The chapter opens with a conversation between tian and his father. tian asks his father what his plans are after being fired from his job. He tells his father that he does not want to leave Beijing because there are people there that he cant let go. He also tells tian that he has always acted according to rules and regulations and that the company will compensate him for any breach of contract he may have committed. The father tells his son that although he knows that tian is not always on his father's side, he is not doing this because of the "silly bamboo-looking" girl. He says that it is better for tian to work for himself than for a fool to do it for him. He adds that he used to respect tian as his senior, and that he will not make him hate him for his entire life. He asks tian if he is willing to be his best friend forever and to be tian's best friend for the rest of his life.