POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 37

#What should one do when a male polar bear falls in love with another male polar bear, especially when the latter is still underage?#

#Supplementary Information:# The male polar bear in question is extremely handsome, highly skilled at hunting beluga whales and seals, has a calm and composed personality, is fierce and domineering to outsiders, yet tender and indulgent within his close circle. His genetics are top-notch!

"..." Qiao Qixi had no idea how to react.

His mindset was completely shattered.

What happened to the great friendship, the most beautiful brotherhood in the Arctic? It turns out it was all a façade, hiding a deep and intense passion beneath a veil of innocence.

When this reality was revealed, it caught the little bear completely off guard.

Similarly unprepared were Otis, who had just been dealt a direct confession by the little bear, and the filming crew.

But their reactions were filled with barely-contained excitement.

Spring was still a bit away, and Otis hadn't yet prepared a suitable place for intimacy.

However, the little bear suddenly sprawled out in the middle of the snow-covered path, essentially asking for affection with a willful and eager demeanor.

Otis was initially stunned.

But within a second, he was filled with unprecedented joy. He immediately began rolling around with the little bear, unable to avoid displaying his affection, which frightened the little bear.

Otis, however, couldn't understand why the little bear, who had just initiated the interaction, was now scared of his affectionate advances. Nevertheless, he didn't always insist on those advances, especially in an unsuitable setting like this one. Despite the discomfort of holding back, he managed to restrain himself.

As they continued their journey, with Qiao Qixi's face covered in Otis's saliva, the little bear's thoughts were a jumbled mess, as tangled as the fur growing between his toes.

The little yellow bucket that Alexander had forgotten was fortunately remembered by Otis, or it might have been lost forever in the vast snowfields.

Finally, after some time had passed, the filming crew's excitement began to subside slightly.

Watching Otis and Alexander's retreating figures, every member of the filming crew breathed a quiet sigh of relief. From the moment they realized that Otis and Alexander were a couple, every interaction they witnessed was no longer just a pure friendship.

It was as if they were now voyeuristically observing the springtime life of a same-sex polar bear couple.

More experienced male crew members were better prepared; years of work had accustomed them to capturing all sorts of intimate animal behaviors. However, the shyer female members, no matter how many times they saw such scenes, still found their hearts racing and faces flushing.

This time, the team leader unexpectedly commented, "Even I'm blushing from watching this pair. Otis really knows how to play."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Having just witnessed a rather suggestive scene in the snow, they regained their professional composure and began documenting their observations. Some details would be lost if not recorded immediately.

In the isolated Arctic, without any signal, communication with the outside world could only be managed via radio.

What had just unfolded was too surprising to keep to themselves. Witnessing two male polar bears confirming their romantic relationship, the team members felt compelled to share this revelation with their colleagues.

The forum poster who had initially followed these two polar bears received the news in disbelief. It was hard to accept the professor's claims.

"It's true," the professor assured, "This news just came in from the field. Several pairs of eyes witnessed it; there's no mistake unless they're all playing a joke on us."

That seemed unlikely.

Their colleagues were highly professional, elite in their fields, and wouldn't joke about something so significant.

"Anyway, they're filming, right?" The professor shrugged. "We'll know for sure once they get back."

That made sense.

The poster took some time to process this information before deciding to update the forum about the latest developments with the polar bears, to prevent people from worrying.

When the post was published, the poster hesitated for a moment. The reason was simple: there are still some voices of opposition toward homosexuality in the world, which is an undeniable reality.

The poster was concerned that announcing the two polar bears were gay might expose these adorable creatures to harsh criticism.

Moreover, with Alexander still underage, the one likely to face the most backlash would be Otis, who could be seen as taking advantage. After all, Alexander had a global fan base of fierce, protective "moms" who would be outraged.

But then the poster thought, should they deny Otis and Alexander the right to receive blessings just because of these few dissenting voices?

So, the poster decided to go ahead with the update.

