First, then, love.

He Zheng's voice suddenly dropped to freezing point.

"On a snowy day, he followed a lone woman, carrying a controlled knife, with the intent to kidnap her. This is a genuine attempted kidnapping. In addition, he was charged with disorderly conduct and intentional injury. There is ample evidence and witness testimony."

He Zheng coldly listed the charges, his arguments clear and logical.

"Although no irreversible consequences occurred, the circumstances were egregious and the social impact was extremely negative. With multiple offenses combined, a minimum sentence of three years is inevitable."

He leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at the snow-covered road below.

"Once the court rules and the procedures are completed, this bastard will most likely be sent to the South Suburbs Prison to serve his sentence."

He Zheng lowered his voice.

"There are a few old brothers of mine who were trained in the South Suburbs Prison. They're now guards there. Could you take some time to go and treat them to a big drink for me?"

Old Li's eyes lit up on the other end of the phone, and he immediately understood what He Zheng meant.

"Captain, you mean...?"

"We don't need to let them break the rules, nor do we need to give people something to talk about."

He Zheng spoke calmly, as if he were talking about the weather, but the content of his words was chilling.

"As long as you 'follow the rules,' those perverts are the most despised by the hardened criminals. As long as they don't die, there are plenty of legal ways to teach them a lesson."

"These past few years have been enough for him to peel off three layers of skin."

He Zheng is a policeman; he wouldn't knowingly break the law to beat someone to death.

But within the bounds of the law, he has a hundred ways to make that beast wish he were dead, to make him regret being born into this world, to regret having those dog eyes that shouldn't have seen.

"Alright, Captain! Don't worry! I'll handle this personally! I guarantee it'll be done flawlessly, not even a fly could find a fault!"

Old Li agreed with unusual ease on the other end of the phone, his tone revealing the exhilaration of having a great revenge.

Daring to mess with the wife of their SWAT team leader, this bastard has really kicked a hornet's nest.

"Yeah, thanks for staying up all night, guys. Let me tell you, this case is closed. I'm treating the whole team to barbecue, all you can eat."

"Alright! Captain, you're so generous! I won't bother you while you're with your wife, I'll hang up now!"

Old Li hung up the phone in a flurry.

The balcony has returned to quiet.

He Zheng put his phone in his pocket, closed the glass door, and completely shut out the cold air.

He walked to the corner of the living room.

He crouched down, revealing his tall frame, and opened the violin case.

The precious cello lay quietly inside the deep red velvet lining.

The thick C and G strings had snapped and bounced off, the bridge was tilted to one side, and there was a tiny scratch on the surface of the instrument. It looked truly pitiful.

He Zheng stretched out his finger and gently plucked the broken string.

This is her most treasured possession.

He stood up and closed the violin case.

He planned that once she calmed down, he would take her to the best luthier in the south of the city to repair it. If it couldn't be repaired, he would order an identical one from the original factory in Italy.

As long as she could be like before, at home, wearing pajamas, proudly playing the cello and acting all high and mighty, he would be completely willing.

He Zheng turned around and strode back to the master bedroom.

Their footsteps were extremely light, without making a sound.

Push open the door.

The woman on the bed remained in the same position he had left in, fast asleep.

He walked to the bedside, but instead of getting on, he sat cross-legged on the soft cashmere carpet.

He casually draped his arm over the edge of the bed, watching Shu Yao, who was fast asleep.

Looked for a long time.

My legs had become completely numb from sitting cross-legged for so long, causing poor blood circulation. It felt like thousands of ants were gnawing at my bones.

He didn't move.

She even breathed very softly, afraid that the slightest noise would shatter the hard-won peace of sleep.

The winter sunlight crept in through the French windows, slowly moving from the edge of the carpet to the foot of the bed.

Tiny dust particles danced in the light.

*

11 o'clock.

The person in bed finally stirred.

Shu Yao frowned slightly, her long eyelashes trembled, and she let out a dry, soft groan.

"water……"

My throat is completely hoarse, like I swallowed a handful of dry sand; it's sore and aching.

Last night, my desperate cries in the snow, coupled with extreme fright, have put my vocal cords on the verge of inflammation.

He Zheng suddenly snapped back to reality.

He stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the bed, but his legs gave way and he almost knelt down on one knee.

Gritting his teeth, he managed to steady himself and paused for two seconds.

He turned and strode out of the master bedroom.

I went to the kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, added some honey, and stirred it well.

I walked back and sat on the edge of the bed.

He reached his large hand under the back of her neck, half-lifted her up, and placed her against his strong chest.

He held the water glass to her lips.

"Open your mouth and drink slowly."

The warm honey water slid down my throat, sweet and soothing, and relieved a lot of the dry, cracked pain.

Shu Yao drank half a cup in one gulp.

He then slowly opened his eyes.

My vision was still a little blurry, and my eyelids were swollen and painful.

She subconsciously moved her hand.

A sharp, piercing pain shot through my palm.

The ten fingers are connected to the heart. The skin and flesh I scraped on the ice last night, even though I applied medicine, still hurt terribly from the stretching and pulling.

She glanced down.

Their hands were tightly wrapped in white sterile gauze, looking like two heavy white rice dumplings.

Memories flooded back instantly.

Snowstorm, dark alley, stench from a bread truck, and a twisted laugh.

Shu Yao's pupils contracted sharply, her breathing became rapid, and her thin shoulders began to tremble uncontrollably.

"He Zheng..."

She turned her head abruptly, like a frightened bird.

"Yes, here."

He Zheng put down his water glass, tightened his arms around her, and held her tightly in his embrace.

His large hand patted her back firmly.

"It's dawn, everything's alright now. I'll stay home and not go anywhere."

Shu Yao buried her face in the crook of his neck and took a deep breath of the faint scent of his aftershave.

My wildly beating heart gradually calmed down.

She clung to him greedily.

I'm hungry.

His voice was muffled, with a strong nasal tone.

I was up most of the night last night and was completely exhausted. Now my stomach is empty and I'm feeling acid reflux.

He Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Knowing she's hungry is a good thing; I'm just afraid she'll be so scared she won't be able to eat.

"I'll go heat up the porridge. You lie still and don't move. I'll bring it in."

He tucked her back into bed and made sure the blankets were securely in place.

She turned and went to the kitchen.

Shu Yao leaned against the pillow, watching his broad back disappear behind the door.

She was left alone in the bedroom again.

Even in broad daylight, with bright sunshine, she still felt a sense of emptiness around her, as if a suffocating fear lingered in the air.

She couldn't stand it for even a second.

Lift the blanket.

My left cheek is still a little swollen and painful, which is pulling on the wound at the corner of my mouth.

She walked barefoot on the solid wood floor, casually grabbed the black T-shirt that He Zheng had thrown down at the foot of the bed last night, and put it on.

The man's clothes were too big; the collar slumped to one side, revealing his rounded shoulders, and the hem covered his upper thighs.

She slowly walked out of the master bedroom.

The living room was very bright.

The southern part of the city was covered in heavy snow, a vast expanse of white.

The microwave "dinged" from the open kitchen, accompanied by the aroma of congee with preserved egg and lean pork.

But what attracted Shu Yao's attention the most was the noise coming from the balcony.

"Click, creak."

The sound of metal colliding and rubbing.

Shu Yao looked in the direction of the sound.

The sliding door to the balcony was half open, and a cold draft rushed in.

He Zheng sat on a low stool for changing shoes.

He was only wearing a pair of gray athletic pants, his upper body bare, and his strong back muscles bulged and rippled with the movement of his arms.