First, then, love.

Nighttime, in the study.

The lights were dim.

He Zheng sat behind his large desk, an unlit cigarette between his fingers.

In the very center of the desk lay a document stamped with a red confidential seal.

Order from the Provincial Public Security Department to select key personnel from the Municipal Public Security Bureau to join the Major Case Supervision Team.

He Zheng's name was clearly printed on it.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

Shu Yao walked in carrying a glass of warm milk.

Without making a sound, He Zheng picked up a book from the side and covered the red-headed document with it.

"Aren't you going to sleep yet?" Shu Yao placed the milk on the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a red stamp peeking out from the edge of a book, then reached out and took the book away.

The official document was completely exposed to the light.

He Zheng didn't realize what was happening, so he simply stopped trying to stop him.

His dark eyes stared intently at her.

Shu Yao picked up the document and scanned it quickly.

"The Provincial Department's Major Crimes Investigation Team?" She looked up at He Zheng. "Is this a promotion?"

"It's a lateral transfer, but the rank has been raised by half a level, and it's now under the direct management of the provincial department." He Zheng didn't hide anything, his voice was deep.

"That's great." Shu Yao put down the documents. "You're going to the provincial department; you'll be a senior police officer from now on."

"I'm not going."

He Zheng uttered two words crisply, broke the unlit cigarette in his hand, and threw it into the trash can.

"I will submit a report tomorrow to reject this transfer order and apply to be transferred to the Municipal Police Academy as a tactical instructor. It's an administrative position with a 9-to-5 job and weekends off."

Shu Yao was stunned, staring at He Zheng.

This man has restless blood flowing through his veins.

He struggled through mud and charged into battle amidst gunfire; he was born to be on the front lines.

Instructors at the police academy?

To blow whistles, line up soldiers, and make them drink tea and read newspapers for the new recruits?

You can see the whole thing at a glance.

Isn't this kind of life pulling his tendons and bones out?

"Why not go?" Shu Yao's voice turned serious, and all her jokes disappeared.

"The Major Crimes Investigation Team is responsible for all major cases in the province." He Zheng looked directly into her eyes, his tone as calm as if he were talking about someone else's business. "Once a case is filed, one phone call is all it takes for us to leave in the middle of the night, and we might not be able to contact each other for ten days or half a month."

He stood up, walked to Shu Yao, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gently stroked her collarbone with his fingertips.

"I'm not going. I promised you I'd come home safe and sound every day. I can't let you wake up in the middle of the night to an empty bed, anxiously waiting for my call."

He'd rather rust in a dead-end job than see her with red eyes again.

Silence fell over the study.

Shu Yao looked at him, her eyes slightly warm.

She abruptly slapped He Zheng's hand away from her shoulder and took a step back.

"He Zheng, look at me."

"Do you think I married you because you come home on time every day to cook for me? Because you're like a bodyguard, picking me up and dropping me off from get off work every day?"

He Zheng frowned.

Shu Yao turned around, strode to the desk, grabbed the official document, and slapped it on He Zheng's chest with a "smack".

"If you dare go to that police academy to drink tea and read newspapers, I'm moving out tomorrow!"

He Zheng's fingers twitched.

"You are a knife, your place is at the scene, in the nightmares of those scumbag criminals."

Shu Yao pointed at his nose, her words ringing out firmly: "Don't use me as an excuse, I don't want to block your way."

She turned around, opened a drawer in the study, took out a set of car keys, and waved them in her hand.

"Look carefully. I have my own car, and I will drive myself to the rehearsal hall."

She then took out her phone, opened the notes app, and shoved it in front of He Zheng's face.

"Tomorrow morning I'm going to the orchestra to rehearse a new piece, in the afternoon I'm meeting Qiaoqiao for afternoon tea, in the evening I'm going to a classical music master's recital, and on Sunday I'm taking Princess for a follow-up checkup."

Shu Yao raised her chin. "Captain He, my life is so full that I simply don't have time to sit at home every day waiting for you to come home and cook."

"I'm no longer that delicate girl who gets scared walking through dark alleys and needs you to come and rescue me in the middle of the night."

"I have my own social life and my own career. I can manage five cats and a dog."

She stepped forward, reached out her hands, grabbed He Zheng's collar forcefully, and pulled him down.

"Go to the provincial government and do what you're good at."

Shu Yao's voice softened.

"When you're away on a business trip, I practice the piano at home; when you're busy with work, I go shopping with my friends."

"Just remember one thing: keep your life, finish your work, and come back to see me."

He Zheng froze, his dark eyes surging with turbulent emotions.

He looked at the young lady in front of him, who used to be so picky about the cup she drank water from. Unbeknownst to him, she had grown a hard armor.

It wasn't to push him away, but to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, to hold up half the sky, so that he could charge into battle without any worries.

He Zheng's heart was pounding wildly.

An indescribable surge of passion overcame all my concerns.

"Have you thought it through?"

He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, "If you dare to cry in the middle of the night, I'll come back from abroad and spank you."

"Give it a try." Shu Yao looked back at him without fear.

He Zheng suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips.

This woman is really going to kill him.

*

The next morning.

The morning light is faint.

He Zheng was dressed in a smart casual suit and slung a black work bag over his shoulder.

Shu Yao, wearing a silk nightgown, stood in the entryway and yawned.

"Go report to the provincial government?" she asked.

"Okay." He Zheng lowered his head, quickly put on his shoes, and said, "I'm leaving. I might have to go through a week of closed training."

Shu Yao took the car keys from the hook next to her, twirled them between her fingers, and tossed them to him: "Let's go, I need to get ready, I have to head out too, the orchestra has an important meeting today."

He Zheng looked at her, a smile playing on his lips.

Open the door and go outside.

Outside the door lies a wider battlefield, while inside is his most fortified fortress.

"Drive carefully, or you'll get a scratch on the paint when I get back."

He threw out his usual threat and strode out.

Shu Yao looked at the closed door, smiled slightly, and turned to walk towards the dressing room.

Each on their own battlefield, each shining in their own way.

*

The car came to a smooth stop in the underground parking garage of the Starry Sky Art Center.

The car door opened.

Shu Yao, wearing flat shoes and carrying her cello case in one hand, strode towards the elevator.

"bite."

The elevator stopped on the first floor.

Qiaoqiao walked in carrying two cups of hot Americano, with huge dark circles under her eyes.

"Good morning, Yao Yao." Qiao Qiao shoved one of the coffee cups into Shu Yao's hand and yawned widely.

"I'm dying. My little prince wet the bed again last night, and I was washing the sheets until 2 a.m. How are your four little devils doing?"

"They can eat and sleep well, and the God of War is their human cushion every day." Shu Yao took the coffee and took a sip.

The bitter liquid slid down my throat, forcibly waking my muddled nerves.

The elevator doors opened on the floor where the rehearsal hall was located.

The hallway was filled with the sound of sound system adjustments.

This national tour is the symphony orchestra's biggest undertaking in nearly three years.

I visited seven cities in a row.

As the principal violinist, Shu Yao carries a heavy burden.

Push open the soundproof door to the rehearsal hall.

Commander Lin was already standing on the command platform, holding his baton, his face ashen.

"Everyone, take your seats. Let's begin with the second movement." Lin didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.

Shu Yao pulled out a chair and set up the cello.

Take a deep breath and press the bow onto the strings.

*

Five whole days.

Life is like a washing machine spinning at high speed.

He Zheng went to the provincial department's supervision team and began closed training.

I can't get through on the phone, and I can't see him.

Shu Yao's rehearsal intensity has also been pushed to the limit.

I enter the rehearsal hall at eight o'clock every morning and don't go home until ten o'clock at night, dragging my sore arms.

In the lounge.

Shu Yao leaned back on the sofa, rubbing her sore wrists.

Take out your phone and open WeChat.

The pinned profile picture lies there quietly.

Their chat history was shattered like broken glass.

2:15 a.m.

He Zheng: [Closing the net. Going to sleep.]

It's 7:30 in the morning.

Shu Yao: [Get up. My wrist hurts, and Lin's fingers are acting like a premature menopausal lunatic.]

3 PM.

He Zheng: [Just came out of the interrogation room. If your wrist hurts, spray some medicine; don't tough it out.]

It's 11 p.m.

Shu Yao: [Just got home. The God of War knocked over the dog bowl.]

No instant reply.

Until 3 a.m. the next day.

He Zheng: [I'll have Lao Li go and discipline it tomorrow. Go to sleep early, my darling wife.]

Their schedules are perfectly staggered.

He trained her under the stars and moon, while she went to play the violin in the morning light.

Shu Yao looked at the text on the screen.

My fingers typed a few words on the keyboard: "I miss you."

After thinking about it, I deleted it word by word.

Retyped: 【Train hard, don't embarrass me.】

send.

She threw her phone on the table and closed her eyes.

Oh no, his tone of voice is starting to sound more and more like his.

And who does his...darling wife's tone of voice resemble?

That sounds so cheesy and embarrassing.