Toph no longer needed crutches. The doctors had said it was due to his good physical foundation and his optimistic attitude.
Toph finally had something to boast about. He often patted his chest before his parents, Zuko, and Lina, saying, "You used to think I was just foolishly cheerful! How about now? A smile can make you ten years younger! A good mood is the magical cure for everything!"
In spite of it, Renee lost her smile after Kaitlyn's death, and Toph's laughter also diminished.
-
Renee arrived at the Hamerton's residence. Even though Toph had his place, Cordelia insisted he should not be alone due to his recent injury. He had to stay with them for the convenience of taking care of him.
Toph was sitting by the sofa with a litter of kittens on the coffee table, mewing cutely and melting everyone's hearts.
Worried that the kittens were too small to drink milk, Toph had prepared several small bottles and was carefully feeding them with the bottles. This delicate work was not exactly his forte. He was sweating profusely after just a short while.
When he noticed Renee standing there, he grinned and said, "Renee, come over here!"
Toph grinned as he used a soft cotton cloth to gently wipe the milk from around a kitten's mouth. "Look how adorable they are!"
Renee could not help but praise, "You're taking care of them so attentively."
"It's nothing." Toph chuckled. "They're still so small they need gentle treatment. By the way, which one do you like? If you like all of them, we can keep them all. My friend is quite generous!"
"Which friend?"
"You've probably met her. It's Uncle Josiah's daughter!"
Renee pondered for a moment. She seemed to remember meeting her at a gathering.
Josiah was close to Zephyr and Nicholas.
It was said that Josiah's wife had been in poor health, but their daughter was energetic. She was graceful at social events and well-liked by the elders.
"You..." Renee hesitated momentarily and asked, "Are you quite close to her?"
"Hmm?" Toph blinked in confusion. "Well, we get along okay. We've known each other since we were kids... Heh! What wild ideas are you coming up with now?"
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