First, then, love.

He Zheng pushed the door open and came in.

He changed his shoes, threw his coat on the sofa, and went straight into the bedroom.

Looking at the mess of suitcases on the ground.

Walk over and squat down.

He rummaged through the suitcase and picked out two spaghetti strap dresses with open backs and very little fabric.

I just threw it at the foot of the bed.

"What are you doing!" Shu Yao glared and reached out to snatch it.

"Going on tour or to a beauty pageant?" He Zheng blocked her with one hand, and with the other hand opened the wardrobe, pulled out two long-sleeved thin knitwear and a windproof jacket, and stuffed them into his suitcase.

"Don't go around shirtless when the seasons change. If you catch a cold, I'll fly over and beat you up."

"..."

What woman would go shirtless!

Shu Yao rolled her eyes, too lazy to argue with him.

She stood up, walked to the wine cabinet outside, and picked out a bottle of Romanée-Conti that she had treasured for a long time.

I took two wine glasses.

He Zheng washed his hands and went to the dining room.

Shu Yao poured half a glass of red wine and handed it to him.

She raised the cup in her hand, her peach blossom eyes sparkling with a captivating charm.

The glasses clinked together, making a crisp "ding" sound.

"Congratulations, Captain."

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a drawn-out tone.

"Combating organized crime and eliminating evil, ridding the people of harm, how mighty!"

He Zheng looked at her alluring appearance and snorted coldly.

He knew absolutely nothing about wine tasting.

He tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing, and downed it in one gulp, as if drinking plain water.

He put down his cup, his dark eyes deep, his gaze fixed on her red lips.

"The drinks are finished, it's time to get down to business."

Shu Yao took a step back, holding the cup.

"I haven't finished drinking yet... um..."

He Zheng didn't give her a chance to escape at all.

He strode over, wrapped one arm around her slender waist, and pulled her sharply into his arms.

He lowered his head and sealed her lips with his.

The red wine that Shu Yao hadn't swallowed yet was forcefully passed down to him.

The rich aroma of the liquor, mixed with the man's crisp scent, exploded in their mouths.

"Ugh... He Zheng... I haven't finished packing my luggage yet..." Shu Yao's legs went weak from the kiss, and she gripped the hem of his short-sleeved shirt tightly with both hands.

"I'm not taking it anymore. I'll take it for you tomorrow."

His voice was hoarse as he scooped her up in his arms and turned her over, pressing her against the large central island counter.

The marble countertop was cool, but the man's chest was burning hot.

Ice and Fire.

He Zheng's actions were clearly driven by urgency and a sense of punishment.

"Leaving tomorrow...it's been so long."

He bit her earlobe, his voice low, husky, and ruthless.

"You're not getting any sleep tonight."

Shu Yao's breathing instantly became erratic.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave up resisting.

Alcohol takes effect, and reason collapses.

The living room was dimly lit.

The God of War was lying on the balcony when it heard the noise. It looked up briefly, then, as usual, buried its head in its front paws and went back to sleep.

The four kittens were herded into the second bedroom, and the door was closed.

The only sounds in the space were heavy breathing and the soft rustling of clothes.

"It hurts... slow down..." Shu Yao's eyes reddened, and her fingernails scratched several red marks on He Zheng's back.

"Bear with it."

He Zheng's forehead was covered in sweat, which dripped down his resolute jawline.

His eyes were as fierce as a wild beast ready to tear a person apart and devour them.

"Remember this feeling. If you dare to flirt around outside, I'll break your legs."

Absurd, passionate.

From the island counter to the cashmere carpet in the living room, and finally to the king-size bed in the master bedroom.

Shu Yao finally lost all strength to beg for mercy and melted into his arms like a puddle of water.

*

Touring days are busy and tedious.

High-speed rail station.

Shu Yao, dragging her suitcase which He Zheng had repacked, followed the band onto the train.

For the first two days, she was still able to send WeChat messages to He Zheng on the high-speed train.

On the third day, He Zheng went completely out of contact.

The provincial department's supervisory team received a major case spanning multiple provinces. Everyone fell silent and handed over their cell phones.

Shu Yao had gotten used to his sudden disappearances.

She devoted all her energy to playing the cello.

First stop, second stop, third stop.

