First, then, love.

The dinner party ended.

At 9:30 PM, at the entrance of Yinxi Pavilion.

The night breeze turned completely cool, carrying the chill of approaching late autumn.

Shu Jianguo was so drunk that he could barely walk straight, and half of his weight was resting on He Zheng.

He Zheng put one arm around his father-in-law's waist and walked very steadily.

They forcefully carried the over 100-pound Shu Jianguo to the Mercedes-Benz parked on the side of the road.

Lin Shufen followed behind, her face flushed, bidding a reluctant farewell to Shen Minghua.

"Minghua, it's settled then. I'll go to your place to look at the stones next Wednesday."

Shen Minghua stood by the door of the Maybach, a white cashmere shawl draped over his shoulders, and laughed heartily. "It's all settled. I'll send a driver to pick you up. When you get to my place, all your food and drinks will be taken care of."

The chauffeur opened the car door.

He Zheng shoved Shu Jianguo into the back seat, but Shu Jianguo was still restless, clinging to the car window and waving outside.

"Father-in-law! Let's go to my place another day... another day! I've hidden half a bottle of Wuliangye... let's drink some more!"

Mr. He stood on the steps, hands behind his back, smiling and nodding, "Okay, Lao Shu. Take care, send a WeChat message when you get home."

He Zheng reached out and shoved Shu Jianguo's flailing arm back into the car, then closed the door.

"Auntie, drive carefully," he said to Lin Shufen in the car.

Lin Shufen nodded repeatedly, looking at her son-in-law with increasing satisfaction.

"Xiao He, I'm leaving Yao Yao in your care now. You two should go back and get some rest as well."

She was saying this without realizing the problem at all.

Daughter...where should we go to rest?

The Mercedes started, its taillights flashed twice, and it drove into the night.

On the steps, only the He family of three and Shu Yao remained.

Shu Yao was still wearing He Zheng's oversized black suit jacket, with sleeves that were way too long and the hem reaching her thighs, covering her completely.

Shen Minghua walked over, took Shu Yao's hand, and patted it.

"Yaoyao, you must be exhausted today. It was so boring socializing with these old men."

"No, Mom, I'm quite happy," Shu Yao said truthfully.

She really enjoyed her meal today.

"Alright, enough with the pleasantries." Shen Minghua turned and glared at He Zheng. "Second Brother He, make sure your wife gets home safely and doesn't upset her, you hear me?"

He Zheng put one hand in his pocket.

"Know."

The Maybach driver opened the car door, and Shen Minghua and He's father got in.

The car window rolled down, and He's father waved to the two of them before the car drove away smoothly.

It's quiet now.

The red lanterns at the entrance of Yinxi Pavilion swayed gently in the night breeze, casting shadows on the bluestone pavement.

He Zheng turned his head and looked at Shu Yao.

Half of her face was hidden inside the wide collar of her suit, revealing only her bright eyes and straight nose.

"Let's go." He gestured with his chin toward the parking lot next to him.

Shu Yao nodded and followed him.

They got into the black SUV.

The car door closed, shutting out the cold wind from outside.

He Zheng started the car, turned on the heater, and the warm air from the vents felt very comfortable on his body.

Shu Yao leaned back in the leather seat and let out a long sigh of relief.

I'm tired, both mentally and physically.

She bent down, reached out and unfastened the buckles on her high heels, kicking off the two tight-fitting pointed leather shoes.

Feet are freed.

She curled her feet up on the large leather seat, her toes stretching out comfortably.

He Zheng glanced at her movements out of the corner of his eye, but said nothing.

He simply adjusted the direction of the heater in the passenger seat downwards, directing it directly at her ankles.

The car entered the main road.

Shu Yao turned to look out the window.

The light from the streetlights swept across He Zheng's face, flickering on and off.

He gripped the steering wheel with both hands, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

At the dinner table just now, he didn't say a word, but he only needed one look from her.

He would understand perfectly, pouring water, serving food, and even indulging her under the table.

Shu Yao reached out and touched the edge of the suit jacket draped over her lap, her mind racing with thoughts.

The car drove through an intersection.

Shu Yao frowned as she looked at the road sign outside.

"You've gone the wrong way. My home is in the north. You're heading towards the city center," she reminded him.

"We didn't go the wrong way." He Zheng tapped his fingers twice on the steering wheel. "Going somewhere."

"Where to?"

"Buy something," he said succinctly.

It's almost 10 PM, what should I buy in the city center?

Shu Yao was too lazy to ask anymore.

Since we're already on this pirate ship, let him do whatever he wants.

She yawned, closed her eyes, let the warm breeze blow on her, and drifted off to sleep.

I don't know how much time passed.

The car stopped.

"arrive."

Shu Yao opened her eyes and rubbed them.

Outside the car window was a quiet alley lined with plane trees, most of the shops on both sides were closed, and only the streetlights were on.

Several sports cars were parked on the side of the road.

He Zheng parked the SUV in front of a two-story detached glass building.

The building has a completely glass exterior, giving it a cold, industrial feel. The ground floor is lit with warm yellow lights, and there's no large sign at the entrance, only a single metal letter embedded in the wall: SANG.

"Get out of the car." He Zheng unbuckled his seatbelt.

Shu Yao reluctantly shoved her feet back into her high heels, wrapped her suit jacket tighter around herself, and got out of the car.

A gust of cold wind woke her up completely.

He Zheng walked over and naturally took her hand.

Shu Yao struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, so she let him hold her hand.

The two walked to the glass door.

He Zheng raised his hand and pushed open the door.

"Ding-dong."

The brass wind chimes on the door made a crisp sound.

The studio is very spacious with extremely high ceilings and all-ceiling cement-gray walls. In the middle, there are several black velvet display cases, and the lights shining on the cases reflect the cold light of metal and gemstones.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee, mixed with the distinctive smell of polished metal.

"We're closed for the day. Please come back early tomorrow."

A languid female voice came from behind the innermost worktable.

His voice had a nonchalant hoarseness.

Shu Yao looked in the direction of the sound.

A woman was sitting behind the worktable.

The woman wore a burgundy silk slip dress with a black chunky knit cardigan loosely draped over it. Her long, wavy hair, like seaweed, was casually pulled back, with a few stray strands falling over her slender swan neck.

She was holding a small metal file in her hand, and was bending down to polish a silver ring.

A soft measuring tape was hanging around his neck.

Hearing footsteps, the woman stopped what she was doing and looked up.

A beautiful mixed-race face.

She has good bone structure, a clear jawline, and extremely beautiful eyebrows and eyes, but not vulgar. She exudes a bold and unrestrained spirit, like a wild rose with thorns.

When she saw who it was, she slammed the file in her hand onto the table with a "thud".

"Yo."

The woman leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and a mocking smile played on her lips.

"What kind of evil wind is blowing today, bringing the living devil to my little shabby temple?"

She looked He Zheng up and down.

"Hey, Lao Er, in the middle of the night, has your SWAT team gone bankrupt?"

He Lao Er.

Shu Yao raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this address.

Anyone who dares to call He Zheng that is no ordinary person.

The woman spoke with familiarity.

What is their relationship?