Being a Dad in the Animal World
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Bai Yi had been thinking about it all day, trying to figure out how to put aside his pride and act a little spoiled with Jason so he wouldn’t stay mad.
But Jason was clearly the one in the wrong first, so why should he be the one to apologize?
Jason almost shoved his thorny little brother into Bai Yi’s mouth, and now Bai Yi wasn’t even allowed to be angry? Who spoiled him like this?
Then again, the kid had lost his mother early on, and who knew which deadbeat lion was his father? Ever since he started following Bai Yi, he hadn’t received much love or care.
To Bai Yi, Jason was already grown. The ones who still needed care were the three little cubs.
Thinking about it that way, Jason actually seemed pretty pitiful.
Fine then. Bai Yi would put aside his pride and apologize. After all, he needed Jason to guide Wang Cai and Isa onto the right path.
If those two little troublemakers weren’t disciplined soon, they might end up ruining everything for him.
Ridiculous.
Bai Yi chose to apologize at night, right after the film crew had clocked out.
During the day, they were always monitoring the pride, and if his act of acting cute got caught on a live broadcast, he’d die of embarrassment.
Imagine it—him, a mighty, imposing lion, acting all spoiled toward a young male lion? That would be a scene too shameful to picture.
Jason had been behaving himself these past few days, afraid of angering his big brother again.
Of course, deep down, the kid was still holding a grudge. He wasn’t happy. He still went out hunting as usual, but there was no joy in it.
His brother no longer cared about the three cubs, nor him, so nothing had changed.
The lion was not happy.
After dinner, the whole family settled in to enjoy a peaceful night. Sleeping on a full stomach always made for a better rest.
Jason and Bai Yi were lying at a distance from each other. His big brother had already fallen asleep.
Even though Jason had thoughts running through his head, he didn’t dare move closer.
He was about to fall asleep too, he still had to hunt after waking up.
But he never expected that after the three cubs had dozed off, his big brother would suddenly wake up.
Jason watched him cautiously, trying to figure out what he was planning.
Then, he saw his big brother walking toward him.
Jason’s guard shot up instantly, and his heart pounded in panic.
Was his brother about to hit him again? But he hadn’t done anything these past few days, not even touched his fur!
He lay there, waiting to see what would happen, only to watch Bai Yi walk over and lie down right next to him.
Jason: “?”
What is he doing?
[Confused lion face.jpg]
Bai Yi leaned against Jason, nudging him slightly, waking him up.
His low growl was quiet, as if afraid of waking up the cubs.
A soft, deep rumble. “Still mad?”
Jason was so startled by Bai Yi’s sudden affection that he blanked out for a moment. Then, he instinctively responded to his brother’s affectionate nudges.
Happiness came so suddenly that Jason didn’t know what to do. The only thing he could think of was to start licking Bai Yi’s fur, as if prolonging this moment would make the happiness last forever.
His big brother actually approached him first. He must not be mad at him anymore, right?
He’s rubbing against me so much, he must really like me, right?
Jason got a little excited and licked from Bai Yi’s face all the way to his eyes. His rough, barbed tongue brushed over Bai Yi’s fur, sending an oddly pleasant sensation through him.
The male lion who originally came to apologize to the cub began enjoying the affectionate attention from the child.
Bai Yi thought Jason was angry. Observing the way Jason treated him, Bai Yi soon realized he might have been overthinking.
Even if Jason tended to overanalyze, he was still an animal, a lion incapable of harboring such complex emotions.
The only twisted thought he ever entertained might have been that he was gay for him, and on that path he drifted further and further.
Bai Yi just couldn’t understand. His every behavior and manner clearly showed no sign of wanting to be gay, and his rejection was obvious.
So why would Jason be drawn to it like a moth to a flame?
Could it be that his royal grassland bloodline gives him an obsessive instinct to conquer animals he cannot subdue?
He then recalled the over-the-top melodramatic novels he had read over the years.
Whenever the main characters confronted each other, they always exchanged some overly dramatic lines.
The male lead, ignoring his charming fiancée, insisted on being attracted to the female lead who constantly argued with him.
Generally, as soon as the female lead showed a hint of resistance, the male lead would tease her in a condescending tone.
