A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

Strictly speaking, Li Mu's generation... isn't really Liu Xiaoqing's target audience.

We need to go back about ten years.

Or, going back from Li Juan's generation, the name Liu Xiaoqing... can be described as exceptionally talented and elegant.

Li Mu especially remembered clearly that there was a relative in the same village as Li Zhuang whom he had to call "aunt," and good heavens... she was infatuated with Liu Xiaoqing to the point of madness.

The bedroom was covered with posters, and I liked to talk to him about Liu Xiaoqing whenever I had a spare moment.

We were even talking about it during the Chinese New Year this year.

And the conversation only grew more lively, because after learning that Li Mu had become a reporter and that Xu Jinglei had given him a jade carving, they immediately came to inquire about Liu Xiaoqing.

Upon seeing that Li Mu was also unaware, she began to take the initiative, first saying things like, "The four little actresses you named aren't even as good as a single hair on Liu Xiaoqing's head," and then she started explaining things to Li Mu...

But... he had to admit, it was through his aunt's explanation that Li Mu learned just how amazing Liu Xiaoqing really was.

Putting everything else aside, let's just talk about the records they set...

The first domestic celebrity to publish an autobiography.

The first domestic star to combine the roles of actor, writer, singer, businessman, host, and producer.

The first to make the Forbes list of highest-paid actresses, the first to publicly divorce, the first to collaborate with Hong Kong and Taiwan, the first to become an independent producer, the first to host the Spring Festival Gala, the first to portray Empress Dowager Cixi four times and Empress Wu Zetian four times, the first to win the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Actress three times in a row, the first to hold solo film screenings in the United States and France…

These records are all named after her.

In the past two years, she has gone into business, and only then have some people in the entertainment industry begun to emerge.

A few years ago... just kidding, she was the top dog, a force to be reckoned with wherever she went, practically inhumanly powerful.

As for just how amazing she is...

To put it another way, when Li Mu was in college, he read a news article.

This was an interview she conducted after winning the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival awards.

A reporter asked her: Who do you think is the best actress in China?

Liu Xiaoqing's answer was: Of course it's me.

Then, the next day, newspapers everywhere were filled with headlines like, "[Liu Xiaoqing: I am the best actress in China]".

This was Li Mu's personal experience, and it remained vivid in his memory.

And now...

No, I should say for a while...

In a little while, I'll actually be following various departments to...investigate her?

Did she break the law?

What law was broken?

It's impossible to guess.

But Li Mu finally understood... why Brother Bie said this news could be a big deal or a small deal.

That's right.

If she's innocent, then it's just minor news.

But what if she really broke the law...?

have to.\

Let alone the film and television industry, the entire news industry across the country would probably be shaken up.

"...Fatty."

"Huh?! Holy crap, Li Mu, this is absolutely huge news!"

"Fatty!"

After stopping Sui Kuan with a look once again, Li Mu looked at him seriously and said, word by word:

"Did you hear what they said? Follow orders! Only film when you're told to, and do whatever you're told to do! Also... don't tell anyone about this news for now! Not just the two of us!!"

"!"

If Sui Kuan was initially surprised, looking into Li Mu's eyes, he immediately understood the importance of the matter.

Without any hesitation, he nodded vigorously:

"clear!"\

After agreeing, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise again:

"Holy crap! It's Liu Xiaoqing!!!!"

……\

At 9:03, Qin Liyan informed the two that it was time to depart.

So, the two reporters, who behaved with unusual restraint, followed Qin Liyan into a Santana belonging to the local tax bureau.

Li Mu sat in the passenger seat, and Sui Kuan sat in the back.

After getting on the bus, Li Mu thought for a moment and then asked Qin Liyan:

"Teacher Qin, would it be convenient for you to describe what happened?"

Qin Liyan had clearly received instructions from Zhang Kun, and was quite polite to Li Mu, saying:

"Sure, what would you like to ask, Ms. Li?"

Li Mu thought for a moment and asked:

"What are we investigating this time?"

"Regarding the tax investigation, we received a tip-off some time ago..."

At this point, Qin Liyan paused, seemingly judging what could and could not be said.

After pausing for about ten seconds, he continued:

"Xiaoqing Group had two former senior executives who left. The reasons for their departure are not discussed here; it's more accurate to say they were fired. After being fired, Xiaoqing Group sued them, and they subsequently filed a formal complaint against the group regarding a series of issues. The complaint was accepted and verified to have indeed involved illegal activities, so a detailed investigation is now underway."

Li Mu wasn't really familiar with this process, but he at least had a general idea of ​​what it entailed.

