Feeling the complex emotions within the girl, Tom Fritz stood two meters away, gazing at her. They looked at each other for a moment. He suddenly felt a bit reluctant and explained again, “Don’t overthink it. I’m not here to take the cat. I just wanted to see it. Knowing it’s healthy and safe is enough for me.”
The girl snapped out of her thoughts, put away her wary look, and felt a bit apologetic. “Bubu originally belonged to you.”
“But I don’t have time to take care of it,” Tom Fritz smiled, his curved lips looking charming. “I can see you care about Bubu a lot. Leaving it with you is much more reassuring than keeping it at the living center.”
Hearing this, Agnes felt a bit better.
Would he really not take the kitten from her?
“If you don’t feel comfortable giving me your number, that’s okay,” Tom Fritz didn’t want to pressure her. He said gentlemanly and sincerely, “Can you… let me hold it?”
Agnes wasn’t worried he would take the kitten because from what he had said earlier, he didn’t seem like he was lying.
Someone going back to the lab wouldn’t have time to take care of a cat.
The girl took two steps forward with Bubu in her arms and handed the kitten to him.
“Meow~” The little one happily leaped into his arms, rubbing against him.
Tom held it joyfully as if he had embraced his own child. His long-lost heart was filled.
“Meow~”
The little one was also very happy, continuously rubbing against him. Its cute short legs even tried to hook his ears.
“Bubu, you’ve gained weight!” Tom looked at the lively and healthy kitten and finally felt relieved. It had indeed gained a bit of weight; he estimated at least half a pound.
Agnes said to him, “Since I took over, it has gained half a pound. I weigh it every day.”
Tom looked at this kind-hearted girl with a smile in his eyes. “Thank you. It used to be even fatter before it got sick. It ate something bad and lost weight after getting its stomach pumped.”
“You’re welcome. I like it too. Don’t worry; I’ll take good care of it,” Agnes asked softly, “Are you really a chemistry professor?”
“Yes, I’m a professor in the Chemistry Department at Stanford University,” Tom replied. “I just got hired and am preparing to return to the lab.”
A very prestigious job, far removed from ordinary people.
“So… you won’t come back often?”
“Not really,” Tom answered. “The new lab is being built in Arkpool City, so I’ll definitely be back. It’s just that the timing is uncertain now.”
She said, “Then I’ll give you my number. You can contact me in advance when you return, and I’ll bring Bubu here.”
She pointed to the ground beneath her feet, “Yes, right here in this fitness area.”
Tom looked at her again with a smile in his eyes, amused by her change in attitude. “Alright, but you haven’t told me your name yet.”
“Agnes!”
“Hello, I’m Tom Fritz. Nice to meet you.” Holding Bubu with one hand, he extended his other hand gentlemanly towards the girl.
Agnes lightly shook his hand, feeling the warmth in his palm.
Then Tom returned Bubu to her arms. “It’s getting late; I need to go.” He took out his phone. “Your number is?”
The girl also took out her phone.
Seeing the kitten avatar on his WhatsApp profile made Agnes’s heart skip a beat. She looked up at him abruptly.
He waved at her, “Bye-bye,” then turned and walked away.
She knew he wasn’t the kitten… just using the same avatar, but her gaze lingered on his back for a long time, momentarily lost in thought.