American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 287 Laying out the Future in December
Its anorexia had become so severe that it had lost even its basic desire for food.

"Hmm?" Lin Yu'an frowned slightly, but he did not give up.

He brought the piece of fish paste even closer to December's nose.

This time, December seemed a little impatient, raising her head again, ready to dodge.

But just as its nose was about to leave, its twitching nostrils suddenly stopped.

A deep sense of confusion flashed in its black eyes.

This taste...

Yes, it's mainly the fishy smell; it's very fresh, but I'm not interested.

But... deep within that fishy smell, there seemed to be a... extremely faint, yet incredibly familiar scent.

What does that smell like?
It sniffed carefully again.

Its memory was instantly pulled back to a night more than two months ago by this peculiar smell, a night filled with wind, snow, and the aura of death.

In that dark moment when it thought it was about to die, a warm embrace enveloped it.

Then a lump of equally warm, bloody minced meat was brought to its mouth.

That was the first real food it ever ate in its life.

The taste contained fish, blood, and something else... a taste that made it feel incredibly at ease.

Although today's fish paste lacks the crucial bloody flavor of wolf heart and liver, the combination of fish meat and pure fish oil instantly awakened its long-dormant taste memories!
In December, as Lin Yu'an held the ball of pink fish paste in his hand, her gaze shifted from indifference to confusion, and then erupted with a primal desire!
It tentatively stuck out its tongue and gently licked the fish paste.

next second.

Its obsidian-like eyes suddenly widened!

This is the taste!

It really tastes just like that!
All the restraint, all the anorexia, all the depression, were completely shattered at this moment by this taste memory!

"Ouch!"

It let out a joyful chirp, then opened its mouth wide and swallowed the whole piece of fish paste, which was about the size of a fist!

He even choked and coughed twice because he ate too fast.

But this did not dampen its enthusiasm at all. It wolfed down the food and then kept nudging the food box with its big, furry head, making urgent "gurgling" sounds in its throat.

Its whole body was expressing joy, and its little bottom was swaying excitedly back and forth.

It's saying, "More! I want more! Give it all to me!"

Seeing its life-filled, starving appearance, Lin Yu'an and McCormick in the monitoring room both laughed.

McCormick stared at the polar bear cub wolfing down its food on the screen, muttering to himself, "So...so that's how it is..."

She felt that all the cold scientific knowledge she had built up about animal behavior in the past was completely overturned at this moment by the warm scene in front of her.

Sometimes, what can save a life is not the most scientific formula, nor the most expensive equipment.

It is simply an irreplaceable flavor, a taste from the depths of memory.

For the next three hours, Lin Yu'an did not leave the quarantine facility.

Like a father who has been separated from his child for a long time and is trying to make up for all the things he has wronged, he poured all his time and tenderness into the little guy he had lost and found again.

The fish paste in the food box was swept away like a whirlwind in December. After eating and drinking its fill, its long-dormant vitality was finally rekindled.

Lin Yu'an picked up the red rubber ball that it had abandoned in the corner, and December's eyes lit up again the moment it saw the ball.

It excitedly nudged the ball with its nose, then raised its head and looked at Lin Yu'an with expectant eyes, making a "gurgling" sound in its throat.

In December, Lin Yu-an was invited to hang out together.

Lin Yu'an laughed and threw the ball out. December immediately pounced on it excitedly like a white lightning bolt!

Then, as if presenting a treasure, he carried the ball, which was covered in his saliva, back quickly and placed it at Lin Yu'an's feet.

The entire venue echoed with its joyful howls. They were playing the simplest game of fetch, having a great time.

When they got tired of playing, McCormick's assistant brought over a huge baby bottle containing high-fat milk substitutes at the perfect temperature, prepared according to a professional formula.

December lay in Lin Yu'an's arms like a baby, holding a huge milk bottle, drinking with gulping sounds, making satisfied gurgling noises in her throat.

Its paws instinctively rested on Lin Yu'an's arm, as if afraid he would disappear again.

After finishing a large bottle of milk and playing for a while, it finally felt sleepy.

December yawned widely, revealing a mouthful of sharp little teeth. It did not return to its little nest made of hay and soft cushions.

Instead, she stubbornly curled up her heavy body beside Lin Yu'an's legs and rested her head on his lap.

It closed its eyes, its long eyelashes trembling slightly. Soon, even, heavy breathing began.

It fell asleep, sleeping soundly and peacefully. It seemed that only enveloped in this familiar and reassuring atmosphere could it let down its guard and fear and truly drift off to sleep.

Lin Yu'an lowered her head and gently stroked its thick, warm fur. Looking at the unsuspecting little guy resting on her lap, she felt an overwhelming sense of affection.

After a long while, he carefully pulled his leg out and gently placed December into its little nest. Then he turned and walked towards the heavy iron gate.

However, just as he grasped the doorknob and gently turned it, the even breathing behind him abruptly stopped.

