Heart Flutter

Chapter 64

When Ji Yuqing and Tang Yan first arrived at the nursing home, they were told that a caregiver had taken the elderly resident out for a walk. They searched for quite a while before spotting her by the lake behind the nearby hill. The elderly woman looked much better than before; her complexion was rosy and radiant. Unable to contain her excitement, Ji Yuqing quickened her pace, and Tang Yan hurried to keep up.

“Mom, Yan Yan and I came to visit you,” Ji Yuqing said with a beaming smile.

“Oh, Miss Ji is here,” the caregiver greeted her.

“Tuan Tuan! Tuan Tuan, you’re back from school!” the elderly woman exclaimed. She let go of the caregiver’s hand and stumbled forward by herself. Unexpectedly, she bypassed Ji Yuqing and went straight over to Tang Yan, taking hold of her hand. “Tuan Tuan, what do you want for dinner? Mommy will cook it for you.”

Tang Yan felt momentarily awkward and glanced at Aunt Ji for help. Aunt Ji looked at her calmly and nodded, suggesting that she should just play along, that it was fine.

Tang Yan did her best to keep up the act while stealing glimpses of Aunt Ji and the caregiver, who had moved off to a small tree at the side to talk quietly.

“How has my mom been doing recently?” Ji Yuqing asked without preamble.

“She’s been alright after taking her medicine every day. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of illness that can’t really be cured. She can only depend on medication to keep it under control,” replied the caregiver.

Ji Yuqing nodded. “As long as she can take her medicine on time and live well each day, I’ll consider that a blessing. In the future, I’ll still need you and Aunt Qin to keep an eye on her.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble at all. It’s our job,” the caregiver said. “But when people reach old age and get this kind of illness, there really isn’t much anyone can do. It’s hard for family members to watch, and it must be tough for you too.”

Holding back her sadness, Ji Yuqing pressed her lips together and sniffed once, managing a smile. “My mom has never had it easy, so the least I can do is provide her with the best environment possible.”

“You’re a very filial daughter. I’m sure your mom understands that, Miss Ji.”

Glancing back, Ji Yuqing saw Tang Yan keeping the elderly woman happily entertained. A gentle smile appeared on her face. “I don’t ask for much—just that she can spend her remaining time here safely and happily.”

Even if her mother no longer recognized her, at least she still remembered Ji Yuqing’s childhood nickname and thought of her constantly. Ji Yuqing felt grateful enough for that.

They stayed by the lake for a while until the caregiver checked the time and mentioned it was time for the group exercise. She asked if Ji Yuqing wanted to watch, and Ji Yuqing gladly agreed, calling Tang Yan to come along.

The group exercise turned out to be a routine for seniors. The movements were simple, without any large motions, but the accompanying music was bright and rhythmic. As soon as they reached the gym entrance, Ji Yuqing’s mother grew excited at the familiar music and rushed inside. The caregiver nearly lost track of her.

Walking beside Ji Yuqing, Tang Yan laughed. “She’s just like a child.”

“She sure is,” Ji Yuqing said, crossing her arms and smiling. “An old child.”

Soon, more elderly people arrived—both men and women, each with different faces. Yet they all wore the same short haircuts and matching uniforms, making them look somewhat uniform in appearance.

Ji Yuqing’s mother took a spot at the outermost row, standing in line just like most of the other seniors. Each person kept a bit of distance from the next, giving themselves enough room to stretch out their arms.

She was neither the first nor the last person there with Alzheimer’s disease.

When the music for the exercise began, Ji Yuqing felt a pang of worry that her mother might be the one struggling the most. It turned out her concerns were unnecessary. Her mother swayed with spirit, looking no different from any of the other seniors.

Relief and joy washed over Ji Yuqing. She could not resist taking out her phone to record a video, hoping to preserve this beautiful moment.

Tang Yan happened to stand slightly behind Ji Yuqing and caught a glimpse of her radiant profile. In truth, Tang Yan had never seen Aunt Ji smile quite like this before; it was so different from how she usually smiled at her. Moved by the sight, Tang Yan also took out her phone. On the surface, she pretended to film Aunt Ji’s mother, but after a few seconds, she shifted the camera ever so slightly to capture Ji Yuqing’s profile. Satisfied, she stopped recording and lowered her head to edit the video.

