First, then, love.

the next day.

It's 7:30 in the morning.

The alarm clock was ringing incessantly.

Shu Yao reached out from under the covers and turned off the alarm clock.

I struggled to sit up, my head spinning.

I tossed and turned until almost 2 a.m. last night before finally falling asleep, so I'm severely sleep-deprived.

She shuffled into the bathroom in her slippers, stood in front of the mirror, and gasped. There were two obvious dark circles under her eyes, and her complexion was also a bit dull.

"Oh no, I'll look awful in the photos."

She quickly went to the refrigerator, grabbed two metal spoons, and applied them to her eyes as an ice pack to reduce the swelling.

It was chilled for ten minutes.

I returned to the dressing table and began applying makeup.

She put a lot of effort into her makeup today.

I applied layers of foundation, from primer to foundation, and then applied three layers of concealer under my eyes, finally managing to bring down my dark circles.

The eyeliner was drawn long, with a slightly upturned corner, giving off a cool and aloof air.

Finally, from dozens of lipsticks, I chose a retro true red one.

Carefully apply the lipstick to the lips, outlining the edges clearly and distinctly.

That's just how Shu Yao is; she always has to look beautiful.

Even if it means jumping into a fire pit, she wants to be the prettiest one.

Open the wardrobe.

She chose a pure black silk slip dress, layered it with a neatly tailored white blazer, paired it with straight-leg flared jeans, and finished the look with black pointed-toe high heels.

She picked up the ID card from the table and put it into her lambskin bag.

I walked into the living room.

Lin Shufen and Shu Jianguo were sitting at the dining table eating breakfast.

"Yaoyao, what time is Xiao He picking you up?" Lin Shufen's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter when she saw how beautifully she was dressed.

"Nine o'clock." Shu Yao walked to the entrance to change her shoes.

I wasn't planning on eating breakfast, and my stomach was churning with anxiety.

"Hey, have some steamed buns before you go! You're prone to low blood sugar on an empty stomach!" Shu Jianguo shouted from behind.

"I'm not eating anymore, it's too late."

Shu Yao pushed open the door and went out.

*

8:50.

Shu Yao walked out of the community gate.

The morning sun was already dazzling, cicadas were chirping incessantly in the trees, and the weather was stiflingly hot.

She spotted the black heavy SUV parked on the side of the road immediately.

The car body was polished to a shine, reflecting the sunlight, like a steel beast lurking in the street.

She took a deep breath and walked over in her high heels.

The car window rolled down.

From the driver's seat, He Zheng turned to look at her.

He wore a clean, crisp white shirt today, with the top two buttons undone, revealing a hint of his collarbone and a small patch of firm chest muscles.

His chin was shaved clean, and the bluish stubble was gone.

His cold, hard face looked much more refreshed, but it still exuded a sense of oppressiveness that kept strangers at bay.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

He Zheng's gaze swept over her from head to toe without restraint, finally settling on her bright red lips. His eyes darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"Pretty punctual," he said.

Her voice sounded clearer than it did on the phone last night.

Shu Yao walked to the passenger door, opened it, and nimbly climbed into the car, placing her bag on her lap.

"Go early and come back early, I have to go to orchestra rehearsal this afternoon," she urged in a calm tone.

He Zheng suddenly leaned forward.

His tall figure closed in instantly, his masculine aura completely enveloping her.

Shu Yao was startled and pressed her back tightly against the seat.

What are you doing?

He Zheng didn't say anything, but reached over her and pulled out the seatbelt.

"Click" It's fastened.

He was extremely close to her, his eyes fixed on her, so close that Shu Yao could clearly see his deep-set eyes and thick eyelashes.

"You've covered your dark circles quite well," he muttered under his breath, a hint of mockery in his voice.

Shu Yao's face flushed, and she glared at him.

He Zheng turned around, gripped the steering wheel with one hand, and shifted gears.

The SUV emitted a deep roar and smoothly drove onto the main road.

I went straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

*

It was exactly nine o'clock in the morning.

The black heavy SUV merged into the morning rush hour traffic on the main road, unable to pick up speed and moving in fits and starts.

Shu Yao sat in the passenger seat with her back straight, legs together, and her bag neatly placed on her knees.

He was like a taut string.

She turned her head to look out the window.

The camphor tree leaves by the roadside were wilted by the sun, and a layer of distorted heat rose from the asphalt road, making it stiflingly hot.

The car was so cold it gave me goosebumps.

She secretly glanced at the man in the driver's seat out of the corner of her eye.

The pure white shirt, with its crisp fabric and exquisite workmanship, clearly has a high price tag.

Two buttons were undone at the top of his shirt collar, revealing sharp lines to his collarbone. Above that was his prominent Adam's apple, which slid up and down with each swallow. His sleeves were casually rolled up to his forearms, exposing his thick, muscular forearms and clearly visible veins.

He held the steering wheel with one hand and rested the other on the center console, his index finger tapping the leather surface idly.

The rhythm is steady, neither too fast nor too slow.

The way this man looked in his white shirt was completely different from the refined and cultured boys in college.

Gu Jinzhi wore a white shirt, looking like a clean and clear glass.

He Zheng, dressed in a white shirt, looked like a thug in human skin.

The muscles beneath the collar stretched the fabric taut, as if the buttons might burst open and injure someone at any moment.

His wild nature couldn't be suppressed, and his roguishness leaked out.

"What are you looking at?" He Zheng suddenly spoke up.

His voice was low and husky, with a hint of morning languor.

Without taking my eyes off the road ahead, I turned the steering wheel to the left and the car smoothly changed lanes.

Shu Yao was caught red-handed, her cheeks flushed, and she immediately looked away.

"Who's looking at you? I'm looking in the rearview mirror," she retorted stubbornly, her chin slightly raised.

He Zheng let out a low chuckle.

I didn't expose her.

"Are you nervous?" he asked, stopping his tapping.

"It's just a wedding, what's there to be nervous about?" Shu Yao fiddled with the metal clasp on her bag.

He's stubborn as a mule.

He Zheng turned his head, his dark gaze sweeping over her face, lingering for a second on her small hand tightly clutching her bag.

"Just don't be nervous, and smile naturally when we take the picture later."

He stepped on the gas, and the SUV roared as it drove through the intersection with the last two seconds of the green light.