Being a Dad in the Animal World
o0o
Perhaps Jason impression of Bai Yi has gradually improved.
He no longer rejects Jason as he used to.
In the past, Bai Yi would beat Jason at every opportunity, while Jason never had the strength to retaliate.
Now that he is over three years old, Jason is not as formidable in a fight as Bai Yi; however, he is capable of hunting wild buffalo on his own.
Not every adult lion is able to bring down a wild buffalo on its own; however, Jason can.
Apart from hunting wild buffalo, Jason has also demonstrated an astonishing talent when hunting other prey.
Bai Yi then understood that this cub was born to support the family. Indeed, he could now confidently live off others.
If he can rely on his own cubs, then he is completely lacking in fighting spirit and his role in this lion pride is solely to shield the cubs from danger.
Bai saltfish Yi: After paving such a long path of living off others, brother has finally achieved his wish.
Had Bai Yi known that living off others comes at a price, he certainly would not have chosen a life of ease while Jason was steadily on the rise.
Living off others not only squandered his entire lion life, but also propelled him headlong into homosexual pursuits, leaving him with no way to turn back.
o0o
Xiao Bai Yi valiantly fought against a group of lions to protect the ecosystem, and his reputation grew ever louder.
Nearly every day, people would come from afar to take pictures with Bai Yi. They would wait outside the shrubbery where his family lived, beginning to take photos from a distance.
Bai Yi could not even clearly see what they looked like.
This experience, however, carried a peculiar sensation reminiscent of a superstar being mobbed by fans.
How wonderful it would have been if he had been this famous during his lifetime.
Reflecting on his past life, he felt only sorrow. After enduring multiple bouts of online abuse, he began to question the worth of his existence.
People who utter harsh words will never understand the mental anguish they cause; one mouth cannot overpower countless others in their tirades.
They merely echo popular sentiment, attacking others without ever seeking the truth.
He hoped that those who spew invective in everyday life would be successful individuals, for only then, when they hurl insults and curses at him, might he feel that perhaps he was truly at fault.
He never intended for wild animals to die, nor had he ever imagined that their death buff would persist indefinitely.
He had planned to finish filming Emma’s family before resigning and returning home. Unsurprisingly, Emma also died, leaving behind her several cubs.
Perhaps it was divine retribution that transformed him into a lion, forcing him to protect Emma’s cubs.
It might indeed have been a punishment.
In the initial period after becoming a lion, Bai Yi indeed questioned the meaning of life; however, in his efforts to survive, he soon found no time to ponder anything else.
Perhaps safeguarding these cubs became his duty, and raising them to adulthood emerged as his ultimate goal.
Naturally, if that person had not appeared, he would not have felt such a huge gap between himself and the world.
That day was equally ordinary. They still did not have a fixed dwelling; wherever they went, they would rest, but he continued to search for a secure hunting ground, ensuring that his family remained safe.
As usual, Jason was the most hardworking, and the three little ones would follow him; when he woke up, they would wake up too.
That day, an unexpected visitor arrived outside their territory, it was the scent of a human.
The filming crew hadn’t approached them up close for a long time, so Bai Yi initially thought it was one of their staff members. But when he went to patrol the area, he realized the person wasn’t part of the crew.
For a moment, he was stunned. It felt unbelievable, almost like a dream.
It was a familiar face—someone he hadn’t seen in years.
Lin Nian.
The goddess he pursued in college, and also the girl he insisted on becoming sworn siblings with on that drunken night.
Bai Yi: “……”
Lin Nian had always been beautiful, smart, quiet, and elegant.
Looking back, a girl like her going to a hotel with him that late at night wasn’t something she would normally do. It wasn’t until later that Bai Yi realized, she had liked him too.
But he had been oblivious. A dense, straight-laced idiot. No wonder he was single.
What a fool.
Even he looked down on his past self.
In the end, he had missed his chance.
She wasn’t accompanied by anyone. She had come alone.
Their group of five lions could be considered a proper pride now. Did she seriously just stroll in like this without even acknowledging him, the great male lion of the group?
From a distance, Bai Yi saw her lift the camera hanging around her neck and start taking pictures of him.
This isn’t great… He had just woken up and hadn’t even gone to the river to freshen up yet. Were his mane and fur messy?
Did he have eye crust?
The big cat, Bai Yi, crouched down and started licking his paw, rubbing it against his face.
Hey, Lin Nian, slow down with the pictures! Let me wash my face first!
But before he could finish, she was already done.
Bai Yi: “……”
She didn’t intend to get too close to Bai Yi. She knew that not only would it be dangerous for her, but it might also make the lion lower his guard.
Lions don’t actively attack humans unless they feel threatened. After all, humans aren’t part of their diet.
Besides, the area was home to many herders who always carried guns. The lions had long learned to keep their distance.
She stayed where she was, but Bai Yi took the initiative to approach her.
Startled, she instinctively took a step back. Bai Yi realized he had scared her, so he crouched down slowly, adopting a gentle and obedient posture as he inched toward her.
A deep, feline whimper rumbled in his throat. It seemed like she understood that this lion meant no harm, so she stood still.
Bai Yi approached her step by step and finally lay down at her feet.
She was wearing a denim outfit, her figure slender, and her short hair barely reaching her ears. She looked different from when she was still a student.
But her aura had only grown more refined.
Looking at her now, Bai Yi couldn’t help but want to slap himself with his own paw. How could he have let a girl like this slip away?
