Episode Summary
A misunderstanding spirals out of control in episode 17. After Chen Luzhou sees Xu Zhi with her friend Tan Xu, his jealousy leads to a heated confrontation at a basketball game where he breaks up with her. A mutual friend, Zhu Yangqi, intervenes, revealing to a shocked Xu Zhi that Chen Luzhou has been under immense personal stress and had even waited for her since 4 a.m. that same morning. After orchestrating a meeting, Xu Zhi and Chen Luzhou end up alone in a hotel room, leaving their relationship hanging in the balance as he asks if she wants him to leave.
Spoiler Alert
"Be Passionately in Love" Episode 17 Recap & Spoilers: A Relationship on the Rocks
As the midterm exams loom, Xu Zhi playfully suggests a competition with Chen Luzhou to see which school is superior, Yi Zhong High School or Rui Jun. Chen Luzhou, however, interprets this differently. He teasingly accuses her of finding the thrill of a kiss more interesting than the actual relationship. Xu Zhi, ever direct, retorts that they just kissed, and she didn't find it particularly earth-shattering.
The next day, the seeds of misunderstanding are sown. Chen Luzhou texts Xu Zhi, hoping to have lunch with her and his friend, Zhu Yangqi. But his timing is off; he spots Xu Zhi heading out with Tan Xu, a male friend. Visibly bothered, Chen Luzhou proceeds to a painfully awkward lunch with Zhu Yangqi. He's distracted and on edge, eventually confessing his unease about Tan Xu. The tension is so thick that when the waiter forgets the vinegar, Zhu Yangqi jokes he can just dip his food in Chen Luzhou's sour mood. He wisely advises his friend to simply ask Xu Zhi about it directly if it bothers him so much.
Meanwhile, Xu Zhi’s meeting with Tan Xu is purely platonic. Tan Xu is struggling with his studies after deciding to repeat a year of school. His mock exam scores are worse than before, and he sought out Xu Zhi, hoping her presence would give him some much-needed motivation. Xu Zhi offers him sound advice, encouraging him to reflect on his true reasons for studying.
Later that night, Chen Luzhou gets a hotel room, claiming his place is too small for Zhu Yangqi, who has had too much to drink. While Zhu Yangqi sleeps it off, a restless Chen Luzhou pulls an all-nighter, cramming for the exams. When Zhu Yangqi wakes up in the middle of the night, he's taken aback by Chen Luzhou's intense focus. At 4 a.m., Chen Luzhou leaves, determined to have breakfast with Xu Zhi. He waits outside her dorm until well after 8 a.m., but she never appears. Dejected, he leaves.
Xu Zhi had accidentally fallen asleep at her desk and wakes up late. She rushes to class and texts Chen Luzhou to ask about his basketball game later, but gets no reply. Her roommates are excited about the game, mostly for the chance to see attractive players. Xu Zhi, however, has only one person on her mind. She asks her roommates to help entertain a friend of hers so she can go support her boyfriend. They are stunned by the news that she and Chen Luzhou are back together.
At the basketball court, Xu Zhi finds Chen Luzhou and hands him a bottle of water. When she asks why he never answered her text, he coldly replies that his phone was charging in his dorm. Sensing something is wrong, she presses him. Chen Luzhou finally confronts her about seeing her with Tan Xu. Xu Zhi is surprised he saw them and quickly clarifies that there's nothing between her and Tan Xu, something she believes he should already know. But for Chen Luzhou, it's not about infidelity; it's about consideration. He tells her she's not incapable of refusing someone, she just didn't care about his feelings. With that, he declares, "Let's just call it quits."
Later, a frantic Zhu Yangqi calls Xu Zhi, unable to reach Chen Luzhou. Xu Zhi explains he doesn't have his phone. Zhu Yangqi then asks to meet. Over a meal, he reveals the whole story. He tells a shocked Xu Zhi that Chen Luzhou had gone to see her at 4 a.m. that morning. Not finding her there, on top of his already simmering jealousy, undoubtedly made him even more upset. Zhu Yangqi also sheds light on the immense pressure Chen Luzhou has been under. He's faced a series of personal crises: a near-accident back in Ruicheng, his parents' subsequent divorce, and the stress of nearly having to repeat a school year before his late admission was confirmed. Zhu Yangqi explains that Chen Luzhou has never had the luxury of showing vulnerability; even earning first place in exams never won him praise from his parents.
Devastated by this new understanding, Xu Zhi asks Zhu Yangqi for help. They orchestrate a plan. Zhu Yangqi invites Chen Luzhou out for karaoke, bringing along another friend, Cai Yingying. Once there, Zhu Yangqi and Cai Yingying make an excuse to leave, giving the estranged couple some alone time. As they leave, Cai Yingying asks Zhu Yangqi if he remembers what he said to her the last time he was drunk. In a flashback, we learn he had drunkenly confessed his feelings for her over the phone.
Left alone, Xu Zhi and Chen Luzhou sit in awkward silence. He tells her he's checked out of the hotel room. Xu Zhi quickly says he doesn't have to, suggesting she could stay there instead. The scene shifts to the hotel room, where the two of them stand, the air thick with unspoken words. Chen Luzhou finally breaks the silence, asking her softly, "Do you want me to leave?"
