First, then, love.

"So as not to frighten my daughter-in-law."

The words of He's father fell to the ground.

There was a two-second silence in the private room.

He Zheng leaned back in his chair and slightly lifted his eyelids.

He glanced at his old man, then at Shu Yao beside him, whose shoulders were trembling from trying not to laugh.

"OK."

He Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he uttered a single word.

The voice was lowered by two decibels, sounding somewhat muffled, like a wild beast forcibly fitted with a collar.

Shen Minghua snorted coldly.

"You're smart to know what's good for you."

A waiter carried in a huge ice sculpture platter.

The dry ice emitted white steam, giving it an ethereal, otherworldly feel.

A thick layer of sashimi is laid out in the very center, with clear texture and evenly distributed fat.

Shen Minghua immediately reached out and pressed down on the glass turntable.

The fattest and most succulent part of the bluefin tuna belly was placed steadily in front of Shu Yao.

"Yaoyao, eat this."

Shen Minghua picked up the serving chopsticks, took two of the thickest pieces, and placed them in the bone dish in front of Shu Yao.

"Air-freighted, so it's fresh. Girls should eat more seafood; it's good for their skin."

Shu Yao was flattered and quickly picked up the plate to accept it.

"Thank you, Mom." The way I say "Mom" is getting easier and easier to say.

She picked up a piece of sashimi, dipped it in a little wasabi soy sauce, and put it in her mouth.

The freshness and sweetness of top-quality sashimi.

It melts at the entrance.

The aroma of fish oil mixed with the slight spiciness of wasabi hits your nose.

good to eat.

Shu Yao's eyes lit up.

"Eat more if you like it. Today's meal is just for our family, no outsiders." Shen Minghua looked at Shu Yao and liked her more and more.

This girl looks exactly like her ideal type.

Bright and elegant, charming but not seductive.

Unlike those socialites and ladies in the circle, who always put on airs and act pretentious.

This girl has a vibrant energy about her.

I'm sure I can tame her bandit son.

Mr. He held a purple clay teacup and watched Shu Yao finish eating the sashimi.

He cleared his throat.

Start looking for topics to talk about.

"Yaoyao, what kind of pieces do you cellists usually play?"

Mr. He looked like a humble, old-fashioned cadre seeking advice.

"I usually listen to classical music in the car. I think Beethoven and Bach sound nice, but I don't really understand the nuances."

Shu Yao put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Dad, the cello has a rather deep tone, and Bach's unaccompanied cello suites are the most classic."

When Shu Yao talked about her professional field, she relaxed and exuded confidence.

"Normally in the orchestra, we mainly do harmonic preparation, but we also have solo performances, like Haydn's Concerto in C major."

Mr. He nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Although they may not even know who Haydn is.

But the performance was very convincing.

"Yes, elegant."

He's father turned and glared at He Zheng.

"Listen to this, learn more about art from Yao Yao in the future, instead of just knowing how to use grappling and fighting all day long, it's vulgar."

He Zheng was looking down.

A plate of freshly boiled prawns was placed in front of him.

It is extremely large.

He ignored his father's reprimand.

Wearing disposable transparent gloves, she deftly peeled shrimp.

Twist the shrimp head, peel off the shell, and the red and white shrimp meat is completely removed.

He put all the peeled shrimp meat into a small bowl.

It filled a small bowl to the brim.

He Zheng took off his gloves and pushed the bowl of peeled shrimp meat directly to Shu Yao's side.

"Eat first, or the fish will get cold."

He subtly interrupted Mr. He's artistic discussion.

Father He was interrupted, but he was not annoyed.

She just pointed at He Zhengchong and smiled at Shu Yao.

"See, he's protecting her now."

Shu Yao blushed as she looked at the bowl of white shrimp meat beside her.

Each one was peeled clean, and even the shrimp vein was removed.

She picked up her chopsticks.

I picked one up and put it in my mouth; the meat was firm and chewy.

She turned and glanced at He Zheng.

He Zheng took the hot towel next to him and carefully wiped his hands.

A plume of white steam rose from the hot towel.

Shu Yao's gaze fell on his hands.

There were hard calluses on it, as well as a few small old scars.

It is full of raw, powerful energy.

Those hands, they were so patient and meticulous when peeling the shrimp.

My heart skipped a beat.

The waiter then brought out another steamed grouper.

The fish meat was snow-white, drizzled with piping hot soy sauce.

The shredded scallions and ginger release a rich aroma as they are heated in hot oil.

