Sixty Years Later, Beijing, CCTV, Recording of Their Lives

The female host, with a gentle demeanor, appeared to be in her fifties. Wearing a light gray suit, she looked composed and poised in front of the camera. “Good evening, dear viewers. Welcome to the weekly *Their Lives* program. I’m your host, Shu Xue.”

Unlike the modern trend of relaxed aesthetics, this host had a classic, timeless elegance. Even her smile adhered to the decades-old standard of showing eight teeth. “Tonight’s guest is different from our previous ones—not the individual themselves, but their daughter. A name many of you will recognize: one of China’s most renowned journalists and editor-in-chief of *Zhishi* magazine, Ms. Li Chen. Let’s welcome her!”

After warm applause from the audience, an elderly woman with snow-white hair and an air of unmatched grace took the stage. Her figure was slim, her complexion fair, and her features sharp. Though her face bore wrinkles and age spots, her elegant demeanor remained undiminished, exuding a charm that only deepened with time.

“Please have a seat, Ms. Li.”

The host’s expression grew more earnest as she greeted her guest, whose kind smile radiated calm confidence.

“Ms. Li, it’s a pleasure to have you join us on this program.”

Li Chen nodded, her smile warm. “The pleasure is mine, Ms. Shu.”

The host offered a handshake, ushering Li Chen to her seat, and the interview began.

“Today must be a particularly special day for you, isn’t it?”

Although Li Chen had been given the script beforehand and knew this was the opening question, she still paused.

After about ten seconds of silence, she brushed back her graying hair and nodded. “Yes, today marks the third anniversary of my father, Mr. Li Wei’s, passing.”

The host sighed sympathetically, partly for the show’s mood but also out of genuine nostalgia. “Time flies. It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since Mr. Li Wei left us. I still remember how we reached out to him three years ago to invite him for a recording. He agreed, but just days before the scheduled date, we learned he had fallen gravely ill and was hospitalized…”

She paused, her tone reflective. “And now, three years later, we are conducting this interview—not with him, but with you.”

Li Chen lowered her gaze, briefly studying the clear glass table in front of her. After a moment, she looked up with a gentle smile. “My father was a man of his word. When he couldn’t fulfill this promise, it weighed heavily on him. Before he passed, he expressed his hope that, if given the chance, I might fulfill this obligation on his behalf.”

Her sincerity struck a chord with the host, who found herself momentarily lost in thought. Li Chen’s expression, her composure—it was remarkably reminiscent of her father.

Three years ago, during Mr. Li Wei’s final days, the host had visited him on behalf of the show. The legendary scholar, once an indomitable figure in academia, lay pale and frail in his hospital bed. Yet even in his silence and stillness, his presence was profoundly reassuring—a testament to the power of a life well-lived.

“Mr. Li Wei lived an extraordinary 92 years, creating numerous milestones in human science. Let’s take a look at some photographs he left behind.”

The host gestured, signaling the team to display photos and clips.

The first image was, naturally, from sixty years ago: a young Li Wei at the Nobel Prize ceremony.

The audience was instantly captivated. The man in the photo, impeccably dressed in a suit, radiated elegance and charm. His handsome features and faint smile gave him the aura of a movie star, not the tireless physicist he was.

Gasps and murmurs filled the room. Many younger attendees, born long after Li Wei’s prime, had only known him as an elder statesman of science. Seeing his youthful vibrancy was a revelation.

The host herself seemed momentarily stunned before smiling. “This photo—I remember seeing it as a child, framed on my mother’s wall. She used to say that Mr. Li Wei was the heartthrob of her generation. He must have had many admirers in his youth.”

Li Chen chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t know for sure, but I imagine he did. My father was an exceptional man.”

The slideshow progressed to a beachside photo. Against a backdrop of blue ocean and golden sand, a young Li Wei held a petite, sweet-looking woman close, his smile warm and gentle.

The host turned to Li Chen. “And this one?”

Her expression softened, her voice filled with fondness. “That’s my father and mother. The photo was taken by my grandmother at the beach in N City, the year I was born.”

The host leaned into the story. “People often say that behind every great man is an equally great woman. From what we know of Mr. Li Wei’s life, your mother, Ms. Zhang Man, supported him through every stage—from their days at B University to Stanford and later to Princeton. In their middle years, they returned to B University to teach and eventually retired together in N City. Her unwavering support is remarkable—a testament to her deep love for your father.”

Li Chen nodded, her smile tinged with nostalgia. “My mother’s support is well-documented. Search for my father online, and most articles highlight her role as the steadfast partner behind his success.”

“But,” she added, her gaze steady, “their relationship was not just about support and companionship.”

“It was about love—and salvation.”

The host raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Salvation? That’s a perspective we’ve never heard before.”

Li Chen’s expression grew contemplative. She fingered the wooden prayer beads on her wrist as she began, “It’s been decades, and most who knew the truth are no longer with us. Even I only learned the full story as an adult, from my mother.”

Her voice trembled slightly. “My father was once diagnosed with severe schizophrenia and delusional disorder. He lost his parents at a young age and spent his childhood in an orphanage, enduring rejection and abuse. These traumas, combined with genetic predispositions, led to his illness. He imagined two non-existent figures—a mother and a playmate—who accompanied him until high school.”

The revelation sent a ripple of shock through the audience.

Li Chen continued calmly, “In his second year of high school, he discovered the truth about his condition. The realization plunged him into severe depression and self-loathing. My mother told me that without her presence and support, he might never have overcome it.”

She went on to recount her mother’s unwavering care, from days spent searching for him to years of patient companionship. To better understand his condition, Zhang Man studied neuroscience and eventually became his personal psychologist.

Her words, though delivered with composure, deeply moved the audience. Tears glistened in the eyes of many young viewers as they absorbed this extraordinary story of devotion.

“For most doctors, treatment is a phase. But for my mother, it was a lifelong mission—a redemption that defined their love.”

As she finished, the host played a clip of Li Wei’s Nobel acceptance speech. The final words resonated deeply:

*”In my life, two things matter most: physics and her. Physics gave me the ability to think in darkness, and she gave me light.”*

The host smiled, applauding softly. “These words, once called the greatest love letter of the 21st century, now carry even deeper meaning.”

Li Chen nodded. “Even my name reflects this sentiment. ‘Chen’ signifies sincere affection, akin to the dawn breaking through the long night. My nickname, ‘Chen Chen,’ also holds that meaning.”