First, then, love.

9:30.

The car drove into the courtyard of the Civil Affairs Bureau of Nancheng District.

The parking lot was already full, and the security guard waved a small red flag, directing vehicles to park in the backup parking area in the backyard.

He Zheng turned the steering wheel with one hand, spotted a narrow gap between two cars, and reversed into it, stopping steadily in the middle.

Turn off the engine and remove the key.

"get off."

The two opened the car door.

The heatwave instantly enveloped her. Today, Shu Yao was wearing a white fitted blazer over a black silk slip dress and pointed high heels.

After taking only two steps, beads of sweat appeared on my forehead.

He Zheng walked around the front of the car and stood beside her.

His tall frame blocked most of the glaring sunlight from her.

The two walked side by side into the hall.

Today is a good day.

The courtyard of the Civil Affairs Bureau was full of couples.

The girl was holding flowers. The boy was wearing a bow tie, and they all looked very happy. It was cloyingly sweet.

Shu Yao stood out as she walked among them.

He Zheng, who was standing next to her, had a very strong presence.

He is 1.88 meters tall, with a very short stubble haircut, high brow bones, deep-set eyes, and sharp eyes.

Couples passing by couldn't help but glance at them, and some even deliberately avoided them.

They were terrified of getting involved with this man who looked like a mafia boss.

Shu Yao took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked in high heels as if she were walking on a red carpet.

Enter the certificate processing hall.

A blast of cold air hit us, and the lobby was bustling with noise as the electronic voice of the queuing machine mechanically announced numbers.

"Please proceed to window number 3 if you are a customer with number A024."

He Zheng walked to the ticket machine, stretched out his hand, and tapped "Marriage Registration" on the screen.

The machine dispensed a small white thermal paper receipt.

No. A056.

There were more than thirty people ahead of me in line.

"Go sit over there and wait." He Zheng held up the number and gestured with his chin toward the waiting area.

The waiting area was filled with a long row of blue plastic benches.

Shu Yao chose a seat by the window and sat down.

He Zheng sat down next to her.

The plastic chair was too small, and He Zheng was too big, with broad shoulders, so his long legs had nowhere to go in the narrow aisle.

He could only spread his legs wide.

With this opening, her right thigh inevitably pressed against Shu Yao's left leg.

The thin fabric of the suit trousers conducted an astonishing amount of heat, clinging to her skin like a furnace.

Shu Yao froze, immediately moving to the side to create some distance.

He Zheng glanced at her but didn't say anything.

A few seconds passed.

He changed his position again, pressing his right leg against the other leg, this time even more tightly.

The man's thigh muscles were rock hard; you could feel their explosive power even through the fabric.

Shu Yao moved again.

He Zheng posted again.

Shu Yao could no longer bear it, turned her head to glare at him, and lowered her voice.

"What are you doing! There are so many empty seats next to me, why do you have to squeeze in!"

He Zheng remained expressionless, his eyes clear and innocent.

"The chair is too small, and my legs are too long; it won't fit."

fart.

Shu Yao cursed inwardly.

This man is anything but an honest person.

He's just a scoundrel in sheep's clothing.

Using legitimate reasons, they brazenly encroached on her personal space.

She lifted the heel of her high heel and, under the table, stomped hard on He Zheng's black leather shoe, grinding it forcefully.

He Zheng frowned slightly, but didn't pull his leg back.

He turned his head, his dark eyes fixed on her puffed-up face, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Go ahead and step on it, we'll all be family from now on, it won't hurt."

The qi stagnation was relieved.

That's shameless!

I waited for over an hour.

The queuing machine finally called number A056.

The two got up and walked to window number 5.

A middle-aged woman wearing glasses sat at the window. She glanced at them and handed them two forms.

"The 'Application for Marriage Registration' form needs to be filled out by each person. Did you bring your ID card?"

Shu Yao took out their identification documents from her bag and handed them over.

He Zheng took a black ballpoint pen from the pen holder next to him, drew a couple of lines on the draft paper to test the ink flow, and then handed the pen to Shu Yao.

Shu Yao reached out to take it, her fingertips inevitably brushing against the back of his hand.

She quickly looked down and focused her attention on the form.

Name... Gender... Date of Birth... ID Number...

Shu Yao's handwriting is very beautiful.

Her handwriting is delicate and flowing, exuding the elegance of an art student.

After you finish filling it out, return the pen to him.

