Lu Zhi

Biodata

Background / History

In Shen Ranxin’s knowledge of the original novel, Lu Zhi was the protagonist top: Cheng Cheng’s destined partner and Shen’s powerful enemy, who would eventually ruin Shen’s family. Lu’s behavior immediately deviates from that expected role; rather than treating Shen as a rival, he responds to Shen’s threats and violence with provocative fascination. 1

Lu was born to a slave and spent his first sixteen years in Capital Star’s underground slave market, where trafficked children were treated as merchandise. At six, he encountered Shen Ranxin when Shen Ziqing brought his son to select a child companion. Shen briefly called the silent, malnourished boy “Zhi Zhi,” but ultimately chose another child, leaving Lu behind. 57 108

Lu’s unusually high pheromone level made him difficult for traffickers to control. Lu Yeshan discovered him when he was sixteen, brought him out of the slave-market system, and later raised him as a son despite their lack of blood relation. 58 116

Lu has a history with Shen that Shen cannot fully remember. Lu refers to Shen as the person who initiated their relationship and fears that Shen will either never remember loving him or will recover memories painful enough to make him leave again. Lu counts more than eleven years since their childhood separation, while Shen’s later disappearance separated them for five years before their reunion. 33 45 46 106

Shen Ziqing, Lu’s biological father, used Lu’s glands in illegal human experiments while Lu lived in the Shen household. The experimentation severely damaged Lu’s glandular function, elevated his aggression index, and left him subject to long-term monitoring and confinement by the Anomaly Management Center. 68 106 108

Although Lu could repeatedly escape the Center, he remained within its reach for nearly a decade because living as a fugitive would endanger Shen. He instead pursued Shen Ziqing and the stolen research data while trying to preserve Shen’s freedom and safety. 108 154

Cheng Cheng claims that he was formerly engaged to Shen and regards Lu as an interloper. Lu rejects this claim, maintains that Shen chose him, and views Cheng as a rival exploiting Shen’s memory loss and vulnerability. 18 45

Appearance

Lu Zhi is a tall, silver-haired Alpha with a powerful build and an imposing presence. His appearance is frequently contrasted with his shamelessly playful manner and highly polished public image. 4 7

• Silver hair, often falling over his forehead or swept back after bathing. 4 9
• Pale, glass-colored eyes and sharply defined features. 6 31
• Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, and a notably muscular physique. 7 50
• Wears an ear stud and favors orange-flavored lollipops. 4
• His pheromones carry an aggressive, intoxicating brandy scent. 1 2
• During glandular instability, his eyes can become red-rimmed and his expression markedly feral; he is frequently fitted with a Bite Guard and restraint equipment for safety. 64 143
• His silver ear stud is later revealed to help regulate his stabilized condition. 160

Personality

Lu Zhi is confident, possessive, and relentlessly provocative. He enjoys turning Shen’s threats, embarrassment, and attempts at emotional distance into opportunities for flirtation. He routinely performs vulnerability—claiming injuries, crying over his damaged Paperbush tree, or asking for help—to draw Shen’s attention away from Cheng Cheng and others. 7 25 28

His devotion to Shen is genuine but often expressed through harmful control. Lu repeatedly violates Shen’s boundaries through pheromone suppression, forced physical restraint, and public possessiveness; when Shen becomes genuinely afraid or injured, however, Lu stops, apologizes, treats his wounds, and accepts retaliation without fighting back. 15 18 34 35

Outside his relationship with Shen, Lu is cold, intimidating, and capable of calculated cruelty. He uses wealth, status, pheromones, and violence to silence people who exploit or insult Shen, while remaining strikingly indulgent toward Shen himself. 18 41 42

Beneath his arrogance, Lu has profound abandonment trauma rooted in slavery, experimentation, and confinement. Shen’s absence, attention to rivals, or apparent fear of him can trigger panic, insecurity, and pheromonal instability. He repeatedly seeks reassurance that Shen will choose him and not leave him again. 57 82 126 140

Lu’s dependence does not make him indiscriminately violent. Even during severe loss of control, he can obey Shen’s direct requests, seek Shen’s scent for comfort, and focus instinctively on protecting or courting him rather than attacking him. 56 143 144

Around Shen, Lu is also attentive and domestic: he treats Shen’s injuries, carries him when exhausted, prepares baths and medicine, and tries—usually unsuccessfully—to cook. His possessiveness remains intense after his recovery, but is increasingly expressed through clinginess, public affection, lavish gifts, and melodramatic complaints about separation. 103 137 160

Abilities & Skills

Top-Tier Alpha Physiology

Lu’s pheromone level exceeds Shen Ranxin’s and can physically suppress other Alphas.

