Chapter Summaries

Tao Qiu took the cubs skiing for the first time, then returned with them to warm up and sleep. At the human base, Lou Yu’s power helped stop a mutated flying bat attack, and Lou Quan promised to protect him from trouble over revealing his ability.

• Tao Qiu took the cubs to a snowy slope, where they rode down on a straw sled and bamboo skis, eager for repeated runs.
• After playing until afternoon, Tao Qiu brought the hungry, snow-covered cubs home, fed them, and went to sleep with them.
• At the human base, Lou Yu used his ability to ensnare most of the mutated flying bats after an equipment failure let them approach undetected, helping the defenders defeat the attack.
• Lou Quan told Lou Yu he had three days off and would take responsibility for ordering him to use his ability.
• Liu Qi'an and the other members of Lou Yu’s reinforcement team knew that his ability had stabilized and grown stronger since they rescued him in the wilderness.

After Lou Yu revealed his ability by killing the mutant flying bats, the Yong'an Base learned of his strength and the Central Base’s families weighed what to do about him. The Shen and Bai families kept their heads down while Lou Yu remained safe, with Lou Quan’s appeal to the Lou Family helping maintain the uneasy peace.

• Lou Yu refused gifts and attempts to curry favor, while John and the others kept their squad closed to outsiders.
• The Shen and Bai families reported Lou Yu’s ability to their superiors and waited for the Central Base to act, but nearly a month passed without intervention.
• The Shen and Bai families learned that the major families were locked in a power struggle and began living cautiously, fearing Lou Yu’s retaliation.
• Lou Yu chose to leave the Shen and Bai families in fear rather than attack them, while Lou Quan’s appeal to the Lou Family helped prevent a direct move against him.
• Lou Yu accepted that he still shared interests with the Lou Family, despite his conflict with them and his mother Bai Yan’s hatred of the family.

Tao Qiu and the cubs celebrated their own New Year's Eve in the snowy cave, sharing a feast and exchanging handmade radish-bird gifts. A week later, Lou Yu and his companions celebrated at the human base, where Lou Yu ended the night wishing someone outside the base a happy New Year.

• Lou Quan cooperated with Lou Yu and offered to share the Yong'an Base Research Institute's research on him with the Lou Family in exchange for their help keeping other families in check.
• Tao Qiu explained New Year's traditions to the cubs, then decided they could celebrate on any day before the snow melted.
• Tao Qiu and the cubs chose a calm day to celebrate, made a feast, and exchanged New Year greetings; Tao Qiu carved three radish birds as gifts for the cubs.
• The cubs ate the radish-bird carvings for breakfast the next morning, and Tao Qiu let them enjoy the food without spoiling their fun.
• At the human base, Lou Yu and his companions decorated, shared a reunion dinner, and played cards until midnight; Lou Yu then looked outside the base and softly wished someone a happy New Year.

Lou Yu and the Yong'an Base survived a month of increasingly fierce mutant monster attacks, though Lou Yu was badly injured and hospitalized. After the monster tide receded, he was discharged and Lou Quan ordered him to take another paid week to recover.

• Mutant monsters attacked Yong'an Base repeatedly as spring arrived, and Lou Yu used himself as bait to draw them into traps.
• During an airborne monster attack, burrowing worms surprised the defenders and one tore a deep wound into Lou Yu's thigh.
• Lou Yu survived emergency treatment, while his injured squadmates recovered enough to leave the hospital and return home.
• Liu Qi'an and Huo Lan joked about how dangerous life had become as they recuperated at home.
• The monster tide largely receded, and Lou Yu was discharged; Lou Quan gave him another paid week off to recover.

Tao Qiu planted crops and shared food with his growing bird cubs before the green python brought the little snake to apologize to Second Cub. The little snake and Tao Qiu headed to meet the cubs, who waited uneasily by the pond.

• Tao Qiu planted radishes, pear trees, and berries while the bird cubs brought him food and praised him.
• The green python arrived with prey and the little snake, who asked to see the little snowbirds.
• The green python explained that the little snake regretted bullying Second Cub and had brought a gift to apologize.
• Tao Qiu advised the little snake to apologize sincerely and accept that Second Cub might not forgive her.
• The bird cubs worried about meeting the little snake until Tao Qiu arrived with her and the green python.

The little snake came to apologize to Second Cub and brought sweet potatoes as a gift, which Tao Qiu recognized as a useful plant despite its tough tubers. Second Cub accepted the apology after the little snake explained why her earlier taunt had hurt her, and the chapter left them on the path toward reconciliation.

