From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Upon hearing this, Wang Yi frowned slightly and gave me a deep look.

But he didn't say anything in rebuttal; he just nodded silently, signaling me to continue.

I didn't say anything more, and after expressing my thoughts, I sat down calmly.

I had barely sat down when Luo Peng exclaimed urgently, "Brother Lin, are you crazy?! Is the no-man's-land a place you can just go anywhere? It's a no-man's-land! One wrong move and someone could die!"

I feigned nonchalance and smiled faintly: "Don't rush me, I was just saying it casually to get some attention, we might not even be selected."

Luo Peng paused for a moment, then said speechlessly, "You're being too casual. What if President Wang really likes this plan? Are you really going to bite the bullet and venture into the no-man's land?"

I shrugged, my eyes resolute: "If I'm selected, then I'll go."

"You're really obsessed, risking your life for a million!" Luo Peng couldn't help but complain.

I know in my heart that I have indeed gone mad.

But I don't think this is overestimating one's abilities.

Even ordinary people sometimes trek across uninhabited areas; we have hardcore modified off-road vehicles and ample supplies.

As long as you plan ahead and manage the risks, you may still succeed.

Of course, I was still unsure of myself, treating it as a desperate gamble, and I was likely to be rejected again.

Before long, all the teams had finished speaking.

Wang Yi stood up and said calmly, "Everyone, please rest here for a moment, and we will discuss the results internally."

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the conference room, and the staff immediately came in to distribute bottled water to everyone.

After a brief silence, the surrounding chatter exploded instantly, all of it mocking and questioning me.

A man in a suit in the front row turned around and looked at me with a half-smile:

"Dude, you'd brag about anything for a million? Crossing a no-man's-land? Do you know how dangerous that place is? You're practically risking your life for money."

The person next to him immediately chimed in: "That's right. A million seems like a lot, but once you get into the no-man's-land, the cost of fuel, supplies, guides, and rescue will leave you with almost nothing. It's a waste of effort."

The other person was even more disdainful, scoffing, "Don't even mention a million, I wouldn't go even if it were ten million. That's not making money, it's suicide! Young people are really like newborn calves that don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

Some people sarcastically remarked, "Is he just here to ride the wave of popularity? He has no company, no resources, and he's only trying to grab attention with a 'risking his life' statement. It's a joke."

The constant stream of doubts and mockery was particularly jarring.

Luo Peng panicked too, and earnestly advised me, "Brother Lin, what they're saying is the truth! Crossing the no-man's-land is too risky, and all the expenses for this promotion are included in the one million yuan reward—we have to cover everything ourselves! After deducting all costs, we won't make any money at all; we might even lose money. It's not worth it at all!"

My heart skipped a beat, and I instantly realized that I had indeed acted impulsively.

In my moment of passion, I was only thinking about winning by surprise, but I overlooked the most crucial details.

All promotion costs, exploration expenses, and rescue supplies must be borne by our side.

So, this deal may seem like a million-dollar reward, but a slight misstep could result in losses or even danger.

I frowned, secretly regretting my impulsiveness.

But then I thought about it again and felt a little more at ease.

With so many professional and experienced teams to choose from, how could Mr. Wang possibly choose my risky, high-risk, no-experience plan instead of using a safer option?

Most likely, I was just worrying for nothing.

Just as I was secretly rejoicing and comforting myself, a crisp knock came from the conference room door.

The young woman who had picked us up earlier pushed open the door and entered.

Her gaze swept quickly across the room before she called out, "Excuse me, who is Lin Ye? Come out here for a moment."

In an instant, all the mocking and gossiping voices in the room stopped abruptly, and countless surprised gazes fell on me.

I froze in my seat, my scalp tingling slightly.

The worst-case scenario has come to pass.

I was just secretly congratulating myself on being a braggart, but in the blink of an eye, the boss singled me out for a talk. Anyone with a brain knows what that means.

I slowly stood up, supporting myself on the chair. My legs felt inexplicably weak, and I was panicking.

But he maintained a calm facade and forced himself to walk toward the door.

Luo Peng behind him became extremely anxious and lowered his voice to remind him:

"Brother Lin! Take it easy! Don't let your impulsive actions ruin your life!"

I nodded, suppressing the surging emotions in my heart, and followed the woman out of the conference room.

The moment the heavy conference room door closed, the murmurs and discussions inside were instantly cut off.

The woman remained expressionless throughout, didn't say a single unnecessary word to me, and led me straight to the second floor.

Soon, we arrived at the door of the office on the second floor.

She raised her hand and knocked lightly on the door twice, then said to me, "Come in, Mr. Wang is waiting for you inside."

I took a deep breath, suppressed my anxiety, and walked into the office.

The office isn't spacious, but it's clean and tidy, exuding the hardcore style of off-road enthusiasts.

The walls are covered with real photos of convoys crossing the Gobi Desert and speeding across the sand, each one extremely impactful.

Several exquisite off-road racing car models are neatly arranged on the windowsill, and the entire wall behind the desk is covered with a huge outdoor route map.

Wang Yi was sitting behind his desk. When he saw me enter, he gestured for the chair opposite him.

"sit."

I walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, straightening my back as much as possible to appear less nervous.

But I was still very uneasy. I had no idea whether this big shot had contacted me privately to finalize a collaboration or to mock my unrealistic dreams.

Wang Yi quietly sized me up for two or three seconds, then slowly said, "Just now in the conference room, you said you were going to drive through the no-man's-land and broadcast the whole thing live. I'm asking you, have you ever been to the no-man's-land yourself?"

I didn't try to hide anything and frankly shook my head: "I've never been there."

Wang Yi pressed further: "Do you understand what a no-man's-land is? How much do you know about key issues like high altitude, extreme weather, complex road conditions, supply lines, and emergency rescue?"

"To be honest, I don't know much about it," I answered honestly as always.

When you're traveling, you can create a persona for yourself.

But I know that Wang Yi is a seasoned professional who has been deeply involved in off-road driving for many years, and he is fully aware of the risks in the wild.

If I pretend to know what I don't and spout empty talk, it will only be more embarrassing if I'm exposed on the spot.

After a brief pause, I looked up to meet his gaze and continued:

"In my opinion, this is the same principle as when I used to deliver food. The routes I hadn't run before were all unfamiliar at first, but with more exploration and practice, I gradually figured it out."

"The only difference is that if you take the wrong route when delivering food, you'll at most be a few minutes late and get a small deduction in pay. But it's different in the no-man's-land; one wrong step could be fatal."

After hearing my answer, Wang Yi's lips curled into a slightly enigmatic smile.

He casually picked up the cigarette pack on the table, took out one, and handed it to me, his tone softening slightly:

"Don't be so tense, relax, have a smoke."

"Thank you, Mr. Wang." I reached out and took the cigarette.