My name is Yi.

I am six years old.

I live in the Beijing Block.

It is the year 2541.

My favourite moment of the day is just before bedtime.

That is when I sit with my mum and dad in the living room and watch the World News together.

I am not usually allowed to stay up this late.

But when the news is on, Dad sometimes makes an exception.

I like that.

Mum sits beside me on the sofa.

Dad sits in his big armchair.

I curl up between them and wait for the football results.

But first, the other news comes.

Tonight, the reporter is standing in front of the new Ethiopia Block.

I have heard about it for years.

My teachers talk about it.

The news talks about it.

Even my grandparents talk about it.

On the screen, a gigantic structure stretches far beyond the horizon.

The camera flies above it.

Higher.

And higher.

And higher.

The farther away the camera moves from Earth, the thinner the structure looks.

Eventually it looks like a long worm lying across a giant sandbox.

I giggle.

"It looks funny."

Dad laughs too.

"A little."

The reporter explains that the block has been completed for three billion people.

Families will finally be able to move in.

Dad nods.

"That is good."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because they finally have a home."

"And because the greening can begin."

I imagine a giant green worm covered with trees and gardens.

I like that picture.

The report continues.

The camera shows wide landscapes outside the blocks.

Forests.

Rivers.

Green plains.

Very few buildings.

Most people live inside the great blocks now.

People live there.

Learn there.

Work there.

Much of the food is grown there too.

Outside the blocks, nature has room to spread.

Dad explained that to me once.

The next report is about an ancient prince's tomb discovered near the Great Wall of China.

The camera follows the wall as it winds over mountains.

Long.

Thin.

Endless.

I frown.

"Mum?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"The Great Wall looks a bit like our blocks."

Mum smiles.

"Yes, it does."

I look more closely.

Long ago, people built giant walls.

Today, people build giant blocks.

That feels strange somehow.

I wonder what children hundreds of years from now will build.

Then the best part finally arrives.

Football.

China has beaten Thailand.

I jump off the sofa.

"YES!"

Dad laughs.

China moves from 51st place to 49th place in the World League rankings.

Still far behind Spain and Argentina.

But better than last week.

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"Will you take me to football practice tomorrow?"

"Of course."

"Right after kindergarten?"

"Right after kindergarten."

I throw both arms into the air.

"Awesome!"

Then the weather forecast appears.

Rain in the morning.

Sunshine in the afternoon.

Perfect.

The weather presenter points to our region.

"Rain until midday. Sunny conditions expected later."

I snuggle closer to Mum.

"It won't rain during football practice."

Mum gently brushes my hair.

"No. The sun will be shining."

Outside, thousands of windows glow in the evening darkness of the Beijing Block.

Somewhere beyond the forests stands the new Ethiopia Block.

And somewhere inside that enormous place, children are probably getting ready for bed too.

Maybe they watched the same news.

Maybe they are excited about football.

Maybe they are wondering what life is like in the Beijing Block.

I yawn.

The news is almost over.

Tomorrow there will be football practice.

And sunshine.

For me, that is the best news in the world.