• Tao Qiu asked Second Cub whether she would meet the little snake, and promised to send the visitors away if the snake was insincere.
• The green python presented a bundle of sweet potatoes, and Tao Qiu recognized them but found their tubers too fibrous to eat.
• The little snake carried a sweet potato to the cubs, apologized to Second Cub, and explained that she had regretted making her cry.
• Second Cub accepted the apology gift and asked the little snake whether she understood what she had done wrong.
• The little snake explained that she had mocked Second Cub for dyeing her feathers green out of jealousy, and Second Cub had been upset because she loved the color.

After the little snake and Second Cub made up, the cubs learned from her that they must have a mother, despite having only ever known Tao Qiu as their parent. While Tao Qiu began cultivating the sweet potatoes the green python had brought, the cubs quietly agreed to ask him about their mother later.

• Second Cub forgave the little snake, and the cubs shared food and stories about spring.
• The little snake told the bird cubs that cubs had both a mother and a father, and Third Cub revealed that Tao Qiu had given birth to them.
• Eldest Cub asked the little snake not to raise the subject with their parents yet, and she agreed.
• Tao Qiu learned that the mutated sweet potatoes were plentiful and safe to eat, then gave some crops to the green python and the little snake.
• Tao Qiu planted sweet potato cuttings while the bird cubs waited for a chance to ask him about their mother.

Tao Qiu worried when Second Cub called for Mom in her sleep, while the bird cubs quietly wondered whether they had one. When the little snake returned, she explained what her mother had told her about how cubs inherit traits and why some are raised by only one parent, leaving the bird cubs convinced they had a mother.

• Tao Qiu shared the first roasted sweet potatoes with the cubs and promised to plant more.
• Second Cub dreamed of being held by an unseen person and called that person Mom as Tao Qiu comforted her in the night.
• Tao Qiu worried the cubs would ask why they had no mother, while the cubs privately wondered whether they had one.
• The green python brought the little snake to visit, and the cubs drew her aside to ask why she had returned.
• The little snake explained her mother's account of parentage, inherited traits, and absent or dead parents, and the bird cubs concluded they had a mother.

The bird chicks learned that their mother might have left or died, but agreed not to bring it up with Tao Qiu and found comfort in his affection. Meanwhile, Lou Yu decided he could no longer wait to see Snow Bird and prepared to travel into the wilderness alone, leaving his teammates curious about their captain’s feelings.

• The bird chicks and the little snake discussed the possibility that their mother had left or died, and the chicks agreed to keep the news from Tao Qiu.
• The bird chicks gave the little snake sweet potatoes, then told Tao Qiu they loved him and received his affection in return.
• After hearing Liu Qi'an complain about people having sex in public and mention mutated monsters’ spring mating season, Lou Yu worried that Snow Bird might find another mate.
• Lou Yu submitted an application to Lou Quan to enter the wilderness alone, and Lou Quan approved it despite suspecting his cousin was hiding something.
• Lou Yu told his teammates that his gifts and packed snacks were for Snow Bird, then set out to visit him alone as Huo Lan and Chen Lin wondered about Snow Bird’s influence over him.

Tao Qiu and the cubs wished for Lou Yu to return, and Lou Yu soon arrived alone with gifts. Their reunion turned into a teasingly intimate encounter that left Tao Qiu flustered by Lou Yu’s sincere gaze.

• Tao Qiu and the cubs lamented that their rock sugar and salt were running out, then chirped together for Lou Yu to come back.
• After his nap, Tao Qiu flew out to patrol and spotted Lou Yu waiting outside his car in the snow bird’s territory.
• Lou Yu told Tao Qiu he had come alone to find him, and Tao Qiu led him into the car while shrinking into human form.
• Tao Qiu covered Lou Yu’s eyes, greeted him, and teased him by pretending he planned to eat him.
• Tao Qiu tied Lou Yu’s wrists with a data cable, then revealed his human form and found Lou Yu gazing at him with open admiration.
• Tao Qiu blushed under Lou Yu’s earnest stare and told him to stop looking.

Tao Qiu and Lou Yu confessed their feelings and discussed how they had each viewed romance before meeting. Lou Yu revealed his lightning ability and admitted he had come alone because he feared Tao Qiu would find another mate.

