## Detailed walkthrough
### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=0s) Meeting, Professions, and Ordering Dinner
The blind date opens with the male date presenting a small corporate gift to the woman. When she asks where it came from, he explains that he works at BAIC (Beijing Automotive Group). Intrigued, he asks if she can guess his companion's profession. Looking at her appearance, he ventures that because she is pretty, she must be in media or finance. She nudges him closer to the truth: she works in self-media and modeling. This prompts a quick comparison of their physical statures; she reveals she stands at 179 centimeters tall, while he stands at 187 centimeters—an exact eight-centimeter height difference. He mentions that while he does not work directly with the modeling scene, his job in corporate auditing at BAIC occasionally involves verifying headcount and numbers when the company hires models for major auto shows. He jokes that his auditing role involves "checking for the boss if anyone is misbehaving," though he lightly downplays it as keeping an eye on pocket change that does not impact the broader corporate picture.
Turning their attention to dinner, they review the menu with the server. Their order quickly comes together: smoked ribs, beef short ribs, wagyu short ribs, pig ears tossed in black pepper sauce, tempura, lemongrass with sea fragrance, and soup—settling on a classic spread of four dishes and two soups. As they wait, they exchange backgrounds and discover they are both from Northeast China. She is originally from Shenyang, while he hails from Harbin. A brief, playful debate sparks over his accent; she wonders why someone from Harbin sounds the way he does, while he defends his cadence as standard speech shaped by living in Beijing.
[03:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=180s) Skiing, Chopsticks, and the Age Guessing Game
The conversation shifts to how they spent their time before dinner. It turns out she spent her day off skiing, though she clarifies she does not engage in "park" skiing—the trick-heavy, high-flying style involving terrain jumps—because she considers it far too dangerous, even though she enjoys an active lifestyle. He enthusiastically agrees on enjoying sports, though he jokingly lists singing, dancing, and playing mahjong as his athletic pursuits. As the tableware arrives, she notices the table has been laid with two pairs of chopsticks for each person. He explains that having two sets allows them to sample each other's dishes cleanly before proposing a toast: "Nice to meet you, please be kind."
```mermaid
flowchart TD
accTitle: Comparison of Date Backgrounds
accDescr: A structural breakdown comparing the backgrounds, lifestyles, and dating histories of the man and woman.
subgraph GuyProfile ["Male Date (Harbin / BAIC)"]
G1["Auditor at BAIC (187 cm)"]
G2["Cancer Zodiac / Homebody"]
G3["Short relationships (~6 months)"]
G4["Cold silence when upset; zero female friends"]
end
subgraph GirlProfile ["Female Date (Shenyang / Freelance)"]
W1["Model & Self-Media (179 cm)"]
W2["Freelancer / Never had a 9-to-5"]
W3["Single 2+ years after 5-year relationship"]
W4["Values shared hobbies & good temperament"]
end
GuyProfile <-->|"Blind Date Dynamic"| GirlProfile
```
The playful mood hits a sudden bump when the subject turns to age. She asks him to guess how old she is, coaxing him to "say something nice." He blunders by guessing she was born in 1986. Shocked and mock-offended, she playfully prepares to walk away, demanding to know if she truly looks that old. She points out that even people born in 1990 and 1995 feel the pressure of aging in today's environment. When he tries to correct course by guessing around 1990, she reveals that they are actually the exact same age. He compliments her youthful maintenance, while she casually replies that looking young comes naturally to her without needing elaborate routines. Hearing that she is a freelancer who has never held a standard nine-to-five corporate job, the corporate-bound auditor expresses genuine shock, noting that nobody in his social circle lives like that and remarking that they seem to come from two completely different worlds.
[06:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=372s) Dating Histories, Big City Pace, and Past Relationships
The dialogue turns to their romantic pasts and the reasons they remain single. She shares that she has been single for more than two years. In contrast, the man reveals that since entering the workforce, his relationships have tended to be short-lived, typically burning out after roughly six months. Pressed on why this happens, he explains that work pressure, constant business trips, a fast-paced metropolitan schedule, and an ungrounded personal mental state kept him from knowing what he truly wanted. In his view, when one's own state of mind is disordered, finding a compatible partner feels impossible because every difference demands exhausting compromise, and relationships frequently collapse before compromises can even take root.
She playfully teases him that his explanation makes it sound like everything was solely his fault. He denies being a player or heartbreaker, chalking it up to the rapid turnover and fast tempo of big-city living. Both confirm that they enter dating strictly with marriage as the end goal: "Because if I don't see a future between two people, there's nothing to talk about." She reflects on her most significant past relationship—a five-year partnership that she entered fully expecting to lead to marriage, only to have it end because her ex-partner ultimately was not ready to make the marital leap. Hearing that her past relationships have typically lasted at least two years, he admits that such sustained stability is something he genuinely envies, even if her previous union did not work out.
[09:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=549s) Personalities, Domestic Habits, and Hobbies
Moving past their exes, the woman asks about his zodiac sign. He reveals he is a Cancer, which immediately leads into the archetype of the domestic homebody. He readily embraces the label, explaining that he is exceptionally neat, genuinely loves cleaning his living space in his spare time, and finds great satisfaction in making everything spotless. Beyond cleaning, he can cook and handle laundry, though he admits he has not raised children yet.
- Zodiac & Living Habits: Cancer; domestic, keeps a very clean home, cooks, and does laundry.
- Childhood Arts: Studied drawing as a child, hoping to sketch anime figures like *Dragon Ball* or *Doraemon*, but dropped it completely when instructors forced him to sketch geometric cubes, cylinders, and still lifes.
- Solitary Routine: Does not play musical instruments, does not watch movies on his own, and admits he increasingly lives like an isolated loner.
- Ideal Partner Criteria: She looks for someone talkative, interesting, and emotionally stable with shared hobbies like watching movies or sports; he prefers someone with an even temperament who avoids explosive mood swings.
[12:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=726s) Conflict Styles, Silent Treatment, and Deal-Breakers
When the woman notes that she cannot stand explosive tempers, the conversation delves into how each handles negative emotions. The man admits that while he does not throw loud, theatrical tantrums, he relies heavily on the silent treatment. When he is in a bad mood, he communicates bluntly: "I'm not happy today, don't talk to me." He gives a clear heads-up warning—"I'm really not in a good mood right now, don't mess with me"—and warns that if someone continues to provoke or pester him during that window, an outright war could break out. To decompress, he prefers total solitude to process his thoughts alone, remarking that unless someone can comfort him exceptionally well, clumsy attempts at consoling him only backfire. She accepts this quirk with humor, conceding that having a bit of a temper is manageable.
The conversation concludes with their relationship deal-breakers and interpersonal boundaries. When asked what he cannot tolerate most in a woman, the man points directly to "constant little deceits" and small lies, which cause him intense anxiety and irritation. On other fronts, he considers himself remarkably laid-back; he has no issue with a girlfriend hanging out with other men or socializing with friends, provided she remains entirely transparent without resorting to so-called white lies. Conversely, he reveals that he has virtually no female friends of his own, joking that when women do ask to hang out, they usually just want to use him as a free driver. He describes his interactions with women as strictly goal-oriented: if he is interested in dating someone, he will invest the energy to pursue and understand her; otherwise, he will not bother initiating contact at all. While he maintains a large circle of male friends, he treats romantic prospects with strict, focused intentionality.
[16:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=961s) Direct Critiques, Mismatched Locations, and a Snowy Parting
The conversation opens mid-date with a candid request for feedback: "Tell me what you think of me." Urged not to be too tactful or reserved, the date offers an honest appraisal, noting that while she is undeniably attractive, her demeanor gives off an intimidating vibe: "Regarding temperament, I feel you might be a bit fierce." She playfully pushes back, questioning whether possessing a strong presence automatically equates to being fierce, though she readily concedes having a temper that has mellowed with age. The banter shifts into a debate over wit and connection, with the date teasing her about "talking nonsense with a straight face" while asserting his own charm. He audaciously suggests she should not pass up fate—positioning himself as that very destiny—arguing that every encounter carries meaning.
When probed on whether she is easy to get along with, she frankly admits to having clear personal boundaries, moods, and high standards, dispelling any notion that she hits it off effortlessly with just anyone. The playful sparring abruptly hits a practical wall over geography. When she confirms she currently resides in Shanghai, the date admits he cannot accept a long-distance arrangement: "I can't accept that, Yi-Li." Reaching an immediate, mutual consensus that their lives do not align, they shake hands cordially, wish each other well over dinner, and part into the freezing night as fresh snow begins to fall outside.
[18:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=1128s) Meeting Wang Gaoxing: The Automotive Host with an American Passport
Shiwen meets her next blind date, who introduces himself with a memorable name: Wang Gaoxing ("Happy Wang"). Removing his coat, he insists it is his genuine birth name, explaining with a grin that his parents picked it quite casually, carrying straightforward wishes for his happiness. His voice sounds strained and gravelly; he explains he has been talking nonstop for over three hours across the past two days working as a new-media automotive host. While Shiwen hails from Shenyang in the Northeast, Wang Gaoxing describes himself as a pure Beijing native who went abroad in seventh grade. He spent his formative middle school years in Washington, D.C., moved to Atlanta, settled in Ohio, and worked professionally in Cincinnati for two years. He clarifies his legal status as an American-born Chinese holding a U.S. passport, currently living in China on a specialized work visa.
Over a dinner of Shenyang-style barbecue, ribs, and beef, their lifestyle differences quickly surface around food and drink. Wang Gaoxing mentions that while he enjoys watching others drink, he never touches alcohol himself, claiming that even the scent turns his stomach. When asked if this teetotal stance stems from wellness habits, he scoffs at health nuts with dark humor: "I don't focus on health. Because people who do live forever. Just look at those health gurus. They're all gone in their fifties." To balance the meat, they order a weight-loss salad, settling in to trade deeper personal questions.
[22:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=1321s) A Ceremony Without a Marriage License, and the 1.79m Height Debate
Urging Shiwen to drop her polite reservations and eat, Wang Gaoxing openly admits his attraction—"I really like this girl"—before inviting her to guess his age. He clarifies upfront that he has never been legally married and has no children, though he came astonishingly close in a relationship he terms a "total disaster." He recounts an agonizing backstory: he and his ex-partner had known each other for six years, went through the entire routine of taking formal wedding photos, held the banquet, and stood through the ceremonial wedding itself. Yet, they never legally registered the marriage at the civil affairs bureau. Deeming him too young, immature, and unreliable at the time, she ultimately left him for another man. The revelation sparks a shared exchange about toxic relationships and volatile arguments, touching on partners who would smash household items and physically kick things during fights.
```mermaid
flowchart TD
accTitle: Wang Gaoxing's Unregistered Wedding Breakdown
accDescr: Flowchart illustrating the sequence of events in Wang Gaoxing's past relationship leading to its collapse.
subgraph Ceremony["Wedding Rituals Completed"]
A["6-Year Relationship"] --> B["Formal Wedding Photos Taken"]
B --> C["Wedding Banquet & Ceremony Held"]
end
subgraph Failure["The Critical Omission & Split"]
C --> D{"Legal Marriage License"}
D -- "Never Registered" --> E["Partner Deemed Him Immature"]
E --> F["Partner Left for Another Man"]
end
```
The conversation then turns to the visible physical dynamic between them. Wang Gaoxing nervously sizes up her height, asking if she stands over 1.80 meters. Shiwen clarifies that she is 1.79 meters tall, prompting a self-conscious confession from Wang that he stands just shy of 1.80 meters himself. He remarks that a man at 1.80 meters somehow always appears shorter than a woman of the same stature, comparing her stature to foreign Victoria's Secret runway models. He wonders aloud whether her height poses a barrier in the dating world, expecting that she must demand a partner measuring 1.85 or 1.90 meters. Shiwen dismisses the stereotype, assuring him she is completely comfortable dating someone her own height or even slightly shorter.
[25:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=1512s) Shanghai Roots, Fear of Solitude, and an 80% Divorce Rate
Noticing that Shiwen lacks any trace of a northeastern regional accent, Wang Gaoxing asks how her Mandarin sounds so polished. She explains that she attended university in Shanghai, worked there for two years after graduation, spent a stint in Beijing, and relocated back to Shanghai the previous August, only staying in Beijing for two more days after their dinner. Wang admits that in his youth, high-fashion models always felt like an unreachable, untouchable class of people meant to be admired strictly from afar.
Steering the conversation toward marriage, Shiwen asks whether he envisions walking down the aisle again or is casually dating someone with matrimonial plans. Wang admits he has a girlfriend but the relationship has not matured to that stage, though he fundamentally believes in marriage out of a deep existential dread: "You can't just grow old alone. Die alone in solitude. Lying in bed at the end with no one by your side." Shiwen counters that in megacities of 30 million people like Beijing and Shanghai, finding someone truly compatible is exceptionally rare, pressing him on whether he seeks someone merely "suitable" or someone he genuinely "likes."
Wang Gaoxing reflects on the fragility of modern romance, observing that while couples promise forever at the altar, long-term cohabitation invariably reveals unavoidable flaws once the honeymoon phase fades. He shares sobering statistics from his personal social circle:
- 80% of his close friends are divorced.
- Of that divorced group, 75% broke up over everyday incompatibilities rather than third-party infidelity.
- Despite living abroad for years, his family remains deeply rooted in traditional values, preaching that a childless, unmarried life represents an incomplete existence and the end of the ancestral lineage.
- Shiwen directly challenges this mindset, asking if marrying under such familial anxiety is merely "getting married for the sake of getting married," a point Wang concedes he has not fully resolved.
[28:53](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=1733s) Car Exterior Metaphors and a Shandong Father's Code
Returning to the guessing game regarding his age, Wang Gaoxing reveals that far from merely being in his late thirties, he is already past forty, surprised that Shiwen assumed he was much younger. When she asks what core qualities he seeks in a woman, he emphasizes visual chemistry and instinctive connection—"first impressions" and an immediate feeling of comfort: "A feeling of being attracted at first sight... That connection. A girl who makes me feel comfortable when I look at her." He draws an automotive parallel to justify caring about physical attraction first: if a car's exterior styling fails to captivate a prospective buyer, no one is going to wait around for the owner to unlock the door and show off the interior; they will simply walk away.
Regarding the collapse of his past romances, Wang Gaoxing notes that he tends to split up when a partner resists taking the traditional, natural step toward marriage once things are going well. To gauge his temperament, Shiwen asks directly whether he ever turns violent during heated arguments. Wang Gaoxing adamantly denies ever raising a hand against a partner. He traces this restraint back to a lifelong lesson imparted by his father, sharing the strict moral code expected of a Shandong man: first and foremost, women are meant to be cherished, respected, and protected at all costs.
[30:54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=1854s) A Candid Blind Date: Upbringing, Height, and Practical Standards
The conversation opens on personal values and family discipline, with the male date recounting the strict moral boundary instilled by his father: "Gaoxing, if I ever find out you hit a woman, our father-son relationship is over." Carrying that rule throughout his life, he has never laid a finger on a woman, though he admits to carrying a typical "Shandong personality." He is quick to clarify that while Shandong men are frequently stereotyped as chauvinistic, he does not view himself that way. Rather, when he truly loves someone, he is willing to tolerate nearly anything. His personal baseline, however, centers on marriage and parenthood. While he holds no prejudice against women who already have children and genuinely likes kids, he feels strongly that because he has never been married, any child he raises ought to be his own, expressing skepticism about the emotional complications of blending families.
```mermaid
flowchart TD
accTitle: Blind Date Dynamic and Mutual Evaluation
accDescr: Diagram illustrating the flow of conversation from personal backgrounds to practical lifestyle criteria.
subgraph Background ["Personal Baseline"]
A["Family Principle:<br/>Strict anti-violence rule"]
B["Shandong Temperament:<br/>High tolerance in love vs. biological children boundary"]
end
subgraph Impressions ["First Impressions & Dynamic"]
C["Visual Appeal:<br/>Warm smile, 1.8m height, distinctive outfit collar"]
D["Social Rhythm:<br/>Abstaining from alcohol, cautious attitudes"]
end
subgraph Practicalities ["Practical Criteria"]
E["Physical & Financial:<br/>Height match, visual comfort, baseline security"]
F["Daily Living:<br/>No car interest/carsickness, mother-in-law dynamic"]
end
Background --> Impressions
Impressions --> Practicalities
```
When asked for his impression of his date, he warmly shares how her initial greeting disarmed him. Remarking on her stature, he notes that she is easily 1.8 meters tall and that "among girls who are 1.8 meters tall, you have the best smile." A lighthearted moment of banter ensues over her clothing design, as he quizzically points to two decorative collar tabs that button up, wondering if they look peculiar. Noticing that neither of them is drinking alcohol, the conversation shifts to past relationships. Learning she has never been married and has no children, he playfully wonders why she appears so guarded, adding that a woman like her must surely have pursuers "unless all those men are blind."
