The main purpose of paroxetine is to treat depression.
In the entertainment industry, many celebrities suffer from it.
Cheng Ziyi, a popular traffic star, is known for her pure and innocent persona. She has many online haters. Her schedule is packed. Even when sick, she must rush back to China for appearances. It’s no surprise she struggles with emotional pressure.
So when Chen Zemian saw the name of the medicine, he didn’t overthink it. His expression stayed neutral. He returned the bottle as if it meant nothing.
Cheng Ziyi’s face remained calm.
It wasn’t a common medicine, and the label was in English. Unless someone had used it, they wouldn’t recognize it. Chen Zemian looked bright and cheerful—nothing about her suggested personal experience with it.
As long as she didn’t act suspicious, no one would notice.
Cheng Ziyi pressed her hand to her chest and murmured, “Mr. Chen, you scared me.”
Chen Zemian offered her a fever-reducing patch. “Do you have the flu? A lot of people are catching it lately.”
“Maybe.” She looked at him, eyebrows curved, voice teasing. “You’re standing so close—careful, I might infect you.”
Chen Zemian leaned back, subtly.
She reached for the patch and bottle. Her fingers trembled.
Seeing this, he opened the patch for her without a word.
Cheng Ziyi swallowed the medicine, placed the patch on her forehead, and sighed with visible relief. “Thank you,” she said sincerely.
Her almond-shaped eyes were naturally soft. Unlike a man’s—pure, gentle, like a deer.
But for some reason, looking into her eyes made Chen Zemian think of Lu Zhuonian.
He turned to glance at him.
Lu Zhuonian was asleep. He didn’t look like he’d wake anytime soon. His cold, distant eyes were shut, brows faintly furrowed. A few loose strands of hair softened the sharp lines of his face.
Their features were different, but the resemblance lingered—an intangible similarity.
“You kind of look like Mr. Lu,” Chen Zemian said without thinking.
Cheng Ziyi looked surprised. She pushed herself up slightly, holding onto the partition, and turned to see Lu Zhuonian. “Really? You noticed that?”
Chen Zemian tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
She smiled. “Mr. Lu is my distant cousin. My great-grandfather and his mother’s grandfather were brothers.”
“Right,” Chen Zemian nodded. “His mother’s surname is Cheng.”
Cheng Ziyi looked a little shy. “The relation is so distant, we don’t even see each other. Honestly, I feel embarrassed bringing it up. I don’t have the nerve to claim I’m related to him.”
Chen Zemian believed her. The original book hadn’t mentioned this. Lu Zhuonian probably didn’t know either, or he would have said something last time.
Cheng Ziyi stared at her reflection. She’d never thought she looked like him. She touched her face. “You’ve got a good eye. You’re the first one to say that. You must know him well.”
Chen Zemian coughed lightly. “Not bad.”
They chatted a little longer. Cheng Ziyi no longer seemed so unwell. Chen Zemian lay back down.
The plane wouldn’t land for another seven hours. Might as well sleep.
But as soon as he turned, he saw Lu Zhuonian looking at him—awake, silent, expressionless.
Like a ghost.
“…”
Chen Zemian pulled the blanket closer. “What? Did I wake you?”
Lu Zhuonian’s tone was calm, but sharp. “Just ‘okay,’ huh.”
Chen Zemian blinked. “You’ve been awake this whole time? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Lu Zhuonian turned to face the back. “You and my cousin were getting along. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Chen Zemian: “…”
So petty.
He leaned closer, whispered, “She really looks like you. Just the eyes. The aura, too.”
Lu Zhuonian glanced at him. “You and I aren’t even close. How would you know what I look like?”
Chen Zemian sighed. “Seriously? Stop being sarcastic. I just found out she’s your cousin. Surprised, that’s all.”
“I just found out too,” Lu Zhuonian replied. “But hearing you say ‘not bad’ was more shocking than discovering I have a cousin.”
A pretty, polite girl, and Chen Zemian said she looked like him.
And Chen Zemian used to be straight.
Every alarm in Lu Zhuonian’s head was blaring.
Chen Zemian felt a storm brewing.
If he didn’t explain, Lu Zhuonian would hold this over him forever.
He tried his best. “Since she asked, how should I have answered?”
Lu Zhuonian turned over, pinched his chin gently. “Don’t you usually call yourself my husband?”
Chen Zemian’s eyes widened. He slapped his hand over Lu Zhuonian’s mouth. “Are you insane, Lu Zhuonian?!”
Lu Zhuonian leaned back, avoiding the touch. “You just touched something else. Keep your hands off me.”
Chen Zemian paused. What else had he touched?
Oh—Cheng Ziyi’s medicine bottle.
“You were awake that early?” he said. “I looked at you so many times—your eyes were closed. You were pretending to sleep?”
Lu Zhuonian didn’t flinch. “What does ‘pretending’ mean? You don’t have to open your eyes to be awake.”
