This is no exaggerated story or staged performance, but my genuine life as a 38-year-old single man dwelling on a big city’s suburban outskirts. Caught between two life stages, I can no longer compete with young graduates for jobs, yet I am nowhere near the age to retire and rest. Once ambitious for a promising career and a happy family, I am now out of work and living frugally all by myself.
Without steady salary, I slash all extra spending and cook basic Chinese home food daily instead of ordering takeout. My routine is monotonous: wake up without morning alarms, hunt for occasional odd jobs, finish housework and spend spare time alone. Free from office conflicts and tedious blind dates, my quiet lifestyle looks carefree to outsiders, yet constant anxiety lingers beneath the calm surface.
The invisible 35-year-old age limit altered my fate entirely. Widespread age discrimination locked me out of regular employment, while the dating market ruled me out for marriage. With no nearby family or close friends to talk to, I curb personal wants and scrape along day by day, never abandoning hope completely.
Most viewers only witness my plain daily routine, yet they never know the full story. What series of misfortunes pushed me into unemployment and lonely suburban living?

Written by Li. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 International License.
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