OFR – Chapter 215 Zhang Tiantian is disheartened

Although he no longer had any family there, it was still the place he had lived for a long time.

People are not plants; who can be without emotion? Upon hearing this news, Mu Bai’s expression became a bit solemn.

He casually exited Weishi and returned to QQ, where he found Zhang Tiantian in his friends list.

Just as he opened their chat, before he could even send a message, he saw her most recent status update.

QQ has a habit of automatically displaying the latest statuses and updates in the chat window.

Mu Bai glanced at the status and immediately noticed it was about the disaster in her hometown.

He tapped on it, and the screen switched to Zhang Tiantian’s QQ Space, where the full update appeared:

[Due to accumulated snow melting on Qingliang Mountain, the softened earth and rocks caused the most severe mudslide in over a decade. Over 300 households were affected, more than 100 injured, and seven people swallowed by the mudslide. Homes, furniture, and crops were all destroyed. The village’s infrastructure suffered serious damage, and the villagers experienced significant economic losses. The local government is doing its best with rescue efforts, and the village committee has posted a fundraising link on Alipay seeking help from society. (Alipay donation link) Tiantian is begging everyone to show some love. The New Year is approaching, and I can’t bear to see the villagers who took such good care of me during childhood spend the holiday in tears. Please, please help. Tiantian sincerely thanks everyone. May good people be safe forever.]

Alongside the post were several photos of the disaster. In them, a beautiful Zhang Tiantian bit her lip tightly, holding back tears as she offered warm hugs to many of the affected villagers.

Having lived on Qingliang Mountain for over a decade, Mu Bai immediately recognized that the photos were authentic, not Photoshopped.

It looked like the disaster in his hometown was real.

In the photos, he even saw several familiar faces.

Even though Mu Bai felt that with his grandfather gone and Mu Xiaoxiao’s family having moved to the city, he no longer had any loved ones left in Qingliang Mountain…

Still, when he saw those familiar neighbors crying their hearts out, he had to admit—his heart softened.

He continued reading the comments under the post and saw many heartfelt replies from childhood friends and classmates.

“😭 Tiantian, I already sent you all my allowance through red packets. I asked my parents to donate through Alipay too. Even though we moved to the county, Qingliang Mountain will always be home. Please check on my cousin Xiaoxiao when you go back—she’s been crying nonstop since yesterday. It broke my heart.”

“I feel like I can’t breathe after reading this. If Tiantian hadn’t posted it, I wouldn’t even know what was happening. When I called my mom yesterday, she just kept crying and saying everything was fine. I’m already on my way back. Everyone, hang in there!”

“I’m Tiantian’s college classmate. I’m from the city and not rich at all, but I’ve gathered a few friends and we’re bringing some basic supplies to Qingliang Mountain. When one place is in trouble, support comes from all sides. I believe everyone there will make it through this tough time!”

Reading these comments, Mu Bai was genuinely moved.

A few minutes later, he closed the update and went back to the chat window to contact Zhang Tiantian.

Early afternoon, around 1 PM. The sun was shining brightly.

At the entrance of the girls’ dormitory at Nanjing University, Zhang Tiantian’s lovely face was clouded with sorrow. Her eyes showed helplessness and confusion.

She was deeply worried about the disaster in her hometown and the urgent need for donations.

Although the local government had provided some relief supplies, they barely covered the villagers’ most basic needs. After suffering such devastation, the villagers had no direction for the future. Even the upcoming New Year seemed impossible to celebrate.

Yes, for those struck by this disaster, this New Year was going to be unbearably bleak. While others would be celebrating with family and joy, they could only face the holiday with tears.

The contrast was cruel.

To help her fellow villagers have a decent New Year, Zhang Tiantian had only been sleeping three to four hours a night since returning from Qingliang Mountain. Day and night, she had been running around seeking donations from companies, business owners, and wealthy individuals.

But the funds raised so far had left her heartbroken.

There were over 300 households, more than a thousand people affected.

To help them stay warm and safe during the holiday, they needed about three million yuan in total—less than 2,000 yuan per person.

Yet even this amount, which seemed modest to her, now felt impossibly high—hopelessly out of reach.

Despite reaching out to numerous businesses and billionaires—people who could drop millions on luxury homes and cars—she only managed to raise a little over 200,000 yuan.

Many of these ultra-rich individuals had flat-out refused or even kicked her out when she mentioned charity.

To them, charity seemed like something to be avoided—or even despised.

Still, even knowing this, Zhang Tiantian refused to give up. She told herself she had to keep going. If she gave up, there truly would be no hope.

At that moment, she deeply missed the anonymous benefactor who had donated 100,000 yuan to her proposal on the university’s website a month earlier.

She couldn’t help but think—how amazing it would be if the world had more such generous and charitable people.

But she also knew this was just wishful thinking.

She believed that even that mysterious benefactor must have been someone familiar—perhaps a friend of hers or one of her roommates—someone trying to help them win the proposal.

After all, even billionaires wouldn’t donate a few thousand for disaster relief. How could a complete stranger give 100,000 just for a proposal?

She didn’t know who it was, but she was certain it was someone close.

With this thought, Zhang Tiantian leaned against the dorm entrance to take a short break. Then, summoning her resolve, she prepared to contact yet another wealthy donor.

Just then, a ding came from her phone—QQ notification.

The sound broke through her somber thoughts. She took out her phone, and her beautiful eyes glanced at the new message on QQ.