Be Passionately In Love

Chen Luzhou had always been like this—if he could resolve things with words, he would never resort to physical force. Most of the time, men fought for the sheer thrill of it, not for any particular outcome. The moment the fight was over, they felt satisfied. But Chen Luzhou never participated in such lose-lose situations, mainly because he was afraid of getting hurt. If he came home bruised, his mother would scold him.

However, boys at that age were at the peak of impulsive energy—how could they possibly avoid fighting? So on several occasions when Jiang Cheng, Zhu Yangqi, and the others got into conflicts on the basketball court, knowing that their "mama's boy" Chen Luzhou only listened to his mother, they automatically excluded him. Before throwing punches, they’d strip off their jackets and toss them all to him, telling him to go stand aside and watch their stuff like a good boy.

The heavy rain had just stopped, leaving the streets sparsely populated, with even onlookers scarce. Rainwater shimmered on the ground, reflecting the dim light. Chen Luzhou sat sprawled on a stall chair, legs wide open, perfectly content as Xu Zhi tended to his nails. He glanced lazily at the artsy guy and said, "Still here? Should I call the police?"

His protective stance was obvious.

The woman apologized to Xu Zhi and, without even saying goodbye to the man, turned and walked away, her bag slung over her shoulder.

The artsy guy shot Chen Luzhou a fierce glare before hurrying after her.

Only when the man’s figure disappeared at the end of the long street did Chen Luzhou finally relax and turn back. Instinctively, he tried to pull his hand away, but Xu Zhi yanked it back firmly, gripping his ring finger as she applied nail polish. "Don’t move. It’ll be done soon."

"You’re really doing this?" Chen Luzhou grumbled, though he stopped resisting.

The stall had only two folding desk lamps, their harsh white light casting sharp clarity over his fingers—clean, well-defined knuckles, neatly trimmed nails. Hands this nice would be a shame not to decorate. Xu Zhi worked enthusiastically, carefully applying the polish as she said, "Of course. You’re the one who asked for it."

Chen Luzhou narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to study her face under the lamp. "Tsk. I feel like you’re repaying kindness with cruelty here."

"Nope," Xu Zhi laughed, knowing his spoiled young master temper required coaxing. She softened her voice and pleaded, "Just one? Just one little design. I haven’t had a single customer today."

Chen Luzhou leaned back in his chair and stared at her for a long moment before asking blankly, "Will it wash off easily?"

"Of course it will! Let her do it!" The middle-aged woman selling stockings and underwear at the neighboring stall chimed in, grinning at the two of them.

"...Fine. Just the ring finger, then," Chen Luzhou relented.

Xu Zhi nodded. "How about I paint a ring on it?"

"Sure."

"Black okay?"

"Mhm."

Just then, a voice piped up eagerly from the side, "Chen Luzhou, did you bring your phone?"

Chen Luzhou turned and only then noticed Cai Yingying had set up a phone screen protector stall nearby. He was about to say, No thanks, I never use screen protectors , when—

"Let Yingying put a screen protector on your phone," Xu Zhi said without looking up, scrolling through ring designs on her phone.

Chen Luzhou sighed, pulled out his phone, and tossed it to Cai Yingying. "Do whatever you want." Then he turned back to Xu Zhi and said sarcastically, "You really know how to make the most of things, huh? You won’t pack up until you’ve squeezed me dry, is that it? Should I call Zhu Yangqi and the others over to boost your sales?""I learned this from you," Xu Zhi still hadn't looked up, examining the design before rummaging through the box for similar patterned stickers, casually remarking, "I haven't even settled accounts with you for tricking me into praying to the Child-Giving Guanyin."

"Oh? Then why haven't you come after me?" His face was annoyingly smug, brimming with unjustified confidence.

"Busy."

"Busy with what?" He didn't believe she was so busy she couldn't even send a WeChat message, sneering, "You just treat me like a chat companion, only remembering me when you have problems, right?"

"Hey, I offered to pay—you're the one who refused," Xu Zhi said without a trace of guilt, still bent over, carefully selecting ring shapes from the small compartments of jewelry with tweezers. She asked him with careless nonchalance, "Want a diamond ring? Or just a plain one?"

"Whatever," he replied coldly.

"Then a plain one it is. Diamond rings need actual diamonds glued on."

Chen Luzhou immediately took offense. "What, you think I can't afford the diamonds?"

Xu Zhi paused, finally looking up at him in confusion. "No, I just thought you wouldn't like something so flashy."

"Diamond ring," he insisted, clearly determined to oppose her.

"Fine," Xu Zhi chuckled, shaking the nail polish bottle in preparation. "Hand over."

...

"Freezing! Xu Zhi, what are you doing?" Chen Luzhou flinched the moment his hand touched the cold liquid, trying to pull back.

Xu Zhi remained focused. "Hold still. Just disinfecting with alcohol."

Chen Luzhou leaned back in his chair, one hand in her grasp, watching her coolly. "No wonder your hands are so cold."

