American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 286 December's Adorable Bear (A long chapter of 10,000 words, many pictures, please vote!)

"The worst-case scenario is that I'll be at Justin's concert, in front of the whole world, telling a story in five minutes."

His voice was devoid of emotion, like a judge reading a verdict, “telling a story about salvation and betrayal.”

"I will play a carefully edited high-definition video to show in its entirety how I found it in a blizzard at minus forty degrees Celsius, and how frail and desperate it was at the time."

"It shows how I made fish paste and fed it to its little mouth little by little. During the ten days it waited for rescue, we huddled together for warmth in that small shelter and built the most primal trust."

"Then I will tell the world that the program team contacted Environment Canada, and their first official decision after receiving the request for help was that 'the cub's chances of survival are slim and it is not worth rescuing in the wild. We recommend that we follow nature's choices.'"

“I will tell everyone that it was Dr. McCormick that you argued for it with reason, even at the cost of confronting the authorities, that saved its life.”

"But in the end, it was sent to the cold quarantine zone in Alaska, and eventually died slowly in depression because it could not bear the pain of being 'abandoned a second time'."

His voice held a hint of amusement: "McCoz, what do you think will happen when this detailed account from the hero's own words, coupled with the official inaction, is made public?"

"How much damage will the Canadian government's international image suffer? Inhuman, hypocritical, bureaucratic killers—these labels will be firmly attached to them."

“Animal protection organizations and angry citizens will surround their embassies. Their tourism industry, their environmental image, everything will be tarnished as a result.”

These words sent a chill down McCormick's spine. This wasn't a threat at all; it was a blatant, inevitable conspiracy! Lin Yu'an's current influence was enough to accomplish all of this.

“But…” Lin Yu’an extended a second finger, his eyes softening and becoming constructive again, as if the cold-blooded avenger from before was just an illusion.

“None of us like destruction; we all prefer creating win-win situations. So I’ve prepared a second path for them, which is an olive branch.”

He began to elaborate on the grander and more perfect alternative.

“We can repackage the whole story into a positive example that is full of humanitarian brilliance and highlights Canada’s national image.”

"We can announce to the outside world that when Environment Canada received the request for help, it immediately decided to provide full assistance with unprecedented courage."

"But because of the remote location, the expert team could not get there immediately. Just when the polar bear cub was in grave danger, they made a decisive move and broke with convention!"

"An emergency temporary authorization was given to Lin Yu-an, who is currently participating in a program recording in the area and has extensive experience in wilderness survival, to carry out the initial rescue."

"For the next ten days, I took the little polar bear along the Labrador coastline, filming the show while taking meticulous care of it 24 hours a day."

"It was precisely these unavoidable ten days that left an indelible mark on humanity in December. This was an unexpected event that no one could have predicted."

"Subsequently, the Alaska Research Center, the International Animal Protection Foundation, and Environment Canada worked together, investing top-tier resources, to attempt to rewild it."

"But ultimately, the most professional assessment results proved that, due to the deep imprinting from the early stages, forcibly rewilding it would only lead to its death from severe depression."

"So, at the crossroads of life, in order for December to continue to live healthily and happily!"

"The three parties have reached an unprecedented and innovative agreement that demonstrates the Canadian government's humanitarian spirit and the principle of putting life first!"

Lin Yu'an looked at McCormick and stated the core of the plan.

"Environment Canada has granted full long-term legal guardianship of December to the December Independent Conservation Project, which was established with personal funding by Mr. Lin Yu-an and led by Dr. McCormick."

"The authorization period is fifty years."

“We have committed to an initial investment of $40 million to establish a dedicated foundation. This money will be used to build a state-of-the-art, near-native Arctic private habitat in Wyoming for December.”

“We will specify the food standards for each month in December to the Canadian side in the form of a legal contract, such as no less than 300 pounds of quarantined seal meat and fatty fish.”

"Medical standards include two comprehensive physical examinations per year, performed by a top-tier veterinary team. Activity space standards include a total of no less than 50 acres of outdoor activity area, as well as an indoor activity area with a simulated ice cave and deep water pool."

