Gumei had sighted the Black Tortoise gang leader when he looked out their window; that was why he suggested they go down to meet this Li Xin, and of course Nanfeng did not know that. On their way down, they met the manager at the end of the staircase and canceled their order. Nanfeng praised their service while wondering if the manager greeted other guests the way he greeted them. As for Gumei, he sent the manager a withering look—how meddlesome! He thought, It seemed he still has to teach their young master more lessons.
The manager wiped a nonexistent sweat off his forehead and visibly relaxed. Oh no! He tensed up again; he had to quickly inform the young master not to leave the house. If he did, then that venomous bone would sniff him out no matter where he went!
*Gumei means beautiful bones, Gu for bones, and Mei for beautiful, so when the manager said venomous bones, he was referring to Gumei.
Gumei felt a sneeze coming up and rubbed his nose. That manager was cursing him again. Once outside, he caught sight of the gang leader again, but it seemed the man saw him first because he was already running. "Nanfeng, chase!"
Surprisingly, Nanfeng ran after the man without question and even had time to throw a greeting to the boy he came down for. Wasn't everything moving too fast? Jian Nanfeng was supposed to fuss and refuse, causing the gang leader to get away so Gumei could have something else to whine about all day! The poor suddenly felt a sense of loss.
Gumei moved his eyes away from Nanfeng, only to see the boy stop in his tracks as Nanfeng zoomed past him. Oh? This boy intentionally came for Nanfeng, but how did he know they were here? They hadn't spent long on this street. Gumei looked at the other person standing behind the boy and noticed he was standing exactly two steps behind the boy.
Nanfeng returned very quickly with a tied-up Fei Zhi. He didn't even break a sweat, though he just ran. Gumei guessed all the torment he inflicted on the peacock forcing him to become a martial art peacock did him good. "Hiyaa, Xiaofeng! Your martial art is very useful; see how you caught the guy in no time. You should keep practicing so your skills don't get rusty."
I forgot I had given the black gang leader a name (Fei Zhi); that is why I kept referring to him as the gang leader. Keeping track of multiple characters is not easy.)
But Jian Nanfeng ignored him and bowed in greeting to the boy, who returned the bow immediately. "Li Gongzi, fancy seeing you here."
'Indeed, Nanfeng Gongzi. Please call me Li Xin." The boy replied.
"If so, you should call me Nanfeng as well."
Gumei saw them cozying up to each other and felt Bile rise up in his throat. He moved forward, causing them to move apart from each other. "How about we take this meeting to a restaurant? Chatting out here on the street isn't too good."
Nanfeng nodded and led Li Xin forward to another restaurant opposite the Rulai pavilion. It probably didn't occur to Nanfeng that a restaurant was just behind them, but Gumei stopped himself from reminding him when he saw Li Xin look back at the Rulai pavilion with longing in his eyes. Interesting.
Seeing that they did not check if Gumei was following them or not, he decided to stay back and take care of Fei Zhi, who was still struggling on the ground. He turned back and caught the manager at the door shooting 'go away' signals with his eyes.
"Prepare a different private room for me. I plan to have a nice long chat with this gentleman."
The manager instructed some servants to drag Fei Zhi into the pavilion as Gumei stood still and watched Nanfeng disappear into that restaurant with Li Xin. His peacock acted as if he found a bosom friend when he saw that chameleon through the window; then what about him? Was he suddenly reduced to having no position in Nanfeng's life? Gumei realized he didn't quite like the feeling he got as Nanfeng ignored his existence but never considered that that feeling was jealousy.