From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

After a long while, I reluctantly let go of her and gently smoothed her long hair that had been ruffled by the wind.

I took a deep breath of the cool highland air, looked at her face which was red from the cold wind, and said softly:

"Alright, let's go back to the car. It's cold outside, don't catch a cold. Let's get into the city and rest soon."

"Okay!" Su Qing nodded obediently, and we each returned to our cars.

As soon as I got into the car, Luo Peng's sour voice came through the walkie-talkie:

"Are you done being all lovey-dovey? Brother Lin, I'm really envious of you. If a girl were willing to wait for me like this, I'd wake up laughing even in my sleep."

I laughed helplessly, "Alright, stop teasing me. Hurry up and catch up with the convoy. We have to get to the county town today."

The four vehicles slowly started up and embarked on National Highway 109 again.

Su Qing's Prado continued to follow me steadily, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

I gripped the steering wheel, my lips curling into a smile the entire time, a smile I couldn't suppress.

Even though there was still no cell phone signal, the route was just ordinary Gobi hills.

But in my eyes, this is the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life.

They survived life-or-death trials, traversed frozen wastelands, and ventured into desolate, uninhabited lands.

I, Lin Ye, finally walked out of this wasteland alive.

The convoy continued driving for about three hours, and the outline of the county town gradually came into clear view in the distance.

Rows of houses and streets unfold one after another. As dusk falls, streetlights gradually illuminate the scene, filling the air with the warmth and life of everyday life.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar bustling scene before me, I let out a long sigh of relief.

The ordeal in the no-man's-land, which lasted for more than 20 days, has now come to an end.

……

The car slowly drove into the county town, and the bright streetlights along the street came on one after another.

Traffic flowed back and forth, and the roadside food stalls and grocery stores were bustling with activity and lively conversation.

Looking at the vibrant and lively scene before me, I didn't feel the ecstasy and excitement I had expected.

Instead, it evoked a strong sense of disorientation and unreality.

For more than twenty days, all I could see were the blindingly white glaciers, the desolate and lifeless Gobi Desert, and the barren wasteland.

Day after day, all that echoes in my ears is the howling wind, the cracking sound of ice breaking, and the incessant roar of off-road vehicle engines.

Suddenly thrust into the bustling, vibrant city, my senses were completely thrown off balance, and I was simply unable to adapt to the change quickly enough.

A buzzing sound filled my ears, neon lights and the flow of people flashed before my eyes, and I felt a slight dizziness.

The feeling was like being trapped in a deadly, desolate place for a long time, and then suddenly being forced into another world from another world.

This is the aftereffect of being isolated from the world for more than twenty days: feeling unfamiliar, dazed, and unreal, everything seems so unreal.

Not just me, but all three of us, who have been through countless desperate situations, are in the exact same state.

Luo Peng's bewildered voice quickly came through the walkie-talkie: "Brother Lin, we...we're really back? Is this a dream? Everything in front of me looks so unreal. Is this some kind of high-altitude hallucination?"

Yes, for a moment, I also felt like it was an illusion, not real at all.

Immediately afterwards, Su Wan's calm voice slowly rang out: "We've been in isolation for over twenty days, and we've long been accustomed to the deathly silence of the wilderness. It's normal to feel uneasy suddenly returning to the bustling city. Let's find a clean hotel first, take a shower, rest, and take a good break."

I responded and then found a clean and tidy chain hotel in the center of the county town.

After parking the car, we quickly packed our belongings and went straight to check-in.

In the end, three rooms were booked. Luo Peng and Su Wan each stayed in one room, and Su Qing and I shared the other.

Now that we're officially a couple, it's normal for us to live together.

Su Qing didn't seem awkward at all, so I naturally felt at ease as well.

When we checked in, the receptionist stared at the three of us for a long time, stunned.

The three of us were covered in sand and dust, our skin was dark, we were exhausted, our hair was messy and dry, and our outdoor clothes were covered in mud. We looked a sorry sight.

If I hadn't shaved my beard before leaving, I would look even more haggard and dejected now.

After receiving our room keys, we each went back to our rooms.

After more than 20 days of high-intensity travel, everyone was physically and mentally exhausted, with no energy left to do anything else.

The moment the room door closes, the noisy hustle and bustle of the city outside is completely shut out.

A sudden sense of relief washed over me.

This is the first time in more than twenty days that I have stayed in a well-ventilated, warm, and safe enclosed room.

The room was well-heated, with clean and soft bedding, warm air, and a faint aromatherapy scent.

My nerves, which had been tense for more than twenty days, finally relaxed completely at this moment.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me; even just standing made my limbs ache and my whole body feel weak.

"Go take a shower first. You're covered in dust and sand. Take a shower and get some rest," Su Qing said to me, her voice full of concern.

I nodded, opened my suitcase and rummaged through my clothes, only to find that there wasn't a single clean garment inside.

All the clothes were covered in mud and sand, soaked in sweat, and the stench that had accumulated for more than twenty days hit the face.

The moment the suitcase was opened, a strong smell wafted out, and Su Qing subconsciously frowned.

"It's so dirty and smelly, don't wear it, it's impossible to put it on."

My mind didn't quite process it for a moment, and I chuckled helplessly, "What, am I supposed to take a shower naked if I don't wear any?"

"Go wash up first, I'll go downstairs and buy you a new one."

As Su Qing walked towards the door, she said, "I saw a men's clothing store not far downstairs when I parked, so I'll be back soon."

A surge of warmth welled up in my heart. Is this what it feels like to be loved?

"Thank you for your hard work," I said softly.

Su Qing chuckled and gently patted my arm: "Don't be so formal and polite. To be honest, I still prefer the way you used to bicker with me. You were more comfortable that way."

I sighed helplessly, feeling weak and sore all over: "I really don't have the energy to argue with you right now. I just want to lie down and get a good night's sleep."

This is my honest opinion; a deep-seated fatigue has spread throughout my body, and every cell is screaming for rest.

"Okay, then go take a shower quickly, I'll be back soon."

Su Qing smiled, turned around, and quickly walked out of the room.

I went into the bathroom, took off my mud-covered rain jacket and underwear, and felt both relaxed and sore all over.

Turn on the shower, and warm water cascades down, comfortably washing over you.

Warm water gently washes away the mud and dust that have accumulated for more than twenty days, washing away the frost of the plateau and the fatigue of the wilderness.

The water flowed over my stiff and sore limbs, and every inch of my taut skin slowly relaxed in the warm water.

The feeling of comfort was indescribable; I even wanted to stand under the showerhead forever and never leave.

For more than twenty days, we have never taken a proper hot shower.

The only time I soaked in a wild hot spring, Su Wan was also present, and I was very reserved and couldn't relax at all.

Most of the time, we rely on the dry, cold wind and sand to wrap ourselves up, and our skin becomes dry, cracked, and rough from the cold wind.

At that moment, the warm water washed over my entire body, making me feel so comfortable that I almost couldn't help but sigh out loud.

Just as I was closing my eyes and enjoying this rare moment of comfort, the bathroom door was suddenly pushed open gently.