Without saying a word, He Zheng pulled the plate of fish directly in front of him.

Pick up a clean pair of serving chopsticks.

His gaze was focused, as if he were staring at some complex explosive device.

The tip of the chopsticks precisely pried open the fish's belly.

I picked off the tenderest meat from the inside, carefully checked it to make sure there wasn't a single bone, and then put it into Shu Yao's bowl.

"Eat fish," he said succinctly.

Shu Yao was stunned.

She looked at the fish in the bowl, then looked up at He Zheng.

Then look at the smiling Shen Minghua and He's father across from them.

This meal made her fully realize the social hierarchy within her family.

Shen Minghua was the Empress Dowager.

He's father was a retired emperor who had stepped down from his post.

She, Shu Yao, is a newly crowned princess, pampered by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor Emeritus.

And He Zheng.

The captain of the city's special police brigade.

A living Yama, feared by all.

In this private room.

At the dinner table.

He was just a low-level laborer.

Responsible for serving tea...pouring water...peeling shrimp...removing fish bones...

They didn't dare to utter a single word in rebuttal.

If you try to refute me, all I get is a "shut up."

Shu Yao's vanity and sense of security swelled to their limit like fermenting dough.

What is she afraid of?

She has two great protectors.

He Zheng is nothing.

My back is completely straight, and my chin is raised.

Shu Yao picked up the piece of fish, put it in her mouth, and chewed it slowly.

They take eating for granted and feel perfectly justified in doing so.

She swallowed the fish and took a sip of the freshly squeezed orange juice beside her.

His gaze drifted to the side.

He Zheng was still picking fish bones with his head down.

His brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was quite impatient with the tiny spines on the fish's back, but his hand movements were surprisingly steady.

Shu Yao's lips curled into a mischievous smile, and she subtly moved her legs under the table.

He moved his right foot and slowly extended forward along He Zheng's open long leg.

The toe of the shoe touched a hard piece of fabric, which was the firm, iron-like calf muscle.

Shu Yao showed no mercy and pushed off with her toes.

He kicked He Zheng directly in the shinbone.

The force wasn't strong, but you could definitely feel it.

He Zheng suddenly stopped picking out the fish bones.

His back tensed slightly as he turned his head. His dark eyes gazed intently at the woman beside him.

Shu Yao was holding a glass of orange juice and sipping it slowly.

He put on a serious face.

She was as well-behaved as a lady from a prestigious family, listening to her father, Mr. He, talking at length across from her.

But the legs under the table were not pulled back.

She even provocatively flicked his calf lightly with the tip of her shoe.

He Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed heavily, and a dark fire surged in his eyes.

He put the deboned fish back into her bowl.

He put down his chopsticks, reached under the table, and quickly grabbed the woman's flailing ankle.

Shu Yao was startled and almost spilled the orange juice in her hand.

He Zheng's large hands were very strong, gripping her slender ankles, and the temperature of his palms was astonishingly high.

He pinched it lightly, with a hint of warning.

Shu Yao bit her lower lip and turned to glare at him.

He Zheng didn't look at her, picked up his water glass and took a sip.

He looked calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

But he didn't loosen his grip on her ankle; instead, his thumb rubbed along the bone of her ankle twice in an ambiguous way.

Shu Yao trembled, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

She forcefully pulled her foot back, no longer daring to act rashly.

A hint of a smile flashed in He Zheng's eyes as he picked up his chopsticks again.

This meal took an hour and a half to eat.

Shu Yao ate until her belly was round.

Shen Minghua fed her like a pig.

Feed them whatever is expensive.

They ate and drank their fill.

Shu Yao leaned back in her chair.

Looking at Mr. He, who was still leisurely sipping his goji berry tea, and Shen Minghua, who was replying to work messages on his phone.

Then look at the young worker next to her who just handed her a tissue.

A feeling of unprecedented comfort suddenly welled up inside me.

She suddenly realized.

This absurd blind date and whirlwind marriage.

It seems pretty good.

No need to serve her in-laws, no need to watch her husband's face, she directly leaps to the top of the food chain.

She stole a glance at He Zheng.

He Zheng was leaning back in his chair, his hands folded over his stomach, looking lazily at the person opposite him.

Noticing her gaze, he turned his head.

The two locked eyes.

Shu Yao did not dodge.

She remembered the anger he had felt when he pinched her ankle under the table.

He raised his chin slightly.

Her red lips curled up, and the corners of her eyes turned upwards.

With a hint of smugness, as if he were lording it over everyone.