The scorching sun hung high in the sky, its relentless rays pouring down on every corner of the city. Li Tong rode his electric scooter, skillfully weaving through the traffic. This city seemed to always spend each day in the midst of hustle and bustle, and for him, a deliveryman in this concrete jungle, he had long grown accustomed to this rhythm. Delivering food was tough, but it was enough to maintain a basic living for him and his family. For 32-year-old Li Tong, this job was not just a means of livelihood, but also a bridge between his dreams and reality.

"Today’s luck is not bad; it’s almost lunchtime," Li Tong muttered to himself, a faint smile appearing on his face. He habitually opened his phone to check the upcoming delivery orders. As the screen lit up, a familiar address came into view—it was the order he looked forward to the most.

Zhou Yilin’s name appeared once again on the order. She was a gentle nurse, living in a small but tidy apartment. Every time Li Tong delivered food to her, he felt an indescribable sense of anticipation. He couldn’t suppress the flutter in his heart, even though he knew that between them, it might always be just a regular customer relationship. Every time he saw her, his heart would race, the feeling akin to the shy and eager crush of a schoolboy on the class beauty.

Li Tong followed the familiar route to Zhou Yilin’s apartment building. He took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and then pressed the doorbell. Soon, the door opened, and Zhou Yilin, dressed in casual home attire, greeted him with a gentle smile.

"Li Tong, it’s you again. What a coincidence." Her voice was like the morning breeze, carrying a warmth and softness.

"Yeah, you’ve been ordering a lot lately," Li Tong replied a bit nervously, his eyes showing a trace of tension. His palms were slightly sweaty, and he silently prayed that she wouldn’t notice his awkwardness.

"Work’s been too busy, no time to cook, you know." Zhou Yilin chuckled lightly and casually asked, "Been busy all day? Have you had a chance to eat?"

"Not yet, I’ll grab something when I get back." Li Tong responded casually, but her concern filled him with a warm feeling. For Li Tong, every word from Zhou Yilin was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly lifting his spirits from the day’s exhaustion.

Zhou Yilin nodded, turned, and picked up a bag from the table, handing it to him. "Here, some snacks for you to eat on the road, don’t let yourself go hungry."

Li Tong was a bit surprised as he took the bag, feeling a surge of gratitude in his heart. "Thank you, that’s really thoughtful of you."

"It’s nothing, just some snacks. You work hard delivering food to me all the time." She smiled gently, and her smile seemed to brighten the whole room. "Alright, take care on the road, I won’t keep you from your work."

Li Tong nodded, but a complex emotion surged within him. How he wished he could tell her how he felt, tell her that he looked forward to this brief encounter every day, tell her that every word she said stirred his heart. But he never had the courage to speak up, so he could only silently suppress those feelings.

After saying goodbye to Zhou Yilin, Li Tong rode his scooter back to his simple home. Although he was already 32 years old, his life still seemed to be stuck at a fixed point. He didn’t have a high education, and in this fiercely competitive city, finding a stable and decent job wasn’t easy. So, he continued delivering food. Though the job was hard, the income was decent, at least enough to sustain a living.

He lived in an old residential building. The building was a product of the 1970s, with peeling exterior walls and dim, flickering lights in the stairwell. Li Tong lived on the fifth floor, with no elevator. Climbing up and down every day made him feel like he was undergoing a workout.

As soon as he entered, his mother was sitting on the sofa, watching a family drama on an old-fashioned TV, while his father sat beside her, holding a cup of hot tea. His father’s health had always been poor, and his coughing had become more frequent lately. His mother was deeply worried about this, always urging him to see a doctor, but his father stubbornly shook his head, saying it was just a minor illness, nothing worth mentioning.

"Mom, I’m back," Li Tong said softly as he took off his helmet and walked to the sofa.

His mother looked up and asked with concern, "Was it a tiring day? Why don’t you rest early and don’t overwork yourself?"

"It’s fine, not too tiring. The orders were good today, delivered quite a few, almost enough to cover today’s expenses." Li Tong said while stretching lazily on the sofa. He knew his mother always cared about his work, though she didn’t understand the hardships of food delivery, her concern was genuine.

"Ah Tong, don’t overwork yourself. Your health is important," his father said, setting down his teacup with a hoarse voice. "Your mom keeps telling you to take care of yourself, you better listen to her."

Li Tong looked at his father’s aging face and felt a pang of sadness. He knew his father’s health wasn’t good, but his father always tried to hide it, acting strong so as not to worry him. "Dad, I know, I’ll take care of myself. How’s your cough? Should we go to the hospital?"

His father waved his hand dismissively and forced a smile, "It’s nothing, just an old problem. A few coughs and it’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me, but you should think more about your own future. You’re not getting any younger, don’t just focus on work, you need to think about the future."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

His mother chimed in, speaking earnestly, "Your dad’s right. Ah Tong, you’re not so young anymore, it’s time to think about marriage. We’re getting older, and we’d like to see you settle down and have children."

Li Tong’s heart tightened as Zhou Yilin’s smile flashed in his mind, but he knew the gap between them was too great, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He could only force a smile and say, "Yeah, I’ll think about it."

Li Tong’s mood grew heavier with his parents’ conversation. He knew their concern was heartfelt, but that only made him feel the pressure more intensely. Despite his efforts to change his situation, the harsh reality felt like a mountain pressing down on his shoulders, making it hard to breathe.

