From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I couldn't help but chuckle: "How come you said exactly the same thing as Wang Yi?"

Su Qing chuckled softly, "That's right. There's nothing else to say, I can only wish you good luck."

I looked at her and said firmly, "Don't worry, although I decided to take this job on short notice, I will definitely not act recklessly or take risks. I have repeatedly calculated all the routes and risks."

I paused, but couldn't help but advise again: "However, I still want to tell you that this trip to the no-man's-land is too arduous and dangerous, you really shouldn't go with me."

Su Qing's attitude was exceptionally firm: "If you go, I'll go; if you don't go, I won't go."

Seeing her stubbornness, I sighed helplessly and didn't try to persuade her any further.

There's no point in saying more; let's wait until we actually enter the no-man's-land.

Without me saying more, she will most likely back down on her own.

I walked to the stone bench in the courtyard, sat down, took out a cigarette and lit it, and a question suddenly popped into my mind.

I turned to Su Qing beside me and asked, "By the way, are you close to Wang Yi?"

"We're not close, just ordinary friends, we only interact occasionally," Su Qing replied casually.

I became increasingly puzzled: "Logically speaking, you're free-spirited and easygoing, while he's a steady and experienced businessman. You're from completely different circles. How did you two, with your contrasting personalities, even get to know each other?"

Su Qing snorted lightly, with a hint of resentment: "We were completely unrelated to each other, but we still know each other and spend every day together, don't we?"

I slowly exhaled a smoke ring, my tone helpless: "I was just curious, that's all."

Seeing this, Su Qing sat down next to me on the stone bench and explained seriously, "I met him at a charity rescue event last year."

"What kind of public welfare rescue?" I raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Do you remember the massive sudden wildfire in northern Jiangzhou last summer?"

I nodded, and she continued, "I signed up to be a logistics volunteer, and he was leading a team to participate in frontline disaster relief."

My heart skipped a beat, and I froze for a moment.

I have a very deep impression of that wildfire; the fire was fierce and the temperature was scorching.

At that time, many volunteers spontaneously rushed to the scene to provide support, and I was one of them, riding my motorcycle back and forth to the front line to transport supplies and transfer personnel.

I never expected that Su Qing, the usually charming and carefree rich girl, would actually go to the scene to volunteer!

I looked at her with wide surprise: "Really? You actually did volunteer work?"

Su Qing immediately rolled her eyes at me, a hint of anger in her voice: "What? You think I'm spoiled, can't endure hardship, and look down on people?"

"It's not that I look down on you," I quickly explained. "It's just that the temperature was over 40 degrees Celsius at the time, and there was thick smoke billowing from the wildfire site. The conditions were so harsh, I really didn't expect you could withstand it."

"You just habitually underestimate me."

Su Qing was too lazy to argue with me. She simply took out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then flipped the phone over and handed it to me.

"See for yourself, it's an officially certified volunteer certificate, it can't be fake."

I looked closely and my eyes were filled with surprise.

The volunteer certificate on the screen is exactly the same as the one I received back then; it's real.

It seems she really wasn't lying to me, but how come I've never seen her before?

It makes sense, considering the large number of people involved in the rescue and the fact that the volunteers were divided into several groups, with most of the girls staying behind to handle logistics.

As for me, I was on the front lines riding my motorcycle.

I suppressed my surprise and sincerely praised you, "Okay, I underestimated you. You really are great."

Su Qing instantly raised her chin, a smug and arrogant look on her face: "Now you know not to underestimate me, right? I can endure a lot of hardship!"

I chuckled and shook my head: "I didn't underestimate you. I thought you'd known Wang Yi for years."

"I never said we'd known each other for a long time." Su Qing shrugged. "We only exchanged WeChat contacts after the rescue, and we hardly ever contact each other otherwise. We're not exactly acquaintances."

My doubts hadn't dissipated, so I frowned and asked, "With such a shallow relationship, your parents probably don't even know him, and they wouldn't go out of their way to ask him to interfere, would they?"

Upon hearing this, Su Qing's smile vanished instantly, and she let out a soft sigh.

"You don't understand my parents. They know every single person I've ever met since I was a child."

A chill ran down my spine: "That's far too much of a controlling personality."

"It's more than just strong."

Su Qing nodded emphatically, her tone full of helplessness: "Especially my dad, he's abnormally controlling. He has to ask about every single one of my schedules and social activities."

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly said, "Then you're coming with me to the no-man's-land this time. The risks are so great. If they find out, they probably won't agree, right?"

Su Qing waved her hand dismissively, revealing a hint of cleverness: "Can't we just go secretly? If we don't tell them, they can't control me."

A mischievous thought flashed through my mind, and I raised an eyebrow, feigning smug satisfaction:

"Oh? Is that so? Then I'll go tell your parents right now, and see how you'll manage to come along then."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing immediately became furious.

She immediately raised her slender index finger, pointing it directly at the tip of my nose, her small face tense, her eyes serious and somewhat threatening:

"Lin Ye! You dare! If you dare to go and complain, I'll immediately find Wang Yi and have your project halted, making all your hard work go to waste, and nobody will be able to get it done!"

I confidently raised my chin: "The contract is all signed in black and white, do you think you can just stop it like that? I'm not afraid."

"Then try it if you dare!" Su Qing raised her chin, refusing to back down.

My lips twitched, and I instantly backed down.

I really don't dare to try.

This brat really doesn't care about anything when she goes crazy.

I still remember the first time I met her, I was so emotional that I wanted to jump off a bridge. There was nothing she wouldn't dare to do.

Going head-on with her would only be asking for trouble.

I quickly waved my hands, softening my tone: "Just kidding, just kidding, don't take it seriously."

Su Qing glared at me fiercely, gave a haughty snort, and then changed the subject:

"Now that the contract has been signed smoothly, how about we celebrate tonight?"

"Celebrate what?" I asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Signing such a big project, isn't it worth having a proper celebration?"

I was taken aback for a moment, but I hadn't really thought about these things.

I've never liked this kind of empty formalism. My mind was full of subsequent equipment preparations and route planning; I had no intention of celebrating.

But on second thought, it does make sense.

I looked up at her and asked, "So, how do you plan to celebrate?"

"Simple. Let's call everyone who's going to the no-man's-land this time, go out for a nice meal tonight, and let everyone get to know each other beforehand to avoid awkward silences on the road," Su Qing suggested casually.

This suggestion is exactly what I wanted.

The team members have all been finalized. Although I have met them all, the team has not yet officially gathered together.

Let's get to know each other better over dinner tonight, so that we can cooperate more smoothly when we set off later.