I almost touched the moon

The next afternoon, as soon as Wen Song walked out of the airport arrival hall, he saw Cheng Che, who was holding a cat bag in his hand.

She ran towards him quickly, hugged him, raised her head and smiled, "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." Cheng Che bent down and kissed her, then held the cat bag in front of her and said, "I wanted to take Cece out, but it was too timid. Once it came out of the cat bag, it wanted to get into my arms, so I had to put it inside. Cece, say hello to your mother quickly. Do you miss her?"

Cece was curled up in the cat bag, looking at the outside world with curiosity, ignoring Wen Song.

Wen Song smiled and said, "It seems that it really doesn't miss me at all. It doesn't matter. It's enough that you miss me."

After that, she took Cheng Che's hand and left together, saying as she walked, "I went to the Japanese supermarket in Dusseldorf today and bought beef, eel, and sake. Let's have Sukiyaki tonight. I also want to eat the tempura you made."

"Okay." Cheng Che was also in high spirits. Seeing her coming back alone, he asked in confusion, "Where are my wife's students? I want to treat them to a meal."

"I had something to do this morning at the ESA astronaut centre, and then I went to Düsseldorf to buy some things and get a manicure. They went back to Munich first."

Wen Song explained with a smile, looking somewhat excited, "Let's go home quickly, I have good news to tell you."

"What good news?" Cheng Che asked, "I also have something to discuss with my wife."

"Hehe." Wen Song smiled and remained mysterious, "It's something you will never guess. I'll tell you when we get home."

After arriving home, Cheng Che quickly prepared dinner and sat at the dining table with her to cook Sukiyaki pot.

Wen Song ate a piece of beef that Cheng Che gave her and said approvingly, "It's delicious, Che. Your sukiyaki skills are almost as good as those of Mishima-tei in Kyoto. It's really, really delicious."

"Because the beef I bought today is really good, and since you like sukiyaki so much, and there aren't many good restaurants in Munich, I have to make it with my heart." Cheng Che said, picking up another piece of beef for her, and then asked, "What good news does my wife want to tell me?"

"You go first." Wen Song said, "Although it's good news, it's not completely confirmed yet. I want to hear it from you first."

"Okay." Cheng Che nodded, and then said, "Baby, I want to go to graduate school."

"Ok." Wen Song also nodded, "Is it still construction?"

"Yes." Cheng Che smiled and said, "There haven't been many major competitions in the past two years. I don't really want to participate in next year's World Championships, and I don't lack a World Championship gold medal, so I just need to participate in the World Cup in the next two years to ensure that the points can qualify for the next Winter Olympics."

He added: "I was forced by my father to study architecture. But actually, I also like architecture a little bit, especially after winning the gold medal in the Winter Olympics. I am older now, and I am more interested in architecture than before. It just so happens that I have nothing to do in the past two years, so I can go to graduate school."

"Ok, I fully respect your decision." Wen Song then asked, "Is it still ETH?"

"I haven't decided yet." Cheng Che thought for a while and said, "Actually, I kind of want to apply to TUM's architecture department. TUM's architecture department is also very good, but ETH is a bit far away. Oh, it would be great if you guys at LMU had an architecture department."

Wen Song said, "To be honest, I would suggest you go back to ETH for graduate studies. The architecture department at ETH is better than TUM in terms of both value and teaching quality. You studied undergraduate at ETH, so you will be more familiar with it. You don't have to stay in Munich for me. Zurich is so close, at least we can see each other every week."

"But I also want to try other schools. I don't want to stay in ETH forever." Cheng Che smiled and said, "Wife, TUM's Department of Architecture is really good. I've read their introduction and I like it very much."

"If you really like it, I certainly won't object to you. I just think that in the long run, ETH may be more suitable for you." Wen Song knew that he wanted to apply for a master's degree in architecture at the Technical University of Munich not because he wanted to try a new school, but because he didn't want to be separated from her.

"If you want to try a new school, since you are so good at drawing, why not consider studying for a more artistic master's of architecture? For example, UdK, RCA, AdBK and... I remember that the architecture department of ABKW is also very good."

Wen Song carefully analyzed the situation for him and said, "If you want to apply to these schools, I can ask professors from the Department of Architecture at TUM and AdBK who I know to write recommendation letters for you."

"Vienna Academy of Fine Arts?" Cheng Che couldn't help laughing even though he knew she was serious. "What if I get rejected? I can only come to a pub in Munich to vent my anger."

"Then how about you let me be the principal?" Wen Song also joked with him, "If you let me be the principal, I will open a school of architecture for you."

"Of course, not only will I let you be the principal, I will also personally design a new teaching building for your School of Physics." Cheng Che looked at her jokingly and smiled brightly, "How about it, are you excited?"

"Okay, stop messing around." Wen Song touched his head and said, "I'm serious. But these schools are definitely not as good as ETH in the field of architecture. I hope you can consider it carefully. Overall, ETH is really the best choice. It doesn't matter, it's only two years, and you hardly have to attend classes in the second year, so strictly speaking, it's only one year.

