Chapter 532: That Summer… Can Never Return.

"Me?"

Tong Junhui fell into confusion upon hearing Zhou Junhao's question.

"That's right, I'm planning to rush back to Shanghai overnight."

Zhou Junhao explained while packing his things, "You've probably already heard about what happened at the Bai Ming Award ceremony tonight, right? Although the accident that occurred on-site has been suppressed by the organizers, and the full story hasn't been made public, I've now received reliable information saying this incident is also related to Rongding Media, and it has already alerted the police. If nothing unexpected happens, they'll probably start taking action in the next few days."

The time needed to collect and organize evidence might be quite long, but once the situation escalates and the evidence is solid, the police move quite swiftly, leaving no opportunity for the suspects to escape.

So even if Zhou Junhao didn't leave, they couldn't stay at this company much longer anyway.

Besides, Zhou Junhao also needed to rush back to write his news articles. This case involves the booming internet live streaming industry and the shady dealings of internet celebrity agencies—it's a topic very worthy of in-depth reporting. He plans to apply for a dedicated column from his superiors to provide long-term coverage of this incident. It would be even better if he could collaborate with relevant TV stations to bring this story to television news.

But what about Tong Junhui?

He originally came to this company to dig for information because he had nothing else to do, essentially just doing his old profession—acting.

Tong Junhui himself didn't know.

He originally thought he would spend his entire future in the entertainment industry, devoting everything to his acting career. Unfortunately now, he no longer had any goal to strive for.

Watching Zhou Junhao walk away, Tong Junhui sank into prolonged contemplation.

...

The next day, Xiao He went to the hospital again.

Today, Li Hanyue's mood was much better, and she no longer seemed to have that fragile, desireless aura.

Seeing Xiao He, Li Hanyue was the first to speak, "Thank you, Brother Xiao."

Then she pressed her lips together in a self-deprecating smile, "Why does it feel like every time I encounter danger, it's you and Zehang Ge who are by my side?"

It felt like the *Killing Life* production team period had just passed not long ago, yet in the blink of an eye, nearly three years had already gone by.

Back then, she and Xiao He started from the same level, and her role was even more substantial. Yet on the same day many years later, she almost died, while Xiao He had already ascended to become the Bai Ming Award's youngest Award-Winning Actor.

The following years felt like a dream.

It wasn't until the moment she fell from a great height that Li Hanyue finally felt like she was waking from that dream.

Immediately followed by immense panic.

It seemed she had lost everything—love, career, life... it was all a complete mess.

Li Hanyue even felt somewhat ashamed, too ashamed to face these people from her past again.

Xiao He shook his head, wanting to say something, when someone else walked into the hospital room behind him.

It was a somewhat elderly aunt.

Seeing Xiao He, her eyes lit up, and she rushed over directly, thanking Xiao He repeatedly, "Thank you, thank you, really thank you for saving my Yueyue, thank you..."

As soon as she spoke, Xiao He knew her identity. Looking at her slightly simple attire, his feelings were quite complex. Seeing she was about to kneel to him, he was so startled he immediately supported Mother Li's arm, "No need, no need, it's not necessary, it's really not necessary."

What followed was Mother Li continuously offering Xiao He fruit and snacks, looking at him with eyes full of gratitude, then staring at her own daughter while silently wiping away tears.

Xiao He had originally just come to check on the situation, but now with Mother Li being so enthusiastic, treating him like the family's great benefactor, he felt a bit uncomfortable, afraid she might try to kneel again. So, after sitting in the hospital room for just a little while, Xiao He prepared to take his leave.

Before leaving, Xiao He hesitated for a moment, then turned his head again, looking seriously into Li Hanyue's eyes, and said, "You might want to pay attention to the TV news recently."

At this moment, the young man's eyes were like a calm lake surface, making anyone who looked into them unable to help but become immersed. An unprecedented sense of relaxation instantly washed over her.

Li Hanyue stared blankly at the person before her, feeling as if a breeze had lightly brushed across the lake's surface.

"Perhaps after seeing the fate of those people, all the knots in your heart will naturally unravel."

His words carried a certain magic, a hypnotic magnetism.

"After this, it will be a new life."

...

Xiao He left.

Li Hanyue's gaze returned to the window, staring blankly at the tree branches outside.

Mother Li looked at her daughter's state, tears welling in her eyes, carefully peeling the fruit in her hand, and said tactfully, "Xiao Yue, everything will pass. A while ago, your dad managed to contact someone—a renowned doctor abroad who specializes in reconstructive surgery. We'll be with you all the way, okay?"

Li Hanyue remained silent for a moment, then nodded wordlessly.

Mother Li was immediately overjoyed, putting down the fruit and wanting to call the old man to tell him. But as she turned, she only then noticed that Xiao He had brought a lot of fruit and gifts, piled up full in a corner.

Her expression instantly became complicated.

This young man who saved her daughter's life—his looks, ability, character, all were excellent. He was even a former colleague of her daughter's. Such an outstanding person, how come her daughter never thought of getting involved with him? Instead, she later insisted on being with that good-for-nothing, even going so far as to fall out with the family and ending up in her current state...

Mother Li really couldn't understand why people could sometimes be so stubborn.

She sighed, shaking her head, "Don't be so foolish in the future."

As if understanding the subtext of Mother Li's words, Li Hanyue finally withdrew her gaze and looked at her mother.

Because of Li Hanyue's situation, Mother Li had been worn down over the past few years, even her hair had turned white in many places, looking much older than she did back then.

Li Hanyue couldn't help but feel her nose sting, "Mm, I know. I'm sorry, Mom."

Then she began to cry loudly, as if wanting to cry out all the foolishness that had filled her head over these years.

Mother Li gently held her daughter, saying nothing, patting her back, offering silent comfort.

-

Xiao He returned to the car.

"How is she?"

Liu Rulan hadn't gone up with him, waiting in the passenger seat.

Hearing her question, Xiao He nodded slightly, "Her condition is much better."

Moreover, he had used hypnosis to implant a mental anchor in Li Hanyue. Once this incident concludes, the knots in her heart will unravel, effectively changing her current depressive state.

This was the last thing Xiao He could do to help her.

That summer of collaboration... can't be returned to.

I'm afraid in the future... it will also be difficult to meet again.

The car slowly started moving. Xiao He sighed deeply, his feelings complex.

Perhaps it was because too many things had happened recently, and he kept receiving news about old acquaintances, that Xiao He inexplicably felt a sense of melancholy—how time flies, and each person has their own destiny.

One Li Hanyue, one Tong Junhui—both could be considered old acquaintances he knew, yet their respective experiences could be described as bumpy and difficult.

Xiao He even wondered, if these two hadn't entered the entertainment industry, perhaps they wouldn't have encountered all these messy things.

Liu Rulan glanced at Xiao He, then said half-roasting, half-teasing, "Don't act like an older man all day, just sighing and lamenting."

Xiao He was speechless, changing the topic, "I was just thinking, *Public Enemy Number One* has already been taken down. I don't know when the police will have results. After all, money was spent filming it; it would be a real shame if it got permanently banned."

Liu Rulan spread her hands in consolation, "It's fine, at least you still made money from it."

Money and the work itself—you have to keep one, right?

Xiao He: ... That's true.