Chapter 690: Chapter 690
As time was already running short, Ding Fan had not yet arrived. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝
At this moment, Hu Jin genuinely started to lose her confidence, as Ding Fan was capable of doing some truly shocking things. It was entirely possible that he didn't take this competition seriously.
"General Manager Hu, there are less than five minutes left before the competition starts. I wonder if your Mr. Ding has arrived," Jin Guangyi said, approaching Hu Jin with a victorious smirk.
Hu Jin's brows furrowed tightly, and she said nothing for a moment.
As both Jin Guangyi and Hu Jin were key figures in the competition, their conversation attracted the surrounding journalists, who quickly gathered around.
Seeing that the journalists had converged, Jin Guangyi raised his voice. "Before, you all were so full of yourselves, but when it comes to the crunch, your Mr. Ding is too scared to show up, isn't he? However, from this, it can be seen that your Mr. Ding does know the way of the world. Knowing he can't compete with Korean Medicine, he shouldn't come here to make a fool of himself."
"You..." Hu Jin's brows knitted even more tightly, and she looked angrily at Jin Guangyi.
"In a moment, I will explain to Mr. Hawkins the relationship between Korean Medicine and Chinese Medicine. Korean Medicine existed before Chinese Medicine... After this, you in Chinese Medicine shouldn't show your faces and embarrass yourselves anymore," Jin Guangyi said with an irritating air of entitlement.
Among the spectators of the medical showdown, many practitioners of Chinese medicine were present. After many confrontations between Korean Medicine and Chinese Medicine, these Chinese medical professionals came to see the world and to cheer on Chinese Medicine...
At this moment, Jin Guangyi's words outraged many practitioners of Chinese medicine.
"What nonsense, the outcome hasn't even been decided yet. Aren't you jumping to conclusions a bit prematurely?" an elder with white whiskers slowly approached.
"Are you President Zhou Shixin of the Huaxia Chinese Medicine Association, Elder Zhou?" Jin Guangyi looked at the newcomer and asked.
The elder with white whiskers nodded slightly. "Indeed, I am."
Jin Guangyi snorted softly. "I didn't expect that even Elder Zhou, a giant of Chinese medicine, would be here today... However, President Zhou, even your presence won't change the inevitable defeat of Chinese medicine today."
"Insolent... You really are audacious, showing such disrespect in front of our president!" a middle-aged man stood out, saying with great displeasure.
Jin Guangyi glanced at the middle-aged man. "The victors are entitled to their pride, while the losers are only fit to be stepped on..."
"You..." The middle-aged man took a step forward, the veins on his forehead bulging.
"What's the matter? Want to start a fight?" Jin Guangyi sneered contemptuously. "If you lose your temper and start a brawl, by tomorrow, Chinese medicine will indeed be famous all over the world!"
The middle-aged man clenched his fists tightly, but Jin Guangyi had a point. If a fight really broke out, it could give Korean Medicine the chance to completely tarnish the reputation of Chinese medicine.
"You in Chinese medicine will never be a match for our Korean Medicine. You've been deceiving the world and stealing fame for too long. It's time to give back what's ours," Jin Guangyi said arrogantly, looking around him.
"I don't know how skilled you in Korean Medicine are, but one thing I do know; when it comes to boasting, you really are unmatched," a faint voice suddenly spoke up.
Hu Jin's eyes lit up when she heard the voice; she quickly looked in its direction.
"Chaos... Mr. Ding..."
The speaker was none other than Ding Fan.
At this, Jin Guangyi also saw Ding Fan.
Jin Guangyi had already developed a hatred for Ding Fan, having been manipulated by him previously and being caught off guard. Coupled with Ding Fan's disrespectful remarks just now, the sight of Ding Fan made Jin Guangyi grit his teeth in hatred.
Many media representatives quickly pointed their cameras and photographers toward Ding Fan.
Under the shining lights, Ding Fan walked proudly up to Jin Guangyi, chest thrust out.
"Mr. Ding, I thought you were scared and hiding. I didn't expect you to have the courage to show up..." Jin Guangyi said to Ding Fan with a sarcastic tone.
"Your Korean Medicine from Korea isn't skilled enough to scare me into hiding," Ding Fan tossed back the comment before addressing everyone present.
"I actually just made time to come and teach these Korean Medicine practitioners what Huaxia Medical Arts really is. But as you all know, I'm usually very busy. If it weren't for my secretary reminding me, I might have forgotten about today's lesson for the Korean Medicine folks..."
Ding Fan's words were delivered with a casual indifference, completely unruffled.
The crowd burst into laughter after hearing Ding Fan's words.
Ding Fan was clear: he didn't take the competition seriously at all. To him, it was just about teaching a lesson to the students of Korean Medicine.
Hu Jin couldn't help but chuckle to herself after hearing Ding Fan's words.
You in Korean Medicine from Korea boast about your supremacy, claiming your tradition is authentic and you're the best. Well, Ding Fan can outdo your boasting. No matter how grandiose you are, Ding Fan remains your master.
Hu Jin took another look at Ding Fan.
To deal with someone like Jin Guangyi, perhaps only Ding Fan was capable...
Ding Fan's implication was not lost on Jin Guangyi; his face turned very unpleasant. Ding Fan's words were utterly contemptuous...
"Mr. Ding, you are far too arrogant..."
