[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film-":3,"chapter-from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--chapter-23":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","From the God of Medicine: A Journey Through Film and TV Worlds",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2333949,4564,"Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty-Three: Wang Manni","from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>The two arrived at the restaurant, ordered a few signature dishes, and chatted casually for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The food came quickly, and in no time, all the dishes were served.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tastes good, eat more,” Wang Yan took a bite, found it quite pleasant, and said to Wang Manni.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm-hmm, it’s really delicious,” Wang Manni said, picking up a bite of food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his salary, eating at this level was a stretch. Sure, people occasionally asked her out, but you couldn’t have someone take you out every day, every meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wang Yan guiding the conversation, the atmosphere was relaxed, and Wang Manni became very talkative. No matter what she said, Wang Yan always had a reply, and the more she talked, the happier she became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan didn’t believe a word of what Wang Manni said. Blindly chasing a lifestyle far beyond her means without striving to improve herself enough to deserve it—everything she said was basically bullshit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mood was right, so they had to drink something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the influence of alcohol, Wang Manni let loose, recounting how hard life had been in Shanghai, moving herself deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she’d drunk quite a bit, Wang Manni remained very sober—her alcohol tolerance was excellent. Besides, they weren’t kids; drinking themselves into oblivion on a first meeting? That’d be insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d eaten their fill, drunk their fill, and talked until they were satisfied. It was getting late, so they tidied up, settled the bill, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, Wang Yan looked across at a hotel and said to Wang Manni: “Want to go there and chat some more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan’s directness wasn’t an insult or inappropriate advance. Let’s be honest—he’d dealt with plenty in his years selling houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors always spread fast, no matter when.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’d constantly hear about some agent here or some sales consultant there who’d closed a deal on their own. Even people around him were openly doing it—everyone knew, but no one said anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, one quick fuck could earn you tens of thousands—way more valuable than streetwalking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could understand it. Some people couldn’t even sell if they tried; after all, your body is a form of capital too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this materialistic society, struggling to survive ultimately comes down to money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can’t condemn or criticize someone just because their method of living isn’t socially accepted—that’s irrational and stupid. After all, they earned their money through labor; the only difference is the type of labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, supply and demand determine that where there’s a market, there will be supply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when you’re running the whole Yitiaolong  operation, it’s pretty damn satisfying too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making money? No shame in that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This attitude toward men and women, this Fengqi —it’s hard to say whether it’s good or bad. Those who play freely think it’s great; those who can’t let loose think it’s trash. There’s no clear answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Wang Manni, she’d spent years selling luxury goods and still chased after higher-status men. It’s not malicious speculation—in her eight years in the industry, by normal logic, with her looks, such things must have happened to her plenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she might truly have remained pure, but given her behavior in the story, that possibility was vanishingly small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Manni followed his gaze and instantly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she agreed to dinner, she’d already anticipated this—both were lonely urban men and women; after all, everyone needs a little love sometimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan was witty and carried himself with quiet grace. Even with an ordinary appearance, he had a unique charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And unlike most people, he didn’t treat her like a streetwalker who could be bought with money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a good impression of Wang Yan—they’d talked well, and she didn’t dislike him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t claim to be experienced, but she’d certainly had her share of encounters. Add in a few drinks, and she just nodded, offering no objection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her nod, Wang Yan grabbed her directly and walked toward the hotel across the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan never shortchanged himself—he booked a presidential suite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, Wang Yan didn’t bother with pleasantries—he got right to it. He’d eaten, drunk, and talked enough; why waste time on unnecessary formalities? Since returning from the World of Interrogation to reality, he hadn’t touched a woman. His physique was naturally strong, his energy abundant, and he’d been holding back for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One night of passion—left unmentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Wang Manni woke up, looked around, and saw no sign of Wang Yan—she assumed he’d left. A fleeting pleasure, a transient affair—she didn’t dwell on it. This was largely thanks to Old Wang being genuinely kind—he’d truly touched her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t stupid; she’d realized Wang Yan had only wanted to sleep with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she hadn’t expected him to just vanish—leaving her high and dry. She didn’t need anything, but you still had to give something. Shouldn’t you at least buy her something, or at least slip her some cash as a token?