A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

"Hooray! When will Cai Sen get rid of this...?"

On the train, Li Mu listened to Bie Yan speaking Cantonese and wondered who Cai Sen was.

However, there were two other passengers in the sleeper this time, so they couldn't be as carefree as they were on the way here.

After finishing the call, Bie Yan patted his pocket and said to Li Mu:

"Let's go have a smoke."

Li Mu was taken aback, then followed him out of the soft-pack area and to the junction of the carriages.

With no one around, Bie Yan then spoke:

"You know Cai Lan, right?"

"That Hong Kong food critic?"

"Hmm. He'll be in Guangzhou on Thursday, and we'll go do an interview. Oh, by the way, did you get the Hong Kong and Macau travel permit paperwork I asked you to submit to the newspaper?"

"Not yet, I'll submit it when I get back."

"Um."

Bie Yan nodded:

"Cai Lan is here to promote his new book."

"Should I prepare the interview transcript?"

"...Have you read his books?"

"No, all I know is that he's a food connoisseur. That's about it."

"...Never mind then, I'll do it this time. He's not just a gourmet, but also a writer, and one of the four great talents of Hong Kong. Whether it's his cultural attainments or other aspects, you won't be able to conduct a proper interview with him if you don't know him very well."

Li Mu was somewhat embarrassed:

"Then I'll buy his books and read them when I get back this time."

"Um."

A hint of relief flashed in Bie Yan's eyes.

He felt more and more that Xiao Li was a reliable young man.

After finishing a cigarette and returning to his sleeper berth, Bie Yan took out his notebook and pen.

The interview was scheduled for Thursday, but the two of them wouldn't get back to Guangzhou until Monday night.

Time is a bit tight, we need to hurry.

As Bie Ge got busy, Li Mu naturally didn't disturb him.

Amid the rhythmic clatter of the train, he grew tired of reading and fell asleep.

……

Monday, 5:17 p.m.

The train with the letter K finally arrived at Guangzhou Station.

"Xiao Li, let's go eat first, then I'll take you for a massage."

"Well……"

Li Mu opened his mouth, and in a hurry, he thought of an excuse:

"I... I think I'll pass. Brother, I need to find Sui Kuan right away; he has my driver's license."

Bie Yan was taken aback.

He glanced at him twice, then suddenly revealed a smile with a hint of wicked amusement:

"Really not going? The girls over there are really pretty."

"..."

Li Mu was even more embarrassed.

But Bie Yan said no more, and smiled:

"Fine, if you're not going, then I'll leave you to your own devices. Just go about your business. Remember, don't be late tomorrow, and submit the photos and promotional materials right away."

"OK."

The two parted ways, and Li Mu hailed a taxi and headed straight for Mingya Garden.

He wasn't tired, just very exhausted.

As for massages and such... in the end, it's still about not being able to get over the psychological barrier.

Go home, take a shower, and check the promotional materials.

In the rhythmic flow of life, around ten o'clock, he yawned and closed his eyes.

I slept without any dreams.

……

Tuesday, early in the morning.

"Li Mu, here you go."

Sui Kuan, who was in front of the time clock, saw Li Mu walking into the office building with a bag on his back. He quickly came up to him and handed him a small black notebook.

That's his driver's license.

Thanks.

Li Mu thanked him and then proceeded with the clocking-in process as usual.

Sui Kuan asked in a low voice:

"How did the interview go?"

"It's fine."

"Did you see Zhang Yimou?"

"Yes, he said a couple of sentences."

"...Tsk."

Fatty Sui looked on with regret and muttered:

"Damn, what a pity!!!"

It would have been better if he hadn't brought it up, but once he did, Li Mu asked curiously:

"How was your trip? Who's Xiao Ai?"

"..."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Fatty Sui's face.

Then they pulled him to the trash can by the door, which was specifically for smoking.

Just like last time when he opened his mouth with "I've lost my virginity," he said to Li Mu:

"Xiao Ai...that's the young lady."

"..."

Li Mu's eye twitched involuntarily.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

Goodness... you've developed feelings for someone you've been seeing?

Seeing Li Mu's absurd expression, Sui Kuan added:

"I feel like I've been scammed."

"?"

"...I feel like she wasn't sincere with me at all."

"..."

elder brother.

Do you want to hear what you're saying?

Li Mu really didn't know what to say.

"You know why I took her out? It's because... she told me she just started doing this, her dad gambles, drinks, and abuses her and her mother, and she and her mother ran away from home... she said she's never seen the sea before. I thought... just... be friends, right? Besides... sigh."

For some reason, Li Mu felt like laughing.

I subconsciously pinched my chin, trying to hold back.

"and then?"

"Then I realized...it wasn't like that at all. She seemed to be lying to me. When we came back on Sunday, she...even asked me to buy her a necklace..."

"..."

"I've been trying to persuade her to quit this job and find a proper one for the past two days. But... she didn't agree, and it seems she's gone back to work. I'm planning to go check it out tonight, do you want to come with me?"

Li Muxin said, "I'm crazy to be with you."

I didn't go yesterday even though my brother called me.

So he quickly shook his head:

"I'm busy, don't take me with you."

"...Sigh. Oh right, Brother Bie...you don't have any objections, right?"

He looked anxious.

"He didn't say."

Li Mu shook his head:

"But I think you'd better not do that again. We're reporters, and we have to be available whenever you need us. Or, if you need to go out, you could tell Brother Bie in advance so it won't be so awkward."

"That's definitely not going to happen..."

Just as Sui Kuan agreed, a voice rang out from the side:

"Oh, you two are here again."

Li Mu turned his head and found it was Li Wei.

Seeing him turn around, Li Wei said with a grin:

"Hello, big celebrity."

"?"

Li Mu was taken aback, looked around, and finally pointed to himself:

You mean me?

"Yes, a huge internet celebrity."

"???"

Li Mu's eyes were filled with confusion:

"Internet celebrity? What does that mean?"

"Huh? You didn't know?"

Li Wei was somewhat surprised, and then explained:

"You're super popular on Tianya Forum now! Lots of people are using that line from your article, 'Life is more than just the present hardships,' as their personal signature. Also, a lot of people on the forum are quitting their jobs because of that lottery winner you two interviewed, who said, 'The world is so big, I want to see it.' You're famous now!"

"..."

"Really?"

Sui Kuan was also filled with surprise.

Li Wei was speechless for a moment:

"What do you mean? Tianya Forum is such an important news channel, and neither of you visits it? How do you get news then... Oh right, your master is Bieyan. He looks down on us small fry."

"???"

Even Li Mu became interested:

"Li Wei, you know about Brother Bie's gossip?"

Put Tianya and all that aside for now.

He was more curious about Bie Ge's gossip.

What does she... know?