From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Isn't that a pity?

At only eighteen years old, she should be enjoying the prime of her life and embarking on her own vibrant journey.

Yet they have to endure the torment of illness day after day and face the approach of death.

I let out a long sigh and picked up my phone again to reply to him: "The distance is not just scenery, but also a longing that I can't let go of. How are you feeling now? Would it be convenient for you to meet up? I'd like to talk to you in person."

After the message was sent, the wait was exceptionally long, lasting several minutes before the other party finally replied.

"Meet? Is that really possible? I'm currently hospitalized at the city's cancer hospital. However... my health is very poor right now, and it's difficult for me to go out. I need a family member with me."

Immediately following, a second message popped up, carrying the boy's indelible pride.

"To be honest, I really want to see you and hear you tell me your stories about the no-man's-land. But I'm a little scared. I lost all my hair after chemotherapy, and I'm afraid I'll look terrible now."

Upon seeing this sentence, a wave of indescribable bitterness welled up in my heart.

Even when trapped in dire straits, this young man still cared about his dignity and protected the pride inherent in his youth.

I sighed softly and quickly typed a reply: "Don't overthink it. For me, there's no such thing as looking bad. Since it's inconvenient for you to come out, I'll come see you. Just tell me the hospital and your room number."

After the message was sent, I quickly received his reply.

The hospital name and ward number were clearly stated, with a line of text appended at the end.

"Thank you, Brother Ye. I'll tell my parents. I'm really looking forward to it."

I replied, "Take good care of yourself and don't think about anything else."

"Yes, I will."

I slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

I knew in my heart that my few words of comfort could not alleviate even a fraction of his physical pain.

But at least it brings a little hope to his dark days, and that's enough.

I closed the private chat window and put my phone aside.

The afternoon sunlight streamed into the ward through the glass window, gently falling on Su Qing's still pale face.

Su Qing immediately looked at me and asked eagerly, "What did you two talk about afterwards? Did he mention which hospital it was?"

I nodded gently: "I already said, it's at the cancer hospital in this city. I plan to go see him once your condition stabilizes."

Su Qing nodded slightly and said softly, "I also want to go see him."

"No, you just had surgery and you're still weak. There are a lot of germs in the cancer hospital, and going back and forth won't do your wound healing any good," I replied.

Su Qing pursed her lips, a hint of reluctance in her voice, and said, "I know, but I still think about him. How about this, I'll just stay in the ward and you can go there. When you come back, tell me everything you saw and heard."

I thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Su Qing sighed softly, her eyes filled with melancholy: "She's only eighteen years old, her life has just begun. Fate is sometimes so unfair."

"Yes," I replied softly. "His wish is actually very small; he just wants to hear stories of the wilderness. There's not much we can do, but at least we should help him hold onto this little bit of hope."

Looking at the snow-white ceiling of the ward, Su Qing slowly said, "If conditions permit, I would like to make a copy of the original video footage of the no-man's-land that we filmed before, for him. Even if he can't personally set foot on the plateau, lying in bed, he can still see the wilderness scenery he longs for."

This thought struck me, and I silently made a mental note of it.

But at the same time, a heavy stone was weighing on my heart.

I'm still keeping the fact that the Terra line has been approved a secret from Su Qing.

The doctor clearly stated that it would take at least six months for a full recovery.

But I lied to her, saying it would only take a little over a month.

Once a lie is spoken, it's like planting a time bomb.

She has just undergone surgery and is physically and mentally vulnerable. I dare not reveal the truth, for fear of breaking her spirit.

But the truth will eventually come out, and sooner or later it will be impossible to hide it.

My heart was in turmoil, filled with countless contradictions.

On one hand, there's the hard-won opportunity for exploration; on the other, there's Su Qing's health.

But there's no need to weigh the two. When it comes to making a choice, I will not hesitate to give up the Terra route, prioritizing her health above all else.

Perhaps because I couldn't hide my emotions, Su Qing noticed that I was daydreaming again and gently touched my arm.

"What are you thinking about again? You look so preoccupied."

I snapped back to reality, forcibly gathering my thoughts and managing a weak smile:

"Nothing much, I'm just thinking about when to go and visit that boy."

Su Qing was silent for a few seconds, then looked at me seriously and said, "How about we go tomorrow? I'm under post-operative observation here, and as long as no unexpected problems arise, it'll be fine. If you're worried, you can help me hire a caregiver. If we delay too long, what if..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but we both understood.

This is precisely my biggest concern.

I was afraid that if I arrived too late, I wouldn't even be able to see him one last time.

That would be a lifelong regret for the boy, and it will also become an insurmountable knot in my heart.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded emphatically in agreement.

Su Qing then instructed me, "When you get there, talk to him about lighthearted things, tell him interesting stories from the outdoors, and don't keep talking about his illness and condition."

"Okay, I got it," I replied.

The ward was quiet, with only the dripping of the IV bag, one after another, slowly tapping out the stillness of the afternoon.

I sat on the chair by the hospital bed, my gaze falling on Su Qing's slightly pale face.

Having just undergone surgery, even though she was conscious, she was still mostly exhausted, her long eyelashes drooping, concealing a faint weariness in her eyes.

Even though she was still recovering from her illness, she still thought about the boy she had never met.

I reached out and pulled the blanket up, covering her exposed shoulder, and said to her, "I'll come over first thing tomorrow morning. I won't stay long; I'll head back to the hospital after I'm done."

Su Qing gave a soft "hmm" and held my wrist tightly, as if afraid that if she let go, I would be swept away by a bunch of troubles.

The afternoon sunlight outside the window slowly shifted, and the sunlight that had originally covered the hospital bed gradually moved to the floor.

The brief message announcing the approval of the Terra line is still quietly sitting in the information list.

That long-awaited route, the wilderness I'd imagined countless nights while poring over research, is now open to me.

However, the price to pay is that Su Qing will have to undergo a recovery period of more than six months.

I closed my eyes, and two images flashed through my mind alternately.

On one hand, there was the boy's longing for the plateau between the lines, and on the other hand, the boundless wilderness unfolded before my eyes.

On the other side was Su Qing lying weakly in the hospital bed, and the lie I had casually told back then.

When the appointed time arrived, she found herself still unable to leave.

That disparity was enough to shatter her.

Seeing that I had my eyes closed, Su Qing quietly loosened her grip on my wrist, reached out, and gently placed her hand on the back of my hand.

The warm, soft touch pulled my chaotic thoughts back to reality.

"If you're tired, come over and rest for a while. There's an IV alarm here; it will go off if anything happens."