From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

As we chatted, it got closer to noon before we knew it.

Just as I was about to suggest that Brother Wang go out to a restaurant for a casual meal, a heavy engine screech came from outside the shop.

I subconsciously looked up and immediately recognized the heavily modified Tank 800. Its rugged body was parked on the side of the road, looking particularly eye-catching.

Immediately afterwards, the car door opened, and Wang Yi jumped out of the driver's seat.

Wearing a neat and durable work uniform, with an upright posture, he exudes the aura of a veteran outdoor expert.

I was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised.

Since the last expedition to the no-man's-land ended and the aftermath gradually subsided, Wang Yi and I have had very little contact in private.

He was busy managing all the affairs of his outdoor club and connecting with platform resources.

I was so engrossed in preparing for the media company's launch and also had to worry about the approval of the Terra line that the two of us barely had a chance to meet.

I figured to myself that he probably didn't come here today because of me; he probably had no idea I was at Brother Wang's shop right now.

Wang Yi stepped into the store, glanced around, and when he saw me, a hint of surprise flashed across his face:

"Lin Ye? You're here too!"

I nodded to him and greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Wang, you look quite handsome today."

He gave a slightly awkward smile and waved his hand, "Don't be so formal, just call me by my name."

After saying that, he turned to look at Brother Wang: "Judging from the time, you guys probably haven't eaten yet, right? It's lunchtime, let's have a meal together. There's something I want to talk to you about."

Wang and I exchanged a glance. We were just about to go out for dinner, but since we'd bumped into each other, we decided to go together.

We found a popular Sichuan restaurant nearby. The private room wasn't big, and we ordered a few of the restaurant's signature dishes. At first, we just chatted casually.

After chatting for a while, Wang Yi seemed to suddenly remember something important and looked at me, saying:

"Oh, by the way, Lin Ye, I heard you got official approval for the Terra route?"

This is no secret.

When we decided to take this route, Su Qing mentioned it briefly during her live stream, which served as a warm-up for my trip.

It's not surprising that Wang Yi, with his deep roots and extensive connections in the outdoor community, knew about this.

I nodded in response, "Yes, I was just discussing the route with Brother Wang when you arrived."

Wang Yi was slightly taken aback, then turned to look at Wang Ge: "So, you two are planning to go together?"

Even though they were teammates who had walked side by side before, Wang Ge remained a man of few words, only nodding slightly.

Wang Yi was much more enthusiastic and immediately said with a smile, "That's great. I feel much more at ease knowing you two are working together. There's a high chance we'll finish smoothly."

Then he looked at me, his tone tinged with admiration:

"But to be honest, you're really brave. You just came out of the no man's land and you're already going to challenge the Terra Line. You're too risky."

I could only manage an awkward laugh: "Brother Yi, there's no other way. To capitalize on this surge in traffic generated by the no-man's-land, I have to take a gamble and push myself as hard as I can."

Wang Yi nodded and continued, "However, your move has generated a lot of buzz in the community. I rarely browse the internet, but in our outdoor circle, you're practically a celebrity now."

I smiled modestly and said, "That's a bit of an exaggeration. Compared to you seniors, I'm still far behind."

"No need to be so modest, you deserve this reputation. Looking at our circle, there aren't many people who have completed the No Man's Land route and then dare to attempt the five-star difficulty Terra route."

His overly enthusiastic attitude today actually made me feel a little uncomfortable.

Before I could reply, the smile on Wang Yi's face slowly faded, and his expression turned serious:

"But there's something I'm curious about. Everyone knows that this route is normally strictly off-limits to unauthorized crossings. How did you get official approval?"

This is a question that has puzzled me for a long time, and to be honest, I still don't understand why.

When I first submitted my application, it was rejected outright. After some time, without any further notification, the system simply showed that it had been approved.

I shook my head and told him the truth: "I really don't know. The application was rejected at first, but for some reason, it was approved directly."

Wang Yi narrowed his eyes, pondered silently for a moment, and slowly said, "That is indeed quite unexpected, but it's a good thing overall. It should be an official recognition of you."

That's what I think too.

In our line of work, official recognition is more important than any amount of traffic.

That's why, even though Su Qing can't come along due to her health, I absolutely cannot give up this hard-won opportunity.

The food was still steaming on the table, and the atmosphere of casual conversation gradually quieted down.

Wang Yi suddenly changed the subject, looking at me with a tone that was somewhat consultative and pleading:

"By the way, there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor. I wonder if it would be convenient for you?"

I nodded to him and said softly, "Brother Yi, you go ahead."

He didn't immediately tell me what happened. Instead, he looked up at me and tentatively asked, "You'll be live-streaming the whole trip, right?"

I nodded truthfully: "Yes, I will broadcast normally as long as there is cell phone signal along the way."

After hearing my reply, Wang Yi's brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes darkened, as if he had something on his mind that he was reluctant to talk about.

Seeing that he was hesitant to continue, I stepped forward and said, "Brother Yi, if there's anything I can help you with, just say so. Don't worry too much."

He tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a forced smile, his embarrassment quite evident.

After a long pause, he finally said, "It's a bit abrupt to bring this up, I... sigh, never mind, I'd better not say anything more."

The more he hesitated and seemed reluctant to speak, the clearer I became that he was likely hiding something he couldn't say.

I didn't want to put him in a difficult position, so I continued to persuade him: "Brother Yi, don't keep me in suspense. Just tell me what's wrong, and I'll definitely help if I can."

Wang Yi remained silent for a short while, as if he was weighing his words carefully in his mind.

After a long pause, he slowly began to speak: "It's like this, our club has been under a lot of financial pressure lately. That last business deal in the no-man's-land, it seemed like a big deal, but in the end, our club didn't make much money at all."

At this point, he suddenly raised his voice slightly, and, fearing I might misunderstand his intention, quickly added:

"Let me make this clear first. I'm not telling you this to whine about being poor or playing the victim. It's just that I'm really hitting a snag right now, and it's a bit tough for me."

I stared into his eyes, my mind racing.

After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Brother Yi, do you mean you want to borrow money from me?"