From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Upon hearing my words, Wang Yi quickly waved his hand, saying with a wry smile:

"No, no, no, Brother Lin Ye, please don't misunderstand. It's like this..."

Our club recently got business from an outdoor gear manufacturer. Since you're going to be live-streaming the whole thing, I was thinking, could you perhaps help promote their gear during the stream and be a guinea pig? What do you think?"

So that's what it meant. I remained silent for a moment.

To be honest, I really don't plan to take on any new boyfriends/girlfriends anytime soon.

Since returning from the no-man's-land, I've been constantly approached by people wanting to collaborate, with each brand offering higher and higher prices than the last, but I've managed to negotiate them all down.

Seeing that I remained silent for a while, Wang Yi probably thought I was in a dilemma, so he hurriedly added, "If you think it's difficult, then forget it, I'll think of another way."

After a moment's consideration, I decided to speak my mind honestly: "Brother Yi, let me be frank with you. Since returning from the no-man's-land, quite a few brands have approached me about collaborating with GG, but I've politely declined them all. I'm not trying to be arrogant; I genuinely don't want to rush into monetizing this wave of traffic, fearing I might ruin my reputation."

After listening, Wang Yi nodded, his expression gradually becoming serious.

It's clear that he's really hit a snag this time; otherwise, given his personality, he would never have taken the initiative to bring it up.

I hesitated for a moment, then asked one more question: "Brother Yi, tell me, what kind of equipment does the manufacturer you're dealing with mainly make?"

As soon as I let my guard down, Wang Yi looked up and said to me, "It's not some particularly demanding professional equipment, just everyday wear like outdoor shoes and clothes. It's widely used and practical."

I frowned and pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "It's something I can do. But, Brother Yi, let me be frank. As I told you earlier, I really don't have any plans to specifically take on GG (Girls' Love) projects. I hope you understand that."

After a pause, I picked up the thread again: "And then, I can help you with your side. But I won't specifically introduce the products in the live stream. At most, it'll be a normal hiking session, and I'll just let the camera pan to whatever it lands on. Unless someone in the live stream specifically asks about it, I'll mention it casually. Is that okay?"

Wang Yi nodded repeatedly without hesitation: "Sure, absolutely! With your current popularity, as long as people can see the brand logo on the equipment through the camera, the effect will be enough."

Seeing that he nodded, I finally agreed to the matter.

Wang Yi's face was filled with gratitude as he repeatedly thanked him, saying, "Brother Lin Ye, thank you from the bottom of my heart!"

I waved my hand and smiled, "Brother Yi, to be honest, if you hadn't chosen to cooperate with me and handed me that opportunity in the no-man's land, I wouldn't be where I am today. Saying thank you is too formal."

Wang Yi sighed softly, his voice deepening, "Speaking of the no-man's-land, in the end, you risked your life to get there. To be honest, none of us had high hopes for you back then, and nobody expected... that you would actually lead the team out of there."

I picked up the teapot on the table, poured myself a cup of tea, and then filled his cup as well. I raised the cup and said:

"Alright, let's not dwell on the past. Let's toast with tea instead of wine."

Wang Yi quickly picked up his teacup and gently clinked it against mine.

Wang Ge put down his teacup and then spoke up: "After we finish eating, take us to see that batch of equipment. I want to personally inspect it and make sure there are no problems before we talk about it."

However, this is not a bad thing; on the contrary, it shows that he has a strong sense of responsibility and does not let personal feelings interfere.

Wang Yi readily agreed.

After finishing his meal, he rushed to the front desk to pay the bill.

Then he invited us onto his modified Tank 800 and drove us toward the club.

Wang Yi's car exudes a rugged off-road vibe from the inside out.

The car was fully equipped with decorations, ropes, and emergency tools; even the seat gaps were filled with a few small survival items.

It's clear he's a true veteran outdoor enthusiast, unlike those internet celebrities who just try to gain attention and pose for photos.

After chatting idly for more than half an hour, the car stopped in front of Wang Yi Outdoor Club.

The place hasn't changed much since my last visit. I drove straight into the club gate and parked downstairs in the office building.

We got off the car together and followed Wang Yi into the office building.

I slowed my pace as I walked through a corridor.

The walls on both sides of the corridor are covered with photos of hikers, mountain climbers, and off-road treks from previous years.

There are also rows of medals and certificates of honor, filling almost the entire wall.

Last time I came, I only went to the conference room and didn't have a chance to see these.

Seeing it with my own eyes now, I truly felt the weight of this club.

Wang Yi's club isn't particularly large, but it's not small either. However, in the local outdoor community, its level of professionalism is definitely among the best.

As Wang Yi led the way, he explained to us, "I had all the equipment prepared in advance and it's piled up in the warehouse at the back. It's a complete set of brand-new outdoor clothing and hiking shoes sent directly from the manufacturer. I've also done a round of testing here, and they're all specifically designed for high-altitude hiking. The price-performance ratio and practicality are quite good."

Wang Ge remained silent throughout, not uttering a single word.

I know him too well; he won't easily believe any brand's promotional gimmicks.

He owns an outdoor equipment store himself, so he can tell whether the equipment is practical or not just by touching it.

After passing through the front hall, we arrived at the rear warehouse.

In the huge warehouse, rows of brand-new equipment packages were neatly stacked.

The packaging bags are uniformly black, printed with a simple brand logo.

The styles are uniform and neat, and they look quite large.

Wang Yi casually opened a box, took out a set of windproof jacket and a pair of high-top hiking boots, and handed them to us:

"Take a look, this is the batch. I've checked the materials and workmanship, they all meet the standards."

Wang Ge stepped forward, took the jacket, carefully rubbed the fabric with his fingertips, and pulled and pressed it in several places to check if the seams were tight and secure.

Then he picked up the hiking shoes, bent the shoe body, checked the pattern of the sole, and then checked the thickness of the insole's anti-slip material.

The entire set of movements was professional, skillful, and meticulous.

He inspected the shoes for more than ten minutes before slowly nodding and saying calmly, "The material is fine, and the cold resistance is suitable for the climate of the Terra line. The anti-slip grip of the soles is barely adequate. The only drawback is that the whole set is a bit too heavy."

Being too heavy is a major drawback in the outdoor community.

The primary principle for high-intensity outdoor exercise is weight loss; every gram saved counts.

The more weight you carry, the more physical exertion you expend, and the higher the risk factor becomes.

In other words, this equipment is more than sufficient for ordinary outdoor activities.

However, when it comes to the intensity of our heavy-duty off-roading, it becomes somewhat awkward.