Be Passionately In Love

But neither of them had guessed that Chen Luzhou would come alone.

Fu Yuqing's hand holding the cigarette trembled involuntarily. He glanced incredulously behind Chen, only to find not even a ghostly shadow—let alone Xu Zhi. Half a puff of smoke caught in his throat, triggering two violent coughs. "Where's Xu Zhi?" he managed.

Chen Luzhou didn't even look at him, striding straight to the locker room to change. He peeled off his jacket and casually lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing lean, well-defined muscles. The kid actually had abs—firm and sculpted like a layer of smooth pebbles. Despite sharing the surname Fu, the younger man had something Fu Yuqing never did in his youth.

Fu Yuqing couldn't tear his eyes away from that taut, athletic frame, his gaze involuntarily dropping to his own slightly sagging physique.

Fu Yuqing: "..."

"Xu Zhi went shopping with Cai Yingying," Chen Luzhou said coldly, still not turning his head as he undressed.

Fu Yuqing coughed again, already hearing the imaginary crack of his own bones.

By the time Chen finished changing shoes, his upper body was bare—broad shoulders, a straight back, pale skin with clean, flowing lines from shoulders to waist, the distinct V-cut of his obliques, and even a few veins tracing like tree roots beneath his skin before disappearing into his waistband. Taller and more powerfully built than Fu Yuqing, who was now at an age where flab proliferated and skin loosened, Chen stood as a stark contrast. Yet this young man, superior in both looks and physique, had the maturity to commit to a serious relationship rather than drifting into recklessness. Standing before him, Fu Yuqing felt diminished, even if he was technically the father.

Fu Yuqing recalled Old Xu's words about Chen Luzhou: "That boy has a childlike side—lively, cheerful. But what sets him apart from his peers is his sense of 'measure.' He jokes within bounds, misbehaves within limits, never showing off. With Xu Zhi, who often lacks restraint, Chen balances her perfectly. That kind of 'measure' is rare—even at our age, we don't always get social nuances just right."

But Fu Yuqing had always believed that "measure" was elusive in others' hands. Even rabbits bite when cornered—he refused to think this brat never had moments where he wanted to cut loose.

Fu Yuqing: "...Maybe we should talk somewhere else?"

Chen Luzhou leaned his shoulder against the locker, smirking coldly. "Scared? I thought you'd mentally prepared for a hospital visit when you handed over that ticket. Should I call an ambulance now, just in case?"

Fu Yuqing forced a dry chuckle.

Chen ignored him, already dressed and walking out.

**

In the boxing gym, a sandbag swayed lazily like a slow pendulum, showing the hitter was barely putting in effort, still finding his rhythm.

This was Qingyi City's largest boxing facility—a legitimate business focused on fitness and recreation, though the owner welcomed friendly matches. Three floors below ground lay an underground ring where fights turned far more brutal and bloody, especially in the early years when rules were lax, lives were risked, and fighters traded blows for cash.Fu Yuqing was the owner of this underground boxing ring during those years. At the height of the crackdowns, this place was practically the biggest money pit in all of Qingyi City. Some wealthy folks with too much time on their hands loved to watch from their high perches as others struggled at the bottom of society, earning bloodstained wages through sheer physical labor.

At this very moment, two fighters were sparring on the square ring, surrounded by a cheering crowd. The sounds of applause, screams, and jeers rose and fell endlessly, reverberating through the boxing gym, the overwhelming excitement impossible to contain even under the roof.

The two on the ring wore serious expressions, clearly not friends. Their punches were ruthless and unhesitating. One executed a fierce shoulder throw, slamming his opponent hard onto the mat with a dull thud—like the sound of a branch snapping in the dry winter air.

The fallen fighter refused to concede. Gritting his teeth, he rolled up swiftly, already colliding with the ropes as he adjusted his breathing. Sweat poured down his forehead like rain.

The crowd below continued to jeer, the heat of their excitement rolling in waves.

"Get him! Get up and get him!"

"Xiao Yao! If you're a man, get up and fight!"

