Agnes didn’t think much and pressed the green answer button. “Hello, Professor Fritz, do you need something from me?”
“Where are you?” Tom’s voice was steady and humble. “There’s something I want to discuss with you in person. Can I take twenty minutes of your time?”
“What is it?” The girl was puzzled. In person? Besides Bubu, what else could he need to talk about? And anything about Bubu could be discussed over the phone.
He didn’t answer directly, his voice gentle. “It’s hard to explain over the phone. I’ll come to you.”
Since he put it that way, Agnes couldn’t refuse. Knowing he wasn’t a bad person and having some free time, she agreed. “Name a place, and I’ll come over.”
“The lakeside where we met in the morning?”
“Okay.”
After ending the call, Agnes informed her sister and brother-in-law, handed her shawl to one of the staff members, and left by car.
On the way, she couldn’t figure out what a chemistry professor would need to discuss with her face-to-face. Their lives were different, their work unrelated, and he hadn’t mentioned anything about the kitten.
Meanwhile, at Fritz Manor.
Tom Fritz finished his call in the study and then went downstairs. He wasn’t confident about this request and feared Agnes might think he was crazy.
Downstairs, Lisa sat on the living room sofa, smiling sweetly as she kept Mrs. Fritz company. They were chatting happily, making Mrs. Fritz laugh heartily.
Tom Fritz’s mood wasn’t great as he appeared on the staircase and walked down.
“Tom, come here,” Mrs. Fritz called out joyfully upon seeing her beloved grandson.
“Grandma,” Tom greeted after coming downstairs. He glanced at his grandmother and then looked at his parents. “I’m going to pick up my girlfriend.”
Mrs. Fritz’s chest tightened in disbelief. “You really have a girlfriend?”
“Yes,” Tom nodded.
“Is she as good as Lisa?” Grandma asked worriedly. “Is she worthy of you? Bring her over for me to see!”
Mrs. Fritz’s face turned stern as she put away her smile. “If she’s not good enough for you, I won’t approve of your relationship.”
In Mrs. Fritz’s eyes, Lisa had already taken precedence; no matter how excellent another girl might be, she wouldn’t be good enough because Lisa reminded her of Jane.
Lisa continued to sit quietly beside the elderly lady, holding her arm obediently. She noticed that neither Tom’s father nor mother spoke a word as he left.
So Lisa couldn’t discern Mr. and Mrs. Fritz’s stance or guess what Mrs. Fritz had discussed with Tom upstairs.
Lisa was calmly analyzing the situation.
Watching Tom’s disappearing figure at the door, Lisa felt a bit sad. She hadn’t expected to have a rival in love.
She believed that given some time, she could win Tom’s affection.
She still doubted whether he truly had a girlfriend.
If he did have one, she must be exceptional.
Why hadn’t he brought her home before now if she was such an outstanding girl?
With that thought, Lisa became more certain that Tom Fritz didn’t have a girlfriend; he just didn’t want to fake an engagement with her.
At the lakeside not far from the villa, Tom Fritz arrived early.
Yes, it was the same lakeside where they had eaten sweet potatoes in the morning.
Tom Fritz stood by the lake with his hands in his pockets, staring at the shimmering water.
He knew Agnes would definitely come but doubted she would agree to his absurd request.
But he had no one else to turn to and had to give it a try.
Soon enough, Agnes appeared at the end of the path and immediately spotted him standing by the lake.
With curiosity and confusion, she walked over and stood beside him, giving his shoulder a light tap. “Hey! What are you thinking about?”
The man turned his head and met her clear and beautiful eyes; he had clearly been lost in thought moments before.