"Huh woman I just love your never-say-die spirit. No other woman has yet been able to withstand my charm. You have successfully caught my attention"
At that moment if the female lead resisted too fiercely then the story would inevitably fall into cliché territory.
The male lead would undoubtedly add: "I just love conquering stubborn women"
Bai Yi: "......"
Of course, Bai Yi did not feel that in his tug-of-war with Jason he was playing the part of a cliché female lead.
Nevertheless, Jason’s actions unmistakably gave off the vibe of a clichéd storyline.
So how should one deal with this situation? The answer was to take a contrary approach and avoid being too rigid.
The tougher you are, the more likely you are to break.
Tsk, Bai Yi was in awe of his own creativity; he managed to come up with such an advanced anti-cliché strategy.
To get Jason back on track, he resolved to portray a lion so repulsive that Jason would feel nothing but disgust upon seeing him.
After all, that is how the novels portray it, so he figured there was nothing to lose by trying.
Perhaps it might even work.
One had to admit that Bai Yi felt like a genius when it came to making predictions.
He even anticipated what Jason was expecting.
Because the two lions had shared a friendly, affectionate exchange that night, today’s Jason was unusually vigorous, giving his all during the hunt.
Bai Yi could tell all of this.
When Bai Yi had been aloof toward Jason before, Jason had always been the one chasing after him and clinging on.
It wasn’t until last night, after he had come to his senses and spent the night sleeping closely together, that the next morning Jason once again nuzzled him, making it seem as if the cub had changed a little.
Under normal circumstances, if Bai Yi did not initiate closeness, then when Jason wasn’t angry he would have approached Bai Yi on his own.
This day was different.
Bai Yi had taken them out hunting, intending for Jason to teach the three cubs. Unexpectedly, they ran into a group of swamp lions.
In recent days, hunting in the swamp lions’ territory had been fraught with danger, and they knew that this day would come. They had not expected it to arrive so soon.
Chased for several miles by the swamp lions, they reached an area where prey was scarce, meaning they would have to walk several more kilometers to hunt.
As a result, hunting became a challenging task, and with only Jason as the provider, it turned out to be quite difficult.
That day, when Bai Yi woke up, Jason had already returned from hunting. He had patrolled the nearby territory last night, marked it, and once he saw there was no danger, he went to sleep.
The comfort of the rainy season often makes lions forget the hardships of the dry season, and Bai Yi was no exception.
That was why sleep was especially sound.
These days he had been showing exceptional care for Jason, always seizing any opportunity to nuzzle up against him.
The effect was clear; the cub began to avoid him.
In fact, he hadn’t been seen anywhere all night, as it turned out that he had gone hunting.
Bai Yi felt that his counterintuitive approach was working.
If he continued like this, the day when Jason began to despise him would not be far off. Then, upon seeing him, the cub would feel repulsed and eventually leave the pride to fend for himself, leaving Bai Yi with no further concerns.
The three cubs would remain with him for now, as he would personally teach them how to hunt.
Bai Yi’s schemes were clattering in his mind, yet he still could not quite figure out Jason’s behavior and thoughts.
The reason Jason no longer clung to Bai Yi as he used to was that he had grown up and recognized his responsibilities.
Determined to support the family, he became more industrious, ensuring that his big brother would not go hungry.
It was not because Bai Yi had taken the initiative to get close to him.
Bai Yi’s odd behavior left Jason feeling at a loss. He was still afraid that Bai Yi might hit him, so even when they were nuzzling and snuggling, he kept his composure.
No longer as reckless as before, he needed to be sure that his big brother really would not hit him again.
Otherwise, if his big brother hit him once more, and his little heart would shatter into pieces.
Jason’s behavior made Bai Yi very pleased; his method was working.
Sure enough, these animals are so simple that human nature can seem so complicated.
What bad intentions could a young lion possibly harbor? He is naturally inclined to conquer the strong, and once someone becomes weak and appears inept, he is sure to lose interest.
Lately, Bai Yi had completely given in to mooching and had stopped moving; he even neglected the three cubs, acting just like a useless freeloader.
His behavior not only worried Jason but also led the film crew and the audience to wonder if he was ill, for he showed absolutely no will to live.
