When Xiao Lin found Hong, it was at an orphanage. At that time, he was with the old man and some other siblings attending a charity event, which frankly was just for show. He was always uninterested in such occasions, unlike those siblings who enjoyed being in the spotlight. Keeping a low profile was a habit he developed from a young age.
Hong was the least noticeable of all the orphans, short and with dark skin matching his eyes, curled up in a corner. On stage, Xiao Lin noticed this person who was away from the crowd.
In the late autumn season, still wearing thin shorts, looking like someone saying 'if you don't bully me, who will?', there was a large wound on his foot, already festering, with skin that was dried beyond what would be expected for his age, and scratched marks all over. Scratching due to itchy skin is normal, but Xiao Lin's instincts told him something was wrong with this child.
