My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Thanks to Ruo Tingran's confession, the subsequent interrogation became much smoother. Originally, Qu Nanchi insisted on defending her innocence in Li Qing's death, but when she heard Detective Qin said that Ruo Tingran had confessed everything, Qu Nanchi's mentality collapsed in an instant. She knew that she couldn't escape anymore.

From the group of five, it was indeed Qu Nanchi who hated Li Qing the most.

Since Li Qing was born, she had lived her life as a Princess. She had a Major General grandfather who spoiled her rotten, a pair of handsome and elegant parents, and immeasurable family wealth. It was just a pity that Mother Li's womb was weak, thus Li Qing came out as a premature baby with fragile health.

Although it caused her to be more treasured in the family—especially when Mother Li couldn't conceive anymore—she also had to consume a lot of medicine and vitamins as she grew up, thus her body constitution differed from others.

Li Qing's body slowly bloated and she became a little fatty.

When she was just a child, everyone praised her as cute, chubby and adorable. But as she grew up and found no change in her body no matter how hard she followed the dietician's healthy meal and exercised as much as she could, she slowly grew disheartened.

At that time, she wasn't too worried because she was still the sole granddaughter of the prestigious Li Family. Just that alone had made her stand out from others.

  "Li Qing, your dress is so beautiful! Where did you buy it? I will ask my mom to buy it for me too!"

"That's right, from everyone in this banquet, Li Qing is the most beautiful!"

"Li Qing, do you want to take a walk in the garden? There's a mini playground there!"

Li Qing accepted the praise in a humble manner yet inwardly, she felt an immense sense of self satisfaction and smugness. "Thank you everyone, but sadly, I have to reject. My mom asked me not to go around with strangers."

The air stagnated in an instant and Li Qing could see their expression crack one by one. Afterall, they were only children who were ordered by their parents to befriend her. Li Qing didn't care though. As long as her surname was still Li, she could talk nonsense and everyone would still praise her as a genius!

As she expected, after receiving such a blatant rejection, they still tried to please her. "Oh, your mom? Isn't she that lady in red? She looks so young and beautiful!"

Li Qing sneered, but still put on a bashful expression as she chuckled. "Thank you for your compliment."

Alas, the shield that she thought was an impenetrable fortress suddenly disintegrated without any warning along with her grandfather's death. As if Li Family had run out of luck, every single business Father Li invested either gained meager benefits or worse, nothing at all.

The Li Family which sat on the throne of upper society, started to decline like a fallen crown, fast and hard.

Li Qing felt it firsthand when she tagged along with Father Li to a business party as usual. She sensitively felt the atmosphere shift subtly as they entered.

"I have known that Li Family will not last long. After all, they could only rely on Retired Major Li's power and ride on his coattails."

"Yeah, Li Hanji is useless. Is he really Li Family's son? Otherwise how can the difference be so large?"

"What do you mean by that? Hahaha, but I have to agree though."

The discussion entered her ears one after another, one was nastier than the others. The compliments, flowery words, praise, awe and admiration, all of that could no longer be found. The children who used to hover around her suddenly turned their backs, their gaze contemptuous as they looked at her.

"I have wanted to say it since long ago, but my dad didn't allow me to…"

"Yeah, you're right!"

"…how ugly. Look at her dress. Ew, tacky."

"Hahaha, she's only a fatty. Is she really a girl? Why doesn't she look like it?"

"What? Otherwise, you want to prove it yourself?"

For the first time ever, Li Qing felt afraid. Those eyes, accusations, and contempt were like thorns nailing her in place. Her back broke out in cold sweat and she couldn't muster the confident smile which had been stuck to her since forever.

The darling of Heaven, child of phoenix, crashed down from the sky in a pathetic manner.

And all she could do was to hide. Hide and wished that she would no longer meet them. How could she stomach their disdain with her pride? All of her confidence, security and self-esteem collapsed until there was nothing left.

Li Qing, like a coward, chose to isolate herself to protect her remaining bits of dignity. If she didn't do that, she didn't know how she could keep on living.

Alas, the whole universe seemed to go against her as she met those people again in a new school she transferred to. In one glance, the children who had grown up recognized each other in an instant. Li Qing paled. She saw Ruo Tingran, Ding Qiaomo, Xiang Yan, and Dai Huiqin who used to cater to her every whim. And most importantly, there was Qu Nanchi.

Qu Nanchi, the one who antagonized her the most.

They had grown up to be so beautiful, fashionable and confident.

While she…

Well, she was still the same. Li Qing felt like she hadn't changed at all. She was still the repulsive, hated and ugly fatty Li Qing. High school was supposed to be the years full of new discoveries, transition from teenagers to adults and the moment of heart-throbbing spurt of love seed hidden in bashful glance and awkward care. 

