Chapter 1509 - It’s born! It’s born!
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nTranslator: Legge Editor: Legge
nTwo days later.
nIt was the eve of the Lunar New Year.
n“Where are the lanterns? Go and hang them up.”
n“Coming, coming!”
n“Old Li, how’s the program coming along?”
n“Haha, it’s all finished.”
n“Great, it’s all on you guys now. I’m really looking forward to it.”
n“We’re just a bunch of old people, so we’re only going to be singing in the name of fun.”
n“The Spring Festival Gala will be happening soon as well, I wonder what it will be like this year.”
n“It’s difficult to say since Professor Zhang is here at our place.”
n“Yeah, without Professor Zhang directing the Spring Festival Gala, I just can’t seem to look forward to watching it.”
n“Hai, if only Professor Zhang hadn’t gotten embroiled. The Spring Festival Gala this year would definitely have been headed by him. I can imagine just how wonderful it would’ve been.”
n“Haha, but Professor Zhang doesn’t have time to worry about the Spring Festival Gala now.”
n“I heard that his wife has already gone into the delivery room.”
n“Yes, she was just brought in there a short while ago.”
n“Hopefully everything goes well.”
nIt was almost the New Year and the mood at the research institute couldn’t be more boisterous.
nPeople gathered together and laughed in conversation.
nSome were preparing for their night show in their groups.
nOthers were busy preparing the dishes for dinner, with the kitchen bustling with activity.
nOnly Zhang Ye was unlike everyone else. This fellow kept circling the research institute’s yard in extreme anxiety. Sometimes, he would look up into the sky and let out a sigh; sometimes, he would stamp his feet in frustration; and sometimes, he would whisper something at the sky with his hands clasped together.
nPlease let everything go well!
nOld Wu, you can do it!
nMay mother and child be safe!
nPlease let them both be safe!
nJust then, Chi Xue passed by. “Professor Zhang, what are you still doing here? The gala is about to begin. Hurry up, let’s head over together.”
nZhang Ye exclaimed, “How can I be in the mood to attend the event?”
nChi Xue laughed and said, “Chief Wu is a blessed woman, so she’ll be fine. We will inform you once there is any news, so come along. Everyone has gone to the event premises already, and the Spring Festival Gala is about to start. Our self-organized gala will be held concurrently, and we’re all waiting for a famed gala director to give us advice to improve.”
nFellow Zhou also called out from afar, “Professor Zhang, we’re all waiting for you. Hurry up!”
nZhang Ye answered absent-mindedly, “Coming.”
nThe banquet hall was already packed with people.
nThere were over a dozen round tables with over a hundred researchers attending the event.
nAt the front, there was even a large TV display where an advertisement from Central TV Department 1 was showing. It was now less than five minutes until the Spring Festival Gala began. There was also a stage set up in front, and it was obviously going to be used for the later performances. Sniffing, he could smell the aroma of the food. Then he saw that the staff had already started serving the dishes.
nZhang Ye had been very worried about Old Wu and hadn’t rested or ate well for the past few days. Hungry, he sat down and started eating immediately.
nThe Central TV Spring Festival Gala began.
nOnly then did Zhang Ye raise his head.
nZhang Yuanqi.
nZhang Xia.
nChen Guang.
nXu Meilan.
nOne after another, familiar faces started appearing before his eyes. They were so close, yet so far away. Were his old friends all doing well? Was Old Zhang still that fond of drinking? How did Old Xu’s new movie do at the box office? Had Old Chen released any new songs? Was Grandma Zhang still going strong and healthy? Who was Old Yao partnering with for his crosstalks?
nZhang Ye lamented.
nHowever, everything happening in the outside world no longer had anything to do with him.
nA female researcher said, “The Spring Festival Gala this year isn’t that good.”
nA young researcher said, “Yeah, it’s much worse than the Spring Festival Gala Professor Zhang directed.”
n“That’s right.” Another person said, “That song from last year, ‘Return Home Often,’ really made me cry when I heard it. I haven’t been home for the Lunar New Year in two years.”
