As they had grown older, the two friends spend less social time together, and more doing work for the triad. It had been decided that since the two balanced each other out so well, they should be paired together. They only had to give one another a mere glance or quick hand signal to know what the other planned. After completing a job, the two would often take some time and either head to a bar for a drink or two, or sit together in their rooms, conversing.

It was during these chats that the issue of Feng's return came up. Though everyone said the girl had changed, Dee still held doubts. While the girl seemed to have grown out of being the vicious, spoiled, and vindictive brat that she had been on her first stay in Gotham. Dee insisted that there was something about the girl that was not to be trusted. Manchu told her she was paranoid.

"You're never around when she's being creepy, Manchu," Dee said one night as she leaned against her friend while they sat on his bed drinking wine. "She just gets these looks like outwardly she's all there, but you can see something isn't connected in her eye."

"Are you sure you're not just being paranoid? Feng seems like a good person now. She treats you nicely and hasn't asked to challenge you again, has she?"

"No," Dee agreed. "It's just...Ever get that feeling that someone's telling you what you want to hear instead of what they really want to tell you? That's what I get from her."

"Ah. Well, she's doing well enough now; so don't worry too much about it. Besides, I have some news to tell you."

She tilted her head up at her friend as he looked down at her smiling. "Yeah? Spill it then."

"Two good things, actually. The first is that I've asked Jiaoshu to be his apprentice. I want to take over his position when he decides to retire. He isn't getting any younger."

"That's great! What did he say?" she asked excitedly, turning around and putting a hand on his chest.

"At first he said he'd think about it. But this morning, when I was coming off duty, he said yes!"

Dee threw her arms around her friend's neck. "That's fantastic! And the other news?"

Manchu gave her a shy smile and took her hand, rubbing the back of it. "What if I were to tell you that I found someone. I'm not certain if she'll agree to me yet, but we've been talking for a while now and I've decided I'd like to get to know her better."

"It's the girl at the Fu Bakery, isn't it?"

His hand stopped moving and he looked up at her, blushing. "How did you know?"

"A good sister knows these things. That's so great! What's her name? What's she like? Tell me it all!"

Chuckling, Manchu poured some more wine. Sighing, he leaned back against his pillows and took a sip. "She's...Wonderful. Her name's Chu Hua. She's smart, funny, beautiful, and unlike you, I know she isn't going to hit me if I say something wrong!" he teased.

"It's only to keep you in line. She'll thank me for that. How long have you been seeing her?"

"Just when I go to pick things up from the bakery." He gave a small shrug and grinned. "I've eaten so many of their almond cookies lately though."

"How about I send you there for a dozen cream buns? They make great cream buns. It can be an excuse for you!" suggested Dee.

"They probably already wonder what I do with all those cookies I keep buying. I've been giving most of them out as treats to my class after training. It makes them happy and willing to work harder."

"Uh huh. And you like seeing the little rugrats bouncing around with cookie smeared all over them. I know you do. I've seen the way you let them crawl all over you. Admit it, you want the place of Jiaoshu because you can't stand to be away from this place and all the kids," Dee said, smirking.

"I can't. I really love it here. When I first came here I thought I was going to hate it. Figured everyone was going to be mean to me or ignore me. But I became friends with you and everything else seemed to slip into place. You don't have too many friends though. And you still haven't found someone, Dee," he said staring at her.

"Not this again," she groaned, covering her eyes and flopping back into the blankets.

"Yes this again. Xiaohu, I know you're happy here doing what you're doing. But I can see that having someone would make you happier than ever. I'm taking you out one night and we're going to see if we can't find you a date. No arguments."
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