• His brandy-scented pheromones overwhelm Shen and cause severe discomfort because Alpha pheromones are naturally antagonistic. 1 6
• He can release pheromones forcefully enough to frighten or incapacitate nearby bystanders. 33
• His attraction to Shen is not governed solely by ordinary pheromone instincts; he states that ordinary inhibitors do not resolve his reactions. 20
• He uses Alpha sedatives and tranquilizers to restrain himself when he fears losing control around Shen, despite the risk of nerve damage. 16 18 20
• His pheromone concentration is abnormally high due to glandular experimentation, making him a high-risk individual whose glandular condition is treated as potentially catastrophic by the Anomaly Management Center. 64 68
• His susceptible periods were surgically suppressed after years of near-fatal episodes when no other omega could calm him; Shen’s return reawakened the suppressed response. 99
• Shen is uniquely unaffected by Lu’s aggressive pheromones and is the only known person able to consistently calm him through scent, touch, and emotional reassurance. 137 144
• Lu possesses exceptional healing ability, allowing wounds that would leave permanent scars on others to heal rapidly. 108 124

Physical Combat

Lu is physically powerful, fast-reacting, and difficult to intimidate.

• He disarms Shen’s attempted kick during their first confrontation and easily restrains him in close quarters. 1
• He withstands severe injuries, including possible broken ribs, while continuing to care for Shen. 16
• He and Cheng Cheng seriously injure one another during a boxing challenge. 28
• He remains calm in the haunted manor and intimidates the live performers meant to frighten the contestants. 39
• He can break restraint straps and containment-room doors during pheromone episodes, while his physical and pheromonal strength makes even trained Anomaly Control Bureau officers reluctant to engage him directly. 64 124 145
• While limiting his pheromones to avoid harming Shen, he withstands an ambush by multiple attackers; once able to release them, he defeats Shen Qi’s men with overwhelming speed. 123
• He is an extremely capable hunter, using a radio to mimic chicken calls before killing fifty-three wild pheasants with pebbles and a compound bow. 60

Wealth and Influence

As the head of Lu Group, Lu can use immense resources to control circumstances around him.

• He is Instant Heartbeat’s largest sponsor, making the production team reluctant to challenge him. 3 18
• A restaurant used for a show task belongs to Lu Group. 34
• He offers Shen a Lu Group black card intended to cover all of Shen’s living expenses. 42
• He has expanded Lu Group significantly, earning his father’s confidence despite not being born into the Lu family by blood. 42
• The Anomaly Management Center provides him with covert assistance and specialized resources, including personnel capable of carrying out unusual protective measures for Shen. 68
• His family’s corporate and institutional influence later helps protect Shen publicly and supports the disclosure of the truth behind Shen Ziqing’s research and Wei Huizhi’s case. 160

Writing and Planning

Lu is a capable writer and strategist in addition to his corporate and combat skills.

• He revises the production team’s microfilm concept into a script that effectively highlights Shen’s acting strengths and character. 104 105
• He investigates Shen Ziqing’s past through Lu Yeshan’s military access and uncovers the erased records surrounding Wei Huizhi. 140
• He deliberately stages or exploits his monitored status when necessary, including provoking an apparent pheromone episode to summon the Anomaly Management Center and locate the missing Gu Yifei. 64

Equipment / Items

• Alpha sedatives and tranquilizer injections — Used to curb his pheromonal loss of control around Shen. 16 18 30
• Lu Group black card — An unrestricted financial resource Lu attempts to give Shen. 42
• Orange-flavored lollipops — He carries and eats them because their scent resembles Shen’s pheromones; he later replaces cigarettes with them because Shen dislikes smoke. 2 49
• Medical supplies and ointment — Frequently used to treat Shen’s injuries or injuries he receives from Shen. 15 33 35
• Bite Guard and restraint straps — Used to contain his instinctive aggression and prevent him from biting or harming Shen during pheromone instability. 64 78
• Silver pistol — Given to Shen as a last-resort safeguard in case Lu loses control and threatens him. 78
• Silver ear stud — A regulatory device returned to him after his gland stabilizes. 160
• Shen Ranxin’s clothing — Lu keeps and nests with Shen’s worn clothes and personal items, using their scent to comfort himself during confinement and pheromone episodes. 77 125 132