The fighters on the ring struck again, dodged, then another shoulder throw. In an instant, they were tangled on the ground, limbs locked like two venomous snakes, eyes blazing with fury as they strained every muscle to pin the other down. Their sweat mingled—this raw, primal release of male hormones made the spectators' eyelids twitch with excitement, shouting in exhilaration, while the fighters themselves reveled in the thrill of the fight.

At first, it might have been a friendly spar with restraint, but as the crowd grew, their competitive spirits flared. It turned into a full-on brawl, fists and feet flying without regard for basic boxing rules—even resorting to cheap shots. The coach, realizing things had gone too far, rushed in to separate the two tangled, indiscriminate fighters.

"Alright, alright, break it up before the cops show up. You kids have no sense of restraint. Everyone, clear out—show's over."

The crowd dispersed reluctantly, grumbling. They hadn't even seen a winner yet.

Meanwhile, the punching bag beside Fu Yuqing swayed with increasing intensity as the noise in the gym gradually faded. The punches grew more practiced—jabs high and low, evasions skillful—clearly not his first time here.

The two kids who had just fought were around Chen Luzhou's age. Fu Yuqing recalled that at their age, he had been just like them—hot-blooded, impulsive. Bare-handed and barely any meat on his bones, with empty heads and wide eyes, they caught a glimpse of the vast world and arrogantly believed themselves its conquerors, eager to change its frustrating ways. Yet in the end, most became the very people they once despised—insignificant specks in the grand scheme.

But he didn’t see any of those foolish, naive notions in Chen Luzhou. Nor did the boy have the impulsive eagerness typical of guys in their early twenties. That was why he could settle down and date Xu Zhi seriously—even plan to marry her.

Fu Yuqing never thought that at fifty, he’d be schooled in life by his own son.The punching bag was steadied by someone. Chen Luzhou stood bare-chested, his usually lean muscles tensed and his contours more defined. His shoulders and back were slender yet powerful, his skin a clean, pale hue that seemed to repel sweat, drying almost instantly. He adjusted his breathing, his exhales low and heavy, his head bowed as he coldly fiddled with his boxing gloves. Without even glancing at Fu Yuqing, his tone was devoid of emotion, stiff and unyielding: "If you’ve got nothing to say, I’m leaving. I need to pick up Xu Zhi."

Hearing this, Fu Yuqing finally snapped out of his thoughts. His mind had wandered from the two kids in the ring to his own past, realizing how easily old age made one nostalgic.

His lifeless face finally showed a flicker of movement, his cheek twitching slightly as if his nerves had just been reconnected, consciousness returning in the haze. He had so much to say, but for a moment, he didn’t know where to start. The helplessness felt as though the past fifty-odd years of his life had been erased, leaving no usable emotions or words in his mind to break the ice.

In his youth, his temper had been sharp. By middle age, it had become compartmentalized—kindness to those he chose, cruelty to others. At first, he had been cutting and sarcastic toward Chen Luzhou. Later, recognizing the boy’s talent, his disdain had turned to reluctant admiration. But when he realized Chen Luzhou didn’t like him, he wasn’t the type to grovel for affection, so he relegated him back to the "cruelty" category.

Now, he had no idea where to place him. A son? How should a son be treated? How could he make up for the twenty years of neglect?

Anxiety threatened to drown him. Inwardly, he cursed his past self a thousand times over.

Finally, he took two deep breaths, stood up from the coach’s chair beside him, and paced restlessly before stopping. One hand on his hip, he pushed the punching bag aside and met those indifferent, icy eyes. His jaw clenched, his cheeks taut and twitching, with no retreat left. He gritted his teeth and thrust the side of his face forward. "Go on, hit me right here!"

"Pointless," Chen Luzhou said coldly, as if observing an emotionally unstable middle-aged man. "Some things don’t just go away after a few punches. The best way for us to coexist is for you to stay out of my sight—and I’ll do the same."

Fu Yuqing’s eyes were bloodshot. He lowered his voice, but it still came out hoarse and strained: "I looked for you!"

"So what?!" Chen Luzhou suddenly roared, trying to rein in his anger but failing. It burned through his restraint, incinerating all reason. His breaths were heavy, his gaze terrifyingly cold, veins bulging at his temples. "Should I thank you for that? Huh?"

Eyes from around the boxing gym flicked toward them.

Fu Yuqing froze, limbs locking up in panic, unable to respond. "That’s not—"

"Fu Yuqing, because of you, my mother was full of prejudice against me. If I so much as spoke to a girl, she’d assume I had ulterior motives."

"Fu Yuqing, also because of you, I was picked apart like merchandise in the orphanage. I bet you’ve never heard what people said about me behind my back."Some parents who aren't very good at education like to frighten their children from a young age—if you don't behave, the police will take you away—it's the same logic.

"Sweetie, if you don't listen, Mom and Dad will send you to the orphanage, just like that older brother."

"Why is that brother in the orphanage? He's so good-looking. Why don’t his parents want him?"

"Silly child, kids in orphanages either have physical disabilities or are sick all over. That brother must have something wrong with him too."

Prejudices like these were deeply ingrained in his bones. No matter where he went, he would hear such words—scrutiny and bias directed at him. Those years, there was never any shortage of it.

Chen Luzhou closed his eyes, his lashes trembling slightly. A glimmer of moisture seemed to gather at the corners of his eyes but quickly vanished. Beneath those lowered, thin eyelids, only a trace of gentleness remained. He lowered his head, removed his boxing gloves, and tossed them onto the coach's seat beside him. Turning his face away, his Adam's apple bobbed dryly. After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"But I forgive you."

Fu Yuqing stiffened, rooted to the spot as if his feet had been nailed to the ground. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly, as though choked by a handful of sand—sand that kept pouring down his throat.

Chen Luzhou looked down at him, his gaze devoid of any extra emotion. "At the hospital, Uncle Xu told me you treated Xu Zhi well. Whenever she was bullied, you were always the first to step in. During their family's hardest years, you were the one who dealt with the debt collectors for them." He averted his eyes. "Xu Zhi likes you a lot. I don’t want her caught in the middle, torn between us. For her sake, I can forgive you. But don’t think about repairing our relationship. The only connection between you and me is Xu Zhi. You’re just her uncle—you mean nothing to me."

**

Over at Xu Guangji’s place, the atmosphere was lively, even more so than during New Year’s celebrations. A table full of dishes had been prepared, yet there weren’t enough seats—Old Xu and Wei Lin alone took up two chairs each, one to sit on and the other to prop their legs up. Amid the chatter and laughter, time flew by.

"Why didn’t Brother Chen Luzhou come?" Wei Lin asked Xu Zhi while peeling shrimp.

Xu Zhi and Old Xu were already deep into their drinking, clinking glasses with grins before taking a sip. She shot Wei Lin a sidelong glance of displeasure. "Why are you so concerned about my boyfriend?"

"Because your boyfriend’s more charming than you," Wei Lin teased with a laugh.

Director Wei emerged from the kitchen with a few more dishes and also gave Wei Lin a look. "Don’t mind him," she said to Xu Zhi.

Cai Yingying, sitting nearby, chimed in curiously, "By the way, why didn’t Chen Luzhou come?"

Xu Zhi sighed. "He went to see Uncle Fu."

"Honestly, I never would’ve guessed," Cai Yingying murmured, still wide-eyed with astonishment, her eyebrows raised in disbelief. She hadn’t fully processed the shock of the situation.

"Me neither. Otherwise, maybe the two of us could’ve grown up together with Chen Luzhou."

"Please, if you two were childhood sweethearts, I’d just be the third wheel," Cai Yingying retorted quickly, since it had nothing to do with her anyway.

The table erupted in laughter.

