A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

Chapter 91 Interview

After Li Mu returned home, his house, which hadn't been ventilated for over a week, started to smell musty.

He quickly opened all the windows, then sat down on the sofa and fell into deep thought.

After thinking for a moment, he took out his phone and dialed Bie Yan's number.

"Beep beep—Hey, Xiao Li? You've gotten off the plane?"

Bie Yan knew he was coming back today.

"Yes, Brother Bie, we're home now."

"Haha, okay, then you can go to work as usual tomorrow."

"Okay, that's what I was planning to do too—Brother Bie, are you free tonight? How about I treat you to dinner?"

"Oh? You're treating me?"

"So you know you're going to make a fortune? Treating everyone in advance?" Bie Yan chuckled sarcastically.

"Hehe, I guess so. I saw photos of me on the New York news. Bro, give your little brother a chance, I'll treat you to a big meal."

"Hahaha, okay."

Bie Yan readily agreed: "But don't bother with anything fancy, just something simple will do."

"I was originally going to ask you to go to the restaurant where you took me to eat abalone last time."

"Why go to that place? It's a business banquet place, and the food is pretty average."

Seeing this, Li Mu thought for a moment and said, "How about we go to that teahouse you took me to last time? The one next to Mingya Garden."

"Hmm, that place is fine, the food is pretty good."

"Hehe, then... six o'clock?"

"Okay, see you at the teahouse then."

After Li Mu responded, he hung up the phone and then called home to let them know he was safe.

The person who answered the phone was my mom. My dad had gone to the field to harvest corn, and she was in a hurry to go out as well.

So Li Mu didn't talk much, only saying that he had returned to China safely before hanging up the phone.

Then he picked up the book "Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine", flipped through it, thought for a moment, and then began to bend the book in his hand.

First, roll it up and squeeze it tightly. Then, start tearing the book by drawing "S" shapes on both ends.

"Uh-huh."

Tearing, kneading, turning pages, rubbing —

He watched TV and rubbed the book for about ten minutes, and the once brand-new book had begun to look wrinkled and worn.

It looks like it's been flipped through for a long time.

After looking him over, Li Mu looked satisfied.

After putting the book aside, I sat down in front of the computer.

I turned on the computer, connected to the internet, and opened Tianya Forum.

He wanted to see how the news about him would be reacted in China—or perhaps the vanity of buying a new car still lingered, making him want to see if he had become "famous".

Unfortunately, it turned out he was overthinking it.

Although the attack was still being discussed domestically, at least after Li Mu scrolled through more than ten topics, not a single one mentioned his name.

Everyone was simply discussing the facts, analyzing the various reasons behind the US attack, and making predictions. But what about "Li Mu," the person who brought the firsthand information—

Fine.

Li Mu shook his head speechlessly.

I think my desire for fame is just wishful thinking.

Then I started browsing the forums.

Li Wei wasn't wrong. Tianya Forum is indeed a very convenient channel for obtaining news. Netizens from all over the country can provide a lot of information every day. If reporters need news—or interns need news to fill their databases—it's really convenient to get it here.

Even if the vast majority of them are not of high value.

But interns need this kind of news to hone their skills.

Although Li Mu had already been officially hired, he still retained this habit, which was a way for him to stay informed about what was happening around him.

After browsing for a while, around 5 o'clock, seeing that it was almost time, he took the book and went downstairs. He then went to the teahouse near his home and asked for a private room.

While waiting for the waiter to serve tea, he had already flipped to the chapter on how to judge illnesses by looking at facial features in the book "Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine" after sending the private room location information to Bie Yan.

He came specifically for this content.

Otherwise, systematically learning TCM knowledge is simply unrealistic. But as long as you finish reading this part, know a few professional terms, and can speak fluently and convincingly, that's enough.

However, today is not the right time to talk about it; we need to take it one step at a time.

He was thinking as he focused on reading the content.

I don't know how much time passed, but the door to the private room was opened and the waiter led Bie Yan in.

Li Mu looked up, saw the person who had come, and smiled, "Brother Bie."

"Um."

Bie Yan responded, looked Li Mu up and down, and then smiled, "Not bad, no missing arms or legs."

Hehe~

Li Mu smiled and put down the book, saying, "Of course, he came back perfectly."

"Huh~ what are you looking at?"

Soon, Bie Yan's attention fell on the book that Li Mu had placed on the table.

But after seeing the book's title, he looked speechless: "What? Are you planning to switch careers and study traditional Chinese medicine?"

"No, I've been in the US for a few days and I'm experiencing some travel and water issues. I'm not feeling well. I'm planning to see if there's any effective remedy."

99

"Are you just learning this on the spot?"

Bie Yan was somewhat speechless, but casually waved her hand: "No need for this, go buy a cup of herbal tea and drink it, and all your ailments will disappear."

Li Mu's lips twitched—

In the few years he's been in Guangdong, aside from everything else, he really can't stand things like herbal tea.

Good heavens—you can drink a bowl of traditional Chinese medicine at most, but this herbal tea is served in huge teacups.

Most people couldn't stand it.

So he quickly shook his head: "Forget it, I don't like that kind of drink. Besides, I didn't learn this on the spot. I have a relative who is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and he taught me pulse diagnosis and face diagnosis when I was a child. It's just that I was too young at the time, so I didn't take it seriously. Now I want to pick it up again, so I'm starting from scratch."