Late at night, Li Tong lay in bed, his mind replaying every moment he had spent with Zhou Yilin. Her smile, her voice—every detail repeated in his mind, keeping him from sleep. He knew he had to make a change, but he still didn’t know how to take that first step.

Li Tong took out his phone and opened the food delivery app, carefully reviewing today’s orders. He roughly calculated that his earnings for the day were around 200 yuan. Then, he mentally did some quick math. At this rate, if he delivered food every day, he could save about 3,000 yuan a month. In three years, he could save nearly 100,000 yuan. By then, with a little help from his parents, he could gather enough for a down payment on a small house in the suburbs and start a new life.

But would three years be too long? Would Zhou Yilin wait for him for three years? Li Tong kept asking himself. After a while, he scolded himself for being foolish, "Why would Zhou Yilin wait for me? She doesn’t even know I like her! I’m just a deliveryman, I’m way out of my league! Besides, she’s so outstanding…"

The moonlight outside filtered through the curtains and onto his face. Li Tong lay quietly, staring at the ceiling, his mind full of questions and unease. He knew his life needed a change, or this crush would forever remain a fantasy.

"Maybe, one day, I’ll gather the courage to confess to her," he silently vowed to himself, though he knew that moment had not yet come.

The night grew deeper, with occasional car horns sounding outside. Finally, in the tangle of thoughts, Li Tong slowly drifted into sleep. However, his dreams remained unsettled. In his dream, he saw himself walking side by side with Zhou Yilin, strolling through a park’s shaded paths. Her hand gently held his arm, her face beaming with happiness. Li Tong felt a warmth in his heart, a sense of security and contentment he had never experienced before. However, everything in the dream always seemed distant and unreal.

Suddenly, the scene in his dream changed, the surroundings becoming dark and hazy. Li Tong felt a powerful force approaching, an overwhelming fear gripping his heart. He tried desperately to protect Zhou Yilin, but found himself unable to move. Just as he was falling into despair, his body seemed to erupt with a burning energy, instantly dispelling everything around him.

Li Tong woke up with a start, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but his heart still pounded fiercely. He didn’t know what the dream meant, but the oppressive feeling lingered.

He turned and glanced at the time on his phone—it was already 3 a.m. Li Tong knew that tossing and turning wouldn’t help, so he decided to get up and pour himself a glass of water. He tiptoed out of the

bedroom, careful not to wake his parents.

In the living room, his father was still sitting on the sofa, the lights still on, holding a teacup and staring somewhat dazedly out the window. Li Tong was surprised, not expecting his father to still be awake.

"Dad, why aren’t you asleep?" Li Tong asked quietly, walking over and gently patting his father’s shoulder.

His father came back to his senses, turned to look at him, his eyes showing fatigue and helplessness. "Ah Tong, why aren’t you asleep?"

"I had a dream, couldn’t fall back asleep after waking up. I’m getting some water, you should rest soon too." Li Tong said as he walked to the kitchen and picked up the kettle.

His father sighed, seeming to hesitate before finally speaking, "Ah Tong, I know life isn’t easy for you right now. I’m not trying to push you into anything. Your mom and I just want you to have a good future, but more than that, we want you to stay healthy and not overwork yourself."

Li Tong was taken aback, feeling a surge of emotion. He had never heard his father speak like this before, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. His father had always been strict with him, but deep down, he had always cared, just never willing to show it.

"Dad, I know you both want the best for me. I’ll take care of myself, I won’t push too hard. You need to take care of yourself too, don’t just worry about me." Li Tong sat beside his father with the glass of water, speaking softly.

His father was silent for a while, as if deep in thought. Then, he coughed lightly and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Ah Tong, I’ve been thinking a lot. Your mom and I are getting old, there’s not much more we can do to help you. If you find a good opportunity, go for it, don’t hold back. As for finding a girlfriend, don’t rush. These things can’t be hurried."

Li Tong nodded, feeling a complex mix of emotions. He knew his father’s words were entirely for his sake, but he also understood how vast the gap was between his parents’ expectations and his own reality. He didn’t want to disappoint them, but he also knew that changing his situation would not be easy.

They sat in silence for a while, the atmosphere in the room quiet and heavy. Li Tong tilted his head back to look at the ceiling, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He didn’t know what the future held or whether he could truly change his fate. But he knew he couldn’t continue living in this aimless state; he had to find his own way out.

"Dad, don’t worry about me. I’ll do my best. No matter what, I’ll make sure we’re all okay." Li Tong finally spoke, his tone firm yet gentle.

His father looked at him, nodding slightly, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Good boy, I believe in you. You have to believe in yourself too; there’s no obstacle you can’t overcome."

The night grew darker, and the occasional car horn could be heard on the street outside. Li Tong and his father shared a moment of silence, the distance between them seeming not so far at that moment.

Returning to his bed, Li Tong felt much calmer, but his thoughts remained scattered. He knew he had to make a change, but how to change, how to find his direction, he didn’t yet have the answer.

The moonlight outside still filtered through the curtains, spilling into the room. Li Tong lay on his bed, silently making up his mind. He believed that with enough effort, one day he would be able to change the fate of himself and his family. And as for Zhou Yilin, he also secretly vowed that one day he would muster the courage to confess his feelings to her, to let her know his heart.

That night, Li Tong gradually fell into a deep sleep amidst his countless thoughts. Perhaps his life would continue to be ordinary, but in his heart, the determination and strength to change had already begun to brew. And all of this would eventually change his fate.