From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Before Su Qing could reply, Luo Peng's voice came from a distance.

He coughed twice deliberately, teasingly saying, "Oh, oh, oh! Why are you hugging again? Weren't you guys out filming footage?"

My first instinct was to loosen my grip on Su Qing, but her arms remained firmly wrapped around my waist as she turned to look at Luo Peng.

Without flinching, he immediately retorted:

"Just hug me, so what? Are you envious or jealous?"

Luo Peng spread his hands, a sour expression on his face, and shook his head with a sigh:

"Just hug me, so what? Are you envious or jealous?"

"Of course! I'm so envious! We risked our lives to get through the no-man's-land together, and all I got out was the cold wind and yellow sand. But Brother Lin got all that flowers and hugs the moment he stepped out of the wilderness! Who wouldn't be jealous of that treatment!"

My face flushed at his words, so I decided not to let go of Su Qing in my arms. I looked down at the gentle little girl in my arms, and couldn't help but smile.

The tension of a perilous journey, the biting cold of the glacier night, and the despair of losing contact in the thick fog all vanished in that moment.

Su Qing nestled in my arms, tilted her head back, and playfully raised an eyebrow at Luo Peng, her tone tinged with a touch of arrogance:

"There's no use in being envious. This is a perk that only Lin Ye can enjoy; no one else gets it."

Luo Peng immediately raised his hands in surrender: "Fine, fine, you two keep showing off, I give up! I'll leave right now and not be a third wheel!"

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the car, shaking his head and sighing as he walked, deliberately putting on a pitiful look.

Su Qing couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at him.

Not far away, Su Wan leaned against the door of a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, not glancing in our direction even once.

She simply gazed quietly at the vast, desolate wilderness, lost in her own thoughts.

Su Qing noticed my gaze on Su Wan and suddenly asked, "By the way, how have you been getting along with my sister these past twenty-odd days in the no-man's-land?"

I snapped out of my daze and immediately understood why she asked that question. I smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's definitely not what you're thinking."

Su Qing pouted slightly and deliberately asked, "Then tell me, what do I mean?"

"You're just worried that after we've shared life and death in the no-man's-land, we might develop feelings for each other. Don't worry, that's not the case at all."

Su Qing immediately pouted, refusing to admit it, and snorted, "Tch, you're overthinking it. I'm not that petty, how could I be so narrow-minded?"

Looking at her feigned composure, I was both amused and exasperated: "Alright, alright, you're not narrow-minded, it's just that I'm petty-minded, okay?"

Su Qing didn't dwell on the topic with me, but instead asked seriously, "But I'm really curious, how did you all manage to get through those twenty-odd days with my sister's cold and reserved personality?"

"It's a long story, your sister..."

I paused for a moment, then sighed softly. "She has many unspeakable past events in her heart, and a heavy knot in her heart."

Su Qing's eyes lit up, and she teased with a smile, "Oh! From what you're saying, you two have already had a heart-to-heart talk?"

I was stunned for a moment before I realized, good heavens, this little girl was deliberately setting a trap for me.

I gave a wry smile and said helplessly, "It's not really a heart-to-heart talk, but... this time she finally has a chance to resolve that knot in her heart that she's carried for so many years. I'll tell you the details when we get back to the city."

Su Qing didn't press the matter further, calmed down, and snuggled back into my arms.

She pressed her head against my chest, sniffed gently, and deliberately made a disgusted face:

"It does have a strong smell; it's almost making it hard for me to open my eyes."

I was immediately embarrassed and helpless, and sighed softly, "Think about the conditions in the no-man's-land, there's no chance to take a shower at all. I told you before, don't hug me."

As I was saying this, I tried to gently push her away, but Su Qing hugged me even tighter.

"I'm just saying it out loud, I don't really think you smell bad. Even if you do, I'm still going to hug you."

I was speechless; all I felt was gratitude.

All around was peaceful, with only the gentle sound of the wind slowly passing by in the open field.

The rolling hills in the distance stand quietly, and the blue sky and white clouds overhead are clear and beautiful, bringing peace of mind.

Here, there are no hidden dangers lurking in the ice crevasses, no lost and hopeless places shrouded in thick fog, and no need to constantly be on guard against unknown dangers.

He held only the soft, warm Su Qing in his arms, the faint fragrance of her hair lingering around his nose.

It was during countless desolate, unbearable nights in the wilderness that I repeatedly longed for that taste.

I lowered my head, brought my lips close to her ear, and whispered, "During those twenty-odd days, in the most difficult moments, I had only one thought in my mind: I must get out of here alive and come see you as soon as possible."

Su Qing tightened her grip on my arm, pouting as she said, "How dare you say that? I've been keeping an eye on things every day, my heart is constantly in my throat, I'm so scared that after you went missing, I'll never see you again."

"No, I promised you I would do everything in my power to get through this. I don't want you to end up as someone else's girlfriend."

Speaking of this, I suddenly remembered the promise she made to me before I left.

A surge of anticipation welled up inside him, and he couldn't wait to ask, "You said before that you'd be my girlfriend once I came out of the no-man's land alive and sound. Does that still stand?"

"What do you think? You idiot, I've already hugged you like this. If it didn't count, why would I hug you so casually? Why wouldn't I hug someone else?"

This is Su Qing; her answers are always so witty and unique.

But just hearing that sentence is enough.

I raised my hand and gently stroked her long hair, then whispered again to confirm:

"So, from now on, you're my girlfriend?"

She smiled faintly, leaned close to my ear, and whispered, "Actually, it was already a long time ago. Long before you went into the no-man's-land, when I told you about that promise, I was already your girlfriend. I just wanted to give you motivation, to force you to persevere and survive no matter what dangers you encountered."

My nose suddenly stung, and I instinctively hugged her tightly.

She was right. During those arduous twenty-plus days of trekking, I did indeed rely on that sentence to keep me going.

Countless times I faced dire straits, and I silently recited this promise in my heart, gritting my teeth and persevering.

He thought that as long as he survived and got out of the wasteland, he could be with her.

We stopped talking and just quietly embraced each other on the empty wasteland.

A gentle breeze from the plateau caressed my clothes, and for a moment time seemed to slow down.

Behind me lies a desolate wasteland where survival is nearly impossible, while ahead stretches the warmth of human life and the people I hold dear in my heart.