As they wrap up their meal, the woman explains that her caution stems from wanting to find a long-term partner for life, prompting a breakdown of mutual criteria. Beyond height and visual comfort, she emphasizes financial reality, noting that basic material stability is essential because "you can't just have the other person go hungry." When discussing lifestyle details like cars and housing, both find common ground in their disinterest in driving; she shares that she gets carsick and cares nothing for automobiles, prompting him to remark, "Just like my mom." The discussion touches on family dynamics, including whether she could get along with a mother-in-law, which she sensibly notes depends entirely on the mother's character. Outside in the cold, their height difference becomes visually prominent again—even on tiptoes, she is half a head taller, prompting him to joke that he looks like her personal bodyguard. Braving the chill without a jacket to "look cool," he parts ways with her as she plans her return to Shanghai, leaving an open invitation to reconnect in Beijing.
- **Father's Non-Negotiable Rule:** Immediate termination of the father-son bond if he ever struck a woman.
- **Physical Trait:** The female date stands 1.8 meters tall, visibly towering over him even when he stands on his toes.
- **Shared Lifestyle Quirk:** Neither drives; the female date suffers from carsickness, an aversion identical to the man's mother.
[37:22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=2242s) Interpersonal Trust, Mind-Reading, and the Philosophy of Letting Children Fall
The dialogue pivots to deeper reflections on human nature, betrayal, and social connections. One speaker laments that treating people with sincerity often yields cold betrayal, observing that while art is transparent and comprehensible, human beings remain profoundly difficult to read. When questioned whether learning interpersonal techniques might help navigate these dilemmas, the speaker dismisses the utility of such manipulation, asserting that mind-reading would be the most tedious superpower imaginable. Knowing another person's inner calculations changes nothing; the only thing of genuine worth is authentic resonance, where two people organically find themselves aligned without contrived tricks or illusions.
This prompts an inquiry into whether one should maintain constant vigilance toward others. The speaker counters with a paradoxical view: trusting strangers is actually hardwired into human DNA. Because humanity evolved as social animals dependent on mutual cooperation for survival and species propagation, trust is foundational rather than anomalous. Shifting to fatherhood, the speaker explains that he avoids imposing his own guardedness or coping mechanisms onto his daughter, believing she must carve out her own lived experiences:
> "I think what I can do for her is to follow and protect her silently—that is, to protect her while keeping a respectful distance, to watch over her while maintaining that distance. As long as she knows that in any situation, I am here to help and love her unconditionally, that is enough. But she still has to take her own falls."
Even when aware that she will likely be deceived, he accepts that deception can be an indispensable part of growing up. Reflecting on his early parenting ideals, he recalls once envisioning an all-encompassing homeschool curriculum where he would personally teach her math, physics, chemistry, languages, astronomy, geography, and history through college without any tutoring classes. Over time, he recognized that parents have only about a decade of close companionship before a child needs to actively break away from parental smothering. The segment concludes with an observation about another individual's temperament: her outright rejection of people because she finds social pleasantries grating. While unconventional and costly in daily affairs, such uncompromising refusal to endure unpleasant company is acknowledged as an authentic, admirable core of her identity.
[41:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=2496s) Airborne Allergens, Antique Books, and Childhood Traces
The conversation moves to practical everyday matters, beginning with a discussion of Beijing's seasonal atmosphere and vehicular air purification. One speaker clarifies a common misconception about spring hay fever, pointing out that in March, blooming flowers are not the culprit since Beijing's flora has barely awakened. Instead, early spring irritants consist primarily of willow catkins and wind-pollinated vegetation. A car's advanced air filtration system is highlighted for its ability to screen out both PM 2.5 particulate matter and these ambient plant fibers, providing an interior cabin environment as safe and clean as a private home.
The focus then turns to the tactile charm of antique book collecting. Browsing through vintage volumes, the speakers admire the unique physical history preserved in each copy. Unlike mass-market prints, authentic antique volumes carry distinct provenance:
- Original collectors' hand-written signatures and personal ownership stamps.
- Dedication notes passed between friends bearing distinct dates and consecutive years.
- Physical artifacts verified to predate 1887 based on internal inscriptions and paper aging.
Lifting one particular volume, they delight in seeing how a child decades or over a century ago treated the original monochrome plates like a personal coloring book, meticulously filling in the black-and-white drawings by hand and playfully sketching in a tiny pimple. This intimate intersection of history and innocent expression leads into a participant's motivation for appearing on the broadcast: being inspired by watching a gifted child demonstrate their skills on television during a competitive showcase.
[43:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=2609s) The Flawed Philosophy of Competitive Memorization
Reflecting on what initially sparked his skepticism toward competitive memory contests, the speaker recalls watching a televised match where a young Chinese boy was pitted against a European peer in a high-stakes memory showdown. The challenge required the competitors to memorize 100 pairs of brides and grooms. Looking at the setup, the speaker immediately recognized a fundamental shortcut: because the grooms wore black and the brides wore white, the entire board could be reduced to simple binary code of zeros and ones. Yet the human toll on stage was devastating. Right before the final scores were revealed, the young Chinese boy broke down in tears. His father reacted harshly, standing up in front of the audience to scold him. When the official tally was announced, the boy had actually won. The show's host, Teacher Jiang Changjian, asked the victorious child what prize or reward he wanted most, and the boy replied with heartbreaking simplicity: "I want one day off."
The emotional weight of that answer was compounded when the broadcast cut to the boy's promotional VCR. His daily routine was an unending grind of rigorous training: advanced mathematics, rote mnemonic systems, and Rubik's cube speed-solving crammed into every waking hour. Standing side-by-side, both boys were roughly ten years old, but their physical and mental demeanor could not have been more polarized. When the European boy was asked what his normal routine looked like, he cheerfully responded, "Just play soccer." He appeared vibrant, sun-kissed, and athletic, whereas the Chinese prodigy had already developed a sedentary belly and wore thick glasses. Witnessing that stark contrast provoked a visceral reaction in the speaker, convincing him that this hyper-optimized, high-pressure approach to child education was fundamentally misguided.
[44:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=2682s) From Eggs to Sesame Seeds: Eastern Focus and Micro-Observation
The boy’s father eventually undertook an on-stage challenge of his own: distinguishing identical-looking hen eggs. Watching this, the speaker found himself questioning the premise. To him, natural objects are inherently distinct; he opened his refrigerator at home, inspected the eggs inside, and found that no two were alike. Seeking something genuinely difficult, he checked soybeans, but their surfaces and shapes also varied noticeably. Remembering the traditional Chinese proverb that "nothing is smaller than a sesame seed," he grabbed a handful of raw sesame seeds. Upon closer inspection, he realized that not only is every single seed unique, but every subtle facet and angle of an individual seed possesses its own distinct landscape. Convinced that distinguishing such items was far less about physiological giftedness than people assumed, he decided to demonstrate the concept publicly.
```mermaid
flowchart TD
accTitle: The Eastern Philosophy of Focus and Perception
accDescr: Diagram illustrating how internal mental stillness magnifies small objects and stretches perceptual time.
subgraph MentalState["Mental Preparation"]
A["Eliminate Distractions<br/>(Inner Stillness)"] --> B["Intense Focus<br/>(Concentration)"]
end
subgraph PerceptualShift["Perceptual Transformation"]
B --> C["Spatial Expansion<br/>(Magnifies sesame seed to quail egg)"]
B --> D["Temporal Dilation<br/>(10 seconds feels like 30+ seconds)"]
end
subgraph ObservationResult["Observation Outcome"]
C --> E["Discerning Unique Details<br/>in Ordinary Objects"]
D --> E
end
```
The underlying lesson he wanted to share is rooted in traditional Eastern philosophy: the ability to observe fine details has nothing to do with physical 20/20 eyesight. Instead, true observation relies on total mental stillness—emptying the mind of clutter so that one can "see the small as if it were large." Rather than training the optic nerve, repetitive practice cultivates laser-like concentration. When deep focus takes hold, the observer's subjective reality shifts:
- A tiny sesame seed can mentally swell to the scale of a pigeon egg or quail egg.
- The perception of time bends: an objective span of ten seconds can subjectively stretch into twenty, thirty, or more seconds of detailed scanning.
- Time perception remains entirely relative: glancing at a phone while waiting makes an hour evaporate unnoticed, whereas staring idly into the distance waiting for the No. 13 bus makes minutes feel like an eternity.
- Mundane, everyday items contain infinite aesthetic depth if one learns to look without preconceptions.
[46:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=2800s) The Mechanics of Memory, Alzheimer's, and the Art of Forgetting
Turning to the cognitive machinery of memory, the discussion shifts from storage capacity to retrieval pathways. Memory systems rely on encoding techniques, visual cues, and associations, but the fundamental bottleneck is rarely whether information is stored—it is whether it can be accessed without being overwritten by newer data. This distinction between "storing" and "retrieving" has taken on a poignant, painful relevance in the speaker's personal life due to his father's battle with Alzheimer's disease. Having previously watched Anthony Hopkins in the film *The Father*, the speaker only truly grasped the movie's portrayal of stripped dignity once he saw his own father endure the condition. While early childhood recollections remain sharp and intact, recent memories vanish behind a locked door, leaving him constantly searching for ways to rebuild retrieval bridges for his father.
Addressing his own cognitive habits, the speaker explains that as a child, his mind involuntarily recorded and replayed every visual detail of his day before he fell asleep. Because this automatic replay caused immense fatigue, he learned to gain control using lucid dreaming, treating his subconscious like a cluttered room:
- He organized his mind into categorized storage cabinets marked with numbers, icons, and spatial anchors.
- He learned to fold, invert, and rearrange these mental spaces to keep the clutter from overwhelming him.
- Over time, he discovered that deliberate forgetting is far more profound than hyper-retention: "Compared to remembering, forgetting is the true wisdom."
- By allowing trivial details to wash away naturally, whatever remains permanently engraved in the mind reveals what is genuinely significant.
[49:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=2970s) Gardening, Multiple Personas, and Internal Council
When asked about his daily self-reflection, the speaker describes a vivid habit of splitting his consciousness into multiple internal personas. This dialogue happens most naturally during his daily gardening and routine chores. While washing up, repotting, or pruning, he keeps an audiobook running or hosts an internal conference where distinct versions of himself handle different tasks—one holding the pot, another watering, and another trimming branches. These internal personas constantly debate spatial arrangements and dissect personal dilemmas through the lens of ordinary occurrences.
For instance, if a pet fish in his pond dies, the personas convene to analyze the underlying cause and extrapolate it to human affairs. He might realize that an interpersonal friction yesterday stemmed from the exact same flaw that killed the fish: overlooking a minor environmental detail or failing to take a subtle warning seriously. These internal council meetings allow him to inspect his life from multiple vantage points—viewing situations from another person’s perspective, an elevated standpoint, or the lens of the distant past or future. This radical self-examination leads to a posture where there is virtually nothing he cannot understand or accept. When it comes to action, he admits to occasional procrastination, but frames it as an intentional buffer: moving slowly allows him to isolate variables. When building a wall that fails, he will never attempt to fix all ten potential defects simultaneously; he addresses them one by one to determine the exact root of the failure.
[52:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=3135s) Imagining the Past vs. Future: From '2001' to Angiosperm Evolution
Walking through his living space, the speaker points out his private home gallery, which prominently features posters from Stanley Kubrick's *2001: A Space Odyssey*. Although he feels relatively detached from typical science fiction, he preserves the 1968 artwork out of sheer awe for humanity's capacity in that era to envision a distant future. By contrast, his own imagination gravitates almost exclusively backward in time:
- He rarely spends time daydreaming about what lies ahead, but remains voraciously curious about historical realities.
- He views recorded history with healthy skepticism, noting that written narratives may not accurately represent what truly occurred.
When asked about the ultimate nature of the cosmos, he remarks that the universe is in a perpetual state of flux, destined eventually to collapse or explode—a reality so vast that he prefers focusing on the intermediate wonders closer to home. Chief among these wonders is the sheer accidental miracle of biological life. He points to plant evolution as a prime example: gymnosperms (non-flowering, seed-producing plants) had already achieved evolutionary perfection millions of years ago, relying entirely on wind pollination without needing to produce sweet fruit or charm animals. Yet unexpectedly, angiosperms (flowering plants) burst onto the scene. Nature suddenly sprouted like a massive, dynamic tree, radiating into an explosion of blooms, complex fruit, and intricate insect partnerships, transforming the planet into a lush and interconnected biological tapestry.
[54:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=3246s) Mass Extinctions, Earth's Resilience, and Perceptions of Wang Yuheng
Reflecting on the scale of deep time and planetary survival, the conversation opens with the fate of dinosaurs, who once stood as the mightiest creatures on Earth without ever anticipating an asteroid collision that would trigger their sudden wipeout. Earth has already weathered five mass extinction events, with the most severe annihilating upwards of 90% of all living species. Yet across geological epochs, the Earth behaves like a resilient "roly-poly toy" (tumbler)—no matter how violent the upheaval, it wobbles back upright, capable of shaking off anything living on its surface, including humankind. Citing visionary animator Hayao Miyazaki (宫崎骏), the dialogue underscores the humbling realization that "this Earth actually just needs life," with the unspoken corollary being that whether humanity survives or disappears is ultimately immaterial to the planet itself.
Host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) then reflects on his personal impression of interviewing Wang Yuheng (王昱珩, famously known as "Water Bro" / 水哥). Rather than seeing him merely as an eccentric or bizarre outcast, Tsai recognizes him as a truly singular individual. While Wang's legendary perceptual ability—capable of scrutinizing and identifying an individual grain of barley under sheer visual magnification—remains awe-inspiring, Wang himself is remarkably detached about it, noting that even if he permanently lost this hyper-perceptual gift tomorrow, "it wouldn't matter." What struck Tsai even more deeply was Wang’s hospitable demeanor. Wang openly admits to being an extreme introvert who intensely dislikes external interference, feeling instantly annoyed if an uninvited person sits in on a conversation. Tsai half-expected to be treated as an unwelcome "annoyance" or an intrusive "other," yet Wang received the production team with the impeccable manners of a gracious host.
When Tsai questions Wang directly about his cognitive profile, asking whether he has ever undergone formal intelligence testing and whether his scores were shockingly high, Wang dismisses the premise with calm pragmatism. He explains that IQ tests are inherently flawed because "you just get higher scores the more you take those tests," making practice, rather than innate genius, the decisive factor. To Wang, raw IQ is fundamentally unimportant and certainly does not dictate a person's life trajectory. When pressed on the elusive nature of "wisdom," Wang thoughtfully remarks that wisdom is an intrinsic quality that "you can't force." Tsai observes that Wang lives as a genuinely unique soul who does not view himself as exceptional, suggesting that casual conversation might help Wang unearth facets of his own psyche that he has yet to consciously recognize.
- Five mass extinction events have shaken Earth, at times wiping out up to 90% of species.
- Wang Yuheng views his miraculous micro-observation abilities as disposable, stating he would feel entirely unbothered if they vanished.
- Wang scores exceptionally well on IQ tests but considers the metric trivial, believing true wisdom cannot be forced or reduced to test-taking acumen.
---
[56:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=3410s) The Prehistoric Menagerie: Fossils, Dioramas, and God's-Eye Tetris
Entering Wang Yuheng's living space is akin to stepping into a natural history archive, dominated by an imposing 1:1 scale Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton model. When asked whether he personally 3D-modeled the carnivore and commissioned a specialized factory to manufacture it, Wang clarifies that his original ambition was to construct an epic confrontation diorama between a T-Rex and a Triceratops. Having admired an exhibition by renowned paleoartist Zhao Chuang (赵闯), Wang initially approached him hoping to obtain anatomical measurements and reference data. Fortunately, Zhao Chuang happened to have a decommissioned, retired dinosaur skeleton model in storage, which Wang eagerly transported home, reassembled, and customized with his own hands.
