Be Passionately In Love

Xu Zhi was truly terrible at comforting people. As she gently wiped his face with a tissue, she dryly coaxed him like a child, "It's all fake, don't cry. It's just a movie."

Chen Luzhou leaned back against the sofa, his face tilted upward, looking helplessly and awkwardly at the ceiling as he let her wipe away his tears. After a long silence, he suddenly laughed through his tears, his voice thick with congestion, heavy and hoarse: "You really are bad at comforting people. I know it's fake, but it still hurts."

Xu Zhi fell silent for a moment.

He sighed, pulling her closer as he leaned back on the sofa. His head remained tilted back, but he turned slightly to look at her with damp, bright eyes full of grievance. After thinking for a while, he said, "The magic of movies probably lies in the fact that everyone knows it's fake, yet everyone wants to believe Xiao Ba's loyal and steadfast love for his owner is real. Zhu Yangqi recommended this film to me several times before, but I never dared to watch it. He said he and Feng Jin cried every time they saw it, hugging each other and sobbing. Zhu Yangqi even got a dog because of it, named Qi Gong. His dad beat him up for it because his great-grandfather was also called Qi Gong."

Xu Zhi chuckled, tossing the tissue aside before nestling into his embrace, comfortably leaning against him. Both were wearing puffy down jackets, the thick fabric creating a fluffy barrier between them. She pressed closer, trying to squeeze out the air between them to feel his firm, familiar chest and the sense of security it brought.

Then she tilted her head up and lightly kissed his chin. Chen Luzhou, lost in thought, instinctively lowered his head when he felt her movement, naturally meeting her lips in a brief kiss.

Xu Zhi leaned in for another kiss.

Chen Luzhou wrapped an arm around her shoulder, his fingertips lightly brushing her delicate earlobe as he gazed down at her. His throat felt dry, the redness in his eyes fading as another emotion took hold. Unable to resist, he deepened the kiss. When they parted, he looked at her with lingering desire, his slightly raised eyebrows adding fuel to the already charged atmosphere.

The mood between them had shifted—what was once innocent now held only the hazy reflection of each other in their eyes, their gazes locked in a dazed yet unwavering stare.

The room fell completely silent, dimly lit with the movie's end credits still rolling on the screen. The faint glow cast over their faces was ambiguous and secretive, like two lovers sneaking an affair.

In the quiet private room, they took turns kissing playfully, without any rhythm or restraint.

The kisses grew more frequent, more intense, until they could no longer pull apart.

By the time the film automatically switched to the next one, the familiar Dragon Seal opening sequence had barely begun before someone abruptly turned it off.

The room was now filled only with the scandalous, heated sounds of kissing and the soft rustling of down jackets brushing against each other.

Lost in their deep kiss, they swallowed each other's breaths without reservation, their lips parting and closing rhythmically as they gently nipped at each other's tongues.

Chen Luzhou tossed the remote aside and pulled her onto his lap, his slender fingers trailing up her back. Xu Zhi straddled him, her breathing ragged, her scalp tingling.

"What are you touching?"“You said you wanted to touch what? Do you remember what you said to me on my bed that last night of summer vacation?” Their voices were so soft they were almost just whispers.

“What did I say?” Xu Zhi couldn’t recall.

“You said, ‘Brother Chen Luzhou, touch me.’” He couldn’t stop laughing, even feeling a bit embarrassed himself, and pinched her cheek. “How could you even say something like that?”

Back then, Chen Luzhou had been too restrained, even his kisses were cool and indifferent. Xu Zhi wasn’t having it. At the time, she had no inhibitions and would blurt out anything, knowing their relationship wouldn’t last. She’d looked up all sorts of tricks online and spouted nonsense that made no sense. She’d even said things far more suggestive, but Chen Luzhou had remained unmoved.

Now that they were actually dating, she realized she needed to be a bit more reserved.

“You’re not owning up to what you said?” Chen Luzhou pinched her waist.

“I’m not denying it. I just forgot.”

“You were just playing with me back then.”

“Weren’t you playing with me too?”

“I never played with you, okay? Ask Zhu Yangqi. During that summer, when I went out to eat with him, if anyone asked for my WeChat, I’d say I wasn’t single.”

“Was she pretty?” Xu Zhi zeroed in on the key point.

Chen Luzhou looked at her with a half-smile. “A bit prettier than you.”

Xu Zhi let out an “Oh.” “Then why didn’t you give it to her?”

“How do you know I didn’t?” He laughed.

“Chen Luzhou.”

“Fine, I’ll stop teasing you,” he said lazily, pulling his arm back from where it was draped over the couch. “It was just some guy at the gym asking if I wanted to sign up for a membership. Said there was a 20% discount for singles.”

