15 The guest who took over the magpie's nest

That summer, the scorching sun poured down unreservedly on every inch of the coastal city. As soon as Liu Yuwei stepped out of the train car, the damp and sticky air quickly enveloped her like a tide. Outside the platform, the noisy voices of people intertwined with the chirping of summer cicadas, and along with the billowing heat rising from the asphalt road, they all rushed towards her. After walking a few steps outside, she saw her father Liu Wenjun waiting outside the iron railings. The dark T-shirt he was wearing had been soaked and then dried, revealing a large white sweat stain. Although the father and daughter talked on the phone from time to time, it had been almost half a year since they last met. Liu Yuwei was overjoyed and her pace unconsciously quickened. She wanted to rush forward and give her father a long-awaited hug. However, just as she was about to get close, Liu Wenjun subconsciously took a step back, slightly turned sideways, and said, "Dad is all sweaty, don't get your clothes dirty." The two got in a taxi to go home, and Liu Yuwei stared out the window intently. This strange yet familiar city, which had appeared countless times in her father's phone calls, was now truly presented before her eyes. The tall buildings on the street, the hurried passers-by, and the bustling shops all filled her with curiosity. Liu Wenjun looked at his daughter's back, which was always sideways to him. He wanted to say something but stopped himself several times, and his hands rubbed unconsciously on his knees. Finally, he broke the silence, "Yuwei, Dad has something to tell you." Liu Yuwei turned her head and her eyes fell on her father's face. Liu Wenjun looked embarrassed, his eyes full of entanglement and apology, his brows slightly wrinkled, and his lips slightly pursed. She instantly understood what her father was going to say, and a complex emotion surged in her heart, with loss and a hint of relief. "Dad, my mom has told me everything, you don't have to explain to me anymore." Her tone was very calm, as if she had already accepted this fact. "I understand. You didn't tell me before because you were afraid it would affect my studies. I'm an adult now, so it's really okay!" To reassure her father, Liu Yuwei patted her chest, a bright smile breaking out on her face, a carefree and open-minded attitude that didn't suit her age. Liu Wenjun's eyes welled up slightly as he looked at his daughter's understanding demeanor. His throat felt as if something had caught, and he swallowed the words back with difficulty. He raised his hand and gently rubbed his eyes, trying to mask his emotion. "Dad, didn't you say last time that Jiang Ming's swimming crabs are incredibly plump? Where are we going to eat them later?" Liu Yuwei, not wanting to dwell on the sentimental atmosphere, quickly changed the subject. "Everything's ready at home. Let's eat at home..."

That midsummer, the scorching sun poured unreservedly onto every inch of the coastal city.

As soon as Liu Yuwei stepped out of the train car, the damp and sticky air quickly enveloped her like a tide.

Outside the platform, the noisy voices of people mixed with the chirping of summer cicadas, and along with the billowing hot steam rising from the asphalt road, all rushed towards her.

After walking a few steps outside, she saw her father, Liu Wenjun, waiting outside the iron railings. His dark T-shirt had been soaked and then dried, revealing a large white sweat stain.

Although the father and daughter spoke on the phone from time to time, it had been nearly half a year since they last saw each other. Liu Yuwei was filled with joy, and her pace unconsciously quickened, intending to rush forward and give her father a hug after a long separation.

However, just as she was about to get close, Liu Wenjun subconsciously took a step back, slightly turned sideways, and said, "Dad is all sweaty, don't get your clothes dirty."

As they took a taxi home, Liu Yuwei stared out the window. This strange yet familiar city, which had appeared countless times in her father's phone calls, now unfolded before her eyes. The tall buildings, the hurried pedestrians, the bustling shops, all filled her with curiosity.

Liu Wenjun looked at his daughter's back, which was always sideways toward him. He hesitated several times, his hands unconsciously rubbing on his knees. Finally, he broke the silence, "Yuwei, Daddy has something to tell you."

Liu Yuwei turned her head and looked at her father. She saw that Liu Wenjun looked embarrassed, his eyes full of confusion and apology, his brows slightly furrowed, and his lips slightly pursed.

She instantly understood what her father was trying to say, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart, a mixture of loss and relief.

"Dad, my mom told me everything. You don't have to explain it to me anymore."

Her tone was calm, as if she had already accepted this fact.

"I understand. You didn't tell me before because you were worried it would affect my studies. I'm an adult now, so it really doesn't matter!"