The conversation naturally shifts toward Wang's extensive fossil collection and the speculative nature of paleontology. Tsai wonders aloud whether modern scientific reconstructions of dinosaurs based purely on petrified skeletons are genuinely accurate. Wang admits he cannot know for certain—a mystery that makes him yearn to travel back through time—though he takes pride in pointing out that several living botanical specimens thriving on his upper balcony are direct descendant lineages of ancient flora from the dinosaur era. As Tsai mentions his recent fascination with sea scorpions (eurypterids), Wang proudly reveals an authentic specimen right in the room, alongside an astonishing assortment of relics: a 1:1 scale dolphin skeleton, a museum-replicated dodo bird skeleton housing an authentic fossil element, an articulated woodpecker mounted in its natural perching stance, and a massive fossilized mammoth foot. Wang casts a discerning collector's eye on the mammoth foot, confessing his skepticism: despite the dealer's insistence that it was excavated intact as a single anatomical unit, Wang notes the uneven skeletal wear patterns suggest otherwise.
Wang's meticulous craftsmanship extends directly to the interior architecture of the room, including floor-to-ceiling custom display cabinetry. He reveals that every single cabinet was fabricated by hand. If one were to view the room layout from a detached "god's-eye view" straight down from the ceiling, the custom cabinetry interlocks seamlessly like falling blocks in the classic arcade game *Tetris*. Wang explains that he routinely detaches from his physical body to visualize spaces and objects from an elevated, disembodied perspective. This psychological detachment prompts Tsai to wonder whether Wang spiritually or neurologically belongs to an entirely separate "tribe"—a clan defined not by ancestral bloodlines, but by a shared cognitive architecture—leaving Tsai curious whether Wang has ever encountered another soul of his own kind, or whether he exists in absolute solitude.
```mermaid
flowchart TD
accTitle: Wang Yuheng Prehistoric Artifact and Cabinetry Layout
accDescr: Flowchart illustrating the curation of Wang Yuheng's home collection, spanning dinosaur reconstructions, fossil curation, and Tetris-style architecture.
subgraph Design ["Spatial & Structural Philosophy"]
G["God's-Eye Perspective"] --> H["Tetris-Style Interlocking Cabinets"]
I["Living Paleobotany"] --> J["Ancient Plant Species on Balcony"]
H --> K["Harmonious Living Studio"]
J --> K
end
```
---
[59:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=3569s) Joining 'Super Brain' and the Reluctant Polymath
Following a program sponsorship break highlighting the Scandinavian luxury flagship sedan Volvo S90 and Norwegian natural artesian water VOSS, Kevin Tsai sits down face-to-face with Wang Yuheng. The two warmly reminisce about their previous encounter at Beijing’s 798 Art Zone convention. Tsai explores the backstory of Wang's meteoric public rise on Jiangsu Satellite TV's competitive talent show *Super Brain* (《最强大脑》), where his uncanny observational genius made him a household sensation. Tsai asks whether Wang had any inkling before the broadcast that his abilities were so profoundly abnormal that they would trigger widespread national fascination.
Wang frankly replies that he had no such awareness. Within his private circles of friends and hobbyists, people recognized that he was exceptionally capable across diverse domains, occasionally half-jokingly dubbing him a "net-talent" or jack-of-all-trades because he seemed to possess practical know-how on virtually any topic. However, Wang dispels the myth that television producers sought him out as a prodigy or that his background as a former top academic achiever paved his way onto the screen. Instead, his participation was sparked entirely by random chance while conducting independent paleontology research online. An IQ-style logic test popped up on his screen; upon completing it, an automated registration prompt appeared for the television competition.
Curious, Wang reviewed the challenge items featured in previous episodes of *Super Brain*. He realized that in nearly every episode, there were challenges he could solve effortlessly. Viewing the show’s puzzles as light entertainment, Wang drafted a comprehensive breakdown analyzing the mechanics of each stunt and explaining how they could be logically deconstructed and executed, casually submitting his notes to the casting team without expecting much. The production crew was stunned, calling him back in disbelief to ask whether one individual could legitimately pull off all those feats. When Tsai points out that in Western cultural terminology, Wang fits the archetype of a classical "polymath" (a Renaissance universalist), Wang instantly deflects the label with humility. He insists he is far from an "expert" in any academic field—he is simply a man who has designed a home where he is free to tinker, raise fish, cultivate rare flora, breed birds, and experiment without interference.
---
[01:02:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=3728s) Crafting a Living Sanctuary: The Narnia Wardrobe, Curved Walls, and the Leaking Banyan
Wang guides Tsai through the architectural wonders of his home, pointing out a wardrobe inspired by C.S. Lewis’s *The Chronicles of Narnia*, a story that deeply moved him in his youth with the romantic notion of a wardrobe serving as a portal into a parallel universe. Passing through the structures, Wang reveals a two-story slide allowing quick descent from above, alongside an intimate reading nook tucked neatly beneath the staircase. Evoking his childhood memories of playing inside concrete stormwater pipes, Wang sculpted this reading alcove into a curved cylinder where he can lie back and read, with the ceiling clearance measured precisely to the exact height of his head, engineered so anyone nestled inside remains visible from the outer hallway.
The defining architectural characteristic of the residence is the complete absence of right angles. Rejecting standard residential construction, Wang personally hand-sculpted the undulating plaster walls and domed ceilings, explaining that conventional construction workers instinctively default to rigid 90-degree corners and throw up their hands when tasked with joining three converging curved surfaces. By eliminating harsh perpendicular corners, the borders of the rooms recede into smooth, infinite contours. In a nearby corridor, Wang created a disorienting mirror hall. While visitors standing inside perceive an infinite labyrinth of reflections, Wang engineered the entire optical illusion using only two precisely positioned mirrors.
The crowning engineering marvel of the home is its indoor biological climate-control system, born out of a stubborn structural failure. For three agonizing years, water persistently leaked through the house, defying every conventional waterproofing sealant Wang applied. Embracing the flaw instead of fighting it, Wang redesigned the drainage to channel all interior runoff directly into a single catchment basin. He elevated the base with bricks, layered coarse ceramic pottery shards for drainage, topped it with nutrient-rich soil, and planted a massive indoor banyan tree (榕树) right in the center, integrating its trunk into the overhead treehouse structure.
The soil operates as an organic hygrometer: the moment it darkens, Wang knows barometric moisture has shifted and it is raining outside, allowing the tree to regulate humidity for the entire residence. The banyan itself has a colorful history: Wang rescued it from a corporate acquaintance in Tianjin. The tropical tree could not survive harsh northern outdoor winters and had grown so massive that the company had to erect an enclosed structure around it, turning the specimen into an expensive corporate liability. Wang offered to take it off their hands, and the relieved owners gladly shipped it to him. Taking pride in his self-sufficient paradise, Wang reflects that "every bowl, every blade of grass, and every piece of wood" was created by his own two hands. As Tsai asks whether this extraordinary DIY mastery ever tempted him to pursue grand collective engineering feats—like building a particle collider—or if he prefers private, self-contained pursuits, Wang pauses, recalling how during periods of intense cognitive and memory overload, his mind turned inward toward three foundational existential questions.
```mermaid
flowchart LR
accTitle: Wang Yuheng Integrated Water and Banyan Micro-Ecosystem
accDescr: Diagram illustrating how structural roof leaks were repurposed into a self-regulating indoor banyan tree ecosystem.
subgraph Leakage ["Water Channeling"]
L1["Persistent Structural Leaks"] -->|"Directed to Central Point"| L2["Catchment Basin"]
end
subgraph Filtration ["Substrate Layers"]
L2 --> S1["Brick Base Support"]
S1 --> S2["Coarse Pottery Shards"]
S2 --> S3["Moisture-Sensitive Soil Layer"]
end
- Wang's indoor space contains zero right angles; every wall junction and curved transition was hand-sculpted by Wang himself to evoke a sense of infinite space.
- The optical infinity corridor is constructed using only two mirrors placed at precise angles.
- Structural leaks that plagued the house for three years were converted into a self-sustaining irrigation basin for a massive indoor banyan tree.
- The banyan tree was acquired from a Tianjin firm where it had become a "negative asset" because it had outgrown its building and could not withstand outdoor northern winters.
- The soil at the base of the banyan functions as a real-time meteorological barometer, visibly darkening as outdoor humidity rises before a rainstorm.
[01:15:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=4505s) Simulating Nature, Rejecting Bureaucracy, and the Art of Pruning
Reflecting on the intricate indoor ecosystem, the host observes how an artificial setup demonstrates both the uniqueness and inherent fragility of the natural world. Even when humanity successfully simulates an environment to look nearly identical to nature, it remains precarious, demonstrating the twin dialectics that "man can conquer nature" and "nature conquers man." When asked whether his deep botanical expertise could ever lead him to accept an official leadership role—such as directing a natural history museum or a botanical garden—the guest immediately dismisses the idea. He explains that any formal post entails personnel management and endless administrative obligations: "Because you have to manage people," he notes, adding that having to attend meetings is simply a "waste of time."
The conversation turns to an impressive soil-free vertical plant wall. The installation features flowering Gesneriaceae illuminated entirely by artificially calibrated LED grow lights. The host marvels at the architectural silhouettes of the plants, pointing out how their stems and trunks have been sculpted into dramatic, wing-like forms. The creator explains that these are not necessarily exotic rarities; in fact, several are ordinary landscaping plants commonly seen along southern roadsides. Through deliberate placement and patient, gradual pruning, an otherwise commonplace shrub can slowly mature into a breathtaking structural masterpiece. This transformation prompts the host to draw a philosophical parallel to human growth: given the right environment and intentional cultivation, people possess the very same capacity to transcend the ordinary.
- Plant wall features soil-free cultivation and blooming Gesneriaceae maintained under simulated LED lighting.
- The creator rejects institutional positions like museum or botanical garden directorships to avoid managing staff and wasting time in meetings.
- Ordinary southern landscaping species are shaped over long periods of pruning into living sculptures.
---
[01:16:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=4603s) Balancing Indoor Microclimates and Clean Air Philosophy
Maintaining an indoor jungle provides genuine emotional stability and everyday joy, but it also presents a severe technical challenge: balancing competing environmental demands. The enthusiast explains that the most difficult aspect of his setup is managing humidity alongside indoor odors. On one side of the room sits an extensive book collection that demands dry conditions to prevent paper decay, while right beside it, moisture-loving tropical plants require high humidity. Surviving in that domestic space means constantly fine-tuning the atmosphere to hit an exact critical equilibrium point between dry preservation and lush dampness.
This obsession with air quality and ambient odor extends directly into automotive preferences, prompting a discussion of Volvo’s interior design philosophy. In an enclosed cabin, air purity is not merely an aesthetic comfort but a fundamental component of passenger safety. Just as his household plants serve as a living filter for the room, vehicle interiors require non-toxic, low-allergen, and eco-friendly trim materials paired with advanced filtration systems capable of removing 95% of PM2.5 fine particulates. The botanical approach mirrors this holistic standard: when cultivating a specimen, the creator avoids isolating it in a standalone pot. Instead, he researches and transplants its natural companion species from the wild, recreating its original ecological community to reveal unexpected behaviors and natural states that solitary cultivation could never produce.
- Managing an indoor ecosystem alongside a library requires maintaining a strict microclimatic balance between dry book storage and high plant humidity.
- Automotive enclosed cabins require low-allergen materials and air purification systems capable of filtering out 95% of ambient PM2.5.
- Ecological cultivation philosophy prioritizes planting companion species together rather than potting individual plants in isolation.
---
[01:18:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=4709s) The Collapse of the Rooftop Ecosystem and the Humility of Failure
When asked if his extensive horticultural experiments have led to publishing formal academic papers, the creator demurs, remarking that he considers himself someone who lives in a constant state of self-denial and introspection. He reveals that he is currently tearing down a lavish rooftop garden that took three full years to build. Superficially, the installation had been a showstopping triumph; photographs and videos of the lush rooftop and its pond had drawn universal admiration. He had even raised fish from tiny fingerlings into massive specimens weighing over ten pounds, successfully shepherding them through two harsh Beijing winters—a feat seasoned fish hobbyists praised as extraordinary for a beginner.
Yet, he bluntly declares the entire three-year project a total failure, noting that catastrophe struck precisely when complacency set in and he began paying his "tuition fee." The ruin stemmed from two compounding oversights:
1. **Winter Insulation and Mold:** In an effort to protect the rooftop garden from freezing, he wrapped the plant wall too tightly in insulating plastic film. The airtight seal, combined with a neglect to prune back three years of dense autumn foliage, trapped moisture inside. A violent mold outbreak erupted beneath the plastic and rapidly infected the entire vertical wall.
2. **Biosecurity Failure in the Pond:** Riding high on past successes, he grew careless in the spring and neglected routine quarantine and water disinfection before introducing new fish. The newcomers introduced a virulent pathogen that he initially mistook for a common cold.
The resulting epidemic wiped out the entire pond. For days on end, his daily routine consisted solely of scooping out floating, dead ten-pound fish—a heartbreaking experience that forced him to reevaluate his entire methodology. Rather than being defeated, he views the setback dialectically: good outcomes can turn bad through carelessness, but catastrophic failures offer the necessary diagnostic data to upgrade one's knowledge and rebuild a more resilient system.
- The rooftop garden and pond were developed over three years, housing fish nurtured from fingerlings up to ten pounds through two Beijing winters.
- Airtight plastic sheeting combined with unpruned overgrowth caused a lethal mold outbreak across the vertical garden.
- Failure to disinfect new fish introduced a fatal virus that completely wiped out the pond population.
---
[01:21:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHBzYhnrpE&t=4864s) Discrepant Standards of Ruin, Scandinavian Craftsmanship, and Safety Data
The host reflects on the visit with a sense of humorous relief, joking that finding someone whose hoarding tendencies exceed his own by tenfold is deeply comforting. Unlike dry material clutter, managing living organisms requires endless, painstaking labor. Furthermore, their standards of success are miles apart. The host jokes that for an amateur like himself, keeping a few fish alive in a saltwater tank represents an unmitigated triumph, while a tank is only considered "ruined" when every single inhabitant has died. In contrast, when the creator despairingly declared his rooftop pond "ruined," six magnificent koi were still gracefully swimming in gently steaming, heated water—an arrangement the host considered pinnacle luxury, but which the perfectionist creator categorized as total failure.
The dialogue wraps up by connecting this meticulous eye for nuance to the broader nature of aesthetics and tactile design. Beauty is subjective and multi-sensory, living inside physical textures and subtle curves rather than visual flash alone. Scandinavian craftsmanship, exemplified by Volvo, incorporates this philosophy through its interior wood trim: rather than applying a flat, paper-thin veneer, the wood is shaped along organic, curved contours that impart the substantial weight and presence of solid timber. This pursuit of deliberate detail parallels the automotive commitment to passenger protection. Beyond everyday habits like buckling up, true safety relies on rigorous empirical groundwork, illustrated by Volvo's historical safety research analyzing real-world accident data gathered from more than 40,000 vehicles and 70,000 passengers.
- The host defines a ruined tank as total mortality, whereas the perfectionist guest declared his heated pond ruined while six koi were still swimming inside.
- Scandinavian tactile aesthetics emphasize three-dimensional curved wood trim over flat, superficial veneers.
- Automotive structural safety is underpinned by comprehensive empirical databases, including accident research compiled from over 40,000 vehicles and 70,000 occupants.
[6:12] 因为如果不奔着结婚去，两个人看不到未来，就没什么可聊的。
[12:06] 今天心情不好，别跟我说话。
[16:01] 关于气质上，我觉得你可能会有一点凶。
[18:48] 王高兴: 我不注重养生。因为注重养生的人长命百岁。你看那些养生专家，50多岁人全没了。
[25:12] 王高兴: 你不能孤老。孤苦伶仃地死去。最后躺在床上，身边一个人都没有。
[28:53] 王高兴: 一见钟情的感觉……那种感觉。看着让我舒服的女孩。
[30:54] 王高兴父亲: 高兴，我要是知道你打女人，咱们父子关系就断绝了。
[30:54] 王高兴: 在一米八的女孩里，你笑得最好看。
[37:22] 我觉得我能为她做的，就是目送——也就是保持一段距离去保护她，保持一段距离去看着她。只要她知道任何时候都有我来无条件地帮助她、爱她，这就够了。但是跤还得她自己去摔。
[43:29] 我想休息一天。
[49:20] 比起 remembering, forgetting 是真正的 wisdom。
[64:00] every bowl, every blade of grass, and every piece of wood
Original transcript
[0:00] A little gift.