“Weekend,” she wrote, posting the newly filmed clip to her social feed. Then she slipped the phone into her pocket and stayed by Aunt Ji’s side.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuqing kept recording, taking a long video without growing tired, as if she could never get enough. Indeed, if Tang Yan had not seen it for herself, she would never have imagined that these patients, despite their illnesses, could come together so energetically to exercise in such an orderly fashion. The scene reminded her of her elementary school days, when students would do group exercises for fifteen minutes every break. Older kids, who knew the routines well, set the example, while first graders made mistakes from time to time but tried their hardest to keep up with everyone else.

Watching these “old children” throw themselves wholeheartedly into something was actually quite endearing.

The caregiver chatted away with Ji Yuqing, vividly describing the daily life of the residents at the home. Tang Yan had little to add, so she just waited nearby, occasionally checking her phone. She noticed a few comments popping up on the social post she had just made:

Han Shuang: Seriously, Tang Yan, you have the oddest taste—going to do square dancing on the weekend?

Xia Zihan: This looks like Qingshan Nursing Home. That place is crazy expensive—rumor says it’s a money pit. My dad’s boss’s mother is there. Tang Yan, what are you doing there?

Zhao Xiaoyun: Look, your Aunt Ji is in the video. She braided her hair into two pigtails today—adorable!

Tang Yan was about to reply when she heard Aunt Ji calling her.

“Yan Yan, let’s head out.”

“Ah, okay!” Tang Yan looked up, hurriedly putting away her phone.

They stepped into the corridor outside, and Tang Yan could not help asking, “We… we’re not staying?”

“It’s almost lunchtime, and then they’ll take a nap. There’s no need for us to linger all day. I’ll take you to get something to eat,” Ji Yuqing said.

“All right,” Tang Yan replied, nodding compliantly.

They exited the gym, walked along a short path, and soon reached a separate building that housed a dining hall. It was meant primarily for visiting family members, though caregivers and doctors also used it.

Heading to the second floor, they found themselves in an elegantly decorated, bright, and impeccably clean restaurant. A server showed them to a table by the window, then presented them each with a menu. Tang Yan scanned the dishes and was immediately shocked by the prices. It was not just expensive—it was extremely expensive. A dish that cost a modest amount elsewhere seemed to be marked up several times here.

Once the server walked away, Tang Yan leaned over and whispered, “These dishes are really pricey. Shouldn’t we eat somewhere else?”

“They’re expensive for a reason. This nursing home’s restaurant only uses the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, and the chefs are all Michelin three-star level,” Ji Yuqing explained, not wanting to dwell on it. “Go ahead and pick anything you like. Don’t worry about saving me money.”

Tang Yan pressed her lips together and studied the menu. She thought few people would choose to dine here, but she was proven wrong as mealtime approached. Doctors in white coats arrived in groups, along with men in suits and women in designer outfits, arms linked. The place filled up quickly until it was almost packed.

As Tang Yan tasted the food, it did not seem all that different from what she was used to. Perhaps someone like her just could not grasp the distinction. Regardless, she saw how happy Aunt Ji seemed. Tang Yan keenly sensed the stark difference between them, a gap that drove her to work harder and shed her ingrained sense of poverty.

In reality, Ji Yuqing had not overthought bringing Tang Yan here. She simply realized it was time to eat and that the nursing home was deep in the mountains. Even if they hurried back to the city, it would take at least an hour or two. She worried that Tang Yan, who was already slender, might end up starving until then. She had no idea it would spark a chain of wild thoughts in Tang Yan’s mind.

Eventually, Tang Yan could no longer hold back her curiosity. “Aunt Ji, do you often eat at restaurants like this, where everything is top-quality?”

Surprised by the question, Ji Yuqing still answered patiently. “Not really. Sometimes I’m so busy at work I just eat the boxed meals the company provides.”

Noticing Tang Yan’s bewildered expression, Ji Yuqing could not help laughing. “Silly girl, what are you imagining? I wasn’t spoiled from birth, you know. I can eat at roadside stalls and cheap diners just fine.”

Tang Yan nodded, as though she had finally broken free of her own tunnel vision. She looked up with a grin, her eyes narrowing with joy. “I get it now!”

“What made you suddenly ask that?” Ji Yuqing teased.

Tang Yan shook her head hurriedly. “No reason, no reason. I just wanted to know your favorite kind of food.”

“Hmm, my favorite kind of food?” Resting her chin on one hand, Ji Yuqing glanced at the ceiling as if deep in thought. She stayed that way for quite a while, and Tang Yan waited patiently.

At last, Ji Yuqing lowered her gaze toward Tang Yan, a smile forming on her face. “I still like what you cook most of all.”

“Re… really?” Tang Yan stuttered, completely caught off guard. Her heart pounded so hard it felt ready to burst.