In this chapter, the young narrator reflects on his mother's advice to him when he was a child: "watch carefully, Shu yun, watch carefully." This is the first of many times he will repeat the words of his mother. He tells his friends that he wishes he could be the dance partner of one of the students in the opera department. He also tells them that he has a crush on the student, Shu Yun, whom he describes as "a girl can dream." He tells the girls that he just finished a lesson with Shu Yun and that he and the student have grown up together. The two of them have been lovers since the time they were young. The young narrator then tells the other girls that they should take care of Shu Yun because he is so weird. He asks the girls if they think they are romantically involved. The girls agree that they are, and they leave to go watch the talent show.