Ye Yunian was beyond excited. He gripped the bars of his enclosure tightly with both paws, squishing his face between the gaps. His big, fluffy head was squashed against the bars, but he didn’t care at all, joyfully calling out to Apple Bear in the hallway.

Apple Bear, equally thrilled, had already caught a whiff of Ye Yunian’s scent earlier. But because Ye Yunian had been lounging in the trees at the back, too far away, Apple Bear hadn’t been able to see him and remained silent.

Now, seeing Ye Yunian right in front of him, Apple Bear stood up immediately, making “meh meh” sounds and pacing in his small cage out of excitement.

When Apple Bear first woke up after surgery, he had immediately realized that Ye Yunian wasn’t by his side. In this unfamiliar enclosure, surrounded by strange smells and humans constantly coming and going, Apple Bear had felt incredibly uneasy. But more than being concerned about his own situation, his biggest worry was Ye Yunian.

Why wasn’t the little bear with him? Had the humans taken him away? Where was Ye Yunian now?

The moment Apple Bear regained consciousness, he began looking for Ye Yunian. However, he couldn’t leave the enclosure, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t pick up even the faintest trace of Ye Yunian’s scent. Feeling weak from surgery, he soon slipped back into a fitful sleep.

Over the next two days, Apple Bear’s strength slowly returned, allowing him to move around his enclosure. Every day, he would pace around, staring out through the enclosure door and calling out for Ye Yunian, but he never heard a reply. Gradually, Apple Bear began to grow anxious, and a sense of sadness crept into his heart.

This feeling was similar to what he had experienced when he turned two, the time when his mother drove him away to fend for himself. He didn’t fully understand the sadness, but his instinct told him that perhaps he would never see Ye Yunian again.

By the sixth day, the caretaker who had been looking after Apple Bear noticed that he had begun to show signs of depression. He no longer paced around the enclosure or stood up much, and he barely ate the bamboo that had been prepared for him each day. Even the big, juicy apples—his favorite—were left untouched.

This discovery worried all the staff. They suspected that Apple Bear wasn’t adjusting well to being in captivity, as this was likely his first time in such an environment.

To help him adjust, the staff figured that placing him in a familiar environment or with a familiar companion might help. That’s when everyone’s thoughts turned to Ye Yunian.

What if they housed Apple Bear and Ye Yunian together?

After all, Apple Bear seemed to trust Ye Yunian immensely, and Ye Yunian had already fully adapted to life at the base.

But pandas are solitary creatures, and Apple Bear was a nearly fully grown male panda with a strong sense of territory. If they were to house him with Ye Yunian and he suddenly attacked, what then?

After much discussion, the staff decided to place Apple Bear in the enclosure next to Ye Yunian’s to observe how things played out.

Little did they expect that, the moment Apple Bear was transported to the area near Ye Yunian’s enclosure, Ye Yunian came dashing back from the back mountain at top speed. Even Apple Bear, who had been sluggish for days, suddenly became full of life, pacing excitedly in his cage as if desperate to reunite with Ye Yunian.

This scene touched the hearts of all the staff watching.

And amidst the emotional moment, they couldn’t help but wonder: how on earth had two male pandas bonded this closely?

On the day Ye Yunian brought Apple Bear to the base for treatment, Apple Bear’s condition had been so critical that the staff hadn’t bothered to check his gender. They had assumed Apple Bear was Ye Yunian’s mother. But after the surgery, when they finally examined him, they realized he was, in fact, a full-grown male panda!

How had a wild male panda formed such a close bond with a younger male panda?

The researchers were stumped, unable to come up with any plausible explanation. In the end, they could only speculate: “There must be some backstory we don’t know about, something that explains why they’re so close.”

But regardless of the reason, as long as Ye Yunian could help Apple Bear regain his vitality, that was all that mattered.

After Apple Bear had calmed down a bit, the staff resumed pushing his cage forward.

Ye Yunian had already figured out that the base wouldn’t house him and Apple Bear in the same enclosure, but he was curious to see where they would take him.

Would they place Apple Bear in the enclosure right next to his?

Soon enough, Ye Yunian’s guess was confirmed.

He heard movement from the neighboring enclosure—Apple Bear was indeed staying next door!

Thrilled, Ye Yunian trotted happily toward the back mountain. Each panda’s enclosure had its own patch of forest, and these patches were separated by high walls. In the walls were windows made of transparent glass, allowing pandas to see their neighbors.

