A Love Story in the Urban Village

A tall, lean delivery guy and a fair-skinned massage shop assistant who's just started working

They work hard during the day, earn money, and keep their minds on the job.

At night, back in their little rented room... they work hard planning their future together.

The midday sun blazed overhead.

Song Hao parked his electric bike outside Honghong Wellness, planting one long leg on the ground to steady it.

The massage shop door opened, and a girl with straight bangs came bouncing out. She wore the standard black short-sleeved uniform, and her two pale arms flashed before Song Hao's eyes.

Song Hao took off his helmet, ruffled his hair with a couple of quick swipes, and smiled at her.

His skin was tanned dark, and the skin over his flushed cheekbones was peeling a little. When he smiled, a canine tooth showed. Despite the face weathered by wind and sun, a trace of youthful innocence remained.

He waved the paper bag in his hand. "Honey, look what I brought you!"

Yu Zhizhi's round eyes lit up. She took it from him, excited but also a little concerned.

"Milk tea is so expensive! Hongjie ordered some a few days ago, and each cup was twenty or thirty yuan. Why'd you buy this?"

She eagerly opened the bag to see what flavor it was.

Song Hao wiped his hands on his pants and pinched her soft cheek.

"A customer didn't want it, so I hurried over to bring it to you."

His phone kept ringing: Your delivery is about to be late. Please deliver it immediately.

Yu Zhizhi felt a warmth in her heart. Holding the milk tea, her face a little red, she murmured, "You could've drunk it yourself. It's so hot out. Why'd you come all this way to bring it to me...?"

Song Hao grinned. "I can't tell the good stuff from the bad. Besides, my wife gets the best of everything." He waved her off. "Get inside. It's too hot out here."

Yu Zhizhi ran a couple of steps toward the massage shop, then turned back. "I'll give you a massage tonight. I paid extra close attention in class today, and Hongjie even praised me."

Song Hao put his helmet back on, smiled at her, and rode away.

Life was so good with a wife, Song Hao thought. No wonder the old folks always said a wife and kids, and a warm bed, were the best things in life.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Yu Zhizhi, steady and happy.

Theme: Work hard and strive forward, and life will keep getting better