My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Jin Renguang's black jeep stopped on the side of the road. The window was rolled down and the man's arm hung loosely on the sill, white billows of smoke blowing out of it. Two fingers that held the cigarette flicked and the ashes flowed down to the ground outside, the tip of it was still burning red.

He let out rings of smoke from his mouth, creating a hazy mist that covered his sharp features. The car's machine was purring softly and Twenty One Pilots' Cancer was playing softly on the background. The singer's soft voice suffused into the post raining cold air, inducing chills that rose from the sole of his foot to his whole body.

I'm counting down the days to go

This just ain't livin'

And I just hope you know

I will not kiss you

The door to the passenger seat swung open and Ru Meiqi came in, bearing the dampness of the rain and the mild fragrance of her perfume. She raked her fingers through her wet hair and pulled the dashboard open with practical ease, taking the box of tissue in it and started to wipe herself without saying anything.

Jin Renguang sucked in the cigarette for the last time and put it off. He shifted the gear and the car moved to join the stream of traffic beyond. Finally, the song came to an end with a melancholic echo of 'Lips are chapped and faded...'. Jin Renguang changed the channel to the other radio and broke the silence. "Have you eaten?"

Ru Meiqi threw the wet and soiled tissue into the small dustbin and wrinkled her nose. "You're still smoking?"

"What about your car? Where do you park it?"

She replied with another question, "Have you seen my messages?"

"…"

"…"

The both of them fell into a strange silence. Jin Renguang chuckled and reached into the dashboard. That way, he leaned half of his body to her side. The warm temperature and musky scent of tobacco swiveled around her nose, making her lean her body back to avoid it.

Jin Renguang took out a new small mineral water bottle and gave it to her without averting his gaze from the road. "I only smoke occasionally and yes, I have read your messages."

Ru Meiqi received the water and took a few sips. "I let my car be towed away. It will be sent to my apartment directly and no, I haven't eaten."

Jin Renguang guessed so. He hummed and turned the steering wheel.

Ru Meiqi frowned. "This is not the direction of the police station."

"Who said that we will go to the police station?" Jin Renguang raised his brow and entered the nearest McDonalds drive through. He ordered two sets of burgers, cokes and sundaes with familiarity without even asking Ru Meiqi. The whole process took not even five minutes and they waited as the waiter made the order.

Only then did the man turn around and asked. "Your taste hasn't changed right?"

The corner of Ru Meiqi's mouth twitched. "Don't you think that it's too late for you to ask that?" He had even ordered and paid for it, why should he ask for her opinion again?

Jin Renguang's lips curled into a smug grin, one which Ru Meiqi wanted to smack very much. "I know that you will like it."

Then why are you still asking? She rolled her eyes.

Both of them stopped on the side of the road to eat for a while. Even though Jin Renguang often looked slovenly with an air of sluggishness, he ate in a neat and uniform manner, not making any sound, and more importantly, not messy at all. Maybe it was a habit which was formed in the military. Three minutes was all it took for him to devour the deluxe burger and the extra large coke. Meanwhile, Ru Meiqi was still picking at lettuce and tomatoes…

"You don't want it?" Jin Renguang took over the unwanted food and ate it. "Then, give it to me."

This was one of their small habits. Ru Meiqi liked burgers, but she didn't really like lettuce and tomatoes. Thus, it would always be Jin Renguang this omnivore who cleaned it all. It wasn't limited only to burgers, but all kinds of food they had eaten together.

After Ru Meiqi finished the burger, Jin Renguang handed her the sundaes, including his. Without a word, Ru Meiqi started to dominate the two chocolate sundaes. After throwing the trash away, Jin Renguang started the car and only then did he turn to the direction of the police station. "Are you full?" he asked.

"I am. What about you? You can't possibly be full with only that one burger right?"

Jin Renguang raised a brow. "Worried about me?"

