Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Embracing Vulnerability: A Startup Founder's Journey to Strength
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/embracing-vulnerability-a-startup-founders-journey-to-strength

Story Transcript:

Zh: 秋天的早晨，创业孵化器外面，落叶随着风儿轻轻飘舞。
En: On an autumn morning, outside the startup incubator, fallen leaves gently swayed with the wind.

Zh: 玻璃窗透出柔和的阳光，映照在里面忙碌的人们身上。
En: Soft sunlight streamed through the glass windows, illuminating the busy people inside.

Zh: 梁坐在他的电脑前，直视着屏幕。
En: Liang sat in front of his computer, staring intently at the screen.

Zh: 他的内心充满紧张，今天是他向投资人展示项目的日子。
En: His heart was full of tension, as today was the day he would present his project to the investors.

Zh: 孵化器里的气氛总是紧张而充满活力，白板上写满了各种想法。
En: The atmosphere in the incubator was always tense yet vibrant, with the whiteboard filled with various ideas.

Zh: 梁的健康状况一直是个秘密。
En: Liang’s health condition had always been a secret.

Zh: 他不愿让团队知道他的慢性病，每天只能小心谨慎地掩饰疲惫。
En: He didn’t want the team to know about his chronic illness, carefully concealing his fatigue every day.

Zh: 此时，他的身体早已发出警告，但他不想看起来脆弱。
En: At this moment, his body had long been sending warning signals, but he didn’t want to appear vulnerable.

Zh: 想到即将到来的投资会议，他深吸一口气，希望今天一切顺利。
En: Thinking about the upcoming investor meeting, he took a deep breath, hoping that everything would go smoothly today.

Zh: 美是梁的女友，在旁边的初创公司工作。
En: Mei, Liang’s girlfriend, worked at a neighboring startup.

Zh: 她总是细心观察，知道梁的健康问题。
En: She was always attentive and aware of Liang's health issues.

Zh: 她担心梁过度工作，但她不想干涉太多。
En: She worried about Liang overworking himself but didn’t want to interfere too much.

Zh: 这天早晨，她端来一杯温暖的茶，轻声问，“你准备好了吗？请记得休息，别太勉强自己。”
En: This morning, she brought him a warm cup of tea and softly asked, “Are you ready? Please remember to rest and don’t push yourself too hard.”

Zh: 梁微微一笑，点点头。
En: Liang smiled slightly and nodded.

Zh: 他知道美的关心，但他不愿在这个关键时刻显露任何弱点。
En: He appreciated Mei’s concern, but he didn’t want to show any weakness at this critical moment.

Zh: 会议开始，投资人们个个神情严肃，
En: The meeting began, and the investors all wore serious expressions.

Zh: 梁努力地演讲，展示他的技术产品。
En: Liang worked hard to deliver his presentation, showcasing his tech product.

Zh: 就在他即将结束的时候，身体突然感到一阵刺痛和虚弱，他的手隐约颤抖，但作为习惯感激的，脸上依旧保持着微笑。
En: Just as he was about to conclude, a sudden pain and weakness overcame him, his hand faintly trembling, yet he maintained a habitual smile of gratitude on his face.

Zh: 会议结束后，梁感到精疲力竭。
En: After the meeting, Liang felt utterly exhausted.

Zh: 他明白他的隐瞒无法再继续，于是决定坦诚面对。
En: He realized he could no longer continue hiding his condition and decided to face it honestly.

Zh: 晚上，美回到家，他对她说出一切。
En: That evening, when Mei returned home, he told her everything.

Zh: 他低声说：“美，我累了，我的病情加重了。”
En: In a low voice, he said, “Mei, I'm tired, and my condition is worsening.”

Zh: 美紧握他的手，坚定地说：“我们会一起面对。
En: Mei held his hand firmly and said, “We will face this together.

Zh: 你不必独自承担。
En: You don’t have to bear it alone.

Zh: 让团队知道，他们会理解和支持你。”
En: Let the team know, they will understand and support you.

Zh: 第二天，梁召集团队开会，讲述了自己的情况。
En: The next day, Liang called for a team meeting and shared his situation.

Zh: 出乎意料，大家立刻表示理解与支持，甚至提出调整他的工作量和时间。
En: Unexpectedly, everyone immediately expressed their understanding and support, even suggesting adjustments to his workload and schedule.

Zh: 他感到心中一块大石落地，意外地找到了轻松的感觉。
En: He felt a heavy weight lift from his heart, surprisingly finding a sense of relief.

Zh: 在中秋节的晚上，团队聚集在孵化器外，赏月一起分享月饼。
En: On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the team gathered outside the incubator to admire the moon and share mooncakes.

Zh: 月光下，梁环顾挚友，心中涌起温暖。
En: Under the moonlight, Liang looked around at his close friends, warmth flooding his heart.

Zh: 他终于明白，脆弱并不是缺点，支持才是他真正的力量源泉。
En: He finally understood that vulnerability was not a flaw, but support was his true source of strength.

Zh: 秋风轻拂，伴着银色月光，他许下一个愿望：创业路上，携手共进，共同创造美好未来。
En: The autumn breeze gently blew, accompanied by the silvery moonlight, as he made a wish: On the entrepreneurial journey, to advance hand in hand, creating a beautiful future together.


Vocabulary Words:

• autumn: 秋天
• incubator: 孵化器
• swayed: 飘舞
• illuminating: 映照
• intently: 直视
• tension: 紧张
• chronic: 慢性
• concealing: 掩饰
• vulnerable: 脆弱
• fatigue: 疲惫
• interfere: 干涉
• attentive: 细心
• trembling: 颤抖
• gratitude: 感激
• exhausted: 精疲力竭
• worsening: 加重
• firmly: 紧握
• understand: 理解
• support: 支持
• adjustments: 调整
• workload: 工作量
• relief: 轻松
• admire: 赏
• moonlight: 月光
• vulnerability: 脆弱
• flaw: 缺点
• strength: 力量
• entrepreneurial: 创业
• journey: 路上
• hand in hand: 携手共进