She crouched down and stroked his head. Bai Yi allowed her to do so, obedient and docile.
If only he could talk. If he could, he would have a proper conversation with her, clear up old misunderstandings, and reminisce about the past.
But there was no going back. This time, they were truly separated by species.
There was no chance anymore.
She remained silent too, but from the way she happily ruffled his mane, Bai Yi could tell she was enjoying this moment.
Then, he heard her call his name.
"Xiao Bai."
"Roar" I’m here.
Hearing the big cat respond, she looked delighted. "You really are intelligent. I thought all those things people said online were fake."
What did it matter if it was real or not? No matter how smart he was, no matter how capable, he was still just a lion—just an animal in human eyes.
"I wonder if you know Bai Yi. He used to work here. Since you’re called Xiao Bai Yi, you must have seen him around. He was always here."
"Roar." Of course, I know him. I am him. You just don’t recognize me.
"It’s a shame I never came to see him while he was alive. I know he never liked me."
"…"
Damn it. Did I just cut off my own love story?
With the way I acted back then, even if the God of Marriage had tied us together with steel cables, I would’ve snapped them myself.
Lin Nian, I’m really sorry. Maybe I got kicked in the head by a buffalo back then.
It was my mistake. I deserved to be single. I deserved to be watched every day by a little male lion who was obsessed with my tail.
"It doesn’t matter anymore. I came here today just to say goodbye to him. This was his favorite place. I hope he’s doing well on the other side. And in his next life, I hope he won’t let go of the people who truly care about him."
"…"
Lin Nian entered Bai Yi's territory alone and started petting him, and the whole thing was broadcasted live.
The gentle and obedient demeanor Bai Yi displayed shocked viewers, who quickly began expressing concern for the beautiful photographer.
"Is this photographer an idiot? Why is she getting so close to Bai Yi? Did she forget what happened to the last filming crew?"
"Someone needs to step in. Another reckless human who doesn’t think about the consequences, I don’t even have the energy to curse anymore."
"The crew should stop her. Wild lions aren’t pets, she better be careful before she gets torn apart."
The filming crew was aware of the situation and was about to take action when Jason returned from hunting.
He carried his prey back but didn’t see his brother. Knowing Bai Yi must be out patrolling, he also caught a whiff of an unfamiliar scent.
Following the trail, he arrived just in time to see his brother lying obediently in front of a human, getting petted.
Jason was not happy!
He didn’t care what species this creature was, how dare she make his fierce, powerful brother lie down and get stroked like a tamed animal? He wasn’t having it!
"Roar!"
He let out a warning growl at the woman.
Get lost, or I’ll attack!
Bai Yi was startled by Jason’s roar. The young lion looked ferocious, his face twisted in displeasure as he paced restlessly, clearly eager to pounce.
Maybe he was holding back because Bai Yi was there.
Bai Yi got up, shook the dust off his fur, and voluntarily distanced himself from the human.
Lin Nian, I’m doing just fine. You don’t need to worry about me anymore.
Life here is tough, but at least it’s not as exhausting as being human.
Go back. Live your life well. Don’t think about me anymore.
Bai Yi walked over to Jason. This time, surprisingly, Jason didn’t roar or lash out. Instead, he nuzzled his brother’s face and rubbed against him affectionately. The two lions lingered close for a moment before turning back toward their home.
Lin Nian raised her camera and captured the heartwarming moment.
That photograph, taken by the renowned photographer Lin Nian, would later win the grand prize at an international photography competition sponsored by a prestigious brand. It was eventually displayed in a famous museum.
Lin Nian’s words, "In your next life, don’t lose the people who truly care about you again" deeply moved Bai Yi.
Seeing Lin Nian again left him in a foul mood.
Jason had never seen his brother like this before. Bai Yi had never worn such a sorrowful expression.
He didn’t even eat lunch, just curled up and went to sleep.
Jason leaned in closer, lying beside him and grooming his fur with his tongue.
Bai Yi didn’t move, nor did he reject him.
Seeing that Bai Yi didn’t refuse, Jason grew bolder. He licked Bai Yi’s cheek, trailing from his eyes down to the corner of his mouth, even attempting to touch Bai Yi’s canine teeth.
Bai Yi yawned, startling Jason.
“Roar”
That’s enough. Just because I’m not beating you up doesn’t mean you can start pushing your luck.
“Roar.”
Brother, don’t be sad. You still have me.
From now on, I’ll treat you well. I’ll hunt for you, so you won’t have to put in any effort.
The more Bai Yi thought about it, the more bittersweet he felt. That’s right—when he was human, no one had ever treated him this well.
Jason was truly a rare one.
Could it be that I really have to give in to him, to be marked with his thorn-ridden 'brother' and left bleeding?
"……"
No, even if I become a gay, I'll be the top.
Getting mounted by a younger male lion? That would be too humiliating.
Jason, don’t worry. If I ever make a move on you, it’ll be because I think you’re good enough.
I’ll be gentle, so it won’t hurt too much.
If Jason knew what was going through his brother’s mind, he would definitely tell him.
“Babe, you’re overthinking it. Once I grow up, you won’t stand a chance against me. When that time comes, I’ll pin you down, and you won’t even have the chance to resist.”
And Bai Yi would absolutely refuse. He’d fight to protect his dignity to the death.
"You're talking shit, get the hell away from me"
o0o