Soaking Excel Anxiety in Coffee: A Weekend Recovery Diary of Shanghai's Workers

Wandering through Panlong Tiandi, the winding paths of gray bricks and blue tiles suddenly bring a waft of fragrance carried by the breeze. Walking slowly along the stone-paved paths, the road meanders between shops and tea houses. The shop awnings lining the street resemble faded candy wrappers, while a gentle stream glimmers under the sunlight, as if holding a pool of water ready to spill at any moment. Strolling leisurely through the ancient town, I happen upon a coffee shop. Pushing open the door, the room is filled with the rich aroma of coffee. I choose a seat by the window, watching the beams of light filtering through the glass dome, dancing with specks of dust. When the coffee arrives, the creamy surface reflects the shadows of the beams hanging from the ceiling, and you become the playful child outside the window, lost in a myriad of thoughts. Walking through the ancient town, sitting in the coffee shop, gazing at the shimmering light in the cup—suddenly, at this moment, a profound tranquility washes over me, as if shedding the week's work fatigue. Stepping out of the shop, the evening breeze scatters the distant music into the alleys, and the scattered notes fall onto the stone paths, becoming the footsteps of my journey home.