First, then, love.

Six o'clock in the morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

The alarm clock had just gone off once when a large hand reached out from under the covers and slammed it off.

He Zheng rolled out of bed with nimble movements, his broad back exposed to the cold air.

He put on a pair of black athletic shorts.

He walked onto the balcony shirtless.

He pinched two fingers together and put them to his lips, letting out a sharp whistle.

There was a noise coming from the doghouse in the corner of the balcony.

A large, retired German Shepherd emerged.

It has black and yellow fur, erect ears, and sharp, alert eyes.

It is the "God of War".

He used to be a drug-sniffing dog and was awarded a third-class merit.

"Come on, let's go downstairs." He Zheng patted its broad head.

The God of War immediately stood up straight, wagged its tail, and obediently followed beside He Zheng's legs.

A person and their dog went downstairs for a morning run.

The early autumn morning was chilly, and the wind made my skin crawl.

He Zheng's pace was extremely fast, and the God of War was right next to his left knee, their steps in sync.

This dog has undergone rigorous military dog ​​training, is absolutely obedient to commands, and never barks or runs away.

Finished running five kilometers.

Sweat beaded on He Zheng's forehead, dripping down his sharp jawline and onto his collarbone.

I got home at seven o'clock.

The God of War went to the basin to drink water, while He Zheng went into the bathroom.

Cold water was poured over my head, washing away the heat and sweat.

After taking a shower, he stood in front of the wardrobe.

Normally, the closet is full of tactical uniforms, training pants, and black T-shirts.

Today is different. Today I have to visit my future in-laws.

He chose a plain black casual shirt, made of crisp fabric, and paired it with dark gray straight-leg casual trousers.

The shirt was tucked into the waistband of his trousers and fastened with a black leather belt, the metal buckle gleaming coldly.

This outfit is very formal.

But his shoulders were too broad, his chest muscles stretched his shirt tight, paired with his stubble hair that was close to his scalp, and his angular face with a touch of thuggishness.

He doesn't look like a refined son-in-law at all.

He looks more like a gangster boss in a suit collecting protection money.

He glanced at his watch.

Eight o'clock.

He walked into the storage room, took out a black metal toolbox, and then picked up the car keys.

Go out.

On the way, he parked his SUV in front of a high-end imported supermarket.

The Moutai and Hermes bags that I got for my engagement yesterday were gifts from my mother, Shen Minghua.

That's the prestige of the He family.

He came to the door empty-handed today, which is against the rules.

He pushed a small cart straight to the health supplement section.

I picked up two boxes of top-quality Indonesian traceable bird's nest, then went to the fruit section and chose a large basket of freshly air-freighted cherries and red kiwis.

Check out.

He threw the items into the passenger seat.

He turned the steering wheel and headed straight for Shu Yao's house.

*

Nine o'clock in the morning.

The Shu family.

Shu Yao was awakened by the sound of banging on the door.

"Yaoyao! It's nine o'clock! Get up right now!" Lin Shufen's voice pierced through the wooden door, making people's eardrums hurt.

Shu Yao pulled the blanket over her head and turned over in pain.

She couldn't sleep after chatting with that devil on WeChat last night.

My mind was a jumbled mess, and I didn't fall asleep until almost dawn.

"Bang bang bang!" The door rang again.

"Hurry up and wash your face and put on makeup! Xiao He will be here at ten o'clock! Look at the mess your room is in, it's like a pigsty!"

Shu Yao sat up irritably, her French curls looking like a bird's nest.

She slipped on her slippers and opened the door.

In the living room, Lin Shufen was wearing a dark red silk cheongsam, holding her phone and sending voice messages with great enthusiasm.

"Oh, Second Sister! Nothing much. My Yao Yao's boyfriend came over today. Yes, that SWAT team captain."

Lin Shufen pressed the voice button and deliberately raised the volume, afraid that the sisters in the group wouldn't be able to hear her.

"Forget about dowries. The He family just sent four cases of specially supplied Moutai yesterday, along with a pair of icy jadeite bracelets. These bracelets are so beautiful, I don't even dare to wear them out. Oh, your wife bought you a silk scarf? That's great, these days young people showing this kind of filial piety is enough."

After sending the voice message.

Lin Shufen rolled her eyes smugly and snorted coldly.

"Your second aunt always brags about her daughter-in-law who works at a bank in the group chat. Now she's shut up."

Shu Yao leaned against the door frame and yawned.

"Mom, don't be so vain. You're selling your daughter just because someone gave you a few gifts."

"You don't know anything!" Lin Shufen walked over and poked Shu Yao on the forehead with a finger. "This is called the man's attitude! If his family just brought two boxes of milk, you'd see if I gave them a good look today! The He family has given our family plenty of face. You better behave yourself today and don't give them the cold shoulder!"

