Urban Life: I Fish for Goddesses in Jiangnan

Others fish for fish. Xie Yan fishes for the beauty of the world. Living in a two-courtyard siheyuan by West Lake, with white walls and dark tiles framed by the misty rain of Jiangnan, Xie Yan has no interest in business rivalries or fame and fortune. All he wants is a fishing rod in hand and a quiet spot by the lake. Others tease him for being laid-back and choosing to lie flat, but only he knows that the lake breeze and the people on its shores are the rarest sights in the world. He is a hidden master, living in a peaceful little courtyard amid the bustle of the city. Koi swim in its pond and the air is fragrant with tea; step outside, and the beauty of West Lake awaits. At dawn, he casts his line and watches the sunrise tint the water. In the afternoon, he sits at ease and listens to the wind whisper through the willows. He only wanted to be a carefree fishing enthusiast, but with every cast, he keeps meeting women who take his breath away. A gentle, cultured Jiangnan beauty; a dazzling, spirited city girl; a lively, playful girl next door; a cool, otherworldly goddess; and a sweet, gentle older sister with a healing presence all enter his fishing hours, one after another. Some linger because of a chance encounter over a fishing rod, while others are drawn by the courtyard’s charm. By West Lake, beneath the weeping willows, and beside the stone paths, they share tender, heartwarming stories with Xie Yan. There are no melodramatic conflicts, only romance that unfolds like a gentle stream. Fishing is the excuse; falling in love is the truth. With his rod as matchmaker and the lake as witness, Xie Yan wins the hearts of lovely women and holds on to the peaceful pleasures of his courtyard amid Jiangnan’s misty rain. One courtyard, one rod, one beautiful lake, and lovely women by his side. Watch a laid-back fishing enthusiast find the most moving romance in the most beautiful part of Jiangnan.