POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 32

Otis had an incredible sense of possessiveness towards the little bear. As soon as that warm body left his side, even though he hadn't had his fill of sleep, Otis would open his eyes, get up, and follow Qiao Qixi's scent to find him.

At that moment, Qiao Qixi was outside, playing around with the camera. Wanting to make sure the data didn't look too unconventional, he thought he should display the natural curiosity typical of a wild polar bear. So, he raised a paw and swatted at the fake stone a few times, acting lively but quickly losing interest, as if the toy was too dull.

Just then, Otis arrived. Qiao Qixi suddenly felt nervous, knowing that polar bears have a reputation for rubbing up against cameras. Luckily, Otis only gave the fake stone a passing glance, finding nothing unusual about it, and quickly turned his attention to Qiao Qixi, nudging him firmly as if scolding him for leaving alone.

"...!" Qiao Qixi wasn't sure if he should trust his instinctive translation of Otis's actions, but he decided to believe it for now.

Of course, Otis's "scolding" wasn't serious, more like a gentle reproach. Once Qiao Qixi nuzzled back, Otis was quickly appeased. In his mind, he rationalized the little bear's brief departure as a sign of hunger.

Without further ado, Otis nudged Qiao Qixi and then headed toward the sea, while the camera quietly recorded the scene. Thanks to the polar bears' leniency, Little Stone survived another day and could continue its work.

As he walked slowly, Qiao Qixi couldn't help but wonder who was behind the camera. Would their daily life be edited into a BBC documentary or featured on a TV nature show?

Secretly, the little bear hoped it would be on TV. Just imagine—the thrill of being a loyal viewer of a nature show one moment, only to become a subject of that same show half a year later!

From the day the camera started following them, Qiao Qixi decided to turn over a new leaf and be a proper little bear, providing the researchers with genuine, unembellished data. He avoided doing anything that might seem too human, like crossing his legs, rolling his eyes, using his bucket for storage, deliberately farting near Otis, sticking his paws in Otis's mouth, or tugging on Otis's tail.

Counting these habits made him wonder why Otis hadn't ditched him yet. Was Otis just waiting for the right moment?

It wasn't too hard to give up these habits. After all, it was just like going back to when they first teamed up, when Qiao Qixi still knew what it meant to be polite.

After a hard day of hunting, Qiao Qixi and Otis rested at the entrance of their house. Otis glanced at the little bear sitting upright by the door, staring out at the sea. Suddenly, Otis stopped licking his paws, lay down, and rolled onto his back, exposing his belly to the night sky.

As he rubbed his back on the ground, Otis kept glancing at Qiao Qixi, who seemed lost in thought. But the little bear wouldn't look at him, forcing Otis to emit a low growl from his throat.

"..." Out of the corner of his eye, Qiao Qixi noticed Otis's antics. He had already picked up on Otis's signal to come and play but hesitated because of the camera. After all, he didn't want to be seen on TV foolishly playing with Otis's belly.

Otis tilted his head, not understanding why Qiao Qixi wasn't joining in. Was he not in the mood for this game today?

When a habit forms, a polar bear's way of processing information makes it hard for them to understand why something changes. Perhaps Otis didn't even think about it much. However, Otis might have been a more sensitive bear. He grew curious about what Qiao Qixi liked and wanted to figure it out.

Otis walked over and licked the little bear, perhaps suggesting they try a different game. Maybe a little tail-tugging or play-fighting would do the trick. Eager to engage, Otis playfully nudged Qiao Qixi and then pranced around him in circles, as if saying, "Come on, catch me if you can!"

Seeing Otis like this, Qiao "I-just-changed-my-ways" Xixi reflected on himself. What's the point of maintaining this image? If I keep this up, Otis might develop some kind of psychological issue.

With that realization, Qiao Qixi sprang into action, happily chasing after Otis, yipping and yapping as they dashed across the beach.

"Stop right there! Leave that tail behind, mister!"

