The author defines “the soft class” as the urban middle-income group with unstable foundations in the era of deglobalization. A “soft class society” resembles an “S-shaped society,” characterized by a large base and top but a hollow in the middle. This book offers a profound analysis of the living conditions of this group, unveiling the truth behind the “middle-income trap.” Anchored in four intertwined areas of challenge—housing, career, education, and gender—it unpacks the logic behind the formation of the soft class society. It then argues that individuals should actively pursue personal transformation to embrace a new future with a renewed outlook. This book invites you to re-examine the survival law of our times: maintaining personal integrity amidst change and choosing to invest in growth over anxiety. In the soft class era, the key is not to cling to old paths, but to courageously explore new possibilities. More crucial than hard work are the choices we make and the trends we grasp. May you have knowledge, courage, and optimism, to embrace your own “soft class” epoch where there is no permanent stability, yet infinite opportunities.