POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 44

After a few seconds of locking eyes with the handsome polar bear, memories of his recent intimate moment with Otis rushed back to Qiao Qixi, flooding him with a sense of shame. On top of that, the still-aching, hard-to-mention spot on his body reminded him of the discomfort from earlier. Even with Otis being as gentle as he was, his massive size was something that couldn't be ignored.

With Otis weighing nearly 2,000 pounds, even the slightest forward motion felt like a wave of force crashing over Qiao. If it weren't for his own decent weight, he would have been knocked flying... 'Ugh, stop! Stop thinking about it!' Qiao quickly tried to shut down the unseemly memories and turned his head away, trying to avoid meeting Otis's gaze.

But avoiding eye contact wouldn't help much, and Qiao knew that. There was still a long mating season ahead, and it was unlikely Otis would be satisfied with just one time. In fact, Qiao suspected that their first time might have been the gentlest it would ever be—thanks to the exhaustion from several days of mountain climbing.

Now, with Otis seemingly well-rested, his handsome face drew closer again, rubbing affectionately against Qiao's ears before starting to nibble him. From his head down to his paws, his fluffy legs—nothing was spared. The gentle, teasing bites were laced with a kind of sensual implication that Qiao, having now experienced Otis's possessiveness, could clearly recognize.

Before reaching maturity, Qiao had been innocent and never thought much about Otis's nibbles. He'd simply assumed Otis was feeling bored or itchy and just needed something to chew on. But now, he realized that Otis had been subtly "harassing" him all along.

By human standards, it could even be considered a form of sexual harassment. However, such formalities didn't apply between lovers, and Qiao knew that well.

Trying to avoid Otis's exploration, Qiao tucked his legs in and lay on his side. After all, it had only been a few hours since their last time, and he wasn't ready for a second round. The lingering soreness from his first experience would take a few more hours to fully subside. He hoped Otis would be considerate of his currently weakened state and hold off for a while longer.

To be fair, Qiao might have been a bit too quick to accuse Otis this time. Even though Otis did explore a few times, when Qiao finally gave up resisting, expecting the worst, Otis didn't make any lewd moves. He just continued grooming him—nothing more.

It seemed that Otis wasn't in a hurry. Perhaps he was simply helping relieve the discomfort with his grooming, as animal saliva does have some healing properties. Thanks to Otis's efforts, the soreness did start to ease.

It was then that Qiao realized he had misjudged Otis. The big guy wasn't in a rush to pounce; in fact, he might not even touch Qiao again for a while.

Qiao was right. Otis didn't seem eager at all. Perhaps the crying episode during their first time had scared him, or maybe a proper release had satisfied him enough to calm his usual affectionate gestures.

Whatever the reason, Otis was staying calm, which left Qiao a bit starry-eyed as he looked at him. "He really is handsome", Qiao thought, whether it was his appearance or his personality. Otis, sensing Qiao's gaze, looked back, their eyes meeting and reflecting each other in the deep, round pools.

These prolonged eye contact moments have been happening a lot lately.

Usually, it was Qiao who felt embarrassed first, breaking the gaze awkwardly.

'Ah, this is so embarrassing. I used to be the handsome heartthrob in school, and now my heart races when I look at a polar bear. Is this the loss of humanity or a decline in morality?'

Otis, on the other hand, never felt awkward. He was just a simple polar bear.

Aside from loving Qiao Qixi, Otis had never done anything outrageous in his life. For example, his inherited instincts told him that mating should take place on a mountain, so he obediently followed that rule and took them up the mountain.

As time passed, with nothing much else to do but occasionally exchange glances and groom each other's fur, four or five hours passed. Outside the nest, snow began to fall gently.

Qiao realized that Otis wasn't in a hurry at all—he was giving his partner plenty of time to rest. After licking Qiao's fur one last time, Otis even laid his head on his paws and yawned, seemingly ready to take a nap.

'Really? He's going to sleep?'