However, all of this appeared entirely different in Jason’s eyes.
Bai Yi had been eating a bit too much these days, and the food Jason hunted was clearly not enough.
Every time Bai Yi finished his meal, Jason would cast sympathetic and even affectionate glances his way. In Jason’s eyes, his big brother looked irresistibly charming even when he was being lazy.
Mommy, my big brother is both gluttonous and adorable; I really like him! He loves lying down with me; he must really like me!
Every time I hunt food, he still doesn’t eat enough. I have to work even harder; I must strive to support my big brother.
Big brother, rest assured; I will definitely keep you fed even if you can gulp down a whole wild buffalo.
However, the steady gaze in Jason’s eyes, as seen by Bai Yi, turned into helplessness and heartache, mixed with a trace of anger.
Bai Yi thought to himself that after acting for so many days, his plan had finally worked!
Listen, you read correctly: the me you adore is nothing but a lazy male lion who only wants to mooch off others, not the strong one in your eyes! So go find someone else to conquer; I am not the destined lion for you!
You’re so capable that even without seeking another male lion, you’ll become the dream lion for many lionesses; stop wasting your time on me!
Haven’t you realized by now?! Big brother is actually a deadbeat; sticking with me will only drag you down!
Bai Yi grudgingly continued to live off others, swallowing his pride along with his soft meals.
A week later, the cub might have finally been defeated by his own appetite; that day, he went out and never came back.
By afternoon, Bai Yi still had not seen him return. He searched outside for a long time, wandering around areas where prey was usually found, and discovered no sign of Jason. Bai Yi assumed that Jason could no longer stand him and had finally left on his own.
Bai Yi couldn’t help but want to set off firecrackers in celebration. To mark the day he regained his lion self-confidence, he even hunted a gazelle on his way back.
Having often watched Jason hunt, Bai Yi had learned a few tricks, especially the technique for taking down gazelles.
Only when he bit into the adorable creature did his heart skip a beat, but the strong taste of blood quickly overpowered that moment.
Any feelings of guilt simply vanished. He carried the prey home in his mouth; it was dinner for the cubs.
Who said that he couldn’t survive without Jason?
He not only moved about with lively energy, he also felt much more comfortable inside.
He did not mind the hunters trailing him along the way.
The hunters who managed to snatch food right from his mouth were once again neither leopards nor hyenas.
Bai Yi’s first hunting attempt was remarkably skillful and graceful, and this not only shocked the film crew but also surprised the audience.
The host said incredulously: "We have never seen Bai Yi truly hunt prey in the proper sense. This is his first time. We all assumed he couldn't, and at best he might catch a few mice or rabbits. Today he has truly made us see him in a new light."
The audience, although surprised, found it somewhat expected.
"From his last rabbit catch, it was clear that he was very capable. As for why he suddenly decided to hunt today, perhaps it was because Jason hadn't come home all day? By the way, where did Jason go exactly?"
"I feel like he's pretending to be weak in order to outsmart his opponent. His appetite these days is astonishing; is he trying to drive Jason away?"
"I just think his behavior is really odd. Usually he resists Jason so much, yet now he is especially accommodating, and he is becoming more and more lazy. What act is he putting on today?"
"To be honest, I'm shocked. Jason might not even be able to take down a swift gazelle in such a short time."
"Bai Yi, oh Bai Yi, you've once again refreshed the audience's perception."
"So, did Jason leave or go off to do something? Why hasn't he appeared all day? Can the host answer this?"
Seeing that the host was ignoring the questions in the public chat, and as wealthy viewers began spamming gifts that made the live room dizzying, the host finally noticed that they were all asking where Jason had gone.
The host explained: "Jason went to hunt wild buffalo. These days, Bai Yi has been eating a lot; small animals simply cannot keep Bai Yi full. So Jason ventured further away. The tracking system shows that the location is within a lion pride's territory, where herds of wild buffalo roam."
The audience was once again moved by Jason's extraordinary love.
"Did Bai Yi perhaps save the galaxy in a previous life, to be so devoted to a cub? And even go out to hunt wild buffalo for him? Was it successful?"
"Such a huge wild buffalo, it's so dangerous. And besides, it's too far away to bring back; he surely can't carry it."
