Chapter Text
"Poor baby, he's so young but he's so skinny it's frightening."
That was the third time Xie Lian has heard of the kid that was admitted 2 days ago.
"He has a chronic illness, so young."
"Full of bruises, always."
It wasn't that unusual to hear such things. So it wasn't really eye-catching, many children with cancers and diseases got admitted.
After all this was a children's hospital, just one of many hospitals his parents ran.
Xie Lian was preparing to go to college and his chosen major was to become a doctor so here he was.
Helping patients,observing them sorting paperwork,keeping children entertained and even teaching them calligraphy.
Xie Lian wasn't too keen on getting himself attached to them. He knows what'll happen,why else would they be in here?
He rounded the hall when he passed his mother speaking to his father, a deep sigh came out of her.
"That child, he's not going to live past 18.."
Xie Lian's lips curved down, it was never easy hearing a child's death was already decided upon. Of course he made no attachments but emotions are hard to suppress.
The following day Xie Lian hears another conversation about the same kid,or so he thinks its about him. The boy was doomed to die at 18.
And 2 days later did he see the kid, he was passing by a room heading to the 103 when he stopped at the sudden voice of a child screeching.
It was yet another usual thing, children will throw fights,after all they are still children. But that's not the problem, the problem was this screeching sounds painful.
It was lound and deep, something that shouldn't be coming out of a child's throat. They were not the screams of a child throwing a fit rather the screams of one that was ripped from everything.
Xie Lian looked into the small window that gave view to the inside. There was a child beinh held down by 2 nurses who attempted to calm him down but it didn't work.
He recoginzed his mother as she attempted to give the kid a shot.
The boy was rather small, his left eye was covered with a medical eyepatch and he was in the usual hospital gown. He had a obsidian eye that was large but it was squinted as his limbs flailed in the air and tears slipped out.
Xie Lian bit the inside of his cheek his hand clutching the painkillers.
"Xie Lian!" A doctor called out for him making him move faster but not before he looked back one last time.
Xie Lian knew it was the kid from room 100. He sat in the play room where other children were in too. He and jesus did he look awful. He was skinny and the nurses weren't lying when they said he was filled with bruises.
His large eye looked dazed as he stared into nothing. Xie Lian didn't dare speak to him. That kid looked sad and would probaly not enjoy company right now.
"Would you like to accompany me today Lian-er?"
His mother asked on their ride to the hospital, Xie Lian could see her smile on the review mirror. "It's been a while, children tend to love you so..."
"Of course." He answered, Xie Lian followed his mother into the hospital as they spoke about his studies "Now Lian-er...Hong is a pretty difficult child. I just hope that won't stop you."
"Of course not." They came to a stop in front of room 100. Xie Lian's posture straighted and his expression became schooled. This was the little boy that he's heard of for the past days. His mother opened the door to reveal who his mother called 'Hong'.
He barely looked up, his mother held his medicine in hand as she approached Hong. "Hong it's time now." She said placing a hand on his shoulder. He turned his face away from her scrunching up his face.
Xie Lian only silently watched until he met Hong's gaze. Hong's whole posture relaxed when his eyes landed on Xie Lian. His eye went wide and he obediently opened his mouth, his gaze never leaving Xie Lian's.
His mother seemed to be satisifed at that as she let out a hum. She patted his back and proceeded to fix him up applying medicine. Yet her forehead creased a frown appeared. She turned to look at Xie Lian.
"He has to take his shot now...I'll be back."
Xie Lian nodded and they were left alone. His gaze turned to look at Hong. He seemed to be embrassed by being caught as he lowered his head. Xie Lian smiled but didn't come closer, well not until he started coughing.
Xie Lian quickly walked towards him, he started rubbing circles into his back soothing him. After it died down Hong turned to look at him, a crooked smile formed. He was a cute kid.
A large eye and lopside smile framed his small face. "What's your name?" He tried to muster the calmest voice he could make. "Hong.." the boy voice was scratchy.
It was to be expected, after all those cries were sure to leave his sore throat and even now Xie Lian could see the redness that crying would leave.
"Hong? That's a cute name." Xie Lian noticed how Hong's eyes turned into crescents pleased by the compliment. "Mama used to call me Honghong-er" His voice was less shaky though it was still scratchy.
"Oh that's even more cuter! Can I call you that?" Hong eagerly nodded his head and that's when his dazed look disappeared being replaced by the look of pure happiness.
"Do you like red?" Xie Lian asked and Honghong-er seemed to think over it. Then after a few seconds he shook his head.
"No...it's ugly."
"What? No, nothing could ever be ugly." Xie Lian stroked the boys hair that was soft under his touch. "Really?" Xie Lian nodded his head. "Everything is beautiful in its own way, red is a color of passion. Having a passion for anything is well..nice."
Hong was once again in thought before he spoke a little hesitant. "If nothing is ugly...does that mean I'm not?" He was taken aback, with all the children who he spoke to none of them ever really degrated themselves that way.
"What? Of couse no! You're actually really cute." He left ruffled his hair and Hong smile widen even more, his happiness showed with the way his face seemed to glow more than beore.
"Sorry for the hold up!"
His mother finally came back as she put on latex gloves . Hong tensed under Xie Lian's touch. He attempted to move back but was stopped when Hong clutched onto the sleeve of his white button up.
The 10 year old was scared.