Mother

Biodata

Background / History

Wu Qiu Xia and Li Jun Tian raise two sons in a household shaped by Jun Tian's frequent business travel. In the narrator's recollection, she was a renowned local beauty in her youth: conservative, wary of unwanted attention, and initially devoted to her husband and family. Her relationship with Jun Tian was affectionate and playful before their children were born. 13

As her son Da Wen becomes increasingly rebellious, Qiu Xia takes on the bulk of managing his school and behavioral problems. Da Wen's abuse of her leaves her distressed and estranged from him, but she keeps the incident from her husband. Xiao Tian becomes fiercely protective of her during this period, and their emotional closeness increases. 14

During Xiao Tian's final high-school year, Qiu Xia supports his studies and maintains regular contact with him. Their private bond gradually crosses the boundaries of an ordinary mother-son relationship, though she initially worries about his education, her marriage, and the consequences of their choices. 15 16 17

While Xiao Tian attends university, he earns financial independence and buys a two-bedroom apartment so Qiu Xia can visit discreetly when Li Jun Tian is away. Their arrangement becomes one of public mother-and-son behavior and a private partnership. 18

After Xiao Tian graduates, he takes Qiu Xia on a trip framed as a honeymoon and proposes with matching rings. She cannot accept a legal marriage, but agrees to regard their relationship as marital in private. They discuss having a child, with Qiu Xia explicitly raising concerns about age, family ties, public exposure, and the child's health. 19

An initial attempt to conceive does not result in pregnancy. Later, Qiu Xia urges Xiao Tian to marry and have children with another woman rather than remain bound to her alone; she accepts Wu Tingting as his wife and daughter-in-law. 20 22

In the later-set extra, Qiu Xia experiences an unexpected pregnancy after menopause. She and Xiao Tian arrange medical care, conceal the child's parentage, and name the daughter Li Xia. Qiu Xia subsequently undergoes postpartum recovery treatment. 1

Appearance

Qiu Xia is consistently portrayed as a striking mature woman whose appearance changes with age while remaining carefully maintained.

• In youth, she is described as tall, slender, curvy, and exceptionally beautiful. 13
• At age thirty-six, she is said to retain a slim waist, pale skin, and a youthful appearance despite raising two children. 14
• In her forties, she has a full-figured build, with time beginning to show in her face and body. 7 10
• She favors fitted sweaters, qipaos, nightgowns, swimsuits, lace undergarments, and other clothing chosen to emphasize her figure. 4
• Following pregnancy and recovery treatment, she remains concerned about changes to her body and pursues expensive maintenance to restore her figure. 1

Personality

Qiu Xia is nurturing, attentive, and family-oriented. She manages the household while Li Jun Tian travels, cares deeply for both sons, and later forms an affectionate relationship with Wu Tingting as her daughter-in-law. 13 22

Earlier in life, she is characterized as conservative and faithful, disliking lecherous behavior and preferring a restrained married life. Her later choices contrast sharply with this self-image, leaving her conflicted between personal attachment, social expectations, and family responsibility. 13 18 19

She is also protective and pragmatic. When Xiao Tian proposes having a child, she is the one who articulates the medical, legal, social, and emotional risks involved. Even when she agrees to try, she sets boundaries and insists on confronting the consequences rather than ignoring them. 19

Despite insecurity about aging and fears that Xiao Tian may eventually leave her, Qiu Xia ultimately encourages him to seek a conventional marriage and children with Wu Tingting. She frames herself humorously as both “the empress and the empress dowager,” confident that she will retain a place in his life. 1 22

Relationships

• Li Xiaotian / Xiao Tian — Her younger son and secret private partner. Their attachment intensifies during his school years and continues through university and adulthood. 16 18 19
• Li Jun Tian — Her husband and Xiao Tian's father. They are initially portrayed as loving and devoted, but his frequent absences, later injury, and the family's crises strain their marriage. 7 13 14
• Da Wen — Her other son. His delinquency and later assault of Qiu Xia traumatize her and create a lasting rupture between them. 14
• Wu Tingting — Xiao Tian's assistant and later wife. Qiu Xia accepts Tingting as her daughter-in-law and treats her warmly rather than as a rival. 20 22
• Li Lianxia — Her granddaughter, born to Xiao Tian and Tingting. 6
• Li Xia — Her later daughter, whose parentage is concealed through a plan involving the family's nanny. 1

Notable Quotes

“I want to keep the most beautiful things in my memories. Coming too often would ruin their beauty.” 19

“What am I afraid of? I’m both the empress and the empress dowager. Falling out of favor doesn’t exist.” 22

Trivia

• Qiu Xia and Li Xiaotian use “Grind Soy Milk” as a private code phrase; it originally came from Li Jun Tian's wording. 18
• She keeps a diary during the trip with Xiao Tian to preserve her memories of it. 19
• In the later extra, Qiu Xia is approaching fifty-four but is repeatedly noted for looking younger than her peers after extensive recovery and maintenance treatments. 1