The next week, Mei thanks Dr. Chang for letting her shadow by gifting her a box of green tea. Suddenly, Nicolette storms into Dr. Chang’s office to complain about her treatment for chlamydia. Like Mei, Dr. Chang is afraid of chlamydia bacteria contaminating the furniture. Dr. Chang tells Mei that she can learn to compartmentalize her fear of germs like she herself has, which gives Mei some hope.

Mei runs into Darren at the medical center and awkwardly explains her rash. They flirt, and she notices that he isn’t turned off by her “man-laugh.” He takes her to a secret outdoor garden on campus, and she learns that he is also majoring in biology; he wants to go into academia. Mei doesn’t share that she is also a biology major because she doesn’t want to reveal how much she dislikes it. She is jealous of his passion for the subject. When Darren asks about her dreams, she cuts him off and makes up an excuse to leave.

Mei’s paternal grandmother, Nainai, and Aunt Yilong visit for the death anniversary of Mei’s grandfather, Yeye. Yilong gifts Mei an oversized dress that she hates but is forced to wear out of respect. They go to Chow Chow, where Mrs.