[{"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-960":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},2334886,4564,"Chapter 960: Take It","from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--chapter-960",960,"\u003Cp>Renting an apartment is truly a simple matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan had contacted the agent in advance, clearly outlining his needs; by the time he got off work, he and Xiong Qingchun visited four or five units and quickly settled on one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apartment wasn’t luxurious, but it wasn’t ordinary either—a 160-square-meter, single-level unit in a newly built high-rise, with a view of the Yongjiang River to the north and balconies on both north and south sides—quite excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, they hired a cleaner to tidy up and bought some essentials; that evening, the two of them cooked their first meal together in the new home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Qingchun, dressed in loose home clothes, ate the food Wang Yan had cooked and nodded: “You’ve been hiding this well—if we hadn’t both cooked during the New Year, I never would’ve known you were this good in the kitchen. With skills like yours, you should cook more; don’t waste them. It’s a shame you’ve been letting me cook every day when you’re this talented.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m lazy. I just don’t feel like it,” Wang Yan said with a grin, pouring wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So why are you cooking now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moving into a new place calls for a warm kitchen celebration. Especially since I’ve been living with old men all this time—finally sleeping with a beauty like you? That’s definitely worth celebrating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Xiong Qingchun’s cheeks flushed red: “Hey hey hey, how did we end up sleeping together? Don’t go saying nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The meaning’s clear enough—just get the gist,” Wang Yan raised his glass. “Come on, celebrate. Have a drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drank only beer, one gulp after another, thoroughly enjoyable. Of course, neither intended to drink much—this was just a small celebration of the move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one drink, Xiong Qingchun focused on her meal, saying nothing. She felt awkward—suddenly realizing that though they’d known each other for half a year, they’d rarely spent time alone like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Wang Yan went out daily for part-time business. Later, Zheng Qiudong came, and Huang Zimu joined; whenever they weren’t out on business, the group of them hung out together. Even after Wang Yan returned in the afternoon to join her in interviews, it was never just the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This—alone, in this moment—was truly their first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she worried over the silence, wondering if she should say something, Wang Yan spoke up: “Feeling awkward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I? With a scoundrel like you, what’s there to be awkward about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just stubborn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just eat your food. Didn’t the ancients say, ‘Don’t talk while eating’? Why do you talk so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan chuckled and fell silent, not even scrolling on his phone—just eating heartily. Xiong Qingchun couldn’t sit still; she scrolled through her phone as if she had urgent business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awkwardness was natural—it stemmed from the ambiguity of their relationship. They weren’t quite friends, weren’t quite lovers, yet lingered in ambiguity; now they were living under the same roof? Of course it was awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wang Yan felt no awkwardness at all—he didn’t even know what the word meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, Xiong Qingchun volunteered to wash the dishes, then went to the living room. When she met Wang Yan’s smiling gaze, she grew flustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… I’m going to…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scared of me? I won’t eat you. ‘Sweetheart,’ the movie with Zhang Manyu—you’ve seen it, right? Pretty good. Let’s rewatch it together.” Wang Yan cut her off and made the choice for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Qingchun didn’t refuse, sitting on the comfortable sofa—but far from Wang Yan. He sat in the middle; she sat at the far end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why sit so far? Can you even feel the mood watching a movie like that? In ‘Sweetheart,’ they’re all tenderness—you’re acting icy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s so much to do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Qingchun rolled her eyes, stood up, and moved closer to Wang Yan. She intended to sit two seats away—but Wang Yan shifted his butt over and pulled her into his arms in one motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew you had ulterior motives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you came anyway. You were prepared for this situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter what she was going to say—Wang Yan had already sealed her lips, his hands roaming unrestrainedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Yan had said, Xiong Qingchun had come to live with him fully prepared to define their relationship—no need for empty words; direct, passionate intimacy was all that mattered…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m telling you, if you ever hurt me, I’ll cut you to pieces…” Xiong Qingchun, cheeks still flushed, slumped against Wang Yan’s chest, making a pair of scissors with her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clearly still got energy. Let’s go again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh no, stop, stop! I give up, I really give up…” Xiong Qingchun waved her hands frantically. It was joyful, yes—but the pain was real, unfamiliar, overwhelming, like a storm—she both loved and hated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan grinned as he played with her: “Still awkward now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m telling you, I finally get it—you had no good intentions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s nonsense—I told you from the start I fell for you at first sight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I meant my ex-boyfriend—the one you kept mocking. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, and that’s why we fought so much. Now you’re the one who benefits, you scoundrel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s illogical. Your ex and his mother were unbearable—you were already fed up with them. Why blame me? I won’t accept that. And do you really think now’s the right time to bring up your ex?