Chen Zemian was briefly stunned. Then he realized it was nonsense. “What kind of logic is that?”
Lu Zhuonian clearly hadn’t let go of that earlier “it’s okay.” He muttered again, “If I’d opened my eyes, I wouldn’t have heard your little review of us.”
Chen Zemian pointed at him. “Alright. I’ll say it now. No takebacks.”
Lu Zhuonian raised a hand with exaggerated courtesy. “Please.”
Chen Zemian threw off the blanket, sat up, and knocked on the partition.
Cheng Ziyi turned, pulling out one earbud. “Yes?”
Chen Zemian took a deep breath. He had to be serious. If declaring war would keep Lu Zhuonian happy, then so be it—even if it meant shouting it across the cabin.
“Excuse me. I need to correct a previous statement.”
His tone was flat, solemn, like an official announcement. “I said earlier my relationship with Mr. Lu was ‘okay.’ That was inaccurate.”
Cheng Ziyi blinked. “Huh?”
“He’s my boyfriend.”
Her pupils dilated. She froze, mind reeling.
Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?
Did Chen Shao just come out? To Lu Zhuonian? In front of me?
Wait, why me? And did he mean boyfriend-boyfriend? Probably. They flew abroad together. Their first-class seats were side by side.
They even shared a blanket!!
The Lu heir is GAY?!?!
Cheng Ziyi’s breath hitched. She stared at Chen Zemian in stunned silence. Then slowly, instinctively, she turned to look at the other man involved.
One handsome face… then another.
Sharp. Cold. Devastatingly beautiful. The visual impact was overwhelming.
She swallowed hard. “I—I won’t tell anyone.”
Lu Zhuonian looked at her, unbothered. “There’s nothing to hide.”
Chen Zemian turned to him. “Satisfied?”
Cheng Ziyi caught on quickly. Lu Zhuonian had seen them talking and made him ‘declare ownership’ in front of her.
Power move. She had to admit, she was impressed.
She rolled her eyes internally, but smiled brightly. “So you’re a couple. You suit each other.”
Lu Zhuonian was satisfied. “Thank you.”
Chen Zemian made a quiet, apologetic gesture to Cheng Ziyi and half-pushed, half-pulled Lu Zhuonian back. “Can we go to bed?”
Lu Zhuonian replied, “Who said you have to stay with me for fifteen hours?”
Chen Zemian raised a hand and covered his eyes. “Everyone’s sleeping. You should rest too. I’ll sleep with you.”
Lu Zhuonian didn’t resist this time but still muttered, “You haven’t even washed your hands.”
Chen Zemian’s fingers curled slightly. He was about to pull back when Lu Zhuonian caught the back of his hand.
Lu Zhuonian brought it to his lips and kissed it, then covered his eyes with it.
They curled up on the narrow bed, hands clasped, and drifted off together.
*****
At Beijing Airport, Chen Zemian didn’t exit the terminal. He went straight from the VIP lounge to the departure hall and waited for the next flight with Lu Zhuonian.
The long flight had drained him. Even after hours of sleep, he felt dizzy and hollow. Leaning against Lu Zhuonian’s shoulder, he asked, “When can I see you again?”
Lu Zhuonian turned and gently brushed back his hair. “It’s okay.”
Eyes closed, Chen Zemian yawned. “Now that you’re back, finish the work first. Settle the new game’s name with Zheng Huaiyu and the others, then talk to the tech team… You’ve taken a lot of leave lately. Catch up when you return, and attend any salons or parties. You’ll meet people who can help you later.”
A smile reached Lu Zhuonian’s eyes. He lowered his head to look at Chen Zemian. “You sound like my wife.”
Chen Zemian, always quick to pick out key words, replied with a strange twist, “You have other wives?”
Lu Zhuonian heard the deliberate provocation. “You think that’s possible? I’m practically dying on you.”
Chen Zemian choked. “Cough, cough, cough—Lu Zhuonian, what happened to my cold, noble, serious boyfriend?”
Lu Zhuonian chuckled quietly. Watching Chen Zemian yawn again, he gently pinched his cheek. “If you’re tired, go home. You don’t need to wait here with me.”
Chen Zemian shook his head. “Are you tired?”
Lu Zhuonian shook his.
“I can’t stand people like you—barely sleep, still full of energy.” He stood up, rolled his neck, and muttered, “I’m sleepy again. I’ll get some coffee. Want anything?”
“Dark chocolate latte,” Lu Zhuonian said.
Chen Zemian pulled out his phone to check for the nearest shop. Before leaving, he glanced around. Seeing no one paying attention, he hooked Lu Zhuonian’s chin playfully. “Wait for me.”
*****
The coffee shop was crowded. After ordering, Chen Zemian stood by the counter and scanned the room for a seat. He didn’t find one—but he did spot a familiar pink fisherman’s hat.
Cheng Ziyi sat in a corner with an untouched coffee. Her head rested on her bag, motionless, as if asleep.
