Chapter 171

“Sure.” But Abigail didn’t say anything about how weird she found Sebastian’s taste in naming cats.

“Code, did you hear that? She said your name is pretty good, so don’t ignore me when I call you,” Sebastian said to Code.

“What breed is it? How is it this big?” Abigail stroked Code, her tone full of curiosity.

“It’s a Maine Coon. And another one was bought for me by James–the one that looks hard to deal with. That’s a Siberian Forest Cat,” Sebastian explained them all to her one by one.

As Abigail petted Code, several other cats came over as well. She simply sat on the floor and started playing with them.

“Want some late-night food?” Sebastian asked after sitting for a while.

Abigail had only eaten a piece of cake earlier. She really was a little hungry now, so she immediately nodded.

Sebastian got up and headed to the open kitchen. Several cats followed him, meowing for food.

“Not for you guys. You’re all so fat already, and still want to eat?” Sebastian said as he gently pushed away the cats blocking his path with his foot.

Abigail couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the chubby cats toppling over at his feet.

Sebastian lived alone, but the cats were so lively. Wherever he went, the cats followed. As he washed the ingredients at the counter, some cats even begged to be petted.

Abigail found the way he bent down to pet the cats incredibly heartwarming. Stroking Code, she couldn’t help thinking, ‘Being nuzzled by a cat must be what happiness feels like.’

All the cats loved him so much.

Sebastian made a simple plate of pasta.

Abigail sat down at the dining table, took one bite, and immediately thought it was delicious.

Back at the orphanage, Beth used to make this kind of pasta. To Abigail, it tasted like home.

Sebastian played with the cats without disturbing her. Still, the cats kept circling her. Occasionally, a curious one would come close to her plate, sniff for a long while, and then walk away.

After they finished eating, Sebastian led her upstairs to the study and turned on his computer.

He said, “The problem lies with the database. Since this is a personal project, there’s a ton of data I want to collect, but a massive database like this really needs a team.”

“I’m hesitant–should I get one or not?” Sebastian said as he set up the computer and motioned Abigail over.

Abigail sat down and began carefully going over the project specs he’d listed. It was almost 2:30 a.m., yet she was still full of energy.

Sebastian had prepared a lot: Compared to what Abigail had started working on, his AI plan was much more complete.

“This is your personal project, but you want to cover way too much–it’s really something only a team could finish,” Abigail said after reviewing it all.

“I know, but I want you to help me build the framework first,” Sebastian said, sitting at another computer.

Leaning back in her chair, Abigail went quiet for a moment, then said, “So you didn’t come here to comfort me. You came to make me work overtime.”

“Wasn’t the reward of pasta enough?” Sebastian smiled, turning his attention back to the screen.

Abigail laughed, “Your cooking is decent. Worth helping you out this once.”

As they began working, they didn’t say a word to each other, but Abigail liked this kind of feeling.

Outside, shadows of tree branches danced. Inside, soft music flowed gently. The cats either played or quietly lay beside them as they worked.

Code, who liked Abigail the most, was now snoring gently right on top of her keyboard. After working for a while, Abigail propped her chin on her hand and stared at the screen.

Just then, a cat came up, sniffed her forehead, then gave her a hard nudge on the cheek. Abigail turned her head–only to get nudged again. A few cat hairs stuck to her face.

Sebastian watched silently from the side. When Abigail looked over at him, he finally spoke, “Later, input your fingerprint and facial scan. I’ll get you a key. Whenever you feel down, just come over and play with the cats.”

Abigail looked at him in surprise as he added, “There are a few temp staff who clean and feed the cats during the day. You can ask them anything about how to care for cats.”

He said this without looking up, eyes back on his screen, fingers continuing to code.