Relationships

• Shen Ranxin — Former lover whose memories are fragmented. Lu is intensely attached to Shen, calls him “Ranran,” seeks exclusivity, and acts as both a dangerous source of pressure and a protective caretaker. 24 29 45 46 Their relationship becomes openly mutual after Shen repeatedly chooses Lu, joins his investigation of Shen Ziqing, and promises to remain with him through his illness and confinement. Shen’s scent, voice, and presence are central to Lu’s stability. 106 108 144 160
• Cheng Cheng — Romantic rival. Lu initially appears publicly linked to Cheng, but repeatedly sabotages Cheng’s attempts to pursue Shen and openly declares Shen to be his. 4 18 Cheng is Lu Yeshan’s biological but illegitimate son, but Lu rejects any brotherly bond with him. Their hostility is tempered by Lu’s unresolved debt to the person who once saved Shen and his decision to return for Cheng during the villa explosion. 116 123
• Shen Qi — A major romantic rival connected to Shen and Lu’s childhood. Shen Qi’s presence triggers Lu’s fear of being replaced, and Lu reacts with both hostile intimidation and genuine panic toward him. 81 82
• Lu Yeshan — Lu’s adoptive father, supporter, and the founder of the Anomaly Management Center. He raised Lu despite Lu’s lack of Lu-family blood, trusts his leadership of Lu Group, and regards him as his true son. 42 116 125
• Shen Ziqing — Lu’s biological father and the researcher who subjected his glands to illegal experimentation. Lu pursues him for revenge and to prevent further harm to Shen, although Shen Ziqing’s research later becomes necessary to stabilize Lu’s condition. 68 106 108 156
• Pei Zhao — Director of the Anomaly Management Center and an old associate of Lu Yeshan and Shen Ziqing. He is wary of Lu’s danger but increasingly recognizes Lu’s capacity for restraint and supports efforts to save him. 149 154 156
• Gu Yifei — A minor rival for Shen’s attention. Lu blocks Gu from approaching Shen and treats his interest with territorial hostility. 31 50
• Jiang Ye — Fellow Alpha contestant. Lu shares the dragon role with Jiang during the fantasy role-play game. 47
• Fang Yu — Fellow contestant who is openly exasperated by Lu and Shen’s volatile relationship. 36

Story Role / Major Arcs

*Instant Heartbeat* Arrival

Lu enters Instant Heartbeat as its wealthy sponsor and one of its most prominent contestants. Shen expects him to pursue Cheng Cheng, but Lu instead fixates on Shen’s scent, touches his inhibitor patch, and treats their antagonism as flirtation. 1 2

Escalating Rivalry and Possessiveness

During the show’s early games, Lu repeatedly corners Shen, binds him with red silk, threatens his gland, and makes suggestive public comments about their private encounters. His behavior unsettles Cheng and turns the audience’s presumed Lu–Cheng pairing into speculation that Lu is pursuing Shen instead. 6 7

Lu’s jealousy becomes explicit during the Paperbush red-string ceremony. He removes Shen’s ribbon from Cheng’s tree, ties his own ribbon to Shen’s tree, rearranges the remaining pairings, and warns Cheng against pursuing Shen. 17 18

Forced Marking and Remorse

Jealous of Shen’s closeness with Cheng, Lu forcibly injects pheromones into Shen’s gland, creating a painful simulated mark. Shen retaliates violently, leaving Lu with severe bruising and possible broken ribs. Lu accepts responsibility, conceals the extent of Shen’s involvement, seeks sedatives, and continues caring for Shen despite his injuries. 15 16

Cheng Cheng’s Attack and Rescue

When Cheng Cheng uses pheromones and violence against Shen at the hospital, Lu rescues Shen and helps him survive the aftermath. Shen’s instinctive reliance on Lu culminates in him clearly calling Lu’s name. 29

Conflict Over Shen’s Memories

Lu becomes increasingly afraid that Shen’s recovered memories will make him leave. He presses Shen to acknowledge their past relationship, insists Shen belongs only to him, and clashes directly with Cheng over who has the rightful place in Shen’s life. 33 45

Haunted Manor and Public Protection

During the haunted-manor punishment, Lu recognizes Shen’s severe fear response and carries him through the attraction after Shen calls him “Zhizhi.” When Shen’s pheromones destabilize, Lu becomes the person who can calm him. 39 40

Lu later retaliates against an NPC who extorts and insults Shen, offering double the demanded compensation before physically punishing him. 41 42

Fantasy Role-Play

In the princess-and-dragon role-play, Lu exchanges cards with Shen so that Shen will not have to wear a princess costume. He deliberately chooses revealing princess attire and uses the changing-room situation to provoke both Shen and Cheng. 48 49 50

Anomaly Management Center Revelation

When Gu Yifei disappears during the survival challenge, Lu deliberately triggers an apparent pheromone breakdown to summon the Anomaly Management Center, whose resources can locate Gu. Shen witnesses Lu’s restrained, near-feral state for the first time and learns that Lu is a high-risk monitored Alpha. 64

