Black and white stones fall, and storms rise in the world of the wealthy. Is a game of Go a stepping stone to rising from the bottom, or a trap that leads to the depths of desire? Chen Moxiang, a low-level Go instructor consumed by the desire to climb the social ladder, uses his exquisite skill at the game to break into the elite Go circle of the Lin Group, where he meets Lin Wanqing, a wealthy heiress who loves Go. Hiding behind a gentle and composed facade, he plans his every move, using Go as an excuse to ingratiate himself with the wealthy. From a player in the dust, he gradually climbs into the dazzling upper class. A game of Go is like life: once a stone is placed, there is no taking it back. But the human heart is hard to read, and every disguise will eventually be exposed. When his gentle mask shatters and desire runs unchecked, the contest of Go gradually becomes a struggle between human natures. The glamour and coldness of the wealthy, the struggles and resentment of the underclass, and the fierce clash between conscience and ambition are all hidden within these seemingly tranquil games. Open this book and watch as a stunning upheaval of desire, class, and human nature slowly unfolds with every move.
Theme: Class and human nature, urban desire