Nearly two hours had passed since she disembarked. Why was she still at the airport?
Chen Zemian wanted to call her, but the packed cafe made him hesitate. He didn’t want fans overhearing or strangers snapping pictures, so he walked over and said in a low voice, “Um… Cousin Lu?”
Cheng Ziyi, feverish and dazed, snapped awake when she heard a man speak. She grabbed her bag and looked up.
Seeing it was Chen Zemian, she relaxed.
Her voice was muffled. “Oh. My cousin’s wife.”
Chen Zemian blinked. “????”
Her eyes were red, rimmed like a rabbit’s. “Still feverish?” he asked.
She nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
He pulled out a chair and sat across from her. “No one from your company picking you up?”
“There are too many fans waiting outside. I’ll leave later.” She coughed twice. “Can you watch my suitcase? I need the restroom.”
“Sure,” he said.
Cheng Ziyi took her bag and stood up—but everything went dark.
“Shit,” Chen Zemian muttered, catching her and easing her back into the seat.
Her breathing turned shallow. She reached for the coffee but stopped before touching the cup. Instead, she grabbed a bottle of water from her bag. After two sips, she choked and coughed again.
“You okay?” Chen Zemian hovered, unsure if he should touch her. “You okay?”
He wanted to pat her back but hesitated—it didn’t feel right. He started to panic, circling in place.
Then an idea hit him. “I’ll call emergency.”
“No.” Cheng Ziyi grabbed his arm, fingers trembling. Her eyes held fear. “You want me on the trending search?”
He paused. “Then… where’s the person picking you up? I’ll bring them inside. You can use Mr. Lu’s VIP channel.”
She pressed a few buttons on her phone, then shook her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll have a friend come get me. Just… give me a moment.”
Chen Zemian fell silent.
Cheng Ziyi blinked slowly, trying to focus. Halfway through dictating her friend’s number, she checked her phone again and froze. “Forget it. Take me through the VIP channel. I’ll call a car myself.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Your friend can’t make it?”
“She saw my agent’s car. If she comes in, he’ll follow.”
At the mention of her agent—and the disgust in her tone—something clicked in Chen Zemian’s mind.
“I’ll be back,” he told her, then walked out to call Lu Zhuonian.
He didn’t go far, just behind a Roman column near the shop, where he could still see her through the glass.
Lu Zhuonian answered almost immediately. “If they don’t have dark chocolate latte, get raw coconut.”
This time, though, he guessed wrong.
Chen Zemian cut to the point. “Is your condition genetic?”
Even Lu Zhuonian needed a moment. “What?”
“Anyone else in your family—especially on your grandfather’s side?”
“What’s going on?”
Chen Zemian hesitated. “Your cousin, the one I met on the plane. She’s also taking paroxetine.”
There was a pause. Then the soft click of a door closing.
“It’s not genetic,” Lu Zhuonian said. “The medication’s for depression.”
“I figured.”
Lu Zhuonian didn’t press. “Are you in trouble? What do you need?”
“Can I borrow the VIP channel?” Chen Zemian tapped the carved patterns on the pillar. “Not sure yet.”
“Tell me what happened. You saw her take meds on the plane, but she seemed fine. What changed?”
Chen Zemian didn’t know where to begin. It felt wrong to talk about a girl like this. He chose his words carefully. “It’s complicated. I’ll just give you the keywords—you connect the dots.”
“Okay.”
“She has a fever. Her hand shook when she held a water bottle. She fainted. Her eyes are red. She refused emergency help. Her company had a car waiting, but she didn’t go. Wanted a friend instead. Her agent showed up, and her friend backed off. Remember what I told you?”
Lu Zhuonian’s voice dropped. “Her agent’s a matchmaker. Uses unspoken rules.”
“Yeah.” Chen Zemian’s voice caught. “And with her taking paroxetine… I think there’s a problem.”
“I’ll have someone check.” Lu Zhuonian’s tone turned sharp, colder than usual. “Stay there. I’ll send a bodyguard to bring her friend up. Don’t panic. I’m coming now.”
Chen Zemian leaned against the pillar and exhaled. “You don’t think I’m meddling, do you?”
“This isn’t meddling,” Lu Zhuonian said. “It’s serious.”
Coincidences happen. People share illnesses. But the same place, same symptoms, same medication, and a blood link—too much overlap hints at something deeper.
“It might be connected to why I got sick.”
Chen Zemian stiffened. “What do you mean?”
Silence.
Neither spoke. Only breathing filled the call.
After what felt like ten seconds—maybe more—Lu Zhuonian finally said, voice low and steady:
“I got sick because of a drug.”
A pause.
“A banned drug. One that used to be everywhere in nightclubs. It kept getting banned, but it always came back.”
*****
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Author: LazyHermitGal
A Lazy Hermit Gal wondering in the void and falling into the translation abyss.
