Tender as water is a word in China's Chinese. Metaphor is tender and lingering (generally between men and women). From Song and Qin Guan's "Queqiao Fairy": "Tender feelings are like water, and rituals are like dreams."

From: [Song] Qin Guan's "Queqiao Fairy": "The thin clouds are smart, the flying stars spread grievances, and the silver Han is dark. On the seventh day of autumn dew and autumn, it is time to meet, mostly those who are together in the world, but the appearance of husband and wife. Common complaint against acacia, tender feelings like water, meet each other as if it were a dream, when it is hard to see the bridge. If you are in love for a long time, it will be sooner or later. "