Every performance was a resounding success. As the principal, she completely captivated the audience and critics with her impeccable technique and powerful stage presence.

My days were a blur of switching between hotels, theaters, and high-speed rail stations.

tenth day.

The tour schedule finally had a short break.

The orchestra finished its performance in a provincial capital city near Jiangcheng and had a three-day rest period.

Shu Yao couldn't stand the hotel bed any longer, so she bought a high-speed rail ticket and rushed back to Jiangcheng.

back home.

The house was spotless, and there was no sign of He Zheng.

The God of War and the five cats were sent to Qiaoqiao for foster care, making the house seem somewhat empty.

Shu Yao took a shower and slept like a log.

When I woke up, it was already noon the next day.

She reached for her phone, but there were still no messages from He Zheng on WeChat.

Only Qiaoqiao kept tagging her in the group chat.

Qiaoqiao: [Yaoyao! You're back? Help! The God of War chewed up my sofa cushions again!]

Deputy Chief Chen: [Chief! A few of us just got back to Jiangcheng. Where should we go for dinner tonight?]

Zhao Liang, who plays the flute: [I'm so sick of eating takeout these past few days, I'm craving some home-cooked food.]

Shu Yao looked at the messages in the group chat.

My fingers flew across the keyboard as I typed.

Shu Yao: [Come to my house, it's my treat. I just picked up War God and the cat.]

The group chat instantly erupted in excitement.

*

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

The door was pushed open.

Qiaoqiao, holding the God of War's hand and carrying two cat carriers, walked in, panting.

Following behind were Xiao Chen and Zhao Liang, carrying large and small bags of fruit and snacks.

Wow! Sister Yao Yao, your house is huge!

Zhao Liang is a young man who graduated less than two years ago. He wears black-rimmed glasses and exudes the pretentious air of an artsy youth.

He stood in the center of the living room, looking at the panoramic view of the river outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, his mouth agape in astonishment.

"This location, this decor. The top executive is definitely a rich woman!" Xiao Chen exclaimed, his eyes widening as he looked at the custom-made, temperature-controlled cello cabinet next to him.

"Please sit wherever you like, don't be shy."

Shu Yao, dressed in loose-fitting loungewear, brought them slippers.

Qiaoqiao released the God of War.

As soon as the big black dog returned to its territory, it immediately perked up. Dragging its somewhat stiff hind legs, it walked to its luxurious doghouse, lay down, and yawned comfortably.

The princess emerged from her cat carrier with four kittens and began to swagger over to inspect her territory.

Several people sat around a large sofa.

I made tea.

Zhao Liang looked around at the furnishings in the room.

Several pairs of men's slippers, clearly two sizes too big for the average person, were placed in the entryway. Several military magazines were pressed under the coffee table, and a sandbag, worn smooth and shiny, sat in the corner of the balcony.

"Sister Yao Yao." Zhao Liang pushed up his glasses, lowered his voice, and his gossip spirit was burning brightly.

"I heard your husband is the captain of the SWAT team? Is that true?"

Xiao Chen chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, last time backstage I saw that bouquet of 999 red roses, it was terrifying! Some of the girls in our team were even saying that someone who could give out flowers like that must look really fierce, with a face full of menacing features?"

Qiaoqiao rolled her eyes and peeled an orange, stuffing it into her mouth.

"What do you mean 'face full of scars'? He's all muscle. He's incredibly handsome, okay? It's just that his temper is a bit bad, like a stinking rock in a cesspool."

The white eye shifted to Shu Yao's face.

"A stinky rock?" Zhao Liang shrank back.

"Special police officers train so hard and face so much pressure. Won't they have violent tendencies at home? Sister Yao Yao, does he ever hit you at home?"

Young men who are into art always have wildly imaginative ideas.

Shu Yao, holding her teacup, was amused by Zhao Liang's words.

"Make a move? He wouldn't dare."

However, they often resort to physical contact.

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of arrogance flashing in her eyes.

"At home, he's just a poop scooper. If I tell him to go east, he won't dare go west. He does all the housework."

The voice just fell.

"drop."

The fingerprint lock on the security door suddenly made a crisp sound.

The atmosphere in the living room instantly froze.

All eyes turned to the entrance hall.