My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Li Qing's case was solved along with the truth that surfaced from Qu Nanchi's statement. In one night, the news was so sensational that it managed to make it into the national TV channel's headline news. Four girls and three boys with exceptional background and good academic performance were detained in the police station due to consuming illegal drugs.

Alas, one of the regrets the police had was that they could do nothing to Dreamscape Bar. First, Qu Nanchi didn't have any other evidence except for an oral statement that accused Dreamscape Bar as a drug den. 

Every single transaction was done in a secret place that only the higher management in Dreamscape Bar knew and Qu Nanchi was only a little reseller who got the drugs from another party. How could a simple statement bring the whole bar down?

Of course, as the person responsible for Dreamscape Bar, Manager Si expressed his regret toward high schoolers' morality nowadays and he also claimed that he would cooperate with the police to do a comprehensive check to prove that their bar was totally innocent in this matter.

The expression, gesture and the words he used, everything was right on point, expressing the right amount of innocence and helplessness while also garnering multiple sympathy among masses. After watching his interview, the whole SCI squad and General Crime Division cursed this shameless man to Hell.

What 'I hope that the police will redress the justice for Dreamscape Bar'? It was all utter bullshit!

Chief Song granted the General Crime Division three days of vacation after digging out this huge, scandalous case and the group used it to go to the karaoke and sang their frustrated hearts out. Anyway, this was all the event of another day.

Shi Nian, who held the report card in her hand, was so happy that she almost flew up to the sky.

Because of Jiang Jinyan's encouragement, she was able to put in 200% of effort, easily landing her on the upper rank of the class. Even Teacher Yao praised her rapid development in front of the class.

After the school ended, she instantly pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the report card, sending it to Jiang Jinyan. [Look at this, I am ranked 7th in the class and 25th among the entire third year!]

"What makes you so happy?" Mo Ling's head suddenly blocked her sight, taking her off guard that she almost dropped her phone. "What ah? Come on, tell me!" The girl grinned mysteriously, brows shooting up and down in a cheeky manner.

Shi Nian pursed her lips as she felt warmth seeping through her cheeks. She shook her head hard and shoved the phone into her pocket. [How about your score?]

"Ah!" Mo Ling yelped and covered her eyes, flustered. "Don't ask me about my score! I don't want to remember it!"

It could be said that half of the reason why Shi Nian was able to reach the seventh rank in the class was due to how some of them didn't do well. For example, Ding Qiaomo, one of Ruo Tingran's close friends who was also a high achiever, was still squatting behind the cell right now.

Chen Jiawei pulled on Mo Ling's ponytail, frowning. "Don't scream into my ear!"

Mo Ling huffed in anger as she engaged in a tug of war with Chen Jiawei. Shi Nian was relieved to see her gradually recover herself from the sadness due to Li Qing's death.

Shi Nian gathered her things in the backpack and waved them goodbye. She walked down the lively hallway filled with students who were comparing each other's report card. When she passed through Class 5, the door slid open in a timely manner and Zhang Jiancheng walked out with the backpack hanging on one of his shoulders. He was obviously surprised to see Shi Nian.

Both of them hadn't interacted ever since their last private meeting in the café and now that Li Qing's case was solved, half of it could be attributed to Zhang Jiancheng. Just from that alone, Shi Nian decided to forget all of his previous shameless remarks and greeted him with a nod and faint smile before walking away. Nevertheless, she wouldn't get all chummy with such a person.

It was blasphemous for a girl to hang out with a boy who obviously had another kind of intention toward her when she didn't feel the same way. Maybe it was a trait brought from the historical era, and maybe it would make her look too reserved and rigid, but she couldn't care less. Shi Nian didn't want to do something that could cause the person she liked to misunderstand her.

Although the said party didn't say anything at all.

Shi Nian paused in her tracks, eyes widened slightly.

…Wait. Did Jiang Jinyan say something?

Shi Nian blinked a few times and her brain suddenly clicked. The scenes that were overlooked abruptly fell into place.

Jiang Jinyan, could he possibly be…jealous?

Shi Nian's grip on her backpack strip tightened, eyes landing upon the tall and straight figure who was standing outside the gate. The students around him couldn't resist stealing some glances due to his exceptional bearing and proportional body, yet it was as if he didn't notice them at all. His eyes wandered elsewhere, it was unknown what he was looking at.

Shi Nian gingerly approached him with her heart racing.

As if noticing her presence, Jiang Jinyan's head turned and their eyes met in midair. Even though his face was covered by a mask, Shi Nian could somehow imagine the faint smile on the corner of his lips. "I saw your message. You did well."

Shi Nian swallowed nervously and the itch inside her grew stronger. She braced herself and asked in a slow tone, "That day, when you saw me together with Zhang Jiancheng, did you get jealous?"

There wasn't any change in his expression but instinctively, she could sense his shock.

Shi Nian grew bolder. She stepped forward and tugged on his sleeve, eyes peering up at him in the mixture of anticipation, nervousness and glee. "Did you?"

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A/N: oooh, bold Shi Nian (/ε＼*)