Lin Yu'an turned around and saw that December had opened her eyes at some point and was crawling out of her nest. Her obsidian-like eyes were filled with the fear of being abandoned again.

It didn't make a sound, it just looked at him with a heartbreaking gaze.

Lin Yu'an's heart melted instantly.

He walked back, squatted down, and gently placed his protective mask against December's broad forehead.

"Sweetie, Daddy isn't going anywhere far." His voice was so gentle it could melt ice and snow. "Daddy's just going to discuss something about you. It's very important."

He looked into its eyes and said, word by word, "I promise, when December baby wakes up and opens its eyes, I'll be the first thing it sees. Okay?"

December tilted its little head, looking at him with a mixture of understanding and confusion. But it could sense the comforting power in his voice.

It hesitated for a moment, but in the end, it stuck out its tongue and gently licked Lin Yu'an's cold protective mask before reluctantly lying back in its little nest.

Lin Yu'an stayed with it for a while longer, until he was sure it had fallen into a deep sleep again, before walking out of the quarantine area, looking back every few steps.

When Lin Yu-an and McCormick took off their protective suits and returned to her office, which was filled with data and charts, it was already getting dark outside.

The two sat on the sofa, with a coffee table between them, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed and harmonious than when they were in the apartment.

“Thank you, Lin,” McCorz said sincerely. “I’ve never seen it like that before. You…you really did a miracle.”

Lin Yu'an shook his head: "This isn't a miracle; it just proves that you can't use common sense to predict the behavior of any animal's offspring. But the only thing they have in common is that they can feel love and crave it!"

He looked at McCormick, his eyes becoming incredibly determined: "And I've decided to give it a home! Let's work together to carry out the plan we discussed earlier."

As he spoke, he picked up his phone and, in front of McCormick, dialed Scout's number.

The call connected quickly, and Scout's voice was full of enthusiasm: "Lin! What can I do for you, my dear friend? Is it time for our dormant funds to awaken?"

"Scooter, it'll be a while before the funds recover, and I need your help right now. Long story short. How's the Bieber concert preparation going?"

Scout immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Everything's going perfectly! The date's set for February 1st, Chinese New Year!" "Your idea is absolutely brilliant! Justin and his team absolutely love it! We've already started a global pre-launch campaign around this theme!"

Lin Yu'an nodded. "Very good. I already have an idea about the song I will perform as a guest."

"Oh? What song is it? I'll go get the performance rights for you right away!"

"The copyright hasn't been registered yet; there's only a small sample."

"Original work?" Scout was taken aback for a moment, then became even more excited!

Lin Yu-an's tone became somewhat deep, as if he were lost in some kind of memory, "Yes, it's an original song. It's a song about having once possessed something and the fear of losing it."

He chose the phenomenal ballad rock hit that burst onto the scene in early 2024 and swept across global charts like a storm.

Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things." [See the bonus chapter below if you'd like to hear more.]

This song, from the soft whispers at the beginning to the heart-wrenching plea to heaven in the chorus, the progression and explosive power of the emotions are simply tailor-made for him and December.

He possessed December, this "wonderful thing," but faced the pain of potentially losing it at any moment.

"Having had it before? Fear of losing it? Sounds great." Scout keenly grasped the core of the emotion.

"Wow! Lin, I didn't know you could write songs! Send me the demo as soon as possible, and I'll get the best producer to help you refine it! Also, we need to resolve the copyright issues."

"No problem," Lin Yu'an agreed.

Then, the conversation shifted to the real core of the call.

"Scooter, do you remember the concerns I mentioned to you before about traffic retention?"

"Of course I remember. Do you have any new ideas?"

Lin Yu'an's tone became extremely solemn: "Yes, I have an idea. I have found the perfect container to handle this wave of global traffic."

"I want to build a polar bear home."

Scout fell silent on the other end of the phone.

Lin Yu-an continued to explain: "Of course, I'm not talking about the traditional zoo where animals are kept in captivity. I'm talking about an open, top-notch habitat that integrates conservation, scientific research, education, and limited visits."

“I will livestream and record its daily life in December through my social media, from eating and sleeping to playing and learning…”

"It will become the world's most unique animal star, and young fans drawn in by Justin's concerts will have a continuous window of love."

"Let the fans converted from this wave of traffic first understand the cuteness of December, so as to retain their attention and become loyal fans of December."

Scout's eyes were filled with excitement! He could already foresee the terrifying commercial value and influence this plan would generate if it succeeded.

"Lin, this is a... brilliant idea, but are you sure you can find a polar bear that is not legally controversial?"

Lin Yu'an's voice turned serious: "This is what I wanted to tell you. This perfect plan has now encountered a huge obstacle."

He recounted to Scout in detail the predicament he was facing in December: severe depression, anorexia, and the rigid stance of the Canadian side on the issue of "ownership."

Lin Yu-an revealed her ultimate goal: "Therefore, I need to do more than just sing at Bieber's concert."

