Old Madam

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Old Madam (老夫人)
Alias(es)	Grandmother; Grandma Ji
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Role	An elderly woman living with Alzheimer’s disease who persistently waits for and searches for Fei, a red single-eyed non-human friend from her past 4016 4059
Condition	Alzheimer’s disease; her memories of family, home, and the past are often fragmented or absent 4016 4040

Background / History

Li Xuan identifies the Old Madam as her former elementary- and junior-high-school classmate as well as a former neighbor. The Old Madam’s current appearance and manner differ sharply from Li Xuan’s memory of the “Mushroom Head Girl” she knew in childhood. 4023 4024

Although she has forgotten nearly everything else, she repeatedly goes to a small plaza to wait for something with a red single eye. Her family explains that she has maintained this routine for two years, even when she cannot recognize her own son, daughter-in-law, or grandchildren. 4016 4013

Appearance

The Old Madam is notably meticulous and elegant in dress. Despite her age, observers consider her beautiful, with refined features still visible beneath deep age lines. 3776

• Often wears coordinated floral clothing, including dresses, shawls, hats, shoes, and lace-trimmed socks 3955
• Carries a handbag and favors carefully chosen accessories 4016
• Has clear eyes and a composed, graceful bearing that stand out among people her age 4020
• Dresses herself; her daughter describes her as exceptionally skilled at styling outfits 4024

Personality

The Old Madam is generally gentle, elegant, and considerate toward children. Even when she cannot remember them, she does not deliberately treat her grandchildren harshly. 4006

Her calm demeanor gives way to intense stubbornness when Fei or her missing memories are involved. She refuses to abandon the search despite confusion, physical discomfort, and her family’s attempts to take her home. 4006 4009 4030

She is also emotionally perceptive and deeply loyal. The uncertainty surrounding Fei causes her visible distress, but even incomplete recollections are enough to drive her to seek the friend she has waited for over decades. 4028 4051

Abilities & Skills

Fragmentary Memory Recall

The Old Madam can sometimes recover isolated memories when familiar sights or feelings stimulate her.

• Seeing Xiao Xiao’s unusual snake prompts her to remember that the being she waits for is “not human.” 4005
• A fox opening one red eye triggers the crucial clue: “the red one-eyed.” 4008
• She later recalls further traits: a large build and a long tail. 4029
• Her recollections remain incomplete; she may forget names, family members, destinations, and even events from the previous day. 4040 4080

Personal Presentation

The Old Madam takes pride in her clothing and maintains an exceptionally polished appearance.

• She selects and coordinates her own outfits. 4024
• Her distinctive style remains consistent even while her memory deteriorates. 4016
• Her appearance is refined enough that Li Xuan initially struggles to reconcile her with their childhood classmate. 4024

Relationships

• Fei — A red single-eyed non-human friend from the Old Madam’s past. Though both initially fail to recognize one another, Fei eventually recalls parts of their shared history. 4051 4054 4059
• Xiao Xiao — Patient helper who follows her clues, introduces her to Fei, and reassures her when her memory loss causes distress. 4008 4054 4071
• Daughter — Her primary caregiver; patiently repeats information, supervises her outings, and supports her wish to see Fei. 4070 4080
• Huan Huan and Lele — Her grandchildren. They worry about her safety, though she periodically fails to recognize them. 4040 4061
• Li Xuan — A childhood classmate and former neighbor who helps connect the Old Madam’s fragmented memories to her past. 4023
• Fei Fei — A white, red-striped creature whose presence evokes a strong but initially unclear sense of familiarity in the Old Madam. 4047

Story Role / Major Arcs

Search for the Red One-Eyed

At the small plaza, the Old Madam struggles to describe the being she has waited for. After seeing Xiao Xiao’s companions, she recalls that it is “not human” and has one red eye. This partial recovery restores her energy and convinces her to actively search rather than continue waiting passively. 4005 4008 4009

Her family learns that the fixation is not recent: despite Alzheimer’s and the loss of most personal memories, she has returned to the plaza for two years in search of the red one-eyed being. 4016

Reunion with Fei

Xiao Xiao recognizes that his friend matches the Old Madam’s clues and brings her to meet the red single-eyed creature. The Old Madam reacts not with fear, but with recognition and hope; however, Fei does not initially remember her. 4049 4051

Xiao Xiao later reveals that Fei has remembered parts of their past together. The Old Madam is overwhelmed by the confirmation that the connection she pursued was real. 4054

When Fei returns, the Old Madam calls the name aloud after years of waiting. Her family recognizes how important the reunion is to her happiness. 4059 4062

Preserving New Memories

After seeing Fei again, the Old Madam accepts that she may not remember every detail of their past. She chooses to cherish the new memories instead and decides to record them. 4070 4071

She draws the meeting to preserve it, but forgets the event by the following day. Even so, she instinctively feels that the drawing is important and keeps it safe. Her daughter views this as evidence that the memory may be “hidden away” rather than wholly gone. 4080

Notable Quotes

“The red one-eyed!” 4008

“I’m going to find Fei.” 4030

“You must... stay with me until the very end...” 5884