My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"Sorry ah, Niannian. Mama has to wrong you for a bit." Qiang Fei crouched down to level her eyes with her five years old daughter, a plump child similar to a little dumpling wrapped in a red thick coat. Her cheeks were rosy due to the cold and her round, golden eyes blinked, eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings.

"Don' wowwy, Mama. I am okay." She replied with a huge smile.

Qiang Fei was amused by her pronunciation. "Let Mama see your teeth…ah yes, Nianian is very lucky, it has stopped bleeding."

Hearing that, Shi Nian covered her mouth with both hands, eyes wide with fear. "Mama…"

It was all because of her carelessness that she tripped and banged her mouth on the floor, knocking over her front teeth. It hurt so much that tears instantly sprung up her eyes.

Qiang Fei was so shocked when she heard Shi Nian howl out of her lungs. The little girl was clutching her bleeding mouth with large droplets of tears running down her face. It was both adorable and pitiful at the same time.

"Don't worry." Qiang Fei laughed. "It will grow out soon."

"Weally?" 

"Yes. If Mama lies to you, then Niannian can't grow taller anymore."

"Owkay." Shi Nian nodded seriously, totally didn't realize that she had been duped.

Behind them came a string of laughter, melodious and clear. Qiang Fei stood up and held Shi Nian's hands, together they walked toward the stunning, gentle woman who had been waiting. "Madam Si, I have to trouble you with Niannian for a while. Don't worry, she isn't a disobedient child."

"I know." Si Qingzhao bent down and touched Shi Nian's head. "She's such a cute girl."

Shi Nian looked at her in curiosity.

"Call Auntie Si." Qiang Fei whispered.

"Auntie Shi~" The soft, sticky sound could melt anyone's heart. Shi Nian blushed, realizing that she had pronounced the name wrong. She pursed her lips and tried again. "Auntie…Shii…" Ah, she couldn't! It's all because she lost her front tooth!

Si Qingzhao laughed heartily. "She is so cute. Don't worry, Madam Shi. You can just leave her to me."

"En." Qiang Fei nodded and looked at her watch, speaking faster afterward. "Then I will leave her to you. Niannian, listen to Auntie Si's words okay?"

Shi Nian answered loudly with her chest puffed out. "Ow-kay!"

She tried to be strong but in the end, she was nothing but a kid. Seeing Qiang Fei's back disappear into the corner, the rims of Shi Nian's eyes reddened yet she still persistently held back her tears. When she felt Si Qingzhao's eyes on her, Shi Nian wiped her eyes roughly and turned to her with a smile.

Si Qingzhao didn't expose her futile effort as her eyes looked redder than before. She held Shi Nian's hands and led her inside the house. Different from her house which smelled of sunshine, soft detergent and Qiang Fei's perfume, Si Qingzhao's house was surrounded with a sweet fragrance.

Shi Nian sniffed around and her stomach suddenly gurgled.

Si Qingzhao laughed and helped her take off her coat. "Hungry?"

Shi Nian patted her round belly and nodded with a shy smile.

"Come in. Auntie has just baked some cookies. Xiao Kun likes them the most."

Shi Nian tilted her head as she followed Si Qingzhao in. "Xiao…Chun?"

Inside the house, there was a tiny, life-like porcelain doll sitting on the sofa with delicate features and milky skin. Hearing the noises, the doll's head turned and when his eyes fell upon Shi Nian, he abruptly jumped off the sofa to hide behind Si Qingzhao's legs, looking at her with wary eyes.

His eyes weren't black like Shi Nian or Auntie Si, but they were slightly lighter in color, grey with a tinge of green in it. When he looked at her with wide eyes, Shi Nian thought that he really resembled a kitty.

"Xiao Kun." Si Qingzhao patted the doll's head and said in a soft tone. "This is Shi Nian, Auntie Qiang's daughter. You remember Auntie Qiang, right? The one who gave you the doll in your room?"

Xiao Kun looked back and forth between Shi Nian and his mother before nodding curtly.

There was a flash of sadness in Si Qingzhao's eyes which was quickly concealed. "Niannian, this is my child, Xiao Kun. He's two years older than you." Si Qingzhao turned to Xiao Kun and asked in a soft tone. "Shi Nian will stay with us for dinner tonight. Let's get along well, shall we?"

Shi Nian looked at the child's exquisite features, her heart racing faster like never before. This was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen in her life! So adorable and delicate! How cute!

Shi Nian took the initiative to step forward and reach out a hand. "Hello, my name is Shi Nian."

Nan Xukun recoiled back slightly like a startled little animal. After confirming that Shi Nian didn't mean any harm, he gingerly reached out and shook her hand for only a split second before hastily retracting. 

Somehow, he reminded Shi Nian of the little snail she teased yesterday. It was also like this, when she touched it, it would retreat back to its shell but when she didn't do anything, it would come out and scan its surrounding warily before making a step.

Shi Nian's eyes crinkled with smiles. "Xiao Chun!"

Si Qingzhao coughed to suppress her laugh.

Nan Xukun's face fell and it was obvious that he was a little displeased. "My name is Xiao Kun." His voice was crisp and clear, the pronunciation was much clearer than hers. That alone was enough to make Shi Nian admire him.

Shi Nian nodded seriously, "Xiao…Chun."

Nan Xukun pursed his lips, tears welled up in his eyes.

"Ah?" Shi Nian panicked. "W—What's wwong?"

Si Qingzhao crouched down and talked to him softly. "Xiao Kun, Xiao Nian isn't bullying you. See, she really wants to be your friend."

"Yes, yes!" Shi Nian echoed. "I want to be fwiends!"

Xiao Kun stared at her warily and clutched the hem of Si Qingzhao's clothes. Only after half a day did he finally nod, barely accepting Shi Nian's presence in his house.

That was Shi Nian and Nan Xukun's first encounter. On a winter twelve years ago, they became friends along with a tray of chocolate chip cookies which was still warm, fresh from the oven. The sweet scent diffused into the air, making them feel relaxed and peaceful. 

For the rest of the day, even though Xiao Kun only talked with Si Qingzhao and pretended that she was air, Shi Nian was still happy to gain such a pretty friend! Now, she could show off to her classmates that she had someone to play dolls with!

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A/N: We're starting the new volume with scenes from the past (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑and yes, Nan Xukun as a child is really beautiful and Shi Nian really mistook him as a girl until years later lol.