Episode Summary
In episode 22 of "Be Passionately in Love," the relationship between Xu Zhi and Chen Luzhou deepens as their families begin to connect. A dinner with Xu Zhi's father and Director Wei goes well, signaling their approval. However, the episode's central conflict emerges when Chen Luzhou's mother unexpectedly visits and recognizes a family friend, Fu Yuqing. This encounter unravels a long-held secret: Chen Luzhou's mother confesses to him that Fu Yuqing is his biological father. She had hidden this truth his entire life after Fu Yuqing initially rejected the idea of marriage when she became pregnant. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as a devastated Chen Luzhou returns to a worried Xu Zhi after learning the life-altering news.
Spoiler Alert
"Be Passionately in Love" Episode 22: A Dinner, a Drunken Confession, and a Secret That Changes Everything
This Episode, family ties are tested and long-buried secrets are unearthed, leading to a revelation that could shatter the foundation of Chen Luzhou and Xu Zhi's relationship.
The episode kicks off with Xu Zhi spending time with her father at her grandmother's place. She texts Chen Luzhou to let him know she won’t be home, prompting a playful reply from him that he needs his suitcase back because he’s run out of clean underwear. In a quiet moment, Xu Zhi’s father admits to her that he has no intention of giving Chen Luzhou a hard time; in fact, he thinks he’s a great kid. He even suggests they all have dinner together with Director Wei, a significant step forward.
Meanwhile, Chen Luzhou deals with his own family drama. After dropping off Chen Xingqi, he has a tense reunion with his father, Chen Jishen. In a rare moment of vulnerability, his father apologizes, admitting that he was the one who destroyed their family and that he’s always been proud of the man Chen Luzhou became without his help. He offers Chen Luzhou a red envelope filled with money as a peace offering, telling him their house will always be his home. Chen Luzhou declines the money but agrees to visit when he can, leaving the door slightly ajar for reconciliation.
Later, Fu Yuqing stops by to drop off Chen Luzhou’s suitcase but also delivers a stern warning. He makes it clear that if Chen Luzhou isn't serious about Xu Zhi and plans on "playing around," he needs to stay away from her for good. Chen Luzhou firmly assures him that will never be the case.
Once Xu Zhi returns, she and Chen Luzhou go grocery shopping. She surprises him by saying she wants to buy a gift for Director Wei. She explains that she’s realized how difficult it has been for her father to be both a mother and a father to her, and she’s accepted that Director Wei’s presence in his life is a good thing.
The much-anticipated dinner is a mix of awkward, funny, and heartwarming moments. Director Wei arrives with a thoughtful gift for Xu Zhi, while Chen Luzhou comes bearing gifts for her father. During the meal, Xu Zhi’s dad insists Chen Luzhou try every single dish, a quirky test to see if his and Xu Zhi’s tastes are compatible. The gift from Director Wei turns out to be a motorcycle helmet; she explains that Xu Zhi's dad showed her old photos of a young Xu Zhi always on bikes, and she wanted to get her something meaningful.
As the night wears on, Xu Zhi's father has a bit too much to drink and, in a hilarious, drunken display of affection, insists on teaching Chen Luzhou how to tie pigtails, practicing on Chen Luzhou’s own hair. When it's time for him to leave, Director Wei encourages Xu Zhi to walk him home. During their walk, Chen Luzhou gives Xu Zhi a heartfelt, handmade felt creation. Touched, she jokes that he could just give her his bank card instead, and he immediately tells her the PIN, a testament to his complete trust in her.
But the episode takes a dramatic turn. Having learned from Chen Xingqi where her son was spending the holiday, Chen Luzhou's mother shows up at Xu Zhi's house. The moment she sees Xu Zhi's father, she freezes. They know each other. In a hushed, urgent tone, she pleads with him to keep their shared past a secret from their children. He agrees, but it's too late—Chen Luzhou and Xu Zhi walk in just in time to overhear the cryptic exchange, leaving them stunned and confused.
Later, Xu Zhi tries to gently probe her father for answers, but he remains silent. Putting the pieces together, she tells Chen Luzhou about the one person she knows of who was in a car accident and a coma for several years: Fu Yuqing.
Armed with this devastating clue, Chen Luzhou confronts his mother and asks her the question that changes everything: Is Fu Yuqing his biological father? He reveals he figured it out through his own deductions, not from Xu Zhi’s family. His mother breaks down and confesses. She and Fu Yuqing had been in a serious relationship, but when she became pregnant and wanted to get married, a young Fu Yuqing refused, not ready for the responsibility. Heartbroken, she left.
The full story comes to light when Xu Zhi learns the other side from her mother. After Fu Yuqing woke from his coma, he desperately tried to find the son he never knew. Unable to recognize the grown-up Chen Luzhou, he sought help from the only person he could: Chen Luzhou's mother. However, convinced that Fu Yuqing could never be a good father, she lied to him, saying the child had been adopted by another family. She then took Chen Luzhou and raised him as her own.
Reeling from the revelation, Chen Luzhou disappears, not answering any of Xu Zhi's frantic calls. She is sick with worry, about to run out and search the city for him, when the door finally opens. It’s Chen Luzhou, back home, but with the weight of a lifetime of secrets now resting on his shoulders.
