Crossing the Western Tianshan Mountains

Ling Fengxi admitted that he had failed and drank a cup as a punishment, and the matter was over.

Ling Fengxi drank a little too much that night, but he refused to be approached by others. He even refused Ye Minglang's offer to take him back to his room. It was Fang Yaduo who said, "Xiao Ye, take good care of your boss and don't let him run around at night."

Ye Minglang was really concerned. As a result, he saw Ling Fengxi left the dining room and did not go back to his room to sleep. Instead, he staggered out of the camp as if taking a walk. It was late at night and there was danger outside the camp. Ye Minglang wanted to call him several times, but finally he controlled himself.

Just follow behind silently.

Ling Fengxi walked onto the path and headed towards the 14th site. Ye Minglang became even more worried. There was poisonous gas at the 14th site and the problem had not been solved yet. What was he going there for?

Fortunately, he turned off and headed for the neighboring 15th site. He climbed to the top of the hill, sat on a rock, and lit a cigarette.

Smoking silently in the moonlight.

Ye Minglang was neither far nor near him, but he felt that Ling Fengxi's voice was so lonely.

He sent a message to Fang Ya, "Doctor Fang, Secretary Ling is on the hilltop of the 15th plot. He's not sleeping so late and has come here. I don't know what to do."

Fang Ya saw the message but did not reply because she didn't know what to do.

In fact, she can see Ling Fengxi now. Looking out from the medical team's yard, she can see the 14th and 15th sites. The distance is not close, but the figure on the top of the mountain is still very conspicuous under the moonlight.

Wu Yongjie also wandered into the medical team's yard. Seeing Fang Ya was still awake, he followed Fang Ya's gaze and smiled, saying, "Ling Fengxi is actually a kind person, but he's too rigid. He's not as open-minded as me. He easily gets upset over things, unlike me, who has no taboos and doesn't take anything to heart."

Fang Ya glanced at him and said, "This yard is where the girls rest. It's inappropriate for you to come here at this time."

Wu Yongjie slumped one of his shoulders. "My shoulder hurts so much that I can't sleep, so I came to see you."

"Does it hurt?"

"Look at you, you still don't believe me, I'm really in pain..."

"Come with me to the medical room."

Fang Ya actually knew that hitting the back and suffering internal injuries could cause pain in both shoulders because the heart would also be affected.

She confidently took out the plaster and put it on his shoulder.

Wu Yongjie hissed, "Be gentle... I'll be your man in the future anyway, can't you be a little more considerate of me? Hiss..." Fang Ya tugged at the applied plaster again, causing Wu Yongjie to scream even louder, "Alright, alright, alright, do whatever you want. I submit, okay?"

He begged Fang Ya for mercy.

Ling Fengxi smoked for a while. The night was cold and humid. His cigarette was not yet finished when it went out between his fingers. Ye Minglang hurried forward to light it for him.

Ling Fengxi seemed to have just noticed Ye Minglang and said, "You were sick a few days ago while searching for Gulinar. It's easy to catch a cold on a mountain like this so late at night. You should go back."

Ye Minglang said, "Secretary Ling, if you don't go back, I won't go back either."

Ling Fengxi stood up and brushed off the dirt on his pants, "Then let's go back."

Ye Minglang tried to have a deeper conversation, "Secretary Ling, you seem to be worried about something?"

"Haha, you little brat, do you know what worries are?"

Ye Minglang scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Secretary Ling, was the relationship between you and Ayala the same as the relationship between me and Gulinar? She and I will eventually separate, right?"

Ling Fengxi thought about it and finally said, "Don't separate. If you really love each other, then be together. Otherwise, there will be more regrets in this life."

"But..." Ye Minglang really felt that there were many things that could not be solved.

Ling Fengxi said, "My wife, Li Yuehe, was always emotionally overshadowed by Ayala from the time we met, to the time we got married, and finally, when she passed away due to illness. I knew this clearly, but I couldn't change it. My life, ever since I met Ayala, has been overshadowed by her. No matter where I am, no matter how far we are, I always miss her and I can't help it.

So later on, there was an even greater regret: my wife left me, forever.”

Ye Minglang had no idea that these few short sentences contained the deepest sorrow and pain in several people's lives. He simply consoled her, "Secretary Ling, I've heard before that you were a henpecked husband and treated her very well. She died of illness, and it had nothing to do with you. You don't have to blame yourself too much."

Ling Fengxi smiled and patted Ye Minglang on the shoulder. "So, you are just a little kid who hasn't grown up yet."

"Secretary Ling, I don't understand." Ye Minglang really wanted to ask for advice.

“When you truly love someone, your whole life will be influenced and bound by that person, and it will not change because of distance or other events.”

"So, you really love Ayala?"

"Yes, I love her, but I am no longer qualified to love her. After all these years of struggle between her and me, a life has been lost."

"You said my wife died of illness and it had nothing to do with me. In fact, if it weren't for me, she might not have gotten sick. If she hadn't been sick, she would still be alive and well now. She might be looking for delicious food in some corner of Shanghai, or maybe she would buy herself a beautiful hat tomorrow, or go to the mall to get a manicure..."

"She is a woman who loves beauty very much. It's just that she dressed so beautifully before, but I never admired her sincerely."

"This is my fault. I was wrong from the beginning. Giving up on Ayala was a mistake, and not being able to truly give up was also a mistake. I hurt innocent people."

Ling Fengxi suddenly stopped when he said this. He knew he had said too much, but the young man in front of him was experiencing the same thing he had experienced. He really hoped that their outcome would be different from his.

Although Ye Minglang could not truly understand what Ling Fengxi said, he could deeply feel the condemnation and sadness of his conscience.

There is also the guilt towards the two women he had let down in the past.

He seemed to understand why Ling Fengxi couldn't accept such an outstanding woman like Fang Ya. Because he could never forget Ayala, because no matter whether Ayala was alive or dead, she was in his heart, influencing some of his actions and decisions, and these could hurt his partner.

At the same time, he really understood what Ling Fengxi meant. He supported him and Gulinar being together if they really loved each other.

Ye Minglang thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Secretary Ling, I really hope this tunnel can be successfully built. As long as it is successfully built, the north and south will be connected, and the culture here will no longer be so closed. The world here will be opened up, and Gulinar and I can naturally love each other happily."