In this chapter, we learn that Lin is the fiance of a young man named Qinhao, who works as a waiter at a restaurant in Shanghai. The waiter, who introduces himself as "Qin hao," is a relative of the young man's grandfather, who served in the army together with Lin's father. The two men grew up together, and they've been friends ever since. When the waiter asks about the relationship between the two men, he is told that they are "nominal fiances" , meaning they're not married. He tells the waiter that before he can compete with him, he needs to know the young woman well enough to know her needs and desires. He knows that she likes to eat expensive soup dumplings, and that she is a fast-food driver. He also knows that the girl is a sweet tooth, and he knows that her shoe size is too small for her shoes. He adds that she has a soft spot for animals, and she even has "fluffy pigs" on her slippers if she's upset. After the waiter leaves, he asks if he still has the courage to compete with the man he loves.