Li Xiaoshuang

Biodata

Background / History

Family Life

Li Xiaoshuang looked after Li Rui for more than half his childhood and consistently treated him well. She later married Zhang Huaiyuan, a low-level construction-company employee, and had a daughter, Yiyi. Before Li Rui’s financial assistance, the family lived in a cramped rental in Star City 5 6 45.

Yiyi’s Leukemia Treatment

When four-year-old Yiyi developed leukemia, the family found a matching bone marrow donor but could not afford the operation. Having exhausted their borrowing options, Xiaoshuang pleaded with Doctor Zhao and attempted to kneel before him. The standard surgery cost 500,000 yuan, while bringing in a top specialist could raise the cost to one million 5.

Li Rui arrived at Star City First People’s Hospital and transferred five million yuan to Xiaoshuang, asking her to arrange the best doctor, medicine, and room available. Overwhelmed with relief, she embraced him and cried. He subsequently described the money as family support and New Year’s money for Yiyi rather than a loan 5 6.

The hospital brought in a leading specialist from Capital City, and Yiyi’s surgery succeeded. Xiaoshuang reported the news to her mother and brother, crying with joy during her call with Li Rui. The eventual expenditure was one million yuan in medical fees and 200,000 yuan in compensation for the donor, leaving 3.8 million yuan from the original transfer 29 45.

Discharge and a New Home

Xiaoshuang and Zhang Huaiyuan completed Yiyi’s discharge arrangements, and Li Rui came to collect them. Although delighted by her daughter’s recovery, Xiaoshuang reminded him that Yiyi still needed several months of quiet rest and regular hospital checkups. Back at their rental, she agreed that the family needed a better place for Yiyi to recuperate and prepared the lobsters and king crabs Li Rui had arranged for their meal 44 45 46.

During the subsequent house-hunting trip, Li Rui told Xiaoshuang that he had earned tens of billions through financial investments. She contacted her high-school friend Gu Manxiang, a property salesperson at Xiang River Loulan, both to repay a 50,000-yuan loan and to introduce a prospective buyer. Li Rui purchased two apartments for twenty million yuan and gave one to Xiaoshuang’s family 46 47 48.

After signing the contracts and receiving the keys, Xiaoshuang told Yiyi that the apartment was their new home and prompted her to thank her uncle. Li Rui then transferred another five million yuan for appliances for both apartments. Xiaoshuang discussed the purchases with Gu Manxiang and later returned with her family to arrange furnishings and appliances 48 49.

Appearance

Xiaoshuang’s first appearance emphasizes the physical toll of Yiyi’s illness rather than her usual appearance 5.

• Eyes: Bloodshot, red, and swollen from crying 5.
• Condition during the hospital crisis: Haggard and exhausted, with a hoarse voice 5.

Personality

Xiaoshuang is an affectionate and vigilant mother. Her desperation over Yiyi’s treatment drives her to plead with the attending physician, while her daughter’s discharge leaves her repeatedly kissing the child’s cheeks. Even after the successful operation, she remains attentive to medical instructions and immediately cautions Li Rui against lifting and spinning Yiyi 5 44 45.

She is initially astonished by her brother’s wealth and considers his expensive cars extravagant, but her disbelief gives way to pride in his apparent financial talent. Her exchanges with family and friends are often playful: she jokingly threatens not to repay Gu Manxiang and warns Li Rui that she will hold him responsible if he spoils Yiyi too much 46 48.

Her gratitude also takes practical form. Once she can afford it, she brings Gu Manxiang the full 50,000 yuan she borrowed and insists on repayment despite her friend’s willingness to wait 47.

Property

• Xiang River Loulan apartment: A gifted river-view unit on the twenty-fifth floor, with a stated area of 240 square meters and usable space exceeding 180 square meters. It contains five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen; the approximately fifty-square-meter living room has panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows 47 48.

Relationships

• Li Rui — Younger brother whom she helped raise. Their roles shift when he becomes the family’s financial support, and she takes pride in being able to rely on him 5 6.
• Zhang Huaiyuan — Husband and Yiyi’s father. They share the strain of their daughter’s illness and the excitement of obtaining a permanent home 5 48.
• Yiyi — Four-year-old daughter. Her treatment and recovery are Xiaoshuang’s overriding concern 5 44 45.
• Wang Sumei — Mother, whom Xiaoshuang keeps informed about Yiyi’s successful surgery 5 29.
• Li Yongzheng — Father; Xiaoshuang remembers him as the person she could depend on when she was young 6 7.
• Gu Manxiang — High-school classmate and close friend. She lends Xiaoshuang 50,000 yuan during the medical crisis and later handles the apartment purchases 46 47 48.