[Zhongyingmei] That snake

The next morning, Oliver was woken up by a phone call.The sky was hazy and bright, and even the light coming in through the gaps in the curtains was still grayish blue.

"Hello, this is Oliver Williams."

"Livvvvv!!! morning!"

Oliver, who was not fully awake yet, was startled by the scream, "morning" he tentatively replied.

"Hey, it's me, Lily."

"Oh, Lily," who else can be so lively besides Lily, "I'm not in the United States now, and I won't be back this Christmas. I've already told my parents in advance, didn't they notify you?"

"I know you're in London, we're in London too, Lim and Colin are here."

"Okay you are in London, wait a minute, what did you just say? Are you coming to London?"

"Yep, did you come to see us?"

"There was a snowstorm here in the UK, and the plane couldn't take off or land. How did you get here? Lim didn't plan to go back to the UK before."

"So we didn't come here by plane, and certainly not by ship. Lim only decided to come to London last night. So you came to pick me up?"

"Do I have any other options?" Oliver chuckled, she rarely refused her sister's request.

"Of course not." Lily called happily on the other end of the phone, and gave him the address.

Hotch also woke up when the phone rang, but he didn't ask until Oliver hung up, "Here's Lily."

"Hmm," Oliver got out of bed and fumbled, picked up the messy clothes from last night, put them into the laundry basket, and dug out new clothes to change.

"I don't know how they got here under the blizzard. I'm going to find them now, and you can sleep a little longer if you want." Oliver leaned over and kissed Hotch on the cheek.

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When Oliver found it, the three of them were having breakfast in a corner bakery, and Lily waved to him through the glass.

Oliver nodded, looked down at the time on the watch, it was 7:[-].

Most of the shops on the street have not opened their doors yet, and there are street trees that have lost all their leaves and only dead branches, which looks very deserted.But this bakery is the only shop with warm yellow lights on the whole street.

Oliver pushed open the door, and the wind chimes jingled, like winter music.

"Oliver," Colin beckoned to him, "you haven't had breakfast yet, try this custard bun, which Lim recommended."

Oliver opened the stool and sat down, Lily stuffed a croissant into his mouth, and the culprit smiled happily.

Oliver pretended to be angry and glared at her, but obediently finished the bread.

Looking around this store, judging from the smooth surface paint and scratches on the table corners, this store has been open for a long time. Lim is very familiar with this store, so he went into the kitchen to get hot milk and Give him boiled eggs.

She was in a good mood, and even helped Oliver peel off the eggshell, imitating Lily and stuffing a whole egg into Oliver's mouth.

Before he could say a word, Oliver looked up helplessly at the sky.

Colin studied the shop's mini cupcakes instead of reaching out to Oliver.

Oliver: Hopeless.

Lim stared at the rose pattern on the enamel porcelain plate, and seemed to say to himself, "I used to like this store very much. When I was about 16 years old, I came here to try the custard bun for the first time. This is The only 24-hour bakery I could find. The lights are always on whenever I come back. You need milk, Liv." Lim finally noticed Oliver, puffing out his cheeks and chewing hard.

Oliver gratefully took the milk from Lim and took a sip.After finishing the food in his mouth, he finally had time to say a word, "I have a question, how did you come to London."

Lim raised his eyebrows, turned his gaze to Colin and Lily, "You have to ask them both."

"Liv, do you know Kurt the Nightcrawler?" Lily asked.

Oliver thought for a while, "The teleporting mutant at Xavier College."

"It's him. I ask him to help us come to London."

"Lim, can you tell me how you decided to go back to London?" When Oliver and Lim called three days ago, she hadn't made this decision yet.

"I want to come back. Kate told my parents about the situation. It's been more than 30 years, alas," she sighed. "I still want to come back and meet them, although I have a feeling that I will be mad at them."

"Yeah." Oliver nodded, "Have you booked a hotel? And your luggage? I'll take it for you."

"No hotel reservation, no luggage." Lim replied decisively, "I'm going home this time, so right now, you come with me."

"Should I call Aaron too?"

Lim hesitated for a moment, "Don't worry."

"why?"

"Because I'm not sure yet, am I going to be kicked out?"

Oliver believed that the color on his face must be very rich at this time, who vowed to go home and live?