In order to reassure his father, Liu Yuwei deliberately patted his chest, a bright smile blooming on his face, with a carefree and open-minded attitude that was inconsistent with his age.

Liu Wenjun looked at his daughter's sensible appearance, and his eyes couldn't help but turn red. His throat seemed to be choked by something, and he swallowed the words back with difficulty.

He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes gently, trying to hide his emotions.

"Dad, didn't you say last time that Jiang Ming's swimming crabs are particularly fat? Where are we going to eat them later?"

Liu Yuwei didn't want to immerse herself in the sentimental atmosphere and quickly changed the subject.

"Everything is ready at home, let's eat at home!"

"I can taste my dad's cooking again. I also want to eat spicy fried clams and stir-fried shrimps! I'm so hungry, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!" Liu Yuwei curled her lips at Liu Wenjun and made a face.

After getting out of the car, Liu Wenjun walked in front, dragging the suitcase, while Liu Yuwei followed behind, taking in the surroundings as they walked.

The community is shaded by green trees, with rockery and fountains scattered in an orderly manner. Next to the benches on the plank road, various green plants that cannot be named are scattered at different heights.

She couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Dad, aren't you living in the school staff dormitory anymore? When did you move? I never heard you tell me!"

Liu Wenjun paused, a barely perceptible panic flashed across his face. He had been holding back all the words all the way, and now he didn't know how to speak.

He hesitated for a moment and casually responded, "I moved out a while ago. The environment here is better."

"This neighborhood is really nice. It looks more upscale than ours, oh, I mean the neighborhood in Acropolis."

Liu Wenjun stood at the door of his house, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. His hand was groping for the key in his trouser pocket, his movements slow.

Liu Yuwei stood aside, fanning himself with his hands in front of his face, trying to drive away the heat that clung to his body.

As soon as the reddish-brown security door cracked, cool air blew out, seemingly inviting her to hurry in. She couldn't wait to step inside, and before she had time to change into her slippers, she heard the frosted glass door nearby creak open.

A slender woman in an apron appeared, carrying a plate of steaming red swimming crabs. With a proper smile on her face, she calmly placed the plate on the dining table.

Then he walked to a position three steps away from Liu Yuwei and said, "You must be Yuwei, such a delicate girl. Your father talks about you to me every day."

Then he added enthusiastically, "Welcome to Jiangming to play!"

Liu Yuwei held her schoolbag tightly in her hands, leaving indentations on the shoulder straps, but she didn't notice at all.

There was a long silence. Liu Wenjun noticed Zhang Lu's suggestive look, his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he spoke slowly.

"Yu Wei, this is your Aunt Zhang Lu, we..."

"Dad, I'm too hot. Can I take a shower first?" Liu Yuwei loosened her tightly bitten lips and interrupted Liu Wenjun directly.

Faced with this woman who suddenly appeared, she felt an instinctive resistance, her mind was in a mess, and she just wanted to find an excuse to escape this embarrassing situation.

"Let's go clean up the room first. I've changed the sheets and quilt covers." Zhang Lu still spoke softly, the smile on her face did not fade at all, as if Liu Yuwei's neglect had no effect on her.

Liu Yuwei walked into the room and looked around. She immediately realized that there were obviously other people in this "home".

There was a Kobe poster on the wall, a brand new basketball under the table, and Lego car models on the bookshelf, all of which were out of tune with the light yellow floral sheets.

I picked up my clothes and opened the door, and the faint sound of conversation in the living room came over.

"I noticed your daughter's eyes looking at me aren't right. Did you not tell the truth to the child?"

The woman's voice was a little worried and complaining.

"We didn't find a suitable opportunity on the way. Yu Weiyi has always been sensible, so don't worry. Besides, she is only coming to play for a few days and will not stay long, so don't be angry with the child." Liu Wenjun's tone was full of comfort.

"Am I such a stingy person? I'm going to cook, you can do whatever you want!"

Liu Yuwei walked into the bathroom and saw the yellow sulfur soap that Liu Wenjun liked on the sink.

She recalled that Yuyao once said that sulfur smelled like rotten eggs, so she threw it away while Liu Wenjun was on a business trip and replaced it with rose-scented Safeguard. Later, her parents had a fight because of this.

She turned on the faucet, and the scalding hot water sprayed on her body, but her heart gradually cooled down. She never thought that meeting Liu Wenjun again would be like this.

When she came out of the bathroom drying her hair, the sound of the door opening suddenly rang out, followed by Liu Wenjun's voice.

"Xiaoyu, you're back. Your mother is cooking in the kitchen."

