polished shoes. His long hair was tied behind his neck and gold rimmed glasses hung on his nose, complimenting his elegant temperament perfectly.

He looked at the scene inside without a change of expression. "Good morning, am I interrupting something?"

Jiang Jinyan loosened his hold and nodded. "No, you come at the right time, Secretary Si."

Only then did Shi Nian remember this person. Wasn\'t he the one who had once given his name card to her? What was his name again? Si Zhening? Shi Nian recalled that he seemed to be Jiang Jinyan\'s father\'s secretary.

"Good morning, Young Master Jiang. I was shocked to receive your call this morning and found you landed in the hospital again." Sighing, Si Zhening swept his gaze over and halted on Shi Nian. "Oh, who might this lady be?"

The second their eyes met, Shi Nian\'s heart skipped a beat.

.

.

.

A/N: oh damn, will Shi Nian finally remember something?! And Jiang Huocheng, how are you now?! （・□・;）

hehehe will Shi Nian\'s storytelling finally jolt Jiang Jinyan\'s memory? Let\'s see....