In this short scene, we learn that the narrator is drunk, and that he has just turned down a date with a man named Luqian. He asks his friend to help him get sober, but the friend refuses, saying that he was just trying to get himself killed. The two of them exit, and the narrator tells us that he is now sober. He says that he did not want to talk about the man he likes, because he was afraid that the man would beat him up if he did talk about him. He then tells the friend to squeeze his smile, and they exit. The narrator asks the friend if they can go to another part of town, but he refuses to go anywhere. The friend tells him that they are not allowed to go to crowded places, so they should go to a quieter place. The man tells the narrator that he will not be able to get sober if he does not stop talking about the guy he likes. He tells the man to stop talking nonsense, or he will be beaten up by the man if he talks about him at all. The men exit, leaving the narrator alone with his friend. He is so drunk that he can barely speak, and he is afraid that his mouth is covered in blood. He tries to get him to whisper to him, but his friend refuses to listen, saying, "I was