"Bombshell news: A cure for AIDS has emerged, and former NBA superstar Magic Johnson has miraculously recovered!" "Johnson refuses to disclose treatment details, stating it's related to ancient Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM)." "It's impossible for Chinese TCM to cure AIDS, stated the stunned director of the World AIDS Research Center." "Ren'ai Hospital in Kyoto, China, claims Johnson was successfully treated and cured there, asserting their treatment level is world-leading!" "Mr. Johnson was saved by a divine physician—and that physician is Korean!"

Liu Hui scrolled through the online news. Domestic websites were fiercely reposting reports about Johnson and the AIDS cure. Watching the red headlines constantly pop up, a wave of satisfaction washed over him. The situation he had meticulously orchestrated was finally bearing fruit. Once Johnson and his Han Tang Hospital appeared together at the press conference, his hospital would soar to fame worldwide, attracting endless streams of patients and generating massive profits.

When Johnson first returned to the US, he shared the news of his recovery with friends and family, only for a junior reporter from the Los Angeles Times to get wind of it. The reporter immediately penned a mocking article claiming Johnson was near death and succumbing to delirium. The editor, chasing sensationalism, ran it as a headline, dubbing it the most unreliable piece of fake news of the 21st century.

To prove his condition, Johnson publicly presented his hospital reports, and the media realized what monumental news they had dismissed. Major American news outlets immediately dispatched their top investigative teams, eager to interview Johnson and uncover the inside story. Unfortunately, Johnson remained stubbornly tight-lipped on the details, merely informing reporters that he would hold a press conference at an appropriate time where he would answer questions.

The emergence of an AIDS cure caused an immense global sensation. Media outlets from around the world converged on the United States, hoping to secure the latest firsthand information. But every reporter left disappointed; Johnson refused to grant interviews. Unable to get concrete details, journalists began tracing Johnson’s recent itinerary and discovered he had visited China. This led them to speculate that something mysterious must have happened to him in China to bring about his healing.

As for the Los Angeles Times, it became a laughingstock, a veritable tragedy on the coffee table of the industry. They were the first to get the scoop, yet dismissed it as false, mocking Johnson—the foolish reporter and the even more foolish editor—for letting a story that could have changed their destiny slip through their fingers, leaving them unable to hold their heads high amidst the ridicule of their peers.

China’s domestic media certainly couldn't let such an opportunity to promote national prestige pass them by, stepping forward to champion the excellence of TCM. Meanwhile, a flurry of minor players, desperate for fame, also jumped into the fray, claiming Johnson had been treated at their respective hospitals and boasting about their high medical standards.

Liu Hui subtly calculated the timing. Recently, he had poured his energy into renovating the hospital’s basement. He had the entire basement structure re-lined with granite, reinforcing the walls and sealing off all but one exit, which he fitted with a solid steel door accessible only to him. After all, the compounding room in the basement would be the core of the entire hospital, and countless eyes would inevitably try to peer in; security measures needed to be exponentially strengthened. He had already moved the pharmaceutical tools used to deceive the public inside, and the compounding room was now operational. It was time to call the press conference.

Liu Hui contacted Johnson: "Dear Mr. Johnson, how have you been during this time?"

Upon hearing Liu Hui’s voice, Johnson replied enthusiastically, "Liu, my dear friend, I couldn't feel better these past few weeks. The feeling of health is incredible, except for those reporters. They’re staked out outside my house now, which is a bit unsettling."

Johnson paused, then chuckled, "Actually, having reporters stake out outside isn't bad. I’ve been out of the media spotlight for years; I never expected to become the focus again. This current scene reminds me of the old days, that feeling of commanding the scene seems to have returned."

"Heh heh, Mr. Johnson, as long as you feel good, that’s what matters. I was worried you might find it strange! Everything is ready on my end; we'll hold the press conference in three days. I expect you to be there punctually," Liu Hui stated calmly.

