From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

As I spoke, I stood up.

Turning to look at the vast snowfield, he continued, "The current maps of the no-man's-land are drawn by people who have survived and made it out. Those who came in but never came out are not recorded or known. For example... your college boyfriend."

Su Wan paused slightly, instantly understanding the unspoken meaning in my words.

"You mean, he took this deserted, wild road back then?"

I shrugged and said, "It's hard to say. We can only keep going and see if we can find any other traces ahead to verify our guesses."

Su Wan looked down at the old tag in her palm, then suddenly tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a bitter smile.

"Is it really such a coincidence? It just so happens that it's on this deserted road that I happened to find this tag."

I sighed softly and whispered, "Perhaps it's a coincidence, perhaps it's fate, or maybe it's divine guidance."

"I never believed in these so-called coincidences and fates before. But today, I really find it incredible."

Su Wan murmured softly, her eyes filled with melancholy.

I looked at her slightly red eyes and asked softly, "Are you feeling alright right now? Do you want to calm down a bit?"

She sniffed, gently shook her head, and her tone returned to its usual calm:

"It's nothing, I just suddenly got emotional because of the scenery."

Even though she had just cried, she still habitually maintained a calm and composed demeanor.

But I knew very well that this brief moment of loss of composure concealed a long-suppressed obsession within her.

I can't help but wonder if this regret is what makes her so demanding and strict with herself now, forcing herself to be perfect and calm.

Perhaps this is why she insisted on crossing the no-man's-land.

She said she wanted to let go of the past, but in reality, she wanted to walk the path he had walked back then and fulfill this regretful promise that was years overdue and no one had kept.

Before we knew it, dusk had completely fallen on the earth.

In the pitch-black night sky, twinkling stars slowly appeared.

The cool moonlight spilled across the snowfield, illuminating the vast land and reflecting the lingering redness in her eyes.

The usually aloof, restrained, and unflappable eldest daughter of the Su family has now shed all pretense, revealing her softest and most authentic side.

Looking at her lonely and thin profile, I felt a pang of sadness in my heart.

After a long silence, I finally couldn't help but whisper, "All these years, you've never really let go, have you?"

Su Wan nodded slightly, then slowly shook her head, her gaze fixed on the price tag in her palm, her tone light and airy:

"I wouldn't say I've completely let go, nor would I say I can't forget it. It's like a thorn that's been buried in my heart for many years. It doesn't hurt or itch usually, and I thought it had healed long ago."

"I never imagined in my life that I would find the things I gave him back then in this isolated, uninhabited area."

At this moment, the canyon was silent, and the wilderness was still.

I used to only see her as aloof and domineering, perfect and strict.

Only now do I truly see that she has a deep-seated obsession with this, and that she is also an ordinary person with regrets and vulnerabilities.

I was silent for a moment before whispering to her, "Looking at it from another angle, this might not be a bad thing."

"He has walked this wild path that no one dares to take before, which means that the path is passable and not an absolute dead end. For us, it provides an extra layer of protection."

Su Wan looked up at me, her usual aloofness returning, only now tinged with a touch more gentleness.

She carefully tucked the price tag into the inside pocket of her windbreaker, her voice regaining its steady tone.

"But he never made it out of this no-man's-land. Do you think his accident happened on this deserted road back then?"

I've thought about that too, but I'm too embarrassed to say it out loud, afraid of upsetting her.

I didn't expect her to bring it up so readily, and I was momentarily speechless.

After pausing for a few seconds, he looked at her seriously and asked:

"So, are you still sure you want to move forward? If you're feeling uneasy, we can reconsider."

Su Wan gently shook her head without the slightest hesitation: "Let's go. Regardless of whether he met his end here or not, there's no turning back now."

"I'm just worried that your emotions will be affected."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Wan gently interrupted him: "I'm really fine. I was just momentarily moved. I've long since let go of this obsession that I've held onto for so many years."

"Alright, since you're alright, let's keep going."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Luo Peng's anxious shouts came from the direction of the camp behind them:

"Brother Lin! Sister Su Wan! Where have you been? It's already dark, come back quickly!"

To avoid worrying Luo Peng, I immediately shouted back, "Roger that, we're coming right away!"

After saying that, I turned to Su Wan beside me and said, "Let's go back to camp."

Su Wan nodded, taking one last look at the small cave covered in ashes before leaving.

His gaze was distant, as if he were solemnly bidding farewell to a past that had been sealed away for many years.

Su Wan and I walked back towards the camp side by side in silence.

The evening breeze rustled across the snow-covered plain, the footsteps were light and monotonous, and the entire wilderness was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

I couldn't help but turn my head and steal glances at Su Wan beside me from time to time.

She remained calm and composed, her expression serene and aloof, no different from her usual carefree demeanor.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it.

Just a few minutes ago, this woman had tears welling up in her eyes and was shedding tears in front of me.

My doubts grew, and I couldn't help but speculate.

Was that single tear just a momentary outburst of emotion?

Excitement is the most genuine emotion; how can anyone calm down so completely in an instant after being excited?

This sense of contradiction weighed heavily on my heart, leaving me with a strange mix of emotions.

Back at the canyon camp, Luo Peng was squatting by the fire, organizing his tools.

Upon seeing us return, they immediately asked, "Brother Lin, Sister Wan, how's the road ahead? Is it safe?"

"There's nothing wrong with it. The terrain is just a bit more complicated than the old route. Just be more vigilant and drive slowly on the way."

As I spoke, I walked over to the campfire and sat down, the warmth instantly enveloping my entire body.

Luo Peng nodded, rubbed his cheeks which were red from the cold high-altitude wind, and said, "Then I'll take an extra night shift tonight. You two get some rest. We've all been through a lot of danger and close combat these past few days, and everyone's exhausted."

He himself was clearly exhausted, yet he was still constantly thinking about his teammates. He was no longer the impetuous and reckless young man he used to be, the one who needed to be worried about.

I gently shook my head, patted his shoulder, and said, "No need for special care. No one should push themselves too hard. We can't do without each other on the road ahead."

Luo Peng did not argue and nodded in agreement.

After quickly tidying up his tools, he bent down and crawled into the tent.

The camp returned to quiet.

The evening breeze whistled softly through the canyon, while the Milky Way shone brightly overhead.

Between heaven and earth, it seemed as if only our flickering campfire remained, both lonely and warm.

Su Wan did not return to the tent to rest, but instead walked to the campfire and sat down, gently pulling her legs together, her posture gentle and quiet.