My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

The Central Capital was flooded with people that night. The VVIP rooms were almost sold out, filled with those important figures who cried and cursed because they got a shock and chilled due to the freezing water. 

Xu Binchen had almost recovered after laying down for an hour so he directly dealt with his discharge procedures, disregarding Lei Liqiu's worried inquiries and Wang Chengbing's complaints. 

"Oh come on. Seriously, Binchen? You almost lost your life just yesterday, remember?" Wang Chengbing leaned on the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest, hating that iron couldn't become steel. 

Xu Binchen slipped in a coat and clicked his tongue. "I'm fine and it's too noisy here."

"What can we do?" Wang Chengbing sighed. "All of these people need to be investigated but they will definitely cause a scene if we directly send them to the police station. Where is Captain when we need him the most? Aiyah, speak of the devil." He popped his head out and waved. "Here is Captain Jin."

Xu Binchen straightened up and saluted. He started before Jin Renguang could say anything. "Captain, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"What a coincidence." Jin Renguang gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I also have something to discuss with you. Why don't you just obediently lay on the bed as we talk?"

Xu Binchen: "...huh?"

In the end, he was stripped out of his clothes into a new hospital gown and forced down the bed by Jin Renguang. Xu Binchen leaned on the pillow and stared out of the window with dead fish eyes, an IV drip hung from his arm. The hospital room was empty except for the two of them. Wang Chengbing had gone to assist Ru Meiqi to do some damage control and take charge of the chaotic scene.

Jin Renguang sighed exasperatedly and pinched his brows. "Are you aware of how dangerous hypothermia is? You are allowed to rest for a few days. Stay here until the doctor kicks you out."

Xu Binchen replied quietly. "It's unnecessary."

"What did you say?" Jin Renguang smiled and asked 'gently'.

"No, Sir. I have received the order. I will stay here, Sir."

"You rascal." He chuckled helplessly. "Say it. What did you want to talk to me about?"

Xu Binchen's expression chilled down and he proceeded to narrate Si Yusheng's statement as well as the riddle Lei Liqiu gave. The hospital room fell silent after he finished. Xu Binchen cleared his throat and gulped down a glass of water. Yet the heaviness in his chest didn't diminish a bit.

Of course, who wouldn't be uncomfortable when they realized that they had been used and betrayed by someone they trusted and depended on?

"How should we proceed from now on?" He murmured, more to himself. 

Everything was a jumbled mess in his mind. What did Director Fen Huiguan have to do with Dreamscape Bar? Why did he send them there? Was he related to the human trafficking and the serial murder case? If so, what should they do? Could they confront him just like this? 

They didn't even know who their enemies were. Those people hid in the dark while they were utterly exposed to light. It was evident to see who had the upper hand.

Xu Binchen's jaws ticked. He hated this kind of powerless feeling. Since he was born until now, he seldom felt this way. With his parents' qualification, power and wealth, he could practically saunter everywhere around Earth twice. Everything could be solved as long as he said the word. 

Should he…just expose everything and force the truth out of Si Yusheng's mouth?

Rough, almost violent pats landed on his shoulder twice, knocking Xu Binchen's line of thoughts. He coughed and directed a disgruntled expression toward Jin Renguang's inconsideration. The other man didn't seem to realize how brute he was. "Don't think too much about it and have a good rest. You have done a very great job, Xu Binchen."

Xu Binchen frowned. "What do you mean, Captain? Have you got some plans already? No, why don't you look surprised at all? Don't tell me…" Realization dawned on him, one so ridiculous that he laughed for real. "Have you suspected Director Fen all along?"

"No." He said in a stern tone as always, one so firm that Xu Binchen couldn't seem to guess what Jin Renguang was thinking about. "In our line of work, trust toward comrades is one of the most important aspects I always hold. Never have I doubted my comrades before." He lowered his sight and gave a bitter smile. "But I guess that some people aren't the same. It's not like I am not surprised. Just that…I learned not to have expectations anymore."

"Anyway." He gave a huge tired sigh. "If what Si Yusheng said was the truth, then he is in a precarious situation at the moment. They want him dead but unfortunately, we can't just stand by and let it happen. He held too many clues in his hands."

Xu Binchen nodded in agreement.

Jin Renguang rapped his fingers on his thigh, contemplating. Xu Binchen didn't disturb his line of thoughts and stayed mum. Until one point, his movement halted. "The most important thing right now is to keep Si Yusheng out of Director Fen's radar. The rest of it, we will let them be."

