A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

Chapter 171 Awards Ceremony

"Good morning, are you awake yet? Why is this suit tie so hard to tie? It almost strangled me."

At the airport, upon seeing her boyfriend's message, a hint of a smile flickered in Fan Bingbing's eyes beneath her baseball cap:

"You used the method I taught you?"

"Yes, what gentleman's knot? It's my first time tying one, I have absolutely no idea how."

"Have you tied it up yet?"

"I guess so, it's barely passable."

"Haha, then you should set off now."

"No rush, it's 9:30, it's only 8 now, what's the hurry? Have you eaten? What are your plans for today?"

"Go to the gym."

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, rapidly reciting lies she couldn't believe.

Li Mu's reply was equally swift:

"By the way, my article has been published."

Fan Bingbing was taken aback, blinking in surprise:

"It's already published? Wasn't it supposed to be in your summary section after the 14th?"

"I don't know, I didn't ask. I guess it's because there's been a lack of entertainment and sports news lately, so they published it."

"Today's?"

"Yeah. They even gave it a front-page shot..."

"Wow!!! Really?! You're on the front page again!!!!"

"Entertainment front page. But... yes, it's the second time it's been on the front page. Haha."

"Hahaha, that's great news! It's on the front page, and they'll be winning an award soon. Today is a joyous day, shouldn't we celebrate?"

"There's no need. You're not here, so what's there for me to celebrate? We'll just have a simple lunch later and then go to work as usual in the afternoon."

"Oh dear, baby, you sound so pitiful."

A hint of mischievousness had crept into the girl's eyes as she chuckled at her phone until she heard the announcement: "Passengers on flight NH330 to Guangzhou are beginning boarding." She quickly replied:

"I'm off to the gym. See you at noon!"

Li Mu didn't seem to think much of it and replied directly:

"Okay, see you at noon."

With her phone in her pocket and in high spirits, Fan Bingbing carried her small suitcase and began boarding the plane from the business class entrance.

She responded politely to the smiling flight attendant, and then asked:

"Hello, do you have today's copy of the Southern Metropolis Daily?"

The flight attendant was taken aback, then politely shook her head:

"I'm sorry, ma'am, this flight only has today's *Yanjing Morning Post*, and..."

"Oh, okay, then... could you please give me a copy of the morning paper?"

She used to be completely dismissive of newspapers.

That's not quite right. It's more accurate to say that she didn't acquire knowledge from the day's newspapers. For things related to acting, she took acting classes or read professional books. And for fashion knowledge, she read monthly magazines.

Newspapers, being daily publications that primarily carry timely news, were not of interest to her.

It makes sense, really. It's not like a young actress would be expected to be involved in national affairs or mundane family matters every day.

But since she got together with her boyfriend, she has also started to try to develop the habit of reading the newspaper every day.

And you know what... it can be quite interesting at times.

In particular, it allows people to stay informed about major and minor events, even if they don't need them, at least they learn about them from the newspapers.

It's just a pity... that there's no Southern Metropolis Daily.

She really wanted to see the final draft of her boyfriend's article.

She especially loved the line "May you never grow old in this world."

What a pity.

She took the morning newspaper from the flight attendant and leaned back in her seat to read it.

……

Today's group awards ceremony was held at the provincial hall.

Southern Daily Group is, after all, the leading media outlet in Guangdong. Although the auditorium enters a busy period at the end of each year, it is certainly not difficult for the group to obtain half a day's usage rights.

So, a little after 9 a.m., Li Mu, dressed in a sharp suit, entered the hall for the first time with his identification.

Employees from the group were already waiting there. When Li Mu went to sign in, several employees quickly found his name on another stack of seating order papers, tore it off, and handed it to him.

"Teacher Li, you're in the third row."

Li Mu was taken aback:

"The third row? Aren't I sitting with people from our newspaper?"

Upon hearing this, a woman who appeared to be around forty years old laughed and said:

"Teacher Li, the nominees and winners are all in the third and fourth rows, so it will be easier for them to go on stage."

The implication is that this is tantamount to acknowledging that Li Mu has won the award.

But... there's really no need to hide it, since the company already notified us in advance. Besides, this isn't some kind of Oscars, why make the winners list so mysterious?

Totally unnecessary.

In other words, Li Mu's foundation is weak, and once he has more friends, he may even know in advance what prize he will win.

The Southern Media Group has only four awards.

Special Prize, First and Second Prizes, and Excellence Award.

An award of excellence is equivalent to a third prize.

To put it another way, the awards of the Southern Metropolis Daily itself are the same as those of the group, except that there is an additional "Newcomer Award".

Having received an explanation, Li Mu obediently accepted the note with the seat number and left.

He didn't rush into the hall, since it hadn't started yet.

