My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

He thought that she would refuse, judging from how she turned red so easily.

But Jiang Jinyan forgot the fact that Shi Nian would always be able to surprise him, again and again.

She looked up in surprise, her eyes brightening up with hope. "I can?"

It was too late to take his words back, wasn't it? Jiang Jinyan cleared his throat softly. "Sure, come here."

Shi Nian carefully bypassed his leg and sat her butt down between his two long legs. She was already thin and petite to begin with, thus when she shrunk her body, she was able not to bump into him carelessly, albeit her whole nerves were strained tight with the ball of nervousness in her gut.

Originally, she was leaning forward, but the man's arm embraced her from behind so that her back was flushed against his chest, rendering her previous effort futile. The tip of Shi Nian's eyes reddened with a speed visible to naked eyes, and the blush travelled to her cheeks and neck. His presence engulfed her whole body with his arm settled around her waist.

Still, it was so warm and comfortable that she didn't want to move…

Slowly, her body relaxed and she leaned against his chest. Jiang Jinyan put his chin atop her head and reached for his manga which he had only read up to page 3. 

Shi Nian pointed at it. "Is it fun?"

A deep chuckle sounded above her head and the tremor from his chest sent tingles down her spine. "Do you want to read together?"

Shi Nian took a deep breath to stabilize her heart and nodded. Jiang Jinyan would always ask her softly whether she had finished reading before turning the page and she readily gave a nod. In fact, she couldn't focus at all.

His hands…how beautiful…

Shi Nian marveled on his defined knuckles, prominent joint, long slender fingers with neatly trimmed nails. Wide and masculine palm that was obviously two sizes larger than hers with greenish veins popping under his fair skin. He indeed had impeccable hands for those with fetishes.

"What are you looking at?" he asked.

Shi Nian answered in daze. "Your hands ah."

Only when Jiang Jinyan chortled softly did she regain her senses and blushed. Oh my God, what was she talking about?! "I—" Shi Nian started to panic.

Jiang Jinyan directly pointed her out. "You're not reading at all, are you?"

Nothing could ever escape Jiang Jinyan's eyes. Shi Nian admitted guiltily. "I'm sorry…"

"What are you sorry for?" He knocked his chin on her head softly in admonition. "You can do whatever you want."

"Whatever I want?" Shi Nian confirmed once again.

Jiang Jinyan hummed in agreement and turned the page. As he was immersed in the basketball competition among the first year newbies with the main character who had a very thin presence, a soft sensation landed on his wrist. He turned his gaze only to see Shi Nian pressing on the protruding bone on his wrist playfully, massaging and kneading on it as she pleased.

To be honest, it was a little ticklish. No, very ticklish to be exact. A strange sensation spread through his wrist up to his arm and he quickly caught her sneaky hand.

"What are you doing?" his voice came out deeper than before.

Shi Nian turned her head sideway to peer up at him, her eyes accusing. "You said I can do whatever I want…"

Jiang Jinyan's eyes darkened in warning. "You really want a mile after given an inch."

Shi Nian puffed her cheeks in protest. "You're the one who said it!"

It seemed like he had spoiled her rotten that she dared to climb over his head. Jiang Jinyan smiled grimly and without any warning, he trapped her in place and tickled her waist.

Shi Nian jolted in shock, eyes widening. "You—Ha…Hahahahaha! Stop it!" She wriggled around, yet unable to break free from his arms. "No, it's ticklish hahaha! Ah, don't touch me there!"

Jiang Jinyan savored her suffering to quench his anger. "Now you know how ticklish I feel, huh?"

"Nooo, stop it!" Shi Nian couldn't stand it the most when her waist was tickled. Her limbs turned soft and she slumped onto his arms, trying to push his hands away to no avail. "Jiang Jinyan!" In a desperate attempt to flee, she crawled out of his embrace only to be pulled back once again.

"Where are you going?" He continued to teach her a lesson.

"Stop it!" Shi Nian wheezed, tears sprung up her eyes from overlaughing. Her eyes were watery as she pleaded. "Okay, I am wrong. It's my fault okay? I will not do it again!" She held his shoulders as support to hang onto him.

Their faces were only an inch away from each other. Heavy breaths overlapping. Two pairs of eyes met in midair and sparks of electricity zipped between them, making them turn silent at the same time. The atmosphere shifted subtly and finally, they realized how intimate their position had become amidst the playful tussle.

"J—Jiang Jinyan…" Shi Nian called out nervously. Was it only her imagination or his face was indeed coming closer?

Shi Nian attempted to avert her gaze but her chin was grasped, forced to turn toward him again. His face magnified indefinitely in front of her eyes and this time, Shi Nian found herself unable to look away anymore. She was rapidly sinking into the violent whirlpool of those eyes which were so dark that only a faint visage of her face was reflected.

His breath grazed her cheek in a soft tickle, causing her heartbeat to accelerate.

Yet her heart felt strangely at peace. 

She slowly grew unsatisfied with their current distance. How she wanted them to be closer and closer. Until they could finally feel each other in the true sense.

Jiang Jinyan put his hands on her waist as the girl reached out to hook her arms around his neck. When their lips were only a few centimeters from each other, he whispered in a low voice. "Close your eyes."

Shi Nian stared into his eyes, bewitched. She heard herself reply, "But I want to look at you…"

His eyes flickered with faint mirth. He said no more and closed the distance between them, both of their eyes were wide open as their lips brushed against each other. The raging fervor were clear to see, as if they didn't just touch each other physically but spiritually as well.

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A/N: I....have no words to say _(:3」∠)_