From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

"No matter the reason, if you dare to think and act and are not afraid of challenges, you will be better than most people."

Su Qing's tone was sincere, without a trace of sarcasm.

Looking at her earnestly praising me, I couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly, "I'm actually a little unaccustomed to you praising me so seriously all of a sudden."

Su Qing immediately rolled her eyes at me and said arrogantly, "That's your own mindset problem. I'm just stating the facts."

"No," I said with a light laugh, "I'm just used to your usual unruly attitude."

Su Qing immediately rolled her eyes at me: "I think you just enjoy being roasted."

"It's not that I like it when people criticize me, it's that I like it when you talk to me like this."

Su Qing patted her chest dramatically, feigning surprise: "You scared me to death! I thought you were going to say you liked me."

I was instantly speechless, completely dumbfounded by her.

We chatted and joked around casually, and time flew by. Before we knew it, it was seven o'clock in the evening.

At 7 p.m., everyone gradually arrived at the restaurant.

Luo Peng was the first to arrive. Compared to before, his overall energy and spirit had visibly improved, and his physique had become much more toned, showing that his extra training during this period had been effective.

Chen Yunqing arrived shortly after, still with her aloof and taciturn demeanor, standing quietly to the side.

But her aloofness was completely different from that of Su Qing's older sister, Su Wan.

Su Wan's coldness was a chilling aloofness that made people fear her from the bottom of their hearts and dare not get close.

Chen Yunqing, on the other hand, is simply introverted and calm. She may look cold, but she doesn't come across as unpleasant.

Wang Ge and his teammate arrived last. Wang Ge was dressed simply, keeping a low profile and remaining calm.

His teammates looked exceptionally refined, wearing thin-rimmed glasses and simple casual clothes, exuding a scholarly air.

At first glance, you would never guess that he is a seasoned outdoor enthusiast who spends years in the wild and ventures into uninhabited areas.

After everyone exchanged brief greetings, Su Qing and I led the way into the private room we had booked in advance.

Su Qing has a generous and cheerful personality. After taking her seat, she took the initiative to pick up the teapot and pour tea for everyone present, instantly easing the awkward atmosphere of the first time they were in a team.

Soon all the dishes were served, a large table full of meat and vegetable dishes.

I picked up my wine glass, stood up first, and gave a brief self-introduction to everyone.

At the same time, we help everyone introduce each other and build relationships within the team.

I had already met with everyone beforehand, but this gentle teammate, Wang Ge, was someone I was meeting for the first time.

Before I could ask any further questions, the other person stood up and smiled gently.

"Hi everyone, you can call me A-Qiu. I've been teaming up with Wang-Ge for outdoor activities for several years, and I've always been his regular teammate. Actually, we originally had another teammate, but..."

At the crucial point of the conversation, Wang Ge suddenly coughed softly.

Ah Qiu instantly understood and immediately stopped talking, not saying anything more.

Everyone present and I saw it all, and we knew there must be something going on.

But everyone here is an adult and knows their limits; no one actively pries into other people's private affairs.

After a brief pause, A-Qiu continued with a smile, "This time, I'm mainly responsible for the team's medical emergency work, and occasionally I also do aerial photography. I can also handle the footage from the road."

Su Qing's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "Are you a doctor?"

"Yes, I have a valid medical license." A-Qiu nodded, her tone calm.

My heart instantly calmed down, and I secretly rejoiced.

The most dangerous things in no-man's-land are sudden injuries and illnesses, altitude sickness, and unexpected situations.

Having a certified medical professional in the team is like adding wings to a tiger, making up for the team's biggest safety weakness.

At this point, the division of labor within the team was completely clear, and everyone performed their respective duties.

Wang Ge oversees the entire operation, taking charge of route planning, wilderness safety, and providing full-time guidance, controlling all wilderness risks.

Luo Peng is a full-time mechanic, responsible for vehicle inspection, troubleshooting, hardware maintenance, and solving all vehicle problems.

Chen Yunqing was responsible for handling tasks for the client, focusing on recording the vehicle's extreme data and fulfilling the manufacturer's testing requirements.

A-Chiu was in full charge of medical emergency care, video recording, team safety, and material preservation.

As the project initiator and team leader, I oversaw the overall situation and took on the new live-streaming promotion work.

I stood up and briefly explained the team's division of labor and travel arrangements to everyone, clarifying each person's responsibilities and follow-up arrangements.

"We'll do whatever Brother Lin tells us to do; I'll absolutely obey!"

Luo Peng was the first to speak, his attitude decisive and straightforward.

Chen Yunqing nodded slightly, acknowledging all the arrangements without any objection.

Wang Ge remained taciturn, but his expression was calm, showing no sign of objection, which could be considered as tacit approval.

The atmosphere at the dinner was neither noisy nor enthusiastic, but rather exceptionally reassuring.

After all, most of the team members are introverted, Wang Ge and Chen Yunqing are both quiet, and I don't like to take the initiative to make small talk or be polite.

Su Qing was the one who initiated the conversation and kept the atmosphere lively throughout, while Luo Peng occasionally chimed in with a few words.

Ah Qiu has a gentle and talkative personality, and occasionally takes the initiative to speak, which perfectly supports the atmosphere of the whole event.

The meal lasted until nearly nine o'clock, and the dinner party came to a satisfactory end.

Before leaving, I specifically instructed everyone to rest well these few days, strengthen their physical training, and be in top condition to prepare for the crossing of the no-man's-land.

These words, seemingly meant to instruct the entire team, were actually primarily addressed to Su Qing.

I have complete confidence in everyone else. Wang Ge and A Qiu have been working in the wild for many years, and their physical strength and experience far exceed those of ordinary people.

Chen Yunqing is an avid off-road enthusiast and has excellent physical fitness.

Although Luo Peng and I have no outdoor experience, we are good at running errands and our physical fitness is not bad.

Su Qing, on the other hand, had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, never experiencing hardship or toil.

But she insisted on going, so I could only give her a few more instructions and tell her to prepare in advance.

After seeing everyone off, the night deepened, and a cool evening breeze blew along the river.

Su Qing and I walked side by side along the riverside path, slowly heading towards the subway station.

A gentle evening breeze, carrying the moist scent of the river, wafted towards me...

The lights of thousands of homes on the opposite bank of the river twinkled and shimmered, their reflections shimmering on the water's surface and being broken into shimmering golden ribbons by the evening breeze, creating a wonderful atmosphere.

We walked quietly and slowly for quite a while when Su Qing suddenly turned her head to look at me and spoke softly:

"Lin Ye, if you really succeed in the No Man's Land project this time, make a name for yourself, and establish a firm foothold, won't you no longer need to be afraid of Fang Heng?"

I looked up at the dazzling lights in the distance, a resolute glint in my eyes, and said in a deep voice:

"It's not that I'm not wary of him, nor am I afraid of him. From now on, I'm going to fight him head-on to the very end."

Looking at the determination in my eyes, Su Qing couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, you've got guts. I'm rooting for you."

I stopped making empty promises and boasts.

With confidence in your heart and a clear path ahead, there's no need to deliberately flaunt it.

Quietly focus on hard work and let the results speak for themselves.

It was almost ten o'clock when I got back to the courtyard.

The streetlights at the entrance of the courtyard were dim. Little Tuanzi, who was squatting by the wall, saw us come back, stretched, and slowly followed us in. He squatted down next to the stone table and licked his paws.

"You just said you know what you should do, so tell me, what are you planning to do?"