As national treasures of Longguo, pandas were once a symbol of diplomatic relations between Longguo and other countries.
To be gifted a panda from Longguo was considered a supreme honor by some nations.
Essentially, pandas leased to foreign countries were always pampered, with dedicated venues and fresh bamboo flown in daily from Longguo being commonplace.
However, Lele and Yaya, currently at the Memphis Zoo in the United States, were the exception.
Years ago, foreign netizens had already exposed the tragic plight of Lele and Yaya.
Their living environment was dirty and disorganized, food was scarce, and they were covered in injuries.
A recent close-up photo of the two pandas caused immense heartache among countless Longguo netizens.
In the photo, Lele and Yaya were disheveled, with large patches of fur missing and their faces gaunt and unrecognizable.
Upon the return of these photos to the country, a large number of netizens immediately flooded the official accounts of the Longguo Wildlife Protection Association with angry messages.
The Longguo Wildlife Protection Association was forced to disable comments.
However, a recent announcement from the association has given netizens who care deeply about Lele and Yaya a glimmer of hope.
"Yang Lin, Director of Xihong Zoo, has been invited to join the expert team and will depart for the Memphis Zoo with the team in the near future."
As soon as the news broke, the comment section of the association was reopened.
"Is it true? Director Yang is going this time?"
"Finally, you've done something right after so long."
"You've finally invited a real expert this time, I hope you don't disappoint us."
"If it's Director Yang, then we'll trust you one more time."
"What kind of nonsense were the previous experts who said Yaya just had a common skin condition?"
"Now, immediately, without delay, get Director Yang on the soonest flight. It'll be too late if he's delayed, a bear's life could be at stake."
"With Director Yang there, Lele and Yaya will be fine this time. If you don't trust the Wildlife Protection Association, don't you trust Director Yang?"
"Exactly, Director Yang has healed so many abused bears before, Lele and Yaya will surely be fine this time."
.....
Seeing the drastically changed sentiment in the comments, the staff of the Wildlife Protection Association breathed a sigh of relief.
Undoubtedly, inviting Yang Lin to join the expert team was the most correct decision they had made this time.
Although they were not entirely sure if Yang Lin could effectively help treat Lele and Yaya.
And amidst the immense anticipation of the netizens, on the morning of May 2nd, Yang Lin departed from Capital Airport with the members of the association.
Due to the immense impact this incident had caused online, the Longguo official television channel dedicated a live broadcast special for this operation.
A team was assigned to provide continuous follow-up reports.
The special immediately topped the trending charts on various short-video platforms.
At this very moment, tens of millions of netizens held only one wish: for Yang Lin to safely bring Lele and Yaya back.
Eighteen hours later, at 8:40 AM on May 3rd, Longguo time, Yang Lin, along with over a dozen members of the expert team, officially arrived at Memphis International Airport in Tennessee, United States.
As soon as he stepped off the plane and before he could even adjust to the ground, Yang Lin found a group of reporters of various skin tones walking towards him.
Leading them was a Longguo reporter holding a microphone with the official Longguo television station logo.
Faced with this group of reporters, Yang Lin instinctively wanted to shrink back into the crowd.
But he soon realized that the experts who had been walking alongside him had all retreated behind him at some point.
"What's going on? You guys are really disloyal."
Before he could even finish his grumble, the microphone was already being thrust towards his mouth.
"Director Yang, hello, I am Zhang Jing, a reporter for News Channel stationed in Memphis. As the chief expert of this expert team, I have a few questions for you."
Looking at the female reporter from Longguo in front of him and then at the colleagues behind him, Yang Lin hesitantly asked again.
"Chief expert? When did this happen? I had no idea."
Although he was somewhat bewildered, he remembered that tens of millions of viewers were watching him and quickly adjusted his appearance, even straightening his tie.
"Ask away, I'll do my best to answer anything I can."
Receiving such a response from Yang Lin, the female reporter Zhang Jing smiled slightly.
"Okay, Director Yang, my first question is, what is the main objective of the expert team's visit to the Memphis Zoo this time?"
As soon as this question was asked, Yang Lin's expression became exceptionally serious.
"There is no main objective. We are here at the Memphis Zoo with only one purpose: to bring Lele and Yaya home."
Although Yang Lin's tone was calm when he said this, his words were firm and resonant, filled with conviction.
Even this female reporter from News Channel hadn't expected such a concise and direct answer from Yang Lin, and her eyes immediately lit up.
If it had been someone else, they might have just rambled on with a lot of meaningless filler.
"Director Yang's statement is enough. I don't need to ask any further questions. I wish you all the best!"
After saying this, the female reporter stepped aside.
At this point, reporters from other countries also began to crowd forward.
However, no matter what questions they asked, Yang Lin maintained only one stance: he was here to bring Lele and Yaya back to Longguo.
Regardless of any misunderstandings that might have occurred, or whether Lele and Yaya had suffered unfair treatment at the Memphis Zoo.
This interview footage was quickly broadcast to the live special room through the relay cameras of the accompanying reporters.
When netizens saw Yang Lin's words at the airport, they were instantly in an uproar.
"If they had had this attitude from the beginning, Lele and Yaya might already be living a normal life in the country."
"I endorse Director Yang's title of chief expert."
"Just for Director Yang's words, he has my vote."
"Looking closely, Director Yang is actually quite handsome, especially in a suit, he looks like a real person."
"Look, look, what do you call an expert? This is an expert. Experts don't give suggestions, they get things done."
"Please, Director Yang, give me a chance to support you, let me get a ticket, thank you."
"I strongly suggest that after Lele and Yaya return to the country, they should both be sent to Xihong Zoo to be taken care of by Director Yang, preferably raised to be like Tuan Tuan."
"Compared to Tuan Tuan, Lele and Yaya are truly too tragic."
"We eagerly await the day Director Yang brings Lele and Yaya back home."
.....
Undoubtedly, with the appearance of this interview recording, Yang Lin's personal popularity surged by a notch.
And while Yang Lin was continuously gaining popularity in his home country, he himself, along with the members of the expert team, had already arrived at the Memphis Zoo by car.