My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Chapter 22 - You're As Well As Dead

Shi Nian froze and for a while, she didn't know where to put her hands and legs, as well as where she had to look and where she had to avoid.

Jiang Jinyan rose from the bed and leisurely walked behind the folding screen. The rustle of clothes being unshed layer by layer was especially loud in the silent room, the dim candle reflected his tone and muscled silhouette, unveiling each and every movement of his, followed by the splashing sound of water.

The girl chose to close her eyes.

"What are you doing, standing there like a fool?" There was mirth in his tone.

Shi Nian realized that he was teasing her. Hardening herself in anger, she stomped forward past the folding screen and regretted it the very next second. Jiang Jinyan was soaking in the bathtub, his wide shoulder above the water, the mist made his face vague, however it made him look more depraved rather than standing there naked.

His arms reached out, water slid down on it drop by drop like glistening dew. "Bring me the towel there."

She followed his direction and passed the white, fluffy towel to him. Her face wooden and stiff.

He started to wash himself, and in no time at all, the clean towel turned crimson, the water diluted with blood. "Come and help me rinse."

Shi Nian lowered her sight and stepped forward, grabbing the wooden ladle. She stood behind him and slowly poured water down his head. Each droplet of water dripped past his tan skin, highlighting the edges and ridges of his rippling muscle as well as the numerous scars on his back.

Flush crept up her face, and Shi Nian truly didn't understand why she had the urge to run away at that moment.

"Ask." He propped both his arms on the bucket, heaving a sigh of satisfaction.

Shi Nian's movement paused. Her heart inwardly lamented. Truly, nothing could ever get past his eyes. She thought that she had covered her curiosity clearly but he still saw through her.

Shi Nian's eyes darted right and left. Because of the water, she had left the writing paper behind and there was nothing she could use to write.

As if knowing her predicament, Jiang Jinyan tapped on his shoulder, his knuckles hard and distinct.

Shi Nian bowed her head, hair covering the deepening blush on her cheeks. She reached out and gently stroked his wet skin. [Why didn''t you avoid it?]

"What do you mean?" Jiang Jinyan's eyes were half lidded and he soaked his arms back to cover the goosebumps rising along his skin due to the girl's touch.

[Your wound. You could have avoided it.]

He humphed. "But then my arm would pay the price."

[You almost died because of it.]

He fell silent. She couldn't guess his thoughts thus she could only count on the scars around his shoulders. Six. There were six of them, both light and heavy. Old and new.

"There's something you should know, Miss Shi." He turned around with a whoosh and Shi Nian hastily averted her gaze. "Look at me."

She cursed inwardly, but then obediently moved her eyes back, instantly locking their eyes together. The dim light in the room further highlighted his dark eyes, it was so dark that not even a hint of light could ever pierce through it.

It was the exact opposite of her. Hers were light brown, and under the light, it turned lighter, almost golden in color. When she looked at you with those curious and inquiring eyes, it was enough to make your soul tremble.

"Here," He pointed at his chest where the wound was. "It's not as important as my arms. In war, even though I lost a piece of meat in my chest, as long as I could still move, I wouldn't stop. But when your limbs were cut…" His lips curled in a cold smirk. "Then you're as well as dead."

***

You're as well as dead…

His words reverberated in her ears, forcing her to recall his gaunt and hollowed figure who sat on a wheelchair.

The rims of Shi Nian's eyes reddened as she gave Nurse Li a comforting smile. [I am okay.]

"Really?" Nurse Li looked at her dubiously. "You scared me to death when you started crying, you know? Do you really not feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

She nodded firmly. [It's okay. I am just…remembering someone.]

Nurse Li instantly remembered Doctor Chun's words, that Shi Nian was under his care for now because her mother was too busy to come. Even though her daughter had been awake for weeks, she still hadn't appeared. Thinking about it, Nurse Li felt apprehension as well as sympathy.

She sensibly nodded and didn't ask further.

[May I ask…the patient named Jiang Jinyan…] The tip of her pen hovered above the paper, not writing after a while.

Nurse Li peered into her board and smiled. "Are you a fan of Mr. Jiang Jinyan too?"

Shi Nian turned blank. A fan? Of General? Well, she could be counted as one. Thus, she nodded.

Nurse Li smiled brightly. "I knew it. Of course, you will be sad knowing he's in such a heartbreaking accident. I was sad when I found out about it too. But can you promise me one thing?"

She gestured for Nurse Li to continue.

"Please don't tell anyone else about him, okay? His condition is kept under secret by the hospital so that he can recuperate safely without any disturbance."

Shi Nian nodded vigorously, of course she wanted the General to properly recuperate. Her heart ached as she thought of him. [May I visit him?]

"No." Nurse Li smiled awkwardly. "He isn't open for visitors right now." Shi Nian's shoulders dropped in disappointment but Nurse Li continued, "But you can still see him occasionally though. After all, he is here on the same floor."

Shi Nian's eyes brightened as she said her thanks.

Happiness and sadness mixed within her chest. She was happy that she'd found him so soon, but she was sad at his current condition. General Jiang Jinyan…ah no, she shook her head. In this life, he was no longer a general, nor did he remember her.

She smiled wryly, lips curled in a bitter smile.

A knock resounded on her door and Xu Binchen appeared.

Shi Nian's eyes lit up at the sight of him and she jumped down from the chair, her feet thump thump thump on the floor, running toward him.

Xu Binchen frowned heavily and stepped aside to avoid her. "What do you want?" he asked in doubt. One moment, she looked so sad as if she wanted to die and the next moment, she was so happy that she skipped around. Teenager, he mused.

[Uncle…] Shi Nian peered up at him with eyes full of hope. [Can I borrow your phone for a while?]