Song Bo was diagnosed with a serious illness two years ago. It gave him constant headaches and left him tired and depressed. He was convinced that he would never marry or have children. But one day, he came across a listing on an e-commerce site for a child-sized love doll.

He bought the 4'10: doll and adopted it as his daughter.

He instantly felt a deep connection with it the moment it arrived.

He named the doll Xiao Die or "Little Butterly."

He treats her like the daughter he never had.

And hopefully nothing more than that.

Song Bo looks like a new person too after that.

This series of photographs uploaded on Weibo shows the unlikely father-daughter duo.

They go everywhere together.

And do just about the kinds of things you'd expect a father-daughter duo would.

Hopefully, he's all cured now.

He currently lives with his mother who has no objections with his doll.

His face reflects care and tenderness, as if the Xiao Die was actually a real child.

It's sad and strange at some point, but also something heartwarming about their unusual bond.

What do you think?