"While I'm singing 'Beautiful Things,' I need a touching video about my encounter and companionship with December to play on the big screen behind me."

"I want the whole world to fall in love with this little one. I want her to become a princess that no one dares to hurt, protected by fans all over the world."

"I want to use this method to exert an irresistible public pressure on the Canadian side, thereby securing custody in December."

On the other end of the phone, Scout fell into a long silence as his brain rapidly assessed the risks and rewards.

Is it possible to have Justin Bieber, a Canadian citizen, publicly confront the Canadian government? It sounds like a huge gamble; one wrong step could lead to him being labeled unpatriotic and getting himself into trouble.

But Scout quickly overturned this initial judgment, astutely realizing that the entry point Lin Yu'an had chosen was indeed an opportunity with both high risk and high reward!
First of all, the core of this matter is not politics, but love and protection. Saving a dying polar bear cub is a universal human emotion and a moral high ground that transcends national borders.

The Canadian government is naturally in the wrong in this matter. Secondly, Scout is gambling that the Canadian government will not dare to really confront an explosive public opinion.

They can be tough on a scientist, but they absolutely wouldn't dare be tough on hundreds of millions of young and fervent fans. Especially on environmental and animal rights issues, any hardline stance would be interpreted as cold-blooded and arrogant, which would be a political disaster.

What's even more interesting is that Justin himself is Canadian. His involvement won't be seen as foreign interference, but rather as an upright Canadian boy challenging a rigid bureaucratic system to protect his country's precious heritage.

This won't cause him to lose fans; on the contrary, it will make his image more complete and heroic! His fellow Canadian fans will only think their idol is incredibly cool, and their loyalty will be stronger than ever before!
There are risks..., but they are completely manageable.

And what about the profits? Scout's breathing became rapid; what he saw was an immeasurable blue ocean!

After a long silence, he said in a voice filled with excitement and determination, "Lin, you madman... I absolutely love your plan!"

"Leave this to me! I will utilize CAA's top-notch PR and production team."

"We'll edit the video into a work of art that rivals an Oscar-winning short documentary!"

"We will make the stage effects absolutely stunning! I guarantee that on that night, the whole world will weep for your story!"

Scout's voice was filled with the extreme excitement of a top trader who has discovered the next big thing in the world.

"Do you know how brilliant your plan is? This is no longer a simple charity event by celebrities; it's a major politically correct event that connects the entire Western entertainment industry!"

"Do you know what the most popular labels are in Hollywood right now? It's environmental protection and animal welfare!"

"So, once your plan is launched, it won't just be Justin responding! Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaquin Phoenix..."

"All the top celebrities who are passionate about environmental protection will be drawn to your true, touching, and heroic story!"

"And you, Lin Yu'an, will become the most perfect guardian for December in their eyes!"

Lin Yu'an affirmed Scout's professional judgment, saying, "Scooter, it's so easy to communicate with you, so now I need you to help me fire the first bullet."

"What kind of bullet?"

“I need Justin Bieber to tweet this in ten minutes.”

"The content is simple: a surprise about love and protection. Next month, Madison Square Garden, my brother @林予安 and I will meet there."

Scout on the other end of the phone understood instantly.

This isn't a warm-up, it's a declaration of war!

He wants to use Justin's hundreds of millions of fans worldwide to show Canada just how sharp the sword of public opinion he wields!
“Five minutes,” Scout gave an even faster time. “Lin, wait for my good news.”

After hanging up the phone, McCormick's beautiful blue eyes were still filled with shock and disbelief.

“Lin, are you...are you sure Justin Bieber would be willing to use his global influence to fight against his own country for you? He's Canadian, this is too risky for him, and if it's not handled well, it could even affect his career.”

According to McCormick, even the best of friends would inevitably back down when faced with such a significant political and media storm. This goes beyond the realm of ordinary friendship.

Lin Yu'an's smile remained unchanged, instead gaining a hint of amusement. He turned to look at McCormick and said in a relaxed yet confident tone, "He will, McCormick. One hundred percent."

"After all, besides our friendship, he has tens of millions of dollars tied up in GEM stock. Without my information, there's no guarantee that those funds can be safely withdrawn at the peak."

The sheer amount of information conveyed in that statement stunned McCormick once again. She realized that Lin Yu'an's courage in saving December stemmed not only from compassion but also from his confidence in his ability to leverage the powerful forces of the capital market!
His relationship with Justin Bieber is more than just friendship; it's a partnership based on shared interests.

Seeing McCormick's shocked expression again, he dropped his joking tone and spoke in a soft but firm voice: "Don't worry, this isn't just for me, it's for the right story. Scout and Justin both know what to do."

"All the puzzle pieces are in place, now all we have to do is wait. They will be delivered to us."

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.

(The next update will be during the day. You can listen to the song in the bonus chapter that I didn't write. Goodnight everyone.)
(End of this chapter)