Around Us

This is a collection of novels about the psychological dilemma and growth and transformation of modern urbanites. It tells the story of nine ordinary people in an ordinary community in Beijing. Here is Lin Xiaoman, a librarian who received no reply after sending messages in the owner group, and she lived as a transparent person in a group of more than 400 people; there is Zhou Yuan, an emergency department nurse who saw an old man falling at the subway station but turned away and fell into the quagmire of the bystander effect; there is Su Xiao, a Chinese teacher who always says "I can't do it", who has regained his confidence in a growth mindset; useful Cheng Yue, a fashion editor who bought a coat that didn't suit her for 30,000 yuan and spent more money to make up for her mistakes; Zhou Xiaoyu, who said "I'm sorry" twenty-seven times in one day; Silence, a programmer who only knows how to solve problems and has no empathy; Zhao Ming, a product manager who numbs his loneliness by relying on takeaways late at night; interns who dare not refuse and newcomers in the workplace who are afraid of being seen. They struggled in their respective predicaments, suffered from insomnia and self-doubt, and finally met in a community reading club. With each other's company and inspiration from psychological knowledge, they learned to face their true selves - setting boundaries, changing habits, accepting vulnerability, and expressing themselves bravely. This is not inspirational chicken soup, but a mirror that reflects on each of us who are working hard to survive in the city.