First, then, love.

The private room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Shu Yao stared in disbelief, holding the brown paper document bag in her arms.

The property rights to a shop worth tens of millions were simply slipped into her arms.

Like a head of garlic that comes with a cabbage you buy at the market.

She felt the file folder was burning hot, so hot that her heart was pounding.

He Zheng stood beside her.

His large hand gripped her shoulder, firmly suppressing her panic as she was about to take off.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Shen Minghua grabbed Shu Yao's arm.

"Come sit down and eat. You must be starving!"

This tough businesswoman was quite strong; she dragged Shu Yao directly to the huge mahogany round table.

She was seated to the right of the head of the table.

He Zheng followed, pulled out a chair next to him, and sat down lazily.

Her long legs were open, and her knees naturally touched Shu Yao's legs.

Seeing that Shu Yao didn't react, he didn't move away and just stayed close to her.

Father He also strolled over, carrying a purple clay teacup in his hand.

He sat down to Shen Minghua's left.

A family of four.

Our first time sitting together.

The waitresses, dressed in matching silk cheongsams, filed in and began serving the dishes.

Top-quality Australian lobster, steamed wild yellow croaker, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup bubbling in a clay pot.

It uses only the most expensive ingredients and is presented as an exquisite work of art.

Fragrant.

But Shu Yao had no interest in looking at the dishes.

She stood with her legs together, her back straight, and her hands neatly placed on her knees, with the document bag containing the property certificate pressed under her legs.

I dare not relax.

Sitting next to him was a high-ranking provincial official, and opposite him was a billionaire.

She usually acts like a bossy, spoiled princess in front of the men she goes on blind dates with.

They've all retracted into their shells now.

All that's left is an obedient, docile empty shell.

Father He unscrewed the lid of the purple clay teacup.

A wisp of steam rose up, and a few plump red goji berries and astragalus seeds floated in the cup.

He lowered his head, blew on the steam, and slowly took a sip.

Mr. He put down his teacup, the bottom of which tapped against the glass turntable with a crisp sound.

"bite."

The sound was like a thunderclap in the quiet private room.

Shu Yao's back tensed instantly, and her breath caught in her throat.

coming.

The officials are about to start questioning people.

Father He raised his head.

That face usually appears on the news channel; he's used to being serious and unsmiling, with deep nasolabial folds, and when he's not smiling, he exudes an air of authority that commands respect without anger.

He cleared his throat.

"cough."

His voice was deep and authoritative, carrying the tone set during a meeting.

Shu Yao swallowed hard; her palms were covered in cold sweat.

She even quickly went through her entire life story in her mind.

I was afraid of giving the wrong answer later.

He's father's gaze fell on Shu Yao.

His cold, stern face suddenly melted away like ice and snow, all the wrinkles smoothing out.

Suddenly, he flashed an incredibly kind, even slightly ingratiating, smile.

That smile has a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing feel to it.

Shu Yao was startled.

"Oh, nothing."

When Mr. He spoke, he spoke very softly, as if afraid of startling her.

"I heard from Xiao Zhang that you work at the city's arts center?"

Shu Yao was stunned for a moment.

The tone and attitude were completely different from what she had imagined political vetting and interrogation to be like.

She nodded quickly.

"Yes, Uncle...Dad."

The word "Dad" was still a little too hot to say.

"I usually teach children to play the cello."

She reported the facts truthfully.

Upon hearing this, Mr. He's eyes lit up instantly.

He slapped his thigh hard.

"Great! The cello is wonderful!"

The slap was so loud that it startled Shu Yao.

Father He picked up the purple clay cup, his eyebrows dancing with delight.

"That's wonderful! Our family has finally produced someone with some education."

"..."

Shu Yao was stunned.

Cultured?

This table.

One is a business elite who graduated from Wharton University.

One is a high-ranking political official.

He Zheng is also a top student at the police academy.

She's just an ordinary music conservatory undergraduate... how can she be considered cultured?

Did his dad eat poisonous mushrooms?

Just then, He's father sighed and pointed to He Zheng, who was pouring water across the table.

"Look at this kid."

Mr. He looked disgusted.

"He was unruly from a young age, always fighting, destroying things, and getting into brawls. He was sent to the army for a few years, but he became even wilder when he came back. He spent his days rolling around in the mud, fighting with drug dealers and thugs with bayonets. He had the air of a soldier and his mind was full of fighting and killing."

He Zheng took the kettle and filled the glass in front of Shu Yao with warm water.

He then took her bowl and chopsticks and carefully rinsed them with boiling water.

The movements are skillful.

She completely ignored her father's complaints.

Father He turned his head and looked at Shen Minghua beside him.

"Your mother is the same. She looks at reports and contracts all day long. Her mind is full of land and calculations. She reeks of money."

The voice just fell.

Shen Minghua slammed the chopsticks in his hand on the table with a "clatter".

A sharp glare flew straight at him, precise and ruthless.

