Chapter 525: The Bai Ming Awards Announced! Xiao He Unable to Accept the Prize?

Police Officer Zheng looked at the young woman before him, his expression incredibly complex. He finally let out a long sigh and spoke earnestly, "Miss Li, I am truly sorry. We arrived too late."

Li Hanyue remained silent, offering no response to Police Officer Zheng's words.

Finally, the group left the examination room in silence, and Li Hanyue was wheeled to the inpatient ward.

Outside the hospital room, separated by the door, Xiao He watched Li Hanyue receiving an IV drip. After a moment of thought, he turned and asked Police Officer Zheng, "Officer Zheng, you didn't come to Qin City this time specifically just to see Li Hanyue, did you?"

Police Officer Zheng nodded helplessly. "Yes, we noticed she was pursuing rights protection online and had exposed part of Rongding Media's shady dealings. We wanted to speak with her as soon as possible."

It was both for the evidence in Li Hanyue's possession and to protect her personal safety.

Unfortunately, they had arrived too late.

If not for Xiao He, the situation would likely have been even more complicated.

Thinking of the current circumstances, Police Officer Zheng sighed deeply.

After intense investigation during this period, they discovered that Rongding Media indeed had numerous problems.

Among them, acting as a pimp was practically a foundational issue for such companies. Others included a black-market medical aesthetics line and an online color live streaming line. Both of these lines involved a vast number of matters requiring careful investigation.

The medical aesthetics line had victims like Li Hanyue. Over the years, Rongding Media had harmed an untold number of people. They discovered that a large portion of these victims were initially deceived into undergoing procedures. The medical aesthetics institutions Rongding Media introduced them to were mostly "black-heart workshops" with little to no professionalism. Almost anyone who knew how to give an injection could become a basic aesthetician and step onto the operating table—no certifications, completely unsterile. If something went wrong, they would immediately flee. It was utterly absurd.

Furthermore, many of Rongding Media's artists were essentially "salespeople," responsible for making introductions and connections, even subtly encouraging their own fans to follow them into getting plastic surgery. The reason they did this was, naturally, to take a cut from the profits, which they would then use for their own surgeries and repairs to make themselves more "perfect."

Frankly, this entire process was almost indistinguishable from pyramid schemes.

The other line, involving live streaming apps, was even more outrageous and even formed an industrial chain with the medical aesthetics line.

They would first persuade people to get cosmetic surgery, squeezing out a wave of money, even resorting to despicable loan models like "beauty loans." Then, they would force these people to take on jobs. Finally, when these individuals had no value left and their faces were completely ruined, the company would cut them loose. They would then introduce them to live streaming apps, letting these desperate people voluntarily continue to flaunt their bodies online, living in a daze to repay debts until their final breath.

These were just the tip of the iceberg. More matters required investigation, especially concerning this medical aesthetics clinic that always managed to flee in time and easily "reincarnate," and the constantly emerging foreign live streaming apps that were always difficult to shut down. These alone were enough to make one ponder the forces behind them.

Rongding Media was truly a cancer in the industry!

How many victims like Li Hanyue were there?

And what were their final outcomes?

Police Officer Zheng clenched his fist, murmuring a self-critique in a low voice. "It's my fault. We should have been faster. I should have reminded Miss Li to be careful about her safety back then."

Or contacted colleagues in Qin City to reach out to Li Hanyue first, to calm her emotions.

"Brother Zheng, you…" Officer Little Jin couldn't bear it, but Police Officer Zheng stopped him. "Protecting victims from further harm is our fundamental duty."

Having caused such a severe impact, the police indeed bore a portion of the responsibility.

Xiao He looked at them with a heavy gaze, murmuring softly, "I also bear responsibility."

He had clearly noticed the anomalies over there, but for the smooth broadcast of *Public Enemy Number One* and even its post-production profits, he had chosen temporary silence.

Yet behind this, what might have been affected were many innocent people.

If the matter had been exposed earlier, if those people had received their due punishment sooner, perhaps none of this would be happening now.

Li Hanyue also wouldn't have, after being cyberbullied, emotionally collapsed, sought Xiong Qi's help, and nearly…

However, Xiao He quickly adjusted his emotions.

There were still many things waiting for him.

He couldn't stand here, stuck in place.

He wouldn't let those who deserved punishment get away, but he also couldn't let these people affect what he needed to do now.

Liu Rulan and Wang Changwei also walked over.

"The awards ceremony has already started. We should head back," Liu Rulan said.

Wang Changwei also spoke up. "Teacher Xiao, this incident was sudden. We've already adjusted the award presentation order at the venue. For this award, we need you to return, to make an appearance."

His words basically confirmed the fact that Xiao He had won an award.

Though, in reality, with so many things happening today, even if Xiao He hadn't originally won an award, they would have had to include him now.

Xiao He deserved to win it anyway!

Now, Wang Changwei hoped even more that Xiao He could return to the venue and show his face. It would be best if, while accepting the award, he could also provide some clarification about the earlier incident, helping the organizers recover some of their reputational losses.

After all, discussions online were still raging, with all sorts of rumors flying. Compared to a post-event online clarification, it would be much better if Xiao He could directly take the stage and explain the situation.

Xiao He naturally understood Wang Changwei's meaning and nodded directly. "Don't worry, President Wang. I know what to do."

Thus, the group didn't dare to linger any longer. They quickly got into cars and hurried back to the Bai Ming Award ceremony venue.

At this moment, the Bai Ming Award presentation segment had already completed the preliminary minor and special awards. It had now entered the core award announcement phase and was reaching its finale.

When the host opened the card in his hand, he deliberately drew out his tone and looked at the audience.

"The winner of this year's Bai Ming Award for Best Director is—"

"*The Nation's Great Vessel*—Yang Li!"

"Let's congratulate Director Yang Li!"

Thunderous applause immediately erupted in the venue.

Ning Jiaqi, who missed out on Best Director, was not surprised by this result at all. He also applauded with a smile, though a trace of worry still showed in his eyes as he quietly asked the person beside him, "How much longer for Xiao He and the others?"

The core awards ceremony had deliberately placed Best Actress, Best Screenwriter, Best Director, etc., at the very front, saving Best Actor for last. The main purpose was obvious.

But now, the final Best Director had been announced. What was about to be revealed next was Best Actor—

"Can Xiao He and the others make it back in time?"

The person beside him shook his head. "With the situation at the scene earlier, I'm afraid they won't be able to make it back."

Ning Jiaqi sighed helplessly.

"This kid… he can't possibly expect me to go up and accept the award for him, can he?"