Chapter Ten: Vivi – Lies, Longing, and a Photoshopped Merlion
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Chapter ten shifts to Vivi’s perspective as she replays meeting Lan and learning her name (Lan means “orchid”). Vivi confides in her best friend Cindy, who playfully suggests a romance is budding. Vivi denies a crush, insisting she merely respects Lan. To maintain the cover story for their study-abroad trip, Cindy helps Vivi photoshop a fake tourist photo in front of Singapore’s Merlion. Vivi’s mother FaceTimes; Vivi feigns jet lag but accidentally mentions ốc xào (a Vietnamese dish), then covers by saying she missed her mom’s cooking. Bravely, Vivi asks how her mother would feel about her visiting Vietnam. Her mother firmly refuses, citing danger, and Vivi senses deep anxiety. After the call, Cindy reassures Vivi that the lie is sustainable as long as she avoids mentioning Vietnam. Vivi resolves to talk to Lan despite her guilt.
Key Events
- Vivi replays the moment Lan touched her hand and shared her name.
- Cindy teases Vivi about having a crush on Lan; Vivi denies it.
- Cindy and Vivi take hundreds of photos to create a fake tourist picture with Singapore’s Merlion.
- Vivi’s mother FaceTimes; Vivi pretends to be asleep with jet lag.
- Vivi accidentally says she ate ốc xào, then covers with “lo mein.”
- Vivi asks her mother about visiting Vietnam; her mother refuses, saying Vietnam is unsafe.
- After the call, Cindy encourages Vivi to embrace the deception and talk to Lan.
Character Development
- Vivi grows more conflicted—she savors her connection with Lan but feels guilty about lying to her mother. Her attempt to raise Vietnam shows a newfound courage, but her mother’s reaction reinforces her hidden rebellion.
- Cindy acts as Vivi’s pragmatic foil, unbothered by the lies and fully supportive of Vivi’s secret mission. Her casual attitude contrasts Vivi’s guilt.
- Vivi’s mother reveals a protective, anxious side—her refusal to discuss Vietnam is rooted in fear, not just control.
- Lan (off-page) remains an idealized figure for Vivi, representing both a personal connection and a gateway to Vietnam.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Deception and identity: Vivi crafts a fake tourist photo and hides her true location from her mother, mirroring her deeper search for her own roots.
- Home and belonging: The mention of ốc xào and the Merlion symbolize the tension between Vivi’s heritage and the false narrative she must maintain.
- Fear and control: Vivi’s mother’s anxiety about Vietnam suggests past trauma or unresolved pain, controlling Vivi’s choices.
- Language and code-switching: Vivi’s mix of Vietnamese and English with her mother highlights the cultural straddling inherent in her identity.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the central conflict: Vivi’s secret trip to Vietnam is a lie that strains her relationship with her mother, even as it brings her closer to Lan. The photoshop scene underscores the artifice Vivi must maintain, while the FaceTime call reveals the emotional cost. Her mother’s fear of Vietnam foreshadows a hidden family history that Vivi may uncover. Cindy’s encouragement to “fuck it” pushes Vivi toward taking risks, setting up future confrontations and romantic developments.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Vivi deny having a crush on Lan, and what does this denial reveal about her character?
Vivi insists she only respects Lan because she fears scaring Lan away and because she hasn’t fully acknowledged her own feelings. This denial shows her self-doubt and tendency to rationalize emotions, a pattern that conflicts with her rebellious actions.
2. How does the photoshopped Merlion photo symbolize Vivi’s situation?
The fake photo represents the elaborate lies Vivi constructs to conceal her true location and intentions. Just as the photo is a crafted illusion, Vivi’s entire trip is a deception—yet she yearns for authentic experiences in Vietnam.
3. What does Vivi’s mother’s reaction to the word “Việt Nam” suggest about her backstory?
Her mother’s immediate refusal and anxious tone imply she has painful memories or fears associated with Vietnam, possibly related to her own emigration or trauma. This reaction deepens the mystery around Vivi’s family history and sets up future revelations.