168: magic

Thousands of homes were brightly lit.

It was Chinese New Year. Some were reuniting with family at home, while others were cooped up alone in rented apartments.

There were also workers gathered together, unable to go home for the New Year, and even more people still traveling on the road.

Some migrant workers were still sitting at their workstations, working with tired expressions.

As for the Spring Festival Gala, it was just background music playing off to the side.

But this year's Spring Festival Gala seemed a little different.

First, there was an amusing crosstalk that made people roar with laughter, followed by a few auspicious songs.

This immediately piqued the interest of most viewers.

The prelude to the current song was also very stirring, making everyone think it was another festive and joyful song.

But who would have thought, once the singer's voice came out, it was incredibly soft.

"Find some free time~ find some time~"

Qian Jiejing was eating a late-night snack in her rented apartment while listening to this song.

She hadn't gone home this year due to work, and her parents had nagged and worried about her quite a bit because of it.

But she couldn't help it; the company only gave her ten days of annual leave, and she had an urgent project on hand recently.

Even if she went back, she would probably only be able to stay home for two days.

The round-trip fare alone would be considerable, and traveling would also waste time.

Although she really missed her parents, going back was too much trouble, so she could only give up.

"Mom has prepared some nagging~ Dad has arranged a table full of good food~"

Hearing this, Qian Jiejing's mind suddenly replayed her parents' words from their phone call a few days ago.

"Daughter, when are you coming home this year? Don't you like pickled chili peppers? Your dad pickled them a long time ago, just waiting for you to come back for New Year's."

"Ah, you can't come back? Oh dear, why is your company like this, not letting people rest all year round..."

"When you're out alone, you must pay attention to safety. Send us more messages when you have nothing to do."

"What are you planning to eat for New Year's? It's a bit quiet at home this year since you're not here, haha..."

The song in her ears continued, but her thoughts drifted far, far away for some reason.

For some reason, she suddenly started to miss home.

"Ding ding ding..."

A phone rang, and Qian Jiejing answered, "Mom."

"Hey," the voice on the other end was joyful, "What's my daughter doing?"

Qian Jiejing: "Watching the Spring Festival Gala."

"We're watching it too, this year's Spring Festival Gala is really good. Daughter, have you eaten enough? Are you cold?"

"come home often, come home often~ even if..."

"Mom..." Qian Jiejing stared at her phone, as if she had made up her mind.

"I want to go home. Can I still eat pickled chili peppers if I go back now?"

The other end seemed to be stunned by her sudden words, and after a moment, she spoke, "What's wrong? Didn't you..."

She seemed to want to say, 'Didn't you say you weren't coming home before?' but quickly swallowed the words.

"Yes! Of course, you can! Forget about pickled chili peppers, I'll make whatever you want to eat when you get back!"

Qian Jiejing hummed in acknowledgment, a smile appearing on her face.

I should still go home, she thought to herself.

Even if she could only stay for two days, it would be good to see her parents and spend time with them.

Just like the song says, elderly parents don't ask for great contributions from their children, only for family reunion.

At this moment, people far from home were listening to the song "come home often."

Who knows how many people decided to go home temporarily, and who knows how many shed tears while listening.

The melody of this song is joyful, and it's sung joyfully.

But why does it make people want to cry?

For a time, the online discussions about this song were incredibly heartfelt.

[I'm 42 this year, working at a construction site in another city. I can't go home this year, sigh. I originally thought it was nothing, we can usually meet in the holographic space, but hearing this song still makes me sad. My parents are getting old, and I don't know how many more times I'll be able to see them.]

[Grandma, I miss you. It's a pity we can never meet again. If only I had visited you more often back then.]

[The more I think about it, the more I feel I really should go home more often. Everyone is busy with work now, and we only get to go home for the Spring Festival once a year. Counting it like that, there aren't many days a family can be reunited in a lifetime, sigh.]

[Ahhhhhhh! My boss sent me to Central Continent, and I want to go home too, but it's really far. No matter how much we meet in the holographic pod, it's not real!]

It's true that the holographic pod has made things much more convenient in this world, but not every family can afford a holographic pod.

Even if they can afford it, families usually only buy one or two; no one buys a holographic pod for every single person.

This thing is not cheap.

For New Year's, a family definitely needs to be reunited, and it's impossible for every family member to have a holographic pod.

Moreover, a family lying in holographic pods to reunite would be too strange.

Anyway, at this moment, the song "come home often" deeply touched many people's hearts.

On this special day, everyone wanted to reunite and see relatives they hadn't seen in a long time.

After the performance, Ye Bai applauded from the audience.

He had to admit, the female singer chosen was excellent; the moment she opened her mouth, Ye Bai almost thought he had traveled back in time.

This was his first time watching the Spring Festival Gala live, and listening to the familiar song put him in a good mood.

After a few more acts, the host on stage began, "I wonder if you've ever read 'one thousand and one nights'?"

The male host held the microphone, "Hey, isn't that a fairy tale book?"

The female host: "That's right, this fairy tale book describes some very wonderful adventures, and it also mentions magic. I wonder if you believe there's magic in this world?"

The male host: "I definitely don't believe it."

The female host smiled, "That's not necessarily true. The next performer will use his hands to conjure impossible miracles right before all our eyes."

"Oh? Then let's all take a look!" the male host said.

"Alright, let's give a warm round of applause to the magician Chen Chen as he takes the stage!"

In front of the television, Uncle Chen excitedly pointed at the screen, "Chen'er is out!"

"Oh, he looks so handsome in that suit," a villager commented.

"He's really on the Spring Festival Gala, amazing! He's going to be a big star now!"

"Magic? What is magic?"

At this moment, all the viewers in Central Continent watching the Spring Festival Gala were as bewildered as this person.

Magic?

What is that?

Could it really be like in a fairy tale book, where you rub an Aladdin's Lamp and things just appear?

That's impossible to imagine!

They stared at the TV screen and saw a very handsome man, like a celebrity, walk onto the stage.

He spoke into the microphone, "Hello everyone, I am the magician Chen Chen."

"I believe many of you might not understand what magic is right now, but that's okay. Next, I will give you a simple demonstration."

"Let's enter this wonderful world together!"