Otis ran freely across the sand, knowing full well that if he wanted to, the little bear wouldn't be able to touch a single hair on his fur. However, deeply fond of the little bear, Otis would occasionally let Qiao Qixi catch him, just to keep the game fun.

It was a childish game, no doubt. Qiao Qixi, with his mature human soul, thought so. Otis, with his adult bear instincts, probably did too. But they were both willing to act like kids for each other's sake.

Fast forward three days, and the researchers behind the computer screens had roughly figured out the daily routines of these two polar bears. It wasn't much of a surprise—sleeping, hunting, and occasional play filled their days. Hunting took up most of their time, followed by sleeping. Polar bears have bottomless appetites, and even a ten-pound fish wouldn't keep them full for long. Besides, ten-pound fish weren't common in shallow waters.

"Actually, an adult male polar bear can fast from June until winter," said one professor during a data analysis meeting. "But Otis hasn't done that because he's been feeding the growing Alexander, much like a mother bear with her cub. He hasn't stopped hunting throughout the summer and autumn."

The others nodded. "Otis isn't even sexually mature yet. I thought such nurturing behavior would only appear after he was capable of reproduction."

"That's usually the case. The hormone that drives maternal behavior is related to the production of milk. However, hormone levels can fluctuate with time and circumstances. It doesn't stay constant."

"..."

The more they tracked the bears, the more these dedicated researchers realized how little they knew about polar bears. If they wanted to learn more, it seemed they would need to rely on Little Stone's continued hard work.

After dropping his act for the camera, Qiao Qixi reverted to his usual self, though he wasn't foolish. Whenever he wanted to break character, he made sure to do it out of the camera's sight. For example, when inside the house, he'd kick up his paws as high as he liked, stretch them wherever he pleased. They wouldn't install a camera inside the house, right? That kind of treatment was reserved for A-list celebrities, he thought. A little bear like him, just starting his career, shouldn't have to worry about that.

What Qiao Qixi didn't expect was that while his private life didn't make it to TV, it went viral on the internet, gaining global attention. Interestingly, the people fascinated by the two polar bears were divided into several camps over a particular issue.

Some believed Otis and Alexander shared a deep friendship, while others thought they had a brotherly bond or even a father-son relationship. A third group was convinced that Otis's feelings for Alexander went beyond familial affection, believing it had transcended into something more.

The word "love" popped up in online discussions, though it was more of a projection from humans, unlikely to be genuinely believed, even by those who imagined it.

Beyond the intense interest in the two main characters, Alexander's little yellow bucket also gained some unexpected fame.

Clever businesses quickly seized the opportunity, producing batches of "Alexander-style" yellow buckets, making a tidy profit while the trend lasted.

If Qiao Qixi didn't already have a house, assets, and a comfortable life in the Arctic, he might have sued the companies until they were left with nothing but their underwear.

But the now-zen little bear had long since shed those worldly desires.

Throughout October, Otis and Qiao Qixi stayed in the bay, living a simple yet content life. If only the fish were dumber and fatter, it would've been perfect.

In early November, both polar bears seemed to catch the scent of ice and snow in the air. They gazed out at the horizon, filled with anticipation.

Otis, highly sensitive to seasonal changes, could detect shifts in air moisture, temperature, wind patterns, and tides—everything he needed to judge the situation. The little bear, following his lead, tried to learn from him.

From the environmental changes and Otis's behavior, Qiao Qixi had a hunch that their lives were about to change.

He wasn't wrong. Before long, Otis seemed to have made a decision. They would continue north, find a suitable spot to enter the sea, and then head toward the polar region.

It looked like their departure was imminent.

The Pacific Ocean was calm that day, with gentle waves lapping at the shore. When Qiao Qixi woke up, he received a gentle signal from Otis that it was time to leave. Otis seemed a bit concerned about the little bear's feelings, licking him more tenderly than usual.

Perhaps Otis was worried that Qiao Qixi wouldn't want to leave the small house they had made. So, he was being especially attentive to his emotions.

