Tom Fritz’s Volvo parked in the lot in front of the supermarket across from the residential area. It was the only luxury car among a sea of ordinary vehicles, making it stand out. He stepped out of the car gracefully, closing the door gently. The glow of the setting sun cast a soft light on him, adding a touch of warmth to his composed and elegant demeanor.
Tom Fritz looked at the relatively old apartment complex across the street, clearly a working-class neighborhood. Behind him, the small supermarket had everything from a pharmacy to a mahjong room, with unplanned signs on top. The driveway was narrow, with several middle-aged vendors setting up stalls along the sides and some cars parked illegally.
The residential area lacked a proper main entrance; an elderly man sat in a small security booth. Tom Fritz double-checked the address-this was indeed the place. He began to pay attention to passing vehicles before crossing the street and walking into the complex. For a first-time visitor like him, there were no obstacles.
As Tom Fritz walked further in, he felt a strong sense of everyday life. The residents here seemed to lead content lives. Meanwhile, Agnes had already come downstairs with Bubu and headed to the fitness area.
In the evening, the fitness area was at its most peaceful. Children on roller skates and scooters played everywhere, their laughter filling the air. Young people returning from work stopped to chat happily with acquaintances about their day. Retirees walked their pets-cats, dogs, and even ducks-and occasionally someone carried a birdcage.
Several different breeds of cats played together, including two short-legged cats. “Meow~” “Meow meow~” “Meow meow meow~” Seeing this scene, Agnes excitedly petted the little one in her arms. “See? Your companions!”
Cat owners chatted in groups while exercising, creating a picture of happiness in the community. “Bubu, why don’t you go play with them?” Agnes squatted down with her kitten and said joyfully, “You’re not a baby anymore; you need your own social circle, right?” With that, she put Bubu down.
The little one excitedly circled its new owner three times, its short legs adorably bouncing around before stopping in front of her and looking up with a “Meow~” greeting before happily hopping towards the group of cats.
Not far away in the green belt of the community, on a winding stone path, tall and slender Tom Fritz stood still. His deep eyes scanned his surroundings until he noticed a group of kittens under a swing. He took a closer look and saw that one of the three short-legged cats was indeed Bubu!
Furrowing his brow, he hurried forward without paying attention to his surroundings or caring who owned the cat. He only knew that Bubu was frail and couldn’t mix with these other cats-it could get sick! Tom Fritz was very upset; was this how the new owner took care of his cat? Spencer had assured him it was well taken care of!
Bubu meant a lot to Tom, which is why he felt so emotional. At that moment, Agnes sat on a swing watching the kittens play when she noticed a man quickly approaching. His attire was formal and his presence somewhat unusual-not like an average person.
What stood out most was that his gaze was fixed on her Bubu! Could he be a cat thief? One who grabs and runs? Alarmed, she quickly slid off the swing and knelt down to scoop up Bubu.
By then, Tom had reached her and bent down to extend his hand but was just a moment too late to grab the cat. Agnes was terrified; she stood up holding Bubu tightly and took a cautious step back, glaring at him in fear!