From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

My eyes were already red, and when I heard my cousin's understanding words, I almost couldn't hold back my tears.

I suddenly raised my head and looked up at the starry sky, forcibly holding back the tears that were about to spill from my eyes.

I took a deep breath of the cool night air and forced myself to speak calmly.

Why are you being so agreeable today?

My cousin gave a wry smile and slowly replied:

"Deep down, I don't approve of you taking such a big risk. But I know your personality too well. Even if I try my best to persuade you, you won't change your mind and go home."

He paused briefly, then continued in an extremely solemn tone:

"Instead of wasting my energy trying to persuade you to turn back, I'd rather send you my blessings and hope for your safe return."

"Just go ahead and don't worry. I'll take care of your aunt. I'll make sure she's well taken care of."

After hearing my cousin's words, my last line of defense completely collapsed.

The tears that had been building up for so long could no longer be held back and burst forth from her eyes.

I know in my heart that I have no other choice but to fight for myself.

What lies before me is never a multiple-choice question, but a dead end.

I have no need to complain about the unfairness of fate, nor do I need to wallow in self-pity.

The only thing I can do now is to force myself to become stronger and withstand all the storms.

In this realistic world, only a strong enough foundation can allow me to survive.

My cousin on the other end of the phone probably noticed the sob in my voice. His originally gentle tone instantly turned serious, filled with deep concern.

"Alright, Yezi, I know you're upset, but don't think of things so negatively. You'll definitely come back safe and sound. I'll be here waiting for you, waiting for you to come home safely."

I took a deep breath, my nose stinging, and suppressed the lump in my throat before replying, "Yes, I definitely will."

"That's all for now. Adjust your mindset and call me again to let me know you're safe before you head into the no-man's-land."

"it is good."

I quietly agreed and slowly hung up the phone.

The moment the phone screen went dark, the surroundings fell into the unique stillness of the night.

The noise faded away, leaving only the cold wind of the high plateau night silently surrounding me, a bone-chilling cold seeping into my heart through my limbs.

Ultimately, I will have to face the series of chain reactions that will result from losing logistical support and guidance all by myself.

I'm really upset because I'm just putting on a brave face. I know very well that I might not be able to get through this.

Just as I was thinking this, a fair hand silently handed me a clean tissue.

I turned my head abruptly and was surprised to find that the person who came was Su Wan.

I don't know how long she stood behind me.

She has always been like this, so quiet that she never makes a sound, and her thoughts are always unfathomable.

I stood there stunned for several seconds before reaching out to take the tissue and hastily wiping the wetness from the corners of my eyes.

Su Wan withdrew her hand, casually put both hands into her coat pockets, and quietly gazed at the Potala Palace in the distance under the night sky.

His cool face remained expressionless, calm to the point of indifference.

The night wind on the plateau blew her long hair wildly, strands brushing against her cheeks, but she didn't bother to raise her hand to tidy it up, exuding a cold and lonely aura that kept strangers at bay.

I couldn't find a suitable topic to start the conversation, so I could only keep her company as she quietly enjoyed the breeze. The rooftop fell into a long silence.

After a full minute of silent confrontation, Su Wan's cool voice finally broke the deathly silence.

"I'll go with you."

These words just happened to brush past my ear on the evening breeze. It wasn't that I couldn't hear them, but that I couldn't believe my ears.

I turned sharply to stare at her, my voice full of astonishment: "What did you say?"

Su Wan continued gazing at the distant night sky, her tone remaining calm and even: "The Qiangtang no-man's-land, I'll go in with you."

My heart skipped a beat, and I stared at her in disbelief, demanding, "Why? You knew perfectly well how dangerous it was in there!"

"This afternoon, I went to the coffee shop in the city that he used to frequent."

Su Wan spoke slowly, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy that had been buried for many years.

"I found traces of him in the store."

I know that the "he" she was talking about was the person who had been hidden in her heart for five years and whom she could never let go of.

I couldn't help but press, "What a coincidence? What did he leave behind?"

Su Wan gently shook her head, then said slowly and deliberately, "It's not a coincidence. I know he went there back then. The message was very simple, just two words: my name."

Hearing this, I felt my heart clench violently.

This is so hurtful!

I can't even imagine the turmoil in Su Wan's heart when, after five years of being consumed by obsession, she saw her name left by that person again.

Before I could calm myself down, Su Wan's voice rang out again: "So, I've decided to go into the no-man's land with you."

"But now you know how dangerous this road is. Brother Wang said there's almost no chance of survival if you go in! Why take such a risk? There will be countless opportunities in the future; there's no need to be fixated on this one!"

Su Wan is not a person who acts impulsively or stubbornly.

But this time, she, like me, had an unwavering determination to do it and to not back down.

Her brows remained calm, gently touched by the evening breeze, and she replied softly, "There will certainly be other opportunities in the future, but I can't wait. There are some knots in my heart and obsessions that I must untie myself. Only by retracing the path he walked back then can I truly say goodbye to the past and move on completely."

Her words sounded somewhat obscure, but I understood what she was thinking.

Everyone thinks that time can heal all wounds, but some regrets can only be truly let go when faced with them.

For me, having one more companion means having one more chance to survive.

But I cannot selfishly conceal the risks; I must present the harshest reality to her.

I looked at her intently and said in a serious tone, "Entering the Qiangtang region now, the chances of survival are slim. You come from a privileged background and have a bright and promising future. There's really no need to gamble your life for a past event. I think you should reconsider."

Su Wan finally raised her hand and gently gathered her disheveled hair, which had been blown about by the night wind.

Her tone remained calm yet resolute: "If I truly can't get over it, then that's my fate, and I accept it."

Upon hearing this, I fully understood that any further persuasion would be futile.

Like me, she had already made up her mind, and there was no turning back.

Another evening breeze swept by, carrying the faint fragrance of her hair, mixed with the distant scent of incense and candles, creating a cool and solemn atmosphere.

She seemed to have come specifically to inform me of this decision, and then she didn't linger any longer.

Get some rest and recharge.

Leaving behind a word of advice, Su Wan turned and left, her slender figure disappearing at the end of the corridor.

I stood alone on the rooftop, gazing at the starry sky, my heart filled with a sense of loss and bewilderment.

After a long while, I finally composed myself and slowly went downstairs back to my room.

The room was quiet; Luo Peng seemed to be fast asleep.

I didn't turn on the light. I quietly finished washing up by the dim light from the window and lay down on the bed.