"..." Qiao Qixi was moved. He thought, "This early in the morning

, and you're already tugging at my heartstrings?"

Sure, he felt a bit reluctant, but only a little, like the feeling of going on a long trip. Besides, they would return tomorrow!

So, as soon as he got the signal, Qiao Qixi eagerly started gathering his things.

When the camera saw Alexander carrying his little yellow bucket, the researchers were thrilled, but when they saw him lift it with both paws, they were shocked!

"Is the little bear finally going to attack the camera?" they wondered in dismay.

But no, Qiao Qixi merely placed the fake stone inside the bucket. Since they were leaving the bay and wouldn't be going into the water for a while, why not bring the camera along?

The researchers soon realized what was happening. The little bear wasn't destroying the camera; he was just taking it with him. But taking it away?!

Within minutes, everyone at the research station knew that Alexander and Otis were moving, and they were taking the camera with them.

"Does Alexander think the camera is a toy, like his yellow bucket?"

"Maybe he considers it his private property..."

"We didn't see that coming."

"Well, the camera didn't get destroyed by the polar bears; it just got claimed by them."

"Do you think the camera will still work?"

"...That depends on whether Alexander decides to take it out again."

"Poor camera."

"Get your popcorn ready for the next episode."

As they left the bay and headed north, there were, of course, times when they would stop to rest.

Whenever they took a break, Qiao Qixi would let the camera out, giving it a chance to roam free.

Was this because Qiao Qixi was a kind-hearted bear?

Not entirely, though that was part of it.

Since the camera had been placed by humans, there must be someone monitoring it. If anything dangerous happened while they were sleeping, they would surely be alerted. It was like having a security camera at their front door, offering a sense of safety.

So, the fake stone would patrol while he and Otis slept soundly—a win-win situation.

The camera continued to function, much to the researchers' gratitude. Such an expensive piece of equipment hadn't been lost, after all...

At least, the little bear always remembered to let it out before going to sleep.

"[Facepalm emoji] Thanks to Alexander's care, the boss won't have anything to complain about in the next meeting."

"Has Alexander adopted the camera as a pet? That's so cute."

"Low-key, I kinda wish I were that camera, just saying."

"Same here. Imagine tagging along on their journey—sounds so fun."

On the migration route, finding food was a matter of luck. Even Qiao Qixi, who had been fairly fortunate so far, went two or three days without finding anything to eat.

One day, after resting without finding food, the pampered little bear was so hungry he started whining.

He knew this scene would be caught on camera, but who cared? It was just how things were. If venting a bit could make him feel better, why not?

At first, the researchers watching from the computers didn't understand why the little bear was whining. Was he sick?

It wasn't until they saw Otis patiently comforting him that they realized Alexander wasn't sick; he was just hungry and cranky.

"..."

Surely, Alexander was the only polar bear in the Arctic who threw a tantrum when he was hungry.

Spoiled rotten.

Initially, people watching found it endearing that Otis was so good to Alexander. But as they watched more, they started to feel that maybe Otis was too lenient. Perhaps he should put a little pressure on Alexander.

Be a bit stricter.

But when they imagined themselves in Otis's shoes, they realized it would be hard to be strict.

The first three days of fasting were the hardest. After a week, the body would gradually adjust to the hunger.

As the weather grew colder, if they didn't find a new hunting ground soon, they might have to enter the sea on empty stomachs. Otis clearly didn't want that, so he pushed hard to find food for the little bear.

More time spent traveling meant less time for sleep.

Fortunately, Qiao Qixi couldn't sleep anyway, so he kept up with Otis, never lagging behind.

Eventually, they arrived at a cliff.

Waves crashed against the rocks below, filling the air with the sound of water hitting stone.

Below the cliff was a group of reefs covered in seaweed and shellfish, but the path down was slippery.

Otis could manage, but Qiao Qixi's legs trembled.

It was pretty high up, and one wrong step could send him tumbling into the sea.

But polar bears always seemed unaware of their own weight and liked to challenge such dangerous spots.

