First, then, love.

"Lazy pig is awake?" He Zheng turned his head when he heard the noise.

His chin was clean-shaven, without a single stubble, giving him a rare and refreshing look.

"Hmm," Shu Yao walked over, glanced at the ticket in his hand, and smiled slightly. "Captain He, it's a symphony concert tonight. Don't snore in the front row, I can't afford to lose face."

"I'm here to keep an eye on people, who has time to sleep?" He Zheng slammed the ticket on the marble table and snorted coldly. "Let's see which pretty boy dares to glance at you, I'll gouge his eyes out on the spot."

This man is incredibly possessive; he even exudes a murderous aura when watching a performance.

Shu Yao smiled and rolled her eyes at him, then picked up the hot milk on the table and took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat, feeling extremely comfortable.

"Don't we need to go to the brigade today?"

"No, even if the Heavenly King himself came, he'd be on holiday today," He Zheng said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

To prepare for tonight's performance, he finalized the schedule with Lao Li half a month in advance, postponed all the surprise inspections to the days before, and stayed up for three consecutive nights.

He even delegated the year-end summary meeting of the special police detachment to the deputy director.

All so that I can free up some time tonight to sit in the audience and watch my wife shine.

*

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

It was already dark outside, and the snow was falling heavier and heavier. Cars lined up in long queues on the road, their red taillights forming a continuous line.

Shu Yao sat in front of the dressing table in the master bedroom and began to apply makeup.

For the evening performance, she wore a black velvet strapless gown, exuding elegance and aloofness; the perfectly tailored fabric clung to her beautiful figure.

Her hair was styled in an updo, revealing her slender swan neck and a valuable diamond necklace adorning her collarbone.

He Zheng came out of the bathroom.

For the first time ever, he wore a well-tailored dark blue patterned suit with a crisp white shirt underneath, no tie, and the collar slightly open.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.

The strong muscles he had developed through years of training made the suit look full and crisp, without a single unnecessary wrinkle.

His handsome face, paired with this outfit, exudes a fierce and ruthless vibe, making him more eye-catching than any male celebrity.

Shu Yao looked at him in the mirror, her eyes lighting up.

"He looks quite presentable," she said, not holding back her praise.

He Zheng tugged at the slightly tight collar, frowning impatiently. "It's like strangling me. I only wore it to save face for you. Otherwise, I would rather die than wear this thing."

He strode over, stood behind her, and bent down.

He stared at the radiant woman in the mirror and gently touched her smooth shoulder.

The skin is smooth and cool to the touch, with an amazing feel.

"You're so beautiful," he said in a low, husky voice, making no attempt to hide his amazement and possessiveness. "I really want to keep you hidden at home and not let anyone see you."

Shu Yao slapped his hand away and scolded, "Stop fooling around, your makeup is going to run. Hurry up and let's go, I need to get to the center for sound tuning ahead of time."

He Zheng straightened up, just about to reach for the black cashmere coat in the entryway.

Just then.

The black, encrypted phone lying on the bedside table suddenly burst into a piercing ringtone.

Sharp and urgent, like a sharp knife, it instantly shattered the warm and cheerful atmosphere in the bedroom.

He Zheng's movements suddenly stopped.

He turned his head and stared at the constantly vibrating phone.

The relaxation and smile on his face vanished instantly.

Shu Yao's hand holding the lipstick froze in mid-air; the lipstick smeared across the corner of her mouth, leaving a red mark.

My heart skipped a beat for no reason, and a bad feeling suddenly welled up inside me.

He Zheng took two steps forward, grabbed the phone, and pressed the answer button.

"Say it," was a single word, crisp, cold, and devoid of any personal emotion.

On the other end of the phone, I could hear Old Li's voice, so anxious he was practically splitting his legs.

"Captain! A major case has occurred! Level one alert! All personnel suspended!"

Old Li spoke at breakneck speed, with the background noise consisting entirely of sirens and hurried, chaotic footsteps.

"Three serious criminals who have been on the run across provinces! They had homemade explosives and a homemade hunting rifle! They broke through the checkpoint and entered the city half an hour ago! Surveillance footage shows they headed towards the old factory area in the south of the city!"