Lu publicly identifies Shen as his lover and partner to prevent the Center from treating Shen as a research subject. The incident establishes that Shen’s pheromones can trigger Lu’s instability but can also calm him in ways no medication or ordinary suppressant can. 64 68

Shen Qi’s Arrival

Lu attempts to stop botanist Shen Qi from replacing Gu Yifei on the show, but fails. Shen Qi’s presence causes Lu to release pheromones strongly enough to overwhelm the other contestants, then suffer a severe panic episode driven by his fear that Shen will choose Shen Qi instead. 81 82

Shen defends and comforts Lu, beginning to recognize that Lu’s hostility toward Shen Qi is rooted not only in jealousy but in childhood trauma and a belief that he is inherently replaceable. 82

Mutual Choice and the Shen Ziqing Conspiracy

As Shen recovers more of their history, Lu reveals the extent of his life in the slave market, Shen Ziqing’s experimentation on his glands, and his years of pursuing Shen Ziqing while protecting Shen from the shadows. Shen chooses to join Lu’s dangerous investigation rather than remain protected from it. 106 108

Their relationship becomes increasingly open through domestic routines, public photoshoots, and Shen’s refusal to deny that he favors Lu. Lu, in turn, treats Shen’s choice as the fulfillment of a wait lasting more than eleven years. 99 106

Kidnapping and Villa Rescue

Shen Ziqing, Shen Qi, and Cheng Cheng abduct Shen as bait to obtain Lu’s gland. Lu refuses to abandon Shen despite recognizing the trap and fights while suppressing his pheromones to avoid injuring him. 120 123

When Lu is overwhelmed, Shen cuts open his own fragile transplanted gland to relieve the pheromonal pressure restraining Lu. Lu then releases his full strength, defeats Shen Qi’s men, and carries Shen toward safety despite both of them being critically injured. 123

Confinement and Glandular Deterioration

After the rescue, Lu’s long-suppressed glandular condition erupts into repeated pheromone rampages. The Anomaly Management Center confines him, but Shen’s scent and presence remain the only reliable means of calming him. 124 126 132

Lu’s episodes progressively impair his rationality and memory, yet his instinct to seek Shen, protect him, and return home with him persists. Shen becomes increasingly desperate to save him from permanent confinement or gland removal. 143 145 154

Wei Huizhi Investigation

Lu helps Shen trace Shen Ziqing’s transformation to Wei Huizhi, an omega military-academy student whose torture and death were concealed by the Federation. Lu’s investigation into the erased records provides the starting point for uncovering Shen Ziqing’s motives. 140 149

During Shen and Cheng’s infiltration of the Center’s restricted archive, Lu escapes confinement solely to find Shen. Even in his deteriorated state, he obeys Shen, holds his hand, and assists in reaching Wei Huizhi’s AI archive. 145

Recovery and Release

Shen discovers evidence of a former gland-treatment experiment in the abandoned Shen estate. Pei Zhao determines that the recovered research offers a dangerous but viable operation to stabilize Lu’s gland, and Lu allows Shen alone to anesthetize him before surgery. 155 156

After his gland stabilizes, Lu is released from the Anomaly Management Center under a three-year observation period. He resumes leading Lu Group while remaining extravagantly lovesick, using gifts, livestream accounts, matching tattoos, and constant calls to pursue Shen during Shen’s filming schedule. 160

Notable Quotes

“I came to bring my lover home.” 4

“He’s mine. Those who covet my people usually don’t end well.” 18

“Because you deserve it.” 41

“I’m willing. I’m willing to go with you. No matter who you are or where you’re going, I’m willing to follow you, Shen Ranxin.” 51

“You’re the Little Rose I worked so hard to find again. You have to live freely and boldly among blooming splendor.” 108

Trivia

• Lu keeps a magazine featuring Shen’s face, though Shen initially mistakes it for evidence of Lu’s interest in Cheng Cheng because the cover is a composite image. 1 2
• He refers to his interference in the red-string ceremony as “fate.” 18
• Lu treasures Shen’s nickname for him, “Zhi Zhi,” because it reminds him of comfort and having somewhere to belong. 46
• He refuses to replace his dying Paperbush tree, insisting that it will not die. 31
• Shen first gave six-year-old Lu the nickname “Zhi Zhi” in the slave market, but incorrectly wrote the character for “only” when trying to teach him the name. 57
• Lu preserves Shen’s discarded bottles, cartons, damaged clothing, and underwear as scent-bearing nesting materials. 77
• He killed fifty-three pheasants during a forest task, turning an ill-considered kissing wager into fifty-three minutes of kisses owed by Shen. 60
• After his recovery, Lu maintains multiple lavish livestream-gifting accounts with names centered on demanding Shen’s return and attention. 160