Why is This Clingy Snow Leopard Acting So Innocent? - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: A Joke — Why Did You Suddenly Get So Close?

“Huh?!”

That was the sound of the two cameramen and Cheng Daozhi, standing not far away. Of course, Su Wen had nothing to feel guilty about. He brushed the hand off his shoulder and turned toward them. “Wait, wait, wait.”

Then he looked at Lin Zhihuan. “You’ve got it all wrong.”

He was a bit agitated, which caused a sudden spike in oxygen demand. He turned, grabbed the oxygen bottle from Yun Shu’s hand, took two deep lungfuls to stabilize himself, and then explained: “It’s just because the altitude is too high and the walking is difficult. I was just using Yun Shu’s shoulder for support.”

Lin Zhihuan, 27, was a seasoned fujoshi. To her, if two men stood within the same zip code, they were basically married. Regardless of the truth, if she said it was “gay,” it was gay. Explanations were futile, but one had to maintain appearances.

“Haha, just kidding, just kidding.” She looked at Yun Shu. “I remember you have a zip-lock bag in your pack. Pass it to me.”

She pivoted the conversation back to work instantly. Su Wen seized the opening. “What did you find up ahead?”

“Oh,” she took the bag and, in one fluid motion, lifted Yun Shu’s arm and draped it back exactly where it was—across Su Wen’s shoulders. She gave them a cheeky wink. “Just some… special traces.”

“Hey, wait…”

“Alright,” Lin Zhihuan interrupted him. “Back to work. Stop thinking about other things.”

Su Wen: “…”

He turned his head to look at Yun Shu. “Aren’t you going to put your hand down?”

Yun Shu looked straight ahead, his logic ironclad: “The altitude is high. Wait until you’ve adapted.”

Su Wen: “……”

Fine. Whatever.

…

The traces found ahead weren’t actually “special”; they were just spray marks on a rock where a snow leopard had marked its territory, along with a few stray hairs scattered at the base.

“What’s this?”

Following his finger, the group saw a yellowish-brown stain on the rock that was darker than the surrounding stone. Solang said in the local dialect: “Snow leopard urine.”

Su Wen didn’t understand and looked at Yun Shu.

Yun Shu twitched the corner of his mouth and looked away. “He’s telling you to give it a sniff.”

Su Wen knitted his brows. “Are you sure?”

The people around them loved a good show. One by one, they joined in on the mischief, showing more unity than they ever had during actual work. Everyone had the same encouraging expression. “Go on, try it,” someone urged.

“Trying it won’t hurt,” another added.

When it came to causing trouble, strangers and friends alike became surprisingly tight-knit.

Su Wen was naturally curious. Even if they hadn’t said anything, he likely would have leaned in to look. So, he actually leaned forward, stopping about half a fist’s distance away.

In less than half a second, a pungent, musky, foul stench invaded his nostrils.

He couldn’t help it; he let out a loud “Gag!” on the spot. The others muffled their laughter. Yun Shu patted his back to help him catch his breath and handed him the oxygen.

After a few hits of oxygen, the dizzying, sharp scent finally began to dissipate. Su Wen turned to look at Yun Shu. His face hadn’t changed much; he didn’t seem angry about the prank.

“Hey, Yun Shu,” Su Wen said, acting as if he’d spotted something genuine. He pointed to the edge of the urine stain. “Look at this spot. What’s that?”

Yun Shu paused for a second and blinked. Su Wen just stared at him, silent.

Seeing him obediently lean in, Su Wen hooked a hand behind Yun Shu’s shoulder and yanked him forward, stopping him exactly half a fist away from the rock.

He generally preferred to settle his petty grudges on the spot.

The others moved back a few paces before they finally let their laughter roar. Just as Yun Shu almost touched the rock, Su Wen pulled him back and played dumb, leaning into his ear to whisper: “Eh? Why did you suddenly get so close?”

Yun Shu stayed crouched beside him. Su Wen’s hand was still draped over his shoulder. Yun Shu turned his face, a faint smile playing on his lips, and said in a voice only Su Wen could hear: “Not mad anymore?”

Su Wen froze for a split second, then quickly replied: “Tch.”

Lin Zhihuan called out from the side, breaking the strange tension. “Alright, alright, stop flirting. Time to work.”

Su Wen: “…….”

“Dr. Lin.”

“Yeah?” Lin Zhihuan looked at him.