#Spring Filming Team Reports: Otis and Alexander Are in a Romantic Relationship#

To avoid being doubted, the poster wrote a lengthy explanation: I know some of you might find this hard to believe, and you might question the authenticity of this news, but I assure you it's true. I swear on my job. As for pictures, they haven't been sent back yet, but I'll post them as soon as I get them.

Here are some of the forum replies, which were somewhat unexpected:

#Reply 1:# "So, it's finally out in the open?"

#Reply 2:# "Publicly outed? QAQ Otis and Alexander, I swear it wasn't me who spilled the beans!"

#Reply 3:# "This secret couldn't be kept forever, haha."

#Reply 4:# "Could you guys be serious for a second? I was expecting shock and disbelief in the comments."

#Reply 5:# "Let me pretend for a moment: OMG! Otis and Alexander are in a relationship? How is that even possible?! They're both male, and one of them isn't even fully grown. Otis is such a bad influence!"

#Reply 6:# "Let me continue: Otis is so bad! Who would've thought he'd catch seals for Alexander every day, fatten him up just to have him all to himself?"

#Reply 7:# "Such a bad bear, hahahaha. Seriously though, I'm not surprised."

#Reply 8:# "Smart me already imagined how they were discovered by the filmmakers. Okay, let's be real; anyone on this forum knows how common same-sex relationships are in the animal kingdom."

#Reply 9:# "This is the animal kingdom—breeding is instinct, but true love is real. (Awww, blessings!!)"

#Reply 10:# "The headline finally clears up my long-standing confusion. It all makes sense now, great, great."

#Reply 11:# "Hahaha, spring is here! Otis and Alexander's romance couldn't stay hidden any longer. Blessings to them. PS: I'm not even surprised!"

#Reply 12:# "I told you so, didn't I?"

#Reply 13:# [Laughing emoji] "Sweet Alexander, did you know? There's no such thing as a free meal. Every bite of seal comes with a price."

#Reply 14:# "What? It seems like everyone else knew? I just thought they were too close as companions. If it's love, then everything makes sense. Now I'm looking forward to seeing how this relationship develops~"

#Reply 15:# "I've been watching Otis spoil Alexander to the bone since he was just over a year old. He's taken care of him until he's now over two years old. Even in the summer, Otis braved the heat to hunt whales under the scorching sun. I knew his feelings ran deep, but I never expected Alexander would reciprocate."

#Reply 16:# "Seeing their mutual affection, I have a question: Does a two-and-a-half-year-old Alexander really know what love is? Is there a chance Otis is coercing him?"

#Reply 17:# "That's unlikely. We all know Otis would do anything for Alexander."

#Reply 18:# "Don't doubt Otis's love for the little bear. If Alexander whined a bit, Otis would give up everything for him!"

#Reply 19:# "Reading the comments with a smirk, I couldn't help but see someone doubting Otis's feelings. I guess you've never been loved that deeply? Neither have I, sniff."

#Reply 20:# "As spring arrives, single girls like me are super envious of Alexander. Otis spoils him so much."

...

As the poster scrolled down, they couldn't find a single comment criticizing the bear romance, aside from a few remarks scolding Otis for being too eager.

Most of the responses were filled with blessings and envy.

The poster could understand the blessings and envy, but the strong demand for the government to assign Otis as a boyfriend was a bit much.

There were also many who, recognizing Otis's charm, strength, and affectionate nature, didn't mind that he had won over Alexander. After all, if it were any other bear with Alexander, they wouldn't necessarily approve either.

This news quickly spread across the internet, causing a storm comparable to the worst blizzards in the Arctic.

First, there were those who stood by "brotherhood" and "friendship."

'What? Two male polar bears have come out as a couple right before our eyes?'

"..."

People's emotions were complicated, and many posted updates expressing that their minds had taken a bit of a hit.

But the transition from friendship to love wasn't too hard to accept.

Respecting individual choices is a basic principle.