He Zheng took the pen and began filling out the form with great enthusiasm.

Like the rest of his life, his calligraphy is powerful and penetrating, with sharp and vigorous strokes.

Each word carries a sharp, razor-sharp edge.

The pen nib scratched across the paper, making a hissing sound that almost pierced the paper.

Fill in the occupation field.

He wrote four characters in a flourish.

Public Security Special Police.

Completed.

Push both tables into the window together.

The older sister checked it over and stamped it with a preliminary approval stamp.

"Go to the photo room at the end of the corridor, take your photo, and come back to get your certificate."

Following the instructions, the two walked through the hall to the photo studio at the end.

The photo studio was brightly lit, and a bright red backdrop hung on the wall, dazzlingly bright.

The photographer was a young man with a ponytail, fiddling with a DSLR camera.

The young man's eyes lit up when he saw them come in.

This good-looking couple is absolutely stunning.

"Hello, you two, come and sit on this long bench." The photographer pointed to a mahogany bench in front of the backdrop.

The two walked over and sat down side by side.

"The woman looks great in that white suit; the red background and white top make her skin look fair and give her an elegant air," the photographer praised enthusiastically. "The man's white shirt also looks sharp, though the collar could be straightened a bit."

Shu Yao turned her head to the side and reached out to straighten He Zheng's shirt collar.

The two were standing very close.

The scent of her tuberose perfume wafted straight into He Zheng's nose.

He Zheng lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her fair and slender neck, his eyes darkening.

"Alright, look at the camera." The photographer stepped back behind the camera.

"The two of you should get closer, big enough to fit a cow between you, shoulders touching, yes."

He Zheng moved his body, and his strong arm pressed directly against Shu Yao's arm.

It's as hard as a sheet of iron.

"Okay. Get ready." The photographer half-squatted down. "Groom, smile. Today is your big day, don't look so serious. Your expression doesn't look like you're here to get a marriage certificate, it looks like you're here to arrest a wanted criminal."

Shu Yao couldn't help but burst out laughing.

He Zheng glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly.

He turned to look at the camera, straining his facial muscles to try and force a gentle smile.

He grinned, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth.

It would have been better if he hadn't laughed.

His smile, coupled with his high eyebrows, deep-set eyes, cold and hard features, and the murderous aura emanating from him, was striking.

It's like a living Yama who's just finished eating people and is about to lick their blood.

The terror index has skyrocketed.

The photographer, standing behind the lens, was so startled that his hand trembled and he almost dropped the camera.

"Uh... bro, maybe we shouldn't smile with our teeth showing, just purse our lips a little, yeah, relax a bit." The photographer wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He Zheng retracted his teeth, his lips pursed into a stiff line.

Shu Yao couldn't stand it anymore.

This man is usually so good at scaring people, but when it comes to taking pictures, he looks as stiff as a piece of wood.

She turned her head and looked at him with disgust.

She stretched out a slender white index finger and poked his taut arm muscles hard.

"Can you relax a bit? Why are your muscles so tense? People who don't know better will think I'm pressuring you to get married."

She muttered a complaint under her breath, her tone tinged with coquettishness.

He Zheng lowered his head.

Looking at her slightly pouting red lips and the lively complaint in the corner of her eyes, a hard corner in my heart melted instantly, as if blown by a spring breeze.

He suddenly moved.

Ignoring the photographer's instructions, he raised his right arm, reached over her back, and wrapped his large, hot hand around her slender waist.

It was extremely powerful, exuding an undeniable dominance.

Shu Yao gasped in surprise, and was pulled along by him, crashing heavily into his broad and sturdy chest.

Through the silk dress and white suit.

The warmth of his palm felt like a branding iron against her waist, and his rough fingertips maliciously rubbed against her lower back.

Shu Yao shuddered as if she had been electrocuted, a tingling sensation shooting up her spine and straight to the top of her head.

"What are you doing..." She stared at him with wide eyes, her ears turning bright red instantly.

He Zheng lowered his head, looking at her, his Adam's apple bobbing as he let out a low, husky, and sexy chuckle.

A relaxed smile curved his lips, carrying a hint of smug roguishness.

He's so handsome you can't take your eyes off him.

"Look at the camera, Mrs. He." His voice was deep, with a resonance in his chest.

Shu Yao's mind went blank; she was stunned by the title "Mrs. He."

He subconsciously turned his head to look at the camera.

In that very instant.

"Snap!"

The flash went off.