"Speaking of which." Lim raised his chin and signaled Oliver to raise his left hand. Lily spotted the ring on Oliver's hand with sharp eyes, and took his hand over to observe carefully, "Did you propose to him?"

"That's it."

"What do you mean?" Lily stroked the two rings, "And why are there two rings?"

"Because he and I proposed to each other at the same time." Oliver smiled, "Just last night."

"So romantic."

"That's a shame," Colin said. "We should have come earlier so we didn't miss a big family moment."

Oliver couldn't laugh or cry, "Are you still planning to come and watch?"

"Why not!" Colin and Lily yelled at the same time.

Oliver let out a breath, "I've convinced you."

"Then when are you going to get married?" Colin continued to ask, "I remember Washington passed the same-sex marriage bill."

"We have to wait a while longer to officially get married. Due to work reasons, the FBI does not allow office romances."

"Then you two are committing crimes against the wind?" Lim teased.

Lily took Oliver's other hand again, thinking secretly, "Oliver, Liv, my good brother, what are you planning to give me this Christmas?"

"I have already prepared, but I have stayed in the United States."

"Christmas gift, it's meaningless if you don't give it today." Lily pulled the diamond ring on Oliver's index finger, "Give me this ring, you already have two."

Oliver didn't mind giving the ring to Lily, but he still raised his head and asked Lim with his eyes. Lim didn't express his opinion, which was regarded as acquiescing.

He took off the ring, put it on for Lily himself, and told her by the way, "Remember not to poke people."

"Okay, okay." Lily followed suit, she had been looking at this ring for a long time.

Before leaving, Oliver called Hotch to explain the situation, and ordered a croissant and a glass of milk from the bakery to be delivered to the hotel. The bread here is really delicious.

After leaving the bakery, Lim first went to a car dealership to pick up a silver-gray sports car.

"This is?" Lily's eyes lit up.

"I didn't expect him to leave the car here." Lim clenched the car keys in his hand, "One of my favorite cars back then, get in the car, I'll take you there, when the car gets there, It should be time for his meeting."

The silver-gray sports car is headed for the outskirts of London.

"What kind of people were my grandfather and grandmother," Oliver asked tentatively.

Lim looked at his cautious son in the rearview mirror and replied with a smile, "Do you think you are working? You also have all the information in your hands."

"Well, at least I need to know their names."

"Yes, name, your grandfather James Joyner, British, ex-King'sman member, your grandmother, Christine Joyner, although she has American citizenship, she came to England at the age of five, more than a real English lady, Stuffy etiquette followed. But on the whole, she's fine. Then Kate Joyner, you know, this is your aunt. Almost there, look to my left."

Oliver was sitting on Lily's left, and now Lily was leaning over him, with her chin resting on Oliver's shoulder, looking out the car window.

The sky is getting brighter, but thick clouds are hovering in the sky, and they are not easy to disperse. There are flat lands in the distance, scattered with some shrubs and moss that have not faded. The moist air they sent, the howling wind .

Oliver opened the car window, the smell of the wind was cold and fresh, with a little salty taste.

"Look over there, the house hidden behind a bunch of pines and sycamores."

"Don't tell me this is your house, Lim." Oliver asked in disbelief.

"It's my home." Lim breathed a sigh of relief, and pressed his tall nose against the steering wheel.

It was a sprawling manor on a blue-green field. From this angle, only the spiers that were not covered by the dense pine trees and the sycamores with fallen leaves were covered with dark blue tiles.

But just from the towering spire and the faintly visible iron fence carved with patterns, one can imagine the large area of ​​this manor.

"Oliver, I think this manor is comparable to Xavier College." Lily's eyes widened.

Although judging from the current outline, the building in this champion is different from the castle of Xavier College, it looks more like a palace.

Lim stepped on the accelerator to speed up, and the sports car soon drove to the main gate of the manor.

The metal-colored iron gate is painted with patterns in detail, which seems to be in the shape of an angel with wings spread. The front of the gate is paved with red stone bricks. The small red fruits in the shaped leaves accidentally fell into the snowdrift, and there was a little red in the soft white snow, which was very cute.

The guard on guard came up to ask, Lim rolled down the car window, "Paygle, are you still working here?"

The doorman in his forties was puzzled, he didn't remember seeing this lady, "Ma'am, may I ask who you are?"

"It's me, Kate Joyner. I remember you were in middle school when I left."

