Summary

As the Wang's car spun out somewhere on a highway in the South, Saina was on her way to her first public appearance since the press and art world turned against her--a speech at Bard College's final MFA show. Leo accompanied her on the trip and told her a story about how his adopted family probably sold the only picture he had of his mother. This struck Saina as sad, because while Leo seemed so alone, she always felt part of China itself, the country with "a billion potential family members" and centuries of Wang bloodlines (232). In a fit of inspiration, they had sex on the side of the road, and Saina asked Leo if they should have a baby together, a question that made Leo withdraw. Feeling bereft after Leo pulled away from her, Saina nearly fumbled her speech and instead gave...