Chapter 346: Chapter 216: An Unexpected Surprise! (10,000 Words, Double Chapter)

"Aoo..." December let out a resentful protest, but was still picked up and taken back.

A minute later, it came again.

After tossing back and forth for three or four rounds, Lin Yu’an finally surrendered.

A thought flashed through his mind that indulging it now may form a bad habit. After all, although it’s a cub, it is still a polar bear. But this thought lasted only a second before being replaced by another more scientific idea.

He recalled the knowledge about "contact comfort," a conclusion drawn by psychologist Harry Harlow through the famous Ganges River monkey experiment.

For primates and many young mammals, attachment to their mothers is not just a physiological need for "milk," but more importantly, warmth, comfort, and a sense of security achieved through physical contact.

For December, he, Lin Yu’an, at this moment, is its only "mother."

That luxurious wolf skin bed, in essence, is just a warm and soft object. It has no heartbeat, no breathing, and definitely doesn’t have the familiar scent that brings it ultimate security.

"Alright, alright, you win." He sighed helplessly, though there was a trace of affection in his voice that he himself hadn’t noticed.

He simply unzipped the sleeping bag completely and patted the spot next to him.

December instantly understood, letting out a joyful "ao," and dove in like a small white cannonball.

It skillfully found a comfortable position in Lin Yu’an’s arm, naturally resting its small head on his arm, and closed its eyes contentedly.

Lin Yu’an couldn’t help laughing as he watched this little creature, carefully re-zipping the sleeping bag to tightly wrap this little "heat pack" by his side.

The cub’s body is an efficient energy converter; its metabolism is extremely vigorous, and its body temperature is even slightly higher than Lin Yu’an’s own. Through the thick fur, a steady stream of warmth continuously passed over.

He could feel the little one’s even breathing and its stable and strong heartbeat. This subtle and rhythmic life pulse, in the silent polar night, calmed all the tension and loneliness in his heart.

Sleep washed over him like a tide.

Before completely sinking into dreamland, Lin Yu’an’s mind flickered with one last thought; perhaps the next ten-plus days of "wilderness parenting" would not be as harsh and dull as he initially imagined.

His challenge had fundamentally transformed from a solitary struggle against nature into a journey filled with responsibility and protection.

The next day.

The sky remained a dim belly white, as polar dawns always come sparingly and slowly.

Inside the shelter, the "embers" in the fireplace still emitted a faint residual warmth, maintaining the indoor temperature above zero degrees, in stark contrast to the bitter cold of over thirty degrees below zero outside.

In an atmosphere of warmth and tranquility, Lin Yu’an slowly opened his eyes.

He felt a numbing sensation in his right arm, and when he looked down, he saw the culprit. December was still resting its head on his arm, sleeping soundly.

Just then, a low and rhythmic "buzzing" sound emerged from the distant sky.

This noise wasn’t the chaotic whistling of the wind but a unique mechanical Hertz resonance, with strong penetrating power, clearly audible even through the thick walls of the shelter.

Lin Yu’an’s hearing had become extraordinarily sensitive, and he abruptly sat up, wide awake.

The small December in his arms was also startled by the sudden loud noise, alertly pricking up its ears.

Its body instinctively tensed, and a deep, threatening whimper emanated from its throat—a genetic reaction of fear to the unknown.

"Buzz—buzz—"

The sound grew nearer and louder.

A helicopter! And judging by the depth of the engine noise, this wasn’t an ordinary small sightseeing helicopter; it was likely a medium or heavy model specially adapted for polar environments.

Lin Yu’an instantly realized, it was Mark! It was the show crew! The supplies he promised were here!

He felt an indescribable excitement, quickly donned his clothes, and holding the still somewhat startled December, swiftly walked out of the shelter, where the biting cold wind hit him in the face.

"Don’t be afraid, December, it’s okay."

Lin Yu’an raised his head, only to see an orange-painted helicopter roaring in from the distant horizon. It didn’t lower its altitude for a landing but instead hovered steadily about fifty meters above the ground.

It was a Bell 412 helicopter, with its iconic four-blade main rotor and twin-engine design, offering very high flying stability and safety redundancy in the harsh polar climate.

The bright orange color is the international standard for polar rescue, providing the best visual recognition against the expanse of white snowfield.

The massive main rotor pressed down the air, forming a powerful downwash, like an invisible giant hand pushing the surface snow away, creating an expanding spectacular circular snow wave.

Lin Yu’an had to turn sideways, using his back and the thick parka to shield the December in his arms from the fierce snowstorm, while squinting his eyes and keeping a firm gaze on that steel beast hovering in the sky.