• Tao Qiu questioned why Lou Yu trusted him, and Lou Yu said he had recognized Tao Qiu as a human with a second identity and had wanted to protect him.
• Lou Yu confessed that he had fallen for Tao Qiu at first sight, and Tao Qiu admitted he had also been unable to stop thinking about Lou Yu.
• Lou Yu showed Tao Qiu his lightning ability, explaining that an experimental reagent had awakened it and that he was Yong'an Base's only ability user.
• Tao Qiu asked why Lou Yu had come alone, and Lou Yu admitted he feared Tao Qiu would find another mate and wanted to bring him a gift.
• Tao Qiu and Lou Yu shared their romantic histories, with Lou Yu saying he had never dated and Tao Qiu saying he had once liked several handsome men.

Lou Yu brought Tao Qiu supplies and confessed through his attentive gestures that he wanted to pursue him, while Tao Qiu welcomed the courtship and opened up about his family. As night approached, Tao Qiu insisted on taking Lou Yu back to the base despite Lou Yu’s reluctance.

• Lou Yu told Tao Qiu he would pursue him, and Tao Qiu accepted while sharing their names.
• Lou Yu showed Tao Qiu bedding, clothes, toiletries, books, a phone, and snacks he had brought for him.
• Tao Qiu said Lou Yu reminded him of his grandmother, and Lou Yu comforted him with a hug.
• Tao Qiu learned Lou Yu had waited an hour and skipped lunch, then made him eat before discussing future visits.
• As darkness neared, Tao Qiu insisted on taking Lou Yu back to the base, claiming that Lou Yu had to listen because Tao Qiu was in charge.

Tao Qiu returned to his valley with supplies from Lou Yu and prepared to repay him with food, while the two grew closer through their affectionate exchange. After bringing Lou Yu fresh tomatoes and insisting he accept prey in return, Tao Qiu watched him taste the tomatoes and saw how much he enjoyed them.

• Tao Qiu carried the supplies Lou Yu had given him back to the cave, where the cubs celebrated and learned he had traded with the human.
• Tao Qiu prepared fresh tomatoes for Lou Yu and warned the cubs to hide in the cave if a mutant monster entered the valley while he was away.
• Tao Qiu flew back to Lou Yu and gave him the tomatoes, asking him to keep their source secret and eat them there.
• Tao Qiu insisted on hunting prey for Lou Yu as repayment, and Lou Yu accepted while expressing his affection.
• Tao Qiu pecked Lou Yu when he gazed at him too affectionately, then brought him chopsticks so he could eat the tomatoes.
• Lou Yu tasted the tomatoes and was astonished by their sweetness and quality.

Tao Qiu hunted a large yellow ox and carried it to the safe-zone outskirts as a gift for Lou Yu. After a tender farewell, Lou Yu’s teammates arrived to load the ox, and news of Snow Bird’s latest gift spread through the base.

• Lou Yu accompanied Tao Qiu to his hunting grounds, where Tao Qiu killed a large yellow ox while Lou Yu watched from the car.
• Tao Qiu carried the ox behind Lou Yu’s car toward the base, fending off mutant monsters that approached along the way.
• At the safe-zone outskirts, Lou Yu hugged Tao Qiu and said goodbye before Tao Qiu flew home.
• John, Liu Qi'an, Huo Lan, and Chen Lin arrived to load the ox, and Lou Yu told them Snow Bird had insisted on giving it to him.
• Lou Yu’s teammates hauled the ox through the base gate, where word spread that Snow Bird had given Lou Yu another gift.

Tao Qiu returned home and caught Momo, Xuexue, and Yuanyuan sneaking snacks from his supplies, then gently punished them before showing them the household goods and clothes he had brought back. The cubs spotted a tiny garment in the clothing pile and asked if it was theirs.

• Tao Qiu came back to the valley, found the food containers opened, and pretended to cry until the three baby birds emerged from hiding.
• Tao Qiu caught the cubs with snack residue on their mouths, and they confessed to prying open the containers and tasting the food.
• The cubs pleaded for one another as Tao Qiu considered a punishment, so he sentenced them to three days without bedtime stories.
• Tao Qiu showed the cubs the bedding, clothes, shoes, and slippers he had brought home.
• Eldest Cub picked up a tiny garment from the clothing pile, and the three cubs asked Tao Qiu if it was theirs.

Tao Qiu explored the supplies Lou Yu had brought, then introduced the bird cubs to a cell phone and its photos, videos, and cartoons. After the cubs eagerly watched a cartoon, they brought Tao Qiu food and water, and he finished his dinner.

