From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

In the live stream, the chat was still scrolling, filled with expressions of regret and comfort.

Facing the camera, Su Qing said with genuine helplessness:

"I know everyone has been looking forward to this for a long time, and I feel more regretful and saddened than anyone else that I couldn't go into the no-man's-land with you."

"But don't worry, I won't stop updating. I will go live every day to chat with you all."

"After Lin Ye and his team entered the no-man's-land, there was no signal, so they couldn't do a live broadcast. However, I will have them shoot footage regularly every day to record road conditions, scenery, and any unexpected situations that might occur along the way. As soon as they reach a location with a signal, they will send me the footage immediately, and I will edit and release it right away so that everyone can follow the progress in real time."

Her influence was incredibly strong; the screen, which was initially filled with disappointed comments, was now filled with heartwarming words of comfort.

"Qingqing, take good care of yourself, safety first!"

"We've been eagerly awaiting Brother Lin's epic 'No Man's Land' film!"

"..."

Su Qing ended the live stream after another hour.

She put down her phone, went into the live stream's backend, and then said to me:

"We've definitely gained a lot of fans along the way, almost 200,000 now. I believe that number will double after you come out of the no-man's land."

I joked with a laugh, "Of those 200,000 followers, probably 180,000 are there because of you. I'm just trying to ride your coattails."

"Now you know how charming I am, right?"

Su Qing raised her small face, her eyes brimming with confidence and self-assurance—a confidence unique to her.

That's Su Qing for you; she never hides her emotions.

This wasn't arrogance or haughtiness, but rather a confidence that emanated from within.

After she finished speaking, her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had remembered something, and she quickly said:

"Wait a minute! Do you remember the rescue at Dongda Mountain Pass?"

I nodded slightly: "Of course I remember."

At that time, the wind and snow were raging, the sky was dark, and the entire convoy was rushing to get down the mountain.

Everyone, including Brother Wang, tried their best to dissuade me, telling me to contact the rescue team directly and not to meddle.

In extreme blizzard weather, forcibly stopping the vehicle for rescue is extremely risky. If the vehicle slips and gets stuck in the snow, everyone will be trapped at the mountain pass, with unimaginable consequences.

But the car that broke down on the side of the road was carrying a family of three, and the temperature had plummeted due to heavy snow blocking the mountain pass.

By the time the rescue team arrives, it will be at least late at night, and they simply won't be able to hold on.

After weighing the pros and cons, I still insisted on stopping the car.

Then we towed them out of their predicament and even gave them the spare snow chains from our fleet.

Su Qing was live-streaming the entire process, recording everything.

Su Qing then clicked on the pinned trending video and showed it to me, saying, "It's about your heroic act of saving people! When I cut the video and posted it, it went viral immediately. Nearly 100,000 fans came because of your character, and the video has over a million likes."

I stared at the astonishing data on the screen, completely taken aback.

It was just a small act of kindness I did on a whim, and I never imagined it would cause such a huge stir online and quietly gain so many followers for my account.

"Why didn't you tell me about this back then?" I asked, puzzled.

Su Qing playfully stuck out her tongue: "I was afraid you'd get too cocky. You shouldn't be so arrogant at such a young age."

I gave a wry smile and said earnestly, "To be honest, I was really too impulsive. In such an extremely harsh environment, the most important thing to do is to follow the team's instructions. I was definitely not rational that time."

Su Qing immediately retorted, "It depends on the situation! This is a matter of life and death; how can we rigidly follow orders?"

He paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, in my heart, you are the backbone of our team. Brother Wang is just the guide. Listening to you is the right thing to do!"

Su Qing is straightforward and never tries to please anyone, so she has never really approved of Wang Ge's conservative and cautious nature.

But I know in my heart that the smooth journey to Lhasa was inseparable from Wang Ge's experience. Everyone's perspective and considerations are different.

I didn't argue much, took out a cigarette and lit it, and the evening breeze mixed with the night air of Lhasa rushed towards me.

The streets were sparsely populated, and the lights were soft.

As I quietly gazed at the city's night view, all the pressure and anxiety, including my apprehension about the future, temporarily dissipated in that moment.

Su Qing leaned close to me and whispered, "After you enter the no-man's-land, no matter how busy you are, you must take time to shoot footage every day. Record the treacherous road conditions, the unique wilderness scenery, and any problems you encounter along the way. Shoot as much footage as possible to have in your archives. Send it to me as soon as you find a place with a signal."

"Okay, I've got it."

"I also livestream from home every day to keep the account popular. We'll work together to build this account up when you come out."

I could feel the enthusiasm in every word Su Qing said.

I looked at him and said solemnly, "Thank you for your hard work."

Su Qing raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't just say thank you; I'm not buying it."

I chuckled and said, "So how do you want me to thank you?"

She instantly revealed a sly smile and said softly, "Girls all like small gifts. Just give me a gift when you come out safely."

"Okay." I agreed without hesitation.

Seeing my honest and dull expression, Su Qing couldn't help but burst out laughing: "You're really too dull, you can't say a single sweet word."

I admit she's right. I'm not good with words and I don't know how to sweet-talk people. All I can do is treat them with sincerity.

We sat side by side chatting, the evening breeze gentle and the night tranquil.

Before we knew it, we had been chatting for quite a while before slowly getting up and walking back to the guesthouse.

Along the way, we naturally held hands, our fingers intertwined.

There was no deliberate ambiguity, no awkwardness or restraint; everything was so natural.

Back at the entrance of the guesthouse, we said goodnight to each other and went back to our rooms.

That night, I undoubtedly suffered from insomnia.

My heart was filled with excitement, trepidation, and warmth...

Mixed feelings.

Every little thing that happened today—Su Qing's confession and promise, every word, every glance, every embrace—I've remembered it all.

Regardless of whether we can make it to the end, I will always remember this day.

I only managed to drift off to sleep a little while as the sky began to lighten.

When I woke up, it was already bright daylight.

After a quick wash, I went downstairs, and the courtyard was already bustling with activity.

Luo Peng had packed all his luggage and was full of energy.

Wang Ge, A Qiu, Chen Yunqing, and Su Qing were all standing in the courtyard waiting.

At the entrance of the guesthouse, three SUVs were spotless after being washed.

All luggage and equipment were loaded and secured, the vehicle was gleaming, and it was ready to go.

The moment of parting has finally arrived.

There was no sentimental or affected atmosphere; everyone looked relaxed. The necessary reminders and risks had already been explained over the past few days, and what remained was a silent blessing.

Brother Wang walked towards me first, patted my shoulder heavily with his thick hand, and said:

"Enough with the small talk, take care on your journey, and I wish you a safe and successful return."

I nodded emphatically, all my unspoken words condensing into a single, unwavering resolve.