In this chapter, we learn that the nineteen-year-old singer-songwriter, Bing Liu, has run away from home and is now living with his uncle, the musician, and his younger brother, the actor, in Shanghai. The two young men, who are both handsome and older than Bing, have not been invited to any of the social events that have been held for the past few months, and Bing is depressed because he has not received any invitations. He tells his uncle and brother that he has written a new song and is returning to write it one last time. He also tells them that his uncle is a "planted informer" from one of his friends, and that his brother is a small celebrity. The brothers are shocked to hear that they are playing Bing's new song, which they think is inappropriate, and they ask him why he thinks that one is better than the other. He replies that he composed the song because it is "the melody" of the song, and he does not need his validation. He then tells his brothers that he is confident that he will eventually be able to "conquer" them.