Qiao wondered. Not that he 'wanted' to be pounced on by a 2,000-pound bear—he wasn't crazy. But still, it wasn't just Otis who was feeling the effects of mating season.

Two years ago, Otis had lost nearly 200 pounds during this time. His well-rested body now stirred with subtle desires from deep within his soul. It was as if thousands of little bugs were gnawing at his blood and bones.

Experiencing these uncontrollable urges himself, Qiao widened his eyes in frustration, unable to suppress the urge to swear.

'Would reciting a calming mantra help?' He silently tried it, but it seemed that the mantra had no effect on a polar bear's situation.

"Woo," Qiao whimpered softly. Compared to Otis, his tolerance and patience were practically nonexistent. His body had only just begun to feel uncomfortable, and already he couldn't help but make a sound, even though it was a very soft one.

But Otis had excellent hearing—and smell. Not only did he hear Qiao's whimper, but he also caught the scent of his growing arousal. Licking his lips, Otis's breathing grew heavier. Maybe he had already been holding back, managing to stay calm until now, but this scent stirred something deep within him.

Otis lifted his head, his once sleepy eyes now wide open as he stared straight at the nearby Qiao Qixi.

Qiao realized that the tiny sound he had let slip had been heard, and it was too late to take it back. But he couldn't help it—the discomfort was overwhelming. He suddenly understood why Otis had lost 200 pounds—it wasn't an exaggeration. At this point, mere cuddling and licking wouldn't suffice; they were just drops in the ocean.

Only a storm of passion could truly satisfy these intense cravings.

After what felt like an eternity of trying to hold back, Qiao finally gave up. With a sigh of surrender, he flipped onto his back, openly inviting Otis's comfort.

Otis's pupils dilated slightly in surprise. After all, it wasn't often that Qiao would act this way. Most of the time, he was avoiding Otis's advances.

It was like a human realizing they'd just won the lottery—Otis froze for two seconds before leaning in, eagerly tending to Qiao's needs.

His partner's arousal quickly stirred Otis as well, making it hard for him to focus on pleasing Qiao. He seemed distracted, struggling to maintain control.

Qiao Qixi: 'Don't do things half-heartedly!'

As his boyfriend fumbled through the motions, Qiao made a few disgruntled growls, unsure if Otis even understood his complaints.

Otis was smart, so maybe he did understand. For the next couple of minutes, he forced himself to concentrate, but it didn't last long.

When Qiao felt the nearly 2,000-pound bulk of Otis looming over him, his first thought was that he was going to die. 'Otis is going to crush me!'

'No, no, no, not like this!'

Panicked and flustered, Qiao turned his head and bit down on Otis's forearm. Otis didn't even blink. It seemed he had completely abandoned his usual gentlemanly restraint, succumbing to the overwhelming desire coursing through him.

Had he lost control?

Qiao worried, but thankfully, even in his impulsiveness, Otis remained mindful of Qiao's limits. Despite his weight, he never fully let it crush his partner. Still, their combined mass made the encounter feel like an earthquake.

If last time's tears were fake to guilt-trip Otis, this time Qiao's tears were real.

He didn't care how Otis felt—he was the one suffering.

'I'm going to lose it.'

But Qiao knew Otis was already showing a lot of restraint. It was hard to imagine how female polar bears endured this—it must be torture.

Blinking through misty eyes, Qiao found that biting Otis was a decent way to vent his frustration. Who told Otis to be so rough?

What Qiao didn't realize was that pain could sometimes act as a stimulus.

It might have even had an unexpected effect.

The whites of Otis's eyes were tinged with red, his entire demeanor changed. He no longer exuded his usual calm and composed aura.

Some male polar bears can be quite vocal during these moments, engaging in loud communication with their partners. But Otis was the quiet type.

Aside from a few occasional, low growls of pleasure, he remained mostly silent.

The temperature in their little den continued to rise, with the snow outside providing the perfect cover from prying eyes, creating a more private, intimate setting for the two bears.

