From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Seeing her anxious and earnest expression warmed my heart.

He pulled her closer to him and said, "I was just asking casually."

"Don't ask such hypothetical questions!"

Su Qing frowned, looking very unhappy.

She looked at me intently, her eyes resolute, and said, "I, Su Qing, have made up my mind about you, and no one can separate us. Even if my parents are determined to oppose it, even if everyone else is against it, we can just elope and live in a city where nobody knows us."

When she said this, she was full of defiant arrogance, and it was impossible to tell that she was joking. She was truly prepared to confront the whole world.

I took a deep breath and asked seriously, "Is that really what you think?"

She raised her chin, her tone resolute: "Of course. You know me, I mean what I say, I really can do something like this."

I have no doubt about her courage and determination.

But I always knew in my heart that eloping, while it sounds romantic, is ultimately a helpless escape.

I would never go that far unless absolutely necessary.

I am a man. What I should do is face all the storms head-on and stand firm on my own merits, instead of leading her to run away and retreat, leaving her to bear the stigma of abandoning her family.

After a moment of silence, I lowered my head and pressed my forehead against hers, saying calmly, "Okay, I've got it. No matter how much resistance we face in the future, we'll overcome it together."

Su Qing responded softly, then seemed to remember something.

"By the way, let me give you a heads-up. After the video goes viral, someone will definitely dig up my family background, and the internet will absolutely explode."

"There will be countless people saying that I'm a spoiled rich girl, and that you're marrying above your station. Don't take these ridiculous rumors to heart."

I chuckled lightly and said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, what storms haven't I weathered? I've survived gunfire in the no-man's-land, how could I possibly be afraid of a few idle words from a bunch of strangers online?"

"That's true."

Su Qing nodded, her tense expression relaxing slightly, and then she grinned mischievously.

"But I have to be careful in advance. If I become famous and a bunch of female fans start targeting me, I won't be polite."

I raised an eyebrow and teased her, "Oh? So how do you plan to deal with this?"

"What should we do?"

Su Qing gave a haughty snort, looking like she was asserting her dominance, and said confidently:

"I have absolutely no need to worry, unless you're blind."

Seeing her smug yet adorable expression, I couldn't help but burst into laughter and reached out to tickle her lower back.

"Hahaha! Stop it! Stop it! I give up!"

Su Qing was extremely ticklish, and she instantly laughed until her whole body went limp, rolling around on the bed.

The crisp, melodious laughter filled the entire bedroom, completely dispelling all the heaviness in my heart.

"Lin Ye, you big bad guy! All you do is bully me!"

We wrestled and struggled on the bed for a long time until we were both slightly out of breath before we slowly stopped.

Su Qing lay quietly on the bed, casually pulling a thin blanket over herself, her bright eyes gazing at the ceiling.

"To be honest, this courtyard is an old house that my grandmother left me. I hardly ever lived here before. The huge courtyard was deserted and had no human presence at all."

She turned slightly to the side, and I took the opportunity to reach out and pull her into my arms, letting her rest her head on my arm.

She naturally snuggled close to my chest, curled up in the most comfortable position, and looked very sleepy.

"Since my grandmother passed away, I have never felt the feeling of home again. My villa is empty and desolate. No matter how luxurious the decoration is, it has no warmth and life. It can't be called a home at all."

Her voice was soft and sweet, and it grew softer and softer as she spoke:

"I've never had any grand or greedy pursuits, nor do I crave great wealth and status. I just like this kind of simple life, with three meals a day, four seasons, and people by my side. Being happy for a lifetime is enough for me."

Listening to her words, I raised my hand to stroke her hair and softly replied, "From now on, this will be our home. With me here, you'll have warmth and companionship for the rest of your life."

Su Qing gave a soft "Mmm," then nestled obediently in my arms and fell completely still.

Having traveled thousands of miles to Lhasa and then spent so much time editing videos, she was already exhausted, both physically and mentally.

Before long, her breathing became long and even, and she fell into a deep sleep.

I looked down at the peaceful sleeping face of the person in my arms.

The vibrant and passionate girl who dared to love and hate during the day has now shed all her stubbornness and defenses, quietly curling up in my arms, gentle and soft, making me feel both heartache and longing.

But I know perfectly well that the peaceful life I enjoy now is just a brief calm before the storm.

The internet exploded with traffic, rumors flooded in, the Su family's tough stance, and Fang Heng's watchful eye...

All the latent contradictions and crises will erupt completely the moment the video is released.

My relationship with Su Qing, which was not favored by the world and was worlds apart from it, was destined to be fraught with difficulties.

Su Qing isn't afraid, so I will never back down.

She dared to face all the storms with me, so I dared to shoulder all the rumors and obstacles for her.

I carefully adjusted my sleeping position, gently tightening my arms to hold her firmly in my embrace.

The night outside the window is deep in Jiangzhou, the evening breeze is quiet by the river, the lights in the courtyard are gentle, and life is peaceful.

The next morning.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a hazy sky outside the window, a sight unique to Jiangzhou and not caused by smog.

The misty town appeared very gentle, a welcome respite from the harsh, glaring sun of the plateau.

I never imagined that the city I've lived in for over twenty years would be so captivating.

When I woke up, Su Qing was still asleep beside me.

She curled up in my arms like a sleepy kitten, her breathing even and soft.

The lively and playful person who used to love to tease others is now just pure tranquility in deep sleep.

She stayed up very late last night, and editing the footage took up most of her energy, so she's sleeping soundly now.

I carefully moved aside, trying not to disturb her, and quietly got out of bed to wash up.

Stepping out of the room into the courtyard, I opened my arms and took a deep breath.

The air in the courtyard is fresh, carrying the moist scent of grass and trees from the riverbank, and the fragrance of the green plants in the yard.

"Awesome! That's so awesome!"

I couldn't help but sigh to myself, this feeling of peace and security is something I haven't felt in a long time.

This trip, from the moment I left home, felt like an eternity spanning a month and a half.

In a daze, I could still feel us struggling to survive on the glaciers and permafrost.

But what I see before me is the tangible reality of everyday life, the tranquility I once paid no attention to.

After sitting down at the stone table, I lit a cigarette and thought about what I needed to do next.

I definitely need to meet with Wang Yi from Party A, but before I go to see him, I've already agreed to meet with Brother Wang.