“Environment Canada has permanent, anytime access and oversight rights, and they can even send an observer to ensure that December lives in the best possible conditions.”

"We also pledge to the world that we will never use December for any form of animal performance for profit."

"Its only job in December is to live a healthy and happy life."

“Its global fans can make an online appointment through our foundation’s website to visit its new home for free.”

"Of course, we will also open a donation channel to accept donations from our December fans, and all donations will be used for broader polar bear conservation efforts."

Lin Yu-an emphasized: "The only, and most crucial, requirement of this plan is guardianship."

“A guardianship that lasts for fifty years, protected by both international and U.S. law, and is almost equivalent to ownership.”

He added the final bumper: "And the penalty for breach of contract for both parties is $500 million."

"Any party that wants to terminate the authorization prematurely without cause will have to pay 500 million in compensation. This also includes if we abandon the rescue halfway or are found to be abusing animals, in which case we will also have to pay 500 million in compensation."

Lin Yu'an laughed: "You see, in this way, Environment Canada neither opened the door to individual adoption of polar bears, nor did it break the law and save face for them."

"At the same time, they handed over the hot potato of December to us in a cooperative and innovative manner, and at the same time, they gained a good reputation for respecting life and being flexible in front of the world. This is a perfect stepping stone that they cannot refuse."

“To make this step more enticing, I would tell the research center and the foundation that I don’t need them to pay another penny for this project.”

"Instead, to thank them for their previous efforts and for their future oversight, my December Foundation will donate one million dollars to each of them for other polar bear conservation projects."

"In this way, Jenkins and Fisher went from being responsible parties to being beneficiaries and supervisors."

"They only need to nod in support of this plan to get a million dollars for free and sever all ties. What do you think they will choose?"

McCormick was completely stunned by Lin Yu-an's meticulous, interconnected, and even elaborate public relations plan.

Looking at the man before her, she felt that she was not seeing an explorer, but a top strategist who could manipulate politics, capital, public opinion, and law at will.

What he offered was not a choice at all, but a meticulously designed maze leading to a single exit.

“I…I believe…” her voice was a little hoarse, “The research center and the foundation will definitely agree. They have no reason to refuse.”

She said worriedly, "But the core of this plan is $40 million. That will put too much pressure on you."

McCormick knew that Lin Yu-an had just earned a large sum of money from the endorsement fee, but forty million US dollars was still an extremely large number.

Lin Yu'an looked at her, a gentle smile on his face: "You never need to worry about money. For me, it's just a number now."

He reached out and gently tidied the stray hairs that were a little messy on her forehead.

“McCoz, all you need to remember is that meeting you in December was the greatest luck of its life. You shouldered everything for it, now it’s my turn.”

His voice was filled with undeniable doting affection and determination.

"Since my precious girl doesn't want to go back to the wild, I'll sell everything I own to keep her by my side!"

McCormick was completely relaxed. She no longer felt helpless or stressed, but instead felt a sense of security and happiness!
She nodded vigorously, and a genuine smile of relief finally appeared on her face.

She stood up, wiped her eyes, and regained her energetic and brilliant female doctoral demeanor.

"Well... before you officially declare war on Canada, why don't you go and see the poor little princess who's waiting to be rescued? She must be missing you terribly right now."

"Of course! I can't wait to see it, but I need to prepare some food for it. You said on the phone that it has a poor appetite, and I'd like to try a certain food."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Half an hour later, McCormick's Subaru Outback pulled up in front of an Asian supermarket called Saigon Market in Anchorage.

Unlike the bright and modern chain supermarkets in the city center, this supermarket looks somewhat cluttered.

The red Vietnamese sign stood out starkly against the gray, snowy sky. Pushing open the glass door, a complex yet warm atmosphere instantly enveloped me.

It's a unique flavor that blends various spices, pickles, seafood, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

For someone like McCormick, who was used to the sterile smell of the laboratory, the smell was somewhat unfamiliar and even pungent.

But for Lin Yu'an, it was full of the warmth of everyday life, and it carried a long-lost sense of intimacy.

