From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

"Are you worried about me?"

Su Qing didn't appreciate it. Instead, she gave a self-deprecating laugh, her emotions exploding instantly, and her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.

"From childhood to adulthood, your parents have always said you're the most sensible and outstanding person, and all the benefits and opportunities have always been yours! You went straight into a senior position in the family company after graduating from university, and all the best resources have been laid out for you!"

"And me? In everyone's eyes, I'm just an immature, spoiled brat who only causes trouble!"

"On this long journey, I'm desperately trying to prove myself. I want to show that I can accomplish something independently, without relying on my family! I want to cross the no-man's-land with everyone and fulfill my own long-held dream!"

"And what happened? In the end, I messed up myself; I didn't even make it into the no-man's-land!"

Her eyes were red and she stared intently at Su Wan.

With a hint of stubborn defiance, she continued, "Aren't you secretly relieved? Finally, you don't have to worry about me achieving something that surpasses you?"

I stood quietly to the side, without saying a word.

The estrangement and resentment that had accumulated between the two sisters for over a decade finally erupted at this moment.

No one could get a word in edgewise or persuade them otherwise; they could only let them lay bare all their innermost thoughts.

Su Wan stared at Su Qing, who was in a state of emotional turmoil, and remained silent for a very long time.

The warm sun of the plateau fell on her cool profile, but the soft light could not dispel the chill emanating from her.

It was also the first time since I'd known her that I'd seen a crack completely appear in her hard, cold exterior.

"Do you think I'd be happy? These past few days, I haven't had a single day where I truly felt at ease about you."

Su Wan's voice was not as calm and indifferent as usual; it even had a slight, barely perceptible hoarseness.

"Last night, I saw you guys go to a barbecue restaurant, so I parked my car in a dark spot on the street and sat in the car watching you have fun. I didn't dare go in or disturb you, so I just watched quietly."

"I actually envy you. You can do whatever you want, dare to take risks and fight for what you want. Everyone around you revolves around you, accommodates you, and cares for you. You always live in a world of excitement and favoritism."

"But I'm different."

"From childhood to adulthood, I have had to shoulder everything on my own. Everyone assumes that I am mature and sensible and do not need comfort or care. No matter how much I suffer or how many difficulties I encounter, I have to digest them myself."

She paused at this point and let out a long breath.

Looking at Su Qing again, her eyes softened considerably: "But I never hoped you would fail. You are my only sister."

"The reason I stopped you was because I was afraid you would venture into the no-man's-land while you were sick. In that extreme environment, if you have health problems, you'll be helpless and no one will be able to help you. If something really happens, it will be too late for anyone to regret it."

These heartfelt words left the excited Su Qing completely frozen in place.

She stared blankly at Su Wan, her pupils shrinking, completely bewildered.

Perhaps she never imagined that her usually aloof and taciturn sister would confide so much in her and experience such obvious emotional fluctuations.

Su Qing opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

The two sisters stood facing each other, the atmosphere eerily quiet.

More than a decade of conflicts and misunderstandings have all been submerged in this moment of silence.

Just then, a middle-aged couple walked slowly down the street, breaking the stalemate.

The man carefully supported the woman beside him. The woman's face was pale, and her body was so weak that she looked as if she would fall over if the wind blew her away. It was clear that she was seriously ill.

The two slowly passed by us. The woman leaned weakly against the man's chest, her voice heavy with sobs, revealing utter despair.

"Husband, let's get a divorce."

The man showed no surprise, continuing to support her, and said gently, "Why are you talking nonsense again?"

The woman stopped, her red eyes pleading as she looked at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Please, I beg you, stop caring about me. I don't want treatment anymore. You're still young, don't let me drag you down for the rest of your life."

Without a word, the man reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms, saying solemnly, word by word:

"You're my wife, for life. What burden are you? Don't overthink it. I'll definitely cure you. I'll be with you."

The three of us watched this scene in silence, and none of us uttered a sound.

The purest feelings of attachment and reluctance to part are vividly displayed in this ordinary scene.

The contrast between the two sisters' sharp antagonism and mutual distrust is particularly poignant.

Only after the couple's figures had completely disappeared from sight did I finally break the silence and speak softly.

"I know that the conflict between you two sisters has been brewing for many years, and it can't be completely resolved in just a few words."

"But all I want to say is that when it comes to life, death, and health, all the comparisons and petty squabbles are not that important."

Su Qing slowly lowered her head, her tense stubbornness dissipated considerably, and her emotions gradually calmed down.

Su Wan also let out a long sigh, her tone becoming much gentler.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke: "Have you all been wondering why I insisted on going to the no-man's-land?"

She paused, gazing at the distant street, her eyes somewhat vacant, answering her own question.

"Let me tell you a story, about something I've kept hidden for five years."

"I had a relationship when I was in college. He was someone who was extremely passionate about outdoor adventures. We made a promise that after graduation, we would cross the Qiangtang no-man's-land together to fulfill our shared passion."

"But we didn't make it to graduation; I was the one who broke up with him."

"At the time, I saw him carrying a freshman girl on his back. The two of them were chatting and laughing, and seemed very close. I didn't ask why, and I didn't give him a chance to explain. Based solely on my first misunderstanding, I completely cut off all contact with him."

"I thought he had changed his mind, that he had broken our promise, so I kept my resentment to myself and blocked all ways to contact him."

"It wasn't until after graduation that I learned by chance that he had ventured alone into the no-man's-land, wanting to fulfill our promise to each other."

At this point, Su Wan's voice choked up, her eyes reddened, and for the first time, an extreme vulnerability appeared on her usually cold face.

"The next time I heard news about him was in a news report."

"He went missing in the heart of the Qiangtang Plateau, and the rescue team searched for him for half a month. When they finally found him, he was gone... forever left in that desolate wilderness."

This is the first time Su Wan has completely lost her composure since I've known her.

She, who was usually calm and composed, was now trembling even in her voice.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions, and continued speaking slowly:

"The rescue team could only erect a cenotaph for him at the site of the accident. This became an insurmountable obstacle in my heart, and it troubled me for five whole years."

"Later, I accidentally saw a photo of the girl he had carried on his back in the company's interview list."

"Out of curiosity, I arranged for someone to meet her."

"It wasn't until that moment that I realized that the girl was his younger sister."

"That day he was just carrying his sister, who had sprained her ankle, on his back, that's all."