First, then, love.

The God of War stuck out his tongue.

Hearing the noise, it immediately stood up, wagged its tail twice, and looked at He Zheng warily.

Military dogs are ingrained in their nature; they will obey any command from their owner.

It can pounce at any time and bite off the enemy's throat.

He Zheng took the water bottle and walked over, then sat down cross-legged on the carpet.

The God of War immediately came closer, his massive body lying down beside him, his large head resting heavily on his thigh, emitting a satisfied whimper.

He Zheng's rough, large hand covered the dog's head, stroking down its stiff fur.

"God of War." He Zheng's voice was deep.

The God of War immediately perked up its two pointed ears and stared intently at its master with bright eyes.

"Someone's coming to our house tomorrow." He Zheng scratched the dog's chin with his finger.

He ran through Shu Yao's beautiful and arrogant face in his mind, along with the demands she had made.

"Let a woman come and live here from now on."

He Zheng patted the God of War's neck, his tone becoming serious, and gave the order.

"She's timid. She's sensitive; she blushes easily. Stay away from her, don't pounce on her, and definitely don't yell at her."

The God of War made a gurgling sound in his throat, as if he was digesting the new command.

"And another thing." He Zheng frowned slightly, as if remembering something.

"She brought a cat, and it was pretty fierce."

He stared into the God of War's eyes and began to establish the rules, word by word.

"No matter what that cat does to you, scratches you or bites you, you'd better lie down and take the beating. If you dare talk back, you'll be sleeping in the hallway. Understand?"

The God of War understood the threat in the second half of the sentence.

Its massive body shrank back slightly, and it buried its head between He Zheng's legs in a pitiful manner.

A retired military dog ​​who has received a third-class merit award.

I have to put up with the humiliation of a house cat.

Life is tough for dogs.

He Zheng chuckled softly and patted the dog's head.

He stood up and threw the empty water bottle into the trash can.

His gaze swept across the empty living room.

It's space, cold and lifeless.

Tomorrow, those boxes will be moved in.

This room should be packed full.

He turned and went into the master bedroom.

The master bedroom is very large and has a walk-in closet attached.

He Zheng pushed open the door to the walk-in closet.

There were two rows of huge solid wood wardrobes. He only used a small corner piece to hang a few sets of training uniforms and two suits, leaving the rest empty.

He made a move, squeezing all his clothes into the outermost compartment.

Make room for 90% of the space for the dresses and bags that will be available tomorrow.

Then I went into the restroom.

The sink was spotless, with only a toothbrush, a tube of shaving cream, and a bar of soap.

He swept all these things into a storage box and placed it at the very edge of the sink, leaving the large countertop in the middle empty.

After finishing these tasks, He Zheng returned to the living room and picked up his phone from the coffee table.

I found the number of the deputy captain, Lao Li, and dialed it.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

The sound of slurping noodles came through the receiver.

"Captain, what instructions do you have on Sunday?" Old Li's voice was muffled.

His mouth was clearly stuffed with something.

"Noodles?" He Zheng asked.

"Ah, Master Kong braised beef, with two sausages. Has the captain eaten yet?" Old Li slurped up a big mouthful of soup.

"Eat more, save up your strength," He Zheng said calmly.

Old Li stopped eating his noodles.

His intuition told him that something was wrong.

"Captain, don't scare me. Is there an emergency capture mission? Are we carrying weapons?" Old Li immediately became nervous.

He Zheng walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the traffic below.

"No mission."

He paused.

"Tomorrow morning at 8:30, get a van and drive it to Building 3 of Xinghai Garden and wait for me."

"A van? I'm on leave tomorrow, Captain!" Old Li wailed.

"Work overtime." He Zheng left no room for argument.

"No. What do you need a truck for? To haul some equipment?" Old Li was completely confused.

He Zheng touched his back molars with the tip of his tongue.

"move place."

"Moving? Who's moving? Is the entire production team relocating?"

"Your sister-in-law is moving," He Zheng said.

A violent coughing sound came from the other end of the phone.

"Cough cough cough—Holy crap!" Old Li choked on the instant noodle soup and coughed violently.

"Sister-in-law? They're living together already? My God. Captain, your speed is terrifying! Even a rocket launch isn't as fast as you!" Old Li was so shocked he was incoherent.

"Enough with the nonsense," He Zheng interrupted him. "She has a lot of stuff, over a dozen large boxes. And her cello, which is delicate. I don't trust hiring an outside moving company; if it gets bumped or scratched, she'll make a scene."

Can't trust a professional moving company? Why trust this guy?

Old Li rolled his eyes dramatically on the other end of the phone.

The once-ruly Yama has become a doting husband.

This scene is so jarring.

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'm the strongest in the whole team, I guarantee I'll get your things to your destination safely!" Old Li patted his chest and assured him.

"You can come alone. Wear casual clothes, keep yourself clean, and don't make a fuss," He Zheng instructed.

"I know, I promise I won't scare your sister-in-law."

hang up the phone.

