From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

"Oh? How is it not simple?" I teased her on purpose.

"Look at him, all in that executive jacket, his demeanor and bearing are undeniable, plus that old Passat—isn't that the kind of car people always talk about for leaders?" Su Qing whispered, analyzing.

Actually, I had the same guess in my mind, but the situation was too rushed just now, so I didn't think about it in depth.

I smiled and shook my head: "Regardless of their identity, they are sincerely here to express their gratitude. Since they are so enthusiastic, we don't need to be formal; we should just treat them with sincerity."

"What do you mean there's no need to put on airs? You're someone's savior, a great hero!"

As Su Qing spoke, she couldn't help but giggle.

I was completely bewildered by her laughter: "What are you laughing at? Is it that funny?"

"I'm laughing at your embarrassing state the day you saved someone."

Su Qing suppressed her laughter, but it grew louder and louder: "You were soaking wet, your hair was dripping wet, and you went to take the bus looking like a complete mess. Everyone on the bus was secretly staring at you. I still remember that scene clearly."

As soon as she mentioned it, the scene from that day instantly flashed into my mind.

The icy river water soaked through my body, and after getting ashore, I felt cold and stiff all over, and the cigarettes in my pocket were completely soaked.

Back then, when my cravings hit, I felt an indescribable torment.

But it was Su Qing who went out of her way to buy me a new pack of cigarettes.

At that time, we weren't lovers, just friends who had known each other for a short time, but that incident really hurt me.

Who would have thought that after all the twists and turns, we would actually end up together?

Seeing me lost in thought, Su Qing reached out and nudged my arm. "What are you thinking about? Why are you suddenly so quiet? Did I say something wrong?"

I snapped out of my reverie and looked at her, saying, "No. I was just wondering why you would go out of your way to buy me cigarettes that day."

Su Qing pouted slightly and said naturally, "I know you're a heavy smoker. Being soaked in cold water all over, and all your cigarettes getting ruined, would make anyone uncomfortable."

I looked at her half-jokingly and said with a laugh, "You wouldn't have thought you already had a crush on me back then, would you?"

"Get lost, no way."

She rolled her eyes at me, paused slightly, and then her expression slowly turned serious.

"But to be honest, I was really moved by you back then. Seeing you jump into the river without saying a word, I thought you were a real man, with a strong sense of justice in your bones."

I picked up the conversation and said softly with a sigh, "Back then, I never imagined that we would end up like this."

We chatted as we continued walking towards the courtyard, following the streetlights; the night was gentle.

"So this is fate. What's meant to be will be, and you'll never get rid of me in this lifetime."

Chatting along the way, the many worries weighing on my mind seemed to fade away, leaving me feeling relaxed.

By the time we got back to the riverside courtyard, it was already 11:30 p.m.

After a whole day of running around, both of them were exhausted.

After a quick wash, we lay down on the bed.

Su Qing habitually curled up and snuggled into my arms.

Like a kitten seeking shelter, it subtly reveals a sense of insecurity.

I reached out and hugged her. The person in my arms was soft and warm, and I felt incredibly secure.

I firmly believe that as long as we are of one mind, we can overcome any storms and hardships we may face in the future together.

I never belittle myself because of differences in background, nor do I wallow in self-pity.

In my heart, love should never be bound by social status or class.

……

The sound of rain pattering against the glass windows of the small courtyard all night.

When I woke up the next morning, the rain had stopped, but the air was thick with damp cold, and the temperature had dropped several degrees.

The moment I pulled back the covers, a chill hit me, and I couldn't help but shiver.

I got up, went to the wardrobe, and pulled out a thick coat to put on.

After a quick wash, I went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

After I brought out the steaming hot breakfast and placed it on the stone table in the yard, Su Qing also finished washing up and came out.

The courtyard was quiet in the early morning. We sat at the stone table eating breakfast, and the aroma of cooking filled the air.

But I was very clear-headed and knew I couldn't let myself get carried away with this comfort.

There are still a lot of things to deal with right now, including preparing for the various matters of the new company.

On the other hand, the Terra Trail hiking plan, which has been widely discussed online, has also been put on the agenda.

This route has been called one of the most dangerous hiking routes in mainland China by countless netizens. It was originally a spur-of-the-moment idea to respond to the overwhelming online criticism.

Now that the storm has passed, I still want to take the plunge and complete this challenge.

However, there is one important matter to be dealt with before setting off.

Su Qing needs to recuperate and has a surgery to be scheduled.

After finishing breakfast, I put down my chopsticks, turned to her, and said:

"Pack your things, we'll go to the hospital later to arrange the surgery."

"Oh……"

Su Qing's voice was low, and her mood was clearly downcast.

I knew she was scared, but since we had already agreed, she obediently agreed.

I softened my tone and gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her, saying, "Don't worry, it's just a minor surgery, it's not that scary. I'll stay by your side the whole time."

"I'm fine with everything else, but I'm afraid of needles," Su Qing said, her face scrunched up.

I couldn't help but chuckle: "The surgery won't involve any painful injections, just an IV drip, which is better, isn't it?"

"That's different. It still involves pricking the skin with a needle and drawing blood..."

Su Qing looked terrified and said in a pitiful voice, "Just thinking about it makes me feel uncomfortable all over."

Seeing her timid appearance, I couldn't help but smile: "So, what should I do so you won't be scared?"

"I'm scared no matter what, but I can grit my teeth and bear it, as long as you're by my side, that's enough."

"Don't worry, I will stay by your side every step of the way."

"Mmm," Su Qing responded softly.

We quickly packed up, took our previous medical examination report and medical insurance card, and hailed a taxi to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital, Su Qing kept scrolling through her phone.

It seems she's trying to distract herself from her fear of the hospital by scrolling through her phone.

Suddenly, her hand holding the phone trembled violently, and a gasp escaped her lips:

"Honey! Look!"

"What's wrong?" I turned my head and asked, puzzled.

Her eyes were glued to her phone screen, her voice filled with disbelief and excitement:

"All the videos that were taken down have been reinstated! And all the overwhelming negative comments online have disappeared!"

My heart skipped a beat, and I took the phone to look through it carefully.

Sure enough.

Regardless of what ulterior motives Fang Renjie might have been harboring, at least in this matter, he kept his word.

All penalty records against me in the platform's backend have been cleared, leaving no trace.

Those malicious marketing accounts that stirred up trouble, and the smear campaigns launched by online trolls, disappeared without a trace overnight.

The previous barrage of negative comments such as "Lin Ye fabricated a story," "gaining traffic through high-risk activities," and "putting on a show" have completely disappeared without a trace.

Not only that, many big names in the outdoor community also shared our video of the no-man's-land, helping to endorse it.