But Ding Fan paid no attention to Jin Guangyi, directly speaking to Hu Jin instead. "I have other matters to deal with later, so get things started now," he instructed.
"Mr. Jin Guangyi, please," Hu Jin said to Jin Guangyi.
Jin Guangyi snorted coldly and, with a flick of his sleeve, he walked away.
"Mr. Ding Fan..." Just at this moment, the president of the Chinese Medicine Association, Zhou Shixin, walked over.
"Chairman Ding, this is the president of the Chinese Medicine Association, Elder Zhou Shixin." Hu Jin, concerned that Ding Fan might also speak out of turn to Elder Zhou, hastened to say.
Ding Fan nodded. Then he spoke very politely, "Mr. Zhou, I understand the concerns you may have, and I assure you I will not bring disgrace upon Huaxia Chinese Medicine."
Zhou Shixin hadn't spoken yet, but Ding Fan had already understood everything, which made Zhou Shixin feel quite fond of Ding Fan. "Good... I will be cheering for Mr. Ding from the audience."
Ding Fan nodded and then responded respectfully, "Thank you..."
Having said this, Ding Fan then turned and walked towards the competition arena.
This Elder Zhou, being the president of the Chinese Medicine Association, understood that although today was about a medical competition, it was also a contest for the status of Korean and Chinese medicine. Therefore, Ding Fan already knew what was expected, without needing Elder Zhou to say anything.
All that Ding Fan had to do today was to avoid tarnishing the reputation of Chinese Medicine.
"Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the press and the medical community, hello..." At this moment, a Huaxia beauty dressed in a cheongsam ascended the stage.
Ding Fan glanced at the emcee and felt she looked familiar, but where he had seen her, he could not recall.
What Ding Fan didn't know was that this female emcee was no minor figure; she was a host from the provincial entertainment television station. Those with discerning eyes could see that getting this emcee showed the significant clout of the Huaxia Group.
Ding Fan often followed some of Earth's happenings through television, so he had seen this female emcee many times before, which is why she looked familiar to him.
As the female emcee finished her speech, the previously noisy hall quieted down. Everyone's gaze was focused here.
At this moment, Ding Fan had no interest in these superficialities; his eyes swept across the crowd below.
He quickly spotted Qin Manshu.
The last time the two had parted was by the sea when Ruoran was in trouble.
On that day, moved by Qin Manshu's genuine affection, Ding Fan had agreed to be with her. Now that Ruoran was back, Ding Fan felt a headache coming on.
In his previous life, he had been alone, only concerned with himself, but in this life, he had attracted a myriad of emotional debts.
Qin Manshu had been watching Ding Fan all along. When she noticed him looking at her, she gave him a radiant smile.
Qin Manshu was exceptionally beautiful today, exuding an aura of a mature woman, with a perfect figure and a stunning face that, even without speaking, was enough to steal the limelight.
"I believe everyone is aware of the purpose of this medical competition, which is to exchange medical insights and to enhance our relationship with Korea..."
At this moment, the female emcee had not yet finished her words when Jin Guangyi stood up, directly interrupting her.
"Sir, do you have something to say?" The female emcee, displeased by Jin Guangyi's interruption, asked.
However, the emcee's professional skills were exhibited at this moment.
Although she was quite annoyed, she still maintained a smile while addressing Jin Guangyi.
Jin Guangyi, ignoring the beautiful emcee, walked confidently to the front of the stage and then addressed all the journalists with an air of superiority.
"We Koreans are very rigorous in our affairs. We're here for a straightforward purpose, to compare and determine who represents the authentic tradition and who is merely a branch... I don't mind telling you all that through this competition, we intend to prove to the world that Korean Medicine is the true Orthodoxy, while your Huaxia Chinese Medicine is merely an offshoot," Jin Guangyi proclaimed.
Ding Fan observed the Jin Guangyi on stage.
It looked like Jin Guangyi was intent on raising the stakes. Ding Fan glanced at the people behind Jin Guangyi, who all seemed to be ordinary people.
But judging by Jin Guangyi's forceful attitude, the individuals he brought with him this time were probably quite skilled.
Otherwise, Jin Guangyi wouldn't be so bold.
"...First of all, I want to ask Chairman Ding of the Huaxia Group, Ding Fan..." Jin Guangyi changed the topic and directly targeted Ding Fan.
Ding Fan looked at Jin Guangyi as a sign of acknowledgment.
"Since this is a competition, we should have a wager. How about we set a prize? I wonder if Chairman Ding dares to accept!" Jin Guangyi said.
The crowd, upon hearing Jin Guangyi's proposal, burst into a flurry of discussions.
It was clear to the audience that Jin Guangyi intended to make a significant bet this time.
"State what kind of prize you have in mind," Ding Fan said to Jin Guangyi.
Jin Guangyi proposed, "In such a grand event, a small prize won't be exciting. Let's bet fifty million US dollars. The loser has to give fifty million US dollars to the winner. Chairman Ding, you don't have any problems with that, do you?"
Ding Fan inwardly found it quite amusing.
Fifty million US dollars, equating to just over three billion Huaxia currency, were not much. After all, just one Fourth Grade Foundation Building Pill from him was worth several billion.
"What? Is Chairman Ding afraid?" Jin Guangyi pushed when he saw Ding Fan hesitate.