May 05, 2025

Shanghai's Spring Awakening: Choosing Life Over Work

13 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Shanghai's Spring Awakening: Choosing Life Over Work
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-05-05-22-34-02-zh

Story Transcript:

Zh: 在繁忙的上海，春天的阳光洒在外滩。
En: In bustling Shanghai, the spring sunshine spills over the Bund.

Zh: 黄浦江边，花朵开放，空气中充满了花香。
En: By the Huangpu River, flowers are blooming, and the air is filled with their fragrance.

Zh: 刘伟站在这里，心中却有丝许不安。
En: Liu Wei stands here, yet there is a slight unease in his heart.

Zh: 他今天约了老同学美玲见面。
En: Today, he has arranged to meet his old classmate Meiling.

Zh: 许久不见，不知她有什么变化。
En: It's been a long time since they last met, and he wonders what changes have occurred in her.

Zh: 刘伟是个年轻有为的专业人士。
En: Liu Wei is a promising young professional.

Zh: 他常常把所有时间都投入到工作上。
En: He often dedicates all his time to work.

Zh: 最近，他感觉有些空虚，因此决定与美玲重聚。
En: Recently, he has been feeling a bit empty, so he decided to reunite with Meiling.

Zh: 美玲和他不一样，她总是悠闲自在，重视和朋友、家人相处的时光，这让刘伟更想听听她的想法。
En: Unlike him, Meiling is always relaxed and carefree, valuing time with friends and family, which makes Liu Wei even more eager to hear her thoughts.

Zh: 中午，刘伟接到了老板的电话。
En: At noon, Liu Wei receives a call from his boss.

Zh: 有一个紧急会议，他必须参加。不然，公司一个重要项目可能出现问题。
En: There's an emergency meeting he must attend; otherwise, an important project at the company might face problems.

Zh: 刘伟犹豫了，该如何选择？
En: Liu Wei hesitates, unsure of what to choose.

Zh: 他许诺要见美玲，而这一次，他不想再逃避个人生活。
En: He promised to meet with Meiling, and this time, he doesn't want to avoid his personal life anymore.

Zh: 经过短暂却激烈的心理斗争，他做出了一个大胆的决定——这一次，他要为了自己而活。
En: After a brief yet intense internal struggle, he makes a bold decision—to live for himself this time.

Zh: 他拨通老板的电话，解释了他无法参加会议的原因。
En: He calls his boss and explains the reason he cannot attend the meeting.

Zh: 他选择去见美玲。
En: He chooses to meet with Meiling.

Zh: 傍晚时，外滩的人群开始多了起来。
En: By evening, the crowds at the Bund begin to grow.

Zh: 刘伟在约定地点见到了美玲。
En: Liu Wei meets Meiling at the agreed location.

Zh: 她依然微笑着，仿佛岁月在她身上没有留下什么痕迹。
En: She is still smiling, as if time has left no mark on her.

Zh: 在夕阳的映衬下，两人并肩走在江边，微风轻抚，美玲侃侃而谈。
En: Under the reflections of the setting sun, the two walk side by side along the river, gently caressed by the breeze, while Meiling talks eloquently.

Zh: “刘伟，你看，人生不只有工作，”美玲轻声说道，“如果没有回忆和笑声，那样的日子多单调。”
En: "Liu Wei, you see, life isn't all about work," Meiling says softly, "If there are no memories and laughter, such days would be dreary."

Zh: 刘伟听着，发现自己似乎忘记了生活中最惬意的一部分。
En: Listening to her, Liu Wei realizes he may have forgotten the most enjoyable part of life.

Zh: 他意识到，或许忙碌的生活可以慢下来，去看看世界，去关心身边的人。
En: He understands that perhaps his busy life can slow down, to explore the world, and to care for the people around him.

Zh: 随着夜幕降临，天边的灯光开始闪烁，外滩显得更加璀璨。
En: As night falls and the lights across the horizon begin to twinkle, the Bund appears even more resplendent.

Zh: 刘伟在心里做出承诺，他要改变，学会平衡。
En: Liu Wei makes a promise in his heart: he will change, he will learn to balance.

Zh: 他要让工作和生活一样重要。
En: He wants to make work and life equally significant.

Zh: 回家的路上，刘伟感受到一种久违的放松。
En: On his way home, Liu Wei feels a long-lost sense of relaxation.

Zh: 他知道，今天和美玲的相聚，给了他启发。
En: He knows that today's meeting with Meiling has inspired him.

Zh: 他开始相信，幸福不只是成功，还有与他人共享的每一分每一秒。
En: He starts to believe that happiness is not just about success but also about sharing every moment with others.

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