My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

He was nothing like the man she remembered him to be. He looked unkempt with messy hair, bloodshot eyes and stubbles on his chin. Coupled with the stained, filthy shirt and jeans he was wearing, he painted a totally different image compared to the refreshing, shy and beaming Zhu Zhenli who chased after her for two years in university. 

"It's you, isn't it?!" He snarled, his eyes looked as if he was ready to chew her to pieces. "You're the one who reported me to the police! How dare you!"

Lei Liqiu's eyes widened in disbelief. Fury took over her fear and she hollered back. "You're still talking about that?! Who's the one who brought me to that fucking bar?! Did you enjoy the money you got from selling me, you bastard—hmphh!"

Zhu Zhenli clamped down on her mouth, hissing. "Shut up! Raise your voice again and I will kill you!" 

A cold sensation touched her waist and only then did Lei Liqiu realize that Zhu Zhenli was holding a cutter. Fear flashed through her eyes and seeing that, Zhu Zhenli gave a satisfied harrumph. Slowly, he let go of her. "If you talk again, I will rape you right out in this street before killing you! Do you want your naked corpse to be seen by everyone, huh?!"

Lei Liqiu's heart sank. Somehow, she knew that Zhu Zhenli wasn't lying. The man was already desperate enough to seek her out when the police were all over him. In a fit of anger, he might as well stab her to end it with. Shivers ran down her spine and she hissed through gritted teeth. "Y—You bastard…" Her eyes darted around in desperation for a way out— or at least, someone she could ask for help.

Alas, knowing her thoughts, Zhu Zhenli gave a sneer. "Give up. No one will be coming this way. There's road construction up ahead. I removed the sign when you passed and put it back after that." He leaned forward, his frenzied eyes staring into hers intently. "Now, we're completely alone."

Lei Liqiu's breath hitched on her throat. Now, she was truly terrified. "W—What do you want?!"

Her dread and desperation seemed to have pleased Zhu Zhenli. Jeering, the man twirled the cutter between his fingers. "You're the one who made me like this. Take responsibility."

Lei Liqiu stared at him in disbelief. "What are you talking about?! Your current situation is the result of your own doing! What does it have to do with me?!"

"Shut up!" Zhu Zhenli slammed his fist on the wall beside her, enraged. "Do you know what I've gone through because of you?! To accommodate you, I have to do many part time jobs. Because of it, I was scammed by my manager and had to dip my hands into gambling to pay my debt. So, I sold you in exchange for that. What's wrong with it? You deserve it!"

Crazy. He had gone completely crazy! Despite being scared, Zhu Zhenli's words were so ridiculous that she couldn't bring herself to stay silent. How could he just paint white into black and pour everything over her head?! 

"Accommodate me?" She asked, laughing incredulously. "You were the one who kept giving me things and insisted when I refused, I never asked for—ah!" She lifted her hand to block Zhu Zhenli's slap. The strong momentum slammed her body against the wall and the uneven surface knocked harshly onto the side of her waist. Pain coursed through her body, causing her to curl up.

She gasped, tears welled up in her eyes. What was with this situation? What had she done wrong? Why should she endure being treated like this? Because of Zhu Zhenli, she had to survive that hellish place for half a year, living every single day with fear and wariness. But in the end, he didn't even feel a sliver of guilt? And moreover what did he say? She... deserved it? 

Fury, hatred, grievance and fear mixed into one, becoming adrenaline that coursed through her body.

"Ha...you bitch." Zhu Zhenli rotated his wrist, cussing. "You should be grateful that I am still talking nicely. Speak one more word, I will—"

"Kill ah!" Lei Liqiu snapped her head up, her eyes bloodshot. "Just kill me right now! What are you waiting for? Scared?!"

Seemingly taken aback that the meek and docile Lei Liqiu would snap, Zhu Zhenli froze for a split second. However, that fragment of time was already enough for Lei Liqiu to act. Shoving him as hard as she could, she directed a kick right on his groin and dashed out of that street. "...Help! HELP ME!"

The harsh wind slapped her face and she could no longer discern the direction of where she was heading to. There was only one thought in her mind: escape! She had to run away from him! 

