My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"…the serial killer has once again begun to act! Last time, the police sealed off the Recreational Park in City A for the weekend. Main investigator Detective Jin Renguang said that he would give further notice in the future. However, four months has passed and now, there's another victim in the Capital! The modus operandi is still the same, the victim was dismembered and the body was thrown into a public garbage can in the apartment district no. 12. People were protesting what exactly the police had been doing all these times and now, we are here to witness Detective Jin's press conference on 9 am, 24th September that's held in the conference hall of City A's Police Bureau."

The screen changed from the female reporter to the official hall in the police station. Jin Renguang stepped onto the stage clad in a dark blue police uniform which hugged his powerful figure. Blinding lights flashed ceaselessly but the man's expression didn't change a bit.

"Good morning, fellow reporters and everyone behind the screen. My name is Jin Renguang, the main investigator for the serial murder case that has been going on for more than a year." Jin Renguang adjusted the mic and proceeded to solemnly elaborate the 'Mr.Wu'—the victim's case outline. "It has been confirmed that this is another victim of the serial killer we have been chasing for. On behalf of the police, I am ashamed to have made you all disappointed. However, please rest assured, the police have gathered more and more clues that will bring us to the serial killer. During these times, we hope that…"

Jin Renguang's calm, steady tone rang out from the TV amidst the intermittent sound of page turning. A series of knocks resounded through the door and Si Yusheng answered without looking up from the document in front of him. "Yes?"

The door swung open and the bartender in charge of the front lounge came in, bowing slightly. "Manager Si, the man surnamed Xu has come."

"Really?" Si Yusheng closed the document and looked up with a smile. "Alright, I will come out in a moment."

The bartender nodded and closed the door.

Si Yusheng turned off the TV and the room returned to its silence. He walked across his office toward the small mirror that was hung behind the door, inspecting his appearance and practicing a smile. After that, he went out to receive the wealthy Young Master Xu.

"Mr.Xu," he greeted with an impeccable smile. "It has been a long time. I almost wondered if I've done something to offend you."

The man came alone this time, sitting on the sofa with his arms spread out on both sides like a king. In his hand was a glass of red wine, its color tantalizing and amorous against his cold features. "It has nothing to do with you, Manager Si. I have just been playing around too much and got sick because of it."

Because Xu Binchen had just recovered from his cold, his jaw looked sharper and his lips pale. With his languid appearance, he looked exactly like someone with kidney deficiency.

Manager Si laughed lightly. "Then, I am relieved. Shall we?"

Xu Binchen nodded and they entered the hidden corridor again. "How about my little toy, Manager Si?"

"Don't worry. We have kept her safe and sound. Wait a moment, I will call her here for you."

Xu Binchen thought for a while and stopped, earning a questioning smile from Si Yusheng. "Let her go to the room first. I have something to talk to you."

"Oh?" Si Yusheng raised a brow.

Hesitation flickered within Xu Binchen's eyes before it became firm and determined. "Manager Si, what do you think about a cooperation with me?"

Manager Si was surprised for a second and his smile deepened. "I am quite interested to hear that. Let's talk in my office." They turned into another corner and walked along a winding path to circle around the row of rooms. Xu Binchen casually looked around and counted at least 5 CCTVs along the way. "May I ask for the reason, Mr.Xu?"

Xu Binchen shrugged. "You know, my family may not be well known in China because my ancestry originated from abroad."

"Of course. Who hasn't heard of the prestigious Xander Family? Actually, I have heard bits and pieces about you, Mr. Xu. But at that time, I didn't know that you have a Chinese name too. Imagine how surprised I am to see you in China."

This time, it was Xu Binchen who was intrigued. "You know me?"

Si Yusheng chuckled quietly. They stopped in front of a large mahogany room with delicate and complicated patterns carved on it. Xu Binchen noted how Si Yusheng directly pushed the door open without any mechanical lock.

The room was decorated elegantly and it really complimented Si Yusheng's temperament. Mature, elegant and chic. The floor was covered with soft carpet and the wall was painted in light grey. There was a large rectangular table with a swivel chair and a huge shelf on one side of the wall, filled to the brim.

Si Yusheng gestured for Xu Binchen to take a seat on the couch as he poured a glass of wine for both of them. 

"Of course." He continued their conversation. "Aren't you Ash Xander, the son of Mr. Graham Xander, one of the leading engineers in NASA and Madam Ailey Xander, the scientist who discovered the cure for the latest malaria outbreak in Florida?"

Seeing how Si Yusheng could accurately disclose his parents' identity, Xu Binchen couldn't help but laugh. "Surely, Manager Si is very extraordinary. In the entire world, only less than one hundred people know of my existence."

Xu Binchen's parents worked for the government and their projects were mainly confidential. Because of that, his whole family was under regular protection or, crudely said, supervision. Both of his parents were Chinese, but his father had lived his whole life in US and then, met his mother who worked in the institute in the same country through a blind date. Both of them got married and decided to stay in US.

Xander Family was a family of influential figures. It was said that back in the Wei Dynasty, the Xander or Xu Family had produced generations of empresses and imperial consorts. Their wealth and prestige had accumulated so much that when the Xu Family's great grandfather moved to US, he was able to flourish and expand his business network more and more, making him a great big tycoon.

After that, the Xander Family didn't regenerate. Instead, they produced more influential figures; doctors, ministers, engineers. By now, even when the Xander Family was only left with Graham alone, their roots had come so deep that the government had to be wary when it came to them.

When Xu Binchen was born, his parents decided to hide it from the whole world. First, it was because they didn't want any excessive attention on him that could hinder his growth.

Second, it was because Xu Binchen himself was an unwanted child.

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A/N: Finally, Xu Binchen's mysterious identity is revealed! A little bit foreshadowing of their past that's mentioned above: Xu Binchen's family is a family that used to produce empresses and imperial consorts during the Wei Dynasty, the dynasty where Shi Nian and General Jiang Jinyan came from hehe so, there you go their relationship map in the historical era.