Ye Yunian climbed the nearest tree to Apple Bear’s enclosure and hung from a branch, trying to peek into Apple Bear’s space.

Unfortunately, the window above the enclosure door was too small, and after staring for a long time, he still couldn’t make out much.

Apple Bear’s wounds hadn’t fully healed, and to prevent him from reopening them, the staff weren’t yet allowing him access to the outdoor area.

Ye Yunian had already thought of this possibility. Though he couldn’t see Apple Bear, just knowing that he was nearby and safe was enough to make Ye Yunian happy.

From his perch in the tree, Ye Yunian began to make cheerful little noises, rambling on as if he wanted to catch Apple Bear up on everything that had happened.

Apple Bear, make sure you eat well. Your wounds will heal faster if you do, and then we can see each other soon!

Apple Bear couldn’t understand the specifics of Ye Yunian’s chatter, but from the sounds and scents, he could tell that Ye Yunian was safe and feeling just as happy as he was.

The unease and sadness that had been gnawing at Apple Bear’s heart melted away, and he responded with his own calls.

Separated by a wall and an iron gate, the two giant pandas communicated through their calls, back and forth.

That evening, the caretaker responsible for Apple Bear brought some good news—Apple Bear’s appetite had returned!

All the staff at the base were genuinely happy for Apple Bear’s recovery. However, the only person feeling a little troubled was Ye Yunian’s caretaker…

Ever since Apple Bear moved next to Ye Yunian, Ye Yunian no longer liked returning to his enclosure! Every morning, as soon as the enclosure door opened, Ye Yunian would gather all the bamboo prepared for him, drag it to the glass wall closest to Apple Bear’s enclosure, and munch on it while chatting to Apple Bear in his own panda “language.”

Packing up bamboo and eating outside wasn’t the issue; even staying outside all day was fine. But the problem was that Ye Yunian left early and didn’t come back until late! Every day, he would leave his enclosure first thing in the morning and not return until after sunset, when the surroundings were pitch dark.

This went on for several days, leaving his caretaker worried sick.

It wasn’t until today, when Apple Bear was taken for his stitches to be removed, that Ye Yunian finally didn’t leave his enclosure. Not only did he stay, but he also seemed restless, frequently standing up and looking toward the hallway, as if waiting for Apple Bear to return.

Watching Ye Yunian’s anxious behavior, the caretaker sighed, “The bond between Ye Yunian and Song Yi must be really strong.”

Ye Yunian, who had been estimating Apple Bear’s return time, suddenly perked up upon hearing this. He looked toward the caretaker in confusion.

Huh? Me and… Song Yi?

Could it be that Song Yi is the new name for Apple Bear?!

Ye Yunian’s eyes brightened, filled with anticipation as he stared at the two caretakers nearby.

The caretakers were busy making notes and chatting. One of them seemed surprised. “His name is decided? They’re really calling him Song Yi?”

The other caretaker chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what the fans are calling him. They said it’s like ‘Ye Yunian brought one, Song Yi follows,’ like ‘buy one, get one free!’”

The other laughed as well. “Makes sense.”

This all started three days ago, on the tenth day after Apple Bear’s surgery. After ten days of recovery, Apple Bear’s condition had stabilized, with all his vitals returning to normal. This meant that the base’s rescue of the wild giant panda was a complete success.

The base staff compiled the entire rescue process into a report and posted it on the official panda research website. For the staff, it was just part of their daily duties. But unexpectedly, the report was quickly spotted by a famous panda-loving influencer, who shared it on their social media platform along with a stunned comment:

“Ye Yunian brought a wild giant panda back to the base for treatment? Am I reading this right? Someone please tell me I didn’t just misunderstand this!”

The post went viral almost immediately. Thousands of panda fans flooded the influencer’s post with comments.

“What?”

“You mean Ye Yunian, the same panda that was released into the wild earlier this year?”

“Huh? This sounds too crazy… wait, hold on!”

“‘Wild giant panda,’ ‘brought another panda back,’ ‘to the base for treatment’—are you serious?”

Fans initially doubted the truth of the story, but after reading the report shared by the influencer, many fell silent. Influencers might exaggerate or make things up for attention, but an official report from a respected website? No way.