Xu Zhi kept her head down, carefully holding his ring finger, absorbed in her task. She responded slowly, "My palms were sweaty earlier, so I rinsed them in cold water."

Chen Luzhou observed her intense concentration, her eyes practically glued to his hand. Sometimes, Xu Zhi reminded him of those abstract painters' most wildly expressive ancient oil paintings—meticulously structured yet brimming with mystery.

Her hair was soft and fine, and as she painted his nails, the loose strands at her forehead occasionally brushed against the back of his hand, light as goose down, teasing like a spring breeze—subtle yet impossible to ignore.

Are you doing this on purpose? Huh?

Just as Chen Luzhou thought this, Xu Zhi, seemingly annoyed by the stray hair, wordlessly tucked it behind her ear.

Chen Luzhou: "..."

The street had been quiet, and Chen Luzhou was perfectly at ease getting his nails done. But he'd forgotten one thing—this night market street had just opened, and TV crews had been conducting interviews and surveys here lately. Ms. Lian Hui, the producer, had been working overtime on this project.

So when the nearby vendor selling stockings kindly warned Xu Zhi and Cai Yingying, "The TV crew's here, watch your hygiene and trash. If they film it, the city management will shut you down in a few days," Chen Luzhou didn't think much of it.

Until he heard the familiar click of high heels behind him and Liu the driver's voice: "Director Lian, I'll park the car first. Call me when you're done, and I'll pick you up."

Only then did he realize things were about to go south.

Originally intended as a leisure-themed street, the government had ultimately approved it as a night market—likely because Qingyi's youth preferred this fast-paced, consumer-driven vibe.Ms. Lian Hui's television station recently launched a special program focusing on the lifestyles of young people in Qingyi City. However, the initial episodes hadn't performed well, so after an early meeting today, she decided to conduct some field research for inspiration.

It was only after getting out of her car that Lian Hui recognized Chen Luzhou. At the same moment, hearing the commotion, he instinctively turned his head and spotted her too. His tall frame stood out conspicuously among the makeshift chairs of the night market stalls, drawing attention. Their eyes met in mutual astonishment—though when Lian Hui fully registered what he was doing, her shock eclipsed his, rooting her to the spot in utter disbelief.

……

The two junior reporters beside her remained oblivious to the awkwardness, failing to recognize this as the academic prodigy their producer often proudly mentioned. They only recalled Ms. Lian's emphatic lecture during the car ride:

"Listen, this isn't how journalism works anymore! 'Freshman Girl Gets Plastic Surgery for Boyfriend, Scammed into Nude Loans and Abandoned'—who wrote this? Did you think I wouldn't check the original story? She had surgery for a competition! What does her boyfriend have to do with it? Rewriting it like this just for clicks? Stop framing everything women do as being for men. Focus on their actual achievements." At that moment, Lian Hui had casually glanced out the window (not yet recognizing the figure) and—true to her UC Shock Department alum instincts—improvised: "See? 'Aloof Heartthrob Gets Manicure for Love: Shocking Truth About His Relationship with Vendor' would get way more traction. It's 2023—how about 'Boy Pleases Crush with Street-Side Manicure' for today's headline?"

Thus when Chen Luzhou found himself surrounded by microphones, the camera flashes felt particularly aggressive and inescapable.

With quick wit, he simply turned toward the rigidly frozen producer behind him and called out, "Mom."

Click. Every flashbulb died instantly. Microphones lowered.

As all heads swiveled, Lian Hui's cheek twitched imperceptibly.

"Dismissed," she said with uncharacteristic hesitation, arms crossed, massaging her temples. "He's... under academic stress. Actually, I just heard—a dog bit someone at the intersection. Go investigate... I mean, check if it's serious."

……

Only after the crowd dispersed did Lian Hui approach Chen Luzhou. Tightening her shawl, her designer heels clicked sharply against the pavement as she fastidiously avoided the shimmering puddles. Every inch of her—from her glacial poise to the gleaming Hermès bag—radiated an elegance utterly alien to these streets.Xu Zhi thought of Lin Qiudie, but Ms. Lin Qiudie didn’t possess such an elegant demeanor. She was often seen wearing a hard hat at construction sites, covered in dust, her clothes perpetually grimy. She was even a bit rough around the edges, with the only delicate side of her appearing when she mended clothes. Xu Zhi had been a mischievous child, often tearing her clothes, and most of the time, it was Old Xu who patched them up. Ms. Lin Qiudie occasionally did too, but she was always clumsy, painstakingly stitching one needle at a time, pausing to blow on her fingers after each poke. It was endearingly awkward.

Lian Hui didn’t notice the gaze fixed on her from the side as she walked straight up to Chen Luzhou, straightening his collar. “Why are you dressed so lightly? Aren’t you cold? How’s your cold feeling now?”