[0:01] Thank you.
[0:04] This is what my company gave out.
[0:06] Oh, what company?
[0:08] I'm at BAIC.
[0:11] Beijing Automotive Group. Yes.
[0:16] What do you do?
[0:18] Huh?
[0:18] What do you do?
[0:20] What do I do? Can you tell?
[0:23] How could I tell?
[0:24] You can't tell? Want to guess? Just a
[0:29] feeling, since you're pretty, maybe
[0:31] you're in media, or perhaps finance.
[0:35] Hmm.
[0:37] Am I right?
[0:39] Close, yeah, you're near it.
[0:43] Then it must be finance.
[0:45] No, not quite.
[0:47] Media industry.
[0:48] Self-media industry.
[0:50] Self-media industry.
[0:51] And modeling.
[0:53] Um,
[0:54] Modeling.
[0:55] Yes. How tall are you, and...
[0:58] 179 centimeters.
[1:00] Oh, not bad.
[1:01] What about you?
[1:02] I'm 187, after all...
[1:05] 8 centimeters.
[1:07] Have you been in this industry?
[1:09] Not deeply, but I confirm things,
[1:12] because at the auto shows,
[1:14] there are car shows, they hire models,
[1:16] and I confirm their numbers.
[1:18] I rarely do cars.
[1:20] Hmm.
[1:21] You're in charge of that part.
[1:23] Yes, I'm in auditing. Auditing,
[1:26] checking for the boss if anyone
[1:30] is misbehaving, that's important.
[1:36] It's just a little pocket change,
[1:38] doesn't affect the big picture. Shall
[1:43] we order?
[1:45] Sure, let's order first.
[1:49] Waiter.
[1:51] Hello.
[1:53] Um.
[1:57] Smoked ribs, short ribs, and wagyu
[2:00] short ribs. Pig ears with black pepper
[2:05] sauce.
[2:06] Tempura. Lemongrass and sea fragrance.
[2:10] Do you want soup?
[2:12] Yes.
[2:13] Ah.
[2:14] Yes.
[2:15] Four dishes and soup, right?
[2:17] Yes, the standard four dishes and two
[2:20] soups. Where are you from?
[2:23] I'm from the Northeast.
[2:24] I'm from the Northeast too.
[2:26] Really?
[2:27] Really, do I not look like it?
[2:30] Where are you from?
[2:31] Shenyang?
[2:32] From Shenyang?
[2:34] Yes.
[2:35] Oh, fellow countryman.
[2:37] Wait, you're from Harbin, why do you
[2:39] have that accent?
[2:40] That's impossible, you say I have a
[2:42] Beijing accent? I live in Beijing.
[2:44] No Beijing accent.
[2:48] It's okay, I'm fine, I think my speech
[2:50] is quite standard.
[2:55] Thank you.
[2:56] Finally, time to eat.
[2:59] I'm starving.
[3:00] You should have the day off today.
[3:02] Resting, right?
[3:03] Yes, I went skiing during the day.
[3:06] Hmm.
[3:08] Hmm. Food is still more tempting.
[3:20] Are you the type that jumps up to fly?
[3:23] That's park. That kind of...
[3:25] Park.
[3:26] Hmm. That way of skiing is called "park
[3:28] ."
[3:28] Called park.
[3:30] Oh.
[3:31] I wouldn't do that kind of crazy stuff.
[3:32] Really? It's dangerous.
[3:34] Very dangerous. I love sports.
[3:38] Me too, I love sports.
[3:41] Singing, dancing, playing mahjong...Why
[3:55] did they give us two sets of chopsticks
[3:58] ?
[3:58] Guess.
[4:00] I can't guess.
[4:04] So we can taste each other's food,
[4:06] that's why they gave two sets. Come on,
[4:13] cheers. Nice to meet you, please be
[4:19] kind.
[4:23] How old are you?
[4:24] Me?
[4:25] Yeah.
[4:27] How old do you think?
[4:28] I think you're...
[4:31] Say something nice, I like to hear that
[4:34] .
[4:34] Born in '86.
[4:36] Is that the youngest? Goodbye. I guess
[4:41] that’s all I get.
[4:44] Do I really look that old?
[4:46] Wow, is being born in '86 really that
[4:49] old? What do you think?
[4:51] It's old. People born in the 90s and
[4:54] 95s aren't even holding up, let alone
[4:57] me.
[4:58] Why aren't they holding up?
[5:01] Guess again, '86 is a bit off. You take
[5:09] a guess too.
[5:11] Around 1990?
[5:15] Just be real, no need to play the
[5:18] guessing game.
[5:19] I, I really can't, I really can't tell
[5:22] a girl's age.
[5:23] I’m the same as you.
[5:25] Yeah.
[5:26] Hmm.
[5:27] Then you take good care of yourself.
[5:30] You take...I don't need to do anything
[5:40] to look young.
[5:45] You don't have to work a 9-to-5 now?
[5:48] No, I've never had a job, I'm a
[5:50] freelancer.
[5:51] That's impressive.
[5:53] Do you find it very, very surprising?
[5:56] Quite surprising.
[5:57] You don't have people like that around
[5:59] you?
[5:59] Basically, no.
[6:03] I feel like we're quite different, like
[6:06] we're from two different worlds. How
[6:12] long have you been single? How long has
[6:17] it been? Why is it so fast? Hmm. More
[6:25] than two years. What about you?
[6:31] For me, after I started working, the
[6:34] relationships I had weren't very long,
[6:37] basically six months.
[6:40] Why is that?
[6:42] I wasn't in a good state of mind during
[6:44] that time.
[6:44] Hmm.
[6:45] When you say "not in a good state,"
[6:47] what do you mean? Is it work, or
[6:49] something else?
[6:50] One part is work pressure, it's
[6:52] fast-paced, and there were a lot of
[6:55] business trips. Also, as people often
[7:00] say, the main thing was my own mental
[7:03] state wasn't great, so I felt maybe it
[7:06] wasn't what I really wanted inside.
[7:09] I think it’s really hard to find the
[7:11] right person when you're not in a good
[7:13] state.
[7:14] Right, when you're not in a good state,
[7:16] you realize there aren't actually that
[7:18] many people who fit your requirements,
[7:20] everything...
[7:21] needs compromise.
[7:24] But for many, before the compromising
[7:27] is even finished, it ends.
[7:30] Listening to you, it sounds like it’s
[7:33] all your fault.
[7:35] My fault? No way. And the big city is
[7:41] like that, things update quickly, the
[7:43] pace is fast, and you meet a lot of
[7:46] people. Hmm.
[7:50] Not very, very sincere, just...my
[7:56] honest thoughts. Don't call me a
[7:59] heartbreaker.
[8:01] So when you date, you must be looking
[8:04] to get married, right?
[8:06] Definitely aiming for marriage.
[8:08] Hmm.
[8:10] Because if I don't see a future between
[8:13] two people, there's nothing to talk
[8:15] about. My ex, I was looking to marry
[8:26] him too, we were together for five
[8:28] years. He just didn't feel like he
[8:34] wanted to enter a marriage yet.
[8:39] Does this steak taste a bit tough to
[8:42] you? Maybe it's overcooked, overcooked.
[8:50] Five years though?
[8:52] Yeah, my relationships feel quite long,
[8:55] at least two years.
[8:56] Ah, that's fine.
[9:00] That could be the state I envy.
[9:04] Yeah, but it didn't work out, did it?
[9:09] You aren't...hey, what's your zodiac
[9:12] sign? I'm quite curious.
[9:15] Cancer.
[9:17] Oh, the typical sign for a homebody.
[9:22] Are you like that?
[9:24] Yeah.
[9:27] I’m especially...
[9:29] Especially diligent.
[9:31] Yeah, I keep things very clean.
[9:33] Oh, really?
[9:34] Yeah, I love cleaning when I’m free.
[9:36] That’s impressive. You don't see many
[9:38] guys like that. Because I find cleaning
[9:41] satisfying; it feels great once it’s
[9:43] all clean.
[9:47] Well, your life seems pretty good then.
[9:52] It’s alright, I guess. Just good
[9:56] habits, I suppose.
[9:58] Cancer men can do laundry, cook, and
[10:01] take care of kids.
[10:02] Yeah.
[10:03] I haven't raised kids, but the laundry
[10:06] and cooking part, yes. Do you have any
[10:17] other hobbies? Basically, none. I don't
[10:22] play instruments or anything. Yeah,
[10:24] playing an instrument isn't really my
[10:27] forte either. I learned to draw when I
[10:29] was little. Drawing Dragon Ball or
[10:33] Doraemon would be fun, but they made me
[10:36] draw cubes and cylinders.
[10:39] Hmm.
[10:40] Asking me to draw still life? No way,
[10:45] that’s not for me, I gave up.
[10:50] Do you usually watch movies or anything
[10:52] on your own?
[10:53] Nah, I don't watch them.
[10:56] You don't?
[11:02] Living more and more like a loner. Oh
[11:07] dear, what am I like?
[11:14] I like someone I can talk to, who’s
[11:17] interesting and has common interests.
[11:20] Don't all women like that?
[11:22] All women like that.
[11:24] Hmm, isn't there something guys don't
[11:27] like?
[11:28] I don't think so. Mine is already quite
[11:32] specific: have hobbies, then...
[11:34] Hmm.
[11:38] For example, um, liking to watch movies
[11:42] and such.
[11:45] We should have some common hobbies.
[11:49] Like, being into sports is fine, too.
[11:53] And I like someone with a fairly good
[11:56] temperament.
[11:56] Hmm.
[11:58] I’m really afraid of people who lose
[12:00] their temper for no reason, or people
[12:03] with a huge, explosive temper.
[12:06] Well, some people don't explode
[12:09] intensely; they go cold.
[12:12] Oh, do you give people the silent
[12:14] treatment?
[12:14] Yeah, like, I’m just not happy, I’m
[12:16] not happy today.
[12:17] Is the frequency of this...
[12:19] Yeah, it's just...
[12:20] It depends on the frequency.
[12:21] Yeah, I’m just not happy today, I
[12:23] don't want to talk, don't talk to me.
[12:25] So if you talk to me, I’ll have to...
[12:27] so do you tell the other person, "I'm
[12:30] not happy today," for example? "
[12:31] Don't talk to me," yeah.
[12:33] You are that kind of person?
[12:35] Yes, "I'm not happy today, don't talk
[12:37] to me."
[12:37] Then, if you are happy, will you tell
[12:39] them? "I’m happy now, we can talk."
[12:41] No.
[12:42] You won't? Then how would the other
[12:45] person know if you’re happy or not?
[12:46] When I'm upset, I’ll give them a
[12:48] warning or a heads-up. "I'm really not
[12:50] in a good mood right now, don't mess
[12:52] with me." If they keep provoking me,
[12:54] still making me mad. Then there might
[12:57] be a war. Oh, so how do you relieve
[13:01] those emotions, generally speaking?
[13:05] Just stay put.
[13:06] Yeah.
[13:07] Think it over by myself.
[13:10] Don't be a king. Having someone comfort
[13:13] you is better, of course, but if they
[13:15] comfort you poorly, it backfires, so
[13:17] usually...
[13:18] It's better to just leave it.
[13:20] Better not to comfort me and stay away.
[13:27] Well, I'm alright.
[13:32] Not particularly abnormal, just a
[13:35] little bit.
[13:36] Yeah, just a little bit. It's fine,
[13:39] it's fine.
[13:40] Acceptable.
[13:41] I do have a bit of a temper.
[13:43] Acceptable. Fine, I'll accept it. Don't
[13:51] ask. What is the thing you can't accept
[14:00] most in a girl? What I can't take from
[14:05] a girl? What I can't stand is constant
[14:11] little deceits.
[14:15] Small lies.
[14:18] Some lies make me very upset and quite
[14:22] anxious.
[14:23] Hmm.
[14:27] I'm very broad-minded; I don't care if
[14:30] my girlfriend goes out with other guys
[14:32] or hangs out with friends. I don't have
[14:37] too many thoughts on that. I won't
[14:40] think the worst of it, as long as
[14:42] you're honest about it. No need for
[14:45] those so-called "white lies."
[14:47] So you can accept that.
[14:49] OK.
[14:51] Hmm.
[14:52] No problem.
[14:53] Hmm.
[14:54] Hmm.
[14:55] Then do you go out with other girls?
[14:58] Hmm. The chance is very slim, as I
[15:01] don't have many girl friends. Yeah,
[15:03] girl friends don't want to hang out
[15:05] with me. Right. If they hang out with
[15:10] me, it's probably just to use me as a
[15:12] driver. I don't have any girl friends.
[15:17] I'm not good at hanging out with girls.
[15:22] I think I’m quite goal-oriented when
[15:24] it comes to girls. Like, if I'm looking
[15:28] for a partner, I'll definitely try to
[15:30] get to know you, but if there's no such
[15:32] relationship, I won't bother with you
[15:34] at all.
[15:36] Oh, so we can be friends if we get
[15:38] along.
[15:39] Exactly. I have tons of guy friends,
[15:42] but it's a different story with girls.
[15:47] Is that the same as the one just now?
[15:50] Yes, same.
[15:51] Maybe we should swap.
[15:53] Do you like this one?
[15:55] Here, have one, I don't need that many.
[15:59] Hmm.
[16:01] Tell me what you think of me.
[16:03] Can I be a bit less tactful?
[16:06] No need to be tactful.
[16:08] Ah.
[16:11] Don't be too reserved. Just tell me the
[16:15] truth.
[16:17] I think you're quite pretty. Hmm, your
[16:20] temperament.
[16:22] Thank you. Regarding temperament, I
[16:24] feel you might be a bit fierce.
[16:27] Fierce?
[16:28] People with temperament are usually
[16:30] quite fierce.
[16:31] Ah, is my temperament that kind of
[16:34] fierce?
[16:35] I'm not, he's just asking.
[16:38] Setting me up.
[16:39] Yeah, are you pretty fierce?
[16:42] I don't think I'm fierce. But I do have
[16:45] a temper, for sure.
[16:47] I think it's much better now. Well, I
[16:49] think the older you get, the more this
[16:52] thing...I think it's pretty good.
[16:56] Thank you.
[16:57] Hmm. Awesome.
[17:00] I think you're pretty interesting too.
[17:03] Saying that kind of...
[17:08] Talking nonsense with a straight face.
[17:11] Right.
[17:12] Yes.
[17:14] Actually, I'm more interesting.
[17:17] Oh, really?
[17:18] Mm. What do you think? How do you feel?
[17:24] I think, I think you are a...
[17:31] Don't miss out on fate, for example, me
[17:34] , right?
[17:36] You think you are my fate?
[17:38] Meeting each other isn't just a
[17:39] coincidence.
[17:40] Yes, we are fated to meet.
[17:42] Right?
[17:43] What kind of fate do you think this is?
[17:44] Everyone in life is a form of fate. Hmm
[17:47] .
[17:47] Right?
[17:48] Are you easy to get along with?
[17:52] Hmm, sometimes. I have my own moods and
[17:57] my own boundaries.
[18:00] I feel like you might be a bit strict.
[18:05] Yeah, I'm not the type who just clicks
[18:08] with anyone, you know? Are you in
[18:14] Shanghai now? Yes.
[18:19] I can't accept that, Yi-Li.
[18:23] Yeah, me neither.
[18:30] Okay, nice to meet you.
[18:32] Likewise.
[18:34] Let's shake hands.
[18:36] Enjoy your dinner.
[18:37] Enjoy your dinner. It’s still quite
[18:40] cold tonight.
[18:43] Yeah, it just started snowing, it's
[18:46] even colder.
[18:48] Hello.
[18:49] Let's shake hands too.
[18:50] Hmm, hello.
[18:51] Wang Gaoxing.
[18:52] Ah. Wang Gaoxing.
[18:54] Easy to remember.
[18:55] Is that your name?
[18:56] Real name, real name, real name. Let me
[18:58] take off this coat.
[18:59] My name is Shiwen. Is that really your
[19:02] real name? Wang Gaoxing.
[19:03] Yes. Wang Gaoxing.
[19:06] How special.
[19:07] It was named so casually.