He simply stood aside and waited for his colleagues.

After waiting for a while, people gradually started to arrive at the hall.

The massive Southern Media Group, encompassing daily newspapers, government agency newspapers, various units, and even its printing plants, began to assemble in a flurry of activity. Under the guidance of the leaders, everyone proceeded into the Great Hall of the People in an orderly fashion.

Although it wasn't all the employees, but rather selected representatives, or people who "didn't go last year, but will go this year," it was still easy to fill a hall with several hundred people.

At this moment, Li Mu saw Bie Yan and Zhang Zhengwen, but he didn't see the company's boss, Cheng Yizhong, or the general manager...

He walked over:

"Director, Brother Bie."

"Um."

Bie Yan responded, looked Li Mu up and down, and then smiled:

"He's quite handsome."

Hehe~

Have you received your seat number yet?

"I got it... in the third row."

"Yes, the winners are all from the third and fourth rows."

"After I go on stage to receive the award, do I go back to my work area or...?"

"No, just go back to your seat. Wait until the awards ceremony is over... Have you driven yet?"

"It's open."

"Then go to the luncheon venue next door, and we'll sit together there."

After the older brother explained the business clearly, Li Mu nodded:

"Understood."

"Okay, let's go to the back and line up, we'll go in together."

"OK."

Soon, Li Mu arrived at the end of the line belonging to the Southern Metropolis Daily and followed them into the hall.

As Li Mu walked in, he felt a strange sense of majesty emanating from the interplay of red and gold.

Especially after separating from Brother Bie and the others, when following the signs to the third row.

He discovered that... the first two rows were actually empty.

Clearly, those were reserved for leaders, and yet, none of the leaders, who were supposed to be the last to arrive, had arrived.

Even so...

When Li Mu sat down in his seat in the third row, he couldn't help but show a... strange expression as he looked at the two empty seats in front of him.

Or rather, a very strange emotion arose in my heart.

If I were sitting in the second row...

or……

Be bolder...

If I were sitting in the front row...

What would that taste like?

Once this thought was born in my mind, it immediately began to spread outwards like weeds.

The second row... is probably where people like your boss sit, right?

The first row should be occupied by key personnel from the group's administrative departments...

So here's the question... what level is the secretary of the Southern Media Group?

What kind of resume does he have that allows him to rise step by step to this position, which is almost above "ten thousand people"?

The auditorium was getting more and more crowded.

But his gaze grew increasingly empty.

until……

"Is that reporter Li Mu?"

Suddenly, he heard a voice, turned his head and saw a kind-looking older man with a smile.

"Hello, I'm Cui Yuan, a reporter from the Daily..."

"Uh, hello teacher, I'm Li Mu..."

The social aspect of this occasion begins to emerge.

As another award-winning reporter in the third row, Li Mu's small social circle began to take shape.

……

"During 9/11, a friend of mine who works at CCTV told me that the situation on the ground was extremely tragic..."

"Yes, mainly because there are a lot of victims..."

"Where were you at that time...?"

"We were planning to interview a wealthy immigrant from China, and we had arranged to meet near the Petronas Towers. Luckily, neither of us went."

"Good heavens..."

While the reporters in the third row were whispering amongst themselves, Li Mu cautiously discussed the current situation.

Although they were all in the same industry, after his dream about the scammer, he developed a natural, instinctive wariness towards such situations.

He was afraid that he would say something wrong.

During the conversation, the voices suddenly began to fade.

Li Mu was taken aback. He looked up and around and saw that two men in suits were standing at the side door of the auditorium, their white-gloved hands on the doorknob, seemingly ready to open it at any moment.

This action silenced the entire venue.

Then... about half a minute later, the two of them opened the door.

The moment the first middle-aged man in a suit appeared, the entire audience stood up in unison, and thunderous applause erupted.

"Splash splash splash..."

Li Mu also started clapping, and then he saw Cheng Yizhong and Xu Jinwen walking towards him in the group.

These people are all the regional leaders currently under the Southern Media Group.

"Splash splash splash..."

The applause was continuous, and the high-ranking officials in the second row came to their seats one by one.

Coincidentally, Cheng Yizhong and Xu Jinwen were sitting next to each other, right in front of Li Mu.

When Xu Jinwen joined the ranks, he saw Li Mu and smiled slightly.

Li Mu also mouthed "Brother," and then Xu Jinwen and Cheng Yizhong, who was also standing, joined the clapping.

Finally, the group's most powerful figures, including the group's CEO, entered the venue from the front row. (Note 1)

The awards ceremony has officially begun.

(Note 1: I won't write the name, as it's not strictly necessary for the plot. I also don't dare to write it; my book's chapters inexplicably get interrupted every now and then... it's very frustrating.)