First, then, love.

Memories come together.

Shu Yao looked away.

She was wearing soft silk loungewear and was barefoot when she walked to the French windows.

The sunlight shone on her, warm and comforting.

She took the cello and placed it between her legs.

Close your eyes, hold the bow in your right hand, and lift your wrist slightly.

The sound of the zither poured out.

It is a light and cheerful spring dance.

Leaping, bright, and full of vitality.

The other end of the large flat.

In the open kitchen, the sound of running water was constant.

Beside the kitchen island, He Zheng wore a comical pink floral apron around his waist and held a transparent glass bowl filled with bright red, plump strawberries.

He was skillfully removing the green stems from the strawberries one by one and carefully rinsing them under the tap.

The movements were focused and serious.

Clear water droplets rolled down the strawberries and splashed into the sink.

The sound of the piano echoed in the room.

The song ended.

The last note slowly dissipated in the spring air.

He Zheng turned off the tap and stood up.

He hastily wiped the water off his hands with kitchen paper.

Carrying the plate of clean, glistening strawberries, I strode to the French windows.

He stopped in front of Shu Yao, his tall figure blocking half of the sunlight and casting her in his shadow.

He Zheng took a bamboo skewer and tied up the largest and reddest strawberry.

He held it to her lips.

Open your mouth.

Shu Yao looked up at the man who belonged to her.

Her peach blossom eyes curved into a smile, her red lips parted slightly, she bit into the strawberry and swallowed it.

The strawberry juice bursts in your mouth; it's so sweet.

She didn't lower her head, but instead tilted her chin up.

Move closer.

A kiss was placed on He Zheng's lips.

The strawberry juice on my lips was still cool.

He Zheng didn't move, letting her kiss him, his large hand pressing on the back of her head, his rough fingertips running through her soft hair.

The sunlight cast long shadows of the two people; at this moment, all was peaceful and serene.

But this tranquility didn't last more than twelve hours.

*

At 2:30 a.m., the large apartment was deathly silent.

Inside the master bedroom, the air conditioner quietly emitted cool air.

Shu Yao was fast asleep, clinging to He Zheng like an octopus.

Suddenly, a strange sound broke the silence of the night.

"Awoo~~~~"

The voice was low and muffled, with a long, drawn-out ending, conveying a sense of painful tearing. The sound was coming from the dressing room.

He Zheng suddenly opened his eyes, his instincts jolting him awake from deep sleep, his dark eyes sharp as knives.

He didn't say anything, his arm muscles tensed instantly, and he carefully moved Shu Yao's leg off his waist.

Just as he sat up, the sound of the God of War frantically scratching at the bedroom door came from outside.

The claws scratched at the solid wood door, making a harsh "crackling" sound, mixed with the dog's rapid panting and whimpering.

The God of War usually sleeps obediently in his doghouse in the living room at night and never scratches at the door in the middle of the night.

problem occurs.

He Zheng threw off the covers, barefoot, and rushed to the door in a few steps, pulling it open directly.

In the pitch-black corridor, the God of War's massive body was pacing anxiously in place.

Upon seeing He Zheng come out, it pounced forward, grabbed the leg of He Zheng's sweatpants, and dragged it desperately toward the dressing room.

"Release your grip," He Zheng said in a low voice.

He shook off the dog, strode towards the walk-in closet, pushed open the door, and turned on the light switch on the wall.

The blinding incandescent light instantly filled the entire space.

He Zheng's gaze quickly swept around the surroundings, finally settling on the large wardrobe at the bottom, its door half-open.

"Meow~~~~"

Another piercing meow rang out.

Shu Yao was awakened by the noise outside. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and ran barefoot out of the master bedroom, looking completely bewildered.

"He Zheng... what's wrong? Why is the God of War acting crazy in the middle of the night?"

She walked to the door of the dressing room and happened to see He Zheng kneeling on one knee on the ground, reaching out to pull open the bottom drawer of the wardrobe.

This was originally where Shu Yao stored her cashmere scarves. Now, the Hermes cashmere scarf, worth several thousand yuan, was covered with dark red blood and murky mucus.

The calico cat "Princess" lay on her side in the center of the scarf, her body convulsing violently.

Its mouth was wide open, it was panting heavily, its pink tongue was hanging out, and its belly was contracting and expanding with frighteningly large amplitude.

"Princess!"

Shu Yao's sleepiness vanished instantly at the sight before her. She lunged forward, her knees slamming heavily onto the floor, her hands and feet turning icy cold.

"What happened to it? It's bleeding!" Her voice trembled violently, and tears instantly filled her eyes.

"She's about to give birth."

He Zheng's expression was solemn, his gaze fixed on the cat's lower body.

A bloody blister bulged there, stuck tightly in the pelvis, and could not be delivered no matter what.

The princess was trembling with pain, her hind legs kicking wildly, and she was almost too exhausted to even cry out.

"Get the cat carrier and put on your clothes."

Without uttering a single unnecessary word, He Zheng abruptly stood up, ripped a black T-shirt off the hanger and pulled it over his head, then turned and grabbed his car keys and wallet.

"It can't be born, it's stuck!" Shu Yao cried out in distress, frantically trying to grab the flight case in the corner, her hands shaking so badly she couldn't even open the case's latches.

He Zheng strode back and shoved her hand away.

With two crisp "clicks," the box was opened.

He showed no disgust at the dirtiness, and with his large hands he lifted the calico cat, which was covered in blood and slime, and carefully placed it into the carrier.

"Change your shoes, let's go to the hospital."

He picked up the suitcase and walked straight out, while the God of War barked anxiously beside him, "Woof woof! Woo woof!"

The dog leaned forward to sniff the carrier, but He Zheng gently pushed it away with his foot.

"Don't cause trouble, stay home."

"I'm going too!" Shu Yao didn't even have time to grab her coat. Wearing a thin silk nightgown and slippers, she rushed straight out.

"Go back and put on some clothes!" He Zheng turned around in the entryway and shouted sternly.

"Why are you wearing clothes when it's 30 degrees outside! It's going to die!" Shu Yao ignored her completely, opened the door, and rushed out.

He Zheng gritted his teeth, stopped trying to dissuade him, and strode after him.

"bite."

The elevator doors slowly opened on the 22nd floor, revealing a middle-aged man reeking of alcohol, a resident who had just returned from a business dinner downstairs.

The man leaned against the elevator wall, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, and looked up to see two people and a dog rushing out.

The man's face was filled with murderous intent, his muscles were tense, and he was carrying a box that was dripping blood. The woman had disheveled hair, wore pajamas, and her face was covered in tears.

The massive black dog, War God, squeezed in before the elevator doors closed.

The middle-aged man sobered up considerably in an instant, quickly pressed himself against the elevator wall, his legs trembling uncontrollably, mistakenly believing he had stumbled upon a crime scene involving the dumping of multiple bodies.

He Zheng didn't even glance at him, and pressed the button for the basement with a cold face.

The middle-aged man covered his mouth tightly, not daring to breathe.

Inside the underground parking garage, the SUV roared deafeningly, like a raging wild beast, as it sped out.