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In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopper had his phone stolen from a bar in New York City. A year later, photos of storefronts and a man standing next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto stream. Matt wrote a story about it, and it went viral overnight in China, where netizens identified the man as โBrother Orange.โ Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and with the media following their every move, he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the U.S., Matt felt compelled to reveal himself fully by going out with his new friend. Years later, after weathering the pandemic separately, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.