McCormick pushed a creaking shopping cart and followed curiously behind him, like an explorer who had stumbled upon a new continent.

She watched Lin Yu'an skillfully navigate between shelves she didn't recognize, as if this were his true home turf.

Lin Yu'an's goal was clear: he first headed to the seafood section at the back of the supermarket.

"I need the freshest fish, the higher the fat content the better. In December, it needs high-calorie food to replenish its energy, and the fishy smell will stimulate its appetite even more."

On the ice table in the seafood section, all kinds of fish were displayed.

Lin Yu-an did not choose the cod or halibut that looked more expensive, but went straight to the area where local catches were displayed.

He picked up a bright silver rainbow trout with spots all over its back, gently pressed its body with his finger, and then looked at its gills. The bright red color proved that it was absolutely fresh.

"These are the ones." He selected four and handed them to the staff next to him to weigh.

Then, with Michael, they went to the meat section, picked up a few packaged chicken breasts, and found peeled raw peanuts, dried chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorn oil in the condiment section.

"What are you doing?" McCormick asked, looking at the seemingly unrelated combination. "The trout are for December, so what about these?"

Lin Yu'an smiled and said, "Of course it's for us to eat. I haven't had breakfast yet, so I'm planning to make you some Kung Pao Chicken."

McCormick's heart was filled with curiosity at that moment.

As he passed the snack section, he stopped. It was a whole row of shelves filled with childhood memories of the East.

He saw familiar shrimp chips, Lay's snacks, and even mung bean cakes. His gaze finally settled on a row of striking red packaging.

I grabbed a few packets of spicy strips in different flavors, a bag of sweet and sour hawthorn slices, and a bottle of classic-looking iced tea.

"Try this." He handed a bag of spicy strips to McCormick like a treasure. "It's a national snack in our area, and every child has its taste in their childhood memories."

McCormick took it curiously, looking at the exaggerated cartoon character and bright red chili pepper pattern on the packaging, his face showing a mixture of curiosity and fear.

Finally, in a corner of the almost deserted health supplement section, they found a bottle of high-purity, unflavored wild Alaskan salmon oil.

Lin Yu'an looked at the shopping cart full of ingredients and nodded in satisfaction, but still muttered to himself.

"Trout meat, fish oil... It's a pity we can't find fresh animal offal here. Otherwise, it would be perfect."

He remembered the life-saving minced meat he ate when he first met him in December, which was mixed with bits of the heart and liver of the wolf he had hunted.

The strong, bloody smell of offal is the perfect trigger for a carnivore's primal appetite; December will definitely remember that taste.

While queuing to pay, Lin Yu'an suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to get scallions and ginger, so she said to McCormick, "Wait for me," and then turned and walked towards the vegetable section.

Behind the cashier, the plump Vietnamese woman skillfully scanned the product barcodes while whispering to McCormick in heavily accented English.

"Girl, is your boyfriend Chinese?"

McCormick paused for a moment, then nodded subconsciously.

"Oh my, you're so lucky!" The woman said with a happy expression, but her hands didn't stop moving.

"My husband is Chinese, a student from Chengdu studying abroad. Oh my god, the food he cooks smells so good that it makes everyone in the building drool and can't sleep!"

After scanning the QR codes on the packets of spicy snacks, she continued in a tone of someone with experience, "He may not say sweet words, but he will put all his love into the food he cooks, and..."

McCormick listened to the woman's rambling without offering any rebuttal.

But a faint blush rose uncontrollably to her ears, and a gentle smile, unnoticed even by herself, played at the corners of her lips.

When the two returned to the car carrying two large shopping bags, the snowstorm outside intensified, and the visibility was now so poor that they might not be able to fly back to Fairbanks.

Outside the train window, snowflakes danced wildly, blurring the world. But inside the carriage, the heater provided warmth and tranquility.

McCormick skillfully started the car, and the windshield wipers began working diligently, scrambling two clear fan-shaped lines across the blurry glass.

A subtle silence fell over the car as the Subaru rejoined the city traffic.

The only sounds were the hum of the engine, the scraping of the windshield wipers, and the crunch of the tires rolling over the snow.

