From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Looking at the faint blush on Su Wan's cheeks, I felt a mix of emotions and was filled with感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a deep sense of emotion).

The phrase "Once we leave the no-man's-land, we'll be friends" sounds light, but it carries immense weight.

Given Su Wan's family background, she has always been surrounded by top-tier connections, and her interactions are always about weighing interests.

She is aloof and clear-headed, doesn't easily fit in with others, and doesn't casually call anyone a friend.

Countless people want to get close to her, but very few are truly accepted by her.

But in this isolated, uninhabited area where life and death are unpredictable, all the differences in worldly status and class have been erased.

There is no aloof Su family heiress here, nor any ruthless industry elites.

There were only three teammates who went through hardships together, endured hunger together, survived the cold together, faced life and death together, and fought their way back from the brink of despair.

Su Wan's ability to say those words meant that she genuinely acknowledged Luo Peng and me, and considered us trustworthy partners.

I couldn't help but think of Su Qing.

Su Qing is naturally delicate and passionate. She has been favored and pampered since childhood, and her personality is lively and romantic, but she also has a bit of a carefree attitude that comes from being spoiled.

Su Wan, however, is completely different.

She is always restrained, always clear-headed, knows how to be humble, and knows how to empathize with others.

This is the most fundamental difference between the two sisters.

It's not about who's good or bad, but rather that their drastically different upbringings shaped two completely different personalities.

Luo Peng, standing to the side, was already deeply moved, holding a small wine bottle in his hand with the purest smile on his face.

He took a big bite of the tender rabbit meat, his mouth full of oily flavor, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

"To be honest, I've never had such a peaceful birthday in my entire life."

"In the past, my birthday celebrations were either spent eating something by myself or drinking and chatting with a group of friends. It seemed like there were a lot of people, but it wasn't really that fun."

He glanced at me, then turned to look at Su Wan, who was sitting quietly beside him, and continued:

"But today is different. After truly risking our lives and overcoming adversity together, we can now enjoy a peaceful meal of hot meat and a sip of wine. My 28th birthday was absolutely worthwhile!"

Su Wan ate the pancake in small bites, chewing the rabbit meat slowly, her demeanor refined and elegant, every movement revealing her inherent restraint.

At this moment, however, she had completely let go of her usual tension and guardedness, and her whole demeanor had become much gentler.

After a moment of silence, she spoke softly: "People who can go through life and death together are friends for life."

The stress of days of travel, the gloom of encountering robbers, and the anxiety of the unknown road ahead all vanished at this moment.

We ate our meat slowly and sipped our wine gently. No one was in a hurry to get there, and no one was on high alert.

This is the most relaxed and reassuring moment we've had since entering the no-man's-land.

Slightly tipsy, Luo Peng suddenly lowered his voice, as if he had finally blurted out words he had been holding back for a long time.

"Actually, when I first formed the team, I always thought Sister Wan was very aloof and I didn't dare to talk to her at all."

"You have such a strong presence, you're so calm and aloof, you seem so high and mighty that it's hard to approach you."

Su Wan looked at him, a hint of tenderness in her eyes, and asked softly, "And then?"

Luo Peng let out a long sigh and said, "It was only after venturing into this no-man's-land that I understood. You're not aloof and arrogant; you're just used to being steady and patient, and you never bother anyone."

He paused, hesitated for a few seconds, and then mustered his courage to add, "And I always feel that you're hiding something, that you have some obsession that you can't let go of. Am I right?"

I've never told Luo Peng about Su Wan and her boyfriend, because I consider it her privacy, and I naturally wouldn't talk about it carelessly.

Luo Peng had clearly guessed some of it, but he wasn't sure.

To my surprise, Su Wan didn't evade the question. She nodded gently and readily admitted, "Yes, that's right."

Luo Peng sighed softly and began to offer his sincere but clumsy advice:

"Sister Wan, there are some people and things that we really don't need to keep dwelling on. I know I'm just a nobody and what I say may not be of any use, but the most important thing in life is to be happy."