nA middle-aged doctor said, “That’s nothing, I’ve already been here for four years straight.”
nAn old scientist laughed and said, “Are you comparing such things now? There’s nothing glorious about that. Hai, this is all because of work. There isn’t any choice for us.”
nAt this time, the research institute’s own shows started.
nSeveral doctors had formed a choir and took to the stage, while the audience looked very excited.
n“It’s starting, it’s starting!”
n“Dr. Xu, you can do it!”
n“Your singing went off-key last year, so hopefully it won’t happen again this year!”
n“Haha, can you not expose other people’s shortcomings.”
nThe self-organized gala began with a song that rang out within the banquet hall.
nSinging.
nMagic shows.
nDances.
nSkits.
nThere were all kinds of programs.
nOut of nowhere, Fellow Zhou asked Zhang Ye, “Professor Zhang, why don’t you go up on stage and give us a performance too?”
nChi Xue smiled and said, “That sounds great, Professor Zhang. Be it a skit, crosstalk, or even singing, you’re a professional at all of them. Why don’t you let us amateurs broaden our horizons?”
nZhang Ye waved it off. “Please spare me.”
nFellow Chi also said, “Come on, show us a little something.”
nChi Xue said, “You’re about to become a dad, so that’s definitely something worth celebrating!”
nJust as a song finished onstage, the banquet hall’s main door was suddenly pushed opened.
nA employee from the telephone room came rushing in. He shouted excitedly, “It’s born! It’s born!”
nEveryone looked over to that person!
nZhang Ye shot to his feet. “What?”
nThe employee congratulated, “Professor Zhang, your wife has delivered your child! They are both safe and sound!”
nZhang Ye hurriedly said, “Is it a boy or a girl?”
nThat person said, “It’s a girl! She weighed 3.6 kilograms at birth!”
nThe banquet hall erupted with excitement!
n“Great! Great!”
n“Congratulations, Professor Zhang!”
n“Your child has finally been born!”
n“Professor Zhang, you can finally rest assured!”
nEveryone was really feeling jubilant for Zhang Ye!
nZhang Ye was at a loss for words. He wanted to give a shout or two to express his joy, but he couldn’t push his voice out of his throat. He suddenly became quiet.
nFellow Zhou laughed heartily. “You’re a father now. How does it feel?”
nChi Xue also laughed. “Professor Zhang, why don’t you say a few words to everyone?”
nEveryone echoed, “Yeah, say something!”
nZhang Ye was a little dazed.
nSay a few words?
nWhat should he say?
nHe didn’t know. He really didn’t know what to talk about.
nZhang Ye left without waiting for the gala to finish.
nEveryone looked at one another.
nChi Xue said, “What’s with him?”
nFellow Zhou said, “Heh, that kid, shouldn’t he be screaming with joy at such a time?”
nFellow Chi watched Zhang Ye as he left and did not say a word.
n…
nMidnight arrived.
nThe New Year bell was rung.
nAfter the gala ended, everyone headed back to their dorms to rest.
nHowever, soft notes from a guitar suddenly thrummed in one of the dormitories at the research institute. It was accompanied by a low singing voice.
nPeople were stunned to hear this.
nSome of them pulled open their curtains.
nOthers leaned out onto their windowsills and listened 1 quietly.
n“What should I say? I just don’t know.
n“So much to say, yet they don’t come out.
n“Blue skies above, my lingering silence.
n“With you by my side, I’m composed and serene.
n“On lonely nights, I have prayed for you.
n“I hope that I am a gift in your life.
n“When the joy in my heart blossoms in an instant.
n“I wish I could be by your side, to share it with you.
n“An endless journey, an unbroken horizon.
n“Years of burning passion, but what a long wait.
n“When the joy in my heart blossoms in an instant.
n“I wish I could be by your side, to share it with you.”
nIt was a very light and gentle voice. It was a song sung by a man for his wife and child. In the singing, there was a hint of the man’s joy, as well as his sadness.
nHis name was Zhang Ye.
nToday, he had become a father.
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