First, then, love.

Upon entering.

Everywhere you look, there is lush greenery.

The road is lined with expensive Podocarpus macrophyllus trees, artificial hills and streams, pavilions and towers, with a beautiful view at every turn.

This doesn't look like a place to eat.

It's just like the back garden of an ancient royal palace.

The car drove along the tree-lined road to a Chinese-style antique building.

Parking attendants dressed in Zhongshan suits were already waiting at the bottom of the steps.

He Zheng turned off the engine, got out of the car, and tossed the keys to the parking attendant.

I went around to the passenger side and opened the car door.

Shu Yao took a deep breath, picked up her bag, and walked down in her high heels, her legs still feeling a little weak.

She glanced down at her tightly buttoned white suit.

It looks awkward no matter how you look at it.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands reached out.

He Zheng stood in front of her, his long, slender fingers gripping the tightly clenched button of his suit jacket.

"Untie it," he said.

"No, that's too revealing."

Shu Yao clutched her chest.

He Zheng raised an eyebrow, his deep gaze sweeping downwards.

"I don't mind, what are you afraid of?" His tone was somewhat arrogant. "Untie it, don't constrict yourself, it looks bad."

He forcefully unbuttoned the shirt.

The suit jacket flared open instantly, revealing a black silk camisole underneath.

Her collarbones were clearly defined, rounded and full, and dazzlingly white.

"Good."

He Zheng commented, his voice a little hoarse.

After saying that, he didn't give her a chance to back out and directly took her hand.

His rough, large hands tightly enveloped her slightly cold small hands in his palms.

His ten fingers were clenched tightly together.

"Walk."

The two walked up the steps side by side and pushed open the two heavy mahogany doors.

The lobby was well-air-conditioned. A faint scent of sandalwood wafted in the air, and thick handmade wool carpets covered the floor.

There was absolutely no sound when I stepped on it with my high heels.

The reception manager was a capable middle-aged man. Upon seeing He Zheng, he immediately strode over to him with a broad smile.

"Mr. He, you've arrived. The Chairman and Secretary He are waiting for you in the 'Spring and Autumn' Hall."

"Okay, lead the way." He Zheng nodded.

The manager led the way.

The two walked through a long corridor lined with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, and fresh winter plum blossoms were placed in blue and white porcelain vases in the corners of the walls.

The further Shu Yao walked, the faster her heart beat.

My hands were covered in cold sweat.

He Zheng seemed to sense her nervousness, so he tightened his grip on her hand and squeezed her knuckles.

"Don't be afraid."

He tilted his head and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

"They're even more nervous than you are."

Shu Yao glared at him, assuming he was just trying to comfort himself.

People in high positions.

How could I possibly be nervous meeting my daughter-in-law?

At the end of the road, there was a huge carved wooden door.

The signboard reads "Spring and Autumn Period" in vigorous strokes.

The manager stopped and bowed slightly.

"You two have arrived."

Having said that, he reached out and pushed open the heavy door.

Light poured out of the private room.

Shu Yao subconsciously held her breath, straightened her back, and sounded the highest level of combat alert.

The private room was extremely large.

In the very center was a large round mahogany table that could seat twenty people, next to which was a set of expensive huanghuali sofas.

Two people were sitting on the sofa.

A middle-aged man, wearing a dark gray jacket and with graying hair but a sprightly demeanor, was holding a purple clay teacup and looking down at a newspaper.

He is Mr. He, who frequently appears in provincial news broadcasts.

The other woman, dressed in a perfectly tailored beige haute couture suit, with her short hair styled neatly and smartly, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and holding a document entirely in English, exuded an aura of immense power.

She is Shen Minghua, the mother of He, who is in charge of Shengshi Real Estate.

I heard the door open.

The two people on the sofa looked up at the same time.

The air seemed to freeze in that instant.

Shu Yao swallowed, her throat dry and sore.

She had even rehearsed it in her mind.

If Shen Minghua scrutinizes her with a critical eye later,

What kind of cold response should she give in return?

Even if one's social standing is inferior, one cannot lose in terms of spirit.

Then, the next second...

The English document in Shen Minghua's hand fell onto the coffee table with a "thud".

This powerful businesswoman, worth billions, suddenly stood up from the sofa, almost knocking off her gold-rimmed glasses.

She walked briskly over, her high heels swaying in the breeze.

He Zheng had just called out "Mom".

Shen Minghua pushed him away directly.

"Get out of the way, you're blocking my view."

He Zheng was pushed half a step to the side by his mother, his face expressionless.

It seems I've gotten used to it long ago.

Shen Minghua walked straight up to Shu Yao.

A pair of shrewd and sharp eyes sized Shu Yao up and down.

Then, a bright and enthusiastic smile suddenly bloomed on his face.

"My goodness! This girl! She looks like she stepped right out of a magazine!"

Shen Minghua grabbed Shu Yao's hand, holding it tightly with both hands, his eyes shining with an alarming intensity.

"That waist, those legs, that fair skin! Heavens, what good deeds has our He family done to be able to snag such a beautiful wife!"

Shu Yao was completely dumbfounded.

The prepared defensive armor was shattered on the ground.

This script is wrong.

Where's the talk of a wealthy mother-in-law handing out checks?

This looks like human traffickers have spotted a top-quality source of goods.

"Mom..." Shu Yao stammered, then, in a moment of madness, she changed her address to He Zheng's.

After saying that, he was stunned.

Upon hearing the word "Mom," Shen Minghua was so moved that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes crinkled into a smile.

"Oh! Good boy!"

Shen Minghua immediately turned around and shouted at the seemingly composed old cadre who was still holding a teacup on the sofa.

"Old He! Are you blind?! Hurry up and bring over what we've prepared!!"

On the sofa sat Secretary He, a high-ranking official of the Provincial Party Committee.

He hurriedly put down the purple clay teacup and responded repeatedly.

"Coming, coming. Don't rush me."

Mr. He stood up, picked up a heavy file bag from the side, and walked over quickly.

It was handed to Shu Yao.

"Yaoyao, nice to meet you."

Mr. He's voice was gentle, with a composure characteristic of a leader.

But they adopted an extremely humble attitude.

"Your aunt and uncle are busy with work and couldn't be there for you on your blind date and when you got your marriage certificate. I'm sorry."

Shen Minghua snatched the file bag from He's father's hand and stuffed it directly into Shu Yao's arms.

heavy.

"Here you go! A little something to mark our meeting!"

Shen Minghua is wealthy and has a loud voice.

"I've had the three-story shop on the far end of that commercial street in the city center transferred to your name. Here's the property certificate and the keys."

Shu Yao's hands trembled as she looked at the file bag in her arms, which bore the logo of Shengshi Real Estate.

The commercial street in the city center.

Three-story shop.

This isn't a house; it's a money-printing machine.

Even a conservative estimate puts its market value at tens of millions.

So... you gave it as a gift when we first met?

"Auntie, this is too expensive, I can't accept it." Shu Yao quickly pushed it away, it was too hot to handle.

"Don't call me 'Auntie'! Call me 'Mom'!"

Shen Minghua glared at her and grabbed Shu Yao's hand.

"He Zheng is a roughneck. He'll just take his fixed salary. If he wants to buy bags or clothes later, he can use the rent from this shop to spend as he pleases! If it's not enough, Mom will send you more!"

Shu Yao turned her head and looked at He Zheng for help.

He Zheng stood to the side, one hand in his pocket.

Looking at her dizzy and overwhelmed by Shen Minghua's enthusiasm.

A hint of indulgent smile flickered in his eyes.

He stepped forward, put his arm around Shu Yao's shoulder, and pulled her closer to him.

"Keep it."

He lowered his head, his voice barely audible to two people.

"I've said it before, even if you put a burlap sack over their heads, they'll still treat you like royalty."