As the New Year approached, the animals at Xihong Zoo once again stormed the major video websites' trending lists.
While netizens fiercely debated where Yang Lin had obtained so many peculiar animals, a video posted by Yang Lin himself on his social media account instantly captured the attention of the entire internet.
The video began with an alpaca sporting a melancholic side-swept fringe appearing on screen.
"Hello everyone, I am Yang Nima, an officially employed alpaca at Xihong Zoo. I am participating in Xihong Zoo's 2022 Most Beloved Animal by Visitors event. Please cast your vote for me on the official website..."
Without a doubt, netizens were utterly stunned when they first saw this video.
An alpaca had somehow come out to campaign for votes, and it was even speaking.
However, after the initial shock, netizens quickly recovered.
"Damn, you scared me! I thought it was a real alpaca talking. Turns out it was Director Yang."
"Are you sure that thing is Director Yang? Not an alpaca spirit?"
"I'd recognize that voice even if it were burned to ashes. It's Director Yang's voice."
"Damn, I was wondering why an alpaca's cry would sound like 'giAo wo li giAogiAo.'"
"So it was Director Yang pretending to be this alpaca."
"Should have seen it coming. This alpaca was spitting like it had cheat codes on. Turns out it was Director Yang."
"That deranged alpaca was Director Yang?"
...
As everyone was still reeling from the shock of this revelation, more videos began to appear from accounts officially certified as Xihong Zoo employees, all campaigning for votes.
In these videos, animals that had recently become sensations at Xihong Zoo appeared in person to garner support.
Gatling Gorilla, Foodie Panda, Civilized Black Bear, Backstroke Crocodile.
Upon seeing these videos, the entire internet of Long Guo exploded, especially among those who had recently visited Xihong Zoo.
"My god, are all these animals people in disguise?"
"I was wondering where Xihong Zoo got such a group of geniuses and dunces."
"Six six six, I actually didn't see through it."
"It's normal. The animals at Xihong Zoo are already so bizarre that having people in costume doesn't feel out of place at all."
"I went this morning. I was wondering why a panda was asking me for luosifen, turns out it was a person."
"So, did we lose money or make money?"
"Definitely made money. For fifty yuan, you get to see over a hundred people pretending to be animals, including a boss worth hundreds of millions. This kind of show is probably a once-in-a-lifetime event."
"We definitely made money. These people pretending to be animals were more animalistic than the animals themselves."
"Damn it, my tickets are for tomorrow. Will Director Yang still be here tomorrow?"
"That gorilla was actually a cute little girl who's only 1.5 meters tall? The contrast is insane."
"The Foodie Panda suit also had a girl inside. How can a person eat that much?"
...
At this moment, everyone felt that things had gone completely off the rails.
Especially after learning that this was Xihong Zoo's annual company event format.
If nothing unexpected happened, this would become the most outrageous company annual event of 2022, and possibly the next decade.
After the initial shock, various evaluations of Xihong Zoo's move began to emerge.
There were positive and negative ones.
The positive ones generally praised Xihong Zoo's novel and interesting annual event format.
The negative ones primarily criticized Xihong Zoo for deceiving visitors and playing pranks on its employees with such unscrupulous tactics.
However, before the controversy could fully unfold, and before the trolls and haters could even mobilize, an article published by the Long Guo Wildlife Protection Association in the Long Guo Daily directly brought the controversy to a close.
[On the 14th, Xihong Zoo grandly held an annual event of special significance. During this event, all employees transformed into various wild animals, interacting intimately with visitors in the guise of animals...]
[From this activity, we can feel that Xihong Zoo's attitude towards wildlife conservation is not merely superficial. From the director to every employee, each person shed their lofty human status for a day, experiencing the daily lives of animals from their perspective...]
[Physically experiencing the joys and sorrows of animals. The significance of this event is immense, playing a crucial role in advancing wildlife protection efforts across Long Guo, and we hope that more ordinary people can participate in it...]
.......
The thousands-of-words article fully affirmed the positive aspects of Xihong Zoo's annual event and also explained the significance of the zoo's activities to the vast number of netizens.
As soon as the article was published, the nascent negative comments were immediately drowned out and disappeared.
Let's be serious, with the endorsement of two major official bodies for Xihong Zoo, who would dare to oppose it?
"I was too narrow-minded. I didn't realize the deeper meaning behind Director Yang's event."
"Yes, I thought Director Yang just wanted to create some buzz. There's still a big gap between our understanding and Director Yang's."
"Animals' emotions cannot be expressed. Only by truly living as an animal once can we humans understand their true needs. Director Yang's move is brilliant."
"This event is truly meaningful. I suggest that ordinary people like us also have the opportunity to participate next time, Director Yang."
"Agreed, agreed. Suggest making it a permanent event, opening an online registration channel, and giving everyone the chance to play an animal. Preferably, they can choose which animal they want to impersonate."
"Great idea. I think this would be very therapeutic."
"Where are the people who were against it before? Keep talking. The actual animals don't mind, the employees don't mind, so why are you still jumping around?"
......
In an instant, the internet was flooded with praise for Xihong Zoo's special annual event, and many netizens suggested that Xihong Zoo should open up its animal impersonation activities.
When Yang Lin himself learned of all this, he was completely dumbfounded.
Especially after seeing the article in the Long Guo Daily and the netizens' comments and feedback.
"What the hell? I didn't even think that far ahead."
"I just wanted to do something fun."
"How did it end up advancing the development of Long Guo's wildlife conservation?"
"No, isn't this too ridiculous? And so many people want to experience it, to personally become an animal."
"However, if they charge for the experience, it's not impossible."
.....
At this moment, Yang Lin could only describe himself as utterly bewildered and profoundly shocked.
Meanwhile, Xihong Zoo's official website was once again overwhelmed by enthusiastic netizens.