"STAY RIGHT THERE, YOU BITCH!" Zhu Zhenli's holler sounded very close behind her and Lei Liqiu yelped in terror. 

The last time she ran this fast was when Dreamscape Bar's ship was on the verge of collapsing. She also felt the same kind of fear and desperation back there. However, she had Xu Binchen with her. The man held onto her tightly and protected her within his arms, tightly securing her from harm.

But this time...she was alone. Totally alone.

The long, winding street looked like a maze. Lei Liqiu panted heavily, disregarding Zhu Zhenli's curses and rushed forward with all the strength her legs could take her. Someone… anyone— please help her!

"HELP!!!" She screamed atop of her lungs and at the same time, the echo of a familiar voice reached her ears. 

"...Liqiu!"

Why...at a time like this, she heard Xu Binchen's voice? Was this because she missed him too much? Was she already nearing the end of her life, that's why God granted her a wish and let her hear his voice once again?

"...LEI LIQIU!" 

—No! It wasn't just her imagination! It was truly Xu Binchen's voice! A sob escaped Lei Liqiu's lips and she couldn't hold back her tears anymore, her knees weakening due to the extreme strain and relief. "Binchen… XU BINCHEN!!!"

Her scream was cut short when a force suddenly pounced onto her from behind. She crashed down hard to the ground, her knees and elbows scratched bleeding by the friction. 

"Found you…" Zhu Zhenli's heavy breathing sounded above her. "You bitch—stop struggling!"

Completely losing her mind due to the fear, Lei Liqiu desperately kicked to squirm out from underneath him and crawled forward. However, Zhu Zhenli caught her ankle and slashed down on her calf, eliciting another sharp scream from her lips. Hurt… It hurts so much!

The despicable man's weight bore down on her. Zhu Zhenli raised the cutter above his head, its tip still dripping with blood. Her blood. "I told you not to run... Haha, I have no choice. I really have no choice…" 

Lei Liqiu stared wide eyed, petrified as the cutter went down on her—

—and then caught by another hand.

Xu Binchen towered over them, his eyes exceedingly cold. Blood trickled down his palm and when his eyes landed on Lei Liqiu's messy state and the blood on her leg, fury burst forth his eyes. 

Zhu Zhenli was shocked. "W—Who the fuck are—arghh!!!" His arms were twisted behind his back and in a blink of an eye, the tide changed. His eyes bulged out to the extreme and veins popped up on his neck. "You—let me go!!! Who the fuck are you?!"

Click. A handcuff was shackled around his wrists. Seeing it, Zhu Zhenli froze.

"You're apprehended for sexual assault, intentional murder and injuring a police officer. Whatever you say right now can be used against you in the court. Feel free to summon a lawyer to defend you," Xu Binchen sneered. "Though it won't be much help anyway." After that, he chopped down on the back of Zhu Zhenli's neck, rendering the man unconscious in the next instant.

Lei Liqiu stared up at Xu Binchen's side profile, frozen. Was this real…? Or was everything just a dream? "Xu Binchen…?" Her lips trembled and the voice coming out of her mouth was barely a whisper as if afraid that if she was just a bit louder, the man would dissipate into smoke. "Y—You...why are you—"

"Why aren't you answering the damn phone?!" Xu Binchen roared out of nowhere, taking her off guard. The man looked absolutely furious.

Dumbfounded, Lei Liqiu couldn't react for a while. Then, tears slowly slid down her eyes, drop by drop, until it turned unstoppable. She hiccuped and shouted back. "W—Why are you yelling at me?!"

"You—" Xu Binchen grabbed her hands which she almost used to wipe her face. "Don't you know that your hands are dirty?! Do you want to hurt your eyes?!"

"I told you, don't yell at me!!!" She wailed and broke down into tears. "Why are you like this?! Why are you angry at me? Why do I have to go through this kind of thing? Do I deserve it? Do I deserve to be sold and abused?!"

There was silence. After an unknown amount of time, Xu Binchen slowly let out a long sigh and gently...very, very gently, brought her into an embrace. 

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A/N: Lei Liqiu is me rn. Don't yell at me, I'm sensitive QAQ