Episode Summary
In "Be Passionately in Love" Episode 21, Xu Zhi returns home for the school break and learns from her best friend, Cai Yingying, about her secret crush on Zhu Yangqi. The main drama unfolds as Xu Zhi discovers her father has been secretly dating a woman named Director Wei. Upset by the revelation, Xu Zhi becomes distant, causing a worried Chen Luzhou to rush back from school to be with her, leading to an awkward encounter with her father.
Spoiler Alert
Be Passionately in Love: Episode 21 Recap & Spoilers
The episode kicks off with a bittersweet farewell as Xu Zhi heads home for the school break. With academic commitments keeping him on campus, Chen Luzhou can only see her off at the station, leaving them both to face the holiday apart.
Back at home, Xu Zhi is greeted by her father and her best friend, Cai Yingying, who immediately frets over how much weight Xu Zhi has lost. Xu Zhi brushes it off, explaining it's the result of a grueling finals week packed with exams and assignments. The conversation soon shifts to their friend Zhu Yangqi. When Xu Zhi teases Cai Yingying for mentioning him so often, Cai Yingying drops a bombshell: she’s developed feelings for him. However, she’s determined to wait until after they get into university to confess and makes Xu Zhi promise to keep her crush a secret.
Meanwhile, a quiet mystery is brewing. While preparing a meal, Cai Yingying's father asks Xu Zhi's dad about a secret they're keeping from Xu Zhi, and they agree to keep it under wraps for a while longer. The secrecy extends into the evening. After falling asleep in front of the TV, both Xu Zhi and her father sneak off to their separate rooms to make clandestine phone calls to their respective partners. Xu Zhi’s chat with Chen Luzhou is cut short when Chen Xingqi interrupts, needing Chen Luzhou's help with a model.
In the following days, Xu Zhi notices her father's behavior becoming increasingly strange. The man who once delighted in cooking elaborate meals for her now insists that skipping a meal is no big deal and is constantly finding reasons to leave the house. Confused, she shares her concerns with Chen Luzhou over the phone.
The truth comes out in a dramatic fashion. Xu Zhi's father receives an urgent call to the hospital. It turns out to be a setup by Cai Yingying's father to get him to see Director Wei, the woman he's been secretly dating. Her son, a firefighter, was brought into their hospital after being injured in a fire. Believing Xu Zhi's father is worried about his disapproval, the son confronts him directly, telling him he already knows about their relationship and gives them his blessing. Just as this happens, Xu Zhi arrives to bring her father his forgotten phone and overhears everything.
Stunned by the revelation, Xu Zhi tells her father he should have been honest with her sooner. Trying to process the news, she says they can all have dinner together sometime before quickly excusing herself.
Worried sick, Chen Luzhou calls Xu Zhi repeatedly but gets no answer. He reaches out to Cai Yingying, who confirms Xu Zhi isn't at home. Xu Zhi, meanwhile, has told her friend Li Ke that she needs to go home for a bit but promises to be back before the break is over.
When Xu Zhi finally sees the missed calls and phones Chen Luzhou back, she explains her phone was charging. She admits she’s deeply upset about her father’s secret relationship. Despite her insisting that he shouldn't worry and should stay focused on his work, Chen Luzhou immediately packs a bag and heads back to her.
His surprise return leads to an awkward encounter when Xu Zhi's father opens the door. Thinking on his feet, Chen Luzhou claims he was just dropping off a book for Xu Zhi. Seeing right through the excuse, her father simply takes Chen Luzhou's suitcase from him. The episode closes with a glimpse into Chen Luzhou's own family troubles: upon returning to his place, he's met by Chen Xingqi, whom he curtly tells to leave the next day. He then receives a call from his mother, coldly rejecting her invitation to spend the New Year with her.