"Well, have the guests arrived?" A boy's voice sounded.

As soon as he finished speaking, the "guest" Liu Yuwei appeared in front of them with a towel hanging around his neck and water dripping from the tips of his hair.

Zhang Lu opened the kitchen door again, and the aroma of stir-fried chilies filled the air. Seeing the three people standing in the living room looking at each other in bewilderment, she greeted them naturally, like a hostess, "Stop standing there! Wash your hands and eat!"

The four of them sat around the dining table, Liu Yuwei and Liu Wenjun sat on one side, facing Zhang Lu.

"Yu Wei, this is my son Lin Yu, who is in the fourth grade."

"Xiaoyu, say hello to your sister." She patted the boy's back gently.

"Hello." Lin Yu nodded to Liu Yuwei. His perfunctory attitude was obviously just to give his mother face.

The atmosphere during the meal was strange. Zhang Lu tried to show concern for the girl he met for the first time, but Liu Yuwei felt like there was cotton wool stuck in her throat and she could only utter a few words each time.

Liu Wenjun, a grown man, was at a loss when faced with such a complicated situation, and kept repeating the same two sentences over and over again.

"Yuwei, try this."

"Xiaoyu, you should eat more too."

After dinner, Zhang Lu and her son were cleaning up in the kitchen. Liu Yuwei went in to throw away the garbage and heard the woman whispering.

"Don't be unhappy, it's just for a few days, just think of it as spending time with grandma and grandpa."

"The cuckoo has taken over the magpie's nest!" the boy muttered with dissatisfaction.

Liu Yuwei silently retreated with the orange peel in her hand.

Back in the living room, she sat on the sofa, mechanically picking at her nails, which had been dyed yellow from peeling oranges, and the boy's words echoed in her mind again and again. She felt like an intruder, abruptly disrupting someone else's originally peaceful and happy life.

"Yuwei, go wherever you want to go tomorrow. Dad will go with you."

Liu Wenjun noticed the changes in his daughter before and after she came home, and he felt full of guilt and wanted to make amends.

Liu Yuwei raised his head and forced a smile, "I'll think about it tonight. I'm a little tired, so I'll go back to the room first."

After saying that, she stood up and returned to her room. Lying on the bed that did not belong to her, tears silently slid down her face, soaking the pillow.

The next morning, father and daughter went for a stroll on the beach. The waves lapping against the sand made a pleasant sound, and the sea breeze, carrying a faint salty smell, ruffled her hair wantonly.

Liu Yuwei looked quietly at the boundless sea, with thousands of thoughts in his heart surging like waves.

In the afternoon, she explained that her grandmother was not feeling well and Yuyao was away on a business trip, so she had to go back quickly. This reason sounded so reasonable that it was impossible to refuse, but everyone knew in their hearts that some things had quietly changed and could never be undone.

Liu Yuwei "escaped" back to the Acropolis.

The next day, when Liu Yuwei opened his eyes, it was already bright.

She lay quietly on the familiar bed. The sunlight filtered through the narrow gap deliberately left in the curtains, casting a slender and bright shadow on the old ceiling, like a sharp blade that directly cut through the emotions that she tried hard to hide deep in her heart.

His eyes slowly moved to the photo of a family of three on the bookshelf. Through the glass frame, his smile seemed a little distorted under the effect of the light.

Liu Yuwei suddenly realized that this family that existed in name only was really broken up, and this photo had become an out-of-print in a sense.

Her eyes instantly turned red, and her whole body felt like she was thrown into an icy lake. The chill quickly spread throughout her body in the hot summer.

At this moment, Liu Yuwei's heart was filled with loneliness and helplessness. She longed for someone to accompany her and give her even a little warmth and comfort.

No longer caring about the usual entanglements and hesitations, Liu Yuwei completely followed his true thoughts and dialed the phone number that had long been engraved in his mind with trembling fingers.

Half an hour later, Liu Yuwei arrived at the small basketball court full of memories from last summer.

Author's Note

Lazy Cat on the Cloud

author

02-09

The Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake was not very good. I was always troubled by the data, and I kept jumping between the feeling that my writing was terrible and not that bad. I was discouraged yesterday and thought that I might be completely over. Today, I unexpectedly made it to the bottom of the newcomer list. It was really unexpected that I could still make the list without any homepage recommendation and no traffic during the Spring Festival. Thank you to every friend and reader, both known and unknown. I will update another chapter today as a commemoration. 2025.2.9