Then, Cai Yingying added,

"But I really never imagined Uncle Fu was such a jerk when he was young." She bit into a crab leg and turned to Old Cai and Old Xu with gossipy curiosity. "Hey, dads, did Uncle Fu ever have another girlfriend after that?"Xu Guangji and Cai Binhong were clinking glasses when her question made them exchange glances.

"Kids shouldn't meddle in adult affairs," Cai Binhong dismissed her.

Cai Yingying protested, "I'm almost twenty."

Cai Binhong gave her a bland look, "Right, almost twenty and still in high school."

Cai Yingying: "..."

Wei Lin: "Sister Yingying is twenty already?"

Cai Yingying glared at him, "Can you stop calling everyone brother or sister? I'm only a year older than you."

Wei Lin looked at her innocently, "What else should I call someone a year older? 'Little sister'? That sounds awful. People might think I have ulterior motives."

Director Wei magically appeared behind Wei Lin with another dish, smacking the back of his head. "Just eat your food and stop talking so much. A few words from you and you've offended both sisters."

Xu Guangji and Dean Cai chuckled. "It's fine, kids bicker—it helps build bonds."

The youngsters didn't let up.

"Hey, Cai Yingying! Don't finish all the crab—save some for Chen Luzhou," Xu Zhi suddenly said.

"Wow, Xu Zhi, now that you have a boyfriend, you're ditching me?"

Xu Zhi plucked a crab leg for her. "Here, have another one."

"Just one leg?"

Wei Lin: "Be grateful, Sister Yingying. She gave me an empty crab shell earlier."

"..."

Old Xu urged, "Director Wei, come eat first. Leave the rest."

Director Wei turned toward the kitchen. "Almost done, just one more dish. When's Chen Luzhou coming back? Xu Zhi said he likes crab roe tofu—should I keep it warm for him?"

Xu Guangji glanced at Xu Zhi. "Forget it. It's not Chen Luzhou who likes it—it's Xu Zhi herself."

Director Wei leaned out curiously. "Then what does Chen Luzhou like? Let's buy his favorites tomorrow. They'll be heading back soon, probably won't get good meals at school."

Old Xu: "Right, tell us what Chen Luzhou likes. Stop pushing your own cravings—that kid would never say what he wants himself."

Xu Zhi thought for a long moment. "Honestly, I don't know. He's not picky about food, but he's very particular about things he uses."

His clothes and pants were always from that one brand—rarely did any other logo appear. Even his underwear was only that ridiculously expensive brand.

And condoms—only that one brand.

...

Chen Luzhou happened to be standing outside the door just then.

The door was left slightly ajar, a sliver of warm light spilling out against the pale moonlight. That glow felt comforting, as if it could ward off all the thorns of the night.

He reached out, catching at the light in the air.

It was light.

Xu Zhi was light. Old Xu was light. Director Wei was light. Cai Yingying was light. Dean Cai was light. Even Wei Lin was light.

What an appealing family—warm and endearing.

Just as Chen Luzhou was about to push open that radiant door, he overheard the conversation continuing inside.

Wei Lin: "Uncle Xu, don't they say fathers-in-law are always extra critical of their daughters' boyfriends? You treat Luzhou better than you treat Sister Xu Zhi."Xu Guangji had had a bit too much to drink and was clearly more talkative than usual, grinning as he spilled everything without holding back. "Not really. The first time I met him, I really didn’t like him. Thought the kid was way too full of himself. Came to my clinic and wouldn’t stop talking. Later—"

Huh?

Xu Zhi kicked him under the table.

His words came to an abrupt halt—

Director Wei hadn’t caught on yet. "Hmm, kids who come to my clinic are all like that..." He paused. "Your... your... your clinic?"

Cai Yingying was completely dumbfounded: "...Your... your... your clinic? Chen Luzhou went to your clinic?"

Only Wei Lin wore a thoughtful expression.

So even a tall, handsome guy like him had those kinds of issues? He’d been meaning to get that checked out for a while now.

Chen Luzhou: "……………………"

He had one foot already in the door, wedged in the gap, trying to inch his way out slowly, unnoticed.

Help.

Damn it. This is mortifying.