King of the Wilderness

Its anorexia had reached a critical stage, leaving it with no instinctive desire for food.

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

He moved the fish paste closer to December’s nose.

This time, December seemed a bit impatient and raised its head again, preparing to dodge.

But just as its nose was about to move away, its twitching nostrils abruptly stopped.

In its black eyes, a deep confusion flashed.

This scent...

Yes, it was mainly the fishy smell, very fresh, but it wasn’t interested.

However... in the depths of that fishy aroma, there seemed to be a... a very faint yet extremely familiar scent.

What was that smell?

It carefully sniffed again.

Its memory was instantly pulled back to that night over two months ago, filled with wind, snow, and the scent of death.

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

Then a warm mass of meat paste, rich with the smell of blood, was offered to its mouth.

It was the first real bite of food in its life as a bear.

That taste contained fish, blood, and a scent that made it feel extremely at ease.

Although today’s fish paste lacked the most crucial bloody scent of the wolf’s heart and liver, the blend of fish meat and pure fish oil instantly unlocked its long-dormant taste memory!

December looked at the pink fish paste in Lin Yu’an’s hand, its gaze changing from initial indifference to confusion, and then exploding with a primal desire!

It tentatively extended its tongue to gently lick the fish paste.

The next second.

Its obsidian eyes suddenly widened!

This was the taste!

It really was this taste!

All its restraint, all its anorexia, all its depression, were completely shattered in this moment by this remembered taste!

"Awoo!"

It let out a joyful cub cry and then opened its mouth wide, swallowing the fist-sized fish paste whole!

It even coughed twice from eating too hastily.

But this couldn’t dampen its enthusiasm; it devoured the food voraciously and then eagerly nudged the feeding box with its fluffy head, making urgent gurgling sounds.

Its whole body expressed joy, and its little rear wagged excitedly.

It was saying: "More! I want more! Give me all of it!"

Watching its voraciously lively demeanor, Lin Yu’an and Mai Ke in the monitoring room both laughed.

Mai Ke gazed at the screen, at the little Polar Bear devouring its meal, and muttered to herself: "So this is how it is..."

She felt that all her cold scientific understanding of animal behavior was completely overturned by this heartwarming scene.

Sometimes, what saves a life is not the most scientific formula, not the most expensive equipment.

But simply an irreplaceable taste from deep in memory.

For the next three hours, Lin Yu’an did not leave the isolation area for even a moment.

He, like a father trying to make up for lost time, poured all his time and tenderness into this found-again little one.

The fish paste in the feeding box was consumed by December in a whirlwind. After eating and drinking its fill, its long-dormant life energy was finally reignited.

Lin Yu’an picked up the red rubber ball that had been discarded in a corner, and as soon as December saw it, its eyes lit up again.

It excitedly nudged the ball with its nose, then lifted its head to look at Lin Yu’an with expectant eyes, making gurgling sounds in its throat.

December was inviting Lin Yu’an to play.

Lin Yu’an smiled and threw the ball, and December immediately dashed after it like a bolt of white lightning!

Then it proudly brought the saliva-covered ball back, placing it at Lin Yu’an’s feet.

The whole venue echoed with its joyful awoo sounds. They were engrossed in the simple game of fetch, never tiring.

When tired, Mai Ke’s assistant brought over a large bottle of milk, perfectly warmed and prepared with a high-fat formula.

December, like a baby, lay in Lin Yu’an’s arms, hugging the large bottle, guzzling it down with gurgling satisfaction.

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

After finishing the large bottle of milk and playing a bit more, drowsiness finally overtook it.

December yawned widely, revealing a mouth full of sharp little teeth. It did not return to its nest cushioned with hay and soft mats.

Instead, stubbornly, it curled its heavy body next to Lin Yu’an’s legs, placing its head on his thigh.

It closed its eyes, its long lashes trembling slightly. Soon, the sound of even, heavy breathing filled the air.

It slept, deeply and safely, as if only wrapped in this familiar scent of security could it let go of all guard and fear, and truly enter dreamland.