The TOEFL results were out, and Ashan had done very well. But the question remained: should he go abroad? His parents were getting older, his sister had returned, and little Yinyin was about to start kindergarten. He decided to put the idea on hold for now and focus on work for a few more years.
Ashan worked in an engineering firm responsible for project design, and contractors often came to make deals, inviting colleagues out for meals and dancing. Naturally, Ashan joined them, and over time, he had seen quite a bit of Taipei's nightlife. Some of the contractor's demands were accepted, but it wasn't exactly favoritism. At least the contractor guaranteed quality.
In a dance hall, Ashan got to know a dancer named Bai Xue. She was sweet-looking, with an attractive figure, eloquent, and fair-skinned. One day, while chatting with Ashan, she asked why someone so young would come to a dance hall. Ashan joked that if she didn’t want him there, he could always try another club.
Bai Xue explained that wasn't her point. She had seen many tragic endings of spoiled rich kids at the club. Ashan, unlike them, should focus on his career. Curious, Ashan asked why she worked in such a place. She sighed and said, "It’s just my fate. If my father’s business hadn’t collapsed, I wouldn’t be here, letting people hug me and making money this way, living a life hidden away from the sun."
Though it was an old story, Ashan believed her, sympathized with her, and admired her determination to make a living. He jokingly pushed the topic aside, praising her for being pure despite the circumstances—just like her name, "Bai Xue" (meaning "white snow").
Bai Xue laughed bitterly and said, "My fair skin means I never see the sun. I’d love to go hiking, swim, and get a healthy, sun-kissed tan." After talking with Bai Xue, Ashan felt a little guilty and decided not to accept any more invitations from the contractors to go to dance halls.
托福也放榜了，阿三考得也很好，到底是不是該出國呢？眼看爸媽都老了，姐姐也回來了，而茵茵也要上幼稚園，還是暫時擱下來，做幾年事再說吧！
阿三的工程單位是負責工程設計的，包商也常來打點，請同事們一起出去吃飯、跳舞。阿三當然也會跟了去，幾次下來也見識了不少台北的夜生活，當然包商要求的一些規格也就被接受了。雖然稱不上是綁標，至少該包商是保證可以合格的。
阿三在一家舞廳裏熟識了一位舞小姐。人長的甜甜的，身材也玲瓏有致，談吐也不俗，皮膚又白，花名叫白雪。有次白雪跟阿三聊天，問道阿三年紀輕輕的，為什麼要來舞廳跳舞？阿三逗她說，如果她不歡迎，下次就換一家舞廳好了。
白雪說不是這個意思，因為她在舞廳看過太多火山孝子的悲慘下場，阿三不像那種紈褲子弟，應該好好做事才對。阿三好奇的問她為什麼要在這種地方討生活，白雪嘆了口氣說道：「還不是苦命。要不是老爸生意垮了，我怎麼會在這裏讓人家摟摟抱抱賺錢？過著看不到太陽的日子。」
雖然是個陳年老故事，不過阿三倒是相信她，同情她，也佩服她為了自己好。把生意往門外推，隨口稱讚白雪是出污泥而不染，真是人如其名。
白雪苦笑道：「皮膚白是曬不到太陽，我也想出去郊遊、玩水，把皮膚曬成健康的古銅色。」阿三與白雪一席談，真的覺得有點慚愧，以後就不再接受包商的邀請到舞廳去玩了。