"Kate...Miss Kate has returned." He frowned suddenly.Staring at Lim, "Which Kate?"

Lim nodded, "You can call me Lim, if you don't know how to distinguish me from Kate."

"Okay, Miss Lim, welcome back," he smiled brightly, "I'll report to the master."

Lim stopped him with his hand, "No, park the car for me, I'll go see him myself."

Colin, Lily and Oliver followed Lim into the manor.Even in winter, there are still yellow roses blooming in the flower beds of the manor, and pink roses entwining the swings.A babbling fountain pours from the mermaid's conch.

Colin was silent all the way, Oliver couldn't see his expression clearly, just holding Lily who was looking around curiously.

After walking through several steps, and finally standing in front of the gate, Lim did not dare to stretch out his hand to push open the solid wood carved gate.

But she didn't have long to think because the door opened by itself.

"Miss Kate, you are finally back." Standing at the door was a gentleman with gray temples, wearing a well-made suit and a metal watch chain on his chest.

Startled, Lim took two steps back, looked up to see the person who suddenly appeared in front of him, "Mr. Butler, I..."

"Your sister told me that you plan to come back this year. Come in first, it's windy outside." The butler smiled kindly, opened the door and invited the four of them in, "This is your husband, right? And the young master and Missy."

"Well." Lim was not so timid when facing Mr. Housekeeper, "This is Colin Williams, Oliver, my son, and Lily, my daughter."

"In a blink of an eye, you came back, and your children are all this old." Mr. Butler led them through the front hall.

"Where's father? Does he know I'm back? And mother, is she okay?"

"Both of them are fine. No one has told the master that you are coming back. He is in the studio, you can go to him, and the lady is in the conservatory. Shall I get Miss Kathleen?"

The butler knew that Kathleen was the name that belonged to Kate in the first place.

"Studio? Is there an extra studio at home?"

The butler nodded, "After you leave, the master told the painter who converted the old study room, that you can take the elevator up to the third floor."

"Elevator." Lim's lips trembled, this home has changed too much.

"Well, it was installed after that, and it will be more convenient."

"I see. You can call Kate first, and then call her Kate. Just call me Lim. Let Kate accompany them. Oliver knows her better."

"Okay." The butler replied politely. After watching Lim walk towards the elevator, he turned around with a smile, took Oliver and his party to the living room to sit down, ordered the maids to make tea and serve snacks, and made all the arrangements. Then go up to the bedroom on the second floor and call Kate.

Soon Kate was coming down the stairs, in a dark green velvet dress and silk blouse, and Oliver could hear the heels of her high heels tapping the marble tiles, dressed for a party.

Kate first thanked the butler with a just right smile, and then gracefully walked to the side of the sofa and sat down. After watching the butler leave the living room, she finally collapsed on the sofa.

Oliver couldn't help laughing, "Kate, what's the matter? The Princess and the Pea?"

"Because of my mother. She always asked me to do this." Kate waved her hands weakly, "That's why I like staying in the United States. At least I can wear home clothes at home without worrying about my image."

"What kind of person is your mother?" Oliver suddenly became curious, even though Lim had already given him a brief description.

"A standard British lady," Kate shrugged, "even if she's an American."

She suddenly put down her upturned feet, pulled up her skirt, straightened her back, and sat upright.

Oliver turned his head and saw that Mr. Butler came again, holding a cup of black tea, "Your tea, Miss Kate, three spoonfuls of sugar, and one spoonful of milk."

"Thank you," Kate accepted the tea with a smile.

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Lim carefully pushed open the studio door.

"Why didn't you knock before entering?" James stopped the paintbrush in his hand.

Lim saw his father, whom he had not seen for many years, sitting with his back to the door and facing the window. James also had long hair, the curvy long hair mixed with the original gold and the silver strands brought by the passage of time, and it had grown to his waist.

The snow reflects the sun through the glass on the canvas and the sides of his hair.

The old man was sitting in a wheelchair, but he never stooped. His back was still broad, just like what Lim relied on back then.

The long silence made James turn his head.The person in front of the door made him pause for a while before he said slowly, "Kate, you are finally willing to come back."

Lim took a few steps forward and closed the door behind his back, but he didn't dare to get too close.Father's face has changed, but it doesn't seem to have changed. It's because he has changed too much.

"I am back."

