American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 266 After Drinking and the Secret (4.6K views, please vote!)
McCormick suddenly slammed his coffee cup down on the table with a bang.

“Hey, don’t put on a tragic hero act for me.” She stood up and picked up her coat from the hanger.

"The way you look right now is like you just sent your own child to the battlefield. Let's go, don't stay here."

Lin Yu'an looked up at her: "Where are you going?"

“My apartment is right behind the research center, a five-minute walk away.”

McCormick put on his coat, raised an eyebrow at him, and said, “I have a good bottle of Laphroaig whiskey. I think what you need right now isn’t coffee, but some real painkiller.”

The two quickly arrived at McCormick's apartment, which was indeed a typical room belonging to a top student.

There weren't many feminine decorations; the largest piece of furniture in the living room was a huge bookshelf that stretched from floor to ceiling, crammed with all sorts of thick professional books and scientific journals.

Several complex gene sequence maps and an ecological map of the Arctic Circle were pasted on the wall, and the room was not exactly tidy.

A fleece jacket was casually draped over the sofa, and several printed data reports were scattered on the coffee table, but everything was in a functional order.

McCormick took two classic glasses from the cupboard and put a huge ice ball in each one.

As she unscrewed the cap of the bottle of Laphroaig whisky, a domineering aroma instantly filled Lin Yu'an's nostrils.

It smells like the strong smoke rising from a campfire when it's been extinguished, or a unique blend of iodine and herbs.

This strong peaty smell is a delicacy for those who love it, but hell for those who hate it.

At this moment, it perfectly echoed the heavy yet resolute emotions in their hearts.

The two sat on the carpet, back to the sofa, without the main light on, leaving only a dim floor lamp on.

The amber-colored liquor spun slowly on the curved surface of the ice ball, refracting the dim yellow light of the floor lamp and casting flowing spots of light on the glass.

The only sound in the room was the occasional crisp sound of ice cubes.

McCormick broke the silence first.

"Regret it?" Her voice wasn't loud, and it sounded a little hoarse from the alcohol.

"Don't get me wrong, I completely support your decision. I'm just curious, how do you feel right now, having made a correct decision that's causing you so much pain?"

Lin Yu'an stared at the light and shadow in his glass, not answering immediately. He could feel the spicy liquor sending a warm current through his stomach, fighting against the coldness in his heart.

“The pain is not in the decision itself,” he said slowly, “but in the price we have to pay after making the decision.”

"cost?"

“Hmm.” Lin Yu’an raised his eyes and looked at her. “My feelings and my reluctance are the costs that must be paid for this rewilding experiment.”

"If I'm not even willing to pay this price, then the freedom I promised in December is nothing but cheap self-indulgence."

His logic was so clear it was almost cold, as if he were dissecting a scientific specimen rather than talking about his own emotions.

Upon hearing this, McCormick chuckled softly: "That's a nice way to put it, Lin."

She leaned forward slightly, the dim light outlining the contrast between light and shadow on her face, making her eyes appear exceptionally sharp.

"You've built a sturdy cage for your own emotions using a perfect set of logic. You tell yourself that this is the price, the cost."

"That way you can feel at ease savoring the tragic and sublime feeling that comes with sacrifice."

These words were like a sharp scalpel, cutting through the layers of defense that Lin Yu'an had built with reason.

Lin Yu'an didn't refute, but simply took another sip of wine. The impact of the wine was stronger than before, and he could feel his blood rushing.

Seeing his silence, McCormick softened her tone, put the cup on the ground, hugged her knees, as if sharing an observation.

“I’ve met many so-called idealists, Lin. What they love is the image of themselves suffering for their ideals.”

“But you seem different.” She tilted her head, scrutinizing him closely. “You seem to genuinely believe that your pain is insignificant.”

“Because it really is insignificant.” Lin Yu’an finally spoke again, his voice low and firm, “Compared to whether or not I can return to that endless ice field in December, my emotions are insignificant.”

The air fell into a strange silence once again. This time, the silence was not oppressive, but rather the aftershock of a clash of ideas.

McCormick found that he couldn't see through the man in front of him at all. He possessed a mixture of extreme rationality and extreme sensibility, like ice and fire, forcibly blended together by a powerful energy.

She suddenly realized that this man, and she herself, might be the same kind of person.

Loneliness, stubbornness, and loyalty to one's own inner principles, even if those principles are incompatible with the world.

