Be Passionately In Love

Xu Zhi rushed straight to her room as soon as she got home to unwrap the New Year's gift Chen Luzhou had given her. At first, she thought it was just an ordinary phone charm, but after hanging it on her phone and examining it closely, she realized it was a felted wool creation—likely handmade by him. The design was exquisite, a small Bichon Frise dog. The charm of wool felting is its lifelike appearance, and this one truly resembled a miniature version of the breed, vivid and lively.

That night, Xu Zhi was unusually excited. Late into the night, she kept pestering Chen Luzhou with random chatter on her phone until he was driven to exasperation.

Salt: 【Sleep? O. K?】

Xu Zhi ignored him. After her shower, she slipped into her small bed and continued teasing him on her own.

Xu Zhi: 【Did you miss me during summer break?】

He remained stubborn.

Salt: 【Don’t overthink it. Mostly just wanted to hear the script I wrote.】

Xu Zhi: 【Stop pretending.】

He finally caved.

Salt: 【Fine. This lovesick fool is really sleepy now.】

Xu Zhi: 【Just once and you’re already this tired?】

Salt: 【…The wine. Your dad’s liquor has quite the delayed effect.】

He had actually drunk quite a bit that night. Between Xu Guangji’s constant urging—"Have another drink," "Go on, drink up"—he hadn’t held back. He wasn’t drunk, but his head was heavy and muddled, and now the lingering effects were hitting him hard. This state was somehow more unbearable than being outright drunk.

Only then did Xu Zhi let him go to sleep. But Chen Luzhou called again, already in bed. His breathing was steady and even, as if he were drifting off, yet even in his half-asleep state, he remembered one thing. His voice was muffled under the covers, drowsy: “Does it still hurt?”

Xu Zhi’s heart softened suddenly. Being loved by someone like this made her feel like she was constantly falling in love all over again. Even if it still hurt a little, she said, “No, it doesn’t. Go to sleep!”

There was a pause on the other end. His breathing remained steady, rhythmic, and somehow inexplicably sensual. Xu Zhi thought he’d fallen asleep, but after a long moment, he suddenly called out, “Xu Zhi.”

“Hmm?”

“This wine’s aftereffect is really strong,” he said with a lazy laugh, as if all reason had left him. “So strong I feel like kowtowing to my mom to thank her for letting you find me.”

“Then you should kowtow to Tan Xu too.”

If not for him, they’d never have met.

“Don’t ruin the mood, alright?”

“Just kidding,” Xu Zhi coaxed. “Chen Jiaojiao, I love you.”

“Mm, same here,” he replied.

Xu Zhi laughed. He was really drunk.

The next morning, Xu Guangji woke up in high spirits, humming a tune as he cheerfully made breakfast in the kitchen.

Xu Zhi yawned as she stepped out of her room, leaning against the doorframe with an amused expression as she watched her father’s broad, honest back. Smiling, she asked, “Dad, last night—”

Without turning around, Xu Guangji lit the stove and said, “Doesn’t Chen Luzhou live nearby? Why don’t you invite him over for breakfast?”

“He’s probably still asleep.”

She had texted him after waking up, but he hadn’t replied yet. Likely still out cold.

“An A-grade student sleeping this late?” Xu Guangji teased. “How’s he going to make money in the future?”

“It’s not like this every day. He works really hard at school. Dad, do you really not remember what you did last night?”

Only then did Xu Guangji wave a hand impatiently. “Auntie Wei already told me. I put Chen Luzhou’s hair in a little braid.” He waved it off. “Too much to drink, too much to drink.” Suddenly, he turned around. “That kid wasn’t angry, was he?”"No, Chen Luzhou has a very good temper."

Xu Guangji heated up the milk and brought it out from the kitchen, finally smiling in relief. "Indeed, Director Wei also mentioned today that the boy has a good temperament and manners. When Director Wei spoke to him, he would put down his chopsticks and listen attentively. Director Wei really observes things carefully. I didn’t even notice these details."

Xu Zhi picked up a fried dough stick from the table, took a bite, and smiled meaningfully. "Are you praising Chen Luzhou or Director Wei?"

