From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Su Qing and I spoke at almost the same time, but our answers were completely opposite.

As soon as he finished speaking, we both froze.

They exchanged a glance instinctively, then immediately changed their tune with perfect understanding.

"after!"

"Before!"

This blunder made us both burst out laughing in embarrassment.

At that moment, I was absolutely certain that I wasn't the only one feeling nervous.

Even the usually calm and composed Su Qing felt flustered and uneasy when faced with her parents' questioning.

Seeing our flustered yet coordinated state, a hint of helplessness flashed in Su's father's eyes, but he didn't dwell on this insignificant detail.

He slowly raised his hand, picked up the purple clay teacup beside him, took a small sip of hot tea, and then spoke unhurriedly:

"I've read many reports about the perilous experiences in the no-man's-land. To be able to escape unscathed from such a desperate situation and bring the team back safely, you are indeed quite capable, courageous and resourceful."

He paused, then abruptly changed the subject: "But today I'm not here to talk to you about life-and-death adventures in the no-man's-land; I want to talk to you about real-world issues."

I suppressed my smile, straightened my posture, and met his gaze with neither servility nor arrogance.

"I've seen all the overwhelming online controversy. You should know that someone is deliberately targeting you and manipulating things behind the scenes," Su's father said calmly.

Before I could speak, Su Qing, who was standing to the side, couldn't hold back any longer and hurriedly spoke up to defend me:

"Dad, this isn't an accident at all! Fang Heng is deliberately sabotaging things behind the scenes. He paid online trolls to smear Lin Ye and even blacklisted him within the industry!"

Mr. Su raised his hand to gently interrupt her explanation, his expression calm: "Regardless of who's behind this, I only ask you, how do you plan to deal with this mess?"

I was slightly taken aback.

I had imagined countless ways Su's father would make things difficult for us, and I had considered that he would use his social status to suppress us.

To my utter surprise, his first question wasn't about feelings, but about the situation and solutions.

After a moment's thought, I composed myself and replied seriously and calmly, "I don't plan to take the initiative to deal with it for the time being, and I won't give a public response."

"Reason?" Su's father's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked calmly.

I replied frankly, "No matter who is behind this, coming forward now to clarify will only make me look guilty. Moreover, public opinion will completely veer off course, turning my career turmoil into gossip about a wealthy family feud. My harrowing experience in the no-man's-land will be completely overshadowed by the heat of gossip, which would be a net loss."

After hearing my explanation, Su's father suddenly chuckled softly.

After a brief silence, he asked again, "Aren't these days' self-media bloggers all drawn to this? The more controversial, the more topics; the more topics, the more exposure; and exposure means traffic and revenue. Isn't this the kind of buzz you all crave?"

I gently shook my head, my attitude firm: "On the surface, it's about traffic. I can become a short-term sensation through sensational gossip, but the fans gained that way lack loyalty and can't sustain long-term development. I'd rather give up this shortcut to traffic than overdraw my persona to grab attention."

After I finished speaking, the living room fell silent again.

Su's father did not express his opinion, and his true thoughts remained unreadable.

At this moment, Su's mother, who had been silent for a long time, slowly spoke, her tone gentle:

"Lin Ye, my wife and I would never look down on people from humble backgrounds. Your father and I both started from scratch and worked our way up to where we are today. We know how difficult and challenging it is for ordinary people to climb up from the bottom."

She paused slightly, her tone subtly emphasizing, "But Su Qing is different. She was born and raised in the Su family. Her social circle, her connections, and everything she will inherit in the future are from two completely different worlds from yours."

"We are not old-fashioned, nor do we want to break you up. We believe in freedom of love."

"But what we fear is that you're currently blinded by the shared hardships in the no-man's-land and have made a hasty decision to commit to each other. Once the initial passion and novelty fade, the realities and conflicts of life will gradually erode all your feelings."

As soon as Su's mother finished speaking, Su's father chimed in again: "Your ability to lead the team back alive from the no-man's land is enough to prove that you have courage and a sense of responsibility, and I acknowledge and agree with that."

"We called you here today not to make things difficult for you or humiliate you. Our only concern is Su Qing."

His gaze was sincere as he slowly said, "Your plan to start a self-media business is commendable; it shows great ambition and drive. However, rumors are rampant online, and the road ahead is fraught with difficulties. If your business suffers setbacks or fails, all the pressure, criticism, and consequences will ultimately fall on Su Qing's shoulders."

"I'm not afraid!"

Su Qing immediately retorted, her tone firm and resolute: "I've thought through these consequences! This is the path I chose, and I'm willing to shoulder it with Lin Ye, to face all the storms together!"

"You've thought about it, but you haven't experienced it, so you can't predict all the risks," Su's mother immediately replied.

"Do you think that two people who truly love each other can overcome everything by walking side by side? But reality is not an adventure in a deserted area, and it's not that everything will be fine once you've overcome a desperate situation."

"The criticisms in the industry, the strange looks from the Su family's partners, and the pressure from public opinion within the family—these unseen trials cannot be overcome with just enthusiasm."

Su Qing wanted to argue her point, but I gently stopped her.

"Auntie, I completely understand your and Uncle's concerns."

"I will not use my life-or-death experience in the no-man's-land as a bargaining chip to gain recognition, nor will I shy away from the class difference between Su Qing and me."

My gaze was open and honest, and my words were clear and distinct.

"I will not let Su Qing give up her life and her circle to accommodate me, nor will I use her status or the Su family's resources to climb the social ladder."

"The start-up capital for my business came from the legitimate commissions I earned from exploring uninhabited areas. I will rely on myself for all subsequent developments and will absolutely not allow the Su family to provide me with any convenience."

"But I will never cowardly push Su Qing away just because of obstacles in reality."

Mr. Su frowned slightly, his eyes fixed sharply on me, and he emphasized his tone a little more:

"You speak so frankly, but what guarantees that you won't be a burden to her in the future?"

"You've just started to gain some fame, and now you're being blacklisted and targeted. If your business fails in the future, how will you provide Su Qing with a stable life?"

After hearing this question, the tension I had felt completely dissipated.

I looked directly at Su's father and said calmly, "I can't guarantee that I will achieve instant success. Starting a business is like venturing into uncharted territory; it's inherently fraught with peril."

After a slight pause, I emphasized my words, "But I can guarantee that as long as I have even the slightest ability, I will never let Su Qing suffer because of me. If one day I am completely defeated and unable to protect her, I will let go on my own."

"But now, the outcome is still uncertain, and I will never give up easily."

As soon as I finished speaking, Su Qing, who was standing next to me, raised her voice slightly and said with a hint of grievance:

"Dad! Why do you always assume we'll fail? Just because Lin Ye comes from an ordinary background, do you immediately conclude we won't go far?"

Su's father, with a calm gaze, replied slowly and deliberately, "This isn't discrimination based on birth; it's reality."