"Oh, Liu, I will definitely be there on time. Good heavens, it’s my honor to attend this historic occasion!" Johnson was extremely excited; the reporters had driven him nearly mad these last few days.

"I’ll arrive a day early, and I’ll bring a few friends with me—friends from the AIDS hospice I used to frequent. Seeing me recovered, they’ve all been pestering me, trying to get details, and they’re wearing me ragged," Johnson offered Liu Hui a great gift. If nothing unexpected happened, these few patients would become the first official patients of Han Tang Hospital.

Liu Hui hung up the phone. With Johnson secured, his own preparations needed to be thorough.

The hospital’s security team was already established. Liu Hui didn't know where Mei Peng had found them, but they were all retired soldiers, and the leader had prior experience in high-level protection work, making them exceptionally professional. After purchasing specialized equipment, they quickly took over hospital security, strictly controlling access. Since rebranding, Han Tang Hospital had eliminated all other outpatient services, now exclusively treating AIDS patients, transforming into a true specialty facility.

Mei Peng and Liang Jingyue were responsible for inviting major media outlets. However, because they refused to state the reason for the invitation and Han Tang Hospital was a little-known facility that had just changed its name, the vast majority of media organizations declined. Only a few local outlets, out of respect for Juweixuan, agreed to send a few reporters to check things out. Not a single major domestic media outlet agreed to attend. Liu Hui had anticipated this and simply smiled. If you don't come now, don't regret it later!

Liu Hui went down to the basement to brew a batch of health-boosting traditional Chinese medicine, following the prescription provided by Mei Peng. The tonic was quickly prepared. He took a sip and immediately spat it out from the bitterness. After a moment of thought, he decided against adding any sweetener, instead bottling it directly and placing the vials into his storage space.

Liu Hui activated the Planar Trading Device and contacted Zerg. Zerg seemed thrilled to see him.

"Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, I was just about to contact you. You previously traded me 50 units of that marvelous powder. I calculated that I need to provide you with 500 doses of the medicine. Shall I trade them to you now?" Zerg displayed 500 doses of the medication on the trading interface.

Liu Hui hadn't expected Zerg to be so scrupulously honest. Liu Hui’s intention was that the previous trade wouldn't count, and the new trading price would begin now. Instead, Zerg had kept track of the previous 50 kilograms of narcotics and had already manufactured 500 doses of the AIDS medication. For a moment, even Zerg’s ugly face seemed endearing to Liu Hui.

"Esteemed Lord Zerg, I happen to need this batch of medicine right now." Liu Hui clicked the trade button, receiving the 500 doses of AIDS medicine into his storage space. He had originally planned to exchange the remaining narcotics for the AIDS drugs, but Zerg, despite being a Zerg, proved to be a straightforward being, adhering to the principle of fair trade. This worked out well; Liu Hui could keep a small reserve of narcotics, providing a buffer in case of unforeseen complications later.

"Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, you need to accelerate your efforts! My Zerg forces are eagerly awaiting enhancement with your marvelous powder!" Zerg sounded quite impatient, urging Liu Hui to speed up production to satisfy his demand for the miraculous powder. After all, possessing something that could enhance his strength but being forced to wait due to insufficient output—this feeling of seeing what you want but being unable to grasp it made the days feel like years.

"Esteemed Lord Zerg, I will expedite the process," Liu Hui affirmed to Zerg.

Ending the call with Zerg, Liu Hui was overjoyed by the unexpected acquisition of 500 doses of the AIDS medication. He immediately began contemplating how to secure more narcotics to exchange for an even larger supply of medicine from the Zerg.

Johnson and York arrived in Bashan a day early, bringing five AIDS patients with them. Liu Hui escorted them back to Han Tang Hospital. Upon hearing Johnson confirm that he had been cured right there in this facility, the five patients found it hard to believe. After all, Han Tang Hospital looked too rudimentary, falling far short of the high-tech medical centers in the US. In their minds, anyone capable of curing AIDS surely operated out of a cutting-edge facility, not this small hospital that resembled a simple American town clinic. Johnson inwardly sneered; the clinic where he was treated was far more dilapidated than this hospital, and these people were enjoying a vastly superior treatment environment just by being in a hospital setting.

