Part 5 begins with an essay that Haley has written for her AP English class. She was tasked to write the essay in preparation for the college application process but in the form of a short story. Although the piece was supposed to be a work of fiction, it has clear autobiographical elements. The plot centers around the family of Alice and Adam Bowen, as well as their adopted Chinese daughter, Amy. The family decides to go on a Heritage Tour to China to help Amy reconnect with her birthplace. Amy admits that although she would have loved to travel to China prior, she no longer wants to go. However, she agrees to the idea as not to upset her parents.

Once the family arrives in Beijing, Amy is astonished by how crowded, dirty, and humid it is. During their tour, they visit all main cultural and historical sites, but Amy still has little enthusiasm about the trip. Towards the end of their journey, they fly to Yunnan province, where Amy is originally from. Once they arrive there, Amy enjoys herself much more, and she admires the surrounding mountains and clean air. One day, during one of their hikes, looking at the landscape around, Amy realizes that the pattern of the hills, paths, and streams corresponds to the drawings on the tea cake her biological parents left with her.