……

After enough fooling around, Xu Zhi straightened her clothes and buttoned up. She glanced at Chen Luzhou, who was leaning back, lost in thought, his expression distant. She touched his face and found it dry—he’d stopped crying long ago. But even after all that kissing, his cheeks were still cold, almost lifeless. She cupped his face with her hands, flipping them like pancakes, trying to warm him up. “Maybe we should stay a bit longer. I’m afraid you’ll catch a cold if we go out now.”

Chen Luzhou lifted her chin, locking eyes with her, his gaze deep and intense. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

“What is it?” Xu Zhi kept her hands on his face.

Chen Luzhou grabbed one of her hands and pressed it against his chest, squeezing it unapologetically. His voice was hoarse as he cleared his throat and said seriously, “Have you told your dad about us?”

Xu Zhi: “Not yet.”

He hummed in acknowledgment, still playing with her hand. “Before I came here, I actually met your dad. I drank with him a few times downstairs in your neighborhood. He didn’t tell you either, did he?”

Xu Zhi looked at him in surprise. School had been in session for so long, and Old Xu had never mentioned this. “He didn’t say anything.”

“I figured he didn’t.”

Xu Zhi paused. “But why were you in my neighborhood? Waiting for me? Chen Luzhou, you’re such a lovesick fool. You really are trouble.”

“You’re the one who started it,” he said with a laugh. “But don’t overthink it. I just rented a place near your neighborhood by coincidence. It really wasn’t on purpose. I didn’t want to live too close to you—running into your dad all the time is awkward.” It’s not like he was some stalker.

“Then why did you rent there?”"I was tricked by the landlord, and at the time, I didn’t have enough money—just enough to rent a place near your area. You know how expensive housing is in Qingyi," Xu Zhi said, her voice cracking with urgency.

"And then? What did you talk about with my dad?"

"He seemed afraid of me," Chen Luzhou said, one arm resting on the back of the couch as he recounted. "I can’t quite describe it—like he was worried I’d steal his daughter away. He kept telling me he didn’t want you dating too early because he knows men are no good. I couldn’t exactly pull out my heart to prove I’m one of the decent ones. Honestly, I didn’t understand him back then—why a grown man would rely so much on his daughter. But after you told me about your mom, I think I get it now. You might really be all he has left in life."

Xu Zhi sighed. "That’s why I haven’t told him yet. I was planning to wait until winter break."

Chen Luzhou thought for a moment, then lightly pinched her earlobe with varying pressure. "Don’t tell him yet. He seemed pretty down after you left. Did you know your dad’s been on medication these past few days?"

"What kind? Antidepressants? He’s been off those for a long time."

"I ran into him downstairs in the neighborhood one day. He was carrying a bag of meds—couldn’t see the name, but the bag was from Second Hospital. I thought you’d know about it."

Second Hospital was Qingyi’s renowned psychiatric institution, where all mental health treatments were handled.

At eleven, Xu Zhi returned to her dorm and called Old Xu. The first two calls went unanswered, but she persisted and dialed a third time. This time, a woman picked up—her voice unfamiliar, hesitant, and probing. "Are you Dr. Xu’s daughter?"

At this hour? Old Xu was a rigidly principled man. Xu Zhi’s heart sank with complicated emotions, but she politely asked, "And you are?"

After a brief silence, the woman replied, "I’m Dr. Xu’s caregiver. He hasn’t been feeling well lately and is hospitalized. He just went downstairs for a walk. Since you seemed urgent, I answered for him."

Xu Zhi’s relief was short-lived. Her temples throbbed. "He’s hospitalized? What’s wrong? Why didn’t he tell me?"

"Ah, don’t worry—it’s nothing serious," the woman said. "A patient caused a scene at the hospital a few days ago, and there was a minor incident. Your dad has a slight concussion, but it’s nothing major. Dean Cai insisted he stay for observation."

Xu Zhi grew even more frantic. "He got beaten up?"

"No, he was trying to break up the fight. But just as he stepped out of the department, the floor had just been mopped. He rushed too fast, slipped, and fell. Your dad’s a bit heavy, so when he hit the ground, he didn’t move. The troublemaker nearby thought they’d accidentally stabbed someone in their frenzy and bolted. Dean Cai even gave him an ‘Act of Bravery’ award. He’s downstairs receiving it now."

Xu Zhi: "..."

So that’s how it was.

When Xu Guangji finally got the award, he saw the bold words Cai Binhong had someone write:

"Attempted Act of Bravery" Award.

Xu Guangji was immediately displeased. With his head still bandaged and his arm in a cast, he clumsily slapped the certificate onto the table. "Just one question—does it come with the same bonus?"Cai Binhong sipped his tea cheerfully, spitting the tea leaves back into the cup with a stingy flourish, his face radiating the bliss of socialism. "What are you talking about? There's no bonus for an attempt. At most, you'll get a certificate of encouragement."