However, for Li Qing, those were the worst years of her life. She had to endure the bullying silently, suppressing the hatred and loathe within, robotically passing each day like a living corpse.

"Heh, where was your smugness when you ordered us around huh? Where has the beloved Princess Li Qing gone?" Qu Nanchi laughed mockingly as she poured Coke above her head. "Aiyah, so ugly and disgusting. I can't believe that we used to play with you when we're children. Don't tell people you know me okay? It's so embarrassing I can't lift my head high."

The girls around Qu Nanchi giggled in amusement. The leader, Ruo Tingran, who only watched from afar, chided softly. "Alright, I think you're too much, Nannan."

"What?" Qu Nanchi flicked her hair and huffed arrogantly. "Don't tell me you don't hate her for being such a pretentious bitch. Don't lie to me, Ting. I know you."

Ruo Tingran choked on her breath, her eyes met with Li Qing's fervent gaze filled with hatred and humiliation, and she looked away instantly.

Li Qing clenched her fists, her entire body trembling in anger and agony. Oh, how she wished she could claw their faces one by one. This was the first time Li Qing tasted the ultimate despair of helplessness and defeat. She couldn't do anything to them, and telling anyone would be useless either.

She could only endure, endure, endure…

Who...Who could possibly save her? If someone could pull Li Qing out of this hell, she would gladly sell her soul to them.

Xiang Yan was laughing at Li Qing's misery when her gaze trailed somewhere else and she stiffened abruptly. She patted Dai Huiqin beside her with a fearful face. "Ah, look…it's Zhang Jiancheng. He—He saw us…"

Zhang Jiancheng! 

Who didn't know him? Ever since he attended the first year students' welcoming ceremony as the student representative, his photo had circulated wildly in the forum and the discussion didn't look like it was going to recede anytime soon, instead his popularity skyrocketed. He was blessed with impeccable looks that could mesmerize anyone, sharp and exceptional IQ, with an unusual bearing that made him stand out from the crowd of bratty students. Even if he wasn't a wealthy and powerful young master, who cared?

With his capability and temperament, it was just a matter of time until he climbed up the ladder of society and sat on the throne!

The group of girls looked at the pale Ruo Tingran. They knew that Ruo Tingran had been crushing on Zhang Jiancheng since she first saw him. Nonetheless, so far, it seemed like no development would happen soon between them. 

"Z—Zhang Jiancheng…this…" They had calculated everything and did the bullying secretly behind one of the empty buildings and Ruo Tingran didn't expect that they would be caught red handed. Even more so, by her male god! What to do? What should she say so that Zhang Jiancheng wouldn't associate it with her? She had been striving to maintain a gentle, well educated and sophisticated image in front of Zhang Jiancheng and now, it collapsed within a blink of an eye!

On the other hand, Li Qing's eyes brightened up as if she had just seen an angel. She also knew who Zhang Jiancheng was. If it was him…he would surely help her! Her lips tremblingly hollered. "H—Help, help me…!"

"You bitch!" The girls shielded Qu Nanchi with their bodies as the latter slapped Li Qing.

However, it was like Li Qing was injected with chicken blood. She struggled against Qu Nanchi, much to the girl's surprise and managed to push her away. Li Qing's eyes were red and desperate as she stared at Zhang Jiancheng's figure.

Xiang Yan exchanged a glance with Dai Huiqin and both of them tripped Li Qing's feet, causing her to fall down in a totally disgraceful manner. Li Qing's chin knocked hard against the cement floor and it hurt so much that tears sprung up her eyes. However, she still stared fixedly at Zhang Jiancheng, her eyes almost burning holes into him.

Help…Help her! Get her out of this hellhole!

Zhang Jiancheng's eyes met hers and in the end…he turned away in a nonchalant manner. The lights in Li Qing's eyes dimmed considerably and her whole body fell slack. She didn't even struggle anymore when Qu Nanchi stepped on the back of her hands, almost breaking her bones in the process.

Why?

Why didn't he save her?

He could have just told them to scram, and Li Qing was sure that Ruo Tingran and her group would scurry away. But he didn't.

School grass? Pure hearted man who saved an animal in the middle of the road? A kind yet cold gentleman? It's all bullshit! In the end, he was just like Qu Nanchi and the others! They were all hypocrites and pretentious! She hated, really hated all of them!

Li Qing laughed, laughed so hard until she cried. Finally, her spirit broke apart and she wailed loudly, sobbing like a child.

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A/N: Li Qing's backstory is here! Oh, so that's why she hated Zhang Jiancheng very much. But is Zhang Jiancheng really that heartless? Hmm...

Sorry guys I forgot to set the timer because I am too engrossed in writing Jiang Jinyan and Shi Nian's kiss scene-oops! Hehehe