The chapter opens with a flashback to a time when the narrator was a student at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the student government, and his mother was the head of the school's women's club. The narrator tells us that his mother's identity was revealed to him when he was injured by a snakebite. He is worried that his mom will find out about his injury and threaten to reveal his secret. He tells his mom that he has already seen a doctor about his wound and that he does not need to apply any cream on it. He also tells her that there are still "extremely dangerous ones" lurking around. He warns her not to tell anyone about them, as they are "almost extinct" . He then tells her about the venomous insects that are still around. They grow by robbing other insects of their food, and sometimes they will even eat the insects' own kind. He adds that he will never encounter one of these insects, as the insects are very dangerous. He asks her if she is friends with her mother, and she replies that she is not. She tells him that she was the one who had been bothering her, and that she will not be friends with anyone now. She then tells him about the sports discussion that is about to take place. She says that the publicity department is short of people to do a favor for her, so she is happy to work for him. She asks what happened between her and xia, and he says that he saw her talking with her, but that he did not mind her talking to xia. She explains that she has a band-aid on her hand, and so she always takes it with her when she gets hurt. She also tells the narrator that