Ru Meiqi rolled her eyes and didn't want to pay any attention to him anymore. But she couldn't deny that good food made her mood turn better. She had consumed unpalatable dishes these few days in that small village, it almost caused her to lose two kilograms. Because it was Jin Renguang who satisfied her craving, she was willing to tolerate him for the time being. "How about my analysis? What do you think of it?"

"Skin mask?" The man's silhouette as he drove was steady and masculine. His sharp jaw was defined and his lips were moist and red because of the hot chilly. Soft strands of hair fell onto his forehead, making him look more youthful. But the power and muscle hidden beneath that harmless appearance couldn't fool anyone. "This is quite difficult. Skin masks, especially one that can change appearance, will not be easily obtained in the market. If it is so, then we can track the purchase history down. However, it's just your guess so I need more specialists to come and verify it."

It was better than she thought, Ru Meiqi nodded. Because she was a woman, she often received unfair treatment in work, especially in this line of job that required strength and agility. Oftentimes, she would be denied of her effort, just because of her gender which was unusual. But with Jin Renguang, she had never felt like that.

If there was a task, then he would divide it fairly. If it was risky, then he would brief you of all of the dangerous aspects. He never treated her specially, nor did he ever underestimate every single one of her doubts and guesses. He would even try to speculate together with her even though she knew that this kind of reasoning was totally different from the way he worked.

It truly…made her feel quite comfortable.

Jin Renguang chuckled. "Why do you keep on looking at me like that?" The man's smile deepened with meaning, but his eyes never strayed as he drove diligently like an upright citizen. These two contrasted traits created an itch that could always hook someone's heartstring. "Have you changed your mind about us? Have you realized that you love me the most?"

Us. Not me, not you. But us. A word that forcefully bound them together like they were one entity. Ru Meiqi often marveled on how someone could be so thick skinned. Every single word she said would be converted into obscenity if it passed through his mouth. However, as she grew older and knew more people, she realized that it was only Jin Renguang who could say these kinds of words without batting an eyelash. He was always this unique and he would always be.

Ru Meiqi turned her head away to look out of the window. The scenery outside was blurred, pedestrians walking around, shops and stalls scattered along the street, cars honking intermittently…so many sounds, but somehow, she could only focus on the man's quiet breathing and the flex of his arm as he pulled the gear.

If Ru Meiqi focused her eyes, she could even see his reflection on the glass window. Handsome, chiseled and dignified as always, yet every single thing that came out of his mouth made one wonder how he could live his life safely for thirty four years.

"Are you shy? Are you speechless? Are you wondering how someone hasn't killed me yet?" He continued on his barrage of endless questions.

Ru Meiqi closed her eyes and gnashed her teeth. He made her comfortable but at the same time, he also compelled her to smack his face with high heels. Ru Meiqi knew that she couldn't win against him so the only thing she could do was to stay silent.

The car slowly drove into the Police Bureau. The security guard recognized Jin Renguang's car plate number and instantly saluted. The horizontal pole pulled up and he drove in smoothly. Jin Renguang had just wanted to search for an empty parking lot when his phone rang. He told Ru Meiqi. "Answer it for me."

Ru Meiqi reluctantly turned around. "Where is it?"

"My pocket." He turned the steering wheel and urged. "Faster, it will be cut off soon."

Ru Meiqi had no choice but to pat his thighs and reach her hand deep into his pocket. She tried hard to ignore his little squirms and pulled out the phone. "It's Tang Wei." Then, she answered it and put it on speaker.

"Boss!" Tang Wei's cry came out shrill and sharp.

Jin Renguang frowned. "What's wrong? Wait a moment, I will arrive in a minute with Miss Ru."

For the first time, Tang Wei—Ru Meiqi's fanatical fan—ignored Jin Renguang's last sentence and blurted out. "The IP address of the website has been uncovered and the location is…the location is…"

"What?" Jin Renguang snapped impatiently.

"…It's our own Police Bureau, aaaahh!!!"

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A/N: OMG, thankyou very much Moon_Raven for your precious gift and golden ticket!!! It really made my day QAQ this chappie is dedicated to you~

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