"Are you coming back to admit your mistake?" James' tone was not as gentle as his long hair seemed.

"I know my mistakes, and I've spent decades longing for redemption. I..."

"Hmph, atonement," James snorted coldly, "you're just evading, evading your responsibilities, Kate Joyner."

The emotions in Kate's chest were extremely contradictory and complicated, and just one blow would make them all explode.But she had to work hard to suppress her emotions and voice, "Don't call me that, I changed my name and surname, LimWilliams."

"Away from home for 30 years, is this what you want to say when you come back? Kate Joyner." James threw the paintbrush in his hand to the ground and suddenly turned up the volume.

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Kate in the living room was frightened by the voice from upstairs, her hand holding the black tea shook, and the brown tea spilled on her shirt.

She thought the voice was scolding herself.

"Are the two of them okay?" Colin glanced worriedly towards the stairs.

"I shouldn't be able to fight." Kate put down the black tea, "Father's temper has improved a lot recently. I'm going to change clothes, excuse me."

After Kate left, Oliver asked Colin, "You don't look well, what's the matter?"

Colin raised his head to look at his son, and Lily was caught in the middle, with his chin propped on his hands, looking left and right, "I'm thinking about something, about this family."

Oliver motioned for him to continue.

"I'm afraid Lim's family won't accept me."

"Why?" Oliver didn't understand Colin's thoughts.

"Look, I'm just an ordinary American country man, and what about Lim?" Colin looked at the oil paintings hanging on the high wall, and he could see that Joyner's ancestors were all nobles.

"You never told us about your parents."

Colin took a sip of tea, "My parents were farmers in Kansas, and they planted a corn field. Just. They died in a tornado a long time ago."

"Colin, do you know? Listening to the first half of this story, I thought my father was Superman, although the second half is quite similar." Lily told a bad joke.

"Hehe." Colin smiled and rubbed Lily's hair, "Superman doesn't have daughters and sons. After I became an adult, I went to the East Coast to find some jobs, and finally went to S.H.I.E.L.D., and then I quit that organization , opened a coffee shop in Kolia Town, I am just an ordinary person.”

Well, yes, an ordinary guy who stole the secrets of Hydra and went undiscovered for decades.

"So? What's the age now?" Oliver said, "You have been with her for 30 years, and you have raised a son and a daughter. Time has proved that you are very suitable. Is it possible that you will separate because of this?"

"Me," what else did Colin want to say?But was interrupted by Oliver.

"Colin, tell me the truth, did you go to a weird soap opera with the students who came to work in your store during the holidays?"

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"Kate Joyner." James took a breath after shouting this sentence, and controlled the smart wheelchair to slide to the window.

Both of them were silent for a long time, and finally James broke the deadlock, "Are you married in America?"

"Ah."

"do you have any kid?"

"One son and one daughter."

"Tell me about them."

"The eldest son is Oliver, who works in the FBI and has a boyfriend. I heard that he proposed to marry him yesterday. The younger daughter, Lily, is only 17 years old and is studying at... Xavier College."

"So another American man."

Lim just didn't understand, "James, what prejudice do you have against Americans? Mom is also American."

"But she's an American woman." James showed no sign of weakness.

"Oh, god." Lim almost laughed angrily at the stubborn James, she changed the subject, "Oliver should have a way to heal your leg."

"My leg was healed earlier," James said.

"what?"

James turned his head, glanced at her, took his cane from the corner and slowly stood up.After he tried to walk a few steps, he gradually adapted and could walk around like a normal person.

Lim watched this scene in disbelief. She remembered that after the failed mission, her father had both legs amputated.It doesn't look like that now.

"Come back to yourself," James tapped the ground with his cane.

"This is, why." Kate was surprised, but she was very happy in her heart, and she didn't even realize it.

"King'man's technology made two metal legs. The effect is not bad, maybe you are not as good as me when it comes to running now."

Kate suddenly cried. She thought she wouldn't cry. She didn't cry when she confronted her father who had never met again; she didn't cry when she was not understood, but now she couldn't cry.

"I said, you can't cry." James tapped Lim's leg with the end of his hand stick.

But Lim's tears kept flowing, James couldn't help it, and now his whole body felt a little rushed.

"What happened back then wasn't entirely your fault. You don't have to feel so guilty, stop crying, okay? Even though we lost Auther. But you and I are still standing here."