He was polite and gentlemanly, his expression gentle, and his gaze towards the girl was very calm, with a hint of distance. Ingrid did not notice this. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Mr. Fritz. I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful next time!”
Tom did not respond. She held all the documents in her arms and bowed deeply to him. The elevator doors opened again, and Tom’s gaze shifted as he stepped out. His mind was filled with thoughts of Bubu. If it weren’t for the earlier incident, would he have seen his little princess Bubu sooner?
Watching the man leave, Ingrid recalled their brief physical contact and felt quite happy, even with a slight flutter in her heart. Tom walked out of the company and got into his car. He planned to go to Spencer’s villa to pick up Agnes since she had been staying there recently. As the car neared its destination, Tom called her. “Bubu, I’m almost there.”
“So soon? Didn’t you say the meeting would end at ten?” she asked.
“I wanted to see you sooner, so I shortened the agenda. It could be explained just as well,” he said.
“Is that so? But…” Agnes suddenly remembered something. “Wait for me a bit; I’m at the mall and about to head back.”
“Which mall are you at? I’ll come to pick you up,” Tom slowed down, ready to turn around.
“Aren’t you almost there? You don’t need to come; I’ll take a taxi,” Agnes replied.
“No, no, I haven’t arrived yet. I’ll come to get you. Where are you?” Tom insisted.
“I’m at Amethyst Square. Is it far?”
“Not far at all. I know where it is; I’ll be right there.” Tom began to turn around at the next intersection, still on the phone because he worried she might leave by taxi. After turning around, he sped up.
“Don’t talk on the phone while driving,” she said gently with a smile. “Don’t worry; I’ll wait here for you and won’t run off.”
“Okay, wait for me.”
“Alright, bye.” He hung up.
Agnes stood outside the mall waiting for Tom, holding a bag in her hand. Her mood matched the pleasant weather as she anticipated seeing him soon, feeling sweet inside. Mrs. Fritz had mentioned wanting some kudzu root powder, and Agnes knew an old lady nearby who sold it from her cart. It was homemade, and Agnes used to enjoy it too; Mrs. Campbell often bought it for her here.
Sometimes Agnes would accompany her, so the old lady recognized her and always praised her as a kind-looking good child who would surely be happy.
Holding a paper bag, Agnes stood by the roadside waiting for Tom with excitement because she missed him dearly-not just thinking of him but truly missing him.
As Agnes waited for Tom, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in her sight. Her smile froze slightly before she gradually put it away.
Ansel stopped in his tracks as he looked at her.
They stood about five meters apart, their eyes meeting as if everything around them had come to a standstill.
Neither had expected to encounter each other here.
After a moment, Ansel walked towards her while Agnes remained still.
They hadn’t seen each other for some time; Ansel looked more mature now, shedding some of his boyishness.
“Long time no see,” Ansel said as he stopped in front of her, his lips curling into a polite yet somewhat distant smile with a hint of long-suppressed longing in his eyes.
“Long time no see,” Agnes replied calmly.
Then… words seemed to fail them.
Silence…
“I heard from Mrs. Campbell that you’re getting engaged,” Ansel said after a moment of extreme sadness, his tone very calm as if he had truly moved on. “Congratulations.”
Agnes saw the smile on his lips but noted the sadness in his expression-especially that smile which didn’t reach his eyes.
Reflecting on these years, she suddenly felt that this blessing carried great weight.