Besides, apart from the lectures, seminars and meetings I have every week, I don’t have to be in school at other times. I can adjust my workday to Monday to Thursday, so that after get off work on Thursday, I can come to Zurich to accompany you. And you don’t have classes every day, right?”

"But you said the same thing when you went to Oxford..." Cheng Che's words suddenly became more worried and fearful, "At that time you also said that Oxford was not far away and we could see each other every week, but you didn't go home for a month."

Wen Song knew that he still felt a little insecure, so he comforted him softly, "That's different. I was so busy back then, and I had to take a plane to London, which was so troublesome. Unlike now, I can drive here right after work, which is very convenient. Besides, if I don't come, can't you come back to Munich to find me?"

"Does my wife really want me to go back to ETH?" Cheng Che confirmed again, "You won't be unhappy because we are in different places, right?"

"It's not that I want you to go back to ETH, I just think you'll have better development there." Wen Song smiled and said easily, "Of course, if after comprehensive consideration you find that you still want to apply to TUM or other schools, I fully support you."

After listening to her, Cheng Che had already made up his mind. Of course, he was most inclined to return to his alma mater for graduate studies, but he was worried that the two of them would be separated. But now it seems that this is not a problem.

"Then can my wife write a recommendation letter for me?" Cheng Che said with a smile, "You have written recommendation letters for so many people, you can't not write one for your own husband."

"Idiot!" Wen Song held his forehead with his hand, "Are you applying for the physics major? If it's physics, it's totally ok. Why should I write a recommendation letter for the architecture department? I said you are my husband and I have seen your design drawings with my own eyes. Although I can't understand them, I think they are beautiful. Be good, I will ask a professor of architecture I know to help you write it."

Cheng Che leaned forward and kissed her, then smiled and said, "I see, I was just joking. I can just ask my undergraduate professor to help me write it, thank you, honey. By the way, honey, please share your good news with me."

"Wait for me a second."

Wen Song said, and took out a document from his bag and handed it to him. Cheng Che took it curiously and took a look. It clearly said "ESA XGR Project Astronaut Application Form".

"This is…"

Cheng Che carefully read the application form and project plan and found that it was a manned space program of the European Space Agency to study astronomy and astrophysics of cosmic X-rays and gamma rays. The purpose was to study the sources of X-rays and gamma rays in the universe through experiments on the International Space Station.

On the application form, Wen Song's personal information and signature were already filled in. The project was scheduled to start on June 4, four years later.

Wen Song said: "I went to the meeting today just for this matter. They hope to have a female scientist participate in this project. Although X-ray and Gamma-ray are not my main research directions, this experimental opportunity is rare, so I signed up, and I will need to go to Cologne every two weeks for astronaut training."

Cheng Che looked at the application form and the thick project plan, feeling mixed emotions. He knew that he could never restrain her. Six years ago, he would not stop her from going to Oxford for a doctorate, and six years later, he would not stop her from giving up the opportunity to go into space.

But besides being happy for her, there was also a bitterness that was hard to conceal.

"Why didn't you discuss it with me first?" Cheng Che sighed and asked, "Such a big thing, you didn't even tell me in advance?"

"I'm telling you right now." Wen Song didn't think there was anything wrong with it. "It's just an application. We're not going into space tomorrow. There are still four years before the estimated launch date. There are seven other candidates besides me. It's not certain that I will be eliminated."

"No..." Cheng Che shook his head and said, "Songsong, what I mean is that this is a big deal. It's not as simple as you want to travel somewhere on a whim today. This is going to space. You are not a pilot, and your health is not very good. You will face many problems, not to mention that there will be many unknown dangers in the space station. We are married now, shouldn't you tell me before making a decision?"

"So you are against me?" Wen Song said with a gloomy face, "Cheng Che, it's useless for you to oppose me. I won't give up."

Cheng Che sighed again and said, "I didn't object, nor did I ask you to give up. I'm very happy for you. It's just... I hope you can tell me in advance before submitting the application, just like I will ask for your opinion on my postgraduate study."

"You don't have to ask for my opinion." Wen Song smiled and said, "Graduate study is your own business, you don't need to discuss it with me."

Cheng Che suddenly felt a little lonely and helpless when he heard her words. She hadn't changed at all. For her, work was work and life was life. She accepted Cheng Che into her life, but she would never allow him to interfere with her work.

He forced a smile and comforted himself, saying, it's okay, at least she informed him in advance. Instead of calling him a second before boarding the spacecraft to tell him that I'm not going home tomorrow and I'm going to space.

After comforting her for a while, Cheng Che did feel better. He served Wen Song another bowl of rice, put a few slices of beef into her bowl and said, "Eat more. You are so thin. Be careful not to be thrown out during the dizziness training."

"Ache, thank you." Wen Song stood up and leaned forward to kiss his cheek, "Thank you for supporting me no matter what I do."

Cheng Che also looked at her and smiled indifferently. Of course, he could only support her because opposing her would not have any effect.