Desheng Li

I still remember the day I met a sister in a Douyin hiking group, a divorced single mother with a decent appearance and great conversation skills. We both loved listening to crosstalk, sometimes I'd invite her, and sometimes she'd invite me. Gradually, our conversations expanded from crosstalk to our daily lives, interests, and even our expectations for the future. Later, I was afraid we'd get too deep, and I didn't want to beat around the bush, so I told her I wanted a partner but didn't want to get married. She said the same, that she didn't want to remarry after her divorce, and I thought we'd reached an agreement. We continued to communicate, sharing our lives and feeling each other's warmth. But as time passed, I began to realize the subtlety of this relationship. We both wanted a partner, but we didn't want to get married, and this state of limbo made us feel uncertain. We were both trying to find a balance, satisfying each other's needs without getting too deep. My story with Douyin sister might be a common experience for many people. We're all searching for a connection that satisfies our needs without making us feel trapped. This delicate balance might be the greatest challenge for modern people.