In the latter half of the journey, Apple Bear passed out from the fever, leaving the remainder of the trek entirely dependent on Ye Yunian to carry him.

Apple Bear was significantly larger than Ye Yunian, easily twice his weight. By the time they reached the base, Ye Yunian didn’t even remember how he had managed to walk the final stretch. His mind had been solely focused on the unconscious Apple Bear, leaving no room for any other thoughts.

Once Ye Yunian was sure Apple Bear would receive medical attention and was no longer in immediate danger, the tension he’d been carrying finally released. The fatigue he had been pushing aside flooded him like a tidal wave, overwhelming him completely.

Coupled with the fact that he hadn’t eaten all day, it was no wonder Ye Yunian had fainted on the spot.

His sudden collapse alarmed the nearby staff. Just as Apple Bear was rushed into the operating room, Ye Yunian was brought in right behind him.

Fortunately, after a thorough examination, the vets determined that Ye Yunian wasn’t injured—he had simply fainted from hunger.

That’s why Ye Yunian had been hooked up to an IV of glucose.

As the last bit of fluid from the IV dripped into Ye Yunian’s body, a vet approached to remove the needle.

Nearby, the caretaker had already prepared fresh bamboo shoots and stalks for Ye Yunian. In the middle of the bamboo, there were two delicious, fragrant steamed buns.

The glucose had restored a fair amount of Ye Yunian’s energy, but the hunger gnawing at his stomach was something glucose couldn’t fix.

Once his limbs were free, Ye Yunian immediately rolled over and sat up. With unsteady steps, he made his way to the pile of bamboo and nestled in.

He grabbed one of the buns and took a big bite, closing his eyes in delight as the delicious flavor filled his mouth.

So tasty!

Half-reclining in the pile of bamboo, Ye Yunian chewed contentedly.

The food eased his exhaustion, and the familiar, safe environment of the enclosure allowed him to fully relax.

Ever since Apple Bear had been injured, Ye Yunian had been on edge for days. Not only had he been constantly thinking about how to hunt for nutritious food, but he’d also had to remain vigilant for other predators and monitor Apple Bear’s condition around the clock.

It had been a long time since Ye Yunian had felt this relaxed.

The base really was a place where pandas could feel safe!

However, thoughts of Apple Bear soon returned, and Ye Yunian couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.

The sky outside had already grown completely dark. What time was it now?

Had Apple Bear’s wounds been treated?

He should be safe by now, right? But where would they take him after surgery?

Apple Bear was a wild panda who had probably never seen many humans before. He had been so anxious when they carried him on the stretcher. Would he feel even more uneasy now that he was alone?

Ye Yunian had so many concerns. After finishing one steamed bun, he suddenly lost his appetite for the second.

He lifted his head and tried to catch a whiff of Apple Bear’s scent, hoping to find some clue in the air. But the base’s enclosures were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every day. Apart from the faint smell of disinfectant, Ye Yunian couldn’t detect anything.

Disappointed, Ye Yunian wandered back to the bamboo pile and sat down.

It’s okay, he reassured himself.

They’re both at the base now!

The vets here would definitely make sure Apple Bear was safe. And Apple Bear was strong—he would adapt to life at the base just fine.

After calming himself down, Ye Yunian resumed eating.

Once his stomach was full, he didn’t even have the energy to move to a different spot. He simply curled up in the pile of bamboo and fell fast asleep.

He had been utterly exhausted over the past few days.

Back in the safety of the base, without the threat of predators, Ye Yunian slept deeply and peacefully.

It wasn’t until daylight began streaming through the windows that Ye Yunian slowly opened his eyes.

The caretaker had already visited earlier but had taken care not to wake Ye Yunian from his slumber. Seeing him sleeping soundly in the bamboo pile, the caretaker had placed fresh bamboo in the other part of the enclosure.

Given that Ye Yunian had been living in the wild for so long, the caretaker was worried he might have trouble readjusting to captivity. So, when he left, he even opened the door connecting Ye Yunian’s enclosure to the back mountain.

When Ye Yunian woke up, the first thing he noticed was that the door to the back mountain was open. Without thinking, he trotted outside.

During his previous time recovering at the base, Ye Yunian had mostly stayed indoors, eating and sleeping, rarely venturing out.

Today, his sudden decision to go outside surprised the caretakers. They were both shocked and pleased to see Ye Yunian readjusting to life at the base so quickly.

However, Ye Yunian didn’t spend much time in the forest. He soon returned to his enclosure.

The reason Ye Yunian had gone outside was to check if Apple Bear was in a nearby enclosure. But after a quick round of searching, he found nothing.

Feeling disappointed, he returned.

For the next two days, Ye Yunian tried to pick up any hint of Apple Bear’s scent but found nothing.

Just when he was beginning to grow anxious, the caretaker came in to clean his enclosure on the third day. Ye Yunian finally overheard the caretaker and his colleague discussing Apple Bear’s situation.

Apple Bear had been in critical condition when he was brought to the emergency room. If he had been brought in even half a day later, they might not have been able to save him.

Hearing this, Ye Yunian felt a wave of fear wash over him.

Thank goodness he had decided early on to bring Apple Bear to the base without wasting too much time on the road.

Apple Bear had woken up the day after his surgery. But the wounds on his chest were still severe, and given the recent operation, he couldn’t be moved to a regular enclosure yet. For now, he was being kept in a VIP recovery room, where the vets could monitor him around the clock.

With the news that Apple Bear was safe, the weight that had been on Ye Yunian’s shoulders finally lifted.

Maybe because he no longer had to worry about Apple Bear, Ye Yunian’s appetite returned with a vengeance. That day, he not only devoured all the bamboo the caretaker brought him but also ventured into the forest to gather some more for himself.

The caretaker chuckled and commented to his colleague, “Looks like Ye Yunian is finally getting some of his energy back today!”

His colleague nodded in agreement.

Ye Yunian, who was happily munching on bamboo, suddenly paused.

What do you mean, getting some of his energy back today?

I’ve been energetic this whole time!

(¬_¬)

Ye Yunian chomped down hard on the bamboo in protest.

After finishing his meal, he found a tree in the back mountain, climbed up, and hung from a branch to bask in the sunlight.

Life at the base was easy and leisurely.

Even though Ye Yunian had gotten used to the freedom of the wild, he was showing no signs of discomfort after being back at the base.

However, from time to time, he couldn’t help but miss Apple Bear.

After spending seven months sleeping on Apple Bear’s belly, the sudden separation was hard to adjust to.

On the afternoon of his seventh day back at the base, Ye Yunian was lounging in his tree as usual when he suddenly caught a familiar scent.

His eyes shot open.

It was Apple Bear’s scent!

Without hesitation, Ye Yunian scrambled down from the tree and dashed toward his enclosure.

He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, practically flying from the back mountain to his enclosure. He slammed into the gate with a loud “bang.”

The staff transporting Apple Bear were startled and immediately looked over at Ye Yunian’s enclosure.

By now, Ye Yunian had already seen the panda in the cage—it was Apple Bear!

Excited, Ye Yunian called out with a long string of sounds.

“Meh, meh, mehhhhhhh—”

Apple Bear, you’re okay! I missed you so much!

After seven long days, the two pandas had finally been reunited, even if it was through the bars of a cage.