First, then, love.

The singing in the private room was still deafening.

A group of rough men started choking each other on the sofa in a fight over the microphone.

He Zheng put his arm around Shu Yao's shoulder, and in the dim light, they walked through the corridor and pushed open the door of the KTV.

The night breeze blew in my face, dispelling the smell of smoke and alcohol from my body.

Shu Yao took a deep breath of the slightly cool air and turned to look at him.

The man held her hand naturally with his right hand, his steps steady.

The look in his eyes when he sang that song in the private room was like a flame, and it hasn't completely faded from her heart yet.

"Are you leaving already? Aren't you going to stay with them a little longer?" she asked.

"Let's not get together. These people can make a ruckus until dawn if they drink too much. You have rehearsal tomorrow." He Zheng walked to the roadside, hailed a taxi, opened the door, and gently shielded her head as she got in.

The car drove smoothly toward Jinxiu Huating.

The carriage was quiet, with only the midnight news playing on the driver's radio.

Shu Yao leaned against the car window, looking at He Zheng's profile reflected in the glass.

"He Zheng".

"Um."

"Let's change cars," she suddenly said.

He Zheng turned his head, a hint of doubt flashing in his dark eyes.

"Isn't the Porsche running perfectly fine?"

"The space is too small." Shu Yao counted on her fingers, "The God of War is so big, the princess is about to give birth, four kittens. Plus, I sometimes need to bring my cello. The trunk of the Porsche simply can't fit them all. And your SUV is too old, the suspension is as stiff as a cart, my back hurts after sitting in it for a while."

She paused, then concluded with a matter-of-fact certainty:

"We need a spacious and comfortable car for daily commuting, as a family car."

The words "family car" perfectly pleased He Zheng.

A barely perceptible smile played on his lips as he gently squeezed her fingertips with his right hand.

"Okay. Tomorrow's the weekend, let's go to the car market."

*

The next morning.

Car City.

The sunlight was blinding, and the glass curtain wall reflected a cold light.

Shu Yao, wearing high heels and a fitted French trench coat, headed straight for the imported luxury brand 4S store, which was decorated like an art gallery.

In the center of the hall, a pearl-white streamlined coupe SUV was parked.

The car body has no superfluous lines; it is minimalist and rounded, like a finely crafted piece of porcelain.

A sales consultant, dressed in a custom-made suit and with hair wax applied, greeted us with a broad smile.

"Madam, you have excellent taste. This car is a limited edition for this year, with a streamlined design and a fully leather-wrapped interior. Try sitting inside; its ambiance is simply tailor-made for you."

Shu Yao opened the car door.

The cream-white interior and ambient lighting perfectly matched her aesthetic preferences.

She touched the steering wheel with satisfaction and turned to look at He Zheng standing outside the car.

"How about this one? It's nice."

He Zheng didn't say anything.

He walked around the car, stopped at the front, and tapped the hood and A-pillar twice with the knuckles of his right hand.

The sound is crisp and hollow.

He looked down at the chassis and then at the aspect ratio of the tires.

His brows furrowed into a tight knot.

"What's the use of looking good?" He Zheng straightened up, looking coldly at the salesperson. "The A-pillar blind spot is so big, limiting visibility. The chassis is as low as a sports car, so its off-road capability is zero. The worst part is the sheet metal."

He bent his finger and knocked on the car door again.

"It's as thin as a sheet of paper. If it gets rear-ended by a large truck on the road, this car can be crushed into a pancake, and the people inside won't even have a chance to be rescued."

The salesperson's smile froze, and he coughed awkwardly.

"Sir, our car is primarily designed for urban commuting, with a low drag coefficient and the latest active braking system..."

"Can active braking replace the anti-collision beam?" He Zheng interrupted him mercilessly, "This car is too light, it'll feel unstable at high speeds. I'm not buying it."

The smile on Shu Yao's face also disappeared.

She stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut.

