My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

City A People Hospital's gate was swarmed with people carrying recording equipment, heavy cameras and mics. Security guards fiercely scowled as they maintained the order, using their flesh and soul to block the gate. "Go back! What are you all doing here, obstructing the way? This is a hospital! What if emergency patients got stuck behind because of you? Go back!"

But it was like their words dissipated into thin air, ignored and uncared for.

It wasn't until the police siren rang in the distance that the reporter perked up. Yet, instead of leaving, each of their faces showed palpable excitement instead. "Finally, the police arrived! Hurry, hurry, start the recording!"

The security guards' faces almost turned blue due to anger.

Three police cars stopped behind the rows of mini vans from various news stations. The door of the car in the very front swung open and a long leg stepped out. The reporters instantly swarmed into that person without even looking properly at who he was.

"What do you have to say regarding the post that recently went viral in the forum?"

"Is it true that the serial killer has been discovered around the perimeter of the hospital?"

"What did the hospital have to do with the serial killer? Are there some conspiracies that we aren't clear about?"

"Is there some secret relationship between the police and the serial killer?"

"Police officers, please answer our questions!"

Mics were shoved into that person's face and finally the reporters could catch a clear sight of him. Thinly pressed lips, perfect straight nose, deep set eyes, frowning brows thick in displeasure, low chill emanating from his body. The reporters simultaneously froze.

The security guards' faces lit up as if they had finally found their savior. Like children, they started to complain and tattletale about the reporters. "Detective Xu, it's good that you're here. The reporters have been crowding the gate since last night."

"That's right. Today, it's especially crowded. Cars and ambulances can't even pass through! What if there are emergency patients later on?!"

Xu Binchen nodded in acknowledgement toward the security guards then spread his gaze evenly among the faces of each reporter with eyes as sharp as a dagger. His lips opened and a low, emotionless voice came through. It wasn't loud but without a clear reason, the whole crowd suddenly turned silent so his voice was especially conspicuous.

"Disrupting public spaces, obstructing medical officers from doing their job properly, intentionally causing havoc and spreading panic." Xu Binchen waved his hand and the police officers behind him shoved a paper to each of the reporters. "This is your arrest warrant. Please get back into your car and follow us back to the police station."

The out-of-control situation was instantly subdued because of Xu Binchen's heavy presence. He only wore a piece of white cotton shirt, long pants with another long thin jacket as addition. If he wore a black sunglasses, then he would have instantly transformed into a full pledged model. Nonetheless, the aura he exuded was akin to a domineering CEO who would slap people's faces with black cards if they didn't listen to him.

The rowdy and wild reporters were akin to wilted chicken as they obediently put their equipment back and climbed into their car. The police cars worked dexterously as they guided the rows of mini vans in the middle along the street. The police siren roared loudly with red and blue lights flared out. It was quite a spectacular sight to behold.

One after another, they left until only Xu Binchen's car left. He waited as he smoked until another police officer came out from the hospital. "Detective Xu, everything is done here."

Xu Binchen nodded and extinguished the burning cigarette. "Get back first. I will follow behind." After saying that, Xu Binchen stepped past the gate toward the security post. He bowed in apology. "On behalf of the police, I offer my apology for coming late."

"No, you're not late at all." The middle aged security guard with a beer belly surnamed Lin leaned forward, curiosity written clearly across his forehead. "But, Detective Xu, the thing those reporters were talking about…is it true? Is that why there's so many police officers patrolling around lately?"

Xu Binchen pressed his lips together and answered perfunctorily. "The investigation hasn't concluded yet. We will release an official notice later so please wait for it patiently." He nodded and turned to walk away. "Thank you for your hard work."

Xu Binchen got into the police car and turned off the siren light. He drove smoothly into the main road with every car avoiding him due to the police emblem that was carved into the car's body, but his lips were still pressed thin, showing his evident displeasure regarding the development of the case. The green light flickered to yellow and Xu Binchen slowly pressed on the brake as the car gently stopped behind the red traffic light.

His phone beeped and he gave an inadvertent glance.

[Ten Years]: Uncle detective, I have just seen the news.

[Ten Years]: Are you okay? How can the matter of the serial killer be discovered by reporters?

[Ten Years]: That post! They are just speaking nonsense!

[Ten Years]: angrytotears.jpg

Xu Binchen's cold eyes thawed without him knowing as he fished out the phone. Seizing the chance when the traffic light would still be red for the next forty seconds, he typed in a reply.

[Xu Binchen]: Everything is under control. Don't worry

[Xu Binchen]: rubhead.jpg

[Xu Binchen]: Have you arrived home yet?

[Ten Years]: Soon. Sister Meiqi brought us to the temple earlier on to buy amulets.

[Ten Years]: Unexpectedly, she's so religious.

[Ten Years]: laughingcrying.jpg

[Ten Years]: Uncle detective, are you very busy?

The traffic light turned green and Xu Binchen typed a single period to show his answer. He put the phone back down and continued driving to the police station which was especially lively today, even more than New Year's time. He parked on the designated parking lot and entered the police bureau, strictly walking toward the elevator and pressed the fourth floor.

As the elevator dinged open, Tang Wei's loud roar travelled into his ears. "That's why I am asking you where you get this information from! How dare you talk back to me?!"

The male reporter shrunk his neck but still replied fearfully. "Isn't it because the police colluded with the serial killer?"

"What?! Say it again?!"

The front lobby that was usually deserted was filled with young people, their faces bitter and sour as Tang Wei extracted their testimony one by one. Xu Binchen gave them a glance and passed by to enter the office. Inside of it, there were only Ke Shao, Jin Renguang and a few low rank police officers who were busy coming back and forth to send documents.

Upon sensing someone coming closer, Ke Shao lifted his head and broke into a smile. "Welcome back. Good work, it's been hard on you."

Jin Renguang turned back to show that he was currently on the phone. He gave a 'wait a moment' gesture and continued talking. Xu Binchen went to his seat and sank down onto it like a sloth. He heaved a sigh and touched the mouse. Instantly, his computer screen lit up to show the exact post that had gone viral after being reposted for 700.000 times.

[Police vs Serial Killer?! Scandals revealed in City A's hospital!]

"You have returned?" Jin Renguang ended his phone and greeted him. "How is it?"

Xu Binchen turned his eyes away and reported. "Everything is normal. There's no suspicious people. The bait we set isn't working either."

Jin Renguang rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Boss." Ke Shao butted in with a frown. "What should we do now? Butterfly has returned home safely and we have placed police officers around her too. Everything is just going smoothly. Then…we deliberately released this kind of news, isn't it a suicide move for us?"

That's right. The hot news that currently shook the entire nation regarding how the serial killer had been hiding inside of City A's hospital and how the police turned a blind eye to it was released by the Captain of Special Criminal Investigation Squad himself.

Jin Renguang grinned at Ke Shao's words. "Who said that we didn't get any benefit from this?"

"Really?" Ke Shao's eyes shone. "How is it? How did the higher ups react?"

Smugly, Jin Renguang cackled with a face that really asked for a beating. "They have just threatened to fire me if this topic is still spreading by the end of this week."

Xu Binchen: "…"

Ke Shao: "…fuck! Boss, how can you still laugh?! You—" Ke Shao didn't know what to say except giving him a thumbs up. "Badass!"