Otis descended first, then looked back, waiting for Qiao Qixi to take his first step in conquering the cliff.

Qiao Qixi: "Are you kidding me?"

Since the path was indeed treacherous, Otis took on the responsibility of carrying the little yellow bucket. Usually, Qiao Qixi carried it, cherishing it because it was the only one he had. If it broke, there would be no replacement. The camera was also valuable.

Qiao Qixi cautiously took his first step, determined to conquer the cliff.

Animals' sense of balance can be extraordinary, like the mountain goats that live on steep cliffs without fear of heights.

Now Qiao Qixi was proud of himself—he had made it down the rocky cliff, and when his paws touched the reef, he felt like his experience level had just shot up.

After resting for a bit, he started searching for food among the seaweed and shells.

In a previously unexplored area, there was an abundance of food—plump seafood that humans would pay a lot for.

But for the polar bears, it was just a casual meal.

Endangered species or not, anything they could catch was fair game.

As Qiao Qixi happily munched away, he looked over and saw Otis sitting on a rock, holding a bundle of giant seaweed in his paws, munching on it with a tilted head.

So simple and crude.

But the little bear wasn't about to stoop to Otis's level. Instead, he gathered a pile of scallops and oysters, stacked them on a slightly flat rock to form a little mountain, and sat next to it, leisurely cracking them open.

He ate one pile after another.

Occasionally, he would take a break and let Otis feed him some seaweed.

Meanwhile, the camera remained in the little yellow bucket, placed in a hollow in the reef. It wasn't let out for fresh air that day.

The researchers noticed this and started wondering what was going on with the polar bears. Why hadn't Little Stone been released yet?

They sent out a drone to check and found the bears were fine, just enjoying a meal by the sea.

As Qiao Qixi ate, he noticed it had started to snow lightly.

Wow, it's snowing.

Snowflakes landed on Otis's nose and instantly melted. He looked up at the sky, then continued eating.

Watching the snow fall without feeling cold was a strange experience.

The little bear's mood soared as he enjoyed the snow and his meal.

But mischievous as ever, he couldn't sit still.

For instance, he tossed an unopened shell at Otis, making him pause in surprise.

From about two meters away, it was hard to see Otis's expression, but he probably looked resigned.

Hehe.

Otis picked up the scallop and happily ate the little bear's gift.

After who knows how long, Otis signaled to Qiao Qixi that it was time to go.

The little bear was surprised—were they entering the sea from here?

Were they not going back to shore?

His eyes immediately darted to the little yellow bucket... mainly to the camera inside. If they weren't going back, should he leave the camera here?

Although the area was rugged, the staff should be able to come down and retrieve the camera, right?

Feeling guilty, Qiao Qixi thought, "Well, I didn't know we weren't going back. I wouldn't have brought it down if I'd known."

Half an hour later, the two polar bears and the little yellow bucket entered the sea.

The poor camera was left at the base of the cliff, sitting alone on a reef, watching them disappear into the distance.

The researchers: "What???"

This was getting ridiculous.

People started thinking up excuses to avoid being the one sent to retrieve the camera. Claiming to have caught a cold seemed like a good option.

Now that the little bear was full, he felt like he could swim 50 kilometers without getting tired.

Maybe that was a sign of maturity.

But the sea, dimly lit and somewhat eerie due to the snowfall, made the journey intimidating. While the scene was beautiful, visibility was poor.

As Qiao Qixi swam, he marveled at Otis's sense of direction and focused on learning from his every move.

He had to memorize this route and all the details of traveling in the water—these were essential skills.

Knowing the polar bears had embarked on a long journey, the researchers grew concerned.

At this time of year, the deep waters of Greenland were home to the Greenland shark, a formidable predator.

Every year, records showed polar bears falling victim to these deep-sea killers.

Otis was well aware of this threat, having once encountered one himself.

It was a brush with death.

Perhaps it was these close encounters with mortality that shaped Otis's calm and composed personality, making him seem far more mature than his age.

Revised ✔