Xu Guangji suddenly felt a bit flustered in front of his daughter. "What do you think of Director Wei?"

Xu Zhi took a sip of milk. "She’s nice, very gentle. She seems like someone who knows how to take care of others."

Xu Guangji nodded, returning the courtesy. "Chen Luzhou is good too. I feel like that kid will go far in the future."

Both of them laughed. After exchanging opinions, Xu Guangji got ready to leave for work, while Xu Zhi tied up her hair and prepared to go out as well. Without saying much, Old Xu simply reminded her, "Come home early. Don’t stay out too late."

Chen Luzhou was still asleep. When Xu Zhi entered, the room was quiet, just as she had left it the night before. In the bathroom trash can, there was a tied-up condom.

"Quite skilled, Chen Jiaojiao," she thought.

It was almost ten o'clock—unusually late for Chen Luzhou to still be sleeping. Xu Zhi walked into the bedroom, saw a figure buried under the covers, and closed the door again. Bored, she played with a felt dog on her phone in the living room while half-heartedly watching TV. She couldn’t help but complain, "My boyfriend can really sleep."

When sounds finally came from the bedroom, Xu Zhi, unable to wait any longer, sprang up from the sofa and rushed in. "Awake?"

Chen Luzhou had just thrown off the covers and was standing by the bed, slipping on his slippers. He wasn’t wearing anything except his underwear, revealing his toned muscles and a certain prominent part of his anatomy. Startled, he jumped back into bed, pulling the covers over himself as he leaned against the headboard, rubbing his eyes and sighing in exasperation. "My girlfriend is a monkey! Where do you get all this energy?"

Xu Zhi walked over to his bedside, looking down mischievously at the covers. "Want to go out today?"

Chen Luzhou lifted her chin, making her meet his eyes properly. "Sure. Let me get dressed."

"Dad won’t be back for lunch. We can grab something quick and head out."

"Mm. You go first. I need to put on pants."

"Chen Luzhou! What’s the big deal about looking?"

Chen Luzhou chuckled and simply threw off the covers. "This is fucking awkward, okay?"

Xu Zhi commented, "Your fish is completely dead."

"Looking for a beating?"

"Otherwise, why is it so stiff and unmoving?" Chen Luzhou turned his head away, utterly defeated. "...I give up."

Xu Zhi stopped teasing him. "Hurry up and brush your teeth. I brought you breakfast."

After breakfast, they lingered on the sofa for a while. Some things were simply uncontrollable—newly in love and intensely curious about each other’s bodies, it was hard not to press close. So what was originally planned as an afternoon outing turned into a hand-in-hand trip to buy condoms.The two went to a convenience store. Xu Zhi grabbed a large bag of snacks as a cover, thinking that blending in would keep them from drawing attention. However, Chen Luzhou was far more direct, boldly placing just two boxes on the counter. Xu Zhi didn’t even have time to stop him.

Xu Zhi: “…”

The cashier studied the strikingly good-looking pair with a thoughtful look. “Together?”

“No, no, no. I don’t know him.”

Chen Luzhou glanced at her, amused. She wanted to do something mischievous but didn’t have the guts. “…Yeah, we don’t know each other. Separate payments.”

They walked out of the store one after the other. When they reached a quiet alley, Xu Zhi quietly sidled up to him, trying to hold his hand. Chen Luzhou lifted his arm slightly, nudging her away. He looked down, about to tease her with a “Who are you?”—when he suddenly froze.

A familiar figure stood at the entrance of the neighborhood.

Xu Zhi took the chance to grab his hand. He didn’t resist, his gaze fixed elsewhere. Curious, she followed his line of sight. “Huh? Isn’t that your mom? Is she here to see you? Should I make myself scarce?”

Chen Luzhou held her hand with one of his, the other tucked in his pocket, staring straight at Lian Hui’s back. “Probably not. She doesn’t know I live here.”

Xu Zhi let out an “Oh.”

The next second, an even more familiar figure hurried out of the building.

Damn.

—Old Xu!

“Your dad’s off work?” Chen Luzhou asked quietly.

Xu Zhi: “Yeah, around this time.”

