Su Nanchen held onto a piece of paper, clutching it for a full ten minutes.
It was a notification of approval for a National Outstanding Young Talent Science Fund project. Orthopedics, spinal surgery direction, research topic: "Repair chanism and Intervention Study of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration." Three-year funding, four million.
He finally got it!
Intervertebral disc degeneration—over one billion people worldwide are troubled by this condition. The current treatnt options are either conservative treatnt or surgical resection, which only address the symptoms but not the root cause. Is there a possibility for the disc to grow back on its own?
Su Nanchen knew this idea sounded nearly absurd. Initially discussing it with Yang Ping, even he felt a lack of confidence. But Yang Ping was silent for a mont and said: go check the literature, give it a try. Which groundbreaking research in this world wasn’t initially considered a joke? Including his own projects.
Thus, Su Nanchen began to check the literature. Three months later, he entered the laboratory.
Three years, over two hundred animal experints, failed sixty-seven tis. Twenty-three papers, rejected fifteen tis. Five patent applications, denied twice. Plus countless nights staying up until dawn, countless tis staring through a microscope doubting whether he was on the wrong path.
Today, this piece of paper finally landed in his hands.
He looked down at the paper, at the bright red seal, at the words, National Outstanding Young Talent Science Fund. The paper was light, yet it weighed like the entirety of these three years.
The door was gently pushed open.
Lin Lan walked in. She was wearing a white gown, her hair casually tied, her pregnancy bump now very obvious, thirty-seven weeks, due next month. She walked slowly, one hand on her waist, the other holding docunts.
"I’ll take you ho for rest early today, from now on you must stay ho for delivery, understood?" Su Nanchen said with concern.
"Well, idle hands do the devil’s work anyways, I’m just looking over data and guiding the doctors." Lin Lan replied casually.
She saw the paper in Su Nanchen’s hand and paused.
"Got it?"
Su Nanchen nodded.
Lin Lan ca over, took the paper, and looked at it for a long ti.
"Congratulations!"
Su Nanchen smiled, gently wrapped his arms around her, avoiding her stomach carefully.
Lin Lan didn’t move, letting him hold her.
After a while, Su Nanchen released her.
"How do you feel today?"
Lin Lan touched her stomach.
"Not bad, just tired, a few steps and my waist aches, this little one has been quite active lately."
Su Nanchen squatted down, placing his ear against her stomach. He listened for a long ti, hearing nothing. He raised his head, looking at Lin Lan with so confusion.
"Why isn’t he moving?"
Lin Lan looked down at him, eyes smiling.
"He’s sleeping, you’re about to beco a dad, you should take so ti to study obstetrics and pediatrics."
Su Nanchen listened for a while longer, then stood up.
"What would you like to eat tonight? I’ll ask Mom to make it."
Lin Lan thought for a mont.
"Mom knows better than what I like to eat."
Now Mrs. Su is dedicated to taking care of Lin Lan full-ti.
Su Nanchen nodded.
Lin Lan turned to leave, suddenly rembered sothing, turned back.
"By the way, Xiao Su called, she’s coming tomorrow and bringing so of her homade pickled vegetables."
"That’s perfect, I have sothing to discuss with her husband too."
"It’s brother-in-law!" Lin Lan corrected with a smile.
Su Nanchen imdiately realized he said it wrong again: "Right, brother-in-law."
It’s clearly brother-in-law, yet Su Nanchen always found it awkward, inadvertently calling him sister-in-law, which felt more natural.
"Pick up at five."
Lin Lan smiled and pushed the door open to leave.
Nine months ago, Su Nanchen and Lin Lan registered for their marriage. No wedding, no banquet, just a photo at the Civil Affairs Bureau, a stamp, then each returned to work. They were both too busy, too busy to even find ti to hold a wedding. She said they’d talk about it when they had ti, he agreed.
Now the baby is almost due, and the wedding still hasn’t happened.
Su Nanchen stood by the window, thinking about these things, feeling a persistent sense of guilt.
He picked up the phone and called Yang Ping.
The phone rang twice and was answered.
"Brother-in-law!"
"Brother-in-law!"
"Oh..."
"I got the Outstanding Young Talent grant."
There was a mont of silence on the other end, then Yang Ping’s voice: "Good, keep going."
The two chatted briefly, then hung up.
At five in the evening, Su Nanchen drove Lin Lan ho.
Their ho was a spacious five-bedroom apartnt near Nandu dical University’s community. He bought it years ago, thinking about having children in the future and wanting a bigger house. Now, the child was truly coming.
Walking in, Lin Lan sat on the sofa, a professional journal spread over her lap, engrossed in reading. She didn’t even notice when he ca in.
Mrs. Su already had the food set on the table.
"Stop reading, let’s eat first." Su Nanchen approached.
Lin Lan lifted her head to glance at him, then continued reading.
"Hold on, I’ll finish this part soon."
Su Nanchen sighed slightly and sat beside her, waiting.
Mrs. Su peered out from the kitchen: "Don’t rush, it’s freshly cooked, staying warm. Let her read for a while, why rush."
Really?
Su Nanchen was chided by Mrs. Su, with no way to explain himself.
After five minutes, Lin Lan finally closed the journal, rubbing her eyes.
"What ti is Xiao Su arriving tomorrow?"
"She said morning," Mrs. Su replied.
Lin Lan nodded, moved to the table, and picked up her chopsticks.
The table was filled with dishes she liked. Her mother-in-law’s cooking skills were always impressive, she loved the food she prepared.
After a few bites, she suddenly said: "I might need to have a C-section next month."
Su Nanchen paused for a mont.
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