From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

A gentle breeze blew by, dispelling the heat of the mountains and offering a wide and soothing view.

She couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow! I never imagined the view from the trees was so amazing! The scenery is absolutely stunning!"

"Now you know why I was able to stay here all day, right?" I said to her with a smile.

Su Qing shook her head decisively and said crisply, "It still won't work! I can't stay still. I can't stand being stuck in a tree all day."

She paused, then added, "But my sister definitely can. She's just like you, quiet and doesn't like to make a fuss. I'm the complete opposite; I'm naturally active and can't sit still at all."

She has a good sense of self-awareness, and her analysis is correct.

I've never liked crowds or crowded places; I prefer to be alone and process all my emotions.

Su Qing, on the other hand, is passionate, vibrant, and bright, like a beam of light that shines eternally, completely different from my gloomy and reserved self.

The evening breeze gently ruffled her hair. She suddenly turned to look at me and asked curiously:

"When you were little, you used to hang out in this tree every day. What secrets did you whisper to it?"

I looked up at the distant mountains, my thoughts instantly pulled back to my gloomy teenage years, and calmly said, "Tell me anything."

"When I'm criticized by the teacher, bullied or isolated by classmates, feel wronged or upset, or even feel like I can't go on living and that life is meaningless, I climb up here and talk to it."

"It doesn't talk, it doesn't interrupt me, and it doesn't think I'm being dramatic. It just quietly stays with me and listens to me pour out all my grievances."

Su Qing couldn't help but chuckle: "You were so cute when you were little, actually having a heart-to-heart talk with a tree. Who would believe that?"

After the joke, she softly pressed on, "Did you say anything particularly important here, something you'll never forget?"

I fell silent instantly, the softest part of my heart was touched, and my chest felt slightly tight.

After a long silence, I slowly began to speak: "The day my father passed away, I sat in this very spot for the entire afternoon."

"It was the height of summer, the weather was unbearably hot and humid, but I was sitting in the tree and felt a chill in my heart."

"That day, I looked at this tree and said something very seriously."

Su Qing immediately dropped her joking expression, sat quietly, and waited for me to continue.

As I gazed at the setting sun gradually sinking into the distance, I whispered, word by word:

"I said, Dad, you can go in peace. When I grow up, I will take good care of Mom and support this family."

After I finished speaking, Su Qing did not respond immediately.

She lowered her head, looking at her toes dangling in the air, her eyes filled with emotion, and remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, she spoke softly, her voice gentle yet earnest: "So...did you do it?"

I let out a soft breath: "I can't say I've achieved it 100% yet, but I'm working my hardest."

Su Qing slowly raised her head and looked at the distant, rolling mountain ridges.

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills across the sky, painting the mountain ranges in a gentle orange-red hue.

The warm light fell on her profile, softening her usual coquettishness and flamboyance, leaving only extreme gentleness and tranquility.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke softly: "Actually, I used to often confide in my grandmother."

"I often went to keep her company when she was sick, and sometimes I would sit next to her even when she was asleep. I told her about things that happened at school, things that happened between friends, and the things that my parents were pressuring me to do."

I asked softly, "Can she hear me?"

"She was already unconscious at that time, and I don't know if she could hear me. But I still wanted to say it, as if I felt that if I said it, she would hear me."

She paused here, then turned to look at me, her tone becoming serious:

"So I suddenly understand why you wanted to talk to a tree. Sometimes people just need someone to listen to them, whether it's a person or a tree."

I gazed quietly at her tender and moved eyes, a warm feeling welling up inside me, but I didn't say anything.

At that moment, all our playful banter and teasing vanished, leaving only unspoken understanding and empathy.

Her expression was very serious at this moment, completely different from her usual carefree demeanor.

The mountain breeze swirled her fine hairs across her cheeks. She raised her hand and gently tucked the stray hairs behind her ears before looking up at me.

"And what about now? When you feel upset, do you still come to talk to the tree?" she asked.

I gazed at the layers of field ridges below the mountain and said softly, "Sometimes, when I encounter troubles that I can't resolve, I find a quiet place where no one is around to sit down and relax."

She smiled and said, "If you have any questions or problems after you get back, you can talk to me about them."

"Does telling you work?" I joked.

I can't guarantee it will work, but I'm tight-lipped and will never divulge your secrets.

She paused for half a second, then added with a mischievous smile, "Of course, that excludes your embarrassing moments. I can't keep those secret; I'll tease you whenever I get the chance."

I chuckled at the second half of her sentence, and the somber and sad atmosphere between us instantly eased considerably.

My thoughts suddenly shifted, and I looked at her, unable to resist asking:

"You mentioned your grandmother earlier. You said her biggest wish was for you to get into Fudan University, but she never fulfilled that wish. Speaking of which, did you actually get in?"

"Of course I passed the exam. The day the acceptance letter arrived, I specially took a printed copy to my grandmother's grave to show it to her."

"Then why didn't you go to register for school?"

Su Qing gently shook her head: "It's pointless now. The motivation that kept me preparing for the exam is gone. With Grandma gone, I can't muster any interest in even the best universities."

A wave of sadness washed over me.

Fudan University is a top-tier 985 university in China, and very few people can get in. This is enough to prove that she is intelligent and has a very strong academic foundation.

But she was capricious and unrestrained, and all her efforts were to fulfill her grandmother's wish.

Once your wish is fulfilled, you no longer care about the prestigious school spots that others are scrambling to get.

The sun sank a little further down, and the evening breeze in the mountains brought a chill, rustling the branches.

I stood up and patted my trouser legs: "It's getting late, let's go down the mountain and go home. When we get back, I'll help my mom prepare dinner."

Su Qing nodded gently in response.

I nimbly leaped and landed on the soft, muddy ground beneath the tree, looking up at her on the branch.

Su Qing looked down and panicked instantly, pressing her body tightly against the tree trunk.

"You jumped down, how am I supposed to get down? It looks so high."

"Don't panic. First, squat down and steady yourself. Place your feet on the protruding knot on the trunk and grab the thick branch you were holding when you climbed up. I'll catch you from below."

She looked down at the height above the ground, then glanced timidly at me and said, "This is a bit high..."

"If you dared to climb up, going down will only be easier. Slowly squat down and move your feet down little by little."

Following my instructions, Su Qing carefully bent her knees and moved her body.

At first, I was fairly steady, but when I stepped on the thin branch in the middle, I suddenly swayed.