Before long, not only panda enthusiasts but also general internet users were buzzing about the story. Soon, the phrase “Ye Yunian brings another wild giant panda to the base for treatment” was trending on social media.

“Can giant pandas really be this smart?”

“If it were any other panda, I’d be skeptical. But we’re talking about Ye Yunian, the panda who returned to the base just a day after being released!”

“You can always count on Ye Yunian’s intelligence!”

“Okay, fine, but where are the pictures?”

“Where’s the footage, base? You have to have captured this on camera, right?”

“Yeah, give us the pictures! We need proof!”

A flood of comments overwhelmed the base’s official social media account, all demanding photos of Ye Yunian and the rescued panda. After all, if the report was already this detailed, why not show the photos too?

In response to the growing clamor, the base finally released a set of photos the following day. The pictures included screenshots of Ye Yunian caught on security cameras, along with candid shots of him grooming Apple Bear as he lay on a stretcher. But the photo that touched fans the most was of Ye Yunian walking alongside the stretcher, accompanied by staff, as they made their way back to the base.

Ye Yunian had been in the wild for seven whole months! Despite living in the wild for so long, he still trusted humans enough to walk with them like this!

Fans were moved to tears, expressing their emotions online.

“Isn’t this Ye Yunian’s second time returning to the base?”

“Looks like Ye Yunian really can’t stay away from the base.”

“First, he returned by himself, and now, he even brought a friend. Truly ‘pick one, get one free.’”

“Let’s just call the other panda Song Yi! Ye Yunian brought one, and now we have Song Yi too.”

One fan’s casual comment caught on like wildfire, and soon, thousands were calling the wild panda Song Yi. Eventually, even the base staff started referring to Apple Bear by this name.

Listening to the conversation between the caretakers, Ye Yunian finally pieced together the whole story.

Song Yi, huh? So that’s Apple Bear’s new name.

The name “Song Yi” actually suited Apple Bear quite well! It had a dignified ring to it that matched his handsome, strong presence. Though honestly, “Apple Bear” also had its charm.

Ye Yunian was pleased with both names. He decided that he would call him whatever he felt like—after all, Song Yi, or Apple Bear, probably wouldn’t mind either!

Just as he finished thinking this, he caught the familiar scent of Song Yi.

Song Yi had returned after his stitches were removed.

Ye Yunian quickly stood up and rushed to the door of his enclosure, anxiously watching the hallway.

Song Yi had undergone anesthesia for the procedure to remove his stitches and check his wound. The sedative hadn’t fully worn off yet, so a few staff members were pushing him back on a large cart.

Song Yi’s figure passed by the door, but Ye Yunian couldn’t get a clear look. Hearing the sounds of the gate opening in the neighboring enclosure, Ye Yunian wasted no time and dashed out of his own enclosure.

He was about to climb a tree to peek through the small window to check on Song Yi when the iron door of the adjacent enclosure suddenly opened.

Ye Yunian blinked in surprise.

Hmm?

Were the staff no longer restricting Song Yi’s movement? Did that mean his wounds had healed?

Excitement surged through Ye Yunian.

Song Yi was still under the effects of anesthesia, and although the gate to his enclosure was open, he was probably resting inside, out of view. Even hanging from the tree, Ye Yunian couldn’t see what was happening inside.

What should he do now?

His eyes landed on the wall that separated their enclosures.

Should he try to climb over it?

Ye Yunian was a very straightforward panda. After being separated from Song Yi for almost half a month, he realized just how much he missed him.

Even though they were now neighbors and could hear and smell each other every day, it wasn’t the same as actually being together. A wall and a gate just weren’t enough.

Song Yi was still asleep, and the caretakers were busy cleaning his enclosure. From his perch on the tree, Ye Yunian could see them placing a basket of bamboo shoots outside. He knew that the caretakers wouldn’t let him and Song Yi share the same enclosure—after all, giant pandas were solitary creatures.

If he wanted to see Song Yi, he’d have to rely on his own efforts.

Ye Yunian’s round, dark eyes gleamed with determination as he clung to the tree, studying the wall in front of him.

The base had built the walls smooth and tall, specifically to prevent pandas from climbing into each other’s enclosures and fighting. Without any grip or footholds, even the best climbers would struggle to scale them.

But as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way!

After only a few moments of consideration, Ye Yunian came up with a plan.

He couldn’t climb over by himself, but there were tools available!

