The Soapbox: the sleeping employee

One partner here, the other there. Different cities for some. Separate homes in the same crowded metro for others. And strangely, they all say the distance keeps them together. Is planned weekend intimacy the future of love, or just a slow goodbye? / Would you give up your lunch break to go home early (14:02)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

One of the biggest auto shows in history is happening right now in Beijing, with nearly 1,500 vehicles and over 180 world premieres. But this isn't just about shiny new models. China is rewriting the rules of the road, from next generation batteries to smarter assisted driving. So what are the biggest trends coming out of Beijing, and how will they reshape the cars you drive? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

On this week's edition of The Soapbox, a young woman in southern China has stirred up controversy. She posted about taking a five hour nap at her company in protest of what she calls a low salary. Online, she received very little support. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

At the Sixth Asian Beach Games in Sanya, the wind and waves become part of the game, where every move looks effortlessly shaped by the sea. But how does an entire city transform into the main stage? This is where sport meets the shoreline, and the result is anything but ordinary. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

To close our World Book Day series, Round Table invites you into two richly different worlds: Lu Min's "Dinner for Six" and Di An's "Dear Fengmi", read by authors themselves.

National Reading Week has come and gone. According to a fresh report, China's online literature scene isn't just bigger than ever; it's a genuine economic force. / Also today, we wrap up our distinguished Chinese author series with its fifth and final guest, writer Ren He. He shares a book that deeply resonates with him: "I Clean Up Garbage in a Wasteland World." (10:54) On the show: Steve, Yushun & Yushan.

AI can already book your hotel and order your food. Now it's coming for your ride. In China, platforms are turning ride-hailing into a single sentence. You say what you need, like a smooth trip, a stop along the way, or a car that fits a child or a pet, and AI handles the rest. On the show: Steve, Yushun & Yushan.

A stranger shatters a car window not to steal, but to save. He grabs an AED from the back seat and uses it to rescue a life. If a single device works that fast, and a stranger risked everything to get it, why don't we all have one? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

April 23 is World Book Day. Across China, a week-long celebration of reading has been taking place. And more specifically in Nanchang, the Fifth National Reading Conference has turned books into something more: experiences that blend history, poetry, and cutting-edge technology. / Book recommendation from Chinese writer Lu Min (19:59) On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

Writer Di An wrote the books that defined your teenage years. Now she's writing for the adult you've become. In this third episode of our World Book Day series, we talk about "Dear Fengmi," a novel about a single mom, a twice-divorced man, and a little girl named Honey who asks why ice cream melts. / Does diamond still mean love for eternity to you (14:22)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan