Xiaoyi in If You Could See the Sun: A Character Analysis

Overview

Xiaoyi is Alice Sun’s aunt in Beijing—her mother’s younger sister—and one of the few adults in the novel who understands Alice without judgment. She lives in a small, cluttered flat decorated with a Buddha poster and old photographs; her home feels frozen in time to Alice. Xiaoyi works as a cook or homemaker, judging by her plastic floral apron and the elaborate meals she prepares. She has no children of her own and dotes on Alice like a daughter. Xiaoyi appears in only three chapters (3, 11, and 18), but each appearance marks a turning point for Alice: first, when she reveals her invisibility; second, when the curse becomes uncontrollable; and third, when Alice is expelled and Xiaoyi shows unconditional support. She serves as a philosophical anchor, a source of family sacrifice, and a bridge between Alice’s Chinese heritage and her American identity.

Plot Role

Xiaoyi’s primary role is to receive Alice’s confession about turning invisible. In Chapter 3, Alice visits her aunt after the first episodes of invisibility, hoping for answers. Xiaoyi listens calmly, retrieves a toothpick from a bronze Buddha statue, and offers cryptic but comforting wisdom. She does not solve the problem but reframes it, telling Alice that the universe sometimes gives curses that may become gifts and that change is temporary. This conversation shifts Alice’s outlook from terror to cautious possibility and later motivates her to use the power for profit through the Beijing Ghost app.

Later, in Chapter 11, Xiaoyi sends Alice a WeChat message asking about “her little situation” and tells her she has not yet “seen the light,” implying that mastering the power requires inner clarity. When Alice is expelled in Chapter 18, Xiaoyi visits her cramped apartment alongside Alice’s parents. She meets Henry Li and immediately recognizes him as the academic rival Alice has talked about for years. She teases Alice about her red face and asks Henry for his shengchen bazi (birth time used in Chinese astrology) to calculate his suitability for marriage. This scene lightens the tense atmosphere and shows Xiaoyi’s affectionate, meddling side.

Motivations and Traits

Xiaoyi is motivated by love for her family. She lent money to Alice’s mother for Alice’s tuition, a fact that deeply shames Alice. She never resents this sacrifice; instead, she continues to welcome Alice with home-cooked meals and warmth. Her personality blends traditional Chinese values—astrology, folk remedies, thriftiness—with a surprising openness to the supernatural. She does not dismiss Alice’s invisibility as madness but accepts it as “interesting.” This nonjudgmental acceptance is crucial for Alice, who fears rejection.

Xiaoyi’s advice reveals her philosophy. She quotes her favorite web-novelist: “Sometimes the universe offers us the things we think we want, but which turn out to be a curse… and sometimes the universe grants us the things we don’t know we need, which turn out to be a gift.” This duality frames the invisibility as morally neutral, dependent on Alice’s choices. She also says the self and society are like the sea and the sky—a change in one reflects a change in the other. Though Alice struggles to parse these metaphors, they plant seeds for her later self-reflection.

Xiaoyi is resourceful: when Alice cannot remember the Chinese word for “invisible,” she gently fills the gap. She is also playful, hiding a toothpick in the Buddha statue and using it to pick her teeth. Her humor and practicality ground the supernatural plot in everyday domesticity.

Chronological Arc

1. Chapter 3 (Introduction): Xiaoyi is first seen preparing dumplings and buns for Alice. She listens to the invisibility confession, retrieves the toothpick, offers her philosophy, and reminds Alice that everything is temporary. She also reveals that she lent money to Alice’s mother, deepening Alice’s guilt and determination.

2. Chapter 11 (Midpoint): Xiaoyi sends a WeChat message about “best foods to counter excessive han energy” and asks about the invisibility “situation.” When Alice says she is not in control, Xiaoyi replies that Alice has not yet “seen the light” but assures her she will get better. This message arrives after Alice fails to turn invisible on a task and feels despair, providing a small comfort.

3. Chapter 18 (Climax): Xiaoyi arrives at Alice’s family flat after Alice is expelled. She greets Alice with “I hear you’re a criminal now!”—a teasing reference to the Beijing Ghost scandal. She immediately notices Henry and interrogates him about his intentions, asking for his birth time. Her presence helps normalize the crisis, making Alice feel less alone.

Relationships

• Alice: Xiaoyi is the only family member Alice trusts with her secret. She calls Alice “Yan Yan” (a childhood nickname) and treats her with the same maternal affection she would give a daughter. Their bond is built on shared history and unconditional love. Xiaoyi’s advice, though oblique, encourages Alice to see the invisibility as an opportunity rather than a curse.