Xu Binchen rebuked in disbelief. "You are going to let it go just like this?"

"Yes, this time, I will let things go as Director Fen wishes it to be." Jin Renguang smiled grimly, sharp glints flashed through his eyes. "We still have another lead to chase for, remember?"

"...The corpses in the wall." Xu Binchen gradually understood Jin Renguang's intention.

"That's right. Jia Renyu will not let his reputation go down the drain with this matter. He will definitely seek us out. Even if we can't find his son in the meantime, it's still possible to go through with the cooperation." Speaking until then, he fell silent for a moment. "...Actually, there's something that has always been in my mind."

Xu Binchen gave an inquiring look.

Jin Renguang withdrew his gaze and stared out of the window, his silhouette looked somber and grim. "Don't you think that the serial killer is too quiet recently?" Seeing Xu Binchen's stunned look, he continued. "Last year, we identified eleven victims—twelve, if Butterfly is included. There's almost one every month. This year, how many?"

Xu Binchen's fists clenched as he replied in a strained voice. "Two."

"That's right, it's December soon, but the number of victims is only two. Don't you think it's weird, judging from how severe his OCD is?" Jin Renguang pinched his brows tiredly. "I don't know if it's just my imagination but I can't help thinking about it. Everything is just like the calm before the storm."

"You mean…" Xu Binchen's heart sank.

"Yes, I'm afraid…he might be preparing something huge."

***

Xu Binchen was too preoccupied with what Jin Renguang said that he didn't notice Lei Liqiu entering the room until she spoke. "What are you thinking about?"

He blinked and directed his gaze toward her. The girl had changed out of the flimsy and flowy dress that she had always worn in Dreamscape Bar. She wore an oversized turtleneck sweater paired with jeans and a knitted cardigan. With her hair tied into a high ponytail, she looked fresher and younger. 

Frown creased his forehead. "You still haven't gone home yet?"

Lei Liqiu scratched her nose sheepishly. "My mom told me to stay here until she arrives. I just want to say a proper goodbye one last time."

Xu Binchen nodded, not understanding why she still hadn't left. Even more so when she pulled out the folded chair by the bed and sat on it. 

"Do you still need something from me?" He asked straightforwardly.

Too straightforward, in fact that Lei Liqiu almost forgot to say the sentence she had practiced back in the restroom. "H—How are you feeling, Mr. Xu?"

Xu Binchen frowned deeper, his voice as flat and cold as the Antarctic. "I'm fine."

Sweat dotted Lei Liqiu's forehead. She wiped her clammy palms onto her jeans and grabbed the hem of her cardigan. Come on, Lei Liqiu. Just say the sentence 'Can you please tell me your WeChat ID?' It's not difficult. What's so hard about it? You can do it! Now or never!

"That…um—" The words stuck on her throat when the door in front of her suddenly slid open harshly, revealing a young, petite girl in school uniform, gasping for breath. 

The girl's eyes fell on Xu Binchen's on the bed and her dazzling golden eyes instantly covered in a layer of mist. Her knees buckled underneath her and she could only stand by holding onto the wall. "I asked the receptionist below and they told me that you have completed the discharge procedures! Brother Wang even said that you're in a coma until a few hours ago, how could you do that?!"

Lei Liqiu couldn't react for a moment. She was taken aback when Xu Binchen pulled off his IV drips, flung the blanket away and slipped his feet into the slippers. Lei Liqiu instinctively reached out to hold him back yet the only thing she could grab onto was empty air.

Before the man could get down from the bed, Shi Nian snapped out of her senses and pushed him back down angrily. "What are you doing?! Have you gone stupid?!"

Lei Liqiu had never seen such a soft look on Xu Binchen's eyes before. Ever since the girl arrived, his eyes held nothing but her. Seeing how anxious the girl was, the corner of his lips curled up into a faint smile. "Why don't you tell me you have arrived? I could have gone down to meet you."

Shi Nian pressed on the nurse button helplessly. "You're a patient! Do you remember that fact, Xu Binchen gege? Ah, sorry I am so nervous that I didn't realize you're not alone. Good evening, I'm sorry for my rudeness. My name is…" The words trailed off as her eyes landed on Lei Liqiu's face, dumbstruck.

On the other hand, Lei Liqiu was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to realize what the girl was saying. All sounds around her were drowned by her rapid heartbeats and somehow, her sixth sense told her…

Ah, this should be the girl who gave Mr. Xu that red string bracelet.

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A/N: author has nothing to say *evil smile*