"I only drive it in the city, to and from get off work, to a band's place. Who wants to drive it off-road? To crash into a truck?" She suppressed her anger.

"It's better to be safe than sorry. There are all sorts of crazy people on the street. Safety first."

He Zheng turned around and strode out: "Let's go, let's go see next door."

Shu Yao gritted her teeth and followed behind him in her high heels.

*

Next door, a 4S store for domestically produced hardcore off-road vehicles.

Sudden change in painting style.

The exhibition hall was filled with massive off-road vehicles that looked like armored vehicles.

The car features a matte black paint finish, flared wheel arches, a chassis higher than a person's waist, and even a robust winch on the front.

He Zheng walked up to a boxy SUV, a glint of light in his eyes.

He patted the sturdy crash beam, making a dull, heavy "thump-thump" sound.

"Likely a ladder frame structure, non-load-bearing body, three differential locks. With this thickness of steel plates, even if it's hit from the side by a dump truck, the frame won't deform."

He turned to look at Shu Yao, his tone firm: "Buy this one. It's safe."

Shu Yao stood in front of that enormous vehicle.

This vehicle is rugged and savage, exuding a fierce aura as if it were always ready to go to war.

"I won't buy it."

She crossed her arms and stared coldly at He Zheng.

"He Zheng, you want me to drive a car that looks like a tank to work? I can't even climb into the door!"

"The car doors have electric running boards," He Zheng explained patiently.

"That's ugly! Absolutely hideous!" Shu Yao retorted, "If I drive this car, people will think I'm a construction contractor!"

"Is life more important or looks?" He Zheng's face also darkened.

His occupational habit kicked in, and he only looked at the collision avoidance rating when inspecting a car.

"I don't want this crappy armored vehicle. Buy it yourself if you want."

Shu Yao turned and walked out.

"Stop." He Zheng grabbed her wrist.

"Let go."

The two were locked in a stalemate in the center of the exhibition hall.

Customers and salespeople looking at the cars around them all turned to look.

The atmosphere reached freezing point, and neither side was willing to back down an inch.

Indeed, the differences in thinking between men and women are fully reflected in the choice of car.

The Cold War lasted from the Motor City all the way home.

He Zheng cooked dinner; he stir-fried two dishes with one hand.

Shu Yao sat at the dining table, ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice, and went back to her bedroom without saying a word, closing the door behind her.

He Zheng sat on the living room sofa, looking at the car catalogs he had collected on the coffee table, and rubbed his temples.

There was no other way but to compromise.

When this woman gets angry, she's willing to risk her life, let alone safety.

*

Noon the next day.

Shu Yao was still in the rehearsal hall when her phone vibrated.

It was a location sent by He Zheng, along with a short message: "[Come check out the car.]"

Shu Yao pouted and took a taxi there.

It's not those two stores from yesterday.

It is a top-tier new energy luxury car experience center in China.

He Zheng stood in front of a large SUV.

This car is large enough, but its lines are smooth and it doesn't look rugged or bulky. The paint is a low-key dark gray color, which exudes a sense of luxury.

"Non-load-bearing body, high-strength steel-aluminum hybrid frame, cage-type body structure."

He Zheng looked at Shu Yao as she walked over, pointed to the cross-section display shelf next to him, and explained stiffly:

"I checked the crash test data from C-NCAP, and it's all excellent."

He opened the car door.

"The interior is made of Nappa leather, and it has a refrigerator, a color TV, and a large sofa. There's enough space to fit your cello and your two cats and dogs. The exterior isn't ugly either."

Shu Yao walked over and peeked into the car.

It's really comfortable.

It looks much better than the armored vehicle from yesterday, and it's more sturdy than that flimsy sports car.

She turned her head and looked at He Zheng's expressionless face.

I know this guy has taken a big step back.

Shu Yao's lips curled up slightly, suppressing her smile.

"You do have some good taste. This one is the one."

He Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and strode towards the front desk: "Swipe card."