Those who had been fans of the "father-son" relationship took an even bigger hit, as they were typically older and a bit more conservative in their views.

The transition from father-son to love seemed outrageous.

Their posts were filled with scorn for Otis, while simultaneously declaring their undying love for Alexander.

Of course, there was also a group of people who had always firmly believed that the two bears were in love. They just never expected that, just before spring, Otis and Alexander would come out publicly.

"!!!!"

Their excitement could only be expressed through screams.

By the way, there's a unique online ranking called: 'The Most Hopeless Ships You've Ever Shipped.'

Even national leaders made the list.

But those weren't the most hopeless ships; at least there were many shared moments to enjoy.

Some non-living objects also made the list.

Actually, it wasn't too bad—you could always manufacture scenarios where they're in the same space, so you could still get your fix.

But the most hopeless ships? Finally, someone nominated those majestic, fierce heartthrobs of the natural world.

Strong and domineering types, like polar bears in the snow; handsome and wicked types, like leopards on the savannah; and cold and captivating types, like snow wolves in the mountains—they had it all.

Shipping these wild animal pairings was like putting yourself on a path of no return.

No matter how much time passed, it would never become reality.

But to everyone's shock, a pair of polar bears had just come out unexpectedly.

They had made it official.

This older polar bear couple was now a real thing, with Otis, the strong and handsome alpha, who could easily be described as an animal version of a "domineering CEO."

Otis's treatment of his partner, the little bear, had always been about one thing: spoiling him.

It was hard not to get excited.

The younger bear, Alexander, was adorable and delicate, with an incredibly high level of cuteness. His fur was super white, his personality super sweet, and he had a fan base around the world that was half again as large as his boyfriend's.

Many people admitted that they only liked Otis because they liked Alexander, and Otis was utterly devoted to Alexander.

Now that this special Arctic romance had suddenly gone public, people began to look at Otis the way a mother-in-law would look at her son-in-law.

Otis, who was climbing the snowy mountain at that very moment, would never know that he had suddenly gained tens of millions of "mothers-in-law" overnight.

His world didn't include these strange human emotions.

While other polar bears were still searching for mates on the ground, Otis was leading the little bear up the mountain.

From the moment they left the ice, they hadn't eaten.

So, with his stomach growling, Alexander was not only starving but also had to climb a mountain?!

He felt like he was enduring far more than a bear his age should have to.

He wasn't supposed to be climbing this mountain for another two and a half years!

Now that things had reached this point, as Otis led Qiao Qixi up the mountain, he finally understood the significance of this climb.

He really didn't want to go and even pretended to play dead on the ground.

Whenever this happened, Otis would stop, patiently waiting beside the stubborn little bear, occasionally nudging him with his nose or gently pushing him with his head.

It was a silent, gentle encouragement.

He hoped the little bear would get up and keep walking, but he never forcefully insisted.

If the little bear continued to act up, Otis had no choice but to wait.

"Roar, roar!" Hungry!

Qiao Qixi was so frustrated. Not only was he hungry, but he also had to climb a mountain and worry about being...well, taken advantage of at the top.

Otis responded with a low growl, his expression showing some helplessness as he looked around.

They were already halfway up the mountain, and the surroundings were barren.

As spring arrived, polar bears would stop eating, driven by their reproductive urges, which temporarily made them forget their hunger.

Only the little bear, unaffected by these urges, was constantly thinking about food.

"Roar, roar..." Afraid of reaching the top, the little bear clung to Otis's thick forelimb, hoping they could turn back and return to the ice floes.

Otis blinked his eyes full of emotion, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

After all, he couldn't speak.

Moreover, the urge to take the little bear to the top was so strong that even the little bear's plea didn't lead to an immediate answer.

Perhaps Otis was experiencing a mental tug-of-war, with his instinct driving him forward while his love for the little bear made him want to comply with the bear's wishes.

The intense internal conflict flickered like twin flames in the bright eyes of the polar bear.

