First, then, love.

"Bang."

The door to the lounge was pushed open.

Qiaoqiao walked in briskly, carrying two cups of iced peach oolong tea.

"Here you go, half sugar, no ice." Qiaoqiao placed the cup on the table and pulled out a chair to sit down.

"What's wrong with you? You look so preoccupied, you've been spacing out for half an hour." Qiaoqiao bit her straw and stared at Shuyao.

"You've got such a thick layer of foundation, why is your face still so red? Did Captain He mess with you up last night? Did he just go straight to home runs after the cold war ended?"

Qiaoqiao winked and made faces, looking all gossipy, practically sticking her ear to Shuyao's mouth.

When Shu Yao heard the word "fuss," her hand trembled, and she almost spilled the warm water in her cup.

She abruptly put down her cup and glanced at Qiaoqiao.

I looked around the lounge and made sure no one was there.

She pulled her chair forward, leaned closer to Qiaoqiao, lowered her voice, and spoke mysteriously.

"Qiaoqiao, I have a question for you."

When Qiaoqiao saw her posture, she immediately perked up, put down her drink, and went over.

"Speak, what's wrong? Is it an emotional problem or a physical one?"

Shu Yao bit her lip, a very unnatural blush rising on her cheeks, her eyes darting away.

"It's...that part of a man's body..." she said, her voice barely audible.

Qiaoqiao's eyes lit up instantly, like searchlights.

"Holy crap! You two actually did it?! How did it feel?! Are the SWAT team's stamina as insane as the rumors say?! Was it great?! How long did it last?!"

Qiaoqiao bombarded her with a barrage of questions, so loud they almost lifted the roof off.

"No! What are you thinking!" Shu Yao hurriedly reached out and covered Qiao Qiao's mouth tightly. "Keep your voice down! Are you trying to kill me?!"

Qiaoqiao forcefully pried her hands away, panting, "Why are you asking about men in that area if we haven't done it? What, he can't do it?"

"It's not that it's impossible." Shu Yao scratched her hair in frustration. "Ugh, it's just that this morning... I accidentally saw his..."

Qiao Qiao raised an eyebrow, looking like she had seen it all.

"Which one? Oh, Chen, Bo. It's normal. All young men are like that in the morning. It's just a flag-raising ceremony. What's the big deal?"

"It's not as simple as a flag-raising ceremony." Shu Yao gestured with her hands, her delicate brows furrowed.

"I mean, size."

"What about the size?" Qiao Qiao's curiosity was completely bursting. "Is it big or small? Captain He is 1.88 meters tall, and those long legs, proportionally speaking, they're definitely not small, probably at least..."

Qiaoqiao gestured with her hand to show the length and thickness of an ordinary mineral water bottle.

"So big?"

Shu Yao looked at Qiao Qiao's gesture and slowly and heavily shook her head.

His expression was extremely serious, even showing a hint of lingering fear.

"Not only that," she uttered.

"More than that?!" Qiao Qiao gasped, her eyes widening. "Shu Yao, don't scare me! More than just mineral water bottles? Is that some kind of energy drink?! Or a thermos?!"

Shu Yao rubbed her forehead in frustration.

"Oh, I don't know how to describe it, it's just that it's very big and exaggerated. Looking through the pants, it's like there's a giant rolling pin hidden inside."

She recalled the sensation of the touch brushing against her inner thigh, and her fingertips went numb.

"And... it's as hard as a block of iron, the kind that can kill someone if it hits you."

The lounge was deathly silent.

There was only the slight sound of the air conditioner running.

The straw in Qiaoqiao's mouth fell off and hit the cup lid.

She stared blankly at Shu Yao, her eyes filled with shock, awe, and...deep sympathy.

"Yaoyao." Qiaoqiao swallowed hard, reached out and patted Shuyao's shoulder heavily.

His tone was extremely heavy, as if he were saying goodbye to a brave warrior.

"With your small frame, you'd better pray for good luck."

Qiaoqiao looked Shuyao up and down, noting her slender waist and thin shoulders.

"Let me tell you, the core strength of SWAT officers is already abnormal. Their abs can be used as washboards, plus this inhuman size."

Qiaoqiao clicked her tongue in disbelief, her face filled with unbearable disapproval.

"If it really comes down to a fight, he'll be showing mercy if he doesn't break you to pieces. You'll probably have to spend a long rehabilitation period in bed afterwards."

Shu Yao listened to her best friend's undisguised and lewd words.

Her face was as red as a boiled crab, and her head was practically steaming.

"Shut up! Your head is full of dirty jokes!" she snapped angrily, picking up the iced tea on the table and taking a big gulp.

The cold liquid went down, but it couldn't suppress the inexplicable heat rising in my heart.

In her mind, the image of He Zheng sitting shirtless and straddling the bed flashed back again.

This is unbearable.

*

5 PM, Starry Sky Art Center.

Shu Yao took her car keys and walked out of the office building.

As the autumn wind blew, she wrapped her off-white cashmere cardigan tighter around herself.

My mind was a complete mess. Qiaoqiao's lewd words and the visually striking scene from this morning flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.

Size, hardness, profile.

Lingering.

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the yellow waste.

I walked to the underground parking garage and got into the car.

I started the engine, stepped on the gas, and the sports car roared out of the garage.

Evening rush hour traffic remains congested, with frequent stops and starts.

Shu Yao gripped the steering wheel with one hand, staring at the red taillights ahead, feeling agitated.

When I fled from home this morning, I was so flustered that I didn't even manage to utter a single harsh word.

How can I face that man if I go back now?

The thought of his self-righteous and nonchalant way of saying it was a "normal reaction" made her grit her teeth in hatred.