Chapter 17: The Mysterious Stone

"Big White Bear, would you like some honey? Honey is delicious! Oh, right, let me introduce you—this is Su He. He was the one who helped me save you just now."

"Hello, Big White Bear," Su He said with a smile, extending a hand to greet Tuanzi.

Perhaps because Su He was human, Tuanzi was quite wary at first. However, after carefully sniffing him, the creature lowered its guard. Seeing this, Su He realized Tuanzi must have smelled the scent of the White Snake on him; otherwise, it would have been impossible for it to trust him so quickly.

"Big White Bear, don't you think Su He smells amazing? I do too! There's an indescribable, fresh fragrance about him that’s just so comforting." With that, the bear ran over and took a deep sniff of Su He.

Watching Xiong Er act like a lovesick puppy, Su He couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. He wondered to himself, *Do I really smell that good? If so, why can’t I smell it on myself?*

As they walked, they found themselves at the familiar tree stump.

"This is the place!" The sudden voice startled Tuanzi. Xiong Er quickly scrambled onto the stump, looking at Tuanzi with joyful excitement. "This is where I fell, and then... then I met you." As he finished, Xiong Er’s face turned bright red with shyness.

Tuanzi stared at the love-struck bear, turned around, and walked away.

"Xiong Er, why are you blushing? The Big White Bear didn't even pay you any mind. If you don't catch up, we’re leaving you behind," Su He said, speechless at Xiong Er’s display of bashfulness.

"Hey, wait for me! Big White Bear!"

That night, Xiong Er tried to sneak up to Tuanzi to cuddle, only to be sent flying by a swift kick from the bear’s hindquarters. Su He, watching the dim-witted bear from the side, shook his head helplessly and drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, while Xiong Er was eating honey, he watched Tuanzi licking a honey jar and suddenly had an idea. He hurriedly pulled Su He along to go raid a beehive.

After finding the hive, Xiong Er lifted Su He up to reach it. But just as Su He grabbed the honeycomb, Xiong Er’s foot slipped. The man and the bear tumbled down, hive and all—the result was entirely predictable.

"Su He, you look like a chubby little white-furred piglet right now. So cute!"

"Xiong Er, you idiot! This is all your fault! I’m covered in stings because of you, and you’re still laughing?" Su He grabbed a handful of snow, packed it into a ball, and pelted Xiong Er’s swollen, chubby face.

Just then, Su He felt something nudge his back. He turned to find that Tuanzi had made two honey-snowballs for him and Xiong Er. Seeing this, Xiong Er happily ran over and hugged his snowball.

"Thank you, Big White Bear."

Tuanzi heard him, turned its head away with an air of haughty indifference, and used its hind foot to kick the other honey-snowball into Su He’s arms.

"Su He, let’s dig in!" After saying this, Xiong Er tried to lift his snowball, but it was too heavy. He lost his grip, and bear and ball rolled straight into Su He.

A moment later, Su He looked at the two of them, now completely encased in a giant snowball, and said, "Xiong Er, are you satisfied now? You absolute fool."

"Hehehe, sorry, Xiao He."

Seeing the man and bear rolled into a snowball, Tuanzi seemed to discover a new game. Soon, Su He and Xiong Er watched as Tuanzi, also encased in a snowball, rolled around happily nearby.

Noticing the two watching, Tuanzi pretended to be aloof, shook the snow off its fur, and walked away with elegant strides. It seemed that the gears of destiny had begun to turn at that very moment.

Over the next few days, Su He and Xiong Er successfully built a friendship with Tuanzi. On the frozen lake, Xiong Er ran up to Tuanzi, hugging his honey-snowball. "Big White Bear, come eat the honey-snowball! I’m going to call you Tuanzi from now on, okay? Tuanzi!"

Watching the two bears frolic, Su He couldn't help but smile. "I never could have felt this kind of warmth through a television screen."

Suddenly, Tuanzi slammed its paw onto the frozen lake, and the man and both bears plunged into the water. In the depths, Xiong Er and Tuanzi acted like they were back in their childhood. Xiong Er tried to lean in to kiss Tuanzi, and Su He, watching from the side, felt like he was being force-fed a heap of dog food; his face darkened.

The moment Xiong Er opened his mouth, the air escaped. Seeing him suffocating, Tuanzi carried Su He and Xiong Er onto its back and soared out of the water, sprinting across the snow. Then, beautiful butterfly wings sprouted from its back, and it carried them into the sky.

"Wow! We're flying!"

Time passed quickly. As the sun set and night fell, a thoroughly exhausted and sleepy Su He and Xiong Er rested. Tuanzi, seemingly sensing something, summoned a giant flower from beneath its feet to carry them into the heavens.

Su He stroked the petals, thinking, *I can feel it. To maintain this flower, it requires a constant stream of spiritual energy, and all of it is coming from Tuanzi. As expected of a Mountain God—truly incredible.*

Xiong Er, staring at the breathtaking sight, shouted toward the sky, "Xiong Da, are you seeing this? I wasn't lying to you!"

That night, Xiong Er pointed at a shooting star and said to Tuanzi, "Tuanzi, Mom said you came from the sky, just like that shooting star. Is that true? Tuanzi?"

"I wish Xiong Da were here. Honestly, he’s been so good to me. Ever since Mom left, he’s taken care of me just like she did. Thinking of Mom makes me want to cry, but Xiong Da always says a bear should act like a bear. Tuanzi, what is it that a bear is supposed to act like?"

"Shh, Xiong Er, be quiet. Tuanzi is asleep, and besides, you’ve never acted like a bear in your life," Su He whispered, both reminding him to be quiet and taking the chance to tease him.

"Xiao He, you..." Xiong Er wanted to argue, but seeing Tuanzi sleeping peacefully nearby, he stopped. His eyes drifted to Tuanzi’s horns, and he pulled a stone out of his bag to ask Su He.

"Xiao He, what do you think this stone is for? Back when I was little, it fell off Tuanzi’s head, but now it won't go back on."

Su He didn't answer the question directly. "Xiong Er, didn't you and Xiong Da wonder why my hair suddenly turned white and my appearance changed? A large part of the reason is Tuanzi."

"What? You mean Tuanzi made you like this? That’s impossible! We both just met Tuanzi today."

"Of course not that, it’s..."

"It’s what? Su He, tell me!"

Watching Xiong Er’s impatient curiosity, Su He gave a teasing smile.

"Guess."

"Oh, Su He! You’re always like this, always speaking in riddles!"