My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"Let's go, let's go! To the newest BBQ place, how about it?" Mo Ling grabbed her backpack and skipped around. "It will be a welcoming ceremony for Shi Nian!"

Chen Jiawei gave her a glance. "How much practice paper have you finished?"

Hearing that question, Mo Ling's enthusiasm dampened in an instant. "Why are you talking about that? We are already off school right now…"

Students went out of the class in one or two. Shi Nian had quite successfully integrated into the class, at least she knew two thirds of her classmates' names. Everyone was very nice and welcoming except for some who couldn't afford to care. Afterall, they were already in the third year, it's the time to improve themselves and they had no time to care about other's business.

Shi Nian put on an apologetic smile. [Sorry, someone is coming to pick me up.]

Mo Ling's eyes instantly brightened up. "Is that the handsome hunk from this morning?!"

Shi Nian almost burst out laughing. She knew that Xu Binchen had a high index in looks, but it was rare to find someone who would openly appreciate him like this. It felt so refreshing thus Shi Nian cooperated seamlessly. [Yes, that's him.]

Mo Ling looked around sneakily and whispered. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Chen Jiawei chided softly. "Mo Ling!"

Playfully, she pulled out her tongue. "Come on, I am just curious."

[No, he's not.] Shi Nian answered, amused. [He's my…gege.]

"Woah." Came the exclamation of awe from Mo Ling. "You really don't lose out to me, girl! You have your brother and I have my handsome uncle!"

Chen Jiawei rolled her eyes. "Is that something to be proud of?"

By now, Shi Nian could already discern each of their temperaments. Chen Jiawei was the calmest and she always looked at everything based on logic. In contrast, Mo Ling was energetic, cheerful and slightly childish.

Shi Nian guessed that Li Qing's relationship wasn't as close as both of them because she was gone as soon as the school bell rang.

She was proven right. By their conversation, Shi Nian found out that Chen Jiawei and Mo Ling had been classmates since elementary school. They could be said to have grown up together and their relationship was super close. Even their houses were only one street away from each other.

On the other hand, they only knew Li Qing since high school.

Li Qing two years ago was completely different from now. She was very fat back then. Mixed with young adults who had started to be conscious of their own appearance, Li Qing was often ostracized and isolated. It was Chen Jiawei, the class monitor, who often stayed by her side and because of that, Mo Ling came along.

However, their relationship was only limited to one of good classmates. Chen Jiawei had already done everything she could so that Li Qing would be able to integrate into the class. Fortunately, her effort paid off as Li Qing had gotten way better now.

They walked out of the school, laughing and chatting—of course, it was mainly Mo Ling who talked nonstop while Chen Jiawei just answered once in a while. Shi Nian stood in the middle, smiling happily as she listened to them bicker back and forth.

Walking across the courtyard, a tall figure clad in a dark trench coat entered their sight. Every pair of eyes was attracted to him and the passersby gossiped animatedly. Under the huge maple tree, his silhouette was akin to an actor who was posing for a film poster.

Beside her, Mo Ling sucked in a deep breath. "Damn, he's really handsome!"

Chen Jiawei shielded her face. "Don't say that I know you later on."

Still, the two of them had to walk past the parking lot to exit the gate. Their presence was soon discovered by the man and he raised a brow. "You've made some friends?"

As the social butterfly, Mo Ling straightened up and loudly greeted. "Hello, Shi Nian's gege! My name is Mo Ling and I am her classmate!"

Chen Jiawei looked like she had nothing left to live for. "…I am Chen Jiawei, the class monitor."

It was unknown what Xu Binchen was thinking about but he sighed softly under his breath. "Yes, nice to meet you. I am Shi Nian's gege, Xu Binchen."

Shi Nian was scared that Xu Binchen would be angry by her casually making him into someone's brother. She stole a few glances but found nothing unusual. Only then did she heave a sigh of relief. A sliver of happiness burst through her chest, making her warm all over.

Xu Binchen's aura was too strong and domineering. Before five minutes passed, they had already garnered quite an attention. Chen Jiawei could already imagine how the school forum would explode, judging by how loud Mo Ling's greetings could be heard until five miles away. Suddenly, she had a headache and after some pleasantries, dragged Mo Ling away.

"Bye bye, Shi Nian! Bye bye, gege! See you tomorrow!" The shameless Mo Ling had already omitted 'Shi Nian's' and directly called him gege.

The corner of Xu Binchen's mouth twitched but when he saw Shi Nian's curved eyes, he held back his poisonous tongue and commented seriously. "You've made some good friends."

Shi Nian nodded happily. [They are very good!]

Xu Binchen resisted the urge to pat her head and softly said, "Very well."

They got into the car swiftly and drove into the main street. It was almost 6 pm, the time when office workers would clock off. The traffic became slightly congested and they could only move bit by bit like a crawling snail. Xu Binchen's fingers tapped on the steering wheel as he asked. "Do you want to eat?"

Shi Nian blinked in confusion. [I have some dishes in the refrigerator. Do you want some?]

"No. I will return to the police station after this."

Hearing that, Shi Nian felt slightly guilty. [Actually, you don't need to drive me around. I can go to school by myself from tomorrow on!]

Shi Nian only had good intentions in her mind. However, it was unknown what conspiracy was brewing inside Xu Binchen's mind. The corner of his lips curled upward yet his eyes remained cold. "How can I? Afterall, I have just become someone's gege."

Shi Nian: "…" She knew it! Xu Binchen must have been angry!

[Sorry. I won't do it again.] She pursed her lips tight.

Xu Binchen scoffed. "You think I care about things like that?"

Black lines filled Shi Nian's forehead. Why did she feel that Xu Binchen was getting harder and harder to read? 

[Are you angry?] She asked tentatively.

"Why should I be angry?" The traffic light turned green and he pressed on the accelerator hard, almost making her stumble if not for the seatbelt that was properly strapping her in place.

Shi Nian didn't know how she provoked him so she didn't dare to talk anymore.

The atmosphere turned silent, making Xu Binchen get more irritated. "I am not angry." He said with a huff.

Shi Nian: "…" Who would believe that?!

However, a small smile still made its way to her face and she returned to her silly and foolish nature. She could actually be happy just like this? Really...naive and endearing.

Xu Binchen's forehead smoothened and he seized the chance to ask. "Did something happen between you and Mr.Jiang?"

Shi Nian froze and her smile vanished in an instant.