Chapter 94: field visit V

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: field visit V

The conference room remained quiet for a moment as everyone absorbed Mr. Carter’s explanation.

No one spoke immediately.

Not because there were unanswered questions...

But because there seemed to be very few left to ask.

Ms. Lee looked around the table before smiling.

"Well..."

"I believe that concludes our briefing regarding the feasibility study."

She gathered the remaining documents into a neat stack.

"Now, let’s go over this afternoon’s arrangements."

The six students straightened in their seats.

Ms. Lee picked up another sheet.

"As you’ve already seen, we’ll be visiting three different communities this afternoon."

She indicated the map still displayed on the screen.

"To keep the visits manageable, each community will receive one team consisting of two student researchers, one upperclassman and one freshman."

"Each team will also be accompanied by one Foundation coordinator."

"The coordinators will introduce you to the township’s officials, community volunteers, and participating business owners, as well as assist with today’s logistics."

She smiled reassuringly.

"As you become more familiar with your assigned communities over the coming weeks, the coordinators will gradually step back and allow you to take the lead yourselves."

She set the paper down.

"That leaves only one question."

"Who would like to work together?"

Jessica raised her hand almost immediately.

"If Sophia doesn’t mind..."

"I’d like to partner with her."

Sophia smiled.

"I’d be happy to."

Ms. Lee nodded as she noted their names.

"Very well."

Peter looked toward Oliver.

"Looks like it’s you and me."

Oliver laughed.

"I was about to suggest the same thing."

Ms. Lee looked toward the remaining pair.

"Then Lady Vivienne Beaumont and Mr. Damian Blackwood will be our third team."

Damian inclined his head politely.

"That works for me."

Vivienne nodded.

"I have no objections."

"Excellent."

Ms. Lee wrote down the final names.

"Then our field teams are confirmed."

She picked up another document.

"Your assigned communities remain exactly as presented on the map."

"Jessica and Sophia, you’ll be visiting San Isidro."

"Peter and Oliver, Riverside."

She looked toward the final pair.

"And Lady Vivienne and Mr. Blackwood..."

"You’ll be visiting East Junction."

Each team nodded as they committed the assignments to memory.

Peter glanced at the wall clock.

"Excuse me, Ms. Lee..."

"Where are we having lunch?"

A few smiles appeared around the table.

After an entire morning of discussions, it was a reasonable question.

Ms. Lee smiled knowingly.

"You won’t be having lunch at the Foundation today."

Peter blinked.

"We’re not?"

Mrs. Whitmore shook her head with a gentle smile.

"Each of your assigned communities has already prepared lunch for your team."

Peter looked genuinely surprised.

"They already prepared lunch?"

Mr. Carter chuckled softly.

"They insisted."

Mrs. Whitmore folded her hands.

"When they learned university students would be spending the afternoon with them..."

"...they wanted to welcome you properly."

She looked around the table.

"So today..."

"Please accept their hospitality."

"For the afternoon..."

"You’re their guests."

A quiet silence settled over the room.

The invitation somehow no longer felt surprising.

After everything they had learned that morning...

It felt entirely appropriate.

Ms. Lee closed the last of her folders.

"If there are no further questions..."

"Our coordinators are waiting outside."

--

A few minutes later, the group stepped out of the Foundation building.

Three vehicles were already waiting near the entrance.

Beside each stood a Foundation coordinator.

Ms. Lee glanced once more at her clipboard.

"San Isidro."

Jessica and Sophia exchanged smiles before following their coordinator toward the first vehicle.

"Riverside."

Peter and Oliver headed toward the second.

Finally—

"East Junction."

Vivienne and Damian stepped toward the last vehicle.

Their coordinator greeted them with a courteous nod before taking the front passenger seat beside the driver.

Damian reached the rear passenger door just ahead of Vivienne.

Without a word, he opened it for her.

As she stepped inside, he instinctively rested one hand along the upper edge of the door frame, shielding her from accidentally bumping her head.

It was the same quiet courtesy he had shown that morning.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Vivienne gave him a small nod.

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Once she was seated, Damian walked around the vehicle and entered from the opposite side, taking the seat beside her in the back.

The coordinator exchanged a few words with the driver before the vehicle eased away from the Foundation.

Behind them, the building gradually disappeared from view.

--

The vehicle settled into a steady rhythm as it left the city behind.

For several minutes, only the quiet hum of the engine filled the cabin.

Vivienne rested the community profile on her lap.

She had barely finished reading the first page when the Foundation coordinator glanced back with an easy smile.

"You can certainly read through the file."

He tapped the folder resting on his own knee.

"But I thought it might be more useful if I gave you a little context first."

"I’d appreciate that," Vivienne replied.

"So would I," Damian added.

The coordinator nodded.

"East Junction has been one of the Foundation’s longest-standing partner communities."

"Our relationship with them goes back nearly twenty years."

"They’re proud people."

"They’re hardworking."

"And more importantly..."

"They’re very protective of one another."

Vivienne listened attentively.

"They’ll welcome you warmly."

"But they’ll also be observing you."

"Just as carefully as you’ll be observing them."

Damian smiled faintly.

"I suppose that’s only fair."

"It is."

The coordinator returned the smile.

"Trust always works both ways."

He paused before continuing.

"That brings me to something I’d like to ask of both of you."

Vivienne and Damian exchanged a brief glance.

"When we arrive..."

"I’d prefer to introduce you simply as university researchers working with the Foundation."

Vivienne tilted her head slightly.

"Not by name?"

"Oh, your names will certainly come up."

He smiled.

"But not your family backgrounds."

A thoughtful silence settled inside the vehicle.

The coordinator continued.

"In communities like East Junction..."

"Well-known names can unintentionally change people’s behavior."

"They become more careful."

"More reserved."

"Sometimes they begin telling you what they think influential people want to hear..."

"...instead of what they truly think."

Damian nodded slowly.

"Which would undermine the purpose of the study."

"Exactly."

The coordinator looked pleased.

"Our objective is to understand the community as it really is."

"Not as it behaves in front of distinguished guests."

Vivienne considered that for a moment.

"But if someone recognizes us?"

The coordinator chuckled softly.

"It wouldn’t surprise me."

"The Beaumont and Blackwood names aren’t exactly obscure."

"Some residents may recognize them."

"Some may not."

"If anyone asks directly..."

"Answer honestly."

"We never misrepresent who we are."

He paused.

"But we also don’t make your family names the first thing people learn about you."

Instead, he smiled.

"I’d rather they remember you as Miss Vivienne and Mr. Damian."

"Not as the granddaughter of this person..."

"Or the son of that person."

He looked between them.

"By the end of today..."

"If the community likes you..."

"I want it to be because of who you are."

"Not because of whose families you belong to."

Neither spoke immediately.

Vivienne finally nodded.

"I understand."

"So do I," Damian said.

The coordinator smiled.

"Good."

"Now..."

"Let me tell you about East Junction."

He opened his own folder.

"It wasn’t always called East Junction..."

--