At a tense family dinner, relatives urge Lyra to surrender a painting so sick sister Lulu can enter the International Art Exhibition and, if she wins gold, become the youngest professor at Aurenya Arts Academy — a career-saving chance because Lulu has heart disease and can't do difficult work. Lyra refuses: she spent five years on the painting and won't give it up. Lulu says she won't make Lyra unhappy, while her father presses Lyra to be less willful. An old grievance about adoption erupts — "Who actually is your daughter?" — leaving the decision unresolved.