She looked at Lin Yu'an's slightly somber profile, illuminated by the dim light, and suddenly spoke.

"Lin, are you worried that although I agreed verbally, I actually prefer the zoo option, which has the lowest risk?"

McCormick's gaze was clear and direct, revealing his deepest worry.

Lin Yu'an didn't speak, but his silence itself was a form of acquiescence.

McCormick smiled, a smile that was a mixture of helplessness, understanding, and a touch of pride.

“You underestimate me, and you underestimate this project.” She placed the cup on the carpet, her eyes gleaming with an almost fanatical light—the passion of a top scientist.

"Did you know that successfully rewilding and releasing an orphaned polar bear cub that has had extensive contact with humans is one of the most challenging problems in this field? There are only a handful of successful cases worldwide."

"Send it to the zoo?" she scoffed, her tone full of disdain.

"That's conservation, not science. That's the job of a zookeeper, caring for a living specimen until it dies of old age. But I'm a scientist, and my job is to create miracles."

She held up one finger and pointed to the huge Arctic map on the wall.

"Returning December to that place is not a problem for me, nor is it an option that requires weighing the pros and cons."

"Lin, this challenge began the moment I agreed to help you rescue December! This is the greatest challenge that will define my entire career!"

Her voice was full of strength and confidence, dispelling the last trace of oppressive atmosphere in the room.

"So, stop looking at me like I'm a burden to you. You're not forcing me, you're doing me a favor."

"For the next year and a half, this project will be my everything. I promise that I will design every step of its development like polishing a doctoral dissertation, and I will bring it back to the ice sheet!"

These words were like a warm and powerful light, instantly illuminating Lin Yu'an's heart.

His biggest concern wasn't the difficulty of the path to rewilding, but the fear that this path would become a burden for the woman before him.

Now, that burden was gone. He looked at her, a relieved smile finally appearing on his face.

“Thank you, McCormick.” His voice was more serious than ever before. “I take back my previous concerns and apologize for my narrow-mindedness.”

“No need for an apology.” McCormick raised an eyebrow, his tone returning to its usual relaxed tone. “Just don’t come crying and begging to see your daughter halfway through my experiment.”

Lin Yu'an smiled upon hearing this. He picked up his wine glass again, but instead of clinking glasses, he looked into her eyes and spoke with utmost seriousness.

"You've solved the core software problem for this project. Now, leave the hardware part to me."

McCormick looked at him with some confusion. "The hardware I'm talking about is money," Lin Yu'an said calmly.

“I know that such a rewilding project, from building semi-wild enclosures and introducing live prey to the later tracking and protection, is burning through funds at every stage. The research center’s funding is probably far from enough.”

He pushed his glass forward, his gaze intense: "So, I assure you, I will cover all the funding gaps for this project."

He paused, his eyes hardening. "I will use my influence to launch a global fundraising campaign. I will let everyone who cares about this know how much effort we are willing to put in to bring a polar bear home."

He was no longer just a simple, emotional guardian, but at this moment, he truly became a partner in this great plan and its strongest supporter.

McCormick was completely stunned. She stared at the man before her, a huge wave of emotions surging within her. She had seen wealthy businessmen donating money and enthusiastic volunteers.

But she had never met anyone like Lin Yu'an, who was willing to give up all his wealth and reputation for a seemingly unattainable promise.

She took a deep breath and transformed all her shock and emotion into a radiant smile.

“Great, Lin. The estimated cost of this project is $200-400 million. I can secure at least $50 in research funding, so there’s no need to worry about funding in the short term.”

"But with your safety net, I now believe that we can definitely create a miracle!" She finally raised her glass and clinked it heavily against his.

This toast was louder and more resolute than the last.

“Respect December,” he said.

“Respect for freedom,” McCorz added.

After a crisp clinking of glasses, the two men simultaneously downed their glasses of strong liquor.

The spicy, warm sensation flowed from their throats into their stomachs, as if injecting the first burst of energy into their long journey ahead.

After putting down their glasses, the atmosphere changed completely. A tacit understanding and a camaraderie between them quietly blossomed.

McCormick shook the empty glass, looked at Lin Yu'an, and his eyes showed a hint of cunning and amusement.

“Alright, Mr. Lin. Now, we’ve established professional trust.” She drawled, “But that’s not enough.”

"Ok?"

