Amid China’s rapid urbanization, countless young people from small towns migrate to big cities in pursuit of opportunity and a sense of belonging in the bustling urban landscape. However, without access to higher education or financial support, many find themselves trapped in low-paying, menial jobs, struggling with feelings of isolation and uncertainty about their future.

Some young women seek stability and emotional solace through intimate relationships, hoping to ease their loneliness and hardships. Yet, in doing so, they often find themselves constrained by their partners’ limitations, sacrificing their own growth and aspirations.

Drawing from these observations, I have portrayed moments from the life of Ayun, a hair-washing girl, and her live-in boyfriend, capturing the quiet helplessness and solitude of ordinary individuals navigating life in the big city.