Half an hour later, Qiao Qixi managed to free himself from being squashed between Otis and the rock wall. If he hadn't moved, he would have been completely flattened. However, Otis quickly pulled him back into a hug and began affectionately grooming his fur.

At that moment, a piece of "toxic chicken soup" wisdom popped into Qiao's mind: "To know if a man loves you, just see if he falls asleep right after or stays to cuddle."

'Why did I think of that as toxic advice?'

Qiao pondered for a second and thought, 'Isn't it a bit toxic? What's wrong with falling asleep after, like I do?'

'Does that mean I don't love Otis?'

It became clear that it's really about context. For Qiao, the pattern of intimacy followed by a nap had now become a regular part of life.

Even though they weren't eating during these sessions, they were still expending energy. After a week, the results were noticeable: both Qiao and Otis had lost weight, yet their energy remained high, and their intimate life only grew more harmonious.

Occasionally, when the weather was nice, they would go out for a stroll, eating snow to hydrate. Despite their high levels of activity inside the den, Qiao enjoyed taking walks to admire the views from the mountaintop.

Otis certainly had a talent for choosing their location—a fact noted not only by Qiao but also by the team of photographers tracking them. Due to the harsh environmental conditions this year, the crew hadn't captured much footage, except for one clear video, where Otis was seen blocking most of Alexander's body from view.

But from Otis's movements, it was clear that they had indeed consummated their relationship.

What was fascinating to the researchers was the comparison between Otis and Qiao's relationship and another male-female pair on a different mountain. The two situations were worlds apart.

Otis and Alexander demonstrated a harmonious connection, one marked by tenderness and mutual trust. They didn't need any force or violence to consummate their bond. The researchers could feel the affection radiating off the screen—indeed, as some experienced colleagues had remarked, the pair was enough to make people blush.

The other couple, on the other hand, displayed a much more aggressive dynamic. The male polar bear was extremely rough, and his forceful behavior during mating was painful for the female. But for the sake of producing offspring, she endured the hardship.

One researcher raised an interesting question: "Otis is always the one being dominant, but can Alexander also find release?"

"Absolutely," another scientist responded. Polar bear anatomy, they had concluded, allowed for such stimulation.

This is common across many animals. Release is typically achieved through certain stimuli, but most animal partners lack the skills to provide mutual pleasure. As a result, many animals don't enjoy the act, with some even finding it painful.

Humans are no different—it's not uncommon for many couples to have unfulfilling bedroom lives.

Qiao, having never been in a relationship when he was human, couldn't really compare. Plus, it wouldn't be fair to compare humans and Otis in this way... 'Haha.'

If he had to answer seriously, though, he would admit that his time with Otis had been satisfying.

With that, Qiao felt the conversation about this topic was done.

As time passed, Qiao began to understand something he couldn't grasp a year ago when all he wanted was to rush down the mountain and eat seals. Back then, he couldn't comprehend Otis's desire to stay on the mountaintop.

This year, however, he finally understood. He no longer felt that urgency to go down and hunt seals. Instead, he just wanted to stay here with Otis, indulging in their endless passion. Before he knew it, they had stayed longer than any previous year.

Qiao couldn't help but admire Otis's strength. During their first year together, Otis had only stayed on the mountain for about 10 days before allowing Qiao to lead them back down.

That must have taken incredible willpower.

At this point, Qiao no longer doubted Otis's desire or performance—those doubts were pure fantasy. There was no need to question it anymore.

After more than a month of indulging in their blissful time together, Otis nuzzled his now-thinner partner, worry visible in his eyes as he gently nipped Qiao's ear.

His soft gaze seemed to ask, 'Do you want to go eat some seals?'

This year, Qiao hadn't once pouted or whined to go down the mountain. Instead, it was Otis who now felt it was time. Not because he didn't want to stay with Qiao, but because his instincts told him that Qiao needed to eat.

The memory of nurturing his cub seemed to temporarily overshadow his desire for intimacy with his partner.

Qiao never imagined that one day, he would be the one urged by Otis to leave their love nest.

That thought was almost more embarrassing than their intimate moments together.

