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yeah, this about insult right here is why i have a hard time answering "what are other terms of endearment in chinese", because affection is premised on the idea that you're only rude to the people who you are extremely close to. if you're polite it means you're NOT CLOSE. https://twitter.com/quigonejinn/status/1327969005269905408
like last night i watched a yt video where the wife called her husband "YOU DUMB PIG", and it was perfectly ok
if i say "thank you" to people i am supposed to be close to, they get awkward and embarrassed because: was i implying we are not close that i need to be so polite?
if i say "thank you" to people i am supposed to be close to, they get awkward and embarrassed because: was i implying we are not close that i need to be so polite?
but - unpopular opinion ahead - conversely, the difficulty in translating this concept to non-chinese writers & readers means i think it's ok writers to go ahead and use terms of endearment that are familiar to them and the fic's context - yes, darling, sweetheart, baby, etc
why not? 1) we are already writing in english. we are already not writing in a chinese context and mindset (unless you are deliberately trying to do so). therefore the entire linguistic and discursive environment of the fic is already not chinese.
2) as a writer, you would and should have already picked a tone for your fic. some endearments fit, some don't. i mean this tonally, not culturally.
3) weeaboo speak literally comes out from trying to force-fit poorly-understood japanese words into fic (like koi/koibito) in a bid for authenticity, and let's not repeat that...
...do i want to see more 'silly melons' in fic, when it fails to communicate affection to non-chinese readers, and only distracts chinese readers from the fic? that's 0 out of 2 on your audience. or more 'xin gan's in non-xin gan-appropriate usages?
the short answer is... no.
the short answer is... no.
anyway i know this is going to be wildly unpopular and i'm prob going to get flamed for it and have my chinese card revoked while i'm afk, so all i can say is, i'm not here to fight! take it or leave it. ultimately, make your own decisions and have fun writing and reading fic 
...before i afk for the next 6 hours i should clarify: if you are not chinese but are actively TRYING and consulting in order to use the correct terms, i applaud and support you and am happy to share my view on chineseisms. all i am suggesting is permissibility to do otherwise.