Ms. Lian Hui rarely wore short sleeves in any season. Prone to feeling cold, she was always worried that Chen Luzhou and the others might be chilly, convinced that boys never dressed warmly enough. Even in a situation where other parents might have scolded or chased after their kids, she didn’t bother with reprimands—her first concern was whether he was cold.

“I’m fine, not cold,” Chen Luzhou replied.

Ms. Lian Hui grabbed his hand for a look. Men’s nail art wasn’t uncommon these days—there was even a guy at her workplace who was genuinely into it, painting all sorts of bizarre colors on his nails. She wasn’t a fan, but she knew Chen Luzhou’s personality well. He was straightforward, so this was likely just him fooling around with some girl. She didn’t make a big deal out of it, instead turning her attention to Xu Zhi.

But she had her limits. Chen Luzhou had promised her he wouldn’t get involved with anyone while in the country, and he wouldn’t break that promise. Plus, this was the first time her usually indifferent son had shown even a hint of vulnerability toward her. So, she didn’t embarrass him too much, only remarking lightly, “Come home tomorrow. There’s something I need to talk to you about. And wash that off your hand—don’t let your dad see it.”

Cai Yingying suddenly understood why Xu Zhi had been so persistent earlier. Chen Luzhou’s mother’s voice was practically identical to Auntie Lin’s. The only difference was that while Ms. Lian Hui appeared gentle and spoke softly and methodically, there was an inexplicably overbearing, suffocating air about her that made resistance impossible.

Long after the woman had left, Cai Yingying still felt the lingering tension in the air, thick like congealed paste, impossible to stir or disperse. She also suddenly grasped why Zhu Yangqi always called Chen Luzhou a “mama’s boy.” It wasn’t that he didn’t resist—she wouldn’t dare either. When love came wrapped in such suffocating expectations, who could refuse?

……

“First, it’s ‘Aren’t you cold, my precious son?’ and the next second, it’s ‘Wash that off your hand.’ She doesn’t respect Chen Luzhou at all. At the end of the day, it’s just because he’s adopted. He must have been in a terrible mood when he left—he even forgot his phone.”

On the way back, Cai Yingying vented to Xu Zhi. When she got no response, she sighed dramatically at the full moon overhead. “Ugh, tomorrow’s the day we get our results. I’m so nervous. I’m afraid Old Cai might just drop dead on the spot. Sure, he’s not much of a father, but compared to Chen Luzhou’s mom, who clearly expects repayment for her ‘kindness,’ I’d still take Old Cai any day. At least it’s more relaxed and comfortable with him.”The moonlight spread a silvery glow across the ground, the wind whispering gently by her ears. The leaves in the alley rustled softly, and the bluestone path exuded the familiar damp, fishy scent of Jiangnan’s rainy towns as always. A cat on the wall meowed softly, begging for food, while the broken tricycle in the corner remained unrepaired. For some reason, the more Xu Zhi saw these familiar sights, the more unfamiliar her current emotions felt.

"Yingying," Xu Zhi suddenly stopped walking.

Cai Yingying halted as well, blinking in confusion. "Huh? What's up?"

"Give me Chen Luzhou's phone," she said.

The alley cat continued to meow, and the soft glow of the streetlamp spilled over the bluestone path like a fuzzy white blanket, seemingly guiding her in that direction.

"Are you going to find him?" Cai Yingying handed over the freshly screen-protected phone.

Just as the words left her mouth, a deafening clap of thunder rolled across the sky. One after another, windows in the alley slammed shut, birds flapped frantically back into their nests, and even the cat bolted in terror, scrambling back into its hole in the wall.

Cai Yingying glanced up at the darkening sky, worried about Xu Zhi's knee. "It's about to pour. Xu Zhi, it won’t be easy for you to walk."

"I’ll go slow. You head home first," Xu Zhi said.

"Then make sure you come back. Don’t you dare stay overnight at his place—Old Xu would chop him to pieces if he found out!"

"Cai Yingying!"

Grinning mischievously, Cai Yingying hopped and shouted across the bluestone path, "Xu Zhi, do you know what liking someone is? It’s when even on a rainy day—the kind you hate the most—you still rush to return his phone without hesitation!"

Xu Zhi: "Cai Yingying, shut up!"

"No, no, I won’t!" Cai Yingying kept bouncing, her triumphant laughter echoing through the alley—until it abruptly cut off.

"Oh, Uncle Xu."

Xu Guangji stood there holding a birdcage, his face expressionless as he asked, "Who’s she delivering the phone to?"

Cai Yingying reacted lightning-fast. "A nail art enthusiast. She got her nails done at our place today and forgot her phone."

"A woman?"

"Uncle Xu, be serious—what man gets nail art?" Cai Yingying forced a dry chuckle.

Author’s Note: A few days later, during Chen Luzhou’s follow-up checkup, Xu Guangji noticed his ring finger.

Xu Guangji: "...A nail art enthusiast? And interested in my daughter? Let’s be honest, Chen Luzhou—it’s you, isn’t it?"

Chen Luzhou: "I’ll be honest—I’m just really into nail art."