Liu Hui settled Johnson and the others in, discussed the details of the press conference with Johnson, and then excused himself. Before leaving the US, Johnson had sent a notice to news agencies, informing them that in two days, he would hold a press conference in Bashan City, China, in conjunction with the hospital that treated him. He promised to announce the treatment details and stated that anyone wanting specifics needed to rush to Bashan City, though he omitted the hospital’s name in the announcement. Consequently, reporters from all over the world began converging on Bashan City. Several major television news networks were even preparing for a live broadcast. Their only regret was not knowing the hospital’s name beforehand to prepare their coverage adequately.

The next morning at 8:00 AM, Johnson sent messages to the major media contacts, announcing that the press conference would be held at Han Tang Hospital at 9:30 AM, including the exact address. Media outlets immediately rushed toward Han Tang Hospital, aiming to arrive before 9:30 AM. Ironically, domestic Chinese media outlets were caught flat-footed; they were still at Johnson's residence in the US, gathering intelligence. Their American counterparts hadn't informed them, assuming their Chinese colleagues should have already gotten the news. They hadn't realized that although the domestic Chinese media had been notified, they had treated the information as trivial and automatically ignored it. The result was that the press conference was overwhelmingly attended by foreign reporters, save for a few local small-media journalists.

The press conference took place on the third floor of Han Tang Hospital. The meeting room was arranged according to standard press conference protocols. Above the stage hung a banner reading, "Han Tang Hospital AIDS Treatment Press Conference." The host was the beautiful Liang Jingyue. Setting aside her appearance, she was the only one among them fluent enough in English to handle the international press corps. Liu Hui, Johnson, and Mei Peng were seated on the stage.

At 9:30 AM, the press conference officially commenced. Liang Jingyue first gave an overview, confirming the fact that Mr. Johnson had been treated for and cured of AIDS at Han Tang Hospital. This was followed by the open question-and-answer session.

"Esteemed Mr. Johnson, I am a reporter from the Washington Post. I'd like to ask, what made you decide to seek treatment at such a small hospital?"

Johnson replied, "Han Tang Hospital possesses extremely sophisticated medical capabilities. I met Mr. Liu Hui, the owner of Han Tang Hospital, while touring China. He told me about the hospital, and out of curiosity, I decided to check it out. I never expected they truly had the ability to treat AIDS. I am deeply grateful to them. China truly deserves its reputation as one of the Four Great Ancient Civilizations."

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, I am a reporter from Asahi Shimbun. Could you tell us how your hospital treats AIDS?"

"Han Tang Hospital researches Chinese Traditional Medicine. In a chance discovery within ancient TCM texts, we found a secret prescription. After extensive research and development, combined with other auxiliary treatments, we found this method to be remarkably effective for AIDS patients. Mr. Johnson's recovery proves that our AIDS treatment protocol is successful." Liu Hui deliberately kept the detailed treatment process vague, subtly guiding the direction of public opinion. Liang Jingyue immediately provided simultaneous interpretation.

"Mr. Liu Hui, I am a reporter from the Los Angeles Times. My question is: Since an AIDS cure is a drug intrinsically linked to all human beings, when do you plan to make the treatment technology public?" The reporter from the L.A. Times, having already stumbled badly over Johnson, now seemed eager to humiliate Liu Hui.

The reporters present collectively labeled the questioner an idiot, surprised that the unfortunate reporter from the L.A. Times had made it to China only to ask such a brainless question.

"Is this reporter American?"

The reporter proudly nodded.

"A significant portion of the wealth of the American people was created by people outside the United States. If the American government agrees to share its wealth with the rest of the world's people, then making my treatment technology public is not entirely out of the question," Liu Hui said, looking playfully at the reporter.