She met Lin Yu'an's probing gaze, a charming smile curving her lips. "So, I propose we exchange a secret."

McCormick's voice softened, yet possessed an irresistible magic.

Lin Yu'an looked at her. In the dim light, her eyes, like the whiskey in her hand, were pure, intense, and full of irresistible charm.

He was silent for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

McCormick wore a victorious smile, a smile brimming with anticipation.

“Very good.” She held up her empty glass to him, as if inviting him, “Then, to prove this wasn’t just a momentary impulse fueled by alcohol…”

She winked playfully.

"you first."

Lin Yu'an's fingertips gently traced the cold rim of the glass, his gaze deep. McCormick's question was like a key, plunging into the deepest, most complex door of his heart.

It's not that he has no secrets, it's just that his secrets are too vast, so vast that he doesn't know where to begin.

He saw the curiosity in her eyes and felt reassured. He knew she wouldn't judge him by worldly moral standards.

He exhaled softly, as if that breath had carried away the last trace of hesitation.

“Alright, I’ll go first then. You have to keep this a secret for me,” he said calmly, looking into her eyes, “I live with two wives.”

McCormick froze mid-air as she was about to drink. Her eyes widened as if she had heard something utterly unbelievable.

“Arya and Emily.” A gentle smile appeared on Lin Yu’an’s lips.

"Like the Texas summer sun, lively and enthusiastic, with a touch of mischievousness at times."

"The other is calm and collected, full of wisdom, but sometimes, he can be as innocent as a child."

McCormick was completely stunned; she hadn't expected Lin Yu'an to drop such a weighty secret on her.

This was far more sensational than any business insider information or celebrity gossip! But she was, after all, McCormick, and after a brief moment of shock, her innate, extreme curiosity about new things immediately took over.

She leaned in close, her eyes shining as if she'd discovered a new species: "Wait... two? At the same time? How did you do that? They... get along peacefully?"

Her gossip-loving nature burned fiercely, "Are you involved in the BDSM community? What kind of absolute control do you have?"

Lin Yu'an was both amused and exasperated by her unconventional thinking: "No, none of that. It's purely because of... love and responsibility."

“Wow.” McCormick drew out the sound. She knew that behind those three words lay a story far more complex than any scientific experiment, and she wisely refrained from pressing for more information.

“Alright,” Lin Yu’an looked at her, “My secret is big enough. Now, it’s your turn. And, to be fair, you must also share one of your most important secrets.”

It was McCormick's turn.

Just moments ago she was as excited as if she had discovered a new continent, but the radiance on her face dimmed at a visible speed.

She didn't speak immediately, but poured herself another half glass of whiskey, then lowered her head and watched the liquid swirl in the glass as if it contained a complex scientific model.

That cool, nonchalant demeanor that was always on his face was completely melted away by the alcohol and the topic at this moment, leaving only a rare vulnerability.

“Fairness…” she repeated the word softly, a self-deprecating smile curving her lips. “Lin, your secret is about choices and construction. My secret… is about flaws.”

She finally raised her head, her eyes no longer sharp, but instead carrying a calmness: "Do you know the paradox of Buridan's ass?" she suddenly asked an unrelated question.

Lin Yu'an paused for a moment, then nodded: "I know. A perfectly rational donkey, faced with two identical piles of hay, will starve to death because it cannot make a choice."

“Yes.” McCormick nodded, a hint of bitterness in his eyes. “I am that donkey.”

"Sometimes I even suspect that there are two personalities living inside me, one that is attracted to outstanding men, but the other that is more interested in women."

"I can neither walk firmly toward that pile of hay like a heterosexual, nor can I gladly accept that I can have either pile of hay like a homosexual or bisexual."

“The result is,” she laughed self-deprecatingly, “that I spent all my time doing research because I had no idea how to start a relationship.”

"I will get stuck in a loop because I can't find the optimal solution, and I will eventually choose to stay still."

She downed the drink in one gulp; the spicy liquid seemed to give her some courage, allowing her to utter that most embarrassing conclusion.

"The result of this standstill is that I'm 26, Lin." Her voice trembled slightly, without her even realizing it. "My romantic history is completely blank. I've never held hands, never dated, never kissed. Not even once."

"In the United States, this is almost considered a social disability, you know? It's a very shameful thing!"

She looked at Lin Yu'an, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment as a young woman.

A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft crackling of the ice cubes in the glass.

(End of this chapter)