First, then, love.

He Zhengzhen stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall outside the restroom like a door god.

The door wasn't closed properly, leaving a gap about two fingers wide.

The sounds of flowing water and rubbing clothes inside were clearly audible.

Shu Yao sat on the toilet, looking at the tall shadow of the man that peeked through the crack in the door, and the panic in her heart finally subsided.

As long as he's around, even perverts have to give him a wide berth.

A few minutes later, she rinsed herself off, washed her hands, and wrapped herself back into the large white bath towel.

Push open the door.

He Zheng looked down at her. "All done?"

Shu Yao nodded.

Without saying a word, he bent down again, picked the person up, and strode towards the living room.

The first-aid kit was already open on the coffee table in the living room.

He Zheng put her on the sofa and then dragged a small stool to sit opposite her.

I picked up a bottle of iodine solution and soaked a medical cotton swab in the reddish-brown liquid.

"Reach out," he commanded.

Shu Yao shakily stretched out her two hands.

His palm was a bloody mess, tiny ice shards melted into water under the heater, mixed with mud and blood, a truly gruesome sight.

He Zheng's brows furrowed into a tight knot, and he took a deep breath.

"It will hurt a little, bear with it and don't move around."

The cotton swab went down.

The moment the iodine solution came into contact with the broken skin, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly erupted.

"hiss--!"

Shu Yao gasped, abruptly pulled her hand back, and tears streamed down her face.

"It hurts... I'm not doing it anymore... He Zheng, it hurts..."

"Don't move!"

He Zheng grabbed her wrist tightly, with a force that left no room for resistance.

"It's full of sand. If you don't wash it clean, it'll get inflamed and fester tomorrow. Do you want an amputation?"

He cursed fiercely, but his actions became even gentler.

He lowered his head and brought his hands close to her bloodied and mangled palm.

While using a cotton swab to carefully remove the mud and sand, she pouted.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

He gently blew on her delicate palm, trying to ease the burning pain.

Warm breath sprayed onto the wound, causing a tingling sensation.

Shu Yao bit her lower lip, looking at his focused profile, tears still falling, but she stopped struggling.

After treating your hands, wrap them with two thin layers of sterile gauze.

He Zheng went to the refrigerator and took out some ice cubes, then wrapped them in a clean towel.

I sat back down next to her and gently placed an ice pack on her swollen left cheek.

"Take it yourself and apply it for twenty minutes."

Shu Yao obediently took it and pressed it against her face; the cool touch suppressed the redness and swelling.

After all that was done, it was already 1 a.m.

He Zheng put away the first-aid kit, turned around and went to the bathroom for a quick shower.

Five minutes later, I emerged, still damp and smelling of minty shower gel.

The two returned to the master bedroom.

He Zheng turned off the main light, leaving only a dim bedside wall lamp on.

I lifted the silk quilt and lay down inside.

Shu Yao immediately clung to her like a magnet.

She wasn't wearing pajamas, just her underwear, and she snuggled into his arms.

She wrapped her legs around his legs, her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest muscles.

He Zheng wrapped his long arm around her and hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Sleep well, I'll watch over you."

In the darkness, his heartbeat was steady and strong.

As Shu Yao listened to the voice, her tense nerves finally relaxed completely, and a wave of fatigue washed over her.

Close your eyes and drift off to sleep.

*

The night grew deeper and deeper.

The wind and snow outside the window showed no signs of stopping; the gale lashed against the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, emitting a teeth-grinding howl.

The bedroom was very warm due to the underfloor heating.

Shu Yao did not sleep soundly.

Dream.

A dark parking lot, with dim, flickering streetlights.

"Shh, shh, shh."

Heavy footsteps sounded behind me, growing closer and closer.

A stench assaulted my senses, and the bloodstained, unkempt face loomed large before my eyes.

The cold switchblade pressed against her cheek.

"Why are you running away, Yaoyao..."

The perverted voice slithered into my ears like a venomous snake.

She wanted to shout, but no sound came out; she wanted to run, but her feet felt rooted to the spot.

Despair, suffocation.

"No...don't touch me..."

On the large bed, Shu Yao suddenly opened her eyes.

Soaked in cold sweat, his chest heaved violently, he gasped for breath, and a broken sob escaped his throat.

She didn't dare to shout loudly, afraid of waking He Zheng.

In the darkness, tears welled up silently again, falling onto the pillow.

The nightmare was so real, so real that she can still smell that sour, rotten odor.

Beside him, the man's breathing was steady.

He Zheng is a very light sleeper; the slightest noise or disturbance can wake him up instantly.

As soon as Shu Yao struggled, he immediately noticed the strangeness of the woman in his arms.

She was trembling.

He Zheng turned on the bedside lamp.

The dim, yellow light shone down.

He looked down and saw her face covered in tears.

"Yaoyao".

He Zheng's heart clenched, and he wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

Shu Yao looked at his face.

The fear in my dream shattered with a crash.

"He Zheng..."

She burst into tears.

She suddenly stretched out her arms and hugged his neck tightly, burying her face in his broad, warm neck.

"I dreamt about him... He was about to slash my face with a knife... I thought I'd never see you again..."

She cried so hard she lost all composure, wiping her snot and tears all over his bare chest.

He tightened his grip, drawing her into his very bones.

His large hand stroked her thin back repeatedly, following her spine.

"Dreams are always the opposite of reality; they're fake, fake."

He coaxed her softly, over and over again, patiently and tirelessly.

"That bastard is lying in the hospital waiting to die. I've crippled him myself, so he'll never touch a hair on your head in his life."

Shu Yao listened to his voice and felt the vibrations in his chest.

Just in an instant.

A flash of white light suddenly appeared in my mind.

It was as if something, deep within the soul, had completely broken free of its shell.

Leaning against this man's chest, she suddenly realized that she had fallen completely and unconditionally in love with him.

She loved his savagery, his rudeness, and the burning heart that beat for her hidden beneath his cold exterior.

She could no longer imagine what her life would be like without He Zheng.

"He Zheng".

She stopped sobbing and lifted her head from the crook of his neck.

Her eyes were red and swollen, but they shone surprisingly brightly in the dim light.

He Zheng looked down at her. "What's wrong? Still scared?"

Shu Yao shook her head.

She suddenly reached out and cupped his face in her hands, leaned in, and kissed his lips.