[As Meilin is about to sneak out through her bedroom window to head over to Tyler's birthday party, Grandma Wu suddenly enters]
Mei-Mei, can I have a word with you?
Meilin
Uh, sure. What's up?
[takes a folded cloth out behind her back and unfolds it, revealing a piece of red panda fur]
I found this. Strange for a girl who hasn't let her panda out.
Meilin
It's, uh… [chuckles nervously] It's not mine.
Mei-Mei, I know what you're doing. I know how hard it is to keep the beast in. It feels so good to let it out. So free. But each time you do, the stronger it gets. And then you'll be bound to it forever, and the ritual will fail.
Meilin
Has that ever happened?
It cannot happen. [sighs] Your mother and I were close once, but the red panda took that away. I couldn't bear to see that happen to you. So, no more panda. You are your mother's whole world, Mei-Mei. I know you'll do what's right.