The disastrous reporter from Los Angeles refused to back down: "Since Mr. Liu Hui is unwilling to disclose the treatment technology, can we interpret this to mean that Han Tang Hospital is engaging in monopolistic operations? Are you not afraid of an anti-monopoly investigation from your own country?"

"Heh heh, that’s a good question. Here’s the situation: Because our treatment technology requires many rare materials, our production capacity is extremely limited. Our hospital’s annual treatment goal is only a few thousand people. This small fraction, relative to the total number of AIDS patients worldwide, means that no matter how you calculate it, we haven't reached the minimum threshold for a monopoly investigation! Furthermore, doesn't your country's Microsoft Corporation look much more like a monopoly enterprise than our Han Tang Hospital?" Liu Hui retorted sharply.

The reporter from the L.A. Times flushed crimson, left speechless.

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, I am a reporter from Hong Kong's Ming Pao. What is your hospital's fee structure?"

Liu Hui pointed toward Mei Peng beside him and said, "This is our hospital's Director Mei Peng; he will answer all specific medical inquiries for you."

Mei Peng took the microphone: "Because our production costs are extremely high, our fees are also very high. Currently, domestic patients in China will be charged one million RMB each, which includes our compatriots from Taiwan. International patients will be charged one million US dollars each."

As soon as Mei Peng finished speaking, gasps of astonishment rippled through the room.

"Mr. Mei Peng, I am a reporter from the Le Soir in Belgium. I must ask: Why do foreigners require US dollars while Chinese patients require RMB? May I interpret this to mean that Han Tang Hospital discriminates against foreigners?"

"Heh heh, this reporter has misunderstood. Firstly, as a Chinese hospital, our citizens naturally receive national preferential treatment here. If a domestic enterprise doesn't look after its own citizens, who else would be willing to be Chinese? Moreover, the treatment we provide to Chinese patients is currently being done at a loss—you can consider this our small contribution to the nation. Secondly, haven't you in the Western world always claimed that the value of the Chinese RMB is underestimated? Our hospital is responding to your appeals with concrete action; we believe that when spending here, the US Dollar and the Chinese RMB should be treated as equivalent in value," Mei Peng responded fluidly, without missing a beat.

"Mr. Liu Hui, I am a reporter from The Sun. My question is: Does Han Tang Hospital have any intention of opening a branch in the UK?"

"Due to raw material constraints, we cannot currently expand production, so there are no plans to open branches abroad," Liu Hui replied with a smile. As if! Opening a branch on your turf would instantly expose my secrets. Where would I be then?

"Mr. Liu Hui, I am a reporter from the Straits Times in Singapore. My question is: Since raw materials are insufficient, has Han Tang Hospital considered partnering with large medical organizations to scale up capacity?"

"We are currently focused on finding ways to expand the production of raw materials to meet patient demand. Moreover, if we were to cooperate with other medical institutions, wouldn't that instantly make us a monopoly, violating national law? We would never engage in such activities," Liu Hui stated.

"Mr. Liu Hui, I am a reporter from AIDS Prevention Magazine. My question is: If a patient comes to your hospital but cannot afford the treatment costs, what will you do?"

"Han Tang Hospital plans to cooperate with the Chinese government to select 200 AIDS patients from among financially struggling Chinese citizens annually for free treatment. This selection process will adhere to principles of openness, fairness, and justice. These 200 patients represent the absolute limit of our treatment capacity and serve as our small repayment to society."

"Mr. Liu Hui, you just mentioned Chinese citizens. What about foreign nationals?"

"Foreign nationals have their own governments, do they not? I trust their governments will handle such issues for their people. Otherwise, people might accuse us of interfering in their internal affairs," Liu Hui said with a slight rub of his nose and a smile.

With that, the media reporters had essentially asked all their primary questions. The remaining inquiries were minor details that Mei Peng handled. The press conference hosted by Han Tang Hospital concluded successfully. Now, what kind of global reaction would Han Tang Hospital ignite?