My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Shi Nian had always been an honest and sensible child. Furthermore, this was related to her memory loss thus she readily elaborated her dream to Qiang Fei.

"So, Psychiatrist Yu said that there might be some relation between your dream and memory loss?"

Shi Nian nodded.

Qiang Fei lowered her eyes in thought. "It's okay." She flashed a reassuring smile. "Let Mama help you. There might be some way to contact Auntie Si again. I will let you know if I make it."

Shi Nian instantly felt that a portion of burden had been lifted off her shoulder. As expected, keeping secrets was so hard. She returned Qiang Fei's smile and gifted her with a smooch.

They spent the day leisurely, window shopping, buying stationary for Shi Nian, eating their favorite dessert and finally, Shi Nian had to endure when Qiang Fei treated her as a Barbie doll to play with. "Yes, yes, this miniskirt is so adorable! Niannian will look good in this!"

The boutique staff echoed: "You have a very great sight, Madam! Your daughter will look fabulous in this!"

Shi Nian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. In Qiang Fei's arms, there were already a number of dresses, from the ordinary lacy to the dark gothic, mini skirts, stylish tops, all of those fashionable outfits which were popular among teenage idols.

She looked like she was ready to empty the house's savings which scared Shi Nian out of her wits.

She hurriedly ran to hold Qiang Fei's arms and shook her head, pleading.

"Niannian, this will look good on you. Trust me!" She replied with solemn eyes.

Shi Nian gave a smile that was worse than crying. If she wore that Gothic Lolita dress which consisted of 90% lace and dark embellishments, she would directly be apprehended by the security guards for disrupting peace and deliberately scaring other tenants!

Left with no other choice, Shi Nian picked out the most normal among the masses, a soft, silk lilac dress with flowing hems and clean lines. It suited her taste well, simple yet stylish and elegant. Qiang Fei's eyes lit up. "You should try it on right now!"

Helpless, Shi Nian held the dress as she was pushed into the fitting room.

Shi Nian seldom wore dresses. First, school uniform was mandatory and second, during working hours, it's easier to just put on a pair of casual pants. Where would she find the time to shop and dress?

When Shi Nian went out, everyone's eyes fell upon her. She pulled on the sleeves awkwardly and shot Qiang Fei a pleading glance. Qiang Fei snapped out of her reverie and covered her mouth, gasping. "Oh my god, my daughter is so beautiful!"

The staff: "Yes, yes, it suits her very much!"

"It's just like it was made for her!"

"Madam, your daughter looks just like a fairy!"

Shi Nian: "…" It didn't have to be so exaggerated, right?

Qiang Fei twirled Shi Nian around and scanned her up and down. The more she looked, the more satisfied she was. The dress hugged Shi Nian's thin figure perfectly, accentuated her soft curve and made her look more girlish and delicate. The soft lilac color complemented her fair skin nicely and the jet black hair contrasted sharply yet blended with the palettes, making her stand out of the crowd.

Shi Nian's cheeks turned red. She wanted to change back but was held back by Qiang Fei. "We will take this dress! No need to change, Niannian. Let's walk around just like this!"

Shi Nian: "???"

As expected, she was pulled into another whirlwind of window shopping. It wasn't until evening did Qiang Fei finally let her off. By then, they had already purchased two dresses, one cheongsam for new year, and the birthday gift which Shi Nian didn't receive last year: a make up set.

It was unfortunate that Shi Nian didn't have any interest in painting her face like a work of art.

Dinner was inevitable and they returned to set up a hotpot. "Niannian, can you call Detective Xu and see if he's free to come?" Qiang Fei called out from the kitchen. "We have bothered him so much but never treat him to a meal. It's quite embarrassing."

Shi Nian obediently went to retrieve her phone and sent Xu Binchen a period, a silent protest that she was still sulking due to his unreasonable lecture this morning.

Sadly, her attack rebounded and Xu Binchen sent her the same thing.

[Ten Years]: .

[Xu Binchen]: .

[Ten Years]: …

[Xu Binchen]: Are you itching for a beating?

Shi Nian recalled Xu Binchen's evil claws and didn't dare to mess around anymore.

[Ten Years]: Dinner? We have hotpot here

Xu Binchen replied a few minutes later.

[Xu Binchen]: Busy

[Shi Nian]: …

[Shi Nian]: iunderstandyou.jpg

[Shi Nian]: wink.jpg[1]

[Xu Binchen]: rolleyes.jpg

[Xu Binchen]: Got a new lead. Have to pull an all nighter.

[Xu Binchen]: Say my thanks to Madam Shi

Shi Nian showed the chat to Qiang Fei and in the end, the sumptuous dinner could only be finished by both of them.

Wait.

Shi Nian blinked. Wasn't there someone else on the floor below?! Shi Nian felt that she was a genius, she could also take this chance to check up on him! [Mama! Mama! Can you make a separate portion?]

"Sure, who do you want to share it with?"

Shi Nian decided to thicken her skin. [I made a friend! He lives on the floor below us!]

"Why don't you just invite her[2] here?" Qiang Fei washed the tofu, enoki mushroom, and meat as she replied lightly. Yet that one question almost scared Shi Nian's soul out of her body.

Invite Jiang Jinyan here to her house? Did she want to seek death?!

Thus, after a bout of pestering and excuses, Jiang Jinyan's doorbell rang ten minutes later.

The interior of the room was completely dark with only incandescent light from the streetlamps outside pouring in faintly. Jiang Jinyan curled up on the sofa, his eyelashes quivered violently. When the doorbell rang again, his eyes snapped open and he gasped sharply.

That dream again.

The pale face of Guan Xiaoxiao. Thick smell of blood and disinfectant. Weak breathing. Hot tears. And her parting words. "I am sorry, I am sorry, Jinyan…"

Jiang Jinyan sat up and only then did he realize that the sky had already darkened. He raked his fingers through his damp hair and found that his back was drenched in sweat.

Ding-dong!

Who the hell was it that rang his doorbell? Jiang Huocheng's man? It had only been a few weeks, but they had found him? Then, he had to commend them for their high accuracy and efficiency. He sneered.

Imagining Jiang Huocheng's man behind the door plus his dream of Guan Xiaoxiao just now made Jiang Jinyan irritated to no end. He was just like an explosive that was ready to erupt with a slightest poke. With the expression that was ready to fight them once and for all, he opened the door with a bang.

And found a lost puppy—no, a girl in lilac dress staring up at him with a bright smile.

The smell of hotpot blasted onto his face. He looked down on the large container in her arms and the board that hung around her neck, decorated with all kinds of stickers. [We made too much food, please take it if you'd like! Begging.jpg. Puppyeyes.jpg. Hungryghost.jpg[3]. Happytummy.jpg]

Her whole person was just like an abandoned puppy that was left in a carton box by the side road.

Looking up at you with eyes full of hope that you have no choice but to bring her home.

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[1] wink.jpg like this= ☆⌒(≧▽​° ) haha Shi Nian thought that Xu Binchen was whoring around again

[2] Qiang Fei thought that Shi Nian made a new female friend because 'he' and 'she' in Chinese is the same ne~

[3] Hungry ghost in Shi Nian's board = ԅ(¯﹃¯ԅ)