First, then, love.

3:30 p.m.

Hang Lung Plaza in the city center.

Shu Yao changed into a fitted black slip dress, draped a beige Chanel-style jacket over it, and wore a pair of pointed stilettos.

Her aura was fully unleashed.

The two went straight to the Chanel counter.

Upon seeing this, the sales assistant immediately brought out Perrier water and handmade macarons, and then attentively presented the new black CF bag.

Shu Yao sat on the velvet sofa without even trying on her bag.

"wrap up."

She pulled the black credit card with gold trim from her handbag.

He held it between two fingers and handed it to the saleswoman.

Qiaoqiao watched from the side, swallowing hard.

"Big sister, you're really going to swipe it? This is Captain He's card."

"Of course, why would he give it to me if he wouldn't let me use it?" Shu Yao picked up her Perrier and took a sip. "Let's test if this card is just a worthless check."

The saleswoman took the card with both hands and walked to the cashier.

"drop--"

The card reader has swiped the magnetic stripe.

"Hello, please enter your password." The saleswoman handed over the keypad with both hands.

Shu Yao reached out and pressed the six-digit number that she already knew by heart.

032417.

A few soft beeping sounds.

The POS machine started spitting out long white receipts.

Transaction successful.

The saleswoman walked over with a big smile.

"Ms. Shu, here's your bag. Please keep your card safe."

Shu Yao took the card and glanced at the string of numbers on the receipt.

The card is real.

The money is real.

She put the card back into her bag.

*

At the same time.

suburb.

Special police training base.

Under the blazing sun, the asphalt ground was steaming.

Mud and water splashed everywhere in the muddy fighting arena.

Two burly men, covered in yellow mud, were engaged in close combat, their punches landing with a dull thud.

"Bang!"

He Zheng executed a clean and decisive over-the-shoulder throw.

They slammed Old Li hard into a mud pit half a meter deep, splashing mud and water more than a meter high.

"Cough cough cough—" Old Li spat out a mouthful of muddy water, writhing in the mud in pain. "Stop fighting! Stop fighting! Captain, are you out of your mind?! You're so ruthless!"

He Zheng stood in the middle of the mud pit, his chest heaving violently.

The training uniform was completely soaked with mud and water, clinging tightly to the body and outlining the explosive muscle contours.

He shook the mud off his short hair and strode out of the mud.

He walked to the rest area by the field, picked up a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and poured it over his head to wash away the mud around his eyes.

Suddenly, the phone screen lying on the bench lit up.

A short message notification popped up from China Merchants Bank.

He Zheng picked up his phone and wiped his hands with the towel hanging around his neck.

Unlock.

[China Merchants Bank] Your credit card ending in 8421 was used to make a purchase of RMB 58,000.00 at Chanel (Hang Lung Store) at 15:42.

Fifty-eight thousand.

Old Li had just climbed out of the mud pit and limped over to get some water.

He glanced at He Zheng's phone screen.

"Holy crap!" Old Li spat out a mouthful of water. "Fifty-eight thousand! Captain, your card's been stolen? Call the police right now!"

He Zheng kicked Lao Li in the back of the knee.

"Damn it, my wife paid for this."

Old Li hugged his legs, his eyes wide open like copper bells.

"Your wife?"

"When did you get a wife?"

Then I realized, damn, it's that blind date.

Old Li immediately corrected himself: "Sister-in-law, what did you buy? Fifty-eight thousand..."

"I guess it's a bag," He Zheng said calmly, putting his phone back in his pocket.

Old Li clutched his chest in anguish.

"Fifty-eight thousand for a bag? Is it bulletproof? Can it hold explosives? Captain, your wife is spending way too much... she's really extravagant!"

He Zheng pretended not to hear.

He took a cigarette out of his pocket, put it in his mouth, but didn't light it.

A distinct smile appeared in his dark eyes.

They really know how to make things.

But it's really exciting.

I'm afraid she won't dare to spend it.

The fact that he spent money means that his ancestors had completely left a crack in the door for him in their hearts.

He Zheng, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, took out his phone and started typing with one hand.

The interface switches to the WeChat chat box labeled "Ancestor".

HZ: Only buying one? Not including a pair of shoes?

Sent.

He locked his phone and threw it back onto the bench.

He turned to look at the team members who were preparing to slack off on the training field.

His eyes instantly turned cold and sharp, as if he had become a different person.

"Everyone! Carry 30 kilograms of weights and run 5 kilometers cross-country with full gear! No food allowed if you don't finish!"

The training ground was immediately filled with groans and cries.

As Old Li carried the sandbags on his back, he cursed under his breath.

This living Yama is a devil.

He spends his own money to have fun, then takes it out on his brothers afterwards.

*

Hang Lung Plaza.

Shu Yao was carrying an eye-catching Chanel paper bag as she walked out.

My phone vibrated.

She took it out and looked at it, then suddenly stopped in her tracks.

My heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

Qiaoqiao leaned over to look.

After watching it.

Qiaoqiao shook Shuyao's shoulders wildly in the mall corridor like a madwoman.

"Shu Yao! What are you waiting for! This is an amazing ATM, let's get married tomorrow! Every second we delay is disrespectful to money!"

Shu Yao felt dizzy from being shaken.

She broke free from Qiaoqiao's hand, tidied her hair, but couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

"What's the rush? I have class tomorrow morning."

She put her phone back in her bag and continued walking forward in her high heels.

Her back view was as proud as a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

The sound drifted through the cold air conditioning of the mall, revealing an impatience that even the speaker himself was unaware of.

*

Thursday.

It's 6:30 in the evening.

The city center during the evening rush hour was a complete mess, with car horns blaring incessantly. The sweltering heat from the road, mixed with the pungent smell of car exhaust, made people feel suffocated.

Shu Yao pushed open the glass doors of the Starry Sky Art Center.

Today she wore a fitted black knitted mini dress; the fabric clung to her skin, outlining her slender waistline.

Carrying a cello case, I had just stepped down two steps when my path was blocked.

A handful of garishly red blue roses were thrust directly in front of her face.

The wrapping paper shimmered.

Accompanying the bouquet was a strong scent of cologne.

The choking made Shu Yao sneeze.

"Yaoyao, are you off work?"

A face with slicked-back hair and powdered face peeked out from behind the bouquet.

Wang Kai.

Last month, Lin Shufen forced her to meet a blind date.

My family owns a chain of building materials stores.

A typical rich second-generation heir who is foolish and has too much money.

After being blocked by Shu Yao on the spot, he has been acting like he's taken the wrong medicine for the past two weeks, coming to the art center every day to harass her.

Shu Yao took a step back, her high heel getting stuck on the edge of the step, almost twisting her ankle.

She steadied herself, her brows furrowed tightly.

"Wang Kai, I remember I made it very clear before I blocked you, don't bother me." Shu Yao's voice was cold.

He gripped the handle of the cello case tightly.

Wang Kai didn't care and shamelessly moved forward, his eyes lingering on Shu Yao's exposed fair thighs.

"Don't be so heartless. I've asked around, and you haven't been dating anyone lately. I was a bit harsh last time, so these flowers are to make up for it." Wang Kai reached out and grabbed Shu Yao's arm. "Come on, I've booked a table at Kani Doraku. It's Japanese food, and after we eat, I'll take you for a drive."