From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and bathed the entire valley.

I got up early, finished getting ready, and when I went downstairs, everyone had already gathered in the courtyard.

The morning air in Batang is cool and refreshing; breathing it in makes you feel invigorated.

My first thought was to look at Su Qing.

She was dressed extra warmly today, wearing a long-sleeved sweatshirt and a windproof jacket, with her hair casually tied into a high ponytail.

She looked energetic and full of vitality, a stark contrast to her weak appearance yesterday.

Seeing me looking at her, Su Qing immediately smiled and waved at me, looking like she had recovered quite well.

I walked over to her and asked, "How are you feeling? Did you take your medicine on time?"

"I took it. The first thing I do in the morning is take my medicine."

She straightened her back and bounced around a couple of times to prove that she was alright.

Seeing her lively and cheerful appearance eased my worries a little, but I still dared not let my guard down.

Luo Peng, who was standing nearby, joked with a smile, "I told you young people have good physical fitness and recover quickly. You were listless yesterday, but you're fully recovered today."

Even Wei Qingyun, who was not talkative, smiled gently and agreed, "You do look much better, your complexion is rosy."

Only Su Wan, standing at the very edge, glanced indifferently at Su Qing.

As Su Qing's older sister, she hasn't asked a single question about Su Qing's condition since leaving the hospital yesterday.

As Su Qing's older sister, this is indeed a bit disheartening.

No wonder Su Qing disliked her so much; it wasn't just because she was cold-hearted, but because there was something wrong with her as a person.

However, Su Qing didn't seem to care about these things; she was probably already used to it.

After a quick breakfast, everyone packed their luggage and loaded it into the vehicles. The convoy continued westward toward Lhasa.

Once you leave Batang County, the view suddenly opens up. The highway follows the river valley, with grasslands and cattle and sheep on both sides, and clouds and mist shrouding the mountains in the distance.

The road is in worse condition than before, and it's full of sharp bends and steep slopes.

Wang kept reminding everyone on the walkie-talkie to control their speed, maintain a safe distance, and watch out for falling rocks.

I was still driving, with Su Qing in the passenger seat.

Once Su Qing got in the car, she became very talkative, frequently going live to chat with viewers and share the scenery along the way.

The number of viewers in the live stream remained stable at around 1,000, and the atmosphere was quite lively.

We chatted and laughed along the way, and time flew by.

She was in good spirits for most of the morning, running around, jumping, taking photos, and so on.

I was a little relieved, thinking it was just a case of not being used to the new environment and that I should feel better after taking the medicine for a couple of days.

I gradually noticed that she was talking less and wasn't taking pictures with her phone much anymore. She was just leaning back in her seat with her hands on her stomach, and her face looked rather pale.

"Are you feeling unwell again?" I slowed down the car a bit.

She shook her head: "It's nothing, just a little bloated, nothing serious."

Was there something wrong with what you ate for lunch?

The whole team ate from the same pot at noon. It wasn't spicy or oily, and everyone was fine.

If she's feeling unwell, it's definitely not a food-related issue.

"It's nothing, stop staring at me."

She was still trying to appease them verbally, but she had already shrunk back and her voice was weak.

I felt a little uneasy.

If it were a normal gastrointestinal problem, it should have been almost completely resolved by now, but her symptoms kept coming back, in waves, and she couldn't tell when she would be in trouble again.

This isn't right.

The equipment at that hospital in Batang is inadequate; they probably didn't get the right diagnosis.

Furthermore, the doctor specifically instructed us to have another check-up at a major hospital in Lhasa.

But I didn't say it to Su Qing's face, for fear of making her panic and anxious too much.

I just turned the air conditioning up a little and closed all the windows tightly to prevent the wind from coming in.

"If you can't take it anymore, just say so. Don't be afraid of delaying the process," I told her.

"Okay."

Su Qing responded softly, closed her eyes, leaned back in her seat, and rested quietly.

I drove carefully for the rest of the way, glancing at her every now and then.

Wang Ge and A Qiu chatted occasionally over the walkie-talkie, and Luo Peng could chime in with a few words, sounding quite relaxed.

I noticed that every time Luo Peng stopped to rest, he would run over to Chen Yunqing to hand her water, shield her from the wind, and help her carry things.

In the evening, we arrived at a viewing platform, and everyone came down to get some fresh air.

Su Qing, who is usually very active, didn't move and leaned back in her chair, saying she didn't want to get up.

"Would you like to get out of the car and walk around? Getting some fresh air might make you feel better," I asked.

"No, I'm a little tired and want to lie down for a while." Su Qing shook her head, her face still pale.

I had no choice but to get off the bus alone, and just then I ran into Su Wan walking towards me.

She remained alone, gazing at the distant sea of ​​clouds and snow-capped mountains.

Upon seeing me, she stopped and surprisingly asked, "Su Qing seems to be in very poor condition."

This was the first time she had asked about Su Qing's situation; I thought she didn't care at all.

I nodded slightly and replied, "Yes, I've been feeling unwell on and off, and the medicine isn't very effective."

"The county hospital couldn't find anything wrong. Her symptoms don't look like ordinary gastrointestinal irritation; it must be an internal problem."

I looked at her and asked, "You figured it out?"

Su Wan said calmly, "I've been observing her the whole way. Her condition has been fluctuating, sometimes good, sometimes bad, back and forth. This isn't just a case of acclimatization issues. Continuing to travel will only make it worse."

She speaks bluntly and calmly, without a trace of warmth, yet every word hits the nail on the head.

But to my surprise, she still cared about Su Qing.

She said so much, clearly she had been paying close attention to Su Qing's situation.

I paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "We're halfway there now, and turning back is impossible. Besides, there aren't any large hospitals nearby. We can only keep going and get to a major hospital in Lhasa for a full checkup."

Su Wan nodded gently, then suddenly asked, "You care about her a lot."

"She's a teammate and a friend, so I should care."

Su Wan didn't press further, but turned to look into the distance and said softly:

"Get to Lhasa for a check-up as soon as possible, don't delay. We can skip the no-man's-land, but we can't let anything happen to us."

After saying that, she turned and left.

His silhouette remained aloof and solitary, carrying a hint of melancholy that no one could understand.

Watching her retreating figure, I felt a mix of emotions.

Su Wan has always been aloof, taciturn, and unapproachable. She may seem cold and selfish, but she is actually very perceptive.

She seemed detached from everyone and everything, but she was secretly paying attention to everyone's situation, especially Su Qing.

Beneath the estrangement between these two sisters lies a deep concern and awkwardness that outsiders cannot comprehend.

After the convoy got back on the road, Su Qing was completely exhausted.

She was in a daze the whole way, experiencing abdominal pain and diarrhea, which the medication couldn't alleviate.

As the altitude continued to rise at night, she suffered from altitude sickness and gastrointestinal discomfort, so she curled up in her seat.

I drove very slowly, and along the way I handed her hot water and covered her with a coat; I did everything I could.

The once vibrant and energetic young girl has been tormented by an unknown ailment, leaving her lifeless.

The tension in my heart grew tighter and tighter.

This is definitely not just a simple case of not adapting to the new environment; there must be something else wrong.

The hospital in Batang couldn't find anything wrong, so for now we can only tough it out until we get to Lhasa.