From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

This time, the silence on the other end of the phone lasted even longer.

After a long silence, Qi Qi said with obvious hesitation, "Brother Lin, I really can't. I have absolutely no outdoor experience. I really don't dare to risk going to those deadly places like the no-man's-land."

I quickly reassured her, trying to dispel her concerns: "Don't worry, I've hired a top-notch professional guide to lead the team, and there's complete logistical support..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qi Qi gently interrupted him, her tone apologetic:

"Brother Lin, you don't need to try to persuade me anymore. I really can't take this job. I'm a coward, and I really can't risk my life for traffic."

My heart sank suddenly, and I froze for a moment.

I expected her to hesitate, but I never imagined she would refuse so decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

After a moment of silence, Qiqi spoke up again: "Brother Lin, how about I ask Anran for you? She's bolder and more daring than me, so she'll most likely be willing to take this job."

I felt a pang of regret in my heart.

In terms of looks, An Ran is indeed more outstanding and has a better fan base.

However, Qiqi has her own talents, unique style, more loyal fans, and a clear account positioning, making her the most suitable candidate for this live stream.

An Ran's appearance alone makes it difficult to create differentiated content, and her fan base is not targeted enough.

But they've already made their stance clear, and I can't force them to do something they don't want to do.

This trip was inherently a gamble with one's life, and it's only natural for anyone to back down.

I suppressed my disappointment and replied softly, "Okay, then you can ask her for me. If she's interested, I'll personally discuss all the details and guarantees with her."

Qiqi said with a guilty look, "I'm really sorry, Brother Lin. If it were a regular self-driving route like the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (318), I would definitely go with you. But the no-man's-land is just too dangerous, and I really don't dare to take the risk."

"I understand," I replied casually.

She didn't even ask how much the payment was, which shows that there was absolutely no room for negotiation.

"What about the cooperation we agreed on before..." I asked softly.

Qiqi quickly agreed, "That's the one that counts! We'll sign the contract normally once you return safely from the no-man's-land."

I gave a soft "hmm" and ended the voice call.

A strong sense of loss instantly swept over me, but this was expected.

Although I was mentally prepared, I still felt incredibly frustrated when the key candidate backed out at the last minute.

This live stream in the no-man's-land was the key to my turnaround. Without the core on-camera anchor, the entire project would have lost its most crucial link and could have failed at any time.

Seeing this, Su Qing couldn't help but chuckle: "Judging from your dejected look, it's obvious that Qi Qi rejected you?"

I mumbled a reply, "Mmm."

Su Qing chuckled again and said, "This is the choice a normal person should make. Do you really think just anyone can go to the no-man's-land? Nobody will risk their life and future with you."

After saying that, she softened her tone and advised, "Take my advice and give up. There's no need to stubbornly stick to this most dangerous path. Find a safer way to make money, and you can do just as well."

I looked up abruptly and said in a deep voice, word by word, "We cannot give up."

Seeing this, Su Qing couldn't help but scoff, saying helplessly, "Now that all the core streamers have run away and the team is in disarray, you're still stubbornly refusing to give up?"

"And Anran too. If Qiqi won't go, I'll try asking Anran."

Su Qing immediately rolled her eyes, looking completely defeated by me, as if I were hopeless.

To be honest, even I think I'm a bit crazy.

Instead of taking the safe and easy path to make money, they insist on stubbornly pursuing this perilous road with a slim chance of survival.

But my deep-seated unwillingness to give up makes it impossible for me to quit halfway.

Rather than passively waiting for Qiqi to relay the message and missing the opportunity, I'd rather take the initiative.

I immediately opened Anran's WeChat and, without any preamble, sent a message:

"Anran, are you free? I'd like to discuss a highly anticipated collaboration project with you in detail."

The message was sent successfully, and I anxiously awaited a reply.

The team members weren't finalized, and I had a huge weight on my mind, making it impossible for me to concentrate on anything.

Su Qing, who was standing to the side, had completely lost her patience with me. Looking at the passing cars, she couldn't help but urge me on:

"Three or four buses have already passed by, are they going to leave or not? We've been waiting here in vain."

I glanced up at the approaching bus, suppressed my anxiety, sighed, and said:

"Let's go back and wait for news."

I sat by the window on the bus, feeling uneasy.

I turned on my phone screen every few seconds, afraid of missing Anran's reply.

Seeing my anxious and uncertain look, Su Qing simply turned her head to look out the window and ignored me.

My mind raced, and my heart was filled with trepidation.

If Enron also refuses this collaboration, then everything I've painstakingly prepared will most likely be completely wasted.

Just as I was filled with anxiety and my mind was racing, my phone screen suddenly vibrated.

My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately looked down. An Ran's reply popped up on the screen, and it wasn't text, it was a voice message.

I couldn't wait to open it and put the phone to my ear.

"Brother Lin, Qiqi just talked to me. You're planning to lead a team to the uninhabited area for a live off-road broadcast, right?"

I didn't dare delay and immediately replied with a voice message: "Yes, that's it. Did she mention to you that I'm planning to build an influencer management team and subsequently establish a media company?"

Less than two seconds after the message was sent, An Ran's voice message popped up again: "I said it. Let me clarify first, Brother Lin, is this trip just a simple trip to the edge of the no-man's-land to shoot some footage as a formality, or are we really going to go deep into the heart of the region and traverse the entire route?"

It's clear that she's different from Qiqi; she's exceptionally steady in her actions, doesn't act impulsively, and always confirms the bottom line of risk first.

I didn't hide anything and told the truth: "This is an official off-road test by the car company, and we have to drive through the entire uninhabited area in real life. As long as there is a signal along the way, we will broadcast the whole process live, focusing on real hardcore off-roading, which will generate a lot of buzz."

"oh."

A single, simple word, devoid of any extra emotion; it conveys neither agreement nor disagreement.

My heart skipped a beat again, fearing that she might give up on the matter because of the risks, just like Qiqi.

I quickly sent a voice message to reassure her about safety: "Don't worry, I've taken care of everything regarding safety. I've hired a top-notch, experienced guide to lead the team, so we won't let anyone take unnecessary risks."

An Ran replied quickly this time: "I know you're a reliable person, Brother Lin, and you never fight unprepared battles. I'm not worried about safety, I just want to ask how our payment will be calculated for this trip?"

Upon hearing this, I was instantly jolted awake.

I was so busy coordinating with the team, finalizing the guide, and planning the itinerary that I completely forgot about the biggest expense: the streamer's fee.

If I charge too much, my already meager profits will be wiped out, and I might even lose money.

If you offer too little, they will absolutely not be willing to risk their lives to make the trip.