She hastily handed her things to Chen Luzhou, about to rush over, but he pulled her back. “I’ll go.”

Xu Zhi shook her head. “No, you’ll just end up arguing. If your mom’s talking to my dad, it’s definitely about us.”

Chen Luzhou wasn’t about to let her go alone. With his grip firm, she couldn’t budge. Giving up, she sighed. “Fine, let’s go together. But don’t fight with your mom, okay? We should talk things out. If we scare my dad and he disagrees too, we’re really screwed.”

Chen Luzhou hummed in agreement, his eyes still locked ahead.

But as they got closer, the voices they overheard made them realize—this wasn’t what they’d expected.

Lian Hui wasn’t here to discuss them with Old Xu. Instead, their conversation carried a strange mix of familiarity and distance, tinged with an inexplicable awkwardness. Both stopped in their tracks, exchanging baffled looks before ducking behind the tree—the same one Cai Yingying had once shaken, raining bird droppings on them.

The conversation continued, their backs pressed against the tree as they listened—

“I’m surprised you reached out,” Xu Guangji said.

“I’m just… stuck right now. I couldn’t think of anyone else to contact.”

“It’s been almost twenty years,” Xu Guangji mused. “I didn’t expect to hear from you today. I just got off work. Where are you working now?”

Lian Hui’s voice was gentle. “I was at the TV station before, but I quit last year. Now I run my own ad agency, handling promotions.”

Xu Guangji: “Do you want to come up? Your call was so sudden—I didn’t have time to prepare anything, but we could have some tea?”Lian Hui said, "No need. I have something else to attend to later. I just came to talk to you about the child. He's grown up now, and some things will inevitably come to light sooner or later. Let’s discuss the details at my company tomorrow. My only request is to minimize the harm to him as much as possible."

With that, Lian Hui left, her high heels clicking sharply against the pavement at the empty residential gate—her steps resolute, almost as if she had staked everything on this one move.

Xu Zhi: "..."

Chen Luzhou: "..."

The scene seemed frozen. Leaves swirled in the winter wind, silently drifting down behind them—the moment stark and brutal in its clarity.

Chen Luzhou quietly watched Lian Hui’s retreating figure. "Have you ever considered that my mom might not be your mom, but your dad could actually be my dad?"

Xu Zhi: "..."

Inside the house, the curtains were drawn, and the TV blared with an economic news broadcast. The anchor’s precise enunciation lent an air of formality to the room. The lights were on, the air conditioner hummed tirelessly outside, and everything seemed to be making noise.

Except for the two people sitting on the sofa, silent as statues. An invisible boundary seemed to separate them, each entrenched in their own space, eyes fixed blankly on the TV—still reeling from the earlier shock, their minds too numb to process anything. They might as well have been fossils.

When the economic news ended.

Xu Zhi sighed and joked, "Should we... break up first?"

Chen Luzhou’s expression was especially indifferent, as if he had transformed from a devoted lover into a heartless scoundrel. He lounged lazily, still scrolling on his phone, and responded without looking up, "Yeah, let’s break up."

Xu Zhi was stunned. She turned to him with exaggerated disbelief. "Wow, so much for being a devoted lover. How disappointing."

Chen Luzhou remained engrossed in his phone. Spotting something interesting, he tilted his head back against the sofa, holding the screen close to zoom in. His tone was breezy yet self-deprecating as his Adam’s apple bobbed. "Don’t worry. After we break up, I won’t date anyone. I’ll announce to the world that I’m a beast—in love with my own sister."

Xu Zhi burst out laughing. "Fine, let’s break up then. I’m heading home."

She had just stood up when she heard a loud thud —his phone slammed onto the coffee table. The next second, a strong arm yanked her back. Xu Zhi tumbled into his lap. Chen Luzhou leaned against the sofa, legs sprawled open, hands gripping her waist as he pulled her flush against him. He laughed uncontrollably, pinching her side with playful menace. "I ought to beat you senseless. What’s there to break up over? There’s only one reason we’d ever split."

"What?" Xu Zhi squirmed in his arms, dodging his wandering hands—now more ticklish than painful. She wriggled like a snake. "Chen Luzhou, stop—it tickles!"

