From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Seeing this scene, I felt a slight stirring in my heart.

The sisters Su Qing and Su Wan had always had a cold relationship, with almost no communication between them, let alone any initiative to care for each other.

Su Qing's current initiative to show goodwill is enough to demonstrate her change.

Su Wan was clearly taken aback, obviously not expecting Su Qing to take the initiative to care about her.

After a two-second silence, she reached out and took the skincare products, her cool tone softening slightly as she whispered, "Thank you."

After a brief discussion, we finally followed Su Wan's suggestion and found a convenient porridge shop downstairs from the hotel, where we ordered four bowls of millet porridge and several light and refreshing side dishes.

While waiting for my food, I sat by the window, gazing at the brightly lit streets and the endless stream of vehicles and pedestrians outside. The intense sense of unreality still lingered in my heart.

For more than twenty days, all I saw were barren deserts, frozen glaciers, and desolate wastelands...

All I could hear were the sounds of wind, cracking ice, and engines...

It's been too long since I've seen the hustle and bustle of the world, too long since I've heard the roar of voices, and too long since I've felt such a peaceful and reassuring night.

The everyday life of the city, the small shops on the street, the lights and the trains that used to be commonplace.

After experiencing life-or-death situations and witnessing boundless desolation, it becomes incredibly precious.

Soon, warm millet porridge and light side dishes were served on the table.

A simple bowl of warm millet porridge, light and refreshing side dishes, without a trace of oil.

Luo Peng held the warm bowl of porridge, looking utterly hopeless, shoveling food into the porridge and groaning incessantly:

"My hot pot! My barbecue! My dream of eating meat and drinking alcohol to my heart's content, all of it is ruined!"

Seeing his pitiful look, the three of us couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Su Qing said with a smile, "Stop wailing. Once your stomach is healed, you can eat whatever you want, however you want. Nobody will stop you."

Luo Peng, with a long face, asked helplessly, "How long will it take to recover?"

Su Wan said calmly, "It will take at least a week, or at most half a month. We must proceed step by step and not rush it."

Luo Peng sighed deeply, his face full of helplessness: "I never expected that venturing into the no-man's-land would have so many aftereffects, even limiting my ability to eat."

We exchanged smiles, the atmosphere relaxed, and the tension and oppression of our desperate situation vanished.

I picked up the bowl of porridge and sipped the warm, soft millet porridge.

A warm feeling spread from my stomach to my limbs, dispelling the lingering chill and fatigue.

This is the most comfortable and reassuring meal I've had in over twenty days.

There were no icy winds, no life-or-death crises, and no anxieties.

After finishing our simple dinner, we strolled back to the hotel.

All the fatigue accumulated from days of traveling washed over me at this moment.

I leaned against the soft pillow, my eyelids so heavy I couldn't lift them at all.

Su Qing lay obediently beside me, nestled carefully in my arms, and whispered in my ear:

"Hold me close, get a good night's sleep, don't think about anything, just rest peacefully."

I turned to look at her, my eyes filled with tender smiles, and reached out to pull her tightly into my arms.

The sweet aroma lingered around my nose, filling my heart with an unprecedented sense of peace.

I traversed desolate wastelands, survived near-death experiences, and returned with great difficulty from sandstorms and icy nights.

Now, the city lights are bright, the streets are warm with everyday life, and my beloved is nestled peacefully beside me.

The peace and happiness of this moment surpass all the world's splendor.

The room was bathed in warm, soft light, and the curtains hung gently, shutting out all the noise and lights from the outside world.

I held the soft, fragrant Su Qing tightly in my arms, feeling her steady, warm breath against my chest, so tender it was unbelievable.

The tension that had been hanging over me for more than twenty days finally eased completely at this moment.

Looking back on every night in the no-man's-land, I never dared to fall into a deep sleep.

I fear the sudden blizzard in the dead of night, the robbers lurking in the shadows waiting for a chance to attack, and the wolf packs silently approaching the wilderness.

They fear sudden snowstorms, getting stuck in the road, dense fog, and other unexpected events.

Even when exhausted to the point of barely falling asleep, one remains in a state of light sleep throughout, constantly on alert, and can be instantly awakened by the slightest disturbance, ready to escape at any moment.

But tonight is completely different.

There are no biting cold winds in the wilderness, no desolate and boundless Gobi Desert, and no life-or-death dangers that may strike at any time.

Beside me is the person I risked my life to come back to see; beneath me is a soft bed; above me is a gentle lamp.

An overwhelming sense of security enveloped my entire being.

Su Qing nestled obediently in my arms, her slender hands gently resting on my waist, her nose constantly nuzzling against my chest, her soft, sweet voice like a murmur:

"Linye."

"Hmm?" My voice was hoarse, and I was feeling very sleepy.

"Is this comfortable?" she asked softly without warning.

I paused slightly, a gentle smile involuntarily spreading across my lips, and replied softly:

"Of course it feels good, so good that I want it to stay like this forever, and never be apart."

"Are you happy?" she pressed.

"Nonsense," I chuckled, "I've never been this happy or this at peace in my entire life."

Su Qing snuggled gently against me, paused for two seconds, and then spoke again: "Then... are you scared?"

I was slightly puzzled: "What are you afraid of?"

She pursed her lips slightly, her tone becoming more serious: "Afraid to be with me? You need to think this through. After we're together, you'll face countless questions and opinions, not to mention the gossip and rumors."

"The hardest hurdle was my parents."

It turns out that all that gentle, casual conversation was actually meant to tell me this most practical thing.

Thinking about it carefully, that's indeed the case.

Any danger in the no-man's-land is a visible and predictable danger, and I can overcome it by doing my best.

However, the most fatal problems are the gap in social status, family obstacles, and societal prejudices in reality.

I could have guessed it without her saying it.

The Su family is wealthy and of high social standing; she is the second young lady of the Su family, who is the center of attention.

As for me, I am just an ordinary young man with nothing, not even as well off as most ordinary families.

If her parents knew we were together, they would definitely object immediately and would do anything to break us up.

In the brief silence, Su Qing pouted slightly and said softly:

"I know this is difficult, and I'm sure it's difficult for you too, so... I have an idea."

"What idea?" I looked down at her in my arms and asked softly.

She seemed to have really thought about it seriously, and said in a serious tone:

"Let's not go public with our relationship for now. As long as we don't make it public, we won't attract those questions and criticisms, and we won't have to face the pressure from my parents for the time being."

I must say, this is indeed a solution.

But I know in my heart that the problems I have to face will eventually have to be faced, and running away won't solve anything.

Secretly concealing it is not only irresponsible towards this relationship, but also a hurdle I can't overcome myself.

I'm not the type to be weak, cowardly, or run away from problems, and I certainly don't want her to feel wronged by having a clandestine relationship with me.

But I, Lin Ye, am not the kind of person who is weak and timid. I said almost without hesitation:

Without almost any hesitation, I said firmly, "There's no need to hide. We're together openly and honestly. I'm not afraid of anything."

Are you really not afraid?