• Tao Qiu found underpants among the cubs’ clothes and hurriedly explained that they were his, then showed the cubs the grooming items and gave each one a hair clip.
• Tao Qiu realized Lou Yu had not brought the rest of the ghost story anthology, so he promised to read the other books to the cubs instead.
• Tao Qiu switched on the cell phone and showed the cubs how its camera took photos and recorded videos of them together.
• Tao Qiu played a cartoon for the cubs and explained how pictures could be shown in sequence to look like they were moving.
• When Tao Qiu said he was hungry, Eldest Cub brought meat, Second Cub brought fruit, and Third Cub brought water, and Tao Qiu ate while they watched eagerly.

Tao Qiu set limits on the cubs’ phone watching and kept their bedtime-story punishment in place, while Lou Yu sold most of the prey to the base and thought fondly of Tao Qiu. The chapter ended with Lou Yu’s teammates asking whether Snow Bird had used his gifts, as Liu Qi’an began speculating about the exchange.

• Tao Qiu let the cubs watch five cartoon episodes, then limited them to two a day to protect their eyesight.
• Tao Qiu washed the cubs and refused to cancel their three-day bedtime-story punishment, even after they said they preferred his stories to cartoons.
• Lou Yu sold some of the prey to Lou Quan at market price and planned to save the money for gifts for Tao Qiu.
• Lou Yu’s teammates sat down to rest and asked Chen Lin to make beef noodles, while Lou Yu said he was not hungry after eating Tao Qiu’s tomatoes.
• John mistook Lou Yu’s affectionate smile for romantic interest, but Lou Yu said he had been thinking of something happy.
• Chen Lin guessed Lou Yu was thinking of Snow Bird, and Lou Yu said Snow Bird had accepted his gifts and given him prey in return; Liu Qi’an began speculating about what it meant.

Lou Yu passed off Snow Bird’s favor as pity and personal charm, giving the researchers a plausible explanation while discouraging them from relying on him as a go-between. Meanwhile, Tao Qiu settled into his new clothes and read the cubs a book about an ordinary family facing the early stages of the great catastrophe, which reached the point where a person vanished in floodwater.

• Liu Qi'an suggested that Snow Bird treated Lou Yu like a pitiful child, and Lou Yu’s teammates accepted the explanation.
• Lou Yu told the researchers that Snow Bird pitied him and liked his sensible, unafraid behavior and human-made gifts, while claiming he had a unique personal charm.
• Lou Yu refused to introduce the researchers to Snow Bird, warning that he might lose the creature’s favor, and Lou Quan let the researchers try their own approach with caution.
• Tao Qiu washed and wore his new bedding, clothes, and slippers, then took the cubs to bask in the sun and read to them.
• Tao Qiu read about a family whose ordinary life was disrupted by global disasters, rising prices, and relentless rain; the account ended with a person disappearing in waist-deep floodwater.

The protagonist endured decades of catastrophe and loss before dying as reports announced that the monsters had retreated. On the mountain, the fox clan feared the old leader’s worsening illness and discussed whether Snow Bird might know how to cure it.

• The protagonist lost his family members to mutant monsters, an epidemic, and a food crisis, then survived alone for many years until his death.
• As the protagonist’s consciousness faded, he heard people celebrating that the monsters had retreated and hoped the news was true.
• The old fox suffered another painful episode in the forest, alarming the fox cubs and reminding the adults of his declining condition.
• Older foxes recalled that Snow Bird had experienced a similar episode but had not suffered another, and wondered whether he could help the old fox.
• The foxes discussed how the green python had fought Snow Bird, recovered from the encounter, and later brought him prey.

The red fox struggled with the old patriarch’s approaching death and the fox clan’s suffering, until the injured gray fox returned with a fragment of fruit from Snow Bird that might save a dying cub. The brown fox parents fed it to their cub, while the red fox carried the gray fox aside to learn what had happened.

• The red fox told his mate that the old patriarch had about a year left and had asked him to kill him before he lost control.
• A brown fox couple’s sick cub appeared to be dying, and the white fox smelled the same decay that had afflicted other foxes who died young.
• The bloodied gray fox returned with a tiny fragment of tomato and urged the red fox to give it to the cub.
• The brown fox parents and the gathered foxes agreed to bear the consequences, and the red fox allowed them to feed the fruit to the cub.
• The red fox carried the gray fox aside, licked his wounds, and asked him to explain everything.