He Zheng threw his phone on the sofa.

With his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, he watched the sky outside the window gradually darken.

tomorrow.

This empty house will soon have one more person.

A spoiled, temperamental, and troublesome little woman.

A slight smile played on his lips, a smile he himself didn't even realize.

Waiting for the ancestors to descend.

*

Eight o'clock in the morning.

The autumn rain fell all night without stopping, and the sky was as gloomy as a piece of gray cloth soaked with water.

A cold wind seeped into the room through the cracks in the window, carrying the damp chill unique to late autumn.

Shu Yao stood in the center of the living room, holding a roll of wide tape in her hand.

"Sizzle—"

Tear the tape off forcefully and seal the last thickened and reinforced cardboard box.

She straightened up, reached out and rubbed her aching lower back, a thin layer of sweat appearing on her fair forehead.

Looking around, the room, which was usually spacious, now had no room to even put your feet down.

On the ground, twelve extra-large 28-inch suitcases were neatly arranged.

From pink to silver to black.

All big brands.

It was filled with her clothes, shoes, and hats for all four seasons.

There were eight huge corrugated cardboard boxes stacked next to it.

It contained skincare products, perfumes, beauty devices, and various delicate jewelry and ornaments.

In the corner stood the black carbon fiber cello case, next to which was a temperature-controlled, dehumidifying box containing rosin and spare strings.

This is all her possessions.

The exquisite life she built up over twenty-four years.

"Meow—"

A furious meow came from my feet.

The "princess" was locked in a transparent flight case, scratching at the plastic door with her paws in frustration, her tail slapping loudly inside.

Cats hate rainy days.

I hate moving even more.

"Don't make a sound, let's go right now." Shu Yao squatted down and tapped the cat's nose with her finger through the vent.

The princess breathed a cold air at her, turned around, and turned her back to her.

"Bad temper."

Shu Yao cursed, stood up, and walked to the full-length mirror.

She wasn't wearing a skirt today because she was moving and doing manual labor.

She changed into a fitted black knit sweater, layered a khaki long trench coat over it, tied the belt casually in a knot, and wore skinny jeans and black low-heeled Chelsea boots.

Her hair was tied into a low ponytail with a hair tie, looking neat and tidy.

She wore full waterproof makeup, and her lipstick was a dusty rose color. She looked quite healthy.

Doorbell rang.

Shu Yao walked over and glanced at the screen of the video intercom.

Outside the building entrance downstairs, a yellow van was parked, followed by a familiar black SUV.

Several people were standing on the screen, wearing raincoats.

She pressed the open button.

The rumble of the elevator coming from the twelfth floor.

Shu Yao opened the security door.

A cold wind, carrying the fishy smell of rain, swept over me.

Four men were standing outside the door.

He Zheng was leading the way.

He wore a pure black waterproof jacket, zipped all the way up to cover his Adam's apple, and black tactical work pants and military boots.

His hair was slightly damp, with a few short strands sticking to his forehead. His eyebrows and eyes appeared even sharper and colder under the cold light of the hallway.

He was carrying a dripping black umbrella.

Standing to He Zheng's right rear was a burly man.

The man was only slightly shorter than He Zheng, but had broader shoulders, looked like a black bear, had dark skin, a buzz cut, and an old scar the size of a fingernail on his chin.

The burly man was wearing a gray long-sleeved sports shirt, the fabric of which was soaked by the rain and clung to his muscular chest.

Further on were two moving company workers wearing blue vests, carrying trolleys and packing ropes, their brows covered in sweat.

He Zheng folded his umbrella and leaned against the door.

He looked at Shu Yao's outfit, his gaze sweeping over her tied ponytail and flat boots, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Let me introduce you." He Zheng gestured with his chin toward the burly man next to him, "Old Li, Li Meng, deputy captain of the brigade."

Li Meng immediately stood up straight, a bright and honest smile spreading across his face, revealing a set of white teeth.

It didn't match his muscular physique and scarred face at all.

It looks like a giant golden retriever.

"Hello, sister-in-law! Just call me Lao Li!" Li Meng's loud voice made the motion-activated lights in the hallway flicker twice.

He rubbed his hands together, extremely enthusiastic.

"The team leader said we're moving today, so I specially took a day off to come and do the hard labor. Sister-in-law, just let me know if there's any heavy or tiring work to do!"

Shu Yao's ears went numb from his loud "sister-in-law".

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded.

"Thank you for your help, Captain Li."

"No, no, no, please don't call me Captain Li, it's too much of a compliment," Li Meng waved his hands repeatedly.

Shu Yao stepped aside and pushed the door all the way.

"There's a lot of stuff in the living room," she said, giving a heads-up beforehand.

Four men walked into the house.

He Zheng walked in front, with Li Meng following closely behind.

The moment I saw the entire living room.

The smile on Li Meng's face froze instantly, and his feet pounded on the floor.

He gasped, his eyes widening like saucers.

The two movers stopped, and the cart hit the door frame with a dull thud.

