Ye Yunian and Apple Bear’s migration journey was proving to be a long one. The two giant pandas had left the high-altitude areas in the spring and, throughout the entire season into early summer, they continuously moved toward the low-altitude valleys.

Now, they were slowly heading back to the higher forested areas, where the temperature was cooler than in the valleys. Both Ye Yunian and Apple Bear felt more comfortable than ever.

However, they couldn’t afford to stop their journey. The peak of summer was fast approaching, and this mountain forest that currently felt so pleasant would soon turn into a scorching hot zone.

With their thick fur, giant pandas were highly prone to heatstroke. In the wild, heatstroke—or even just a minor injury—could lead to serious consequences.

Ye Yunian and Apple Bear needed to reach the mountain’s summit before the temperatures climbed any higher.

Summer was a season full of challenges, but it was also a time of abundant life. Many plants flourished in the summer, including wild fruits.

As they trekked, Ye Yunian had already spotted several trees bearing unknown fruits in the surrounding forest. However, due to his limited experience in the wild, he couldn’t be sure if these fruits were safe to eat.

Apple Bear, however, paid no attention to the fruit-laden trees, so Ye Yunian could only look longingly at the fruits, salivating, before reluctantly following after his companion.

Along the way, Ye Yunian resisted many temptations.

But at this moment, Ye Yunian couldn’t take another step.

He didn’t recognize the fruits from before, but he definitely knew this tree—it was a peach tree!

The tree wasn’t tall, as the surrounding trees had grown wildly, blocking most of the sunlight. As a result, the peach tree had developed a rather strange shape.

Yet that didn’t stop it from blooming and bearing fruit. The tree branches were laden with peaches, and the ones at the top, closest to the sunlight, had ripened to a rosy red.

Ripe! Absolutely ripe!

All spring, Ye Yunian had been eating bamboo shoots, with the occasional fish. It had been ages since he’d tasted any fruit.

The peach tree didn’t look old, and its branches weren’t particularly thick.

Fortunately, the spot where it grew wasn’t steep, and the tree was only about three meters high. There were also shorter trees beneath it, so even if the branches broke and Ye Yunan fell, it wouldn’t hurt too much.

Today, no one could stop him from eating those peaches!

With eyes gleaming, Ye Yunian called out to Apple Bear.

Apple Bear stopped and turned, only to see Ye Yunian already climbing the tree with hands and feet.

Ye Yunian had become quite skilled at tree climbing, but the peach tree’s branches were too thin to support a panda weighing over a hundred pounds.

As soon as Ye Yunian managed to hang his full weight on the tree, he felt it begin to shake violently.

Worried that Ye Yunian might fall, Apple Bear quickly ran over and used his head to support Ye Yunian’s dangling feet.

With Apple Bear’s help, Ye Yunian grew bolder and continued to climb higher.

Of course, Apple Bear’s original intention was to get Ye Yunian to come down. But when he realized that Ye Yunian was intent on climbing further, he could only watch anxiously.

As Ye Yunian climbed higher, the tree shook even more. Finally, within reach of the peaches, he bit into two at once. Then, he heard a sharp crack, and an entire branch snapped off, crashing to the ground along with the peaches.

Without hesitation, Ye Yunian quickly scrambled down the tree.

He ran over to Apple Bear, dropped the peaches from his mouth at his friend’s feet, and turned to gather the other peaches scattered on the ground.

The peaches were small, and some were still a bit green.

The two peaches Ye Yunan handed to Apple Bear were red, ripe, and soft. With just one bite, sweet juice filled Apple Bear’s mouth.

After eating one peach, Apple Bear handed the other back to Ye Yunian.

By now, Ye Yunian was already munching on the slightly sour peaches he had picked from the ground. Seeing Apple Bear offer him the soft peach, he shook his head, refusing it.

Apple Bear, puzzled, offered the peach again.

Ye Yunian grabbed the peach in his mouth and placed it on Apple Bear’s belly.

After spending so much time together, Ye Yunian had come to understand Apple Bear’s tastes. He liked sweet things, especially sweet fruits.

That was why, during their first encounter, he had gobbled up more than forty apples.

But no matter how much Apple Bear liked something, he would always share it with Ye Yunian—whether it was nutritious bamboo rats, delicious fish roe, or the tenderest bamboo shoots. Only after Ye Yunian had eaten his fill would Apple Bear start eating for himself.

Ye Yunian knew Apple Bear treated him well, but he couldn’t just keep taking advantage of that kindness.

While the ripe, soft peach was indeed delicious, Ye Yunian was more interested in watching Apple Bear enjoy it.

After refusing the peach several times, Apple Bear seemed to understand. Looking at the half-bitten peach on his belly, he hesitated for a moment before lowering his head and finishing it.

Ye Yunian had picked about ten peaches in total. Aside from the two he gave to Apple Bear, the rest were a bit sour.

Luckily, Ye Yunian enjoyed the sweet-sour taste, so he ate contentedly.

Apple Bear, however, wasn’t fond of the tart flavor. After eating the two peaches Ye Yunian had given him, he didn’t eat any more.

Once Ye Yunian finished the peaches, the two pandas settled down together to groom their paws and fur.

Ye Yunian lazily licked his paws, then leaned against Apple Bear, feeling drowsy.

Apple Bear, having finished grooming himself, looked down at Ye Yunian and, without hesitation, began licking the fur on his companion’s face.

Ye Yunian closed his eyes, letting Apple Bear clean him.

What Ye Yunian didn’t expect was that this time, Apple Bear didn’t stop at his face. He continued grooming Ye Yunian’s body, licking even the paw pads that Ye Yunian had already cleaned himself.

Ye Yunian felt a bit ticklish and, for some reason, a wave of embarrassment washed over him. Unable to hold back, he withdrew his paws slightly.

When he opened his eyes, he found Apple Bear looking at him with a hint of confusion.

Those big, dark eyes were glossy and innocent, and his handsome bear face was full of pure bewilderment. He lowered his head again, slowly approaching Ye Yunian’s paws.

Ye Yunian: …

Ah, Apple Bear, looking at me like that is totally cheating!

Determined, Ye Yunian stretched out his paws.

Fine, fine, go ahead, lick them!

What choice did he have? After all, Ye Yunian could never resist something as fluffy as Apple Bear!