From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Su Wan looked up at me and asked softly.

I shook my head rapidly: "If you're considered stupid, then there are no smart people in the world."

Her gaze fell on the flickering campfire, and she murmured to herself.

"Actually, I could tell a long time ago that he was interested in me. But at that time, I was focused on my studies and didn't think much about relationships."

"Later, as I wished, I was directly admitted to Tsinghua University and graduated early before finishing high school."

I had heard Su Qing mention this before.

Su Qing was quite envious of her, and her family often compared Su Wan's excellence to her.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I leaned forward and pressed, "And what about him? Did he really get in?"

Su Wan forced a bitter smile and gently shook her head: "Reality is never as perfect and dreamlike as in stories. He didn't pass the exam, but he was only fifteen points short of the admission score."

I was taken aback: "But you said before that you were classmates in university?"

"He chose to repeat a year, while I... in order to wait for him, I also kept my student status and did not go to register directly," Su Wan said slowly.

My pupils contracted slightly, my face filled with disbelief.

"So, you already received the acceptance letter, but you deliberately postponed your enrollment by a year?"

"Um."

I couldn't help but marvel at how extraordinary this event must have been.

"So later, he didn't let you down and passed the exam as you wished?" I couldn't help but continue to ask.

Su Wan nodded emphatically, a genuine smile appearing on her face.

That was the first time I had ever seen her smile so genuinely.

"She got accepted and even chose the same college as me, so we became classmates again."

I couldn't help but exclaim, "This is so romantic!"

"Yes, so it was natural for us to start dating. But his inferiority complex was always there, and it only got worse after he learned about my family situation."

I nodded, deeply moved: "This is the inescapable gap in reality."

"But I never thought of giving up. Those four years in college were the most relaxed and unforgettable time of my life."

Su Wan's voice softened.

I sighed softly, then asked with a puzzled look, "But after graduation, why did he insist on plunging alone into the no-man's-land? Didn't you try to dissuade him?"

Upon hearing this, Su Wan abruptly turned to look at me.

"I remember telling you that I had a misunderstanding with him, right?"

I nodded slightly, waiting for her to continue.

"But that's not the main point. His choice to go to the no-man's-land was actually..."

At this point, Su Wan suddenly paused.

Her eyes suddenly became strange, it was hard to tell whether it was sadness or some other emotion.

He stared at me intently for a full half minute before slowly continuing, "Exactly the same as you now."

I was completely bewildered: "Like me? Could it be... he's also after fame and fortune?"

I don't deny this. I admit that my venturing into this desolate, uninhabited area was partly driven by a pursuit of fame and fortune.

If there's no benefit, who would risk their life in such a godforsaken place?

Su Wan nodded slightly and continued, "He did indeed love outdoor adventure. But it was only much later that I learned the truth: someone made a deal with him, offering to provide him with startup investment if he could traverse the uninhabited area completely."

I couldn't help but widen my eyes: "What? Why would there be such a condition?"

Su Wan shrugged lightly: "Actually, we made a promise back in college that we would come to the no-man's-land together after graduation. I'm not really interested in the outdoors, but because it's him, I'm willing to go."

At this point, her tone suddenly turned somber, tinged with a hint of self-mockery.

"I've already told you what happened next. Because of that misunderstanding, I gave up."

"I was really angry at the time, and I thought about asking him for an explanation."

"But just then, my family's business encountered a crisis, and my father urgently needed me to go back and take over a lot of messes. So, by some twist of fate, I missed the opportunity."

I took a deep breath and asked her, "So, this is the regret in your heart?"

Su Wan let out a long breath: "It's not a regret. Many years later, I slowly came to understand why he insisted on going to the no-man's land back then."

"Why did that person you just mentioned insist on completing the time travel before he would pay you?" I pressed for this crucial question.

Su Wan's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile, but she remained silent.

It's clear that she neither wants to answer this question nor wants to confront it directly.

But I had a vague feeling that this was the real knot in her heart that had been trapping her for so many years.

If we don't break this barrier, wouldn't all this talking about the past tonight have been for nothing?

But I knew in my heart that forcing her to talk about it would be like tearing open an old, scabbed wound, which would inevitably cause her immense pain.

A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one. Keeping it bottled up inside and causing internal strife will only cause more harm.

The campfire crackled, and after hesitating for a moment, I forced myself to speak.

"What's the inside story? If you don't tell me, I'll keep pestering you until you tell me."

Su Wan glanced at me, but there was no blame in her eyes, only indifference.

She remained silent for a while before saying softly, "I'll tell you if we manage to get out of this no-man's-land alive."

I wanted to get to the bottom of things, but after spending so much time together, I knew Su Wan's personality all too well.

Once she's made up her mind not to tell me, it's futile no matter how much I press her.

But I was already certain in my heart that this was the deepest knot in her heart.

The evening breeze continued to flow across the wasteland, followed by another long silence.

Suddenly, Su Wan looked at me and asked, "Lin Ye, I have a question for you."

"Go ahead," I said, snapping out of my reverie and nodding gently.

"If we manage to get out of here alive, what are your plans afterward?"

I was slightly taken aback, not expecting her to suddenly bring up this question.

Judging from her serious expression, it was definitely not just casual conversation.

I hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Live a down-to-earth life and do things conscientiously. The most important thing is to fulfill the promise I made before I left and respond properly to Su Qing."

When I mentioned Su Qing's name, my tone unconsciously became gentle and firm, without a moment's hesitation.

Upon hearing the name, Su Wan remained silent for two seconds before softly asking again:

"What if... my family strongly disapproves of you two being together? What would you do?"

This is a pointed and very real issue.

The no-man's-land can temporarily escape worldly affairs, but differences in family background can lead to obstacles from one's family.

Once we return to the outside world, we will ultimately not be able to escape it.

But what I'm more curious about is why she suddenly asked me these questions?