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She loosely wrapped her robe, got out of bed, and poured herself a glass of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan had truly gotten under her skin—she’d been worn out by him last night, exhausted, and still hadn’t recovered after a full night’s sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hotel was decent, at least a star-rated place. A skyscraper, standard for a big city; this suite was on the top floor, offering a spectacular view outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked to the large balcony with her glass, watching the rising sun, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wang Yan opened the door and walked in—he was used to waking early. The hotel had a gym and a pool; he’d worked out all morning, stretching and keeping his body in shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan took off his clothes as soon as he entered—he’d sweated a bit from exercise and needed a shower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the noise, Wang Manni came in from the balcony and caught him undressing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his sculpted, naturally flowing physique, Wang Manni recalled the pleasure of last night and shifted uncomfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Manni hadn’t tied her robe tightly—large areas of skin were exposed, and her legs were slightly apart. For a man like Wang Yan, brimming with energy, it was incredibly alluring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t brushed your teeth yet? Let’s shower together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan casually tossed his clothes aside, then picked her up in one motion, carrying her toward the bathroom as she let out a startled “Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a while, the bathroom was filled with warmth and passion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long after, Wang Yan carried Wang Manni, still trembling with afterglow and limp with exhaustion, out of the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laid her on the bed, tidied up, then pulled out his phone and transferred her fifty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I sent you fifty thousand. Buy yourself something you like. I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t wait for her to say any useless words—they both got what they wanted. Why drag out unnecessary formalities?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan got up coldly, didn’t even glance back, and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Limp and powerless, Wang Manni stared at Wang Yan’s retreating back, her emotions a tangled mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing else—just her body being conquered. Add in his wealth, his character, his unique aura,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And her liking for him right now was surely above ninety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Women are just as lustful as men; who doesn’t enjoy male-female pleasure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d anticipated this before coming, yet she still felt a twinge of regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People never cherish what’s easily obtained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Manni wondered—if she’d played hard to get, hidden her true nature, unleashed all her years of skill, and built up daily contact with him, would he have become her perfect match? Would her lifelong wish have been fulfilled?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her thoughts were destined to be a joke. Not only did Wang Yan know the plot and understand what kind of woman she was, but even his ten-plus years of life experience across two previous worlds were enough for him to see right through her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan had no time to care what Wang Manni thought—he was busy digging up other connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving back to Junyue Mansion, Wang Yan was about to take the elevator when he saw Gu Jia walking out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan greeted Gu Jia as she approached: “Miss Gu, what a coincidence—where are you off to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jia smiled warmly at Wang Yan: “It’s quite a coincidence, Mr. Wang. I’m stepping out for a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Classic Chinese small talk—totally irrelevant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm,” Wang Yan nodded, acknowledging her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added: “By the way, yesterday you mentioned inviting your whole family to dinner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just moved in—you must be busy. Do you have time tonight? I’ll treat you all to a meal, let’s get to know each other better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Yan’s enthusiasm, Gu Jia couldn’t refuse. Besides, as someone with strong ambition, she’d never pass up a chance to expand her network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d already checked him out yesterday—Wang Yan was clearly on a higher level than them, and he worked in finance; his connections must far surpass hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Gu Jia said: “I’m not sure if my husband has time today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about this—I’ll ask him, and if he’s free, I’ll contact you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan readily agreed: “Alright, let’s add WeChat. I’ll wait for your message.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging WeChat, they politely took their leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, Wang Yan changed clothes and went to his company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selling off his held stocks wasn’t simple—those were tens of millions in capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That money could still stir up waves; if he pulled it all out at once, it’d cause turbulence. Not only would he risk offending people, he’d lose out on a lot of profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it needed time to execute—no rushing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handled some matters, gave his staff a few tips on U.S. stocks, and instructed them to monitor things closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the time zone difference, he adjusted their work hours—have them rest during the day and monitor from home at night, reporting any developments immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan wasn’t worried about this employee having ulterior motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t likely to embezzle—the man was a native, with parents, wife, and children all living