The mother and son had depended on each other for so many years, their bond could not have been closer. Although he was already in his early twenties and had graduated from university, in front of his mother, Andrew Brooks still unconsciously retained some of his childhood "bad habits."

　　Ashley Brooks sighed, "Little Andrew, being a journalist is tough and exhausting. How could it compare to working in a government office? That's a secure job with a steady income, and if you do well, you might even get a position of some rank... Sigh... It's all your mother's fault for not being capable enough, I..."

　　Listening to his mother's gentle, self-blaming words, Andrew Brooks couldn't help but look up at his mother's still graceful face, noticing the deepening crow's feet at the corners of her eyes. His heart suddenly trembled.

　　He suddenly remembered that today was July 13, 1998, and that a week later would be his mother Ashley Brooks's death anniversary. His mother had died in 1998! In his previous life, his mother had gone out to pull some strings for him, but she didn't come home for two days and suddenly disappeared. Then, on July 20, someone found Ashley Brooks's body on the beach. Afterwards, he found her suicide note written on the afternoon of July 19 in Ashley Brooks's bedroom.

　　The deep affection of a mother and son who had depended on each other for over twenty years, the hardships his mother had endured raising him alone, and the heart-wrenching pain he felt upon hearing of her death in his previous life—all of it surged up at once. Andrew Brooks's shoulders suddenly shook, and he abruptly turned around, hugging Ashley Brooks tightly. His eyes reddened and tears streamed down his face.

　　"No, I absolutely won't let the tragedy repeat itself." Andrew Brooks clenched his teeth.

　　"Little Andrew, what's wrong? Did something happen to you outside?" Ashley Brooks was a bit at a loss, gently stroking her son's back.

　　"Mom, promise me, for the next half month, don't go anywhere. Stay at home and let your son spend time with you, okay?"

　　"You child, you're talking so strangely..."

　　……

　　……

　　"Mom, I think being a journalist is pretty good. I majored in journalism, so it's great to put what I've learned to use. Mom, your son is grown up now, you don't need to worry about me anymore."

　　Ashley Brooks smiled, seemingly unwilling to dwell on the topic any longer, and changed the subject. "By the way, Little Andrew, you went to Emily's house today, right? What did her parents say?"

　　Andrew Brooks's mouth twitched, and before he could say anything, he heard Ashley Brooks sigh again, "Little Andrew, Emily is a good girl and she's sincere with you, but after all, she's the daughter of a high-ranking official. Our families are worlds apart. As for you two... Anyway, hurry up and call Emily back. She called several times just now, asking about you."

　　Andrew Brooks nodded, walked over, and dialed Emily Summers's home number. As soon as the call connected, Emily Summers's anxious, hushed voice came through, "Little Andrew? Where did you go today? Why did you come home so late?"

　　"..." Andrew Brooks briefly told Emily Summers over the phone about what happened at the Morning News today, chatted casually for a bit, and then hung up, because he could already hear Ethan Stone's dissatisfied scolding in the background.

　　……

　　The next day, as soon as Andrew Brooks arrived at the newspaper office, the deputy director of the news department, Michael Bolton, came looking for him, saying that the deputy editor-in-chief, Kevin Lewis, wanted to see him. He told him that among the reports published simultaneously in four Binhai newspapers today about Party Secretary Gavin Duke personally visiting the elevated bridge accident scene, Gavin Duke was especially pleased with the Morning News's coverage. It was said that he even had the municipal party office director, Ryan Smith, call to praise the Morning News. At the same time, he specifically requested that the Morning News assign this "intern reporter Andrew Brooks" to continue with in-depth follow-up reports.

　　Andrew Brooks was noncommittal and didn't take it too seriously. After all, with his rich life experience and media background from his previous life, writing reports that catered to the leaders' preferences was a piece of cake.

　　Kevin Lewis, huh!

　　Andrew Brooks took the stairs to the sixth floor. Outside the deputy editor-in-chief Kevin Lewis's office, he was about to knock but hesitated for a moment. This Kevin Lewis was not simple—he was the brother-in-law of Deputy Mayor Lucas Ward, formerly the deputy director of the Communist Youth League municipal office, and after the Morning News reformed, he became the deputy editor-in-chief, always secretly cultivating his own followers, aiming to replace Zachary Howard.

　　Andrew Brooks clearly remembered that in the years to come, the power struggle between Kevin Lewis and Zachary Howard would become increasingly intense. As a key member of the Huang faction, he and Kevin Lewis never really got along.

　　But this hesitation only lasted a moment. Andrew Brooks still knocked gently on Kevin Lewis's door and walked in steadily.

　　"Mr. Lewis." Andrew Brooks greeted respectfully but calmly.

　　Kevin Lewis looked up, his meticulously parted, shiny black hair swaying slightly, and the small, gloomy eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses narrowed as he sized up the university graduate brought in by Zachary Howard.

　　"Sit down, Little Andrew." Kevin Lewis leaned back slightly, pressing himself firmly into the leather executive chair, and slowly, with a leader's air, put down the pen in his hand. He was actually just over thirty, but appeared unusually mature for his age. Of course, part of this was his nature, and part of it was deliberate pretense.