As McCormick drove, he casually glanced at Lin Yu'an, who was staring out the window in a daze, out of the corner of his eye.

The words of that cashier lady were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in her heart that have not yet subsided.

She finally couldn't hold back and broke the silence.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the small carriage, "Just now... that older woman asked me, 'Your boyfriend is a good cook, isn't he?'"

This is a question that uses someone else's words and is full of hints and probing.

A warm feeling also stirred in Lin Yu'an's heart. He slowly turned his head and looked at her delicate profile, which was slightly flushed.

She pursed her lips tightly, seemingly a little nervous about her bold question.

"Oh?" He deliberately dragged out the words, a playful smile curving his lips. "So, what was your answer?"

McCormick didn't speak, but instead let out two soft "humming" sounds from his nose. This was his noncommittal response to the question.

The ambiguous atmosphere in the carriage became even more intense because of that cute "humming".

Looking at her like that, Lin Yu'an felt even more emotional.

But he knew that some things had to be brought back to the table in a gentle yet clear way before they became more complicated.

The playful smile on his face faded somewhat, replaced by a more candid tone.

He said slowly, "However, that lady is right, my cooking skills are indeed not bad."

McCormick's ears twitched slightly, clearly he was listening intently.

“My two wives, Arya and Emily, both think my Chinese food is delicious. Arya, in particular, loves my spicy chicken the most.”

These words, like an ice cube thrown into a warm lake, instantly lowered the ambiguous temperature in the carriage slightly.

McCormick tightened his grip on the steering wheel slightly, and the car made a slight screech on the snow, but he quickly regained control.

Lin Yu'an didn't stop. He continued in a warm tone, sharing his family's daily life, "In fact, what I'm best at now is probably baby food."

A gentle, unconscious smile, typical of a father, appeared on his face: "Salmon puree, avocado banana puree... every time I see those two little ones eating with their faces covered in it..."

"I would even dance with joy, and that feeling... how should I put it, was more satisfying than any Michelin chef's praise."

He spoke these words casually, as if he were sharing the most ordinary family life.

But every word was like an inescapable blizzard, gently tapping on McCormick's heart.

Two wives.

children.

He neither directly responded to her suggestive probing nor rejected her.

He simply presented his complex yet complete family puzzle to her in a gentle and honest way.

Silence fell once again in the carriage. Only the hum of the engine and the tireless scraping of the windshield wipers could be heard.

Lin Yu'an quietly looked out the window, handing over all the power of conversation to the woman beside him.

A long time, a long time.

Just when Lin Yu'an thought she wouldn't speak again, McCorz let out a soft, ambiguous sound.
"Humph."

This time, the humming sound lacked its previous arrogance and playfulness. It was soft, short, and devoid of any specific emotion.

Lin Yu'an couldn't understand it either.

All he saw was that McCormick straightened his back again, and his hands on the steering wheel became incredibly steady.

It was as if the silent tsunami had never happened.

Back at McCormick's apartment, the kitchen once again became the heart of the home.

Lin Yu'an skillfully took off her coat and washed her hands in the entryway before preparing food for December.

He used a sharp American chef's knife to debone and debon the fresh trout, then chopped the snow-white flesh into a fine paste. This paste was then mixed with high-purity fish oil in precise proportions, releasing a rich and primal ocean aroma.

Only after he had done all that did he begin to prepare lunch for the two of them.

McCormick wanted to help, but Lin Yu'an laughed and pressed him down onto the sofa in the living room.

So McCormick sat on the sofa with a cushion in his arms, quietly watching the figure busy in the kitchen.

In the living room, her favorite Brahms cello sonata was still playing, but for some reason, the originally melancholic melody seemed to have a touch of warmth to it now.

She watched as Lin Yu'an cut the chicken breast into even small cubes, carefully mixed it with egg white and starch to coat it, and cut the carrot into pretty diamond-shaped slices.

Finely chop the scallions, ginger, and garlic. Then, in a small bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, cooking wine, and Sichuan peppercorn oil to create an appealing sauce.

Every movement he makes is filled with a captivating sense of rhythm.