"Oh? Really? You've studied it?"

As Bie Yan sat down, she looked surprised.

Li Mu, who had no real knowledge of medicine, nodded: "Yeah, I studied it when I was a kid. Actually, if I wasn't so uninterested in it, I might have gone to study medicine after the college entrance exam."

"Haha, really? Let me see!"

Li Mu truly hadn't expected that Brother Bie would offer him such a step-by-step solution when he had originally planned to proceed gradually.

Well, how can it not be considered a golden opportunity?

So he nodded: "Okay—Brother, don't move. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, and 'observation' includes facial diagnosis—let me take a look."

Seeing that Li Mu was speaking eloquently, Bie Yan simply smiled and looked at him.

The two men gazed at each other "affectionately".

But once he looked, Li Mu actually discovered some problems.

It's not that he actually mastered traditional Chinese medicine without a teacher, but when I read the section on face diagnosis, it clearly stated: "For those with liver heat, the left cheek turns red first; for those with lung heat, the right cheek turns red first; for those with heart heat, the face turns red first; for those with spleen and stomach diseases, the nose turns red first; for those with kidney heat, the chin turns red first."

Coincidentally, there was some dark red around Brother Bie's nose.

? ? ? ?

Is it that obvious?

Li Mu was somewhat surprised, and then asked, "Brother Bie, do you have a sensitive stomach?"

"————???"

Bie Yan was taken aback: "————Huh?"

"Your nose is a bit red; people with spleen and stomach problems often have redness on their nose first. It looks like your spleen and stomach are overheated. Have you been experiencing internal heat lately? Hmm, and your complexion doesn't seem as good as before. Have you been resting lately?"

"Well."

Bie Yan blinked, her brows furrowing slightly. "Really?"

"Really? Go look in the mirror and you'll see. Your complexion isn't as good as it was before I left, and you seem to be experiencing some internal heat. Have you not been getting enough rest lately?"

"————"

Bie Yan's brows furrowed completely.

He glanced at Li Mu, then at the book on the table, and asked, "You really figured it out?"

"Yes. But I still don't know how to take a pulse. I've forgotten how to distinguish between a deep pulse and a floating pulse. Sigh, I should have learned more back then."

Following Li Mu's words, Bie Yan fell silent.

Just then, the waiter came in with the menu.

"Would you like to order?"

"Brother, you—"

"Come on in."

Bie Yan frowned, waved his hand, and then grabbed the book "Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine".

Seeing this, Li Mu knew he couldn't say anything more. So he flipped through the menu, looked at it, and said, "Brother Bie, what would you like to drink?"

"I won't drink it."

Bie Yan shook her head directly: "You said it yourself, my stomach hasn't been feeling well lately, why would I drink alcohol? — Waiter, bring me a pot of chrysanthemum tea. Xiao Li, just order a few light dishes to eat casually."

""

"Okay."

Li Mu responded, ordered a few light dishes, closed the menu, and fell silent as the waiter left.

Bie Yan is reading a book.

Although Li Mu didn't know what he was reading, the thickness of the open pages suggested that he was reading the "Face-to-Face Consultation" chapter, just like Li Mu himself.

perhaps.

After reading two pages in a row, Bie Yan came back to her senses, closed the book, and her gaze fell on Li Mu.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "How was your trip to America?"

Li Mu gave a wry smile: "Not good, bro. If I told you I haven't been able to sleep for several nights in a row, would you believe me?"

"normal."

Bie Yan nodded slightly: "Just looking at the photos makes me feel terrible, and you witnessed it yourself—it's a wonder you could sleep after something this big happened. By the way, is Fan Bing alright?"

"Her? She's the luckiest. She came back on the 10th. Because there was a film that wanted her here, she only stayed in the United States for half a day before immediately taking a plane to Hong Kong."

Li Mu used the excuse he had prepared beforehand.

Bie Yan looked curious: "So you two... are you dating?"

No, no.

Li Mu quickly shook his head: "We just get along well, Brother Bie, don't misunderstand—"

Don't say that you've gone on a trip together, how can you not let people misunderstand?

But—judging from what Xiao Li said, it seems it hasn't been finalized yet?

This guy's methods for pursuing girls—well, they need improvement.

He smiled and nodded, then changed the subject, saying, "You'll be officially hired on the 20th."

"—Huh? So fast?"

""

Li Mu was taken aback.

Bie Yan nodded: "You know Deputy Director Lü from our Arts and Sports Department, right?"

"Know."

The director of the Department of Culture and Sports is Zhang Zhengwen, and the deputy director is this person, but Li Mu has never met him. It is said that he is quite old and should retire, so he basically does not show his face anymore.

Immediately afterwards, he heard Bie Yan say, "On the 20th, we'll hold his retirement ceremony. At the same time, the newspaper will appoint a new deputy director, and I've been selected. Your official appointment procedures will also be processed on that day."

"----ah?"

Li Mu was shocked: "Brother Bie, you—you got promoted?"

Upon hearing this, Bie Yan's lips moved slightly.

He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately let out a silent sigh.

They should have been promoted a long time ago.

It's been dragging on for so long —

Thinking of this, he inexplicably felt a strong urge to confide in someone.

So he said, "Would you believe me if I said I should have been promoted seven years ago?"