"Old He, who are you calling money-grubbing?" Shen Minghua's voice wasn't loud, but his aura instantly overwhelmed He's father.

Mr. He shrank back.

The imposing presence of that provincial official he had just exuded shattered into dust in an instant.

He quickly put on a smile, reached for the serving chopsticks, and picked up a piece of the tenderest fish belly meat for Shen Minghua.

"I'm telling you, I'm vulgar. I read those dry reports and documents every day, and my brain is completely dulled." Father He quickly splashed dirty water on himself.

They admit defeat very quickly.

Shu Yao, sitting next to her, almost burst out laughing.

She bit the soft flesh inside her lip, forcing herself to hold it in.

The contrast is too great.

A high-ranking official who can command respect outside the home doesn't dare utter a sound in front of his wife.

No wonder He Zheng said before that Shen Minghua was the one who called the shots in this family.

Mr. He comforted his wife.

He turned back to look at Shu Yao, his expression returning to its kind demeanor.

But perhaps it's because he's used to not smiling or laughing in his high position.

His smile had a strange quality, a forced smile mixed with a forced, insincere one...

"Our family is missing someone like you who's into art, someone who can cultivate your character."

Father He sighed.

"The cello's sound is so deep and elegant; it brings peace to the heart as soon as you hear it."

He took a sip of goji berry tea and continued speaking.

"He Zheng has a terrible temper, as hard as a rock in a latrine. My wife and I used to worry about him all the time, afraid that he would stay single for the rest of his life, or that he would marry a shrew and smash dishes at home every day."

Father He shook his head.

"Who knew he could also trick a fairy who plays the cello into coming back?"

"Dad, you used the wrong word."

He Zheng, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

He pushed the scalded bowls and chopsticks in front of Shu Yao, took a damp towel, and slowly wiped his hands.

"It wasn't a lie, it was a proper marriage."

He Zheng raised his eyelids, his dark eyes sweeping over his father.

"We've already got the certificate, it's legal."

"You dare to talk back?" Father He raised his eyebrows, his official authority returning.

However, this official power was only directed at his own son.

"You call that a proper marriage? You call that banditry!"

He's father pointed at He Zheng's nose and cursed.

"You throw your bank card at someone's house the first time you visit them? That's not how you do things. It's only because Yao Yao has a good temper that she doesn't hold it against you."

Shu Yao lowered her head and looked at the clean bowl and chopsticks in front of her.

Is she good-tempered?

She recalled the outrageous demands she had made on the day of her blind date.

Why don't you do housework?

Why do I need fresh flowers every day?

It seems that the elderly couple has some huge misunderstanding about her.

Shen Minghua chimed in from the side.

"Exactly, he has absolutely no romantic sense. He didn't even have a proper proposal. Yao Yao, it's his fault. I'll make him make it up to you later."

"No need, Mom..." Shu Yao quickly waved her hand.

He Zheng took the serving chopsticks, picked up a peeled braised prawn, and put it into Shu Yao's bowl.

"Eat shrimp." He lowered his voice.

Shu Yao glanced at the plump shrimp meat in the bowl, then at He Zheng.

His face was expressionless, and his thigh was still pressed against hers.

The panic that Shu Yao had felt in her heart had completely dissipated by now.

The elderly couple did not look down on her at all.

Instead, they treated her like a precious treasure, while despising their own son to the core.

Shu Yao picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of the shrimp, and used them to pick it up.

It's fresh, sweet, and chewy, with a rich sauce.

good to eat.

She grew bolder, and her mischievous nature slowly began to surface.

The tips of her high heels peeked out from under the table.

The kick landed precisely on He Zheng's sturdy shinbone.

He Zheng paused for a moment as he picked up some food.

He turned to look at her, his expression questioning.

Shu Yao slightly raised her chin and gave him a look.

It means: See? Your parents are on my side. You'll see if you dare to bully me again.

He Zheng looked at her smug little face, his smile deepening.

He didn't flinch, letting the tip of her shoe press against his calf.

After a while, he actually spread his legs slightly apart and moved his lower leg towards her.

It makes it easier for her to kick.

"Did you hear that, He Zheng?" He's father continued lecturing.

He picked up the purple clay cup and tapped his own son with a serious expression.

"Once you're married, you're an adult. Put away your SWAT team persona and don't bring your interrogation-like demeanor home."

He Zheng looked away, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms.

"I didn't bring it."

"You haven't brought it yet?" Mr. He glared at him. "Look at your face, it's as cold as ice. Who owes you money?"

He's father pointed at him.

"With your physique, you walk like you're pounding a ram, and your voice is like thunder. You're only good for training those greenhorns in the unit."

"From now on, keep this behavior out of your head at home."

Father He gave the final instructions.

He spoke slowly and deliberately.

Walk softly, speak quietly, and handle things gently.

He took a sip of goji berry tea to moisten his throat.

When his gaze turned to Shu Yao, his eyes softened instantly.

"So as not to frighten my daughter-in-law."