In 2010, Nick now lives in New York, where he has a long-term girlfriend named Rachel Chu. He invites her to travel to Singapore with him for the summer and to attend his friend Colin Khoo’s wedding. Rachel is Chinese American and has never been to Asia, and she accepts his invitation. She also realizes that the trip will give her the opportunity to see her college friend, Goh Peik Lin, who is from Singapore. As the pair sits in a tea shop discussing the trip, they are spotted by a young, Singaporean girl who recognizes Nick. The young woman, Charlotte Lim, tells her mother that Nick is bringing a girl home, and the news quickly spreads in Singapore gossip circles. The gossipers desperately want to know who Rachel is and what family she comes from.

Eleanor Young, Nick’s mother, is at Bible study at Datin Carol Tai’s house. The women mostly use the time to gossip with each other. There, Eleanor finds out from another guest that her son is planning to bring a girl home with him when he returns that summer. The women suggest to Eleanor that this girl might not be the type of match she wants for her son.