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This Chinese drama offers Westerners a rarely seen glimpse of life on the streets of Beijing. In many respects it is a love story that centers on the aimless goldfish tender Lixin, who when not working, enjoys hanging out in the lobbies of movie theaters. Lixin is sort of in love with the adorable Zhuzhu, a mediocre dancer working in a government-sponsored dance troupe that frequently tours China's remote villages. Zhuzhu hates performing for peasants and so decides to give up dancing to study abroad. Lixin's dismay is eased by Zhuzhu's friend Haiying who quickly moves in to offer him comfort and love. Soon afterward, Haiying tries to inspire ambition in the lazy Lixin, but her cajoles and coercion fails. She still manages to convince him to accompany her to San Francisco and begin working with her uncle there. They are just about to board the plane, when Lixin spies Zhuzhu in the crowd. Quickly changing his mind, he grabs Haiying and refuses to board the plane. Unfortunately, social convention demands that they not return home lest they lose face. Instead, they head for Beijing, find a seedy apartment in the ghettos and begin trying to survive. To placate his distant mother, he sends her bogus letters about all the fun they are having in the US. Still aimless, Lixin spends most of his time asleep and this infuriates Haiying who decides to leave. Fortunately, Lixin encounters his beloved Zhuzhu before it is too late.