Chapter 67 Summary: Remember When Lay LI Said
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens with the narrator recalling a piece of advice Lay Li once gave her: if you see something you like, you have to pretend you don't like it much. This is a strategy for appearing cool or unbothered, a kind of social armor. The narrator decides to try on this attitude, or as she puts it, to try on Lay Li's swag. She walks through the mall, which is full of see-through things—likely display windows and transparent merchandise—and she finds herself looking at boys and shoes, both of which she cannot afford. The act of looking becomes a form of longing, but she tries to suppress it by adopting the pretense of indifference.
The mood shifts when the air changes, and ahead of her stands Angel, surrounded by a flock of guys. Angel is laughing, wearing a crop top and acid-washed jeans, and she catches the narrator's eye. Angel smiles in the narrator's direction. The narrator notices Angel's pretty eyes and her ponytail worn to the side. But Lay Li reacts immediately: she sucks her teeth, stuffs her hands in her back pockets, and turns on her heel, digging into the marble floor, presenting her back to Angel's eager glance. The chapter ends with this gesture of dismissal, leaving the narrator caught between Lay Li's advice and the reality of the moment.
Key Events
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The narrator recalls Lay Li's advice about pretending not to like something you want.
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She walks through the mall, looking at boys and shoes she cannot afford, trying to adopt Lay Li's swag.
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She spots Angel surrounded by a group of guys, laughing and dressed in a crop top and acid-washed jeans.
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Angel catches the narrator's eye and smiles in her direction.
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Lay Li responds by sucking her teeth, putting her hands in her back pockets, and turning away, showing her back to Angel.
Character Development
The Narrator – The narrator is actively trying to imitate Lay Li's confidence, but her attempt is fragile. She looks at things she wants but cannot have, and she tries to suppress her desire by pretending indifference. However, when Angel appears and smiles at her, the narrator does not immediately react; instead, it is Lay Li who takes control of the situation. This suggests the narrator is still learning how to navigate social interactions and is heavily influenced by Lay Li's guidance. Her internal conflict is evident: she wants to follow Lay Li's advice, but her own feelings—perhaps curiosity or attraction—are present.
Lay Li – Lay Li's reaction to Angel is sharp and immediate. By sucking her teeth and turning away, she communicates rejection and dismissal. This could stem from jealousy, protectiveness, or a desire to maintain control over the narrator's social choices. Lay Li's advice about pretending indifference is put into practice here, but it is directed at Angel rather than at the narrator. Her body language—hands in back pockets, turning on her heel—shows a deliberate, almost theatrical rejection. This reveals that Lay Li may be insecure about the narrator's attention or about Angel's presence, and she uses this dismissive gesture to assert dominance or to shield the narrator from what she perceives as a threat.
Angel – Angel appears confident and socially at ease, surrounded by guys and laughing. She wears a crop top and acid-washed jeans, a style that draws attention. Her smile in the narrator's direction suggests she is friendly or perhaps trying to connect, but Lay Li's reaction cuts that off. Angel's role is brief but significant: she represents an alternative social path, one that the narrator might be curious about but is prevented from exploring due to Lay Li's influence.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Pretending Indifference – The central theme is the performance of not caring. Lay Li's advice is a survival tactic in a world where showing desire makes you vulnerable. The narrator tries to adopt this, but the chapter shows that it is not easy, especially when faced with someone like Angel who seems to embody confidence.
Social Performance – The mall serves as a stage where characters perform their identities. The narrator is self-conscious about what she looks at, Lay Li performs rejection, and Angel performs friendliness. The marble floor and see-through things emphasize the transparency and scrutiny of public spaces.
Jealousy and Friendship Tension – Lay Li's reaction hints at jealousy, either of Angel's attention or of the narrator's potential interest in Angel. This creates tension in the friendship, as Lay Li's advice may be more about controlling the narrator than about protecting her.
Insecurity – The narrator's inability to afford what she likes, and her reliance on Lay Li's advice, reveals her insecurity. Lay Li's own insecurity is shown through her aggressive dismissal of Angel.
The Mall as Social Stage – The mall is a place where people go to see and be seen. The narrator's walk through it is a performance, and the encounter with Angel becomes a test of her social skills.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the narrator's understanding of Lay Li's advice. It shows that pretending indifference is not just a casual tip but a defensive strategy that can hurt others and create distance. The narrator is caught between following Lay Li's lead and her own instincts. The scene with Angel introduces a potential new connection, but Lay Li's reaction shuts it down, reinforcing the narrator's dependence on Lay Li. This moment sets up future conflicts and highlights the complexity of their friendship. It also reveals the narrator's internal struggle with desire and social acceptance, making her more relatable and human.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the narrator try to adopt Lay Li's advice about pretending not to like something?
The narrator looks up to Lay Li and wants to emulate her confidence. Lay Li's advice seems like a way to protect oneself from disappointment or vulnerability. By trying on Lay Li's swag, the narrator hopes to appear cool and unbothered, especially in a public place like the mall where she feels the weight of her own unaffordable desires.
2. What does Lay Li's reaction to Angel reveal about her character?
Lay Li's reaction—sucking her teeth, putting her hands in her back pockets, and turning away—reveals that she is quick to dismiss others, possibly out of jealousy or protectiveness. It shows she is not as confident as she appears; she feels threatened by Angel's presence and the attention Angel gives to the narrator. Her behavior also suggests she wants to control the narrator's social interactions, keeping her close and away from potential rivals.
3. How does the mall setting contribute to the scene's meaning?
The mall is a public, commercial space where people are on display. The narrator's walk through it is a performance, and the see-through things symbolize the transparency of her desires. The encounter with Angel happens in this social stage, making the interaction more charged. The marble floor and the act of turning on one's heel emphasize the theatricality of Lay Li's rejection. The setting amplifies the themes of social performance and the pressure to appear indifferent.