Make Her Heart Flutter - Chapter 43

“Morning.” Chi Shuang’s smile was as warm as a spring breeze.

“Good morning, Sister Jiang.” Jiang Ran turned to greet Jiang Qi.

Jiang Qi remained as aloof as ever: “Morning.”

It was as if the gentle smile from moments ago had nothing to do with her. Jiang Ran could even feel the temperature around them suddenly drop.

Wait, I’m on your side! A CP fan! I’m not here to break you two up!

Jiang Ran screamed internally while maintaining the composure expected of a popular idol group member on the surface.

After breakfast, the director announced the day’s task.

[Spend a day accompanying left-behind elderly at a rural welfare home.]

“Last time we cared for children, this time we respect the elderly. If I don’t get full marks in moral education this semester, I’ll have words with my teacher!” Jiang Ran muttered under her breath.

Shang Chumu raised his hand: “Same here!”

Chi Shuang couldn’t help laughing: “Then hurry up and get ready.”

Jiang Ran made a “wait” gesture and asked: “Are meals included today?”

The director: […]

[The program team will provide ingredients. Please cook a meal for the left-behind elderly.]

Jiang Qi checked her phone and read out the fine print below: “Twenty yuan per person as compensation?”

President Jiang’s face turned cold. Her time was measured in tens of thousands per minute, twenty yuan? Was that even worth mentioning?

Everyone went back to change clothes. Chi Shuang patted Jiang Qi’s shoulder, probably understanding what she was thinking: “Twenty is twenty. We’re practically paupers now with just two yuan per day per person. At least we’ll make a total of one hundred twenty from this trip, enough for several meat meals.”

Jiang Qi nodded. Well, whatever. At least she could be with her girlfriend… no, potential girlfriend.

This time the production team wasn’t completely unreasonable and arranged transportation. The journey was short, and Chi Shuang showed no adverse reactions. Seeing her still full of energy after getting out of the car, Jiang Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

However, when she saw the nursing home, Jiang Qi froze.

Compared to the previous kindergarten, this nursing home was even more shocking. Just two rows of buildings enclosed by a courtyard, with a plaque bearing three large characters: “Respect the Aged Home.”

And half the plaque was missing due to years of disrepair.

Though the weather was hot, Jiang Qi saw a middle-aged man standing at the entrance with five or six elderly people, their deeply lined faces bearing witness to the passage of time.

Seeing them approach, they whispered among themselves for a moment. The middle-aged man came over: “Ahem, hello, you can call me Xiao Lin. You’re here to visit the elderly, right? Everything’s arranged, just follow me inside.”

Jiang Qi nodded, her hand unconsciously finding Chi Shuang’s.

The cement at the entrance was pitted and uneven, likely from years of wear.

“Watch your step.” Tang Qiluo reminded quietly from behind, steadying Yan Xu who had nearly tripped on a loose stone.

“Thank you.” Yan Xu stabilized himself and thanked Tang Qiluo.

Mountains stood behind the nursing home, blocking sufficient sunlight and leaving a faint musty smell permeating the air.

Jiang Ran, also born into wealth, had never seen such a nursing home before. She had visited the rehabilitation center where her grandmother previously lived, also nestled against mountains and water, but consisting of small villas equipped with all necessary facilities, including basic amenities like cinemas and sports lounges.

Being young and outspoken, she asked bluntly: “Are you sure people can live here?”

Xiao Lin’s expression stiffened, his smile tinged with bitterness: “We’d like to provide better living conditions for the elderly too, but we don’t have the funds.”

Jiang Qi pursed her lips and rummaged through her clothes.

Chi Shuang noticed her subtle movement and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

She was looking for a business card.

Earlier, at the entrance, the wrinkled, time-worn faces of the elderly had appeared before her.

It reminded her of her grandmother, who had passed away when Jiang Qi was eight.

Though her grandmother had been well-maintained, elegant, and composed, Jiang Qi couldn’t help but recall her, perhaps because all elderly people share certain similarities.

After searching for a while, she pulled out a business card from her pocket and discreetly slipped it into Xiao Lin’s arms, avoiding the cameras. “For the nursing home reconstruction, you can contact this number.”

Xiao Lin was taken aback for a moment, then glanced at the director off-camera. The director nodded, signaling that it was acceptable to accept.

His face lit up with excitement: Great! The big star from the city is planning to renovate this nursing home. Will the elderly finally have comfortable living conditions?

Chi Shuang watched Jiang Qi’s little maneuver and smiled. Do all CEOs carry business cards with them wherever they go?

The elderly who had been standing at the entrance earlier were now in their rooms. They had been instructed by the village committee director to treat the visitors as ordinary volunteers.

Though small, this nursing home often welcomed volunteers from nearby schools who would chat with the elderly, helping to ease their worries.

As people age, they sleep less and tend to overthink. School-organized activities like this not only nurture the future pillars of the nation but also provide these elderly folks with a bit of much-needed companionship.

Although none of the six visitors were socially anxious, they weren’t quite sure how to interact with the elderly either. They exchanged uncertain glances for a moment.

Just then, the elderly began emerging from their rooms one by one, each holding small items.

Some carried a handful of biscuits, others had fruit candies they had saved for a long time and were reluctant to eat, and some brought fruits like bananas or pears.

“Kids, you’ve worked hard coming all this way.”

Jiang Qi and her group were led into a room, likely the common area, where a square table stood in the center with four benches around it.

The elderly placed all the items they had brought on the table, quickly filling it up.

Xiao Lin could tell these were treats that the elderly usually were reluctant to enjoy. He worried both that the celebrities might look down on these humble offerings and that they might eat everything without leaving anything for the elders.

The nursing home reconstruction would require careful planning, and he wasn’t sure if the ethereally beautiful star had just made an offhand remark.

Still, observing her powerful Alpha aura and upright demeanor, he felt she wouldn’t make empty promises.

With that thought, the excitement he had just suppressed began to stir again.

“Please keep these for yourselves. We came to chat with you, it’s already impolite that we didn’t bring anything,” Chi Shuang declined an apple an elderly woman offered her.

The kind old woman continued to hold it out toward her. “Eat. It’s sweet.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Ran and the others were also being insistently offered food by the elderly.

Yan Xu, who wasn’t very articulate, found it hard to refuse and accepted a fruit candy. “Grandpa, I’ve already had one. I really don’t need anything else.”

Everyone knew the spread on the table represented the elders’ cherished possessions. Even Jiang Ran, who usually loved snacks, showed restraint, taking only a small packet of biscuits and politely declining all other offers.

“Kids, why aren’t you eating more?”

“Young man, you’re so thin, there’s barely two ounces of meat on your bones.”

“Indeed, a gust of wind could blow you away.”