'Fine, down the mountain it is,' Qiao thought as he hurried to retrieve the little yellow bucket that had been forgotten for so long in the thick snow.

'Thanks for hanging in there, little yellow bucket.'

With the bucket in tow, Qiao followed his gentle and rational boyfriend down the mountain.

By now, daylight had fully set in—a detail they had entirely forgotten while spending their time in the den, oblivious to the passing of day and night.

The feeling of sunlight on his fur was wonderful.

Once their regular life resumed, Qiao realized he might have really overexerted himself—climbing down the mountain felt harder than going up.

Hearing Qiao's grumbling and seeing him sit down to rest, unwilling to move, Otis patiently stopped and waited.

Now much slimmer, Qiao experienced the sensation of being light on his feet for the first time. In a way, he liked it—it could help prevent health problems caused by excess weight. However, he knew Otis wouldn't approve of this slim-down.

The urgency to descend the mountain was likely because Otis had noticed how much weight Qiao had lost.

Sure enough, once they were back on the ice, Otis returned to his role as the relentless "seal serial killer." It was as though he had seamlessly transitioned from mating season into the role of a caring father figure, making it his daily mission to feed his cub—becoming, in a sense, a tireless feeding machine.

That might be a slight exaggeration, though. Otis didn't suddenly go from burning hot passion to a hand-holding, parental relationship. The affection was still there, just much more controlled.

After some time back on the ice, the last traces of spring passed.

Both bears were no longer affected by the season, and life returned to its usual rhythm.

Typically, after mating season, polar bear pairs would soon welcome the arrival of a new generation.

But for these two male polar bears, that would never be their reality. They weren't even likely to think about having offspring.

At least, Qiao hadn't given it much thought, but as for Otis...

Looking at Otis intently searching for food, Qiao found himself wondering whether this exceptional bear had ever thought about leaving behind a legacy.

It seemed natural to assume he had. Reproduction was written into the genetic code of all animals.

But Otis had chosen to defy that basic instinct, meaning he would leave no descendants.

Qiao didn't feel any particular sadness about that fact. Yet a random thought popped into his head: what if, before their next migration, they could come across a baby bear abandoned by its mother?

He was certain he and Otis could raise a cub together.

But where would they even find such a cub? Would the government hand them one?

The answer, of course, was no.

The bigger question was, would Otis even agree to raise a cub?

It didn't seem likely.

Unless, of course, the cub was as cute as Qiao had been when Otis first found him.

Regardless, for the rest of their journey, Qiao kept an eye out for any signs of cubs.

He did spot a few, but they all had mothers.

His inner voice let out a disappointed cry, but in reality, all he could do was watch from a distance.

'Am I getting old?' Qiao thought, surprised by his sudden desire to raise a cub.

Because he kept looking back to watch the mother bears and their cubs, Otis let out a low growl of disapproval.

Focused on the cubs, Qiao didn't notice.

The result was a sharp pain in his ear as Otis bit it, pulling his head back around.

It wasn't jealousy—just a course correction.

"..." Qiao yelped in surprise, unsure why Otis had bitten him, especially with more force than usual.

Ignoring the reprimand, Qiao resumed glancing over his shoulder.

'Baby bears are so cute! I want one!'

This time, Otis didn't bite his ear again. Instead, he grabbed Qiao by the scruff and dragged him to a place where he couldn't see any more mother bears.

'Ah, ah, ah!'

Feeling the dull ache where Otis had bitten the loose skin on his neck, Qiao finally understood.

'No, no, no, I wasn't thinking anything like that!'

And so, he obediently followed his boyfriend's lead.

NOTE:

Hi, guys! Sorry for the late update. I got an internship and I can't focus much on translating. My initial plan was to do 2 chapters/week. But I am gonna change it to one considering my internship. But don't worry I will definitely keep updating. And another good news is that this polar bear arc is going to end by 2 or 3 chapters, then we can officially move on to the next arc !!! ヾ(≧ ▽ ≦)ゝ