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not? Don’t you know?” Xiong Qingchun lightly punched him, then her eyes flickered. “You’re strong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Men always do this—always comparing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t slap labels on entire groups—that’s wrong. Most men don’t make such pointless comparisons with their partners. Those who do? Probably only one kind: cheaters. Doesn’t matter if man or woman—otherwise, how’d they end up in bed together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That actually makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right? We’re not doggy lovers. Besides, I’m confident—I don’t need you to tell me who’s stronger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Qingchun wanted to argue, but rubbed against him and gave up. She tilted her head up. “I really can’t anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Wang Yan smiled and pushed her down again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daughter of the martial world finally showed her boldness. Her earlier shyness? Just the normal reaction of a woman stirred by passion. Once that thin window paper was pierced and their relationship confirmed, Xiong Qingchun let go—became her old, carefree self again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan propped his hands behind his head, eyes half-closed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was life—but not all of life. Their physical closeness, their public affection at the office, meant nothing to the other employees—it was expected. Anything else would’ve been a shocking twist; they’d be the ones buzzing with excitement. Predictable outcomes never surprise. No conflict, no tension. And that’s the core of art—and the truth of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t affect the company’s development. Yan Qiuchun was a small startup, not top-tier, but the benefits were solid. Just the daily high-end lunch alone was worth praising—two part-time sales girls and the finance staffer who’d joined less than a month ago had each gained at least two pounds. Add housing and commuting subsidies, and the overall package was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The company was small, relationships simple, the boss genuine. Everyone could grow. The part-time girls were invited to sit in on interviews and later review recordings. The finance staffer got even more: Wang Yan personally tutored her and bought stacks of finance books for her to study during work hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A good atmosphere, happy employees—work naturally became more energetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the two part-time sales girls and the finance staffer who’d worked two years before passing the junior accounting exam? No matter how hard they worked, they couldn’t lift the company to the next level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan finally interviewed and hired the right newcomers—fresh out of school, plus a few with some experience. Two fresh graduates, two seasoned hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A “seasoned hand” meant someone who understood the industry, had participated in business processes, could work independently, and had some track record. Top-tier professionals wouldn’t come to Wang Yan’s small operation. Those who did? Strugglers barely scraping by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salaries were low. Headhunters made it sound glamorous, but it was still sales—mostly commission-based. Base pay was 3,000 yuan; with social insurance and other benefits, maybe 4,000. New hires lost money at first; seasoned hands did better, but their volume was too low to earn much. Still, it showed they knew some methods—but hadn’t mastered the essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wang Yan’s guidance and occasional training, these candidates would soon turn profitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two inexperienced ones? Like Huang Zimu—they were part of building his core team. Nurture them well, and they’d become bricks in his future wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t exploiting them—he offered fair pay and guided their growth. He was a real life mentor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With people hired, he needed to deploy them—keep expanding. He also hadn’t forgotten the new media company job he’d taken earlier. The 50,000-yuan success fee was the largest single deal they’d landed so far. This one had to be a hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s that new media job going? I haven’t seen you contact them,” Xiong Qingchun asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“WeChat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan waved his phone. “I found two people in Nanning, one in Guizhou. The Nanning pair will come to meet me one after the other tomorrow and the day after. The Guizhou one’s scheduled for a video call tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the cost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About 5,000 per person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Qingchun leaned against Wang Yan’s shoulder, surprised: “How’d you find them? Didn’t Li Zong already contact the editors-in-chief at Nanning’s newspapers and media companies?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He contacted them—plus deputy editors, chief editors too. But with so many people, how could he possibly find them all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So how did you find them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The dumb way—read articles, watch videos. We don’t have connections, so what else? I looked for who wrote sharp articles, who made great video scripts and shoots with solid themes, then traced back to their companies, found out who wrote them, who planned them, who was the content editor, then dug into how good the editor was, what the chief editor was like, the deputy chief editor too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Qingchun realized—despite knowing Wang Yan’s capabilities, she still widened her eyes in shock: “So you didn’t just find candidate editors-in-chief—you found a reliable content team?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan nodded with a smile, confirming her insight. It wasn’t hard to figure—he’d traced from front to back, from workers to managers; along the way, he naturally gathered all this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you haven’t met them. How do you know they’re really good? What if your inquiries reach their ears?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, I confirmed their skill level and saw their current pay didn’t match their ability. Only then did I arrange face-to-face meetings. A person’s true character? Others’ opinions are biased—they speak from their own angle, then from social norms, then from environmental pressure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t judge others with suspicion or prejudice—we preserve our independence. People are complex, not simply good or bad. Personal preferences are inevitable, but we must strive for objectivity, for dialectics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, why do you think these three, with their skills, haven’t risen? Boss’s wife—you’ve got a lot to learn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re such a show-off,” Xiong Qingchun said bluntly, lips curled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you like my show-off attitude?