My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"Come to think of it," Shi Nian said as she snuggled into Jiang Jinyan's embrace, their feets peeking out of the comforter, entangling with each other. "It's like a miracle, isn't it? I almost thought that I was making it all up, especially after I woke up from the coma with selective memory loss. The concept of reincarnation itself seemed too surreal to be true. I have never expected that someone else would also remember and moreover, that person is none other than you…"

The rain outside poured heavily through the night but the space around them was warm with their body heat. Dim incandescent light shone from the lamp on the nightstand, illuminated half of Jiang Jinyan's face as well as highlighted the faint scar on his cheek. Shi Nian stared up at him and couldn't help reaching out to trace the white mark that was put there by Nan Xukun.

Sensing her movement, Jiang Jinyan nuzzled his cheek into her palm and hummed lowly. "What's wrong?" 

"You have a scar here…" Shi Nian caressed his cheek, upset. "And also one on your right thigh...and all of them because of me. In this life, I really don't want to see you bearing any scars again but I guess I am the one who messed it up—"

"Why are you blaming yourself?" He grabbed her hand gently and brought it down to his chest where she could feel their overlapping heartbeat. Soon, she couldn't think of anything more, not with Jiang Jinyan's eyes bounding her in place. "I did it because I want to and I'm proud to carry them on my body."

At his words, Shi Nian chuckled. "Don't tell me, are you still thinking that scars are badge of honor?"

"They are. They're proof that I succeeded in protecting you." He moved to pull Shi Nian closer and dropped a kiss on her temple, inhaling her hair which smelled of the same shampoo as him yet still different for it was tinged with her natural scent, it was particularly gentle and soothing. "So, how did you know that your memory is true and you're not making them up?"

Shi Nian smiled at his blatant effort to change the topic. Regardless of that, she still answered "My mother. As soon as I woke up, I recalled my mother's face; it's identical to my sister's back then. Even their names are the same. Then one by one, I started to encounter more and more familiar people." She counted with her fingers. "Sister Meiqi, you, Sister Liqiu and lastly...Mr. Jia Ming'en. Have you been in contact with him?"

Jiang Jinyan's eyes were lowered, rendering Shi Nian unable to see what was hidden beneath. "No. There has been a bit of internal chaos in his family and it isn't convenient for me to visit him. Moreover, he has truly changed so much...so much that I almost couldn't recognize him if not for the same appearance and name."

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Shi Nian hummed in agreement. Compared to the others whose core and character traits were mostly similar, Jia Ming'en seemed like a totally different person. In the past, he was a noble scholar, a gentleman who preferred to solve problems through words rather than fists, a very gentle person through and through. He had a calm and soothing aura that made people subconsciously let down their guard around him. 

But now...born in the mafia family, he was forced to pursue cruel and ruthless streaks and grew up to be a hardheaded, stern and callous man. Let alone reciting poems or admiring flowers, Jia Ming'en looked like a man who wouldn't even give a damn if anyone burned a forest in front of him. 

Shi Nian seldom heard from him since the serial murder case concluded. The last time she did was when Jia Ming'en started his internship program in another city. They had totally lost all contact after that.

Jiang Jinyan pressed his forefinger on the lines that had gathered between her brows, his smile gentle. "Don't worry too much about him. I'm sure he will be okay." 

"Well, alright...if you say so." Shi Nian blinked as realization dawned on her. "Oh, I'm so sorry for keeping you up with my chatters when you're this tired already! You should get some rest, Jinyan."

"It's really good to talk about whatever with you like this," He mumbled. "I am willing to lose a few more day's sleep if I can hear your voice."

"You…" Shi Nian's cheeks heated up and she buried her face into his shoulder to hide the embarrassment. It was okay if he didn't bring it up but now that he did, Shi Nian became overly conscious with her own voice. "There's nothing good about hearing me talk…"

"Of course there is. I couldn't hear it at all in our past lives so now I must hear it more to make up for two lifetimes." Pulling away, he chortled at her red face. "Why are you so easily embarrassed just with this? We have clearly done much more—"

Shi Nian reached out to cover his mouth, flustered. Against her own will, the memory of the intimacy in the bathtub started to surface one by one, uncontrollably, making her already relaxing body turn stiff all over again. "Don't say anymore…" She closed her eyes, mortified. "Please…"

Jiang Jinyan laughed, his breath soft and ticklish against her palm and Shi Nian resisted the urge to shrink back and hide like an ostrich. He pulled her hand down, making her eyes snap up in unease and doubt. "I have something I want to ask you. I'm serious." He asserted with a firm tone.

