At the nursing home, under Chu Xubai’s assignment, everyone was divided into four groups: the chat group, the performance group, the cleaning group, and the photography group.
As the name suggests, the chat group was to keep the elderly residents company and chat with them.
The performance group had many talents—there was a girl who could sing opera, a boy who could play the erhu, and even someone who could perform Baduanjin.
The cleaning group was responsible for simple tidying up in the yard and rooms.
The photography group took pictures of the residents and recorded the event.
Chu Xubai read out all the names and finished the group assignments.
“And me?” Qiao Liuyue asked.
She had listened carefully just now.
Wang Cheng slapped his forehead again with an awkward grin and said,
“Sorry, Qiao, my bad! Since you signed up a bit late, your name didn’t make it onto the list.”
Chu Xubai said, “You’ll come with me.”
Qiao Liuyue nodded.
Chu Xubai’s attitude was gentle, but he inexplicably carried an air of leadership, and the other volunteers trusted him.
The originally quiet nursing home buzzed with life because of their arrival.
Just then, a commotion suddenly arose among the crowd.
Chu Xubai quickly jogged over to check what was happening.
Qiao Liuyue followed closely behind.
From the person in charge, they learned the news.
“Just now, an elderly resident reported that Professor Zhang, who lives across the hall, went out for a walk this morning but hasn’t come back yet.”
“Professor Zhang has Alzheimer’s disease. Since he hasn’t returned, we’re worried something might have happened!”
Chu Xubai said calmly, “We have so many classmates here—we’ll help you look for him.”
Soon, everyone spread out to search.
Chu Xubai took Qiao Liuyue to the yard behind the nursing home.
Qiao Liuyue noticed a gap in the door, pointed, and asked, “Is there a back gate here?”
Chu Xubai gently pulled it.
The door opened.
The back gate wasn’t locked.
If Professor Zhang had left through that gate, maybe...
Chu Xubai said, “Let’s go!”
The two ran for a short while and saw an elderly figure in the distance.
Qiao Liuyue asked, “Is that Professor Zhang?”
Chu Xubai quickly ran ahead to block his path. The old man was neatly dressed—inside a clean, crisp white shirt, wearing a dark gray suit jacket.
He had the air of an old professor, very refined, with a pair of reading glasses on his face.
Seeing the person in front of him, he looked slightly puzzled.
“Young man, what’s the matter? Do you need help?”
Chu Xubai asked, “Are you Professor Zhang?”
The old man nodded. “Yes.”
Chu Xubai said, “Great! Please come back with us. We almost thought you were lost.”
Professor Zhang replied, “Lost? I’m a grown man—how could I get lost?”
Qiao Liuyue, who had run slower, caught up breathlessly.
She happened to hear their conversation.
Just as everyone was relieved, they heard Professor Zhang continue.
“My daughter really loves cotton candy. I’m going to the street to buy some for her.”
Chu Xubai paused. “Your daughter?”
Professor Zhang smiled, looking blissful, and said, “Yes, my daughter’s only five years old. She’s this tall and very cute.”
As he spoke, he gestured with his hands.
Chu Xubai couldn’t help exchanging a glance with Qiao Liuyue.
It seemed this was a memory lapse caused by Alzheimer’s.
Chu Xubai had to coax him, “Let’s buy it later. Your daughter was just crying and asking for you—that’s why I ran out to find you.”
“Really?” Professor Zhang’s face showed a hint of hesitation.
He was about to agree to go back.
Suddenly, he spotted Qiao Liuyue behind him and happily clapped his hands, exclaiming with delight:
"Sweetheart, you're back from school. You're home early today!"
Chu Xubai and Qiao Liuyue exchanged another glance.
This memory had fast-forwarded to a few years later.
Qiao Liuyue played along, saying, "Yeah, let's head home first. I already have dinner waiting for you."
Professor Zhang snorted, "Nonsense! Your mom can't cook, and I wasn't home. Surely you didn't cook it yourself?"
Qiao Liuyue: "That's right, I made it myself."
Professor Zhang's gaze suddenly shifted to Chu Xubai, and as if struck by amnesia, he pointed at him.
"Young man, who are you?"
"Why are you sticking close to my sweetheart?" His eyes turned wary. "You're still students—no early romance!"
Chu Xubai smiled bitterly and started to speak: "Grand... er..." He paused and corrected himself: "Uncle, I live next door to you."
"Is that so?" Professor Zhang mumbled under his breath, "Why don't I remember that? Ah, how can my memory be so bad when I'm only in my forties?"
The two of them worked together to coax Professor Zhang back inside. Just as they were about to enter the back door of the nursing home,
his footsteps suddenly halted.
His reaction was intense: "No! This isn't my home!"
He looked scared and confused, then gazed at Qiao Liuyue. "Sweetheart, where is this? Where's your mom? I don't recognize this building."
The nursing home director burst into tears of joy when he saw Professor Zhang return.
He had truly been terrified that the old man might have gotten lost.
He rushed out quickly and grabbed Professor Zhang's hand excitedly.
"Grandpa, where did you run off to? You nearly scared us to death!"
Professor Zhang yanked his hand away, his face full of suspicion.
"Who are you calling grandpa? You look about my age—call me 'big brother,' have some manners!"
"And who are you? I don't know you!" He took a couple of steps back, leaned in close to Qiao Liuyue, and whispered, "Sweetheart, who is this man?"
The director suddenly realized that the old man's episode had set in again.
He quickly smiled and said, "It's me, Xiao Liu. I live next door."
Professor Zhang eyed Chu Xubai suspiciously, then glanced at the director.
"Two people, both claiming to live next door to me." The first part was calm, but then he burst out: "Bull! You're probably kidnappers!"
With that, he grabbed Qiao Liuyue's hand and tried to run.
"Sweetheart, run! These two men are both kidnappers!"
But when he tugged, she didn't move.
Professor Zhang panicked. "Sweetheart, RUN!"
He looked on the verge of tears.
Chu Xubai suddenly realized something and shouted to Qiao Liuyue:
"Run."
Without asking a single question, Qiao Liuyue obediently followed the old man and took a few more steps outside.
But since he was elderly and had little stamina, he was panting heavily after just a few steps.
As he panted, his eyes gradually cleared.
With confusion, he said, "Eh? Little girl, who are you? How did I get here? Wasn't I just taking a walk after breakfast?"
Not far away,
The director was astonished, looking puzzled. "How... how did you know?"
He had assumed these college students coming to the nursing home were just going through the motions—only there to earn credits, not genuinely invested.
Chu Xubai smiled. "Because we're real volunteers."
Professor Zhang soon returned to normal, and a staff member from the home helped him back inside.
After the person in charge also apologized and left, Chu Xubai quickly walked over to Qiao Liuyue. He patted her shoulder naturally and asked,
“What’s wrong? Are you okay? Were you scared just now?”
“Are you asking if I was scared by the old man dragging me along at a sprint? Honestly, I’m more worried he might trip and fall at his age.” Qiao Liuyue curved her lips into a slight smile.