[19:09] Ah, your name was picked so casually.
[19:12] I was named...It's pretty good, it
[19:14] includes your well-wishes.
[19:16] My voice is a bit hoarse. I’ve been
[19:20] talking for over three hours these past
[19:22] two days.
[19:23] Are you a host?
[19:24] Uh, an automotive host.
[19:26] Oh, you're an automotive host? A real
[19:29] host.
[19:30] I really am a host, in new media.
[19:32] Automotive. Where are you from?
[19:35] I’m from Shenyang, a Northeasterner.
[19:37] Oh, Shenyang in the Northeast. Shenyang
[19:40] , I think...
[19:41] Beijing. You're a local Beijing native.
[19:44] Pure Beijing.
[19:46] But I went abroad in seventh grade.
[19:51] Oh.
[19:53] Then I came back after graduating
[19:55] college and working for two years.
[19:58] Which city in the U.S.?
[20:01] Uh, I went to Washington D.C. for
[20:04] middle school.
[20:06] Hmm. Then I went to Atlanta, and
[20:09] finally I settled in Ohio, I’m not
[20:11] sure if you’ve heard of it.
[20:13] No.
[20:15] No.
[20:17] And I worked for real in Cincinnati.
[20:19] Worked for two years. I am an
[20:22] American-born Chinese. Theoretically, I
[20:25] hold a U.S. passport. Not theoretically
[20:28] , legally speaking, I am not considered
[20:31] Chinese.
[20:32] I am here on a work visa. I have a
[20:34] specialized work visa. He said not to
[20:38] order that.
[20:39] Why don't we order first?
[20:41] Sure.
[20:42] Server.
[20:45] Ordering.
[20:47] We'd like to order, thank you.
[20:51] Go ahead, you first.
[20:53] Thank you.
[20:56] Shenyang is famous for barbecue, right?
[21:00] Yeah. But I just...Let's get some beef.
[21:08] Yeah, right.
[21:10] Ribs.
[21:11] Yes.
[21:13] I'm not a drinker, but I love watching
[21:15] people drink.
[21:16] Oh, you're allergic to alcohol?
[21:19] No, I just don't touch the stuff.
[21:21] Have you never had any, or...?
[21:24] You've never had any? I think I'd throw
[21:27] up if I drank.
[21:27] It makes you feel uncomfortable?
[21:29] Even the smell makes me uncomfortable.
[21:31] Oh. Is that for health reasons?
[21:34] I don't focus on health. Because people
[21:37] who do live forever. Just look at those
[21:40] ...
[21:40] Look at those health gurus.
[21:42] They're all gone in their fifties.
[21:44] Is there salad? If there's no meat,
[21:47] just vegetables.
[21:48] Yes, this weight-loss salad.
[21:50] Called...Awesome.
[22:01] Is there anything you want to ask me?
[22:04] Go ahead and ask, ask me anything you
[22:06] want.
[22:07] Mm, got it.
[22:08] You really...
[22:10] What's wrong?
[22:11] Don't be polite, eat.
[22:12] I won't be polite.
[22:14] That's great.
[22:15] I really like this girl. So, how old
[22:22] are you?
[22:23] Take a guess? I'm definitely a lot
[22:27] older than you, but I might look a bit
[22:30] younger. First, a few points? Never
[22:35] been married.
[22:37] Mm.
[22:38] Never had kids. I was almost married.
[22:44] Why didn't you?
[22:47] It was tragic. Were you the victim?
[22:52] Total disaster.
[22:56] Let me tell you how tragic it was.
[22:58] Mm.
[22:59] Wedding photos taken.
[23:01] Mm.
[23:02] Dinner was eaten.
[23:04] Wedding held.
[23:05] Yeah. The ceremony happened. Yeah,
[23:08] you're right about that.
[23:10] But we never registered.
[23:12] That's the part.
[23:13] You had the wedding before the license?
[23:18] He thought I was too young and immature
[23:20] then. Thought I was unreliable too.
[23:23] Known for six years. Then she went off
[23:27] with...
[23:27] Ah.
[23:28] Another guy.
[23:30] Mm.
[23:31] Known for six years. And eventually
[23:36] left. Crazy, right?
[23:39] Is he Chinese?
[23:40] Chinese, yes. I only date Chinese...
[23:53] When I argued with him, he'd smash
[23:56] everything, throwing this and that,
[23:59] even kicking...
[24:07] You're not taller than me, right? You
[24:09] sit, I didn't dare, I didn't dare...
[24:12] Have. Are you over 1.8 meters?
[24:15] Not quite.
[24:16] So you're not.
[24:18] Oh.
[24:19] I'm 1.8 meters.
[24:20] But there's a difference between a
[24:21] guy's 1.8 m and a girl's 1.8 m. You...
[24:24] Are you wearing shoes?
[24:25] Not really, but a guy's 1.8 m always
[24:28] seems slightly shorter than a girl's
[24:31] 1.8 m. OK, I'm 1.79 meters tall. A bit
[24:36] taller.
[24:37] Oh no. What's wrong? Does that put
[24:42] pressure on you?
[24:44] Like, in foreign countries, there are
[24:47] 1.80-meter tall models, like those
[24:49] Victoria's Secret ones.
[24:51] Yeah.
[24:52] Those girls.
[24:54] Yeah.
[24:54] They are that tall, but I want to ask,
[24:57] at 1.79 meters...
[24:58] Yeah.
[24:59] It must be hard to find a partner,
[25:01] right? Wouldn't they need to be 1.85 or
[25:04] 1.90 meters tall?
[25:06] No. Because I can accept someone around
[25:08] my height, or even a bit shorter.
[25:11] That's fine.
[25:12] Hey, let me ask, you're from Shenyang,
[25:15] right?
[25:15] That's right.
[25:16] Why don't you have a trace of that
[25:18] Northeast accent? Your Mandarin is so
[25:20] good, there's absolutely none, I really
[25:23] can't tell. Because I went to
[25:24] university in Shanghai.
[25:26] Shanghai.
[25:28] Oh, you studied in Shanghai?
[25:30] Uh, university. Yeah.
[25:33] Weren't you in Shanghai?
[25:35] I was in Shanghai. I graduated from
[25:38] university, spent two years there, then
[25:41] came to Beijing. And then I went back
[25:44] to Shanghai.
[25:45] So you're in Shanghai now?
[25:48] I started living there last August.
[25:53] You're not going back to Shanghai after
[25:55] this meal, right?
[25:59] I'll stay for another two days.
[26:11] I always thought as a kid that being a
[26:13] model was unreachable. Something you
[26:15] can only admire from afar. A profession
[26:18] that's hard to get close to. Those are
[26:20] supermodels, the top tier. That's how
[26:23] it is.
[26:23] To me, supermodels and me, I...Hey,
[26:32] since your last marriage didn't work
[26:34] out, have you thought about marriage
[26:37] again? Or are you dating anyone? Is it
[26:42] headed towards marriage?
[26:45] I have a girlfriend, but it's not quite
[26:48] there yet. But do you want it to
[26:51] develop towards marriage?
[26:53] I think it's better to get married.
[26:58] You can't just grow old alone. Die
[27:01] alone in solitude. Lying in bed at the
[27:07] end with no one by your side. Yeah.
[27:11] You know, it's really hard to find
[27:13] someone now. Don't look at the 30
[27:15] million people in Shanghai or the 30
[27:17] million in Beijing. Yeah.
[27:19] Finding someone truly suitable is rare.
[27:22] So, do you want to find someone
[27:24] suitable or someone you like?
[27:26] Are suitable and liked different?
[27:29] Exactly.
[27:32] Everyone gets married swearing to stay
[27:34] together until the end, through thick
[27:36] and thin. Then you realize, in the end,
[27:39] many things can't last forever. It
[27:42] can't last forever, because you only
[27:44] see my flaws after you get married.
[27:48] Right now, I can show you all of my
[27:51] good points. 80%of all my friends are
[27:56] divorced. And of that 80%who divorced,
[28:00] 75%weren't because of a third party.
[28:04] It’s because I couldn’t stay abroad
[28:06] anymore. So my friends told me, "Wang,
[28:10] you're forty." Are you sure you really
[28:15] have to get married? But even though my
[28:20] family has lived abroad, they are still
[28:23] very, very traditional. They think if
[28:27] you don't get married, your life is
[28:30] missing something. They say if you
[28:33] don't have children, to put it bluntly,
[28:36] the family line ends; to put it nicely,
[28:39] it's the continuation of the soul.
[28:42] Hmm, do you agree? Doesn't that feel
[28:47] like you're just getting married for
[28:49] the sake of getting married?
[28:53] That’s a great point. Actually, you
[29:00] might not have thought about it very
[29:03] clearly either.
[29:06] Yeah, you haven't—you haven't guessed
[29:08] my age yet.
[29:09] Aren't you 40?
[29:11] A bit older.
[29:13] Well, definitely. Do I look like I’m
[29:16] 40?
[29:18] I’m not 12 years older than you,
[29:21] right? I'm not that young, am I?
[29:24] You don’t look that old to me.
[29:26] So, what kind of person are you looking
[29:29] for?
[29:30] I believe in "first impressions"—I
[29:32] don't know if you do.
[29:33] A feeling of being attracted at first
[29:36] sight.
[29:36] Oh.
[29:38] That connection. A girl who makes me
[29:41] feel comfortable when I look at her.
[29:44] Then I’ll want to get to know her
[29:46] better. You're talking about girls,
[29:51] what kind of nature? Anything I say is
[29:54] pointless; it's like looking at the
[29:57] exterior of a car first. If the
[29:59] exterior doesn't look good, do you
[30:01] think a girl would stay for me to open
[30:03] the door and show her the inside? No,
[30:05] she’d turn around and leave. Then
[30:08] what was the reason you broke up with
[30:10] them?
[30:11] I broke up with them because they
[30:13] didn't want to...Yeah, I think I'm also
[30:18] quite traditional and respectful. I
[30:21] feel like if the relationship is going
[30:23] well, why not get married? It’s a
[30:26] very normal thing.
[30:28] When you argue with someone, do you
[30:30] ever get physical?
[30:31] I never do.
[30:32] That’s very good. My dad told me one
[30:36] thing. I still remember it to this day.
[30:40] My dad said that for a Shandong man, a
[30:43] few things in life are vital. First,
[30:47] women are meant to be cherished. Second
[30:51] , my dad specifically said, "Wang
[30:54] Gaoxing, if I ever find out you hit a
[30:57] woman, our father-son relationship is
[31:00] over." So in my whole life, I have...I
[31:06] have never laid a finger on a woman.
[31:09] Hmm.
[31:11] But I still have this Shandong
[31:13] personality.
[31:14] What is the Shandong personality like?
[31:17] Shandong men are often seen as
[31:19] chauvinistic, but I’m not a male
[31:22] chauvinist. It’s not really
[31:25] chauvinism; it’s just that I’m the
[31:28] kind of person who...If I truly love a
[31:34] woman, I can tolerate a lot of things.
[31:37] Hmm.
[31:39] I used to have a bottom line, which was
[31:41] ...It’s not that I’m against women
[31:43] with children, or that I hate kids; I
[31:46] actually like them. It’s just that if
[31:49] I haven't been married, any child I
[31:51] have should be my own.
[31:53] Well, you could have children together.
[31:55] But how would that work? With my kids
[31:58] and her kids? They’d all be your own
[32:00] children, wouldn't they?
[32:01] You say that, and it sounds fine, but
[32:02] in practice, I feel...
[32:04] Is it that difficult?
[32:05] I think there might be some issues.
[32:08] Hmm.
[32:14] What’s your impression of me?
[32:16] My impression of you is...
[32:18] Let me tell you, when I walked in just
[32:20] now...
[32:21] Yeah.
[32:22] The first time I saw you, my feeling
[32:25] was...really...the way you smiled at me
[32:28] the first time I saw you, it was very
[32:31] warm.
[32:31] Oh.
[32:33] Because some people's smiles aren't
[32:35] necessarily warm. When I walked over
[32:39] and you first saw me, my first
[32:41] impression was that you're a very tall
[32:43] girl, and you look much better when you
[32:46] smile. Among girls who are 1.8 meters
[32:51] tall, you have the best smile. I...was
[32:58] ...just...thinking about your outfit.
[33:01] This...this outfit of yours.
[33:04] What's wrong?
[33:05] What are these two things?
[33:07] It's just the collar, a design feature;
[33:10] you can button it up. What's wrong? Do
[33:12] you think it's strange?
[33:14] Looking at it...I noticed you aren't
[33:22] drinking today.
[33:23] Ah.
[33:24] I noticed you didn't have any alcohol
[33:26] today.
[33:26] Yeah, didn't you say no? Are you not
[33:28] drinking? I just didn't order any.
[33:31] You could drink by yourself. Drinking
[33:35] alone is boring, right?
[33:37] Have you never been married?
[33:38] Never.
[33:40] So it's even less likely you have
[33:41] children, right?
[33:42] Yeah. Why are you so nervous? I’m
[33:45] just...I’m just...
[33:46] I feel like you’re so afraid of this.
[33:49] I was just asking out of curiosity.
[33:52] Because I don’t believe a girl like
[33:55] you wouldn't have guys after her,
[33:57] unless all those men are blind.
[34:00] Completely blind.
[34:02] Then maybe they are blind. Hey, I want
[34:07] to say something in a bit. Hmm.
[34:11] Are you done eating?
[34:12] Alright. You guys should ask as
[34:15] thoroughly as possible.
[34:17] I feel like I’m becoming more and
[34:19] more cautious now. I just really want
[34:22] to...
[34:22] What do you mean by that?
[34:24] When choosing a guy, I mean...I want to
[34:27] find someone I can marry and spend my
[34:29] whole life with.
[34:31] What are your requirements? Let me see
[34:33] how many I have, let me see how many
[34:35] criteria I have.
[34:36] Is height one of them?
[34:38] Height? Um, that’s within the range,
[34:41] and financially...This is the most
[34:43] realistic aspect; you can't just have
[34:45] the other person go hungry, right?
[34:47] That’s true.
[34:48] What kind of situation would you
[34:50] personally consider okay? I don’t
[34:53] think it needs to be that difficult.
[34:55] Height is about right. Right? Okay. My
[35:00] looks are okay, you're not repulsed or
[35:02] annoyed by my appearance, right?
[35:04] Exactly, that's what I mean. And for
[35:07] life, what size house do you think is
[35:10] suitable? See, I’m asking very
[35:12] practical questions. How about a car?
[35:15] Few people in Shanghai drive.
[35:17] It’s not just that, firstly I don't
[35:19] drive, and secondly, I get carsick. So
[35:21] ...
[35:21] You even get carsick?
[35:23] Yeah, I really don't have any interest
[35:25] in cars at all. Any kind of car.
[35:27] Just like my mom.
[35:29] Hmm.
[35:30] Hey, do you think you’re the type who
[35:32] can get along with a mother-in-law?
[35:34] Well, that depends on her personality,
[35:36] I’d have to meet her to know. I think
[35:42] our conversation is going really well.
[35:44] Really?
[35:45] Quite a treat to behold.
[35:47] Thank you. Come on, let’s have a
[35:50] drink.
[35:52] Let’s loosen up, this is too serious.
[35:59] If you want to go further, we can go
[36:02] deeper. I’m actually a very warm guy.
[36:08] A warm guy?
[36:10] Yes, a warm guy. I’m very warm, truly
[36:19] .
[36:27] You’re half a head taller than me
[36:30] even on tiptoes, still very tall. I
[36:39] feel like I’m standing next to you
[36:42] like your bodyguard. It’s just too
[36:49] tall, I...
[36:51] Aren’t you going to put on your
[36:52] jacket?
[36:53] I won't. I'm enduring the cold to look
[36:56] cool.
[36:56] Life is more important, right?
[36:58] It's fine, it's just a bit cold, I’ll
[37:01] be fine. I’m heading back to Shanghai
[37:11] in two days.
[37:12] Hmm.
[37:13] I hope you come to Beijing.
[37:14] Let’s look forward to meeting again.
[37:16] Okay. Bye-bye.
[37:18] Bye, bye, bye, bye.
[37:20] Bye-bye.
[37:21] Bye-bye.
[37:22] Sometimes you treat people with
[37:23] sincerity, but you still get betrayed
[37:25] by the heartless. I feel like I can see
[37:28] through everything, but I can't
[37:30] understand people. Hmm, but viewing
[37:33] works of art is different.
