My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

The live report was still going on as the commenter introduced Qing Si's past achievement.

"...not only is he a tenacious and commended youth that has gotten his first medal in national championship at the age of seventeen, Qing Si is also the disciple of Yong Jizhe, our veteran high jump athlete who has brought many medals home. The athletics high jump qualification section will begin now! Starting from Italy, we have Mr. Tamberi here." The scene switched to an Italian man with long limbs who was warming up. "The pole was being set with 2.2 meters height…"

At the corner of the screen, Jiang Jinyan could see Coach Yong saying something to Qing Si with pursed lips. Even though he was expressionless and his face didn't give anything away, Jiang Jinyan knew that the man was very displeased right now.

The two talked for a while before Qing Si went to get ready.

Mr.Tamberi gave off a magnificent performance as the starting contestant, giving pressure toward others.

Next, there were contestants from the United States, Australia, Qatar, Canada, New Zealand and Belarus. One by one, the athletes performed with 120% effort, each was more competitive than others. In the end, it was Qing Si's turn.

The reporter turned excited as he blabbered. "It's finally our home country's turn! Let's see…Qing Si is challenging 2.3 meters height?!"

The crowd went into an uproar. The camera focused on Qing Si's determined face. His eyes were bright and he took a deep breath. Even then, one could see the pride and smugness within his gaze. Coach Yong's face was slightly dark, evidently he didn't agree with Qing Si's decision.

Jiang Jinyan frowned.

What the hell was this man thinking about?

2.3 meters…In Jiang Jinyan's memory, the highest record he had ever broken was 2.35 meters. At that time, he was in his best condition. Even he himself couldn't believe that he could do it. Because there was no audience and pressure, he adapted the 'just try and see' mindset.

Jiang Jinyan recalled that Qing Si's best record was 2.26 meters. He...

A horrible speculation suddenly popped up in Jiang Jinyan's mind.

Even at this crucial moment, Qing Si couldn't have thought of defeating Jiang Jinyan's previous record right?

This was only the qualification, there was still the final! Even if he challenged 2.25 meters, he would still be the second best after Mr.Tamberi from Italy who had managed to achieve 2.28 meters. If he was Coach Yong, he too would have smacked Qing Si right on his face.

Qing Si warmed up as the jury pulled up the pole. The spotlights shone brightly and he could see Qing Si's forehead that was soaked in sweat. Qing Si went into position and dashed into a quick run amidst the ear deafening cheers.

However, when Qing Si's feet propelled up from the ground, Jiang Jinyan closed his eyes, couldn't bear to look anymore. His heart almost went to his throat and he didn't realize that he had clenched his fists so tight that his nails almost pierced into his flesh.

"Ah!" The commenter exclaimed. The audience broke into multiple screams, one was louder than the other. "It's a pity but the sole of Qing Si's foot just touched the pole! That's a pity, truly...let us see Qing Si's score."

Jiang Jinyan's throat bobbed as he finally lifted his eyes. In the screen, Qing Si fell into the mattress, his face in a daze as if he hadn't comprehended what was happening yet. The jury scored his performance and shook his head.

The thin pole—due to Qing Si's bump—trembled and one end of it slipped from the post.

Coach Yong rubbed his face and went to grab Qing Si's arm to support him. Qing Si's eyes reddened as he turned to Coach Yong but the latter gave him a glance which made him close his mouth.

Qing Si's stubbornness and arrogance just caused him a lifetime of regret right at a crucial moment.

In the subsequent match, Jiang Jinyan couldn't hear anything more. His mind was buzzing and his chest felt like it was on fire. He couldn't describe what he felt. Just…it was just like a child which yearned so much for a toy, only to see another child play with it and break it with his own hands.

If…If it was him, would he have done better?

He would. He definitely would. Because he was way better than Qing Si.

However, those thoughts just made it all the more painful. It was precisely because he knew that he could do better that the helplessness and hatred within him grew larger and larger.

If it was him, then he would surely break a new record. If it was him, then he would surely make Coach Yong proud. If it was him…how he wished that he could be there.

Jiang Jinyan sank lower into the sofa as he buried his face into the crook of his arms, the tips of his fingers trembling ever so slightly.

The little kitten sensed that something was wrong with him and painstakingly climbed onto his thigh, meow-ing incessantly. The myriad of sounds—the reporter's comments, the audience's cheers, clock ticking, buzz of air conditioner, the kitten's calls and far in a distance, the ring of a phone…all of it magnified in Jiang Jinyan's ears and the veins on his forehead bulged.

In a fit of madness, something inside him snapped and he roared. "SHUT UP!"

The kitten was so shocked that it tumbled down from his thigh and landed on the carpet, its body trembling. Jiang Jinyan pulled his hair, pain searing through his head. "Shut up! Shut up!" Everything was so noisy, it was so noisy that he wanted to destroy it all.

He remembered Qing Si's victorious smirk as he said. "You can no longer be an athlete."

Then, Wei Xiameng's accusation tone as she said. "I don't want you to think that I am heartless, that I will dump my boyfriend after he turned into a waste."

After that, it all spiraled into Jiang Huocheng's heavy sigh on their last phone call. "Jinyan, about your mother…you don't understand. You can do whatever you want then, no need to tell me."

Jiang Jinyan reached out, wanting to smash something but he forgot that he hadn't put on his artificial leg. His balance shifted to the right and he couldn't catch himself. His whole body tumbling down from the sofa and his head bumped into the corner of the low table in the process.

It hurt. It hurt so much. But he didn't know where exactly it hurt.

Just…everything was painful.

He laid on the ground, his eyes staring up blankly to the ceiling. Only the sound of his loud heartbeat and heavy breathing echoed in his ears.

Jiang Jinyan didn't know how long he stayed in that position. The light in the house wasn't turned on and slowly, the room descended into darkness. The sun began to set and the air conditioner blasted out cold air, lowering the temperature in the room further.

Slowly, he calmed down and only then did he hear the muffled sound of his phone ringing.

He propped himself up on his elbow and touched his forehead. It had swelled in such a short moment. He groped around for his phone and squinted his eyes due to the bright screen. As he saw the identity of the caller, his heart sank.

Before the call disconnected, he answered it, his voice raspy and coarse. "Hello, Jiang Jinyan here."

"Mr.Jiang! You have finally picked up!" The anxious female voice travelled loud and clear.

Jiang Jinyan felt his stomach churn and his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach before he even spoke. "Did…something happen to my mother?"

"You have to come here as soon as possible. Madam Jiang—"

In the next few minutes, Jiang Jinyan didn't know how he hung up on the call, put on his artificial leg hastily and grabbed his wallet. The next thing he knew, he was already running down the street.

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A/N: Thank you very much for your golden ticket, Moon_Raven!!! *kiss*