"A wild buffalo must weigh at least five or six hundred jin, right? How big is Jason's frame? Does he even weigh 400 jin? The cub is really trying his best to keep Bai Yi fed!"
"Wuwuwu, Jason is so adorable; Bai Yi is so fortunate!"
Everyone began an intense discussion about how Jason sprinted more than ten kilometers for the sake of love to hunt wild buffalo.
As the discussion continued, the film crew's equipment had already followed Bai Yi back home. To their astonishment, when Bai Yi returned to the den with a gazelle he had caught in his mouth, Jason and the three cubs were anxiously waiting for his arrival.
The instant Bai Yi saw Jason, the prey in his mouth dropped to the ground.
At the same time, he noticed an adult wild buffalo, already dead, lying beside Jason.
Bai Yi: "……"
Whoa, what is this all about?
He must have seen me carrying the prey just now, right?
In an instant, Bai Yi became like Lin Daiyu^ and lay motionless on the spot.
"Hey, big brother, don't misunderstand. I grabbed it; I didn't catch it myself. After all, with you not here, I can't let the three cubs starve."
Seeing his brother collapse, Jason quickly went over and nudged him with his head. His brother struggled to stand, taking one step and slipping the next.
Upon seeing Bai Yi drop the prey, the three cubs, starving and desperate, paid no heed to Jason and Bai Yi and rushed toward the prey, tearing it apart in a frenzy.
"Hmph, you stinky brother, if you don't let us eat wild buffalo, is the gazelle you brought back not good enough?!"
Bai Yi walked up to the wild buffalo and fell silent.
An adult wild buffalo might weigh twice as much as Jason, yet he managed to drag the prey back.
A strange, inexplicable sadness spread deep within him.
Bai Yi's legs buckled again, and he lay down in front of the wild buffalo.
Jason let out a low growl beside him, and Bai Yi detected an inexplicable note of affection in it.
"Grr."
"Brother, eat up; this time you'll definitely be full."
Bai Yi did not move. Jason proactively tore open the belly of the prey, pulling out all the innards and carrying them to Bai Yi with his mouth.
"Grr."
"Darling, you won't go hungry anymore. I can go hunt wild buffalo for you every day!"
"……"
Bai Yi is now completely panicked.
What should I do now? It seems his anti-cliché approach has failed.
Clearly, his method was working well before. Why hasn't Jason given up?
Instead, he's working even harder?
Son, your big brother didn't mean for you to work harder. I wanted you to know when to back down.
If you keep treating me this kindly, I'll be moved…
If I get moved, my chastity and moral integrity will probably be lost.
No, absolutely not!
Which lion enjoys being gored by another lion?
He absolutely must not!
Bai Yi refuses to eat and even appears very tired.
"Grr~ Ah, I'm about to faint. I'm so weak. I don't deserve to be conquered by you at all."
"Grr. Darling, at least take a bite so I won't worry."
"Grr~ Get out of my way."
"Grr. Honey, if you don't eat, I'll have to use my mouth."
"Grr~ I didn't understand that one."
In the next moment, the cub used his actions to explain his final soft growl to Bai Yi.
He swallowed the innards whole and then began chewing.
Soon, he spat out a heap of mixed innards and fragments in front of Bai Yi, including some undigested plant fibers from the wild buffalo.
Commonly known as buffalo dung.
Bai Yi: "……"
Even though every time he eats innards, Bai Yi avoids the intestines and has never eaten such a thing.
Partly because he is repulsed by the idea of eating dung and partly because he doesn't like intestines.
Although these plant fibers contain many nutrients that are very precious for carnivores, in one region there is a specialty dish made from these undigested remains of buffalo—a delicacy reserved for honored guests.
However, Bai Yi is utterly repulsed.
Unable to accept it, he continues to faint.
Hey, big brother, you're not so weak that I have to chew and feed you. Thank you for your good intentions; you eat it yourself.
After a short moment of closing his eyes, when Bai Yi opened them again, Jason had already chewed a small pile of it and piled it in front of him, and he was still at it.
Jason's thought: My big brother is so weak now that he needs me to feed him.
Bai Yi's thought: Has he switched from treating me as a conquest target to treating me like a son?
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