"Guo lai ba, guo lai ba! Ni shi wo de xiao bao bei…"

The girl woke with a startled gasp. She was young, at the mere age of fourteen, with an abnormally pale face that was half-hidden by two long curtains of silky, black hair. A pair of tired, light eyes stared into her lidded, crescent-like ones, not glaring at her, yet not feeling any sympathy for her.

"Child, what is your name?" the elderly woman asked.

Again, the girl thought about it, trying to remember. But all that came was a black pitch of nothing. She shook her head and replied sheepishly, "I don't know."

"What's your father's name, then?"

"I'm afraid I don't know as well… who are you?"

At last the old woman smiled, showing almost no emotion at all. "Zhang Guining. Are you an orphan?" It was obvious that she was very straightforward and unemotional, like a piece of lead-white bread that tasted like nothing.

"I-I think so… either that or I'm lost. Very lost. Is there a place I can stay?" the girl hid her hands in her fur cloak, so that the strict woman could not see her lace her fingers together for good luck, as well as wondering how long they- or she- would be staying in the snow.

"Yes, child. I run an orphanage by myself- you can stay there for as long as you like, or until you get married, though that would be most unlikely- most of the girls were sold as servants or entertainers, if you get what I mean. Anyways, enough of that- would you like to come or not?"

At first, the girl was delighted about permanently living under a roof, but the thought of being a prostitute, or entertainer, as Zhang Guining put it, later on, turned her mind. Then there was the tiny chance of getting married- after all, there were plenty of men around, and even if she became a concubine, it would be a life of luxury, wouldn't it?

Her mind was set. "Yes, thank you so much!" She happily stood up, wrapping her cloak around her graceful body. Then she cringed as the orphanage lady slapped her hand. "Well, what're you doing then? Hold my bag for me!"

The girl nodded, still a little shocked. "Yes, ma'am." The bag was made of silk, carrying only a small bronze mirror and some silver, making it light and easy to handle, actually light enough for Guining, who seemed to be just around sixty-five years old.

I guess it's because she's old, after all, don't old people need more rest?

So, how was it? I'm sorry that it's a little short, but I'm currently procrastinating now . I promise the next one would be longer, okay?

If you wish to create your own character, tell me about it via reviewing, as well as the pairings you'd like to see, and the pairings you wouldn't like to see.

Thank you all for reading this!