locally. In a country where filial piety has been passed down for millennia, no sane person would risk it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he could just follow Wang Yan’s investment tips—Wang Yan didn’t care. If you’ve got the guts, buy. I’ve given you the opportunity; whether you seize it is up to you. It’s all free-market money—what’s the harm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan figured he wouldn’t dare buy the first few times—people always fear failure, want to make money but are afraid of risk, hesitate and overthink. By the time they see others making money and want to follow, it’s usually too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving his instructions, Wang Yan drove back to Junyue Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t yet experienced the system’s study room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced over the books on the shelves—diverse categories, all well-covered. Now that his mental strength was eighteen, his thinking ability and information-processing speed had improved significantly, so he read very fast. Whether he remembered it all didn’t matter—he could definitely understand and penetrate the meaning of the books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His memory had also improved—he couldn’t say he had perfect recall, but if he focused, he could retain information for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan always tried to deeply understand books rather than memorize them. His mind was already cluttered enough; memorizing too much wouldn’t help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These books would keep him busy for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After browsing, he walked to the large desk—the desk and chair were both wooden, exuding ancient charm. He didn’t know what wood they were made of—he’d never studied such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the desk sat a complete set of the Four Treasures of the Study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wang Yan had seen many antiques, he’d never seriously studied them—he couldn’t tell if this set was genuine or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wang Yan guessed the desk, chair, and the Four Treasures were no ordinary items. After all, the system had given him over a hundred million in assets—it couldn’t be this stingy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for calligraphy, Wang Yan had some prior exposure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the World of Interrogation, Wang Yan had studied with many Confucian masters and Daoist sages—all of whom wrote with brush and ink. After all, it was basic in their circles, and their skills were quite good, with several true masters among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan’s own handwriting was dog-scratched—utterly unworthy of display. Having them teach him would be as humiliating for them as it was for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t stand it anymore, despising Wang Yan’s dog-scrawl, and so they casually gave him a few pointers—mostly basic writing fundamentals, since anything too advanced was far beyond his level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so much advice and extra practice on his own, he’d now made some progress—enough to be passable, at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regular script, seal script, running script, cursive script, clerical script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Wang Yan truly loved was Emperor Huizong’s slender gold style; aside from that, the man’s calligraphy and painting skills were genuinely impressive—he couldn’t be denied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what he practiced was regular script, the very foundation of calligraphy—Emperor Huizong himself had built his skill upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can’t even get strokes straight and lines level, how could you possibly dream of flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, iron strokes and silver hooks? It’s like a child who can’t even walk trying to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had nothing else but time. Just like training in combat, he copied the styles of great calligraphers—Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Chu Suiliang—and practiced every school. Over time, he naturally improved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fiddling around, Wang Yan picked up his brush and wrote a few large regular script characters. He glanced at them, crumpled them up, and tossed them in the trash. “Passable” was only for those who didn’t know better—anyone who understood, including himself, found them painful to look at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sighing over “The path is long and hard,” Wang Yan picked up his brush and began writing “Keep walking, and you’ll arrive,” standing quietly beside the desk, diligently practicing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He became so absorbed that he didn’t notice the time slipping away—before he knew it, it was afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan put down his brush, stretched, and checked the time—it was nearly four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up his phone on the table and scrolled through his messages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was from Gu Jia: Xu Huanshan had no issues; they could meet for dinner that evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another was from Wang Manni, summarizing to: she hoped for a chance to reconnect sometime. Familiarity breeds desire—understandable. Wang Yan ignored her; he’d deal with her when he needed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest were from friends—after all, a billionaire with assets in the hundreds of millions couldn’t possibly have no friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For messages that were decent and serious, he replied. For the rest, he ignored them—no point wasting time on nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After replying, Wang Yan booked a table at a well-regarded private kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t high-end—those places required reservations weeks in advance, and he had no time. He just needed somewhere decent enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He replied to Gu Jia and sent her the address, arranging to meet that evening.\u003C\u002Fp>",2505,"2026-06-20T21:08:40.823Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2536428672509f2bedc1f7f4413f011c291d4bba5e5a5a96da1dae1e58a6a392","from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--chapter-24","from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--chapter-22",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffrom-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--cover.jpg"]