My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

The virgin Luo Ning, after having glimpse into the world of adults, couldn't calm down no matter what after being teased by the object of his admiration to the edge of euphoria. He marveled at how Qin Weizhe could regain his composure so quickly, standing there all calm and collected while he cut a sorry figure. Ashamed, Luo Ning rushed to the bathroom and took a quick, short cold shower.

Not even five minutes later, he came out with water dripping down his hair, bringing with him poof of white cold mists.

Qin Weizhe was crouching in the kitchen cabinet, opening them one by one whilst knocking on every crook and corner, his expression mesmerizingly solemn and serious.

"Have you found it?" Luo Ning approached him, restless. No matter how fearless he was, knowing that there's some kind of unknown creatures hiding under his house—possibly for years—frightened him quite so. If Qin Weizhe wasn't here then…then he would definitely cover his head with a pillow and go back to sleep!

Qin Weizhe shook his head and stood up. He turned around to find a freshly bathed Luo Ning, his shower gel had a nice, milky scent to it, wafting into Qin Weizhe's nose. The younger man's skin was akin to lustrous jade, so translucent and fair. His lips were slightly pale from the cold, but it didn't hinder the curious twinkle in his eyes. Droplets of water slid down his cheeks down to his neck before disappearing into the collar. Faintly, Qin Weizhe could see a reddish mark on the side of his neck. Just a moment ago, his lips were latching there, sucking and nibbling…

Qin Weizhe averted his gaze, his throat bobbing. He snatched the towel on Luo Ning's shoulder and covered his head with it, rubbing roughly. "Dry your hair first." He said in a low, deep voice. "Do you want to catch a cold?"

"Ah…sorry," Luo Ning blushed. "I was too rushed."

"Take your time." Qin Weizhe chuckled. "No matter what it is, the thing under your house has been there for quite a long time. Waiting for a few more minutes doesn't matter."

How could Luo Ning admit that whenever Qin Weizhe looked all serious and somber like that, he would instantly panic and think of the worst? Nodding, Luo Ning pointed at the slightly ajar door on the other side of the living room. "Then…I will go and dry my hair first. Do you want to come with me?"

Luo Ning almost bit his tongue after he said the last sentence. What come with me?! Why does he have to come with you ah, stupid Luo Ning?!

The ambiguous atmosphere enveloping the two earlier had dissipated until nothing was left behind. If it's not for his stinging lips and numb tongue, he would even wonder whether everything was merely his dirty imaginations. He couldn't guess Qin Weizhe's intention and didn't dare to ask either.

Luo Ning couldn't help but be dejected. Forcing a laugh, he corrected his words. "Sorry, I don't mean it—"

A shadow fell over his head and Luo Ning's eyes rounded in shock as Qin Weizhe clamped his damp, fair neck. The man's fingers inadvertently brushed against the strawberry mark on the side of his neck. "Okay, I will take you on your offer."

Luo Ning shrunk his neck, blushing. Clearly, Qin Weizhe had done it countless times before but why did he feel all weird and ticklish this time? 

"What are you looking at me for?" Qin Weizhe laughed and pushed him forward. "Come on."

"O—Okay!" Luo Ning replied loudly, so lightheaded that every step he took felt like stepping on cotton. With stiff and nervous movement, he guided Qin Weizhe to his bedroom and asked the man to take a seat while he dashed to the bathroom and dried his hair in record time.

When he came out with his hair all dry and fluffy, Qin Weizhe was pulling up his carpet in one hand, his eyes scrutinizing. Sensing Luo Ning's presence, he gave a smile which made Luo Ning's heart raced faster. Stupid Luo Ning, useless Luo Ning! He only smiled at you and here you are, blushing like a shy maiden!

Luo Ning forced himself to calm down and approached him, his eyes falling on his carpet. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nope." Qin Weizhe said lightly. "Just checking around. Anyway, do you mind if I open your closet and take a look?"

"Sure, sure, go ahead!" Luo Ning made a 'please' gesture. "You can do whatever you like err…no need to mind me." Upon receiving Qin Weizhe's amused glance, Luo Ning straightened up. "I will also look around Sir!"

They divided the job and investigated every place that could become a secret path. In fact, Luo Ning had personally cleaned the house last time yet he didn't find anything weird. Knowing that his house possibly had a secret chamber like the storybooks in Harry Potter made him feel weird all over. Luo Ning circled around the living room—tried his best not to look at the place where he had just made out with Qin Weizhe before—and paced around the approximate area where he sensed the source of the sound.

"Detective Qin, is there really a hidden passage?" He asked in doubt. "The sound disappeared a long time ago. Who knows, maybe it's only a cat that's trapped inside? As for the smell of livestock storage, do you think it's animal carcasses?"

Qin Weizhe hummed vaguely, his eyes meaningful.

Luo Ning had been working by his side for almost half a year. Although he didn't know the man inside out, he still recognized his small gestures and habits. "No way?!" Luo Ning's jaws dropped to the ground. "Do you think…" The words stuck on his throat. Even until a few minutes later, Luo Ning still couldn't bring himself to finish the rest of the sentence.

Luo Ning gulped and realized the severity of the situation. For the next hour, no sound was heard as the two men ransacked the whole house upside down. Still, they couldn't find any possible hidden path.

Exhausted, they slumped onto the sofa like two salted fishes.

"This won't do." Qin Weizhe sighed in contemplation. "Maybe we are wrong. If the previous tenants have all complained about this matter, there's a huge possibility that they have tried to search for the source of the sound yet until now, it still remains a mystery. They couldn't find the origin, that's why people started to think that the house is haunted."

Luo Ning nodded in understanding. "So, there has been no secret chamber since the beginning?"

"Yes." Qin Weizhe ruffled the younger man's hair, amused by his choice of words. "However, no secret chamber here doesn't mean that there's no secret chamber at all."

Luo Ning tried to ignore the warmth of Qin Weizhe's palm and muttered, "No secret chamber…?" He exclaimed as realization dawned on him. "So, you mean that there's another path somewhere else that leads to my house's basement, something like a tunnel?!"

"Bingo." Qin Weizhe grinned. His hand fell from Luo Ning's head down to his cheek, the tip of his fingers grazed across Luo Ning's lips along the way. Luo Ning saw the man's eyes trailed down following his fingers and landed on his lips, staying there for two more seconds. Luo Ning subconsciously held his breath, his pursed lips trembled ever so slightly.

However, Qin Weizhe retracted his arms casually. He proceeded to pull his phone out and pressed some numbers.

Luo Ning snapped out of his daze, asking. "W—Who are you calling, Detective Qin?"

Qin Weizhe winked. "The excavation laborer."

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A/N: guess who's the excavation laborer Qin Weizhe is calling? hahaha