Shi Nian gingerly let go, her unwavering trust toward General Jiang Jinyan had started to diminish lately, especially after she knew the man deeper. Like the saying went, once bitten twice shy. Shi Nian had been teased so many times that she had grown wary everytime Jiang Jinyan said to trust him. Fortunately, the man didn't have that kind of intention this time. "Speaking of your mother, have you notified her that you're staying out tonight…with me?" Scratching his nose, Jiang Jinyan added. "Afterall, you're her one and only daughter. If I want to take her daughter's hand one day, I should start by getting her trust." Although it was a bit too late though, considering the things he had done to Shi Nian in the bathroom earlier, Jiang Jinyan brooded.

Shi Nian vehemently resisted the urge to blush at Jiang Jinyan's latter half sentence and answered with the most serious yet casual tone she could muster. "Of course I have. She knows you will take good care of me so she doesn't worry as much." Jiang Jinyan was pricked by shame and guilt again by this sentence. "You don't need to worry about my mother. Recently, she even wishes I could leave her alone." Shi Nian giggled and leaned forward to whisper, her eyes sparkled with mischievousness. "Let me tell you a secret. I think she got a date."

Jiang Jinyan blinked in surprise. "A...date?"

"Uh-huh. I saw them a few times before. He's the restaurant owner that my mother frequently visited. When she works overtime, that man will send her home. He looks like a nice gentleman. She hasn't told me anything though so you must keep it a secret."

Jiang Jinyan intently searched her eyes to find not even a speck of lie or reluctance. Carefully, he asked. "Are you really okay with that? I mean...with the prospect of your mother remarrying?" 

He tried to think in Shi Nian's shoes. If one day he found Jiang Huocheng with another woman by his side… Yep, impossible. He shook his head to eliminate the thought. In the first place, he couldn't even imagine another person standing beside his father. That old man looked like he was fated to be alone forever.

"Why should I not be okay?" Shi Nian said in a matter-of-fact tone. "My birth father died before I was born so it's only me and my mother in my family. She has worked so hard to raise me all alone that sometimes I feel really guilty to let her carry the burden all by herself. Moreover, there's also the problem of me and...the serial killer, it has been really hard for her during that time. Truth to be told, I feel like I haven't been a good daughter at all." Her tone became downcast and dejected. Jiang Jinyan was ready to comfort her a bit when she suddenly perked up, the cloudy haze dispersed from her eyes in an instant. "That's why I am really happy to know that she has found someone she can rely on." She beamed; a genuinely happy smile that made her golden eyes glowed even more, it was so endearing.

"Hmm." The corner of his lips curled along with her smile. "I understand. Now that we're talking about it, Shi Nian…"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to…" Hesitation flickered in his eyes; one that she seldom saw in Jiang Jinyan. "...move in with me?"

Shi Nian blinked, then blinked…

...and blinked again. The words registered in her mind yet she couldn't seem to put the meaning together. "What…?"

"You don't hear me wrong." He bumped his forehead against hers gently, his voice softened even more. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Shi Nian. I want to wake up everyday to your face and bid you goodnight before sleeping. I want to go home everyday knowing that you will be there to welcome me with a smile. I don't wish to part from you ever again; not for this lifetime and the lifetimes after that." Wiping the corner of her teary eyes, he proposed again. This time, a hint of tremble slipped into his voice, showing his nervousness and anticipation at her answer. "Will you grant me this request of mine?"

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A/N: This is the end of Jiang Jinyan and Shi Nian's story. Author can't bear to write their snusnu scene *blush* so I will leave it to your own imagination. After they moved in together, they will soon get engaged and married :)

I'm really thankful for all of your requests and I apologize if I can't write all of them down.

Last but not least, huge appreciation for Arcane, totmozi, Vidya and everyone else for your golden tickets! Thank youu and I love you all *kiss*