A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

"Brother Bie, I was just helping Sister Yan from HR move the resumes for this year's recruitment, and she talked to me privately about something."

"?"

"She said...our company's general manager, Liu Xiaofeng, is being transferred, and a new general manager will be coming. And this new general manager works with Director Zhou and the former editor-in-chief."

"...?"

Bie Yan was taken aback and subconsciously asked:

"Did Sister Yan tell you herself?"

"Yes. They told me to keep a low profile and not to give the new leader the impression that I'm arrogant or conceited."

"..."\

Bie Yan frowned.

Mid-year general manager reassignment?

Liu Xiaofeng didn't do anything wrong... why was he suddenly transferred?

"This way of eating...is a bit too unsightly."

He muttered something to himself, then said to Li Mu:

"Okay, I understand. Anything else to say?"

"That's all. But... Brother Bie, I met with Zhou Wei this morning."

"Who is it?"

"Zhou Wei, the assistant director on 'Hero'."

"Oh~"

Bie Yan then remembered who this person was and nodded:

"What did they say?"

After Li Mu briefly explained the situation, Bie Yan became interested:

"So, this movie is pretty good? It could be nominated for an Oscar?"

"Anyway, according to Zhou Wei, since Miramax is in charge of distribution, they'll definitely have to put in the effort. Whether it succeeds or not is another matter; the fact that they've taken a liking to it proves the film won't be too bad."

"We'll have to follow up on that carefully."

"Of course, but... when I gave my business trip application to Editor-in-Chief Lin just now, he told me to leave it with him for now. Then he reminded me that business trip requests need to be approved by the director, and if he doesn't agree, I might not be able to go."

Bie Yan's brows furrowed instantly.

His gaze fell on his younger brother's face, which didn't seem angry at all, but rather quite calm.

"That's what he said?"

"Yes. And...Brother Bie, you weren't here this morning?"

"No, I took Yiyi to her tutoring class. Why?"

"I met Zhou Wei this morning. We had an appointment at 9 a.m. He came to Guangzhou specifically to deliver my invitation letter. I treated him to morning tea, and by the time we finished talking, it was already past 11 a.m. Then, just now, when I went to the administration office to fill out the fieldwork form, Sister Wang told me... Director Zhou had a meeting this morning, and I wasn't there, so he marked me absent without leave."

"..."\

After a dozen seconds, Bie Yan nodded:

"Okay, I understand. When are you planning to leave?"

"The press conference will be held tomorrow, the morning of the 12th."

"Then just go as usual."

"Okay. I'm going now."

"Um."\

Li Mu walked out of the office.

Around 4 PM, Bie Yan appeared in the main office:

"Little Li."

"exist."\

"I'm going on a business trip tomorrow to Hong Kong to interview people about Zhang Yimou's film 'Hero'."

Li Muxian was taken aback for a moment, then quickly replied:

"OK."\

"Yes, remember to hurry, this interview is very important."

"clear!"\

With Li Mu's agreement, Bie Yan glanced at Lin Naichen, who was looking up in their direction.

Bie Yan didn't speak, but simply pointed at Li Mu and gestured with her eyes.

Lin Naichen nodded.

Everything is understood without words.

Then, after Bie Yan left, Lin Naichen signed her name on Li Mu's business trip slip, and then went out with the slip just before the end of the workday.

Upon returning, he said to Li Mu:

"Xiao Li, remember to get the receipts, so you can get reimbursed when you get back."

The implication is: the business trip has been approved.

But Li Mu knew perfectly well that it wasn't that Zhou Long had suddenly become easier to talk to; it was just that because of this business trip, it had gone from him applying to Zhou Long requesting it himself.

The nature of the matter has undergone a fundamental transformation.

"Okay, thank you for the reminder, editor."

Afterwards, Li Mu applied for a recording device and took it with him home after work.

Back home, he resumed his normal routine.

Eat, play ball.

They hadn't even packed their clothes. Hong Kong isn't far from here; it's just across the Lo Wu border from Shenzhen.

At worst, I can just bring a short-sleeved shirt.

After venting all his frustrations with a hard-fought game of tennis, he had just gotten home and taken a shower when he received a call from his girlfriend:

"Hey, I have some good news for you!"

"What?"

"I'm wrapping up filming tomorrow!"

Having already spent two months in southern Tibet, the once breathless superstar was now in incredibly high spirits:

"Hehehe, tomorrow are the last two scenes. After that, I'm done!"

"oh?"\

Li Mu said with a smile:

"I thought you'd need another three or four days."

"The pace's sped up, huh? Hehehe, after filming wraps up tomorrow, I'll pack up... It'll still take a few hours to get to the airport from here. My flight is the day after tomorrow; I'll fly directly to Guangzhou to see you, okay?"

"I'm going to Hong Kong the day after tomorrow."

"Huh? What are we going over there for?"

"Zhang Yimou's 'Hero' is holding a press conference; I'm going to do an interview."

