What’s the story behind your nickname?

My nickname is Xiao Pi, or sometimes Pi Pi.

It wasn’t given to me by my parents, but by my grandfather.

When I was little, I was constantly moving—running around, full of energy and laughter. My grandfather used to chuckle and say I was “really mischievous,” or in Chinese, very pi. Eventually, he just started calling me “Xiao Pi.” It stuck.

I still remember how he’d sit in his rattan chair, sipping tea and calling out, “Pi Pi, come here!”

And like clockwork, I’d run over and cling to his arm.

One of my most vivid memories is a toy he gave me—something that looked like a futuristic space transport truck. It had six wheels and a hidden wind-up mechanism on top. When I turned it, the toy would slowly roll forward on its own. I thought it was the coolest thing ever—like a space vehicle that could move by itself. I’ve kept it all these years. Every time I see it, it feels like he’s right there again, smiling at me.

A few years ago, my grandfather passed away.

The day before he left us, he was still in the hospital, but remarkably full of spirit. He smiled, chatted with us, and felt just like the grandfather I had always known—strong, warm, and steady.

So now, whenever someone calls me “Xiao Pi,” I smile a little.

It’s not just a nickname.

It’s a memory.

A voice I still hear.

A quiet love that never left.