Whoa, they even painted a panda on the fighter jet! The jet gradually leveled out, flying parallel to their private plane, which allowed Shen Yibin to finally get a clear look. He saw a cartoon panda painted just below the cockpit. ’Sokovia is really pulling out all the stops to welcome Hah’Er,’ he thought.
However, Shen Yibin had still underestimated Sokovia’s preparations. When he deplaned, he saw a large bus parked right on the tarmac, its entire body covered in paintings of pandas and bamboo. It was clearly another special arrangement to welcome Hah’Er. The bus had an open-top roof, just like the vehicles Shen Yibin had seen on TV for victory parades after soccer or basketball teams won a championship.
"The route from the airport to the Sokovian Royal Palace is packed with people waiting to see Hah’Er. Some have even made special trips from out of town," Sylvie explained with a radiant smile. "So please, let Hah’Er go and say hello to them. Of course, if he doesn’t like it, he can just stay on the lower level."
"He’s not the shy type," Shen Yibin said, pursing his lips. "Hah’Er loves the spotlight. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have caused such a stir during the marathon or become the star of *Panda Hero*."
"That’s wonderful!" Sylvie was overjoyed. ’Through this event, the royal family’s image will be strengthened,’ she thought. ’This is a huge boon for me and the King of Sokovia.’
Sylvie led Shen Yibin and the others down the gangway and onto the bus, taking them to the open-air platform on the second level. An array of Sokovian delicacies was already laid out, making Hah’Er drool. Xiaoliu stared intently at several types of fruit he had never seen before, seemingly wondering what kind of wine they would make. Maphario hadn’t been forgotten either; a small, exquisite chair was set on the table, with a box of assorted nuts in front of it. Sylvie had learned about the two companions’ preferences from Shen Yibin long ago and had prepared thoroughly.
The bus started moving slowly, exiting the airport and pulling onto the street outside. As soon as the crowds lining the road saw Hah’Er on the top deck of the bus, they erupted into shrieks. "Panda! Panda! Panda!" The frenzy was even wilder than at a Michael Jackson concert back in the day; the panda’s charm was undeniable.
"Hah’Er, come say hello to them!" Unwilling to pass up such a great opportunity to win the people’s hearts, Sylvie pulled Hah’Er to his feet and led him to the railing to wave at the crowd.
"Mmm!" Hah’Er confidently raised his right paw to greet the enthusiastic people of Sokovia. He just seemed to have forgotten that he was still clutching a piece of traditional Sokovian bread.
Unexpectedly, this only made the crowd even more fervent. This particular bread was a point of pride for Sokovians; they considered it the most delicious food in the world. Seeing the Panda enjoy it made them ecstatic. A sharp-eyed spectator spotted the bite mark. "Look! The Panda likes our bread! He likes Sokovian food!" What could make a host happier than a guest enjoying the food they had prepared?
And so, the photo of Hah’Er holding the half-eaten bread quickly went viral on Sokovian social media. It also caused a massive surge in sales for that type of bread. For an entire month, daily sales were at least double their previous numbers, and bakeries all over Sokovia displayed the photo alongside pictures of Hah’Er in their windows to attract customers.
Later, when Sylvie reviewed the data, she was left speechless. She had intended to use Hah’Er to improve the royal family’s image but never expected he would also boost Sokovia’s economy. It was a delightful and unexpected bonus.
The bus crept along at a snail’s pace, greeted by endless cheers with every block it passed. Hah’Er tirelessly waved to the enthusiastic crowds, while Shen Yibin, Xiaoliu, and Maphario calmly focused on tackling the smorgasbord of food on the bus.
’Hmm, a few of these pastries are really good. I wonder if Silva can introduce me to the chef so I can learn a thing or two. Oh, and that bread... since Hah’Er likes it so much, I have to learn how to make it.’
Fortunately, Sokovia’s Capital City wasn’t very large. Even at such a slow pace, two hours was enough for Shen Yibin’s party to reach the Sokovian Royal Palace. His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Sokovia were already waiting outside the palace with their entourage.
The bus came to a stop. Sylvie led Shen Yibin and his companions before the King and Queen. Shen Yibin quickly bowed and said, "It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesties, the esteemed King and Queen."
"Hmph!" Hah’Er copied Shen Yibin, clumsily attempting to bow. But the little guy was just too chubby; his big belly prevented him from bending more than halfway down.
Of course, the King and Queen couldn’t let Hah’Er fall. The King said a few words in Sokovian, quickly reaching out to steady Hah’Er. He then took Shen Yibin’s hand and spoke to him at length.
"My father says, ’Welcome to you, Hah’Er, and your friends. You are all Sokovia’s most honored guests,’" Sylvie deftly translated. The surrounding reporters were snapping photos furiously, their shutters clicking nonstop, and the video cameras were rolling just as hard. The entire procession from the airport had been broadcast live across Sokovia. Later, the television station’s statistics would show that the viewership ratings were several times higher than even those for the last US presidential visit.
As His Majesty the King led Hah’Er into the Royal Palace, the live broadcast finally concluded. From that point on, only the royal photographers were authorized to film inside the palace. They would later edit the footage and distribute it to other media outlets.
"When you went to China for your internship, I didn’t quite understand," the King said, his tone much more relaxed now that the reporters were gone. "But seeing this little fella, I finally get it. If it were me, I certainly wouldn’t have been satisfied with just three months!" The Queen watched Hah’Er with a gentle, loving gaze; she was also quite taken with the adorable creature.
Afterward, the King led them to the banquet hall and hosted a private feast in their honor. The familiar old butler, Alfred, stood behind Hah’Er throughout the meal, attending to his every need. The Monkey Wine Shen Yibin had brought earned unanimous praise from the royal couple.
When she learned that the wine was made by Xiaoliu fermenting fruit in tree hollows, Sylvie even invited him to try his craft in the Royal Palace.
Shen Yibin smiled and agreed, but inwardly he was wondering, ’At this rate, when will I ever get a chance to go look for pets?’