My husband is balding, although he's only 33. His father went bald in his 40s. We're both Chinese. I read that sons inherit the bald gene, so I'm desperate to give birth to a daughter. Is there anything I can do during pregnancy to prevent baldness for my baby?

Don't take any medical or herbal supplements that you haven't cleared with your doctor. While you may be embarrassed to bring it up with them, taking any medicine or supplements while you're pregnant may harm your child. Statistics show a baby has a

4:7 chance of inheriting the baldness gene, so your baby may have a full head of hair after all. And while we'd all like to look like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, it's what's inside that counts at the end of the day. Use your energy to cultivate that and he or she will have no shortage of suitors and friends, hair or no hair.

My co-worker keeps touching my arm and brushing up against me in the office. I'm American, she's Chinese and slightly older than me, although very attractive. Is she interested or am I reading into it too much?

Chinese people are not known to be touchy feely. Saying that, I would observe how she treats the other staff before making any moves. If you think she's singling you out, you could test the waters by asking her to join you on your lunch break. To look good and avoid any awkwardness (is this a date or just a working lunch?), take the initiative and pay the bill, telling her she can do the honors next time.

I want to marry my Beijing girlfriend but her mother refuses because she dislikes Americans. I'm Chinese but was raised in the United States. I moved to Beijing for work about seven years ago. I'm worried I'll lose the love of my life.

Often when we "dislike" a certain nationality it's because we paint a broad brush of negativity over them. Much of this is due to ignorance and an unwillingness to engage. Since you're all Chinese, could the reason she dislikes you because you're American be because she fears you may take her daughter out of the country and away from her? Take the mother out for a nice meal and get to the bottom of it. There is most likely is an underlying reason.

Needrelationship advice from METRO's agony aunt? E-mail your questions to metrobeijing@chinadaily.com.cn.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/30/2011)