Summary

Guen-soo and Hyeonseo begin dating but, despite his kindness, she does not feel much for him. He knows she is North Korean and she keeps dating him because it distracts her from her homesickness. Hyeonseo meets Guen-soo's family and his mother soon begins to talk of marriage. Hyeonseo feels she is being swept up in other people's plans. After nearly two years in China, at the end of 1999, she examines her options. Although she wants to travel and have a career, she tries to convince herself that the marriage is the right choice. It will give her a Chinese ID and a comfortable life as opposed to the life of an illegal immigrant on the run.

Guen-soo's family arranges a fake Chinese ID for her. He shows it to her but says she won't get to keep it until after the...