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like? I’m obsessed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why waste words? Look—your thermos is dry. What are you waiting for? Go pour me some hot water!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Qingchun lightly slapped Wang Yan’s shoulder, picked up his thermos, and went to fill it with hot water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan shook his head and smiled. In truth, thinking he was showy was the biggest misunderstanding of him. But he didn’t care—he kept fiddling with his phone, busy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, no one could escape Wang Yan’s gaze. He could now honestly say, “When it comes to judging people, I’ve never been wrong.” After two days of chatting with each candidate, he had a clear picture. He compiled their resumes, wrote his evaluations, and asked Li Zong downstairs to come up and watch their interview recordings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Zong, I have to say—you’re truly extraordinary. You dug up these people? No fame, weak resumes, yet such talent? I thought you’d have to recruit from outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, the deal was essentially sealed—he’d approved the candidates’ abilities, confirming they met his needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there’s the one from Guizhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan smiled, pulled out a pack of Hua Zi, offered him one, and lit them both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zong laughed. “Wang Zong, may I ask—how did you find these two? If it’s confidential, just ignore me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Snowden’s scandal was less than a year ago—what’s truly confidential? I just looked at local articles and videos…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? So you’re quite familiar with our new media industry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I took your job—how could I not be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, Wang Zong—I mean your instinct for this industry. Just knowing isn’t enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I get it—you want me to work for you? Give up that idea. I don’t earn much monthly, and my part-time gigs aren’t prestigious, but between everything, I make 500,000 to 600,000. Plus, we’re expanding into the Yangtze River Delta—we’ve already sent people ahead. The future looks very promising.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk. What a pity. But no matter—we’ve started. We’ll keep in touch. If you spot any problems with us, Wang Zong, don’t hold back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I look like the type who holds back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan smiled at Li Zong and asked, “Let’s cut to the chase—Li Zong, which one? I’ll keep coordinating. Good horses are common, but connoisseurs are rare—you’re the connoisseur we’ve been waiting for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The one from Guizhou is out—he’s already made his position clear; if I offer more money now, it’d be too much. As for these two locals…” Li Zong drew out his words, teasing a pause, then met Wang Yan’s calm, unflinching gaze: “I’ll take both.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s what I call a true connoisseur—sharp eye. This one’s fifty thousand too; let’s round it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Zong, don’t rush—I was hoping you’d give me a discount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? How so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Earlier you mentioned… I was wondering if we could poach all these talents? I’ve got a strong business team—you’d make even more profit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Zong’s got guts. If that’s the case, let’s plan this properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Wang Yan stood up, left, fetched a few sheets of A4 paper, and returned with a calculator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, bringing in another team—even given Li Zong’s demonstrated strength—would still be a strain. It’s not enough to just pull the team over; they’re all from different companies. Wang Yan had only found two team leads, but originally there were many. These newcomers needed time to mesh, clash, and rebuild—no revenue for a while, just pure losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the client was willing, Wang Yan didn’t care whether Li Zong sank or swam. Li Zong was a straightforward man—either he had real backing, or he believed in the old saying: the bold eat, the timid starve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After prolonged negotiations, Wang Yan’s success fee for this deal changed from fifty thousand to…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the business front, Zheng Qiudong was also doing well. He registered a branch office, teamed up with Huang Zimu, and within just three months, moved from freelance work to full-scale staffing services, hired four more employees, and turned a profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With both sides flourishing, Yan Chunqiu was visibly growing stronger—each day brought quiet, steady work, and steady progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At lunch that day, Xiong Qingchun looked up from his phone and asked, “Hey, didn’t you and Zheng Qiudong mention Xia Jiguo before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s under investigation by the Discipline Commission. Here, take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan took the phone, read the breaking news, and smiled: “Looks like we need to call Zheng Qiudong…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think they’ll end up together this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he pulled out his own phone and initiated a video call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Qiudong answered quickly—he was also having lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Zheng Qiudong’s face on the screen, Wang Yan asked, “You saw the news?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Qiudong’s tone was complex—weariness, relief, joy, sorrow, endless melancholy—all wrapped in those three words, and the long sigh that followed…\u003C\u002Fp>",2684,"2026-06-20T21:08:55.377Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","33382d2cb35f67f248060068a816fed4dd6102d53839851a6c53bc2babe96157","from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--chapter-961","from-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--chapter-959",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffrom-the-god-of-medicine-a-journey-through-film--cover.jpg"]