First, then, love.

Shu Yao felt a churning in her stomach.

The cologne mixed with Wang Kai's sweat wafted straight into his nose.

She forcefully shook off Wang Kai's hand.

"Get away from me, don't touch me." Her tone was clearly disgusted.

Wang Kai's face darkened.

My patience has run out.

He was a pampered young master in the circle, but after suffering repeated setbacks, he lost face.

"Shu Yao, what are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? Your mother is asking everyone to set you up on blind dates. Do you really think you're some kind of goddess? It's your good fortune that I'm interested in you."

Wang Kai continued cursing while reaching out his hand again.

This time the force was much greater.

He grabbed Shu Yao's slender wrist and pulled her forcefully toward him.

Shu Yao was greatly alarmed.

The cello case hit her calf hard, making her gasp in pain.

"Let go! Are you crazy?!" She struggled back desperately, her high heels slipping on the stone floor.

"You have to come with me today. I refuse to believe I can't handle you!" Wang Kai gritted his teeth and pulled with brute force.

Shu Yao couldn't break free; a glaring red mark appeared on her wrist from being pinched, and panic exploded in her chest.

Just then, a sharp, piercing screech of brakes broke the noise of the street.

A black SUV came to a stop on the no-parking line on the side of the road with a gust of wind, leaving two black marks on the asphalt road with its tires.

The car door was kicked open.

A pair of black tactical boots slammed heavily onto the ground with a dull thud.

Immediately afterwards, a tall, black figure stepped out of the car.

He Zheng didn't even change his clothes.

He was dressed in a pure black SWAT training uniform, with a belt cinched at the waist, outlining his broad, inverted triangle torso. The sleeves of his forearms were rolled up to his elbows, revealing bulging muscles, which were still stained with dry mud from the training ground and a few fresh bloodstains.

He got out of the car, his eyes sweeping over the scuffle on the steps. His dark eyes instantly turned icy, chillingly cold.

He strode up the steps in a few quick strides.

Wang Kai was holding onto Shu Yao tightly when he suddenly felt a cold wind gust beside him.

Before he could react...

A large hand gripped his shoulder tightly.

The cracking sound of bones being squeezed with great force.

"Ah—!" Wang Kai let out a scream.

The hand that was holding Shu Yao suddenly lost its strength, and his knees buckled. He was forced to kneel on the steps by the force of that big hand.

He Zheng gripped Wang Kai's shoulder with one hand, his face cold and stern.

He pulled Shu Yao behind him, his tall, broad back completely blocking all view and danger.

Shu Yao leaned against his hard back, her heart pounding like a drum, her wrists still throbbing slightly.

She stared at the dark sweat stains on the back of the man's training uniform, and her nose stung with tears.

Wang Kai's face contorted in pain as he looked up.

He Zheng looked down at him from his high position, his jaw clenched.

Wang Kai felt his blood run cold, and his calves began to cramp uncontrollably.

Having lived in this city for so long, he knows all too well who he can and cannot mess with.

This man in front of me, he really dares to cripple him.

"Police... Officer... Brother... It's a misunderstanding, you've mistaken me for someone else," Wang Kai stammered, his voice trembling.

He Zheng's fingers tightened again.

Wang Kai let out a muffled groan, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

"roll."

He Zheng uttered a single word.

He let go.

Wang Kai scrambled to his feet like a stray dog, the bouquet of blue roses falling to the ground.

He didn't dare look at it at all, jumped into a sports car parked by the roadside, and sped away.

The steps fell silent.

He Zheng turned around.

His gaze fell down and landed on Shu Yao.

He glanced at her face first; it was a little pale, and her eyes were red with a hint of grievance.

His gaze shifted downwards, landing on her slender wrist.

Five bright red finger marks swelled up on her fair skin, a shocking sight.

He Zheng's eyes darkened, and his brows furrowed.

He reached out, his thumb hovering half an inch above the red mark, not daring to touch it for fear of hurting her.

"Let's just kill him." He Zheng said in a very low voice.

Shu Yao came to her senses and looked at his devilish appearance, suddenly feeling less afraid.

She sniffed and put her hands behind her back.

"Don't do anything illegal, you're a police officer," she retorted, trying to remain calm.

He Zheng stared at her for a second, his tense jaw relaxing slightly.

He didn't argue, but simply bent down.

He lifted the heavy cello case with one hand, and with the other hand he naturally put his arm around her lower back.

"Get in the car."

The two walked to the roadside.

He Zheng opened the passenger door, waited for Shu Yao to get in, and then closed the door.

The SUV rejoined the traffic.

Shu Yao sat in the passenger seat, her fingers nervously picking at the seams of the leather seat.

The street scene outside the car window rushed past, and the colorful neon lights shone on He Zheng's cold and hard profile, flickering in and out.

"Why did you suddenly come to see me today?" Shu Yao couldn't hold back any longer and broke the silence in the carriage.

She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with inquiry.

"Didn't you say you'd pick me up tomorrow when we get our marriage certificate?"

He Zheng steered with one hand, turning the car onto a slightly clearer side road.

He didn't look at her; his gaze was fixed straight ahead.

I'm hungry.

After crossing a traffic light, he added another sentence, his voice deep.

I missed you, so I stopped by for a meal.

Shu Yao's cheeks suddenly burned, feeling extremely hot.

Is this man using sweet talk as a work report?

His expression was as serious as if he were about to take an oath to join the Party, but the words that came out of his mouth were incredibly vulgar.

She bit her lower lip, turned to look out the window, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up.

*

Twenty minutes later.

The SUV was parked at the entrance of an alley in the old town.

You can't drive in here.

He Zheng led her into the alley.

The road surface was a bit bumpy, and both sides were lined with fly-by-night restaurants and barbecue stalls with their signs lit up.

The flavors of cumin, chili, and cooking oil mingled together.

The atmosphere is very down-to-earth.

Shu Yao, dressed in exquisite high heels and a fitted dress, looked out of place in this kind of place, like a white swan that had mistakenly wandered into a vegetable market.

There was a puddle of dirty water on the ground from washing vegetables.

He Zheng took half a step ahead and suddenly stopped.

He turned around, grabbed Shu Yao's wrist with his large hand, avoiding the red marks, and held her palm.

"Watch where you're going, don't step on the dirt."

He took her hand, walked around the puddle, and strode forward.

Shu Yao stared at their clasped hands.

His hands were large, completely enveloping her small hands. The calluses on his palms rubbed against the back of her hands, and his burning body heat flowed continuously from them.

She didn't break free and let him lead her.