My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Auntie Si slipped in the bathroom, lost her balance and bumped her head against the edge of the bathtub. It wasn't until Xiao Kun returned home that he realized the great predicament his mother was in. By the time he ran out to ask for help, Si Qingzhao's blood had covered the bathroom floor, some of it even stained Xiao Kun's clean clothes.

She lost too much blood and had to be monitored in the hospital for a few days. If she was rescued a bit later, it was unknown how her life would be right now.

Shi Nian didn't really understand but it seemed like the situation was quite bad as she didn't see Xiao Kun on those days and when she asked Qiang Fei, the only answer she got was, "Xiao Chun is with her Mama. Don't worry, she will come home soon."

Qiang Fei seldom lied and five days later, Si Qingzhao and Xiao Kun returned.

"Auntie Si!" Qiang Fei told her that she couldn't jump on Si Qingzhao like she always did, thus she only hovered around her and looked at her in worry. "Is Auntie Si okay?" Her eyes fell upon the gauze on her forehead. "Does it hurt?"

"Auntie is okay. I have made Niannian worried." Auntie Si touched her head softly.

Shi Nian was satisfied and turned to the boy trailing behind her. "Xiao Chun—eh?" She blinked, baffled. "What's wrong with you?"

Xiao Kun looked much skinnier than before. The clothes that used to fit him snugly became loose. He was even skinnier than when Shi Nian first met him. There were red veins on his eyes and it looked like he was going to cry anytime soon.

But he didn't.

Because before he did, a hoarse cry came from behind them.

Shi Nian turned around in surprise to find her mother hugging Auntie Si. The latter's face was hidden in Qiang Fei's shoulder, but the muffle cry travelled to her ears. "I can't bear it anymore! No matter how far I go, they will still find me! How can I keep on living like this?!"

Qiang Fei patted Si Qingzhao's shoulders. She turned sideways and her eyes met Shi Nian's. Qiang Fei gave her an apologetic smile and patted Si Qingzhao's back in comfort as she waited for the emotional woman to calm down.

Shi Nian instantly understood what she had to do. She grabbed Xiao Kun's wrist and pulled him into her house straight to her bedroom. She showed him the drawing she did last time. "Look. This is me and this is you. Isn't it beautiful?"

Xiao Kun held the drawing, eyes transfixed onto it. The drawing only consisted of two people. The figure of Shi Nian was casually drawn like a vertical stick with four branches sticking out as limbs but Xiao Kun was different. His eyes were large, hair soft and fluffy with beautiful clothes on his body. More importantly, in the drawing, there was a large smile on his face.

"Isn't it beautiful?" She asked again after not hearing any answer.

Xiao Kun didn't say anything, but large droplets of tears silently fell onto the paper, wetting the crayon right onto the happy Xiao Kun in the picture.

"Ah!" Shi Nian yelped, flustered. "Why are you crying again? Is it ugly? I will draw it again, okay?"

"It's…beautiful." Xiao Kun sniffled and wiped his tears. "It's the most beautiful drawing I have ever seen." He put it beside his face and pulled up the corner of his lips as high as it could be. "Is it similar?"

"Yes, yes! It's very similar!"

"Can I have it?"

"I originally wanted to give it to you anyway! But are you sure you don't want me to paint another? I promise it will be better—"

"Thank you, Xiao Nian."

Her words were interrupted, making Shi Nian's head go blank. "Ah? No, no, it's okay. You're very welcome."

"Thank you." For the first time ever, Xiao Kun initiated a touch as he gingerly held her hands. "Thank you very much. Because of you, I learned for the first time how to speak out for myself, how to ignore people's obnoxious remarks and how to live happily."

Shi Nian felt like something didn't seem right with him. But Xiao Kun's words were too touching and Shi Nian was beside herself with joy.

"Hehe, it's really nothing." Shi Nian scratched her nose, embarrassed. "Then you should draw me as well!"

Xiao Kun pursed his lips. "I don't have any crayons."

"I will lend you mine!" Shi Nian scrambled to pull out a box of crayon from her drawer. "This is my favorite, I will lend it to you for a week. After that, you should return it to me or else I will get angry. How about that?"

Shi Nian expected him to be exhilarated, but instead, Xiao Kun shook his head.

Shi Nian's eyes dimmed as she whined, "Why? I won't be angry even if you draw me ugly…"

"Xiao Nian, I am moving." He said all of a sudden.

"Ah?" Shi Nian blinked  a few times before the words slowly seeped into her brain. "You are moving? You will not be living here anymore?"

"Yes." Xiao Kun lowered his head sadly. "I have always moved from one place to another and I have never minded it before. Only here…I really don't want to leave."

"Then don't!" Shi Nian blurted out anxiously, then perhaps realizing that her words didn't really hold any weight, she changed her sentence. "Where will you move to? I will go and find you everyday!"

"I am moving abroad."

"Abroad?" Shi Nian didn't know where it was but she still promised nonetheless. "Then I will go abroad everyday!"

Hearing her words, Xiao Kun finally gave a small laugh.

Shi Nian thought that he had acquiesced and got happy afterward. "It's a promise then."

"Okay." Xiao Kun didn't say anything to rebuke her nor did he tell her it was impossible for her to go abroad. This…This might be the last time they met. "It's a promise."

Subsequently, Auntie Si and Xiao Kun moved away. The room next door became empty. Seasons passed and time flew by in a blink of an eye. For the first few days, Shi Nian cried, saying that she wanted to go abroad to find Xiao Kun. It was only that moment she learned what abroad meant and how she needed a lot, a lot of money to go there.

Money was important, Shi Nian knew it. Without money, then there would be no food, no bed, no house. Mama worked hard to earn money. On the other hand, Shi Nian had to be an adult before she could earn some too. 

Gradually, Shi Nian stopped making a ruckus.

Her life seemed to have returned to how it was before Xiao Kun moved here.

It was like the delicate, beautiful porcelain doll was only a fragment of her imagination.

Shi Nian slowly grew up and the things she had to worry about increased. Slowly, the memory of childhood faded away and Xiao Kun remained as one of the children she played with when she was young.

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A/N: Sigh, their interactions are so heartwarming yet sad at the same time. It's not unreasonable why Nan Xukun was so overly familiar and sticky when they met again. Next chappie, we will return to the present!