He relented, his slender fingers resting idly on her waist before dropping away. Leaning back, he fixed her with a steady gaze. "Only if you stop loving me. That’s the only reason."

Xu Zhi stilled. "But what if it really is that messed up?"

"Then we’ll endure it," he said, draping an arm over the back of the sofa with unshakable ease, utterly unfazed. "If you want to get married, I’ll take you abroad. If not, I’ll be your lover. Simple as that."Xu Zhi couldn't stop laughing. "But I don't think that's the case," she said, sitting on his lap and cupping his face to carefully examine his handsome, striking features. "I mean, you don't look anything like my dad at all."

Chen Luzhou chuckled. "Personality-wise, then?"

"Not even close. My dad's personality is completely different from yours. You two are nothing alike," Xu Zhi stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Maybe I should go back and subtly ask my dad first?"

"Sure."

When it was time to leave, the two lingered at the door for a while. Xu Zhi put on her shoes and grabbed her phone to head out, but Chen Luzhou—tall and imposing—leaned against the doorframe, effectively blocking the entire doorway without budging.

"What are you doing?"

He tilted his head slightly, looking down at her with an expression that clearly said, "How can you be so clueless?" "No kiss before you go? Last night, who was it that insisted on half an hour of kisses and cuddles before leaving?"

Xu Zhi leaned in closer, then paused, giving him a conflicted look. "Chen Luzhou—"

"Hmm?"

"I can't bring myself to kiss you right now..." With that, she instantly ducked under his arm and dashed out.

Chen Luzhou: "…………"

Xu Zhi sprinted back home, where Old Xu was busy cooking and didn't hear the door open. He continued bustling around the kitchen without turning around.

Xu Zhi went to her room to drop off her bag, then tiptoed to the kitchen doorway. Just as Xu Guangji was about to turn around to wash the pot, he caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. He glanced at her casually and said, "You're back? Perfect timing, dinner's almost ready."

Xu Zhi leaned against the doorframe, peeling an orange as a cover, and asked nonchalantly, "Hey, Dad."

"Yeah?" Xu Guangji turned on the faucet, the pot clanging loudly under the running water. "Hold on, I'm washing the pot."

Xu Zhi stood there for a long moment, unsure how to broach the subject. Finally, she recalled a topic she'd often used as a child. Stepping quietly into the kitchen, she mustered her courage and whispered in his ear, enunciating each word deliberately: "Dad... do you think... there's a chance I might be adopted?"

To her surprise, Xu Guangji leaned in close as well, mimicking her tone and whispering back just as deliberately: "Yes... how... did... you... know?"

Xu Zhi: "..."

She froze for a moment. "Don't joke around."

Xu Guangji grew impatient. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Xu Zhi coughed and made up a story on the spot: "I saw this news today about someone who had a secret child outside their family. No one knew about it, but when that person died, the secret child came forward to fight for inheritance—"

Without turning around, Xu Guangji placed the pot back on the stove. "Don't worry—"

Xu Zhi sighed in relief. The old man's comprehension was still sharp.

Xu Guangji: "Your dad has no inheritance. Your dad only has a mortgage."

Xu Zhi: "..."

Half an hour later, Xu Zhi sent Chen Luzhou a WeChat message.

Xu Zhi: [Just found out today that my dad's really good at dodging questions. Couldn't get anything out of him.]

By then, Chen Luzhou had also calmed down. Leaning back on the sofa, he racked his brain for any information Lian Hui had ever shared about his father. In reality, it had absolutely nothing to do with Xu Guangji. The man Lian Hui had described was a complete scumbag—nothing like the socially awkward Xu Guangji. He quickly replied.Cr: "Not your dad. That guy was quite the playboy, into cars and women. Heard he was in a car accident and was in a coma for a few years. Your dad never had that happen, right?"

Xu Zhi replied immediately.

Raddogs: "He's been wide awake every day, alive and kicking."

Raddogs: "Now that you mention it, I do recall someone. Remember Boss Fu? You asked me before what he did? He used to be a race car driver, had an accident and was in a coma for three or four years. That's what my dad said. I was really young then, so I don't remember much."