Once the caretakers finished cleaning Song Yi’s enclosure and left, Ye Yunian hurried down the tree.

His first task was to find a tree.

It couldn’t be too thin—it had to be sturdy. Fortunately, the forest behind the enclosures was part of a natural habitat. After circling around a few times, Ye Yunian found the perfect tree.

It wasn’t especially tall, but its trunk was thick—about as wide as two of Ye Yunian’s arms—and could definitely support his weight. Most importantly, it was close to the wall!

Ye Yunian sized it up. If he was lucky, he would fall into the bushes on his side of the wall. If not, he might end up hitting the wall.

But either way, once the tree was down and leaning against the wall, he could use it to climb over!

Now it was time to bite through the tree.

Ye Yunian opened his mouth and tested it out. The tree trunk was a bit thicker than he expected, but hopefully, it wouldn’t break his teeth!

As it turned out, Ye Yunian had underestimated himself.

Although he was still a juvenile panda, giant pandas—also known as “bamboo crushers”—have some of the strongest jaw strength in the animal kingdom, ranking fifth in bite force. The tree, while sturdy, was no match for a panda. It was just a matter of how many bites it would take.

It didn’t take him long to chew a deep notch into the trunk. The tree was much tougher than bamboo, though.

Ye Yunian licked his teeth and gave the trunk a little shake with his paws.

No need for more biting—now it was time for some brute force!

Ye Yunian scrambled up the tree quickly, positioning himself at just the right height so that a fall wouldn’t hurt him. After giving himself a pep talk, he grabbed the trunk with his paws and gave a strong tug, jumping downward.

With the trunk already weakened, Ye Yunian’s weight was enough to snap it. With a loud crack, the tree began to fall.

Caught off guard by how easily it fell, Ye Yunian tumbled down with it, landing in a heap of branches.

After some rustling, Ye Yunian emerged from the pile of branches, triumphant.

Yes! He had landed in the bushes on his side of the wall!

Muttering happily to himself, Ye Yunian grabbed hold of the tree trunk and climbed up again.

The fallen tree now bridged the gap between the wall and the ground, and Ye Yunian cautiously walked along it, reaching the top of the wall that had separated him from Song Yi.

But getting down from the wall wasn’t as easy as getting up.

Perched on the wall, Ye Yunian stared at the five-meter drop on the other side, hesitating.

Should he just jump down? Would his sturdy panda legs cushion the fall?

Thinking it over, he decided that jumping down was too risky. After all, if he hurt himself right after Song Yi had healed, the caretakers might separate them again.

Better to slide down!

Carefully turning around on the wall, Ye Yunian gripped the tree with his front paws while letting his hind legs slowly slide down the wall.

“Whoops, whoops!”

The wall was a little too smooth!

With no friction, the wall acted like a giant slide. As soon as the branch snapped, Ye Yunian shot straight down, landing with a soft thud on the ground below.

Thankfully, his thick fur had cushioned the fall, so he wasn’t hurt—just a little startled.

Panting for a moment, Ye Yunian got back on his feet.

Once the initial shock passed, all that remained was joy.

He made it! He was in Song Yi’s enclosure!

Overjoyed, he wanted to let out a loud cheer, but he held himself back.

He couldn’t risk alerting the caretakers before he even got to see Song Yi!

With eager steps, Ye Yunian made his way down the hill.

As he neared the enclosure, he sniffed the air to make sure the caretakers weren’t around. Satisfied that the coast was clear, he rushed forward like a panda-shaped bullet toward Song Yi’s enclosure.

Song Yi, who had just undergone his procedure, was slowly regaining consciousness. Though the anesthesia was wearing off, his mind was still a bit foggy, and his limbs felt weak.

He wasn’t in a hurry to get up. After all, he knew Ye Yunian was just next door, and he could always smell his familiar scent, so there was no need to worry.

But why did it feel like Ye Yunian’s scent was getting closer?

And why was the usually locked iron door now open?

Curious and confused, Song Yi forced himself to stand despite his grogginess.

Just as he stood up, a familiar figure barreled into the enclosure at full speed, only to skid to a halt just before colliding with him.

It was Ye Yunian’s scent.

Song Yi lowered his head, and before he could fully process what was happening, he felt a pair of furry arms wrap around his head.

Ye Yunian’s familiar voice echoed in his ears.

“Apple Bear, I missed you so much!”

Ye Yunian hugged him tightly.