Three Lives of Radiant Beauty

That year, Zhao Yanran moved into Number 48 Jinan Street as a temporary guest. Liang Zongnan told her that the "Ji" in the street's name came from his eldest brother, and the "Nan" came from him.

Eighteen-year-old Zhao Yanran asked innocently, "Why isn't my name in it?"

Later, watching people come and go at his side, she learned that no one could leave their name in Liang Zongnan's world.

He was gentle to everyone, which was really just another way of being cruel to everyone.

So one rainy night, Zhao Yanran pushed open Liang Zongnan's door. Beyond the heavy curtain of rain, he stood outside the entrance and looked back at her, speaking gently:

"Yanran, I'm not a good man."

Zhao Yanran smiled faintly. "I'm not asking for anything to come of this."

-

Everyone knew that the young woman Liang Zongnan had kept by his side for four years flew to Paris as soon as she graduated from college and never came back.

Liang Zongnan carried on as usual, but from then on, he never mentioned Zhao Yanran again.

Until one winter day, when Zhao Yanran came to collect her father's ashes.

As the car drove to Number 48 Jinan Street, it passed an alley she had never seen before.

Huizhou-style buildings, with white walls and gray-tiled roofs. Some great immortal had somehow carved out a plot of land in the historic preservation district, where every inch was worth a fortune, and renovated this alley.

Zhao Yanran asked, "Does this alley have a name?"

Liang Zongnan kept his gaze fixed on her and answered slowly, "Yanran Alley."

-

The year they married, Nanyan Temple closed its doors to visitors to pray for their happiness and safety.

Incense smoke curled along the way, and the Buddha's chants never ceased.

Carrying his bride in his arms, Liang Zongnan walked back from Yanran Alley to Number 48 Jinan Street.

Reader's guide:

Slow burn, slice of life, heartwarming

Theme: Only by exploring different lives can we gain deeper insight