historical

Shi Nian felt so distressed that she wished she could slap herself a few minutes ago for her stupidity. Immense guilt awashed her. [Where???] She scanned two possible places; his arm which she had grabbed onto. No bruises present. So..the only place was..

Jiang Jinyan moved his leg away as if wanting to hide it from her eyes.

The rims of Shi Nian's eyes reddened and she felt so upset that she wanted to cry. Fortunately, the wind at night was so cold that her tears didn't have any chance to be formed before they dried up.

It must be his leg hurting..

What should she do?

What could she even do?

Shi Nian lowered her head, remorseful. [Sorry, I thought that you..] wanted to jump down from the roof, she lamented inwardly.

But just as Jiang Jinyan had said, he wasn't so stupid to do that.

Jiang Jinyan rested his elbow on his propped up knee, examining her closely. She was so frightened that she didn't even dare to look up at him. He was reminded of the fear in her eyes. Thinking back of it, he was amused.

They clearly didn't have any relationship with each other so how could she care for him very much when the people who clearly had blood relation to him didn't even care whether he dropped dead somewhere?

His fingers curled subconsciously and he couldn't help asking. "Why? Do you like me that much?"

Shi Nian lifted her head in shock but upon meeting his razor sharp eyes, she lowered her head again. Like a child who was caught stealing something, she nodded briefly. The movement was so small that if he didn't look at her closely, then he would have missed it.

"Look up."

Shi Nian gingerly lifted her chin but her eyes still darted everywhere.

"Look at me," he said again. "Or do you want me to force you?"

Shi Nian pursed her lips and finally gathered her courage to meet those dark bottomless eyes.

Truly similar, Jiang Jinyan thought. How could her eyes be so similar to his stupid fella?

"Say it." His lips curled up in a sneer. "What do you like about me?" He had lost his family, his dream, his body, his future, what else did she see in him?

Shi Nian pressed her lips tight and her eyes turned moist. Jiang Jinyan in front of her became a blur, so much that she didn't catch the pain and satirical flash in his eyes.

The girl earnestly typed. [Everything about you is good. Very good.] in which she earned a guffaw from the man in front of her.

Even if she was dense, she could still catch the deep mockery amidst his laughter.

Shi Nian chewed her lips. [You don't believe me?]

Jiang Jinyan breathed deeply. "Why should I trust you?"

He's right..why should he trust a stranger's words? Shi Nian wilted like a rotten potato.

Unreconciled, she raised her eyes to glare at him. Her fingers flew on the screen. [You're very wise, dependable and mature. Kind and gentle. Humble and passionate. You have an adorable kitten. Even if you're the young master of a rich family, you never look down on others...]

There's more though like, he's kind enough to shelter the witch who was repelled by the entire world, taking her under his wings no matter what people said, endure the malice and hostility together with her, silently shielded her behind his back all the while smiling carefreely, providing her freedom, security and protection, always supporting whatever she wished to do..

There was so much that the more Shi Nian thought, the more she found that Jiang Jinyan was truly the best man in the world. If she was asked to elaborate, she would be able to continue on for three days straight.

Alas, it's all in their past. No one knew his hidden kindness except her. Not even the person himself.

Shi Nian felt dejected all of a sudden and she ended her praise with [You're very good looking too.]

Seeing the girl earnestly wracked her brain to praise him, Jiang Jinyan felt a rare flicker of amusement and warmth spread through his chest. Outwardly, he scoffed. "Even if my face is scarred?"

Shi Nian seriously nodded. [Very good looking.]

"Even if I became a waste?" He asked in a joking tone.

But the girl surprisingly erupted just like when he accidentally stepped on the stupid fella's tail. Her fur bristled and her eyes shone red in anger. She was so angry that she neglected her phone, her shoulders trembled in fury.

What waste?! Who dared to say that her general was a waste?!!

Her lips parted then closed again. Her literature knowledge wasn't good and she couldn't form any words to describe how terrible she felt. She could only grab his hand and shook her head again and again.

Jiang Jinyan was stunned and when he laughed, his voice was slightly hoarse. "What are you angry for? Truly you—" A lump formed on his throat.

You're so stupid.

How could you be so stupid?

Jiang Jinyan lowered his head to hide the redness on his eyes, but Shi Nian thought that he didn't believe her words at all. Dejected, she held onto his hand, her fingers softly kneading his joints while the tip of her fingers slowly, stroke by stroke, grazed his skin. [Not lying.] I am not lying..you have to believe me. You're really, truly, very good.

Her soft caresses scalded his hand and he hurriedly yanked his hand away. He bore the pain and stood up, leaving only a curt sentence "You stay here" and left, his gait almost like fleeing.

Shi Nian stared at his back until he disappeared behind the door, her whole person shrouded in gloominess.

On the other hand, Jiang Jinyan slammed the door behind him, his breathing harsh as if he had just ran a marathon. Thump thump thump...his heartbeat drummed loudly and he lifted his hand to cover his mouth. But then, he recalled that it's the hand that she had just touched and hastily retracted it, wishing he could just dismember his limb.

"Mew..?" The stupid fella popped its head out from under the sofa.

Jiang Jinyan glanced at it and was reminded of Shi Nian's eyes again. He closed his eyes exasperatedly. "Can you just go away for a second?"

"Mew~" It titled its head in confusion and fortunately, it was too lazy to move so it just splayed there like a boneless rug. Maybe if it could talk, it would say: "What does this stupid hooman come up with again?"

Jiang Jinyan managed to calm himself down with much difficulty. But the sensation on his hand lingered still, quite ticklish, numbing and burning as if all of his nerves were concentrated there. He didn't manage to sleep until dawn and when he was woken up by the kitten's miserable yowls, it was already evening.

He dragged his aching body to feed it cat food and some goat milk in apology while he himself ate some food which didn't register in his mind. When he went downstairs to throw his trash, the receptionist lady, household appliances auntie and janitor uncle huddled together to gossip, their voices travelled to his ears intermittently.

"..how terrifying! Has the serial killer got here already?!"

"Shush, don't talk so loud. The police forbid us to talk about it."

"But someone was killed ah! His body was thrown into our garbage can! Let me tell you something, I heard from my friend who worked in another building that it's Mr. Wu from the west wing who disappeared a few weeks ago!"

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A/N:

Jiang Jinyan: stupid fella

Catto: stupid hooman

Shi Nian: I pronounce you two partners for life (●′ω`●)?