A mountain.

It was truly a mountain of suitcases and packing boxes, completely taking up the entire living room.

Li Meng turned his head and mechanically looked at He Zheng.

"Captain," Li Meng swallowed hard and lowered his voice, "You only mentioned a dozen or so boxes on the phone yesterday, and you even asked me to come alone... This is more full than the equipment warehouse our brigade uses for training."

He Zheng remained expressionless, his dark eyes sweeping over the colorful suitcases.

"Stop talking nonsense and get to work." He said in a flat tone.

The movers stepped forward.

One of the experienced workers walked up to the cardboard box containing the skincare products, stuck out his toe, and gently kicked it.

It remained completely still, as heavy as a piece of iron.

The worker bent down, gripped the edge of the cardboard box with both hands, and lifted it upwards with force.

His face instantly turned bright red, veins bulging, and the box, which had only been off the ground a few centimeters away, slammed heavily back onto the floor with a thud.

"..."

It's hard to imagine that such things were organized by a petite woman.

"Holy crap, what is this thing?" Master panted, shook his wrist, turned to look at Shu Yao, and complained.

"Miss, is that a box full of bricks? We agreed on ordinary daily necessities when we placed the order, but this is way overweight. It weighs at least 70 or 80 pounds. I can't move this."

Shu Yao frowned and walked over.

"It contains a complete set of La Mer face cream and serum, all in glass bottles, so of course it's heavy." Shu Yao's voice was cold and clear, with an undeniable confidence.

"Be careful when you move this stuff, don't bump or knock it. This box is worth almost 100,000 yuan. If you break even one bottle, your moving expenses won't even cover the cost of repairs."

The old master craftsman's expression changed upon hearing this.

I'm in an awkward position, but I don't dare to get angry.

Another, younger worker stepped in, trying to smooth things over while also raising the price.

"Miss, we're definitely being careful because the items are expensive, but this weight is indeed over the limit. This elevator is small, and only a few can fit at a time. My brother and I have to run up and down. The overweight fee will be fifty yuan per box."

"Trying to raise prices on the spot?" Shu Yao sneered.

I was just about to take out my phone and talk to the moving company's customer service.

A hand blocked her way.

He Zheng walked directly to the middle of the heaviest cardboard box.

He bent over, his broad back tensed, and his latissimus dorsi muscles bulged instantly beneath his windbreaker.

Grasp the nylon packing straps of the two cardboard boxes with both hands.

His eyes darkened, and a very low groan escaped his throat.

The muscles in his arms suddenly exerted force, and the blue veins bulged out like tree roots on the back of his hands and forearms.

Two heavy cardboard boxes weighing nearly 160 pounds together.

He lifted them up with both hands, forcibly lifting them into the air.

He Zheng stood up straight, his breathing steady, his back ramrod straight.

He turned his head and gave the two dumbfounded movers a cold look.

"The lighter ones are yours. The suitcases have wheels, just push them downstairs and load them into the car." He Zheng's voice was deep and harsh, his words like nails. "The heavier ones, I'll handle them. No extra charge for excess weight. Want to do it?"

The two workers were intimidated by his fierce aura.

Then look at the abnormal strength with which he carried those two cardboard boxes as if they were two bags of cotton.

The two exchanged a glance, swallowed hard, and nodded repeatedly.

"Do it, do it, whatever the boss says."

After saying that, he quickly pushed the cart to move the wheeled suitcases next to him, not daring to say another word.

Li Meng watched from the side, grinning from ear to ear.

He walked up to Shu Yao and gave her a thumbs up.

"Sister-in-law, ignore them. These companies like to bully the weak and fear the strong. With the captain's physique, this little bit of weight is just a warm-up."

Li Meng rolled up the sleeves of his tracksuit, spat into his palm, and rubbed it.

"I'm getting to work too! Today, I have to make sure my sister-in-law's baby is born safely!"

Li Meng stepped forward, grabbed a large cardboard box with one hand, and carried it on his shoulder.

He picked up another one with his other hand.

He strode towards the door.

These two SWAT officers are like two humanoid machines when it comes to physical labor; their efficiency is frighteningly high.

Shu Yao stood still.

Watching He Zheng's broad back as he walked out carrying heavy objects.

My heart skipped a beat.

This sense of security comes from the fact that she doesn't need to argue; he can resolve everything simply by standing there.

It's so addictive.

*

Moving is a tedious and lengthy process.

It's been raining non-stop, and everything outside is wet.

Shu Yao didn't lift any of the large items; she was responsible for carrying some small, valuable items.

She picked up the temperature-controlled desiccant box from the corner, and carried a safe full of jewelry in her hand.

I walked to the entrance hall.

I picked up the airline crate containing the calico cat.

"Let's go, Princess, we've moved to a new territory."

Finally, she returned to the living room.

He carefully lifted the black carbon fiber cello case with both hands.

This violin case is incredibly heavy; she usually has to use a lot of effort to carry it.

Lock the door and go downstairs.