As the dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns released their pungent yet incredibly enticing aroma in the hot oil, McCormick couldn't help but sneeze.

Lin Yu'an, who was in the kitchen, turned around and glanced at her with a smile.

Next, the diced chicken is slid into the pan and quickly stir-fried until it turns golden brown instantly under the high heat. Then, the side dishes and sauce are poured in, and the sauce is reduced over high heat.

With a sizzling sound, a tempting aroma of sour, sweet, numbing, and spicy flavors instantly filled the room, infusing the cello's melancholy with a touch of happiness.

When two steaming bowls of Kung Pao Chicken Noodles, garnished with vibrant green scallions and crunchy peanuts, were served, McCormick felt his taste buds had been completely conquered.

She eagerly twirled a handful of noodles with her fork and put it in her mouth.

Compared to the tomato and egg noodles Lin Yu'an made for her last time, this time the flavor was richer, with tender chicken, refreshing carrots to cut through the richness, and crunchy peanuts.

Its rich texture and flavor ignited an unparalleled feast for the taste buds.

"Mmm...it's so delicious..." she mumbled in admiration, like a greedy little squirrel, completely forgetting her usual rigorous and calm female PhD student image.

After a long while, when she had finished eating most of the bowl of noodles and felt every cell in her body filled with warmth and satisfaction, she finally raised her head.

Those blue eyes, under the warm light, looked like two ignited stars, gazing intensely at Lin Yu'an.

“Hmm,” she said slowly, as if drawing a final scientific conclusion, “My boyfriend is indeed a very good cook.”

After saying that, she fell silent, simply gazing at him with her burning eyes, as if observing his... reaction.

This time, it was Lin Yu'an's turn.

He didn't speak, but mimicked what she had done in the car, making two ambiguous "humming" sounds from his nose, while his eyes held an undisguised smile.

McCormick's cheeks instantly pouted in dissatisfaction, and his angry yet adorable expression stirred Lin Yu'an's heart.

He knew he couldn't continue this dangerous topic. At least, now wasn't the time.

He picked up the largest piece of chicken from his bowl, crossed the table, and precisely placed it into her bowl, changing the subject with his actions.

After the two finished their lunch, which was filled with ambiguous tension, Lin Yu'an carefully packed the fish paste he had prepared for December into a food container with excellent insulation.

He stood up, his tone regaining its calm and solemn tone: "Let's go, it's time to see our little princess."

In Anchorage, the snowstorm showed no signs of abating in the afternoon.

McCormick drove her Subaru Outback, carrying Lin Yu-an, slowly toward the Arctic Biological Research Center.

Lin Yu'an quietly watched the scenery rushing past the window, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on her knees, her thoughts already drifting to the place she was about to arrive at.

He could clearly recall the anxious howls that filled December when he left more than a month ago.

That sound, like an invisible thorn, would often wake him up in the middle of the night for more than a month.

He has doubted more than once whether his decision to separate it in order to return it to nature was a fundamentally wrong one.
McCormick would occasionally glance at the silent man beside him out of the corner of his eye.

She knew that Lin Yu'an must be thinking about December, wondering if their decision to let December participate in the rewilding training was the right one.

She wanted to say something to comfort him, but didn't know what to say. As a scientist, she knew all too well the stubbornness and lethality of depression in animals.

She couldn't promise Lin Yu'an anything; any cheap comfort seemed pale and powerless in the face of this heavy reality.

As the car rounded a bend, the Alaskan Arctic Biological Research Center's modern yet somewhat cold-looking complex of buildings finally came into view.

This place was once a scientific sanctuary where McCormick realized her dreams.

But now, it's more like a battlefield filled with political maneuvering and cold rules.

When they passed through layers of disinfection and security checks and arrived back at the quarantine area filled with disinfectant and the smell of animals, an unusual sense of oppression permeated the entire area.

Normally this place is quiet, but today it's eerily quiet, as if all life force has been absorbed by this white wall.

Several staff members who were passing by, also dressed in white lab coats, gave McCormick a complicated look from afar before hurrying away.

Ever since that day she overturned the table in the conference room, she has become an isolated outcast here.

