In a heartwarming yet unconventional gesture, a 27-year-old Chinese man named Tong Aonan captured the attention of the internet with his grand romantic endeavor. He decided to express his affection for his next-door neighbor by creating a stunning mosaic made from 840 Rubik’s cubes. However, despite the thoughtful effort and creativity, Tong’s dream girl turned down the heartfelt gesture.
The Inspiration
Tong Aonan, a mechanic residing in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang, found himself smitten with his next-door neighbor. To express his feelings, he wanted to do something truly unique and memorable. Inspired by his love for puzzles and Rubik’s cubes, Tong decided to create a special gift for the woman who had captured his heart.
Tong embarked on a meticulous planning process, spending two months perfecting his idea. He used digital tools like Photoshop to design the mosaic and visualize how it would look once completed. With the design ready, he invested $460 to purchase 840 Rubik’s cubes, which were later delivered to his apartment.

The next phase involved solving each Rubik’s cube according to the pre-designed pattern. Tong spent countless hours assembling the cubes one by one in a specially crafted wooden frame. The mosaic stood tall at 2.1 meters and was 1.4 meters wide, an impressive piece of art that showcased both his love and puzzle-solving skills.
With the mosaic finally completed, Tong Aonan presented his heartfelt creation to his next-door neighbor, hoping it would convey the depth of his feelings. Unfortunately, she declined his romantic advances, leaving Tong disheartened. However, despite the rejection, Tong remained composed and philosophical about the situation.
Many people couldn’t fathom why the girl had turned down such a heartfelt and geeky declaration of love. They expressed sympathy for Tong and admired his courage to make such a bold and inventive gesture. Tong, however, harbored no ill feelings towards her, appreciating the fact that she accepted the gift despite not reciprocating his feelings.
Dealing with Public Attention
As Tong’s story spread across the internet, he found himself subjected to numerous personal comments and speculations. He appealed to the public to respect the girl’s privacy and stop making personal remarks about her online. Tong proved to be not just a romantic but also a considerate individual, displaying a level of maturity that impressed many.