A sea of people gathered outside Dihao Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Tianhai City. Thirty meters away from the main gate, the security guards of the hotel formed a human wall. The onlookers raised their mobile phones high and shouted loudly. They repeatedly shoved with the security guards, only wanting to get as close as possible.
I bent over my back to protect the camera on my chest while squeezing my way through to the front with great difficulty. I took out my ID from my pocket and shouted at the security captain, "I'm Xu Yang, reporter of Tianhai Daily. This is my press card and interview permission."
The security captain carefully scrutinized my ID several times. Then he waved his hand and let me in. When I squeezed through the security guards, the crowd behind me complained more loudly seeing they let me pass. I walked past the security guards without stopping and rushed into the hall of Dihao Hotel. A tall young woman with bright eyes and white teeth walked towards me with a dissatisfied and anxious expression. She was my assistant in Tianhai Daily, Gu Xi, who arrived at the hotel ahead of me.
"Xu Yang! Today, Huahan Group will hold a press conference to welcome the thirty millionth patient in the world being injected with its injectable anticancer medication 'Medicament X'. Why did you come so late?" Gu Xi said with a resentful expression.
I hurriedly said apologetically, "There were so many people. All roads towards here were blocked, so I was a little late."
Gu Xi sighed. She grabbed my arm and rushed to the main venue on the third floor. I didn't know how she could run so fast in high heels. After passing through the crowd, we finally entered the oversized exhibition hall on the third floor of Dihao Hotel and found our seats.
"Have you obtained the chance to raise a question?" I asked as I put things down.
"Yes, it's the same as before. The questions have been designated by Huahan Group. As a newspaper with the largest circulation in Tianhai City, we got a chance to ask a relatively important question." Gu Xi said with a smile.
"Oh? What's the question this time?" I asked curiously.
"Given Huahan Group's epoch-making progress in developing anti-cancer medications and the growing number of cancer patients worldwide, will the Group raise Medicament X's prices significantly in the future?" Gu Xi took out a note from her pocket and said.
I smiled and didn't answer. I could figure out easily that Huahan Group wouldn't raise the price at this time. It just wanted to take advantage of the influence of our Tianhai Daily to gain a greater reputation.
There was a commotion in front of the crowd. Escorted by countless bodyguards, the Chairman of Huahan Group walked out with a smile. He immediately became the focus of all cameras. I also found the best angle to take a few pictures of him waving his hand.
Zhang Chengshan was a 50-year-old middle-aged man. He was the Chairman of Huahan Group and also the main developer of the anticancer medication Medicament X. A few years ago, he successfully developed the medication and became a world-renowned entrepreneur. Moreover, Medicament X had been proved to be extremely effective in treating cancer patients at mid and terminal stages. To put it exaggeratedly, it was not far off the mark to say that it could "bring the dying back to life". This was also why he drew crowds wherever he appeared.
Zhang Chengshan had long been accustomed to such a scene. But today was an important day. The number of patients injected in Medicament X worldwide would officially reach 30 million. His usually calm face also showed hints of complacent expression.
Before the official question and answer session started, all the reporters rushed over and asked random questions. They hoped to make a headline out of Zhang Chengshan's words. Unfortunately, Zhang Chengshan treated his words like gold and only said in a perfunctory way that he would announce a piece of big news at the press conference later.
Gu Xi finally attracted Zhang Chengshan's attention with her outstanding beauty. He simply said a few words to her. Gu Xi took them as a treasure. The reporters of other media stared at her with jealousy. She smugly waved the recording pen in her hand and smiled at me. "Xu Yang, this is enough for us to report our work."
Zhang Chengshan strode to the center of the hall. The originally noisy exhibition hall instantly quieted down. Zhang Chengshan smiled in satisfaction as he faced the cameras and flashlights. "Thank you for joining Huahan Group on our great undertaking. Today, the number of patients injected in Medicament X developed by our Group will officially reach 30 million worldwide. Last year, because of this medication, millions of people around the world had officially gotten rid of the pain caused by cancer and returned to a normal life. Other patients also got better. Let me put it bluntly, cancer is not incurable! "
Zhang Chengshan's words drew applause from everyone present, and I applauded him sincerely too. Medicament X had indeed cured so many people, and judging from its current curative effect, it could be said to be the best anti-cancer drug in the world at present.
A middle-aged man in a wheelchair was brought to the stage as everyone applauded warmly. I hurriedly aimed my camera at him and took several photographs. He would be the thirty millionth person in the world being injected with Medicament X. He would be destined to be the attention of the world in this event today. I could tell that he was very excited. His eyes were filled with tears and he was brought onto the stage in the cheers and blessings of everyone present.
"Thank you, Doctor Zhang, for giving me the chance to be reborn." The middle-aged man said with tears streaming down his face.