So he nodded:

"I see... So, will they take her away this time?"

"That depends on the judgment of other departments, but based on my experience... not for now. Instead, they will take away all the accounts and reports, and simultaneously detain senior executives within the group for investigation."

"Hmm... does this mean she might be innocent?"

Qin Liyan chuckled upon hearing Li Mu's words.

That smile… how to put it… it seemed to be mocking Li Mu’s naivety, or perhaps… an emotion that was hard to describe.

on

He said:

"Reporter Li, if it were just baseless speculation, we wouldn't be making such a fuss. Besides, she's the legal representative of the company, and the very nature of a legal representative is to bear legal responsibility. So even if we don't arrest her today, once we uncover the illegal acts, she won't be able to escape. Innocent? At this point, we can basically say we have the facts of the crime; there's no such thing as innocence."

"..."\

Li Mu felt a chill run down his spine.

At this moment, Qin Liyan asked with considerable curiosity:

"Reporter Li, have you ever had any dealings with her?"

"without."\

Li Mu instinctively shook his head.

Just kidding... Who would dare say "I know Liu Xiaoqing" at this time?

Besides, they didn't even know each other.

"So, you don't know what kind of person she is in private?"

"I don't know. What? Is Teacher Qin a fan of hers?"

"No, but my mom really likes her. However, this is a secret right now, so I can't mention it to her. If she ever gets allowed to tell, I reckon... my mom will be really heartbroken."

That hits the nail on the head.

Even Li Mu was thinking... what if his distant aunt knew about this...?

Tsk tsk.

"By the way... Ms. Li, which celebrities have you met?"

Ultimately, Qin Liyan is about the same age as the two men, or at most a few years older, and hasn't yet escaped the category of young people.

They're quite gossipy.

Li Mu and Sui Kuan then chatted with him about some celebrities they had seen before.

As they chatted, the car arrived at a place called "Golden Ring Hotel".

"This is...her company?"

"This isn't the place."

Qin Liyan shook his head and pointed to several black and white vehicles nearby, saying:

"This hotel will serve as the comprehensive office location for investigation and evidence collection. Xiaoqing Group has 27 subsidiaries, including Xiaoqing GG Company and Xiaoqing Film and Television Production Company. Today, all the account details and tax items need to be comprehensively reviewed by multiple departments. There isn't enough space to do this at the office. This is also a requirement of our work; when multiple departments collaborate, we will use a temporary office location to summarize and work together. This facilitates collaboration and communication between departments."

"..."\

Li Mu looked at the hotel, which had at least five floors. Although it was old... it was indeed suitable for comprehensive office use.

But it was precisely because of the scale of the Golden Ring Hotel that Li Mu felt a chill run down his spine.

They actually need such a large space as a temporary office...

Goodness.

Just how much trouble did Liu Xiaoqing get into?

Moreover… he not only saw vehicles from Yanjing, but also those with license plates from Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Liaoning, and other places.

Good heavens...

The hotel would probably be full of people coming to investigate, wouldn't it?

Qin Liyan quickly parked the car, and after the three of them got out, he said to the two men:

"Gentlemen, the other departments are already in a meeting in the conference room. Let's go in together, take a few photos, and then come out. We'll go to the site together in a bit."

"Okay, understood."

The two of them started organizing their cameras at the same time.

Following Qin Liyan, they arrived at a conference room in the hotel.

Qin Liyan didn't knock, but quietly opened the door a crack and peeked out. Soon, a staff member in uniform came out.

"These two are reporters Li Mu and Sui Kuan, assigned by the General Administration to cover this case. Teacher, may we go in now to take photos of the meeting?"

Upon hearing this, the staff member glanced at the two of them and nodded.

"You can go. After you're done filming, go and get a temporary work permit. Also, if you drive, please register your license plate number as well."

"OK."\

Following Qin Liyan's words, Li Mu, who was wondering if Brother Sun was someone from the General Administration, discreetly walked inside with Sui Kuan.

There were quite a few people inside, wearing uniforms of various colors.

Upon seeing Li Mu and Sui Kuan enter with cameras, they all sat up straight.

And then, crackling sounds...

After taking a few photos, the two left.

Without a word, Qin Liyan, who was waiting outside, took the two men to apply for temporary work permits.

Then, just after 10 a.m., holding a blank vehicle pass waiting to have his license plate entered, Li Mu took photos and followed the group out of the hotel.

After taking several photos of the staff from various departments getting into the car, the two of them also got into the car at Qin Liyan's invitation.

Then……\

The long convoy of cars drove out of the Golden Ring Hotel.

The investigation begins.