The story follows the elephant keeper in the Beijing Zoo who maintains an aquarium of fish in her home (hence the two-animal title), and her lesbian lover, a fabric saleswoman in an outdoor market. Her relationship is tested, however, when her recently divorced mother returns to town in the hope of setting her daughter up in marriage. Further complicating matters is one of Xiaoqun's ex-lovers also returning to her life with the law in pursuit.

来自四川的少女刘小群（潘怡 饰）是北京动物园的饲养员，她独自居住在一间地下室内，平时只与动物做伴，过着平静孤单的生活。远在老家的母亲很是为女儿的婚事发愁，在母亲的督促下，小群一次次和陌生的男人们约会，如同例行公事一般。

Une vendeuse de vêtements quitte son copain pour une gardienne de zoo que sa maman essaie désespérément de marier. Les braves gens s'offusquent, le bonheur est un combat.