Chairman of Huahan Group Zhang Chengshan was also moved. He warmly embraced the patient and let him rest beside him. After the press conference, he would personally inject him with the medication.
The press conference was held as scheduled. All the media had been bribed in advance. So their questions were all in Huahan Group's favor, Zhang Chengshan's perfect answer caused waves of applause. Soon, it was our Tianhai Daily's turn to ask questions. A staff member from the exhibition hall had already walked over to greet us in advance. I took the charge at this moment because Gu Xi was busy sorting out Zhang Chengshan's answers from earlier.
I raised my hand as planned. Zhang Chengshan kindly pointed at me. I stood up and was about to properly ask the question designated by Huahan Group, Suddenly, a strange emotion flashed through my heart. I had studied a lot about Huahan Group and Medicament X and also collected a lot of negative information that was completely inconsistent with the mainstream voices. However, due to Huahan Group's powerful public relations ability, these questions were completely obscured. Medicament X was like a miracle cure in the eyes of the world. However, there were still many people who felt unwell or even died after being injected with the drug.
I was stunned for a long time. Zhang Chengshan looked at me impatiently. Everyone around stared at me in surprise. The originally noisy exhibition hall immediately quieted down. Gu Xi also noticed something strange and gently tugged at the corner of my clothes.
I coughed softly and smiled, but what I asked was no longer the question Huahan Group wanted me to ask.
"Hello, President Zhang, I'm Tianhai Daily’s reporter Xu Yang, Medicament X has been well received since it came out. The Injection Gene Replacement Therapy you developed has also attracted much attention. However, to my knowledge, this Gene Replacement Therapy has not yet been certified by the International Medical Association. Medicament X was approved merely because of its powerful clinical manifestations. May I ask if everyone can be treated with this Gene Replacement Therapy and if there have been any cases of aggravated illness or even death among these 30 million patients as a result? " I asked calmly and seriously.
Everyone was in an uproar. Zhang Chengshan's expression changed. The bodyguards aside him immediately walked towards me. I guessed that they were going to get me out of here. Gu Xi aside me was so anxious that she kept persuading me in a low voice. But after I finished speaking, she stood up helplessly and loudly asked, "President Zhang, please answer my colleague's question head-on. According to our investigation, Medicament X produced in Huahan Group has caused different degrees of discomfort in patients all over the world. Did this discomfort arise because of the differences in patients' constitutions or the adverse reactions brought about by Gene Replacement Therapy forcefully changing the human body?" Will it cause even more serious consequences?"
I looked at Gu Xi in surprise. She whispered without blinking, "I'm also a reporter."
Zhang Chengshan, who was surprised and lost his temper at first, had calmed down. He pretended to be magnanimous and stopped the bodyguards. He looked at me and mocked, "The best answer to this is that today we have sold the thirty millionth dosage of Medicament X, and helped millions of patients regain their lives. Journalists like you are just employed by those who have ill intentions towards Huahan Group. I will show you how the thirty millionth patient can get recovered with Medicament X."
When Zhang Chengshan finished speaking, an assistant immediately handed over a sealed box. He opened the box. There was an injection in it that had already been prepared. Zhang Chengshan steadily walked in front of the middle-aged patient in the wheelchair and injected him with the medicine with a smile. A burst of cheers immediately arose. Gu Xi and I looked at each other helplessly and prepared to pack our things and leave. What waited for us next might be the severe punishment of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper. In a worse case, we might have to personally publish an apology.
Just as we were feeling disheartened, a miserable scream suddenly came from the middle of the exhibition hall. Gu Xi and I hurriedly turned around and saw that the patient who had just been injected with Medicament X twitched. He rolled down from the wheelchair with foam spitting out of his mouth. His entire body fell to the ground and trembled rapidly. He was completely unconscious before everyone could figure out what happened.
Several doctors rushed over quickly. After the examination, they all revealed shocked expressions. From their panicked expressions, I could confirm that the thirty millionth patient in the world who was injected with Medicament X had died.
Zhang Chengshan stood stiffly on the spot. After a few seconds of silence, the reporters in the hall suddenly rushed forward frantically. They aimed their cameras at the dead patient. This was an unexpected incident and was extremely valuable. Whichever media sent the news back earlier would receive higher attention and benefits.
Gu Xi was also desperately taking photos. I was still a little distracted. I was as stiff on the spot as Zhang Chengshan. I couldn't believe that a living person would die in front of me just like that.
Zhang Chengshan's bodyguards had already begun to drive the reporters away. Zhang Chengshan squatted solemnly beside the dead patient and pondered. No one could tell what he was thinking.
Just as we were about to be driven out of the exhibition hall, a strange change occurred suddenly. The patient who was confirmed dead by several doctors suddenly sat up from the ground, hugged Zhang Chengshan, opened his mouth and bit his neck…