[37:36] Viewing works of art is different.
[37:38] Have you never thought about learning a
[37:41] skill to better handle people?
[37:43] If I had a superpower, I think
[37:45] mind-reading would be the most boring
[37:48] one.
[37:48] Knowing what others are thinking has no
[37:51] appeal to you?
[37:52] It wouldn't change much.
[37:53] Hmm. And you don't really need to know
[37:57] what they want to do. If you happen to
[38:00] do something that is exactly what they
[38:03] wanted too. You've found a resonance.
[38:06] That resonance is what's truly
[38:08] meaningful.
[38:09] Hmm.
[38:13] If you could use tricks to create an
[38:16] illusion, I don't feel like that would
[38:18] suddenly make things better. Yeah,
[38:25] that's meaningless.
[38:29] So you will always keep your guard up
[38:32] against people?
[38:33] I think that's a very contradictory
[38:35] thing.
[38:36] Hmm.
[38:37] I find it easy to trust a stranger. I
[38:42] think this aligns with a core aspect of
[38:45] human DNA, because if we couldn't trust
[38:47] strangers, our species wouldn't have
[38:49] been able to propagate.
[38:52] Because humans are social animals, we
[38:54] need to cooperate with one another.
[38:57] So, trust is actually something
[38:59] fundamental to human beings.
[39:01] How do you handle this matter with your
[39:03] daughter?
[39:04] Mm.
[39:05] Do you communicate or pass on this
[39:07] attitude toward people to her?
[39:09] I don't intentionally try to pass it on
[39:12] , because I feel she should have her
[39:14] own life and experiences.
[39:16] Mm. I think what I can do for her is to
[39:19] follow and protect her silently—that
[39:22] is, to protect her while keeping a
[39:24] respectful distance, to watch over her
[39:27] while maintaining that distance. As
[39:29] long as she knows that in any situation
[39:32] , I am here to help and love her
[39:35] unconditionally, that is enough. But
[39:38] she still has to take her own falls.
[39:41] Mm.
[39:42] She still has to be deceived if that's
[39:44] part of her path, even if I know
[39:46] there's a high probability she will be.
[39:49] I'm always conflicted about whether I
[39:51] should say something or not.
[39:53] If she gets deceived, would she tell
[39:55] you?
[39:55] I think she can choose to tell me or
[39:58] not, but I believe that for her, being
[40:00] deceived might not necessarily be a bad
[40:02] thing.
[40:03] Is your ideal way of educating her to
[40:05] keep her by your side and teach her
[40:06] yourself?
[40:07] Mm. I once had that idea.
[40:10] I wouldn't enroll her in any tutoring
[40:13] classes. I said, "Your math, physics,
[40:15] chemistry, languages, astronomy,
[40:17] geography, history—I can teach you
[40:20] all of it." I could teach you all the
[40:22] way through high school and college,
[40:24] right? But later, I slowly realized
[40:26] that the time you can actually spend
[40:28] with her is just those ten years or so.
[40:31] Mm.
[40:32] She gradually develops her own self.
[40:35] Deep down, she actually needs to break
[40:38] away. I don't think it's just
[40:40] separating, but breaking away. Because
[40:42] you will inevitably smother her.
[40:44] Mm.
[40:45] That is something you do unconsciously.
[40:47] You will try to wrap her up in your
[40:49] care. So she must find a way to break
[40:52] away. This process of clearing the air
[40:55] is quite important; human growth might
[40:58] just require this.
[41:02] Her rejection of people stems from
[41:04] finding them annoying. She doesn't want
[41:10] this, but these are her feelings and
[41:12] her lived experiences—that's just how
[41:15] it is. She has sacrificed a lot for
[41:19] this, and she doesn't mind. If it were
[41:22] me, I wouldn't be willing to let go; I
[41:24] would rather endure these people to get
[41:26] things done. But isn't that just who
[41:29] she is? That's why it's so special,
[41:32] this part is quite important too.
[41:36] Look brother, you see this is the
[41:37] feature I mentioned, so we often talk
[41:40] about spring hay fever, but the pollen
[41:42] isn't actually from flowers, since
[41:44] where would flowers bloom in March in
[41:46] Beijing?
[41:46] Actually, at that time, it's just
[41:48] willow catkins or some wind-pollinated
[41:51] plants.
[41:52] So with this filtration system, while
[41:54] it filters out PM 2.5, it can also
[41:57] filter out those particles, so inside
[41:59] the car you can
[42:00] be just as safe as you are at home.
[42:03] Yes.
[42:04] These books are all really beautiful.
[42:07] Yes. Very nice to look at.
[42:10] This book looks so beautiful. I've
[42:14] never bought this kind of book before.
[42:18] For true antique book collectors, do
[42:20] you need to compete with others, or is
[42:22] this type of book actually in high
[42:24] supply?
[42:25] It's just that you'll rarely come
[42:26] across another book like this. Ah.
[42:29] Hmm.
[42:30] Do you go to old bookstores to look for
[42:31] them?
[42:32] Yes, it's just by chance, because you
[42:33] see, some books are interesting because
[42:35] they have the signatures of their
[42:36] original collectors, yes.
[42:37] Sometimes I even see things drawn by
[42:39] children, or someone giving it to
[42:41] another, and then the second person
[42:42] collects it, and it will even have
[42:44] different years on it.
[42:45] Yes.
[42:47] And then you see, through this, this
[42:49] book is at least from before 1887.
[42:51] Hmm. It just feels really good, and you
[42:53] think the person who wrote in the book
[42:54] had such beautiful handwriting. Look at
[42:56] this, look at this one, it was drawn by
[42:58] them personally. This book, it must
[43:00] have been black and white originally.
[43:02] I don't know which kid did this.
[43:04] Still there.
[43:05] Yes, they treated it like a secret
[43:07] coloring book. Look, they even drew a
[43:09] little pimple.
[43:10] Cute.
[43:11] Yes. And actually, what finally made me
[43:18] Actually, what finally made me want to
[43:20] go on the show was because I saw a
[43:22] child demonstrating it on TV, and I
[43:24] don't know if that's how it really is.
[43:27] This child was competing against a
[43:29] little boy from Europe in a memory test
[43:31] .
[43:31] They had to memorize 100 pairs of
[43:33] brides and grooms.
[43:34] Oh.
[43:35] And I thought, isn't that just binary?
[43:37] Because one is wearing black and one is
[43:39] wearing white, you can just
[43:40] code it as zero and one.
[43:42] Yes. Then, before the answer was
[43:44] revealed, the child started crying. And
[43:47] because he cried, his father was very
[43:49] harsh, stood up, and scolded him. But
[43:51] when the real result was announced, he
[43:54] was right, he had won. Then the host,
[43:57] Teacher Jiang, asked him, "You won,
[44:00] what do you want?" He said, "I want one
[44:03] day off." At that moment, I just
[44:06] thought, how could it be like this?
[44:08] Then they started playing his VCR. His
[44:12] day was so busy; he had to learn
[44:15] everything. Math, mnemonic methods,
[44:18] Rubik's cubes—he had to learn it all.
[44:21] Looking at the two children standing
[44:23] there, they were the same age, about
[44:25] ten. The other little boy looked at him
[44:27] and asked, "So, what do you do every
[44:29] day?""Just play soccer." He was so
[44:32] sunny and athletic, while this other
[44:34] boy already had a belly and thick
[44:35] glasses. Right then I was thinking, my
[44:38] god, I feel that this kind of...
[44:40] education philosophy is wrong. Then his
[44:42] father also took on a challenge at the
[44:44] time. His father was looking at eggs,
[44:46] and I thought, what is there to see in
[44:47] eggs? I said, "Aren't all eggs
[44:49] different?" I opened the fridge at home
[44:51] —we didn't have that many eggs—but
[44:53] I felt they were all different.
[44:55] I thought, let's look at something else
[44:57] . We had soybeans at home; I took a
[44:58] look, and they were different too. I
[45:00] said, there is a Chinese saying: "
[45:01] Nothing is smaller than a sesame seed."
[45:03] I grabbed a handful of sesame seeds,
[45:05] and I saw that not only were they all
[45:07] different, but every side of them was
[45:08] different too.
[45:09] So, I thought, this project, firstly, I
[45:12] don't think the difficulty is high.
[45:14] Yeah.
[45:15] And secondly, I think there are some
[45:17] things I can convey to everyone.
[45:19] Hmm.
[45:20] That is, looking at something,
[45:22] observing something, actually has
[45:24] nothing to do with how good your
[45:26] eyesight is. Only with a mind free of
[45:28] distractions can one see the small as
[45:30] if it were large.
[45:31] If he can't see the target, and he
[45:32] practices every day, is he training his
[45:34] eyesight? Actually, it's not training
[45:36] his eyesight.
[45:37] He is training his focus. This is a
[45:40] very Eastern philosophy. I feel that
[45:43] when my focus becomes highly
[45:45] concentrated, I can magnify this sesame
[45:47] seed. Of course, there is a limit, but
[45:50] I think magnifying it to the size of a
[45:52] pigeon egg or quail egg is not a
[45:54] problem. And you can change this space.
[45:59] And you can even change time; this time
[46:01] is, for example, the time you spend
[46:03] observing.
[46:04] The time you observe might seem like 10
[46:07] seconds to others, but you can actually
[46:09] turn it into 20, 30, or even longer.
[46:12] Well.
[46:13] That is because the degree of your
[46:14] focus makes the time extend.
[46:16] Yes, yes, it's all relative.
[46:18] Mm.
[46:19] So, it's like when you're waiting for
[46:20] someone at a stop; if you're on your
[46:21] phone, you won't even notice if they're
[46:22] an hour late.
[46:22] Right.
[46:23] But if you're not doing anything, just
[46:25] looking into the distance waiting for
[46:26] that bus...The number 13 bus.
[46:28] Even for five years.
[46:29] Yes.
[46:30] Exactly. Another thing I want to say is
[46:33] that you need to look at the simplest,
[46:35] most ordinary things around you; they
[46:37] also hold a vast world, they also have
[46:39] beauty. It’s actually just a method
[46:41] of memory.
[46:42] You either use coding, images, or all
[46:45] sorts of other things. It depends on
[46:47] your final capacity, because your
[46:50] memories are constantly being
[46:51] overwritten, so can you retrieve them
[46:54] accurately?
[46:54] Actually, I think memory is mainly
[46:56] about two things: the "storing" and the
[46:58] "retrieving."
[46:59] Yes. So, we all say we have a bad
[47:02] memory, but it might not be the "
[47:03] storing" that’s the problem. It’s
[47:06] the "retrieving" that’s the problem;
[47:07] you just can't bring it out. So, you
[47:09] see, my father now has Alzheimer's.
[47:12] It's very painful. I had seen a movie
[47:14] before called "The Father," but I
[47:16] didn't really understand at the time
[47:19] why it was so good. But after my father
[47:21] got this disease, I immediately
[47:23] understood why people say this illness
[47:26] strips away one's self-esteem. Why all
[47:29] these issues? I keep thinking, how can
[47:32] I help him find a way to retrieve his
[47:35] recent memories again?
[47:36] Because their childhood memories are
[47:38] still very clear.
[47:39] Yes.
[47:40] Right, so I feel that it’s still an
[47:43] issue with retrieval. I read about a
[47:46] unique experience of yours: you said
[47:48] that when you were a child, you would
[47:51] replay everything you saw that day in
[47:53] your mind before going to sleep.
[47:57] Did this improve later because you grew
[47:59] up, or because you found a way to
[48:01] handle it?
[48:04] Yes, back when I was young, in the
[48:06] early days, this happened unconsciously
[48:09] . I couldn't control this memory, so
[48:12] later I used lucid dreaming to
[48:14] reorganize it, just like when a house
[48:17] is very messy. If you were going to
[48:19] clean up a house, what methods would
[48:21] you use? You would categorize things.
[48:24] Right, you would use a coding method.
[48:26] Exactly, you could use a visual or
[48:28] image-based method. The mind is the
[48:30] same; you can give yourself many
[48:31] cabinets, and you can label them with
[48:33] numbers. Or you can store images and
[48:35] icons in them.
[48:36] You can also put other things there,
[48:39] then you can fold or flip this space,
[48:41] right? Move things here and there. Once
[48:44] you know how to organize them, your
[48:47] room won't be too messy.
[48:48] Do you find that too much information
[48:51] pops into your mind too easily?
[48:53] I later felt that, actually, compared
[48:55] to remembering, forgetting is the true
[48:58] wisdom. It is difficult to forget
[49:01] certain things, but once you master the
[49:04] methods of how to forget, you become
[49:06] exceptionally good at it. For me
[49:10] personally, I feel that I have a very
[49:12] forgetful nature. Hmm, in this way, I
[49:15] feel it helps me determine what is
[49:18] actually important.
[49:19] Mm-hmm.
[49:20] The things that are deeply engraved in
[49:22] your mind or the things you can
[49:24] accurately recall—these are what
[49:26] truly matter. So, just let some things
[49:28] go and forget them.
[49:30] You mean you often engage in
[49:31] self-reflection. Do you talk to
[49:34] yourself?
[49:35] Yes, exactly. Especially when I’m
[49:38] gardening; I garden every single day.
[49:41] Whenever I get home to garden or wash
[49:43] things, while I’m doing these tasks,
[49:46] I’m either listening to a book on my
[49:48] phone or having a conversation with
[49:50] myself. More than one "me" pops out; I
[49:54] can split into several versions of
[49:56] myself right there. There's someone
[49:59] helping you with the pots, someone
[50:01] helping you water, someone helping you
[50:03] prune, and they will talk to you about
[50:05] why things are placed here.
[50:07] Mm.
[50:08] And they will talk to you, for example,
[50:11] look, this fish died. Why did this fish
[50:14] die? Now that this fish has died, can
[50:17] you see if what happened to you today
[50:20] or yesterday can be extrapolated from
[50:22] this?
[50:23] Mm.
[50:24] Right? You can think about it, for
[50:27] example, my attitude toward someone
[50:30] might be for the same reason as this
[50:32] fish's death—perhaps both were due to
[50:35] overlooking a certain detail, or maybe
[50:38] neither was taken seriously enough.
[50:42] Sometimes this is like a grain of sand
[50:45] in your eye or a stone in your shoe. So
[50:49] , discussing things with yourself or
[50:52] having many "selves" holding a meeting
[50:54] —
[50:57] Does the result indeed allow you to
[50:59] understand yourself better?
[51:02] Yes, because it’s usually
[51:04] multi-angled; you can stand from
[51:06] another person's perspective, a higher
[51:09] perspective, or even look from the past
[51:11] or the future. This way, you feel there
[51:14] is nothing you cannot understand, and
[51:16] nothing you cannot accept. Hmm, are you
[51:19] someone who can easily make concrete
[51:22] changes?
[51:23] Yes. Once I feel that, "Okay, it’s
[51:27] time to do it," I will just go and do
[51:29] it.
[51:29] You don't have procrastination.
[51:32] Well, generally I procrastinate, but,
[51:34] but it's because sometimes the goals I
[51:37] set are too distant, too big.
[51:39] Mm-hmm.
[51:40] But you have to start by doing small
[51:42] things. I’m the type of person who is
[51:43] really good at finding excuses for
[51:45] myself. Mm-hmm.
[51:46] Even when I procrastinate, I can still
[51:48] tell myself that sometimes
[51:50] procrastination is actually
[51:52] done to verify certain things, like how
[51:54] sometimes taking it slow is actually
[51:56] faster.
[51:57] True.
[51:58] Sometimes I feel I shouldn't do things
[52:00] too quickly.
[52:01] Yeah, doing it too fast—for example,
[52:03] if I build a wall and it fails, there
[52:05] might be ten problems, I would never
[52:07] fix them all at once. I fix them one by
[52:10] one. I think that's how I can identify
[52:13] the problem. Over here is my small
[52:15] gallery, look, all of this is 2001.
[52:18] Right.
[52:21] I’ll replace those two with the other
[52:24] two later. Replace those two 2011 ones.
[52:26] Oh, the one from just now.
[52:28] Yes.
[52:29] Since you don't have much of a
[52:31] connection to it, why keep its poster
[52:33] on display?
[52:33] Because it makes me feel that back in
[52:35] 1968, people were actually able to
[52:37] imagine the future.