“The situation… is probably worse than I described on the phone.” McCormick’s voice was soft as she led Lin Yu’an straight into the central monitoring room.

In the monitoring room, the researcher on duty saw the two enter, silently stood up, made way for them, and then stepped aside.

Lin Yu'an's gaze was immediately drawn to the huge surveillance wall.

Dozens of screens display real-time images of various areas of the research center.

The screen at the very center was showing the indoor arena where December was located, which simulated a polar environment.

The venue felt empty and cold.

The pale light emitted by the energy-saving lamps shone on the thick layer of crushed ice and artificial snow on the ground, reflecting a lifeless glow.

The deep pool that was once used as a swimming pool in December is now as calm as a mirror, with a slight chill in the air.

In the farthest corner of the venue, a snow-white, furry figure was curled up.

With its back to the doorway, it buried its large head deep between its front paws, remaining motionless, like a sculpture covered in ice and snow.

If it weren't for its thick fur, which was still gently rising and falling with its faint breathing, one would almost think it was a lifeless snowdrift.

More than a month has passed, and it has grown even bigger. It has grown from a round ball of fur into a lithe silhouette that is beginning to resemble a young beast.

“It’s been like this for almost two days now.” McCormick’s voice was filled with helplessness and heartache.

“Aside from occasionally drinking a little water, it won’t touch any food. Our best behaviorist tried to go in and guide it yesterday morning.”

"But it merely raised its eyelids indifferently for a glance, then lowered its head again, refusing any form of interaction."

"Its weight has dropped by nearly five kilograms in the past week."

Lin Yu'an didn't speak, but just stared at the screen silently. His heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

He saw several red rubber balls scattered around the corner where December had huddled. They were the toys he had left for it when he last left.

But now, those red balls that once brought it endless joy are like abandoned old objects, covered with a thin layer of dust.

After a long while, he turned around and said in a hoarse voice, "Give me a protective suit, I want to go in and take a look at it."

After putting on the familiar white protective suit, Lin Yu'an stood in front of the disinfected, heavy iron door and took a deep breath.

He was carrying the still-warm food box in his hand.

"Forest……"

McCormick stood behind him, unable to resist reminding him again, "Be careful. It's very emotionally unstable right now. Although it's still young, it's a polar bear after all, and its strength..."

"I know."

Lin Yu'an nodded, then slowly but firmly pushed open the door.

"Squeak-"

The metallic scraping sound of the heavy iron gate opening was particularly jarring in the deathly silent stadium.

A familiar, crisp air, mixed with the smells of snow and animal fur, rushed towards me.

Almost the instant the sound rang out, the ice sculpture in the corner moved slightly.

December slowly raised its fluffy head, its once dull obsidian eyes warily gazing toward the doorway.

When it saw that familiar, tall figure in a white protective suit, the wariness in its eyes froze instantly.

Time seemed to have been paused at that moment.

A hint of bewilderment flashed across its eyes.

It's as if it's asking: Is it you? Is it really you?

Then, that confusion was replaced by a volcanic eruption of ecstasy! In an instant, a light burst forth from those black eyes, bright enough to illuminate the entire polar night!
Its body began to tremble slightly uncontrollably. A suppressed whimpering "ooh" sound came from its throat.

It wants to charge!
Every cell in my body is screaming, urging me to rush into that warm and familiar embrace without a care, just like when I was a child!

However, just as its four short legs were about to start moving, it... abruptly stopped.

The elation that was about to burst forth was forcibly suppressed by a more complex emotion.

It was a mix of resentment, anger, and a hint of... arrogance after being abandoned.

It slowly turned its head to one side in an extremely stiff posture.

She used her big, hairy buttocks to face Lin Yu'an at the door.

It even deliberately used its hind paws to scratch at the snow in the corner of the wall, making a "rustling" sound, as if to say, "I'm busy here and don't have time for you."

It was using all its body language to express its dissatisfaction to that unfaithful man.

"Hmph! You finally know how to come back?"

"I don't miss you at all! Not even a little bit!"

"Go away! I'm never talking to you again!"