Qiao Qixi, feeling the intense gaze, stood there for a full two minutes. Then he heard Otis's voice of compromise, echoing across the mountainside.

It sounded like he was saying: 'Alright, let's go back and catch some seals.'

Otis's actions matched the message. He slowly turned around, his massive paws taking the path down the mountain.

After a few steps, he noticed the little bear wasn't following and turned back to see what was wrong: 'What's up? Didn't you want to eat seals?'

Qiao Qixi lay in the snow, dazed, having succeeded in getting his way but not feeling particularly happy about it.

Suddenly, his nose began to tingle, and his eyes grew warm.

Otis was so good to him.

'Sniff, sniff.'

Springtime restlessness is just an instinctive reaction for animals. Why should it be suppressed? What animal can self-regulate such instincts?

It's unreasonable and unfair, Qiao Qixi thought.

Otis's instinct was to climb the mountain during mating season, but he chose to go back because of his feelings.

If even a polar bear can be considerate, why can't I?

So...

Forget it! We're not going down the mountain, we're going to the top!

Qiao the Little Bear suddenly stood up, roaring with determination: 'Let's go, we're climbing this mountain!'

The bear that had just been lying on the ground as if it were on the verge of death was now sprinting up the mountain with impressive speed.

Otis blinked, seemingly confused by the sudden change, but he was more than happy to accept the little bear's invitation.

Without a second thought, he quickly followed.

The path up the mountain was somewhat treacherous. Otis hoped the little bear would slow down, preferably following behind him, stepping where he had stepped.

A few months ago, the little bear had needed Otis to carry him up even small slopes.

Now that he'd grown a bit, ordinary rough terrain was no longer an issue for him, though he was still too scared to look back down the steep path they were climbing.

'Darn it.'

Why do polar bears have this tradition of mating at the top of the mountain?

The male and female pairing makes sense—it's to avoid other males trying to steal the female.

But they were both males—who was going to try and steal one of them?

Certainly not a female.

The little bear grumbled to himself as he climbed, occasionally glancing up to see how much farther they had to go.

Good, not much farther. The light of victory was just ahead.

At the summit, the wind howled.

After the effort of reaching the top, the polar bears weren't quite done preparing for their mating. They still needed to find a secluded, wind-sheltered spot.

Maybe behind a rocky outcrop.

As the two bears slowly searched for the perfect spot, the filming crew, having received word of their progress, began setting up their own positions.

They prayed that Otis wouldn't hide the little bear too well, hoping for just a tiny glimpse.

But Otis was clever. He chose a location that was very difficult to spy on from any angle without disturbing them.

The filming crew could only capture distant shots, which was frustrating.

Otis, who was experiencing all this for the first time, was meticulous to a fault. Several times Qiao Qixi thought they had found the spot, but Otis remained unsatisfied and continued searching.

Finally, in a semi-enclosed rocky area, Otis circled around a spot several times, pawing at the ground.

He finally decided this was the place.

The little bear, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, felt incredibly awkward, not knowing what to do. He sat with his legs together, looking as proper as possible.

'Ah, climbing the mountain is fun for a moment, but the summit is like a funeral.'

It was just so embarrassing.

Otis carefully placed Qiao Qixi's little bucket in a safe spot. It was the bear's cherished toy, and he didn't want it to get damaged.

In the crew's camera footage, the little yellow bucket was the clearest object they could see.

But who wanted to see the little yellow bucket?

They wanted to see the intimate interaction between the two polar bears!

This was invaluable research material.

Unfortunately, Otis was determined to keep it private.

The meeting place was prepared, and after non-stop walking since they started climbing, both polar bears were exhausted.

Otis couldn't sleep because of the imminent opportunity for mating, but the little bear, unaffected by spring's influence, slept soundly in his embrace.

This fierce yet gentle beast of the north chose to ignore the storm of desire raging within him.

He simply lay there on the mountaintop, quietly waiting.