"Where's the person who went in with you?"
The one more anxious than Liu Rulan was Tong Junhui.
Xiao He met Tong Junhui's genuinely concerned gaze and sighed inwardly.
He finally understood now.
Tong Junhui had suddenly returned but never contacted Liu Rulan, seemingly resentful toward her. Yet when he auditioned for "Silent Search" and Director Feng asked about his background, Tong Junhui could immediately answer with his identity details, hinting to Director Feng that he had no value for selection.
Was Tong Junhui making him lose the selection opportunity out of resentment back then, or was he intentionally speaking up to make Director Feng lose interest because he didn't want them dragged into this case?
What kind of person was Tong Junhui really?
He carried an aura of crime, yet it was mixed with his longing for justice and resentment toward himself. Was it his rebellion against fate, or his courage to sink into darkness just to take down his enemies?
Xiao He didn't know.
He only clearly understood that Tong Junhui's former Award-Winning Actor title had real worth—he had simply moved what he originally loved to a different stage.
And the people performing alongside him on this stage were dangerous criminals and police officers who never gave up seeking the truth.
Xiao He's gaze swept over Liu Rulan, silently feeling regretful.
Some things were just lost forever, never to return.
"He's fine, he should be out soon."
Xiao He only said this to Tong Junhui, then turned to ask a staff member nearby: "Did you call an ambulance? How long until it arrives?"
"At least five minutes at the earliest."
The staff member, seeing Xiao He carrying out a blood-soaked person, was nearly in tears, answering with a trembling voice.
Xiao He frowned.
Cheng Hongwen had multiple stab wounds and would likely not make it.
But he didn't say this directly, instead moving the person to the relatively safe lobby and laying him flat on the ground.
In moments, the carpet was stained red with blood.
The lobby manager who followed had weak legs, carrying a first aid medical kit, unable to maintain even a basic smile: "Is he... is he okay?"
Xiao He glanced at him: "Of course not!"
Previously when his skill upgraded, he obtained "Anatomy Art," but since Xiao He wasn't a Medical Examiner nor studying medicine, he had completely forgotten about this skill.
It wasn't until he saw Cheng Hongwen that Xiao He suddenly remembered he had a skill for examining "dead people."
And this Cheng Hongwen... honestly, was already somewhat dead.
"Two chest wounds, three abdominal wounds, one neck wound. The neck wound didn't damage major blood vessels or trachea, but there's active bleeding. All three abdominal stabs penetrated the abdominal wall with high probability of internal organ damage. The chest injuries are actually lighter..."
All wound edges were neat with sharp corners, consistent with single-edged sharp weapon characteristics, likely a dagger or fruit knife—Xiao He hadn't seen that knife at the scene, suspecting the murderer went looking for Xu Youyou with the knife right after stabbing Cheng Hongwen.
If even Cheng Hongwen was like this, then Xu Youyou probably...
Xiao He had no time to pray for Xu Youyou, instructing Shu Han and the hotel manager to use clean towels to help press on Cheng Hongwen's bleeding points.
Although the person was already like a sieve now, every moment they could keep him alive counted—desperate measures for desperate times.
"Someone's coming out!"
Someone else shouted.
Then Cheng Bei rushed out of the room carrying another blood-drenched person, while properly dressed hotel staff began operating valves, using built-in hotel hoses to spray water into the room to extinguish the fire.
When Cheng Bei walked toward them, just one glance told Xiao He it was hopeless.
With that amount of blood loss, she was basically gone.
When Cheng Bei laid her down and Xiao He saw the woman whose death was truly not peaceful, he sighed deeply and shook his head slightly.
Although he didn't particularly like Xu Youyou, and she had done many things that harmed others, he truly didn't want their reunion to end like this.
After all, a human life—how could it be casually taken by those malicious people?
"How is she?"
Tong Junhui's heart also sank, but he still looked at Cheng Bei with hope, only to see Cheng Bei's dark, silent expression, so he knew the final outcome.
"Damn it, if only I had gone to check the situation earlier—" The usually elegant and composed man finally broke down, "We were so close!"
Although unaware of what exactly happened or what occurred between these people, Liu Rulan immediately called out to Tong Junhui and pressed his shoulder: "Tong Junhui, calm down!"
Tong Junhui instinctively glanced at Liu Rulan, looking somewhat embarrassed, but ultimately settled his emotions, lowering his head without speaking.
Xiao He watched dumbfounded.
Sister Liu could make someone calm down with just one sentence?
Truly the former agent, her authority remained.
"How is he?"
Cheng Bei walked over, placing hope in Cheng Hongwen.
Among the people present, Xu Youyou died tragically, and only Cheng Hongwen likely knew what happened now.
Xiao He didn't know how to answer, only saying: "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Then he continued pressing Cheng Hongwen's neck, both preventing him from bleeding out and being careful not to press so hard as to suffocate him completely.
Cheng Bei looked suspiciously at Xiao He, personally walking over to squat beside Cheng Hongwen and reaching to check his pulse.
Although Xiao He, Shu Han, and others had been continuously pressing the wounds to reduce blood loss, when Cheng Bei reached to test the pulse, Cheng Hongwen's vital signs were almost completely faded.
If even this guy died, who would know the whereabouts of the account book Xu Youyou hid?
Cheng Bei's heart sank slightly.
If they closed the net now without that account book, they probably couldn't catch that old man from the Chen family... If they couldn't completely remove the Hong Kong Chen family cancer in one go, their long-laid plans would fail...
Seeing Cheng Bei's serious and anxious expression, Xiao He also pressed his lips tightly, looking down at the nearly dead guy, a flicker of distress in his eyes.
Just as Cheng Bei prepared to withdraw his hand in disappointment, he discovered Cheng Hongwen's pulse had actually started beating strongly again!
Although still very weak, it was much better than the almost hopeless rhythm from before!
This was undoubtedly good news!
Hope suddenly rose again in Cheng Bei's heart!
"Quick, the ambulance is here! Get him to the hospital!"
...
Ten minutes earlier.
Hotel room door.
Cheng Hongwen knocked on Xu Youyou's room door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
The hotel door opened slightly a crack, revealing bloodshot eyes and a haggard, thin face.
Cheng Hongwen's intended accusations instantly stuck in his throat.
"How did you become like this?" / "Why are you here?"
Their voices sounded simultaneously.
Seeing her former acquaintance, Xu Youyou felt embarrassed and angry, wanting to slam the door shut hard, but Cheng Hongwen pressed firmly on the door handle, coldly saying: "So many things have happened recently, don't you have anything to explain to me?"
Xu Youyou's eyes shifted evasively, increasing the force to close the door: "I've already terminated my contract, I have nothing to say to you."
Since the Kemingen incident was exposed and Xu Youyou faced prison crisis, her agency had immediately cut ties, unilaterally terminating Xu Youyou's contract and kicking her out of the company.
All artists close to Xu Youyou severed relations with her, even Xu Youyou's ex-boyfriend, a certain retired Su-surname boyfriend, revived the dead, clarifying they had long broken up, afraid of being associated with Xu Youyou in any way.
Surprisingly, the only person who didn't abandon Xu Youyou at that time was actually her former agent, Cheng Hongwen.