My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

The elevator stopped on the nineteenth floor and Jiang Jinyan exited. "Thank you for the ride, Detective Xu." He reluctantly added. "Miss Shi."

Shi Nian beamed brightly and waved him goodbye.

The elevator closed again as Shi Nian hummed a random tune silently.

"Do you like him that much?" He asked the question which Jiang Jinyan had just asked less than twenty four hours ago. Was it that obvious? Shi Nian scratched her nose and sheepishly nodded.

Anger rushed to Xu Binchen's head as the elevator stopped on their floor. He directly strode out and left her behind, annoyed to spend even one more second in that space.

Shi Nian looked at his back, dumbfounded. What was wrong with him again?

She intended to chase after him but he had already pulled out his key and opened the door. Come to think of it, he looked much more unenergetic and silent than usual? Was it because of the all nighters he pulled these past few days?

Shi Nian decided not to provoke him for now in fear that she would be the recipient of his accumulating stress. Well, now she has lost her chance to invite him to dinner…

Proud of how sensible she was, Shi Nian walked to her door, only to hear a loud dull thump behind her as if something heavy had fallen to the ground. Her heart skipped a beat and she turned her head so fast that it was a wonder how she hadn't twisted her neck.

Xu Binchen's door was ajar and no sound came from inside.

Dread crawled up Shi Nian's spine and she dashed to the neighbor. As she expected! Xu Binchen's body laid on the hallway, his foot preventing the door from closing. Shi Nian's heart jumped to her throat as she ran to him!

Her face paled and she shook his shoulder. The man's body temperature travelled from his shirt to her palm and she was filled with immense shock. So hot! Shi Nian put her fingers to Xu Binchen's neck and felt the scalding temperature emanated from him.

His face was ghastly and his lips were chapped. Frown covered his forehead and his eyeballs twitch around under his closely shut eyelids. Just in one glance, it was obvious how uncomfortable he was. How could Shi Nian not notice it?! Guilt flooded her heart…it was certainly because she was focused on Jiang Jinyan, fussing whether he was sick, entirely not noticing that the person beside her was already sick…

The cold sensation from her fingers made Xu Binchen groan, his eyes cracked open a bit.

Shi Nian didn't know what to do and could only run to ask Qiang Fei for help. Yet, before she could get up, Xu Binchen caught her wrist, his skin burning in flame. "Don't go…"

Distressed, Shi Nian tried to struggle to no avail. The more she tried to shake him off, the tighter he held onto her. Shi Nian could only pull out her phone and helplessly typed. [I am just going to ask for help.]

However, the man had already turned half conscious. His pupils were unfocused and were only focused on Shi Nian's face. No matter how much she gestured, Xu Binchen didn't react except for holding onto her.

Shi Nian was so angry that she smacked his shoulder!

To Xu Binchen, it was akin to a silent protest. He turned around and struggled to get up, but still hadn't let go of Shi Nian as if she was going to disappear if he did. Shi Nian could only go with the flow and helped him to lean onto the wall.

Xu Binchen sucked in a breath, cold sweat dotted his forehead.

Shi Nian looked at him anxiously. She waved her hand in front of his face, but Xu Binchen was totally out of it.

His eyes were half lidded and his whole body slumped against the wall. Totally different from the upright, menacing and intimidating Detective Xu Binchen. It was like all of his protective armors were peeled off one by one, grinding his sharp edges and making him soft all over.

Xu Binchen's eyes were heavy, limpid and sorrowful. "Where do you want to go?"

Shi Nian was stunned by the strong emotions in his eyes which she hadn't seen before. But the situation didn't allow her to be muddled for so long. She pointed out, showing her memo to him while mouthing 'Qiang Fei'.

"What are you going out for?" He drawled slowly. "Leaving me?"

How could she ask for help if she didn't leave?!

Shi Nian huffed in anger. She never knew that the sick Xu Binchen was so clingy!

She tried to shake off his hand but it made Xu Binchen grow more alert. "Not allowed."

Shi Nian took a deep breath and patiently put her palm on her forehead then pressed it onto his in return, gesturing the temperature difference between them. Xu Binchen stared at her, his eyes blank.

It's no use! He's not going to respond except for forbidding her to leave!

Shi Nian could only send a message to Qiang Fei, asking for emergency help. But one minute passed and the woman hadn't replied. She tried to call her, only to hear the mechanical female voice saying that the line was busy. In the end, Shi Nian could only wait.

She sat her butt down beside him and glared. I won't leave, satisfied?

Xu Binchen's temperature was getting higher and higher. His perception of the outside world was dulled and his ears were ringing. It was like a truck had just run through his body. It ached so much that he wanted to bang his head against the wall.

Only the softness on his hand. Only that, he couldn't bear to let go.

He used all of his strength to stay awake, resorting to pinch his thigh to wake himself up with pain. It succeeded and he sobered up slightly. The floor was cold, and the chill travelled to his body, making him shiver. The pain on his head was getting unbearable and he couldn't help letting out a muffled groan.

Cold, soft sensation pressed against his forehead and he cracked his eyes open to see Shi Nian's anxious face. So close that she could see his pale face reflected on her eyes. She waved her hand in front of his face, the panicked gesture was so adorable that he chuckled weakly.

"What are you doing?" His throat was scorching and his eyes hurt. But the sight of her made him feel unprecedented relief. The reason why; Xu Binchen was unable to think and he didn't want to analyze deeper either.

She was close, so close within reach…

His head stopped working and his body moved on instinct. His arm moved to encase her shoulder and the sudden weight caught her off guard. She lost her balance and fell straight onto his chest which Xu Binchen received with open arms.

He felt the girl in his arms stiffened but Xu Binchen hugged her tighter.

"Just for a while." He whispered in her ear. "Let me...okay?"

Because he knew—even though his head was muddled and fire scorched his breath—that when the time came, when he sobered up, he wouldn't be able to do this anymore.

So…just for this once.

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A/N: Binchen (´Д⊂ヽ

Let us give some limelight for Xu Binchen okay? Because the male lead has appeared and his screen time is going to end soon...

Just wanna clarify. From the beginning to end, Xu Binchen is a logical person. His logic is so strong that it masks his feelings. He knows his love isn't going to succeed, he knows that Shi Nian likes Jiang Jinyan, that's why, he can only show some of his real feelings when he's sick (he's very irritated in these two chappies just because he's not feeling well). His logic is so strong that it can't defeat his emotions so the only thing he can do is retreat.

This type of person is just going to support them from behind the scene ne~ a very devoting second male lead (︶︹︺) Let's cry for him...

No worry! He's going to have his own happiness but not with Shi Nian~