[52:39] True. I find that incredible, because I
[52:42] feel I can only imagine the past; I
[52:44] rarely imagine the future.
[52:46] I am full of curiosity about the past.
[52:49] Yeah.
[52:50] And I feel that the past, at times,
[52:53] isn't even real. Because who knows if
[52:55] what we’re reading now is accurate?
[52:57] True. You’ve explored so much and
[53:01] kept your curiosity for many things. Up
[53:04] to this point, what do you think the
[53:06] universe is all about?
[53:08] The universe is definitely constantly
[53:10] changing.
[53:11] Uh-huh.
[53:12] Mm. One day, this universe of ours
[53:16] might collapse or explode.
[53:18] Mm.
[53:19] That is a really, really big question
[53:22] that feels very distant to me.
[53:25] Yeah, I think if I can just figure out
[53:27] many of the things in between, that’s
[53:30] already incredible. Do you think life
[53:32] is an accident?
[53:33] It’s quite an accident. You see, from
[53:36] gymnosperms to angiosperms, by the time
[53:38] we had gymnosperms, they had already
[53:41] evolved perfectly, right? Pollinated by
[53:43] wind, they didn’t need insects.
[53:45] Mm.
[53:46] Why would they need insects? They
[53:48] didn't need to grow fruit for you to
[53:50] eat, didn't need to please you. But
[53:52] when angiosperms appeared, wow.
[53:54] Suddenly nature became like a tree;
[53:56] underneath are the gymnosperms, and
[53:59] then suddenly, flowering plants emerged
[54:01] . All of a sudden, everything branched
[54:04] out, and the world became incredibly
[54:06] vibrant. Dinosaurs were the strongest
[54:08] on Earth, but did they ever think that
[54:10] one day an asteroid would hit Earth and
[54:12] they would go extinct? Five mass
[54:14] extinctions, each wiping out a vast
[54:16] amount of life, with up to 90%of
[54:18] species gone at the peak. But in the
[54:21] end, look, the Earth is like a
[54:23] roly-poly toy.
[54:24] Yeah.
[54:25] Everything on it can be shaken off,
[54:27] including humans. Gongji once said that
[54:30] this Earth actually just needs life.
[54:32] Yeah, and the next sentence is
[54:34] basically that it doesn't matter if
[54:35] humans are there or not.
[54:36] Yeah. Alright, thank you. Okay. Very
[54:41] interesting. Based on my interview
[54:45] today, I don't really see him as an odd
[54:48] person. I think he counts as one, but
[54:53] the ability to magnify a single barley
[54:56] grain and recognize it is still super
[54:58] impressive to me, though that skill is
[55:01] clearly a different matter from his
[55:03] ability to face life later on. And he
[55:07] said that if he lost that ability now,
[55:10] it wouldn't matter. Indeed, if he can
[55:13] no longer magnify that grain of barley,
[55:16] then so be it. Even the way he treated
[55:19] me felt very much like the attitude of
[55:22] a gracious host. I mean, take how much
[55:25] he dislikes others; theoretically, we
[55:28] are "others." He said if he's talking
[55:31] to someone and there’s an extra
[55:33] person sitting there, he feels annoyed.
[55:36] So I’ve been imagining myself as his
[55:39] "annoyance," because to him, I am also
[55:41] an "other," yet he still maintained the
[55:44] etiquette of a host when receiving
[55:47] guests. He said he is someone who keeps
[55:49] to himself. So at least for now, he
[55:52] seems to feel a sense of security
[55:54] having met us.
[55:54] Have you ever had your IQ tested?
[55:57] I have.
[55:58] Mm.
[55:59] Is it shockingly high?
[56:01] It’s alright; you just get higher
[56:03] scores the more you take those tests.
[56:05] Actually, I don't think it's that
[56:07] important.
[56:07] And I don't believe that IQ is what
[56:09] determines everything.
[56:11] Right. Have you thought about the
[56:14] concept of wisdom?
[56:16] Wisdom? Wisdom is something that, um,
[56:24] you can't force. He is definitely what
[56:31] we call a unique person, a very
[56:34] peculiar character. He doesn't think so
[56:38] himself, so a unique person living in a
[56:40] way where he doesn't feel unique—
[56:43] perhaps there are things he hasn't
[56:45] discovered about himself that can be
[56:47] found while chatting with him.
[56:50] This is a one-to-one scale
[56:52] Tyrannosaurus.
[56:54] Did you model it yourself and have a
[56:56] factory make it?
[56:58] No, at first I wanted to make a T-Rex
[57:00] versus Triceratops battle. I had seen
[57:03] an exhibition by Mr. Zhao Chuan before
[57:05] and I went to find him wanting some
[57:08] data; he happened to have a retired
[57:10] dinosaur model, so I just took it.
[57:12] I’ve reassembled some of them here.
[57:14] Are you interested in fossils?
[57:16] Yes, I have some at home. Do you think
[57:19] the way they imagine dinosaurs based on
[57:22] fossils is accurate?
[57:23] I don’t know, which is why I’d
[57:25] really love to travel back in time. But
[57:28] what I can confirm is that some of the
[57:30] plants I’ve grown above are ancient
[57:33] species from that era.
[57:34] I was researching an animal today
[57:37] called a sea scorpion.
[57:38] Oh, come on, I have that! I have it
[57:41] right here.
[57:41] You do?
[57:42] I do, I do. Look, I have some
[57:45] prehistoric items in here. See, this is
[57:48] a fossil. This is a dolphin, also at a
[57:50] one-to-one scale. And this is the last
[57:53] dodo bird. It’s a skeleton replicated
[57:55] for us by the museum, but this part is
[57:57] real.
[57:58] Can you guess what this is?
[58:00] It is, uh.
[58:02] Its posture is actually how it usually
[58:04] perches—yes, yes, a woodpecker.
[58:06] This is a mammoth's foot. But I’ve
[58:09] always suspected that this mammoth
[58:11] isn't actually a mammoth. The seller
[58:13] said it was dug up from one site and
[58:16] confirmed it was one piece, but the
[58:18] wear doesn't look quite right to me.
[58:20] Oh, I have that.
[58:22] In photos.
[58:23] Wow, this is a giant trilobite.
[58:26] It’s been made into ramen recently.
[58:28] This is the most dinosaurs I’ve ever
[58:31] seen. Once I tidy it up, it should
[58:33] display much better. You see, all these
[58:35] cabinets, I made them myself.
[58:37] If you look at these cabinets from a
[58:39] god's-eye view, they’re just like a
[58:41] game I played as a kid: Tetris.
[58:43] Oh.
[58:44] So my cabinets can fit together, if you
[58:46] imagine looking down at them from above
[58:49] .
[58:49] Or do you actually see it?
[58:51] I often step out of myself to look at
[58:54] these. I think he might just be part of
[58:58] a certain "tribe"—not necessarily a
[59:00] tribe by blood, but perhaps a tribe in
[59:03] spirit, or a group that shares a unique
[59:06] physiological structure. That’s why
[59:08] I’d ask him, "Have you ever met
[59:10] someone of your own kind?" I mean, does
[59:13] he have that feeling? Because logically
[59:15] , the show he participates in tests
[59:18] everyone's special abilities, so I
[59:20] wonder if he feels like he’s met
[59:22] others of his kind on the show, or if
[59:25] he feels like he’s just, well, just
[59:27] himself.
[59:29] The program is exclusively titled by
[59:32] the Scandinavian luxury flagship sedan,
[59:35] the Volvo S90. This program is
[59:38] sponsored by VOSS, the premium natural
[59:41] mineral water brand from Norway.
[59:46] Hey, Kangyong.
[59:48] Mr. Wang Yuheng.
[59:49] Oh my, it's been a while.
[59:51] Hello. When was the last time we met?
[59:53] At the 78 convention.
[59:55] Ah, right.
[59:58] Wang Yuheng caught our attention likely
[60:01] because he showed such unique
[60:02] observational skills on the show.
[60:07] Before the show found you, did you know
[60:10] that your abilities would attract so
[60:12] much attention?
[60:14] No.
[60:16] Word must have been spreading, which is
[60:18] how the production team heard about you
[60:21] . Actually, I did quite well in every
[60:24] small circle I was in. Everyone thought
[60:28] , some even nicknamed me "Net-talent,"
[60:30] because I knew a little bit about
[60:32] everything. But I didn't go on the show
[60:36] because they invited me, and it had
[60:38] nothing to do with me being a top
[60:40] scorer back then. It was because I
[60:44] wrote something myself.
[60:46] I was searching a website for
[60:48] paleontological data when an IQ-style
[60:51] test popped up. After I finished, it
[60:55] gave me a form to fill out to sign up,
[60:57] so I looked into it.
[61:00] When I checked the results, I saw that
[61:02] in every episode's challenge, there
[61:04] were actually one or two I could do
[61:06] quite easily.
[61:08] So I just sort of wrote something up,
[61:10] like solving a puzzle, explaining how
[61:12] each project might work, and just sent
[61:14] it off without thinking much of it.
[61:17] Then later they called and asked me if
[61:19] I could really do all of these things
[61:21] or something like that. And I thought,
[61:23] yeah, but they felt this was quite
[61:26] impressive.
[61:27] So those friends who called you "
[61:30] Net-talent,"
[61:31] when they got to know you,
[61:34] did they think they were meeting a
[61:36] talented person or a prodigy? It was
[61:40] just because back then I knew a little
[61:42] bit about everything, but it was
[61:44] superficial. For example, growing
[61:47] flowers, keeping fish, raising birds.
[61:49] So you are what the West defines as a
[61:52] polymath.
[61:53] Would I be?
[61:54] I definitely wouldn't count as any kind
[61:57] of "expert."
[62:00] I just have a home where I can mess
[62:03] around however I want.
[62:08] Come. That cabinet. How old were you
[62:14] when you read Narnia?
[62:16] That was when I was very young.
[62:18] So back then, was the most moving part
[62:20] the wardrobe leading to another world?
[62:21] Yes. Yes.
[62:30] This inside is a slide, you can slide
[62:33] down from above. Under the stairs, you
[62:35] can read books. I played in water pipes
[62:38] when I was little, so I made this round
[62:40] space, where I can lie down and read.
[62:42] The height is exactly the height of my
[62:45] head.
[62:45] If someone is hiding in there, I can
[62:47] see them from the outside.
[62:49] These holes and these walls were all
[62:51] rebuilt by myself. My space has a
[62:53] unique feature: there isn't a single
[62:55] right angle. So if you look closely at
[62:58] that corner, don't you think it feels
[63:00] infinite?
[63:01] Exactly, because I essentially sculpted
[63:03] this myself.
[63:04] If you hired a worker, they would
[63:06] definitely prefer making right angles.
[63:08] And when it comes to this top part,
[63:09] they wouldn't know how to handle it.
[63:11] What do you do when all three sides are
[63:13] rounded?
[63:13] Right.
[63:14] This here is my little mirror corridor.
[63:17] Look, it's all mirrors. I did something
[63:19] interesting here: if we both stand in
[63:21] this angle, very few people can tell
[63:23] how many mirrors I actually have here.
[63:24] Yes, yes, yes. But in reality, I only
[63:27] used two mirrors.
[63:28] Only two mirrors, but looking from
[63:29] above, people would feel like there are
[63:31] ...
[63:31] Countless mirrors.
[63:32] Right.
[63:33] This tree was already here. I had water
[63:35] leaks in this spot, and I spent three
[63:37] years fixing the waterproofing.
[63:38] Ah.
[63:39] No matter how I plugged it, it wouldn't
[63:41] stop.
[63:41] Ah.
[63:42] So I channeled all the leaks in the
[63:43] house to this specific point. I raised
[63:45] the base with bricks, added coarse
[63:47] pottery shards on top, and then laid a
[63:49] layer of soil. In this space, I planted
[63:51] this tree right in the middle. After
[63:54] planting it, because I wanted a
[63:56] treehouse, it became a part of the
[63:58] house above. This soil is
[63:59] moisture-sensitive; as soon as it turns
[64:01] dark, I know it's raining outside. So,
[64:03] essentially, the moisture control for
[64:05] the entire house is solved by this tree
[64:07] .
[64:08] So, this tree was transported from
[64:09] somewhere else at the time? This tree
[64:11] came from a friend of mine in Tianjin.
[64:13] This banyan tree couldn't survive in
[64:15] Beijing. It could be moved when it was
[64:17] small, but later it became impossible
[64:19] to move. They had to build a house
[64:20] around it, and it became a negative
[64:22] asset for their company. Eventually, I
[64:23] told them if they didn't want it, they
[64:25] could give it to me, and they were
[64:27] thrilled to send it over.
[64:28] That's amazing.
[64:29] What I’m most satisfied with about
[64:32] this home is that every bowl, every
[64:34] blade of grass, and every piece of wood
[64:37] was made by my own hands. When you
[64:40] discovered you could pick things up
[64:42] quickly, did you have the ambition to
[64:44] create—
[64:47] something extravagant, like a particle
[64:49] collider, or did you just feel like
[64:51] doing things that were within reach,
[64:54] things one person could complete? Back
[64:58] when I was troubled by memories, I kept
[65:01] thinking about those three questions:
[65:03] Who am I? The three questions that
[65:06] everyone asks. By high school, I felt I
[65:09] had figured it out, so I set a goal for
[65:11] myself: do one thing every day that
[65:14] I’ve never done before.
[65:16] What was the point you realized?
[65:18] For me, it was that this world is so
[65:21] rich, vast, and broad that I felt even
[65:24] if I spent my whole life trying every
[65:27] single industry—
[65:28] I probably wouldn't be able to
[65:30] experience it all. Right.
[65:32] So, I thought, should I dig very deep
[65:35] into one single point?
[65:38] Or should I try to experience as much
[65:41] as possible? I chose the latter.
[65:43] I knew I could easily dig deep into one
[65:46] point. I wasn't a diligent student, but
[65:49] my test scores were always those of a
[65:51] top student.
[65:52] I realized that it’s all just a game
[65:54] of strategy. If you see through the
[65:58] methods used by the people who design
[66:00] the tests, it’s easy to get good
[66:02] scores.
[66:03] Because sometimes I find these methods
[66:05] to be just insignificant tricks. Take
[66:07] my English, for example, which is very
[66:10] poor. Usually, I could barely pass, but
[66:12] in the high school entrance exam, I
[66:14] scored 95 out of 100. The teacher even
[66:16] paid 20 yuan to have my paper verified.
[66:18] The teacher paid 20 yuan to check your
[66:20] exam paper?
[66:21] Yes. Because when doing multiple-choice
[66:24] questions, sometimes I could guess the
[66:26] answer just by looking at the options.
[66:29] So you're saying there are patterns in
[66:31] multiple-choice questions, and you
[66:33] don't even have to look at the content
[66:36] —you just know the answer.
[66:38] You can't say that, can you?
[66:40] There’s nothing you can’t say.
[66:43] Years later, I heard a friend talking
[66:45] about an educational institution that
[66:47] actually teaches kids these methods. I
[66:51] just thought, why on earth would you
[66:54] teach this? At first, you use it to
[66:57] fool others, but eventually, you end up
[67:00] fooling yourself.
[67:02] True.
[67:03] Because if you succeed once or twice,
[67:04] you might mistakenly believe you're
[67:06] really that capable.
[67:07] Hmm.
[67:08] You might mistakenly believe you’ve
[67:09] truly mastered it. Actually, not at all
[67:11] , actually not at all. So I don't think
[67:15] it's anything good, and in such a
[67:17] narrow value system, if I do something
[67:20] others deem "correct," I feel like it's
[67:23] a bit of a waste of my time.
[67:26] Hmm.
[67:27] Because I feel my time is very limited.
[67:30] Of course, and at the time, I even
[67:32] thought I might not live very long, so
[67:35] I thought, why shouldn't I go see more
[67:38] and feel more? Because this is "The
[67:40] Sound of Music," I put magnetic tapes
[67:42] inside these steps, with each step
[67:44] representing a year.
[67:46] Oh, are these all CDs you actually kept
[67:48] from back then?
[67:49] Yeah, right, it's just stuff nobody
[67:52] wants. And inside here is a slide. Once
[67:56] you go in, you can slide directly to
[67:58] the bottom.
[67:59] Who did you make this for back then?
