The crowd initially thought the two children were swept away by the waves due to their playfulness and their parents' lack of attention.
However, after listening to Yang Lin's account, they realized it wasn't the case.
Everyone couldn't help but look at the innocent siblings and then at the tiger shark currently stranded on the shore.
It was evident that these two children possessed a trait many lacked: respect for life.
Or perhaps it could be called empathy.
Without this ability, they would have become little bullies like the Seagull Boy and the Peacock Boy.
"I'm very happy to meet two little angels like you today, so I have an idea. I want to make them the image ambassadors for Dolphin Island."
On the beach, Yang Lin said softly as he personally handed two shells to the children.
Upon hearing Yang Lin's proposal, both the children's parents and the gathered tourists showed expressions of disbelief.
After all, Xihong Zoo had never had humans as ambassadors before.
The spokespeople were typically the cute animals within the park.
However, the two little ones clearly didn't quite understand what an ambassador was.
"Uncle Zoo Director, what does a 'dai yan ren' mean?"
"And what are these two shells for?"
Hearing the children's questions, Yang Lin first patted their heads and then explained in words they could understand:
"An ambassador means you will be known by more people in the future, and you can come to Dolphin Island to play anytime without needing tickets."
"As for these two shells, they are rewards for you. They are called White Butterfly Shells, and there's a high chance of finding very beautiful pearls inside."
"White Butterfly Shells? Pearls?"
It was obvious that these two children didn't know the meaning of these terms.
But the more knowledgeable tourists were different.
"I knew these two shells looked familiar, so they're White Butterfly Shells."
"They're so big, there's very likely a pearl inside."
"If a good quality or unusually colored pearl can be found, it would be worth a fortune."
"Aren't pearls not worth much anymore?"
"That's for farmed pearls. Pearls from these large mother-of-pearl shells, if they're a bit bigger, start at a million."
"A million!"
Hearing this astonishing figure, the tourists present erupted in another wave of shock.
The Chinese beauty shrimp, valued at 700,000 yuan previously, had already opened their eyes.
Now, there was a White Butterfly Shell that could yield a million-level pearl.
For a moment, everyone's gaze changed, including the parents of the two children.
They had never imagined that Yang Lin would give away something so precious.
But just as everyone was deeply shocked by the immense value of the White Butterfly Shells, the younger of the two children suddenly frowned.
Under the surprised gaze of the crowd, he spoke to Yang Lin again:
"Uncle Zoo Director, are the pearls inside its belly?"
"Yes," Yang Lin replied without hesitation.
"Then, if we want to take the pearls out of its belly, will it hurt? Will it die?"
Upon this question, the tourists who were just discussing the value of the pearls fell silent. The question struck them like a heavy hammer.
If it had been before, they would have dismissed such a question with a laugh.
After all, the White Butterfly Shell was just a mollusk living in the ocean, and there were countless of them in the sea, insignificant. But when they faced their own children's equally bewildered gazes, they couldn't laugh and answer the question in their hearts.
Everyone's eyes turned to Yang Lin, wanting to see how he would answer.
However, even facing everyone's gaze, Yang Lin objectively stated the answer.
"Yes, if you want to take the pearls from their bellies, you have to pry their bodies open completely. After feeling pain, they might die immediately."
Upon receiving this answer, all the children's expressions changed. The joy they felt from finding treasure moments before vanished instantly.
As a silence fell over the scene, the two little ones, holding the White Butterfly Shells, suddenly walked up to Yang Lin.
"Uncle Zoo Director, you said you gave these two to us, so they are ours, right?"
"Yes!" Yang Lin nodded.
"Then I want to send them home now, is that okay?"
As soon as the little boy said this, Yang Lin's face immediately lit up with a smile again.
"Of course! Go ahead, go send them home!"
With Yang Lin's permission, the two children, who had been looking apprehensive, instantly became excited.
One after the other, they walked towards the sea with the White Butterfly Shells in their hands.
When they reached the area covered by seawater, they carefully placed the White Butterfly Shells into the water.
After a wave, there were no more White Butterfly Shells on the beach.
Seeing this, all the children present burst into cheers, as if they had accomplished something of great significance.
The siblings became heroes in their eyes.
When the children's joyful laughter reached the ears of the tourists, they inexplicably felt that this trip to Dolphin Island was even more worthwhile.
After the cheers on the beach subsided, everyone remembered the tiger shark that had been stranded earlier while helping the siblings ashore.
"Come on, everyone lend a hand and send this big fellow home."
"Alright, we can't lose to a bunch of kids."
"From now on, we will set an example and resolutely leave the best Dolphin Island for the children."
"Yeah, I'll argue with anyone who throws trash on the beach."
"I might not be a good person, but my child must be."
Before long, with the efforts of a group of tourists, the tiger shark was successfully sent back into the sea.
However, not long after, they discovered that the tiger shark they had just sent away had swum ashore again.
Helplessly, they had to send it back into the sea once more.
This happened several times. When the tiger shark was sent back into the sea for the fifth time, a killer whale, almost twice the size of the tiger shark, appeared from the side, heading straight for the tiger shark.
At this moment, the tourists seemed to see a killer look in the tiger shark's eyes.
They finally understood why this tiger shark had repeatedly stranded itself.
Seeing this, Yang Lin, who had already discreetly retreated, couldn't help but shake his head.
"I'd like to help you, little buddy, but there are just too many people. You'll have to fend for yourself."