"I usually don't dare to say anything carelessly, but I had a few drinks today and that gave me the courage. To be honest, you have a really beautiful smile."

I immediately laughed and joked, "Not bad, Luo Peng. This kid's alcohol tolerance hasn't increased, but his courage has certainly grown. He even dares to secretly observe other people's details now?"

Luo Peng chuckled sheepishly and said, "Brother Lin, tell me honestly, isn't Sister Wan's smile especially beautiful? Do you dare say she isn't?"

I chuckled helplessly, "I didn't say it wasn't good-looking, it's just that I didn't observe it as closely as you do."

Fearing that Su Wan might misunderstand his abruptness, Luo Peng quickly waved his hand and explained, "Sister Wan, don't overthink it. I was just stating the facts; I absolutely didn't mean anything by it!"

Su Wan remained calm and smiled faintly: "I know you don't need to be reserved. Feel free to speak your mind. I'm not that petty."

"See, I told you Sister Wan has a magnanimous spirit!" Luo Peng immediately chimed in.

I clicked my tongue twice and laughed as I exposed him: "Alright, Luo Peng, that's enough. Stop trying so hard to flatter me."

"Huh? Brother Lin, you're saying Sister Wan is a horse?" Luo Peng's eyes widened instantly, his tone exaggerated.

I was both amused and exasperated: "You really can't hold your liquor. Two ounces of baijiu and you're already all tipsy?"

Lighthearted banter filled the carriage, creating a gentle and relaxed atmosphere.

Just then, Su Wan suddenly chuckled softly.

The crisp, gentle laughter that fell on my ears was incredibly soothing.

Luo Peng was right, Su Wan's smile is truly beautiful.

Her eyes and brows were relaxed, gentle, and clear, shedding all her coldness and aloofness, making her stunningly beautiful and captivating.

To describe her as stunningly beautiful would not be an exaggeration at all.

Others mistakenly believed that her aloofness was arrogance and her distance was heartlessness.

But those who truly understand her know that Su Wan's coldness is a protective armor, a strong person's self-control and forbearance.

Her gentleness is never ostentatious; it is all hidden in the subtle details.

Her kindness was never deliberate; it was all hidden in extreme restraint.

After a brief laugh, Su Wan composed herself and said sincerely:

"You guys are great too. Lin Ye, you're calm, reliable, and capable of handling any situation, always rising to the challenge. Luo Peng, you're daring, loyal, and pure-hearted. Along this journey, you've protected me many times."

Luo Peng and I exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

I gently shook my head and said in a deep voice, "No one is protecting anyone else unilaterally; we support and protect each other."

"This no-man's-land could swallow us up so easily. The reason we've survived this long isn't because of any one person's ability, but because of the three of us working together."

Luo Peng and Su Wan nodded emphatically, completely agreeing.

Soon, the wine was all gone, and the roasted rabbit meat was eaten clean, leaving not a single piece.

Hot, fresh meat filled my empty stomach, and the warmth of strong liquor burned my spleen and stomach. My body, which had been overworked for days, finally regained a little strength.

Luo Peng let out a long sigh of relief, leaned back in his seat, and looked completely satisfied.

"This feels so good... Even if I encounter another blizzard while crossing the glacier tomorrow, it's all worth it today."

Su Wan took out a clean tissue and bent down to wipe the oil stains off her fingers, her movements elegant and meticulous.

She then skillfully collected all the leftover packaging bags, sealed them, and put them into garbage bags.

Our trash is all packed in special trash bags, ensuring that not a single piece of trash is left in the uninhabited area, thus protecting this pristine wilderness.

After we finished packing, Su Wan told Luo Peng and me, "Get some rest. The snow and wind will only get worse on the glacier section tomorrow, and it will definitely be very difficult. You need to be well-rested to have the confidence to cope with it."

As soon as she finished speaking, a very clear wolf howl suddenly came from the howling wind and snow outside the window.

The mournful, drawn-out howl of wolves poured straight in through the car window.

"Awooo..."