Zhi was only 19 when his first novel Float was published, causing a stir in literary circles for both its quality and the controversial themes it explores. Novels such as Don’t Go to That Town and I Only Care About You have become popular internationally, while Swallow was shortlisted for the Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize. His short stories I’ll Wait For You at the End of Time and Prayers of Girls are being made into short films.