Love in the Depths of Time (GL) - Chapter 1

**Lin Xi**

When Lin Xi was just five years old, she lost her parents and was sent to an orphanage. She grew up there, quiet and withdrawn, always keeping to herself. Though life was tough, she never complained. She endured everything in silence, accepting loneliness as her only companion.

The orphanage was old and worn down. Its dormitory building trembled in the wind as if it could collapse at any moment. The paint on the walls had long since peeled away, revealing the rough and weathered bricks underneath. The wooden beds creaked with every slight movement, and the blankets were so thin that they barely provided any warmth against the biting winter air. At night, the children huddled together under their meager covers, shivering as they tried to find comfort in each other’s presence. The only time they felt a glimmer of warmth was when they shared small pieces of hardened steamed bread, savoring every bite as if it were a feast.

Winter nights in the orphanage were long and unbearably cold. The wind howled through the cracks in the windows, and the children huddled together for warmth, their breath visible in the freezing air. Hunger was a constant companion, and even the smallest crumbs of food were precious. But despite the hardships, Lin Xi never complained. She kept her pain and loneliness to herself, finding solace in silence.

One particularly harsh evening, as the children gathered to share their small portions of hardened steamed buns, a boy named Jia Le approached Lin Xi. Unlike her, he had grown up in the warmth of a loving family. His father owned an internet café, and his mother worked as a kindergarten teacher. He had a bright and cheerful personality—kind, warm, and full of life.

Lin Xi had always been different. She had grown up in the orphanage, surrounded by children like herself but never truly feeling like she belonged. She was shy, withdrawn, and uncertain of her place in the world. When she first arrived at the school, she was overwhelmed by the unfamiliar faces and the new environment. Dressed in faded jeans and a simple white t-shirt, she clung to her backpack as if it were a lifeline, avoiding eye contact with her classmates.

One cold evening, the children gathered in their dormitory, sharing their rationed bread. The room was silent except for the sound of hesitant chewing, each child taking small bites to make their portion last longer. It was then that Jia Le, with his ever-bright smile, noticed Lin Xi clutching her tiny piece of bread, hesitant to eat it.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jia Le asked, sitting down beside her.

Lin Xi glanced up, her large eyes filled with unshed tears. She nodded but said nothing.

Jia Le reached into his pocket and pulled out half of his own bread. “Here, you can have some of mine too. No one should go hungry.”

Lin Xi hesitated but finally accepted the offering. She took a small bite, her eyes filled with gratitude. It was dry and a bit stale, but in that moment, it tasted better than anything she had ever eaten.

From that moment on, an unspoken bond formed between them. Jia Le’s warmth and kindness slowly began to chip away at the walls Lin Xi had built around her heart.

Despite their different backgrounds—Lin Xi, the shy orphan, and Jia Le, the cheerful child from a warm, loving family—the two became the best of friends. Little did they know, their friendship would weave a connection that would last a lifetime, transcending time and hardships.