Summary

In “Lulu”, a twin reminisces about the moment of his sister’s birth by cesarean section. He notes that they were lucky from the moment they were born because they had been exempted from China’s single child family planning policy. Their mother worked as a warehouse clerk and their father a government sanitation chief who had once dreamed of being an artist. Lulu had always seemed to be a special child, smart and precocious. His parents adored their daughter. She enjoyed reading, making up games, and showcasing all that she had learned.

In high school, the narrator rebelled against Lulu’s intelligence by playing video games and shirking his studies. Their parents were always so proud of Lulu, especially when she scored high enough on her entrance exams to earn a place at a university in the capital city. She travelled to...