[68:01] Made it for myself. When I was building
[68:05] this room, it was because several
[68:07] movies were interwoven into it, like
[68:09] the Hobbit's house, Harry Potter, and
[68:12] The Chronicles of Narnia. Because there
[68:15] were moments in different movies that
[68:17] touched me. I later tore all of this
[68:21] down and sculpted this shape, look at
[68:24] this.
[68:25] It feels like something dug out from
[68:28] the ground. Wow, you made something
[68:31] like this. This—I bought an old
[68:33] porthole, it's quite interesting; I put
[68:36] many movie-related elements and things
[68:39] I like inside it.
[68:41] You knew who you were, where you were
[68:42] going, and where you came from in high
[68:44] school—that was your choice back then
[68:46] . If you think about these three
[68:47] questions again now, are the answers
[68:49] still the same?
[68:49] They are definitely the same.
[68:51] Yes.
[68:52] Definitely the same, because I spent
[68:54] three years in middle school thinking
[68:55] about these three questions. Did those
[68:57] answers come from books you read,
[68:59] people you asked, or did you come up
[69:01] with them yourself? I was subjected to
[69:03] school bullying for those three years.
[69:05] And then, I also had my own physical
[69:08] issues.
[69:09] Hmm.
[69:10] I was particularly short in middle
[69:11] school. I was only 1.44 meters tall.
[69:13] Hmm.
[69:14] I was the shortest in the class. One
[69:16] was the height issue, another was the
[69:18] memory issue at the time, and then
[69:20] there was the social interaction issue;
[69:22] I had certain difficulties interacting
[69:24] with others.
[69:25] Hmm.
[69:26] So was the school bullying mainly
[69:27] because you didn't interact with others
[69:29] , or because you were short?
[69:30] I couldn't interact with them; it was
[69:32] just a very difficult thing for me.
[69:34] At the time, did you feel like you
[69:36] wanted to overcome this, or did you
[69:38] feel it was just too difficult? I just
[69:41] felt that people were so annoying,
[69:43] people were so mean. I felt I couldn't
[69:47] connect with people, so I connected
[69:49] with all other things, especially
[69:51] animals and plants.
[69:54] Was this inability to connect with
[69:56] people something you could talk to
[69:58] others about at the time?
[70:00] I didn't tell anyone, not even my
[70:02] parents. But when a little bird landed
[70:05] on my shoulder, or a little squirrel
[70:07] followed me around,
[70:09] when I saved a chick from the market,
[70:11] in that moment, I felt extremely
[70:14] satisfied.
[70:15] I lived in an era when resources were
[70:18] relatively scarce,
[70:20] back then in Beijing, we only had
[70:22] Chinese cabbage to eat in the winter.
[70:24] It wasn't until the 90s that we had
[70:27] things like tomatoes. When we were
[70:29] little, we needed ration coupons for
[70:31] milk; they’d give you a card with
[70:33] dates on it, and you had to bring a
[70:35] bottle to exchange for milk. Every time
[70:38] I got milk, I couldn't bear to drink it
[70:40] . I would feed the neighborhood stray
[70:43] cats and dogs by pouring it on the
[70:45] ground for them to lick up. While they
[70:47] were drinking, I would swallow my own
[70:49] saliva, and it felt like I had enjoyed
[70:52] two portions,
[70:52] because they got to drink, and I got to
[70:54] drink too.
[70:55] Right.
[70:56] So, I was very satisfied.
[70:58] Then couldn't you have just suggested
[70:59] not going to school?
[71:00] Not go to school? Did you ever think
[71:03] your parents would have killed you for
[71:05] that?
[71:05] Primary school was fine, but middle
[71:08] school felt pretty bad. At one point, I
[71:11] really wanted to go to university
[71:14] because I felt my level was high enough
[71:16] . But I couldn't skip grades, so I went
[71:20] to high school and just wasted three
[71:22] years. As you waited, was there no
[71:26] classmate who could see that special
[71:28] part of you?
[71:29] I don't know. I didn't think I was
[71:32] special; I just really didn't like
[71:33] being with the other students.
[71:35] OK.
[71:36] So, you didn't make any friends at all,
[71:38] no one among your classmates could be
[71:40] called a friend?
[71:41] Almost none.
[71:43] Hmm.
[71:44] If you were to open a school, you would
[71:47] make it completely different. If I
[71:50] opened a school, I would definitely
[71:52] strive to make every single child
[71:55] unique.
[71:55] Yes.
[71:56] Perhaps this accidental situation led
[71:59] me to not fully engage with education,
[72:01] which in turn allowed me to look at the
[72:04] world and re-examine it in my own way,
[72:07] seeing different things. Have you
[72:09] developed a very critical habit when it
[72:12] comes to dealing with knowledge?
[72:14] Actually, I went the other way; I
[72:17] opened up all my senses to embrace it.
[72:19] Because I feel there’s no such thing
[72:22] as taking the wrong path in life.
[72:23] You just have a different perspective.
[72:26] There’s no need and no reason to look
[72:29] down on others for going far on their
[72:31] own path.
[72:33] On the contrary, I get curious about
[72:36] what supports you to go so far and
[72:39] study so deeply. There must be
[72:43] something fun, because I think being
[72:46] interested is the most important thing.
[72:50] Oh.
[72:51] The porcelain crabs are out, they're
[72:53] hungry. I have to feed them.
[72:55] So, as part of your simulated Earth,
[72:57] are the crabs an important indicator?
[72:59] Or
[73:00] I just like them.
[73:01] You like them. Yes, I think they look
[73:03] so strange, because
[73:04] They’re so interesting.
[73:05] They’re so useless.
[73:07] That fish got sick, so it went to the
[73:08] doctor to get treated.
[73:09] Ah.
[73:10] These are all cleaner shrimp. Hmm.
[73:12] They can only pick up what falls to the
[73:14] ground and suck it in.
[73:16] Like these deep-sea types of fish. Red
[73:18] blade. This cowfish has an exoskeleton,
[73:21] and this one has an exoskeleton too.
[73:24] Their shape is just too funny. I think
[73:26] this is already amazing. As long as I
[73:29] see one sea anemone alive, I feel so
[73:31] successful with this tank.
[73:33] No, no. To me, it’s like the
[73:36] aftermath of a mass extinction.
[73:38] So my fish tank has always been in a
[73:41] state of mass extinction.
[73:43] I’m doing something like alchemy,
[73:46] which is simulating the seabed.
[73:49] I use calcium magnesium, carbon, all
[73:52] sorts of reagents, and some salt to
[73:54] make seawater. Is it because they
[73:57] relate to the origin of life?
[73:59] I just simply thought, didn't Earth
[74:02] start off as a body of water?
[74:04] Then after water, you need the sun. The
[74:07] sun is easy to simulate with light—I
[74:09] use main lights, LED lights—we can
[74:11] simulate the sun now. With a sun, there
[74:13] must be a moon, so there's moonlight. A
[74:15] high color temperature light can
[74:17] simulate that too. And since there's a
[74:19] moon, there's gravity.
[74:20] Hmm.
[74:21] With gravity, there will be tides. With
[74:24] tides, I added a few wave makers to
[74:26] create currents, and put rocks inside
[74:29] to watch the changes. A few months
[74:31] later, it really generated a lot of
[74:33] life; very interesting things.
[74:35] So your answer is...
[74:37] My answer is that maybe everything is
[74:40] possible; maybe many things aren't just
[74:43] evolution, maybe we just don't know.
[74:46] Hmm. So, yeah. And look, this is a
[74:49] small experiment too; this tank is
[74:51] basically just being topped up with
[74:53] fresh water. It can still allow some
[74:55] fish to adapt to it.
[74:57] Mm.
[74:58] My goal here is to go a year without
[74:59] changing the water.
[75:01] I've already pretty much achieved that.
[75:03] They are also adapting, so I think if
[75:05] you look at these two, it's exactly the
[75:08] same—the experiment over there tells
[75:10] you that everything is actually unique,
[75:12] and there are things you just can't do.
[75:15] Even if you simulate nature, even if it
[75:18] looks identical, it's still very
[75:20] fragile. There are things you just have
[75:22] no way of doing.
[75:23] Yes.
[75:24] Mm, but this just tells me again, look.
[75:27] You could sum it up with two phrases:
[75:30] one is "man can conquer nature," and
[75:32] the other is "nature conquers man."
[75:34] Yes. Then could you be hired to be a
[75:37] director of a natural history museum or
[75:40] a botanical garden? Anything related to
[75:44] a position, I don't think I'm
[75:46] interested in.
[75:47] Mm.
[75:48] Because you have to manage people.
[75:50] Yes, because I think you have to have
[75:52] meetings.
[75:53] OK. And so what?
[75:56] It's a waste of time. How amazing, I
[76:01] have never seen such beautiful wings.
[76:05] Is this also your plant wall? Yes, it's
[76:08] different. This wall is soil-free.
[76:11] There are also some Gesneriaceae plants
[76:13] , you see they are blooming, and the
[76:15] lighting is artificially simulated;
[76:17] these are LED lights.
[76:18] Its trunk can grow out like this,
[76:20] supported.
[76:21] You can prune it to let it slowly,
[76:23] slowly, slowly grow into this shape. OK
[76:25] .
[76:25] It might just be an ordinary plant; I
[76:27] usually see this as a common
[76:29] landscaping plant in the south.
[76:31] But if you put it in a good spot and
[76:33] give it some pruning, can't it also
[76:35] turn out like this?
[76:36] Yes.
[76:37] Right? Aren't people the same? You say
[76:43] that keeping these plants can really
[76:45] stabilize your mood and provide you
[76:47] with things that make you happy. What
[76:52] exactly is that?
[76:53] First of all, the hardest part for me
[76:55] is how to balance the humidity and the
[76:58] odor.
[76:58] Because I have books over there, and
[76:59] books actually prefer a dry environment
[77:01] .
[77:01] And these plants over here, they prefer
[77:03] a moist environment.
[77:03] So I need to reach a critical balance
[77:05] point in between. Yes.
[77:07] So for the smell
[77:09] and this environment, I have certain
[77:11] requirements, just like Volvo.
[77:13] Yes, it's the same when I choose a car.
[77:15] I think vehicle safety itself must
[77:17] definitely be the top priority. Yes.
[77:19] Also, once you are inside the car, it's
[77:22] a closed space, so smell is actually a
[77:24] part of safety as well. So if your car
[77:26] interior uses these low-allergen,
[77:29] eco-friendly materials,
[77:30] and it also has an air purification
[77:33] system that can filter out 95%of PM 2.5
[77:36] in the air,
[77:37] then I think that would be a guarantee
[77:40] for your health.
[77:42] Usually at home, these plants act like
[77:44] a filter to help me purify the air, but
[77:47] having a better system in the car is
[77:49] just fantastic.
[77:52] I mean, I wouldn't just buy a plant
[77:54] because I like it and stick it into a
[77:56] flower bed or a pot. Instead, I bring
[77:59] all its neighbors along too.
[78:00] Mm.
[78:02] I try my best to find out what was
[78:04] originally around you and restore that
[78:06] environment as much as possible, and
[78:08] then I discover the state it presents
[78:10] in that moment. It's something you
[78:12] never imagined before. In your
[78:16] interactions with plants, does it give
[78:18] you an attitude toward life, like
[78:20] enjoying life while you're living it?
[78:23] I haven't really thought through my
[78:25] attitude yet.
[78:26] Mm.
[78:27] I just feel that as long as I can take
[78:28] good care of them, that's enough. So do
[78:30] you publish papers within this academic
[78:33] system?
[78:34] I don't think I'm at that level or time
[78:36] yet, because deep down I know I'm still
[78:39] failing; I am someone who often denies
[78:42] myself.
[78:42] Mm.
[78:44] The thing I'm best at is
[78:45] self-reflection.
[78:46] What is one thing you recently denied
[78:48] yourself over?
[78:49] I am currently tearing down my rooftop
[78:51] garden that I spent three years on. It
[78:53] was once beautiful, breathtaking; no
[78:54] matter if it was photos or videos,
[78:56] everyone would think it was amazing if
[78:57] I posted them. Mm.
[78:59] And my fish too—I raised them from
[79:01] tiny fish to over ten pounds, they were
[79:04] huge.
[79:04] Everyone who keeps fish said that for a
[79:06] first-timer, managing to get them
[79:07] through two winters in Beijing was very
[79:09] impressive. But now, I declare it a
[79:11] failure. I think that's the moment you
[79:14] pay your tuition fee—the moment you
[79:16] think you're doing pretty well.
[79:17] Uh-huh.
[79:18] This year, just two simple mistakes of
[79:21] mine. Led to a total loss. One was
[79:26] during winter maintenance; to keep it
[79:29] warmer, I sealed the film up completely
[79:31] for insulation. But it ended up being
[79:35] too sealed, and it became airtight.
[79:38] And because I didn't prune in the
[79:40] autumn, it grew too densely over three
[79:42] years, which then caused issues inside.
[79:45] Once the mold broke out, it caused the
[79:47] entire wall to become infected. Oh.
[79:51] And then, the fish pond was the same;
[79:54] because I was successful every time, I
[79:57] slowly grew careless, so in the spring,
[80:00] I didn't do the routine disinfection
[80:02] work. I went and bought some new fish.
[80:06] After bringing in the new fish, it
[80:09] caused some cross-infection problems.
[80:11] And then, it also led to some
[80:13] cold-related issues. I treated it like
[80:15] a cold, not realizing it might have
[80:17] been a virus. Mm.
[80:19] The whole tank was wiped out. So, all I
[80:22] did every day was scoop out fish, dead
[80:24] fish. You feel really miserable.
[80:26] Mm.
[80:28] Then you reflect on yourself, reviewing
[80:30] every moment and every step, because I
[80:32] firmly believe that good things can
[80:34] turn into bad things, but at the same
[80:37] time, bad things can just as well turn
[80:39] into good ones.
[80:40] Mm.
[80:42] So I felt that maybe my system needed
[80:45] an upgrade. My understanding of these
[80:49] species probably still had many
[80:51] limitations, so I kept changing, moving
[80:54] , and evolving. And I felt, well, I
[80:59] couldn't let it...I’ve gained a lot
[81:04] today. First, seeing someone who loves
[81:07] fish more than I do is quite comforting
[81:10] . I’ve always felt guilty about
[81:12] hoarding, but this guy hoards ten times
[81:14] more than I do, and his things are much
[81:17] more troublesome—he hoards living
[81:19] creatures, he has to take care of his
[81:21] fish, and he manages every single thing
[81:24] himself. And I’m not joking,
[81:26] everything he calls "ruined" is what I
[81:28] consider to be in its best state. If I
[81:30] still have fish swimming in my
[81:32] saltwater tank, I already consider it a
[81:34] huge success. My definition of a ruined
[81:36] saltwater tank is when all the fish are
[81:39] actually dead. He showed me his garden
[81:41] and said it was in a "ruined" state.
[81:43] There were still six koi swimming
[81:45] around in there, and the water was even
[81:47] steaming. To me, that’s top-tier, yet
[81:50] he called it ruined. His standards are
[81:53] just...I think a lot of your aesthetic
[81:58] comes from the attention you pay to
[82:00] details.
[82:01] Mm.
[82:02] Beauty is, in fact, different for
[82:04] everyone.
[82:05] Mm.
[82:06] As for details, I feel that details are
[82:09] often where the fun lies. Right.
[82:11] Yes, the interesting parts are often
[82:13] hidden in the details.
[82:14] Details provide a sense of touch and
[82:16] other sensory experiences, because
[82:18] beauty isn’t just visual; it involves
[82:20] other senses too. Like in Northern
[82:21] Europe, they have this "Scandinavian"
[82:24] design that takes streamlines and
[82:26] textures into account. Look at Volvo,
[82:28] for example. I really like how they
[82:30] apply wood veneer. If you just applied
[82:33] a thin sheet without that curve, it
[82:35] would just feel like a piece of veneer.
[82:37] But with that curve, it feels like a
[82:39] solid block of wood. Indeed.
[82:41] So a small detail can make you feel a
[82:43] sense of refined quality, and Volvo is
[82:45] often bundled with safety. Sometimes
[82:47] when I fasten its seatbelt, I think,
[82:50] isn't this just buckling up for safety?
[82:52] Then, when they are actually building a
[82:54] car, they conduct extensive technical
[82:57] safety analyses. They have collected
[82:59] and analyzed real-world accident data
[83:01] from over 40,000 vehicles and 70,000
[83:03] passengers for use in safety research.
[83:06] si
