Polly Guo leaves her son, Deming, in the hands of Leon and Vivian. She takes months without coming back, and Vivian decides to surrender him for adoption. Deming is adopted by Peter and Kay. However, they change his name to Daniel. Daniel becomes addicted to gambling. Such behavior makes him fail in exams and is eventually expelled from school. Gambling also makes Daniel borrow money from Angel, another adopted girl of Chinese-American origin. Unfortunately, he loses the money, and Angel stops talking to him.
One day, Michael informs him that he has traced the whereabouts of his mother. Daniel calls her and ends up meeting her in China, where she tells him about the ordeals that led to her disappearance. Daniel makes peace with her and gets back to the U.S, where he also makes peace with his adoptive parents and Angel.
Daniel feels alienated from her mother. The memories of her mother affect his behavior and end up in gambling. Gambling affects his studies, and he ends up being expelled from the college. However, despite these tribulations, his adoptive parents are supportive. At some point, Daniel feels indebted to his foster parents. Peter and Kay offer Daniel every kind of support. Even when he wrongs them, they treat him well.
Readers get insight into how parents, whether adoptive or biological, should offer unconditional support and love to their children. Due to the support shown by his foster parents, Daniels changes his ways and becomes a good person. The novel teaches readers that they should be supportive of their children.
