That night, Yang Liu picked up Han Wei from school, her appearance strikingly transformed. She drew the attention of all the parents waiting to collect their children. As she entered the classroom to retrieve Han Wei, she felt a rush of excitement. Hand in hand, they headed to the car, ready to make their way to her parents' house.
Once inside the vehicle, Yang Liu noticed the unusual quietness. Turning to glance at Han Wei, she found him staring at her in astonishment since they had left the school. Amused, she laughed and asked, "Do I look beautiful?"
Han Wei nodded involuntarily, his eyes wide, but quickly lowered his head in embarrassment, realizing what he had done.
Yang Liu couldn't help but burst into laughter, giving his head a gentle pat. "Good boy," she said, feeling a warmth in her heart at the innocent moment.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived in a residential neighborhood, and the driver pulled the car to a stop. He turned to Yang Liu and informed her, "Madam, we have arrived."
Stepping out of the car while holding Han Wei's hand, she approached her parents' home and rang the doorbell. A well-dressed middle-aged woman opened the door, peering outside.
Upon seeing her daughter, the woman rushed forward, exclaiming, "Yang Liu, I've missed you! It's been a month since I last saw you."
Mrs. Yan Mei enveloped her daughter in a tight hug, and Yang Liu was momentarily taken aback by the sudden physical contact. In her past life, she had always felt the sting of loneliness as an orphan, so this embrace was foreign yet heartwarming. For the first time, she felt a flicker of warmth in her heart, though she couldn't quite understand why.
As Mrs. Yan Mei stepped back, she noticed the boy holding her daughter's hand. "You must be Han Wei, right?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Han Wei shyly confirmed, and Mrs. Yan Mei immediately scooped him up, beaming as she said, "I am your grandmother!" She led both her grandson and daughter inside, insisting, "Let's go in; it's very cold out here."
As they entered the house, Yang Liu's eyes were drawn to a man in a wheelchair. Startled, she recognized him instantly. "Father," she exclaimed.
The middle-aged man smiled warmly and replied, "Daughter, you should come home more often." He spotted Han Wei and opened his arms wide, adding, "Hello, Han Wei, I am your grandfather."
Though shy, Han Wei mustered the courage to run and embrace his new grandfather, feeling a sense of belonging he had never known before. I've never had grandparents like this, he thought. They are so loving. I hope this hug lasts longer.
Yang Liu stood back, taken aback by the scene. Everything felt achingly familiar, yet she realized she had never experienced this warmth and affection before.
Hours later, as the family played together, Yang Liu learned three important things: first, that the original Yang Liu's parents were genuinely good people; second, it had been a month since her last visit; and third, it had been exactly a month since her father had an accident. She scratched her head in thought, feeling a worry creep in—this seemed like something she should discuss with Han Chen later.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts.
Watching her parents play with Han Wei, Yang Liu walked over to answer the door. When she opened it, she was startled to find Han Chen standing there. "Weren't you working?" she asked, her surprise evident.
At the same moment, Han Chen took in Yang Liu's transformed appearance and thought, Is this really Yang Liu?
The air between them crackled with unspoken questions and emotions, setting the stage for an unexpected evening ahead.