Shu Yao ignored her and turned to go into the bathroom to brush her teeth.

*

9:50.

The doorbell rang right on time.

Shu Jianguo quickly put down the newspaper he was holding and ran over to open the door.

The door opened.

He Zheng's tall figure blocked the entrance hallway, and the motion-activated light cast a heavy shadow on his broad shoulders.

He changed into a formal shirt and trousers, but his aura was still incredibly imposing.

"Uncle," He Zheng said, his voice low and hoarse.

Shu Jianguo was stunned for a moment.

Stunned by the man's physique and imposing presence, it took her a while to react before she quickly stepped aside.

"Hey, Xiao He's here! Come in, come in!"

He Zheng stepped into the house and handed over the things he was carrying.

Lin Shufen came forward, her eyes sweeping over the bird's nest and imported fruits, and she couldn't stop smiling.

"You came all this way, why bring so much stuff! This bird's nest is ridiculously expensive. It's such a waste."

"Of course," He Zheng replied.

He speaks little, but he doesn't show any fear.

He changed into the brand-new slippers prepared by the Shu family and glanced around the living room.

My gaze settled on a robot vacuum cleaner with a flashing red light in the corner.

"Is it broken?" he asked.

"Don't even mention it." Shu Jianguo waved his hand. "It's been broken for over half a month. Those foreign gadgets that Yaoyao bought, her mother and I have been fiddling with them for ages and still can't fix them. The after-sales technician said he won't be able to come until next week."

He Zheng didn't reply and walked over directly.

He knelt down on one knee, his thigh muscles taut and clearly defined in his black trousers.

With a swift motion, I flipped the robot vacuum over.

I poked around in the bottom roller with two fingers.

They pulled out a large clump of tightly tangled hair and a piece of plastic packaging rope.

With a strong snap of the fingers, the roller returned to its original position with a "click".

He pressed the switch.

The robot beeped and resumed sweeping the living room.

Shu Jianguo and Lin Shufen exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

"This...it's fixed already?" Shu Jianguo exclaimed in amazement.

He Zheng stood up and dusted off his hands.

"The scroll wheel is stuck, it's a minor issue."

He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the living room and landing on the bathroom doorway.

Shu Yao was standing there with a toothbrush in her mouth and her mouth full of white foam.

She was still wearing a silk camisole nightgown, with a thin cardigan casually draped over her shoulders.

Eyes facing each other.

He Zheng's gaze roamed unabashedly over her fair and slender legs, finally settling on her bare yet still radiant face, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"morning."

He spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.

Shu Yao's face flushed, and she quickly turned around, spat out the foam in her mouth, and hastily wiped her face with a towel.

"Where's the water pipe?" He Zheng turned his gaze away and asked Lin Shufen.

"Ah? Under the kitchen sink. It's been leaking. Get a basin to catch the water." Lin Shufen quickly led the way.

He Zheng carried a black metal toolbox into the kitchen.

The kitchen space is not large.

Once he entered, the space felt even more cramped.

He put the toolbox on the ground.

He pinched the cufflinks of the black shirt with his fingers, unbuttoned them, and rolled the sleeves up to his elbows.

His strong, muscular forearms were exposed, and the blue veins on his wheat-colored skin were clearly visible, exuding a sense of power.

Lin Shufen was stunned when she saw this from outside the door.

He really is a... burly man.

He Zheng opened the cabinet door, knelt on one knee, and leaned his upper body under the dark and narrow sink.

Shu Yao came out after washing her face and happened to see this scene.

The man's back muscles rippled violently beneath his shirt with each movement, and a metallic "click" came from the toolbox, followed by the screeching sound of a wrench turning a nut.

"Hand me the wrench." He Zheng didn't even turn his head, extending his large hand that was a little dusty.

Lin Shufen stood to the side, unsure which one to take.

Shu Yao walked over, picked out a heavy-duty wrench from the toolbox, lifted it up with both hands, and slapped it into his hands.

His hands were very hot. The calluses on his palms scraped against the back of her hands, a little rough.

Shu Yao's fingers twitched slightly.

Two minutes later.

He Zheng stepped out of the cupboard and stood up.

"Boiled water, try it."

Shu Yao reached out and turned on the tap. The water gushed down without leaking a drop.

"All done!" Lin Shufen exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, Xiao He, you're so skillful! That repairman had to charge me a hundred yuan for his service!"

He Zheng walked to the sink, squeezed out some dish soap, and slowly washed the dirt and oil off his hands.

I grabbed a kitchen paper towel and dried my hands.

He glanced at Shu Yao standing beside him and muttered something under his breath.

"I'm omnipotent. Right?"

Shu Yao's eyes widened suddenly, and her heart skipped a beat.

How did this man know what she and Qiaoqiao said on the phone last night?