"Oh, this..."

"But the interview will be over by the morning, and I'll definitely be back tonight. You can wait for me at home."

"Hehehe, okay then, that's settled! I'll book my ticket to Guangzhou right away!"

"Did you miss me?"

"Hehe, guess."

"Ha~"

He had no intention of bringing his bad mood from work to his girlfriend; he chose to hide it.

I didn't want her to worry, and besides... worrying wouldn't do any good.

"Oh right, there's something else. You need to give me some advice."

"I now...have two paths before me."

"What do you mean?"

"It's about the development plan. Sister Hua just called me this afternoon to discuss it, and I wanted to get your opinion."

"Your career is a problem? You want my advice? I don't know anything about it."

"Oh dear, you idiot! It's not just about our careers, it's about both of us. Sister Hua said the company is planning to make a movie called 'A World Without Thieves.' They're planning to have me and Sister Bingbing compete for the lead role... I'm a little hesitant." (Note 1)

"What do you mean? You think you're stealing someone else's spotlight?"

"Hmm...it's not really that serious. It's fair competition. As long as no underhanded tactics are used, it's simply a matter of who's a better fit with the director. Besides, this film is directed by Director Feng."

"Feng Xiaogang?"

Li Mu's mind raced.

Could this be... the movie that "further offended a fellow industry professional" that Brother Frowning was talking about?

He would definitely resist.

Everything I'm doing now is precisely to prevent her from experiencing those terrible things, isn't it?

Then Fan Bingbing said:

"Yes, that's the main reason I asked for your opinion. Sammo Hung also said that he wants me to go to Hong Kong after this film is finished. He has a few roles that he thinks would be very suitable for me, but they are all TV dramas. And now, the company is planning to make a movie... What do you think I should choose?"

"I'm more curious why you asked me how to choose. Is it something directly related to me?"

"Of course there is. If I take a role in a company production, I'll likely be staying in Beijing for most of the second half of the year. But if I choose to go to Hong Kong… I can be with you more often. However… one is a TV series, the other a movie, and both are directed by Feng Xiaogang. I don't know which to choose. So… what do you want me to choose? We've been apart for the past six months, and I don't want this to continue…"

Suddenly, her tone softened.

"I want to stay with you a little longer."

"Well……"\

To be honest, he could feel the deep affection in his girlfriend's words at that moment.

But, similarly, after hearing her words, he had already made his choice.

"I want to spend more time with you too."

Without almost any hesitation, he stated his choice.

But the reasons are more rational.

The man with the furrowed brows said that she made a movie called "Cellphone," which sowed the seeds of this problem.

Filmed this year, released next year.

Although the names are different—my girlfriend calls the movie "A World Without Thieves"—considering the time required to make a film, its release in 03, and the fact that it's a Feng Xiaogang film, it's still a good choice.

Li Mu estimated that there was a very high probability that this was the script.

As for the difference in names, he didn't think it was a big deal. Many scripts are titled by the screenwriter, and then changed to a more suitable title for the film before release.

To be honest, he didn't dare to gamble, even if the script had a different title.

Therefore, he naturally wanted his girlfriend to reject him.

Some budding problems are indeed better nipped in the bud.

So I gave my own answer.

After hearing her boyfriend's words, Fan Bingbing didn't feel any "regret" or anything like that.

She really... wasn't a very good girlfriend.

I couldn't even go back to be with my boyfriend on his birthday.

On the 3rd, all she could do was call him.

"Happy birthday, baby."

She felt she was quite inadequate.

Even though the gift had been prepared in advance... I could only give it to him this time when I went back.

But what's the point of giving a belated birthday gift after the birthday has already passed?

Even if her boyfriend didn't care, she still couldn't get over it.

Upon hearing this, she said:

"Alright, then I'll tell Sister Hua I won't compete with Sister Bingbing for this role. It's no big deal. When I get back, I'll stay for a few days and then go see Sammo Hung."

"……OK."\

"Hehe, so how are you going to compensate me? I gave up Director Feng's masterpiece for you, shouldn't you give me some compensation?"

"For example?"

"For example... hehehe."

For some reason, the voice on the phone started to sound lewd.

And yet, it could make a big star disregard his image and let out a lewd laugh.

Li Mu already knew what the compensation would be.

Hey, what a coincidence!

The only thing Old Li can do is...

"Your subject! I will dedicate myself to the utmost, even unto death!"

"Hahaha……"\

(Note 1: The timeline of *A World Without Thieves* is correct; the project was indeed initiated first, but because it's a film featuring "thieves" as the main characters, there were some issues with script review, causing delays. Although this involves some spoilers, I'll mention it to avoid controversy: *Cellphone* is an unavoidable hurdle, considering Fan Bingbing won Best Actress for that film. But don't worry, I'll handle it. Also...)

It's Qingming Festival, I'm going back to my wife's hometown to pay respects at her ancestors' graves. Only two chapters today, sending love~ Please vote with your monthly tickets!