My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Shi Nian meekly followed Jiang Jinyan and the staff to the couple box. The ceiling hung low while rows of closed doors appeared when they turned to a hallway. The staff proceeded to open an empty room and gestured for them to enter. "Please inform us if you need anything. Have a good time~"

Jiang Jinyan had strode in first, leaving Shi Nian to deal with the staff. Somehow, she felt that there's something more in the staff's smile which made her face blush. Shi Nian pinched her thigh to calm herself. Why was she so nervous?! Did she not choose this place so that Jiang Jinyan could relax and have a peace of mind?

Shi Nian took a deep breath, braced herself and entered the room.

The so-called couple box was an approximately 20 meters square room. It was equipped with a low table stuck to the wall, a 32 inch TV and a small heater. The temperature slowly heated up and Jiang Jinyan took off his coat. He looked around and nodded, "Not bad."

"E—En." Shi Nian gingerly took off her shoes and stepped on the tatami. She put her sling bag in the corner of the room and stood awkwardly there.

Jiang Jinyan looked at her with a strange expression, mirth filled his eyes. "What are you doing there? Come here and sit down." He had already made himself comfortable, sitting down with his long legs stretched straight.

Even though Jiang Jinyan was slender, he was very tall and his bone frame was huge. When he slouched down, it was as if he had occupied more than half of the space. Shi Nian swallowed and discreetly wiped her clammy palms on her dress, then proceeded to sit beside him.

No matter how she tried to ignore it, she could clearly feel the warm temperature exuded from his body, like a little burning stove. Every single movement caused her to be painfully aware of his presence.

Before she could think of what to say, Shi Nian's lap was suddenly covered by something. Surprised, she found that it was Jiang Jinyan's dark purple cashmere coat.

Jiang Jinyan cleared his throat, "…Cover your legs."

"Ah?" Shi Nian blinked, and blinked as realization dawned on her. "Ah, okay! Thank you very much!" With her face flushing crimson, she spread the coat across her legs. Jiang Jinyan's coat was still warm with his body temperature lingering there and along with it, a faint cool fragrance floated to her nose. It was Jiang Jinyan's cologne. Instead of calming down, Shi Nian grew more nervous.

Jiang Jinyan cleared his throat again and pulled the books he chose in front of him. He started to read the shounen manga first. Nobody talked afterwards, and the silence was so tangible that it was getting awkward.

Shi Nian didn't even dare to move for fear of disturbing him.

"Do you want to drink something?"

Surprised by his sudden question, Shi Nian turned sideways and found Jiang Jinyan with his head leaning on his arm which was propped on the table. He was peering up at her with those dark, unfathomable eyes that could always make her hold her breath. 

Shi Nian's heart almost jumped up her throat as she croaked, "…yes."

Jiang Jinyan pressed on the bell button and the previous staff knocked on their door. "May I help you?"

"We want to order something." He said.

The staff smiled and gave them a menu.

Jiang Jinyan flipped to the beverage section and handed it to her. "What do you want?"

Shi Nian indeed felt her throat a little bit too parched. Attracted to the good reviews which commended the food and drink in this café, she was soon distracted from her nervousness and leaned in to look at the menu with him, instead of taking it from him.

Jiang Jinyan only gave her a fleeting glance before looking away.

Thus, the two of them huddled together to look at the menu book. "This strawberry mojito looks nice."

He chided softly, "It's not good to drink that before eating something."

"Huh?" Shi Nian changed her option obediently. "Then, I want a chocolate milkshake."

Jiang Jinyan noted to the staff. "Don't give her too much ice."

The staff, who was silently eating dog food, entered the order while suppressing his smile. "Yes, sir."

Jiang Jinyan then closed the menu which made Shi Nian look at him in confusion. "What about you?"

"Give me a cup of black coffee."

Shi Nian's lips pursed tight and she said after some consideration. "…You will feel bloated if you drink coffee now, it's not good for your stomach."

"Really?" He replied with a faint smile. "Just make the chocolate milkshake two then."

Shi Nian frowned. "You don't like sweets, do you?" She turned to the staff, her small face solemn. "What kind of tea do you have in the house?"

"We have jasmine, chamomile, chrysanthemum, earl grey…"

Without even thinking, she blurted out. "Chrysanthemum tea is fine. You should steep it for a bit longer." In their past lives, General Jiang liked Chrysanthemum tea second most after wine. He especially liked it when the tea was steeped until it tasted more bitter than usual, only then would the sweet aftertaste last longer. He said that it was the perfect sweetness for him, not too yucky nor greasy.

The staff nodded and closed the door for them.

Shi Nian heaved a relieved sigh and turned her head only to find Jiang Jinyan staring fixedly at her. She blinked, the nervousness came back in full force. "I—Is there something wrong?"

"No." His dark eyes gleamed as he drawled slowly. "I am just wondering how much you know about my taste."

"I—" She stuttered in defense, almost biting her tongue in the process. "I am your devoted fan!"

"Oh?" He smiled. "I have never included these preferences in my bio. How do you know that?"

Shi Nian stared at him, dumbfounded.

Fortunately, Jiang Jinyan didn't press her for an answer. He only pinched her nose without saying anything and started to read his manga.

Shi Nian touched her nose, still dazed. She grabbed the topmost book in front of her and flipped it absentmindedly. It was the collection of poems from Ming and Wei Dynasty. Her eyes refocused as she found a familiar poem. Without her realizing, she had recited it verbally, her voice soft and gentle, resonating across the room.

I was not when you were born,

You were old when I was born.

I wished to have been born together,

We could enjoy our time together.

I was so far away from you,

You were so distant from me.

I'd become a flower-seeking butterfly,

And sleep on the fragrant grass every night[1]

Jiang Jinyan commented, "Nice poem."

Shi Nian snapped out of her reverie and only then did she realize what she had done. She bit her lips, abashed. "…Sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" He said, amused. "You have a good voice, and your tone and pronunciation are very nice to hear. Have you practiced poem reading before?"

No, I only paid more attention when you recited it beside me. "I guess...I often listened when someone read it in front of me."

"Auntie Qiang?"

Shi Nian grimaced from the result of her blunder. In this life, she only had Qiang Fei alone. If it wasn't her, then who else? "Yes…" Sorry, mama. I have to lie for a bit, she whimpered inwardly.

This loose mouth! It was better to keep being a mute or else she wouldn't know what else she would blurt out in front of him.

Fortunately, Shi Nian was saved by this predicament by the staff who delivered their drinks. She stood up a bit too eagerly and just like that, the conversation broke off.

He hummed and turned his attention back to the manga, to Shi Nian's relief. She quickly put the poem collection away and grabbed the next book. Her hand halted for a split second before picking it up.

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[1] This is a real poem titled 'I Was Not When You Were Born, You Were Old When I Was Born' written by an unknown writer from Tang Dynasty. Just a reference, the poem indeed have plain language and used by the author to express their pity and nostalgia to a much older lover. It suited General Jiang and Shi Nian very much QAQ

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A/N: Idk if I have written it down, but in their past lives, Shi Nian was rescued by General Jiang when she was 15. Jiang Jinyan was 38.. When they died, Shi Nian was 17 and Jiang Jinyan 40. Right, he's soo much older that it's possible for him to be her father _(:3」∠)_