“Gregory.” Gregory smiled. “Don’t listen to Lea’s nonsense. They are just fooling around.”
Gu Mengmeng thought Gregory looked so grim because he took offense to Lea’s joke. After all, to a male in the Beast World, partnering was a sacred matter and not something that should be joked about.
Gregory’s face remained impassive but his eyes dimmed a little. He nodded. “I know.”
“Oh yes, the bird which you brought back the previous time—what kind was it? The one with the gorgeous feathers.” Gu Mengmeng changed the topic to stave off any awkwardness.
Gregory thought for a moment. “Melotti?”
Gu Mengmeng nodded vigorously. “Yes yes yes. That’s the one. Is it very difficult to catch that type of bird?”
Gregory shook his head. “Not difficult.” It was just that the habitat of those birds were somewhat further away. Gregory had come upon them by chance in the midst of their migration, and so caught a couple for Gu Mengmeng to try.
“Then can you capture a few more next time? I like their feathers and wish to make a fan from them. It would look so lovely.” Gu Mengmeng had been designing the concept in her mind for several days. She had kept the feathers of the previous two Melottis but they were still not enough to make a big fan.
Gregory nodded. “Alright.”
To get a Melotti, Gregory would have to fly non-stop at full speed for half a day. The journey to and fro would take up an entire day. In addition, he could only capture two at a time. So to gather enough feathers for Gu Mengmeng to make her fan, it would probably take him several trips.
It was also good this way. He wouldn’t have to stay here and keep staring at her if he went hunting for Melottis for her.
Perhaps his body would stop feeling so bizarre if he saw less of her.
With that, Gregory spread his wings and flew off.
Gu Mengmeng raised one hand to stop him. “Go after having your meal…” But her words trailed off as he had already gone. She shook her head in exasperation. “Such an impetuous person. Never mind, Gregory is so capable. There’s no way he would go hungry.”
Gu Mengmeng didn’t think much of it and just turned to continue chatting with Sandy. She talked about how when she finished making the fans, they would each have one which could be used during the muggy rainy season and the scorching drought season. They would no longer have to depend on the leaves of the elephant ear fig tree.
Lea gazed after the departing figure of Gregory with traces of a smile on his face.
Meanwhile in mid-air, Gregory’s mind kept replaying Lea’s “innocent” joke.
Even if they were to become partners now, they would only be lovers for ten days…
That sentence was like a curse. It kept repeating itself in Gregory’s mind in one never-ending loop.
With a troubled mind, he charged into the resting grounds of the Melotti, easily catching two of the birds with his strong, sharp claws. He then turned and flew like a rocket back toward Sauder.
It was already afternoon on the second day by the time he returned.
Gu Mengmeng was taking a nap and Gregory didn’t see her. He felt rather conflicted.
For reasons unknown, he felt like he was scared of seeing her, such that he heaved a sigh of relief on hearing that she was napping. However, a strong sense of disappointment quickly followed that relief, swallowing him in entirety.
He handed the two Melottis over to Lea, who knew Gu Mengmeng wanted to use the feathers, and so handled them with extra care. Feigning oblivion to Gregory’s disappointment, Lea said casually, “Sigh, only nine more days before you have to head back. I wonder if Mengmeng will be able to finish her fan before you leave…”