“Do you read too many BL novels?”

Having been hit right where it lived, Lin Zhihuan made a “STOP” gesture. “Work first.”

…

The rock jutted outward, creating a small sheltered area beneath it—a prime spot for snow leopards to mark territory. Long ago, the patrol station had fixed a remote-sensing infrared camera to a sturdy rock nearby.

Su Wen watched as Yun Shu took the camera from Song Nan to change the batteries and retrieve the memory card. The cameraman moved closer, and at Cheng Daozhi’s signal, asked, “How often do you check these?”

“Batteries every two to three months to ensure power. A mountain patrol check once a month.”

Once the gear was set, Solang and Tsering each took a camera. For outsiders, even those interested in leopards, their senses weren’t as sharp as the local herders. Cheng Daozhi had gifted them cameras in exchange for footage they otherwise couldn’t get.

They didn’t disappoint. After scouting the perimeter, the two rushed back excitedly. They pointed toward a jagged, rocky outcrop in the distance. Even without words, everyone understood: they had found her.

The area was a mess of grey-yellow rock and thick, white snow that blurred the vision. Su Wen squinted in the direction they were pointing, his breath held, but his world was still just a sea of white.

He turned around, confused. Everyone else had looks of joy on their faces. He turned back. He figured that out of everyone here, he was the closest to a snow leopard—he’d touched one, hugged one, and even shared a bed with one. Yet, everyone saw her but him.

He took the oxygen bottle from Yun Shu, planning to give up and wait until she was more obvious. He took a breath, and the tension in his brain from the slight hypoxia eased. However, his head still felt heavy. He unconsciously stepped back and was caught by Yun Shu.

Just as he wondered what Yun Shu was doing, Yun Shu brought his camera over and aligned the viewfinder with Su Wen’s eye.

Su Wen was stunned for a second, but then his attention was snatched by the leopard in the frame. She was hiding behind a rock, only half her head peeking out. She was peering back at them, extremely alert.

Snow leopards have incredible audiovisual capabilities. Their binocular vision spans 90°, making them hypersensitive to movement. Their hearing range (20Hz-60Hz) is far superior to humans, allowing them to hear through the wind and hunt with precision. She had likely been watching them for a long time.

“Is it her?”

“Do you mean the one from the video this morning, or the pregnant one?”

Su Wen pulled away from the viewfinder. Now that he knew where to look, he saw her. She was slowly backing away, looking ready to bolt. Seconds later, she leaped toward the higher rocks and vanished, leaving only a glimpse of a powerful, lithe silhouette.

Yun Shu lowered his camera. “It’s her.”

“Which one?” everyone asked.

“The pregnant one,” Yun Shu replied. “Though it’s still not 100% certain she is pregnant.”

“True,” Lin Zhihuan agreed. “We can’t judge solely by the naked eye. We’ll wait for the test results and analyze the footage back at the station. As long as she’s doing okay for now. If she is pregnant, at least she isn’t due immediately.”

…

Trace sampling after a snowfall is the best window for tracking. Footprints, scrape marks, scat, urine, and prey remains are magnified against the white.

By the time they finished the route and collected the data, Su Wen had hit his limit. Braving the altitude had consequences. He collapsed.

Fortunately, it wasn’t severe—just a headache and oxygen deprivation. After some paracetamol and Rhodiola prescribed by the village doctor, he was mostly fine, just incredibly exhausted.

“He’s fine,” the doctor said. “He has a good constitution and adapts well. Just let him rest for two days.”

Two days? If he could, he’d sleep for three days and three nights.

Yun Shu saw the doctor out, and the others left to let him rest. He had completed the collection mission, though he had basically been supported by Yun Shu the whole way. It started with an arm around his shoulder and moved to his waist. It looked a bit scandalous, but it made walking much easier.

A snap sounded from outside—Yun Shu seeing the last person out and locking the door.

In his daze, Su Wen heard someone enter. He didn’t have his usual defensive reflex. He knew it was Yun Shu. He heard him kneel by the pillow and felt a hand test the temperature of his forehead. It was cold and very comfortable.

Su Wen wasn’t in a deep sleep; he was in that half-dreaming state where reality and fantasy blur. He could feel Yun Shu leaning very close. In a low whisper near his ear, Yun Shu asked:

“Today is December 24th.”

“Mhm?”

“Can you wish me a happy birthday?”

“Happy birthday.”