Xu Guangji was fuming. He drank his tea but quietly pocketed the certificate anyway. This was, after all, the first certificate he'd ever received in his otherwise unremarkable life. He’d show it to Xu Zhi when she got back.

"Cheapskate," Xu Guangji muttered. "Never seen anyone as stingy as you. My hand’s broken, and you won’t even cover the medical bills."

"Fine, fine, I’ll cover it," Cai Binhong said, crossing his legs and grinning. Then, suddenly remembering something, he asked, "Have you told Xu Zhi yet?"

"Told her what?"

"About you and Director Wei. Xu Zhi’s away at school now, but when she comes back for winter break, she’ll find out eventually. Give her a heads-up, or she’ll be in for a shock."

"I’m not considering it for now. Director Wei feels the same way. At least wait until Xu Zhi is married and has her own family. Otherwise, I’m afraid she’ll take it hard."

Xu Guangji mainly felt that Xu Zhi was still young and might have a very pure view of relationships between men and women. If he started considering things with Director Wei now, Xu Zhi would surely feel abandoned.

When Xu Guangji returned to the hospital room, he learned that Xu Zhi had called.

Director Wei, sitting on the hospital bed, handed him the phone. "She was quite anxious—called two or three times. I answered for you. Your daughter was really worried, so I didn’t tell her about your fracture." She added, "I told her I was your caregiver."

Xu Guangji looked at her apologetically, his heart heavy. He didn’t know how to explain, so he just bowed slightly and said, "I’m sorry, Director Wei. I might have to let you down."

Director Wei laughed, her demeanor open and unbothered. "Dr. Xu, you’re quite the character. You’re worried your daughter won’t accept it—I understand. I know about your family situation. Xu Zhi is a smart girl, and I like her. My son is still in high school, and I’m not in a rush to remarry either. Let’s just take things as they come. Even if it’s just companionship, we can figure things out once both our kids are settled in their careers and families."

Xu Zhi had just finished showering and was lying in bed when she called Chen Luzhou. To her surprise, Li Ke picked up.

As lights-out approached, the girls’ dormitory was already quiet, with only the occasional sound of basins and toothbrushes being put away. In contrast, the boys’ dorm on the other end of the line was still noisy and chaotic, filled with rowdy laughter and unrestrained energy—utterly lacking the restraint of the girls, brimming with rebellion and wildness.

Xu Zhi: "Are you two pulling another all-nighter? Where’s Chen Luzhou?"

Li Ke, chuckling at something, replied, "We’re about to work on the modeling report later. But just so you don’t get jealous, let me clarify—I don’t usually answer his calls. Chen Luzhou asked who it was, I said it was you, and he told me to pick up. He’s in the bathroom."

Xu Zhi asked bluntly, "Taking a dump?"

Li Ke: "...No, he’s showering. Probably having a mental breakdown—he’s been in there for almost an hour."

Xu Zhi: "Did you bully him again?"Li Ke protested repeatedly, "Fuck, it wasn't me, it was Zhu Yangqi. Zhu Yangqi just called him and said Hachiko: A Dog's Story was based on a true story, and the original was an Akita dog from Japan. He completely lost it."

Ah, Chen Jiaojiao.

"Zhu Yangqi is insane. It took me forever to calm him down."

Xu Zhi hung up the phone. While waiting for him to finish showering, she idly browsed through Chen Luzhou’s WeChat Moments for once. The background was still that cold, distant Neuschwanstein Castle. Since coming to A University, Chen Luzhou hadn’t posted a single update—not one. Just as she was about to exit out of boredom, her eyes caught his WeChat avatar.

「anendlessroad」—a road with no end.

「racatsanddogs, shesaid shewouldalwayslove」

Her phone buzzed slightly.

A new WeChat message came in, and Xu Zhi exited the Moments.

CR: [Called your dad?]

Xu Zhi: [Yeah, but the nurse answered. He’s hospitalized. Nothing serious, just a mild concussion.]

CR: [Then go home early for winter break and spend time with him.]

Xu Zhi: [That means I won’t see you for at least a month. What do I do? I miss you already and I haven’t even left yet.]

CR: [Cut the crap. You missed me so much you aced calculus? I don’t believe a word you say now.]

Xu Zhi chuckled and sent him a screenshot of his WeChat profile.

Xu Zhi: [What does this mean?]

A while later.

Chen Luzhou replied with a screenshot of their chat history. Xu Zhi searched for a while before finally noticing the nickname he had for her at the top.

— 「racatsanddogs」

CR: [Remember the nonsense you spouted when you were trying to reel me in?]