He Zheng's pupils contracted sharply in an instant, and his killing intent exploded.

New Year's Eve, downtown, explosives, armed criminal.

The combination of these words is like a nuclear bomb that could detonate panic in the city at any moment.

The streets are packed with people celebrating the New Year today, and shopping malls and squares are overflowing. If things aren't handled properly and these three desperados manage to sneak into the downtown area, the southern part of the city will turn into a living hell tonight.

The consequences could be disastrous.

"I'll be there right away. Notify the sniper team and bomb disposal team to stand by and seal off all surrounding intersections."

He Zheng didn't say a single unnecessary word, didn't ask why, and didn't complain.

He hung up the phone immediately.

The phone was thrown onto the bed with a dull thud.

The bedroom was deathly silent, with only the howling wind and snow outside the window.

He Zheng turned his head and looked at Shu Yao sitting in front of the dressing table.

She had already turned around, her black velvet dress outlining her perfect curves, and her exquisite makeup making her stunningly beautiful.

Just quietly watch him.

He Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He walked over and placed his hands on her slender shoulders.

"Yaoyao".

He spoke, his voice filled with deep remorse.

"sorry."

These three words carry immense weight.

It hit the air, heavy and weighty.

He promised her he'd stay up for half a month, and he stayed up for three consecutive nights. He even changed into this cramped suit.

But now, he has to break his promise.

As the captain, he had to be at the forefront at this time.

Shu Yao looked at him, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Are you wronged? Of course I am.

Feeling lost? I'm so lost I feel like I'm dying.

This was her most important New Year's Eve performance as the principal cellist, and she longed for him to sit in the front row so he could see her shine and watch her play for him under the spotlight.

My temper is raging inside me.

I want to yell at him, I want to ask him why others can go but he can't, I want to ask him if he absolutely has to go.

However, when she met He Zheng's firm, dark eyes...

She swallowed all those impulsive words back down her throat.

She remembered what Old Li's wife had said that day in the emergency exit.

He almost pierced the artery; a reckless madman, with a pre-written suicide note.

She was the wife of a SWAT officer, and she knew better than anyone what that phone call meant.

It means he has to risk his life again, and it means the peace of this city needs him to protect it with his own flesh and blood.

Shu Yao sniffed, forcing back her tears.

She stood up and pushed away his hand that was on her shoulder.

"Stop talking nonsense and go change your clothes."

Her voice was calm, without crying or complaining, and even her tone was steady.

He Zheng was stunned for a moment.

He thought she would make a scene, cry, and he was even prepared to be beaten and scolded by her.

But she didn't.

She was unusually calm, so calm that it made his heart ache.

He Zheng didn't dare to delay. Time was life, and every second wasted increased the risk of the fugitive escaping.

He quickly took off his dark blue coat and white shirt.

In just three minutes.

The thug in the suit just now instantly transformed back into a cold-faced devil.

He Zheng stood in the entryway and picked up his car keys.

Shu Yao followed behind.

She was wearing a gorgeous black velvet gown, and standing next to this tough guy, they seemed like two completely different worlds.

He Zheng looked down at her.

I wanted to reach out and hug her, but I was afraid I would tear her expensive dress.

The rough, large hand reached into the air, then abruptly stopped, the knuckles slightly curled.

Shu Yao noticed his hesitation and concerns.

She stepped forward and gently straightened the collar of his tactical uniform with both hands.

The movements are gentle and focused.

Like an ordinary wife seeing her husband off to work.

He Zheng lowered his eyes and watched her fair and slender fingers move across the black nylon fabric.

Guilt permeated every bone of his being.

"I'm sorry, tonight..." he said again, his voice hoarse.

"Shut up."

Shu Yao interrupted him.

She looked up into his eyes, raised her fist, and punched his chest hard.

"Wear the bulletproof vest. You said it yourself, wear three layers." She stared at him, her tone fierce, with the assertiveness unique to a police officer's wife.

"Mm." He Zheng nodded, his voice low.

"OK."

Shu Yao withdrew her hand and took half a step back.

Although disappointed, she showed understanding as a police officer's wife, only saying, "Be careful, I'll wait for you to come home for the New Year."