[Manuscript in progress...]
Shen Ji first met Susu in the depths of winter, as snow fell.
The girl in the matchmaker's hands was as thin as a stick. He casually tossed over some silver, a passing act of kindness from a spoiled young master.
But the little girl made her way into his heart. With a purple nose, she knocked her head against the ground again and again, her voice clear and bright. "This servant is Susu. I will serve my master well."
He pinched her frozen cheek and laughed. "I bought you, so you have to acknowledge me as your master for the rest of your life."
"I will! This servant will acknowledge you as her master for life!"
-
Back then, Shen Ji was the notorious rake of the capital, the fourth young master.
He was a carefree young man. Though he had bought Susu, he forgot all about her soon after.
The marquis's household was splendid, and beautiful women surrounded him. He spent his days and nights in revelry, without a care in the world.
He enjoyed every luxury, and never gave anyone a place in his heart or mind.
Then the Shen family fell. His father and elder brother died horrible deaths, and the young master who had once lived in silks and fine food became a stray dog anyone could bully.
His fine clothes were replaced with worn garments, his spine was cloaked in dust and grime. He lay drunk in the mud, letting himself waste away.
But one person disregarded the cold stares and helped him up, steadying him against her shoulder.
Her voice was deeper and louder than it had been in the snow all those years ago. "Fourth Master, this servant acknowledged you as her master, and I'll do so for the rest of my life. Don't throw away your dignity as my master, or you'll make me look down on you."
Only then did Shen Ji realize that the person he had casually bought that winter wasn't just a servant.
She was the only ray of light in the latter half of his life, when he was destitute and down on his luck.
Once, he had disdained the young girl. Later, he felt that even offering her all the goodness of his life wouldn't be enough.
Theme: Healing each other