• Henry Li: Xiaoyi meets Henry in Chapter 18 and immediately approves. She is delighted to discover that he is the academic rival Alice has talked about “since Year Eight.” Her questions about his shengchen bazi are a traditional way of vetting a prospective match, but she does so with playful curiosity rather than pressure. Henry, in turn, behaves respectfully, calling her “ayi” and charming her.

• Alice’s Parents (Mama and Baba): Xiaoyi is Mama’s younger sister. She has a close but financially strained relationship with them, having lent money for Alice’s education. She does not lecture them; instead, she stands with them during the family meeting in Chapter 18, showing solidarity.

Key Decisions and Consequences

These decisions reflect Xiaoyi’s role as a supporting character who influences Alice’s moral and emotional journey without driving the plot herself. Her biggest consequence is indirect: her advice (“seize whatever’s in front of you”) partly justifies Alice’s choice to monetize invisibility, though Alice’s own ambition is the primary cause.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Xiaoyi embodies the theme of family sacrifice and pressure. Her loan to Alice’s mother is a concrete example of the financial burden Alice’s education places on the family. Xiaoyi never complains, but her modest flat and thrifty habits highlight the cost.

She is also a symbol of cultural roots and identity. Her flat, cluttered with souvenirs from Alice’s childhood in Beijing, serves as a touchstone for Alice’s Chinese heritage. Xiaoyi speaks only Mandarin with Alice, and Alice’s struggle to find the word for “invisible” underscores her cultural disconnect. Xiaoyi bridges that gap with patience.

Her toothpick-in-the-Buddha routine symbolizes hidden wisdom and everyday spirituality. The Buddha statue, a religious object, contains a mundane toothpick—suggesting that enlightenment can come from unexpected, ordinary places. This mirrors how Xiaoyi’s simple statements carry deeper meaning.

Xiaoyi’s phrase “seeing the light” connects to the novel’s title and the theme of invisibility as marginalization. Alice is literally unseen; Xiaoyi suggests that visibility requires inner self-awareness. In Chapter 20, Mr. Chen echoes this by saying, “To live well, you must learn to see yourself first.” Xiaoyi’s earlier message primes Alice for this insight.

Finally, Xiaoyi’s acceptance of Henry and her interest in astrology tie into identity and self-discovery. She sees beyond Alice’s mistakes and recognizes her potential for a happy future. Her faith in destiny (via shengchen bazi) contrasts with Alice’s frantic attempts to control her life through the app.

Five Questions and Answers

1. How does Xiaoyi react when Alice first tells her she can turn invisible?
   Xiaoyi reacts calmly. She retrieves a toothpick from a bronze Buddha statue and uses it to pick her teeth before offering philosophical advice. She does not panic, call a doctor, or dismiss Alice’s claim. Instead, she says “interesting” and asks how Alice felt when it began. This nonjudgmental acceptance allows Alice to open up fully.

2. What advice does Xiaoyi give Alice about the invisibility curse?
   She tells Alice that the universe sometimes gives curses that turn into gifts, and gifts that turn into curses, depending on what one makes of them until they go away. She also says that everything is temporary, so Alice should seize whatever is in front of her while it is still there. This advice reframes the curse as a potential tool.

3. What does Xiaoyi mean by “seeing the light” in her WeChat message to Alice?
   In Chapter 11, Xiaoyi messages Alice that she has not yet “seen the light,” implying that Alice has not gained true understanding or control over her invisibility. The phrase suggests inner clarity or mastery. When Alice later becomes visible while spending carefree time with Henry, she approaches that state. Mr. Chen’s later advice about “seeing yourself” echoes this idea.

4. How does Xiaoyi react when she meets Henry Li for the first time?
   Xiaoyi’s eyes light up. She looks him up and down and immediately recognizes him as the “biggest academic rival” Alice has talked about for years. She teases Alice about her red face and asks Henry for his shengchen bazi (birth time used in Chinese astrology) to assess his suitability for marriage. Her reaction is warm, curious, and approving.

5. What financial sacrifice did Xiaoyi make for Alice’s education, and how does Alice feel about it?
   Xiaoyi lent money to Alice’s mother to help pay for Airington’s tuition. Alice learns this during her visit in Chapter 3 and feels gut-wrenching guilt and shame. The knowledge that her proud mother had to ask for help from her younger sister makes Alice even more determined to earn money through the Beijing Ghost app, setting her moral compromise in motion.

For deeper exploration of related themes, see our analyses on invisibility as marginalization, family sacrifice and pressure, and moral compromise. Return to the main book page for an overview.