From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Luo Peng's words are not an exaggeration.

In the barren, frigid wilderness, let alone a bowl of hot instant noodles, even a sip of warm water is an incredibly luxurious dream.

Su Wan was a woman of few words and ate politely. She didn't drink any soup, but she still finished the whole bowl of instant noodles, which showed that she was also very hungry.

Luo Peng stared longingly at Su Wan's empty bowl, his lips pursing and licking repeatedly.

He was clearly craving the leftover soup, but too embarrassed to ask, looking particularly honest and comical.

I looked at Su Wan and asked softly, "Are you full? If not, I'll cook another pack."

Su Wan nodded gently, a rare faint smile appearing in her usually cool and aloof eyes, and said softly:

"I'm full. Come to think of it, this is the first time I've ever eaten instant noodles."

"No way?!" Luo Peng's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with disbelief. "My first time? Really?"

Su Wan nodded slightly.

Luo Peng couldn't help but press further, "Sister Wan, what exactly does your family do? You're incredibly wealthy! I've never even eaten instant noodles before!"

I thought that Su Wan, who was aloof by nature, wouldn't pay attention to this kind of casual conversation, but to my surprise, she replied very seriously: "My family is in the pharmaceutical industry."

Wow! No wonder they're so extravagant!

Luo Peng exclaimed in surprise, his face suddenly realizing what was happening.

"These days, people who work in pharmaceuticals are definitely big shots; no wonder they have such a different aura!"

Su Wan didn't reply, but gently instructed, "Get some rest and make sure you're well-rested. We have to travel tomorrow."

As soon as she finished speaking, she bent down and crawled into the middle tent.

Our three tents were next to each other, and the three vehicles were parked on the outer perimeter, forming a closed loop that could both block the wind and serve as a protective and defensive measure.

After Su Wan entered the tent, Luo Peng leaned close to me and whispered in a low voice:

"Brother Lin, are Su Wan and Sister Qing really sisters? Their personalities are completely opposite! One is aloof and taciturn, unapproachable, while the other is lively and enthusiastic. The difference is too great."

"It's normal for sisters to have different personalities, what's so strange about that?" I replied casually.

Luo Peng suddenly reached out and patted my shoulder heavily, looking earnest: "Brother, once we get out of here, you'd better solidify your relationship with Sister Qing! Stick close to her, and I'll benefit from your success and live the high life!"

"Get lost, you're always dreaming." I retorted with a laugh.

Luo Peng chuckled twice, then glanced at the bowl that Su Wan had just put down, staring at the little bit of noodle soup left in it.

Then she turned to me and asked cautiously, "Brother Lin, it's such a waste to throw this soup away. It's a sin to waste food. How about I take care of it?"

I knew he'd been eyeing this noodle soup for a while, so I smiled helplessly and said, "Not full yet? How about I cook you another packet separately?"

Luo Peng quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no! We allocated the supplies strictly before we set off. We can't overspend. If we exceed the limit on the first day, the next twenty days will be tough. I'll just have some leftover soup to tide me over."

I know in my heart that I'm not actually full either.

The intense travel took a toll on my physical and mental health, and a bowl of instant noodles was simply not enough to stave off my hunger.

But Luo Peng is right. Supplies in the no-man's-land are the lifeline, and not a single bit can be wasted.

I nodded: "Drink up, and then wash the bowl and put it away properly."

"Mission accomplished!"

Luo Peng immediately picked up the bowl and gulped down the remaining noodle soup in a few mouthfuls.

To be honest, it's no wonder he's greedy.

In such a desperate situation, supplies are the key to survival.

Let alone a bowl of noodle soup, when you're truly out of food and energy, anything that can replenish fluids and strength is a lifesaver.

After Luo Peng washed the dishes and put them back in the car, we all returned to our tents.

To accommodate the only girl in the group, Luo Peng and I gave up the most sheltered middle spot to Su Wan.

Our two tents were positioned on either side, forming a protective formation.

Before setting off, we had anticipated the extremely cold weather in the uninhabited area, so we brought the highest-grade thickened and fleece-lined sleeping bags, and also laid an extra layer of moisture-proof mattress underneath.

Even with the right equipment, the extreme cold of minus twenty degrees Celsius still seeps in everywhere.

The biting cold felt like countless icy needles, seeping into the tent through the gaps and penetrating to the bone, freezing one's entire body stiff.

I lay in my sleeping bag, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

First, it was too cold; second, I was extremely unaccustomed to this desolate wilderness environment.

At midnight, the wind suddenly intensified, howling and raging across the wilderness, making the tent fabric rustle and creak as if it were about to be torn apart by the gale at any moment.

This is only our first night camping in the no-man's-land, and it's already incredibly difficult.

I can't imagine how we'll get through the endless wind, snow, and bitter cold over the next twenty-odd days.

I forcibly suppressed the distracting thoughts in my mind, not daring to think any further.

In dire straits, the more you think, the easier it is for your mindset to collapse, which only increases anxiety.

Just then, I heard a slight turning sound coming from the next tent.

It seems that Su Wan is also not asleep.

I turned to her and whispered, "Su Wan, are you cold over there? If you can't stand it, just say so. There are spare warm supplies in the car."

Her voice came through the thin tent fabric: "It's okay, I can manage, it's just that it's my first time camping in the wild, so I'm not used to it."

As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Peng's muffled voice came from the nearby tent:

"I couldn't sleep either! It's okay, you'll get used to it. Listen to me, if you can't sleep, put on headphones and listen to crosstalk. I downloaded a whole bunch of Guo Degang's songs beforehand, they're a cure for insomnia!"

I thought I was the only one who couldn't sleep, but it turns out everyone is having trouble sleeping.

The gale had not yet subsided when heavy snow arrived.

The dense snowflakes fell on the tent roof, making a soft, pattering sound.

In the dead of night, it seemed especially terrifying.

The wind and snow howled between heaven and earth, and a desolate and oppressive atmosphere, like the end of the world, enveloped the entire wasteland.

I couldn't help but worry that when I woke up, our tent might have been completely buried by the thick snow.

It was at this moment that I truly understood the terror of the no-man's-land.

Only by personally setting foot on this land and enduring its winds, snow, and solitude can one truly understand it.

Only then did I understand why it is called the forbidden zone of life.

I stayed up most of the night in a daze, never really getting a deep sleep.

My limbs felt stiff and numb, and my head was throbbing and stabbing in waves.

Even wrapped in a thick, top-of-the-line cold-proof sleeping bag and padded with double-layered moisture-proof mattresses, it still couldn't keep out the pervasive extreme cold.

The sub-zero temperatures of minus twenty degrees Celsius seeped into my bones, leaving me feeling cold and heavy all over. The night was incredibly agonizing.

After what seemed like an eternity, the howling wind and snow gradually subsided, and faint, rustling sounds came from outside.

I forced open my heavy eyelids; dawn had finally broken.