Seeing its girlish demeanor, so innocent and adorable, Lin Yu'an's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

He knew it was alright. As long as it could still get angry and throw tantrums, it hadn't truly forgotten him.

A genuinely doting smile appeared on Lin Yu'an's face.

Instead of walking over immediately, he slowly squatted down at the doorway, positioning himself at eye level with it.

Then, he coaxed the little guy who was sulking in the gentlest and softest tone.

"December?"

"My dear daughter, what's wrong? Don't you recognize your father?"

The white figure in the corner twitched its ears noticeably, but stubbornly refused to turn around.

"Oh dear, are you still angry?" Lin Yu'an's voice carried an exaggeratedly ingratiating smile. "It's Daddy's fault, Daddy was wrong, okay?"

“Dad went to a very far place to take care of something very important. But Dad promises that every minute and every second, he is thinking about his good daughter.”

"Look, as soon as Dad finished his business, he immediately took that big flying vehicle and came back to see you. He hasn't even been home yet."

"Are you really not going to talk to me anymore? Well... I guess I have to go now... I really have to go..."

He deliberately slowed his speech, each word like a feather gently scratching at December's sensitive and fragile heart.

Lin Yu'an didn't speak again, but turned around and, with a slow and deliberate movement, grasped the handle of the heavy iron door again.

This movement immediately alerted December. Its body stiffened slightly, but it still did not turn around.

"Click."

A crisp metallic click of a lock snapped open, sounding particularly jarring in the deathly silent arena.

Lin Yu'an's voice drifted over again, carrying a hint of a sigh as if he was about to leave.

"Well, it seems my dear daughter really doesn't want to see me."

"So... Daddy's leaving now?"

He began to slowly pull the heavy iron door open.

"Squeak-"

This sound was the final straw that broke the camel's back in December.

Finally, it couldn't hold back any longer.

All the arrogance, all the pretense, all the grievances, crumbled at this moment.

It turned its head sharply, its obsidian-like eyes filled with aggrieved emotions.

Then it let out a howl, as if releasing all the grievances, longing, and fear accumulated over the past month!
Its four short legs suddenly unleashed a terrifying power completely at odds with its depressed state!
It was like a runaway white avalanche, filled with endless longing, charging recklessly towards Lin Yu'an!

"December!"

Lin Yu'an smiled and opened her arms.

The next second, a huge, heavy impact slammed into his arms.

He was knocked back by the force and fell onto the snow.

But his arms were tightly wrapped around this warm and heavy furry body.

"Waaaaah... Awoooah... Waaah..."

In December, she buried her head, which was now bigger than a basketball, into Lin Yu'an's chest, making a variety of complex sounds of coquetry, complaints, and accusations.

It is telling its own story in its own language, recounting every minute and every second of the past month, a wait that felt like an eternity.

It stretched out its warm, rough tongue and licked Lin Yu'an's protective mask haphazardly, making a mess of the fog on it.

Lin Yu'an sat on the cold snow, letting the little guy, who already weighed sixty or seventy pounds, cuddle and cuddle on her.

"Alright, alright, my sweet daughter, I know you missed me, and I missed you too. Daddy will never let you face everything alone again!"

In the monitoring room outside the quarantine zone, McCormick watched the scene on the screen where a man and a bear were embracing each other without any gap.

For the first time, she felt so directly the pure emotions of Arctic creatures that transcended species and could not be explained by any scientific theory.

Inside the venue, after calming people down for a long time, Lin Yu'an finally remembered the secret weapon he had brought.

He gently nudged December, who was still nestled in his arms, and then, as if by magic, produced the insulated food container.

He opened the lid, and a smell of fresh trout and rich fish oil instantly filled the cold air.

"Alright, my dear girl, I know you haven't been eating properly in a long time."

Lin Yu'an used his hand to scoop out a large piece of pink fish paste from the food box and held it to December's mouth: "Come on, try the delicious food Daddy made for you."

However, to his surprise, December merely sniffed the fish paste absentmindedly with her nose before burying her head in his arms again, making "woof woof" sounds.

It seems to be saying: I don't want food, I just want you.

(End of this chapter)