I tend to think that Qui-Gon realised that his and Obi-Wan’s partnership was meant to be the day Obi-Wan brought back a Pathetic Lifeform of his own. Like say it’s chucking it down on some world where they are and Obi-Wan hears this pathetic mewling and it’s this sodden cat and he keeps it close to him all day (inside his robes, maybe inside his hood like he’s seen Qui-Gon do to the PLs) and Qui-Gon lights up when he sees what Obi-Wan has brought back to their quarters