In 2026, the "Hyperscale Economic Era" has brought unprecedented global prosperity, driven by Nautlix Inc.’s breakthroughs in AI, nuclear fusion, and terraforming. With the world population at 16 billion, nations have transformed into sprawling, vertical megalopolises. China and the U.S. lead as dominant G2 superpowers, fueled by astronomical GDPs and advanced robotics.

Against this backdrop, 32-year-old Mei lives on the 160th floor of a Shanghai skyscraper. While the world celebrates its technological evolution, Mei faces the persistent, harsh realities of daily life. She confides in her husband about a friend, Ling, whose struggle with infertility is compounded by the exorbitant costs of medical care. Despite the immense national wealth, access to essential treatments remains a financial barrier for ordinary citizens. As Mei sits in their high-rise home, the story highlights a poignant irony: while humanity has mastered the planet and the economy, the fundamental, personal challenges of the human condition remain stubbornly unchanged in this new, hyper-scaled world.