In my childhood, I lived with my grandmother in a picturesque small town. The joyful fields beyond the town and her kind smile remain forever etched in my memory. XiangAi® was created to carry my eternal remembrance for her.
When I learned that my grandmother had fallen ill, I was already the owner of my current company. She had a stroke, common among the elderly. By the time I saw her again, her hands could no longer move. The image of my grandmother in my mind had always been one of strength and resilience, which stood in stark contrast to the frail, weakened figure before me. I felt tears welling up.
I made a silent vow to myself: I must find a way to help her recover. Her hand needed daily bionic physical therapy, but there were no professional devices available for this—it could only be done manually. For someone as busy as I was, this seemed impossible. It was then that the idea of creating this glove was born. However, before the glove could be fully developed, my grandmother passed away. It might be hard to understand the weight she held in my heart—the grandmother who had accompanied me throughout my growth. I felt as though I had suddenly lost my anchor in life. During that period, working on this glove late into the quiet nights became my greatest solace. In those moments, my heart felt full, peaceful, and focused.
When the time came for the annual tomb-sweeping, I visited my grandmother’s grave. Her photo on the tombstone remained as kind as ever, smiling gently at me. I brought the newly developed glove and placed it before her tomb, silently whispering:
“Dear Grandma, I’m here to see you.”
“You gave me the warmth of life, yet I couldn’t give you dignity in your final moments. I’m sorry I couldn’t heal you.”
Sitting before the grave of what was once my only family in the world, tears streamed down my face. Overwhelmed with grief, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Eventually, exhausted from crying, I drifted into a light sleep. In my dream, I returned to those beautiful days with my grandmother.
It was a weekend after the rain. Grandma came to pick me up from school to walk me home. Happily, I hopped ahead of her, leading the way.
The sunset dyed the sky crimson, and the hills were dotted with clusters of unnamed wildflowers. The air was fresh with the scent of damp soil. Suddenly, a rainbow appeared before us without warning. Both Grandma and I stood still, stunned by its unexpected beauty. The arched rainbow was radiant and dreamlike, vast and perfect, arching over the rolling mountains as if leading to a mystical world. I held Grandma’s hand tightly. Her hand felt so broad, so safe, and so warm—the sensation was incredibly real.
People often say that time fades all things. But some memories only grow more precious and vivid with the passing years. In cold and difficult times, they can even sustain the weight of an entire life.
XiangAi® — love from my hometown, the love between my grandmother and me.
“Yes, this is the name.” How perfect it is.
I want to share it with the world—to help all the “grandmothers” out there, and to let the world feel the attachment I once had for my grandmother, an emotion that will never be forgotten.
This is the origin of XiangAi®, and this is the story. Thank you for reading it. I believe that deep in your heart, there also lies a warm and eternal love.
— XinSong Xu, the founder of XiangAi®
