A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

August 18, 2002.

clear.\

Early in the morning, Li Mu received a text message from Sui Kuan:

"Breaking News! [Congratulations to our reporter Li Mu for winning the National News First Prize!] Hahaha! Awesome!"

Upon seeing this message, Li Mu smiled slightly.

Then I took a taxi directly to the Journalists Association headquarters.

He arrived at the China Journalists Association headquarters, dressed in a sharp suit, only to find that flowers had already been placed on both sides of the main entrance of this national association for managing journalists.

As soon as he got out of the taxi, he received a phone call. The caller ID showed: Ding Zheng.

This person is a leader in the administration department of the Southern Group, specifically in charge of Li Mu's award-giving process this time.

"Hello, Director Ding, this is Li Mu."

"Haha, Xiao Li, have we arrived yet?"

"We're at the door."

"At the door... raise your hand."

After Li Mu raised his hand, Ding Zheng quickly saw him and walked over:

"Little Li."

"Director Ding."

Li Mu greeted him politely, and then Ding Zheng said:

"There are two events today: receiving the award at the Journalists Association, and then a luncheon in the side hall of the Great Hall. Remember to be polite."

"Yes, Director Ding, don't worry, I understand."

In terms of ceremony procedures, the National News Awards and the GD Provincial News Awards are actually quite similar, both consisting of an award ceremony followed by a luncheon. The only difference is that provincial awards are attended by provincial leaders, while national awards are attended by national leaders.

Without realizing it, Li Mu thought of something.

Was the lunch I had for lunch considered a state banquet?

Just as I was pondering this, Ding Zheng said:

"Speaking of which, I guess I got in part thanks to you. Before, when we were talking about the provincial award, he said you were pretty good, haha, and you actually won!"

From Ding Zheng's words, Li Mu knew that this man was one of their own.

So they laughed more familiarly:

"Brother Bie has always taken good care of me."

"Yes, he mentions you often. Hmm, come on, let me introduce you to some people. Today, everyone here is from major award-winning newspaper groups. Getting to know more people will be good for you."

"Okay, thank you, Director Ding."

"Okay, just call me Brother Ding."

"Okay, Brother Ding."

"Walk."\

……\

The process this time is indeed similar to that of the provincial award.

However, the podium last time wasn't as big as this time.

This time it's the Journalists Association's own auditorium.

Oh right, there's another difference. Last time, the certificate and encouragement I received were from the province, but this time it's from the national level…

But... anyway, the ceremony started at 10:00 and ended at 11:30.

Holding his weighty honor, Li Mu smiled in front of the camera, his face even redder than before.

From this moment forward, his honors will be recorded in his file.

[2001 National Press Award - First Prize] This honor will stay with him for life!

"I am delighted to receive this honor from the nation. Moving forward, I will focus on journalism, utilizing my professional skills to bring you more, better, and more truthful news. I also want to thank my newspaper, *Southern Metropolis Daily*, and *Southern Media Group* for their training and support..."

This is what Li Mu said during an interview.

The reporter who interviewed him was from the Chinese community.

His words brought a smile to Ding Zheng's face.

After the awards ceremony, a group of award-winning colleagues, each appearing to be much older than Li Mu, boarded a bus and headed to the Great Hall of the People.

To be honest, this was Li Mu's first time here.

On the bus, he inexplicably felt like a tourist arriving in Beijing for the first time, watching the historical buildings he had read about in books, each with special significance, flash by along the long road, and a strange feeling welled up inside him.

They don't look like tourists.

But they were tourists, after all.

It felt rather strange, especially as the vehicle arrived at the entrance of that solemn and imposing Great Hall of the People.

Without prior arrangement, many people getting off the bus instinctively looked up.

Including Li Mu.

However, he was unaware of what others were thinking at that moment; he himself was only filled with curiosity.

Normally, what is the main hall of this assembly hall used for?

What kind of destination must we reach before we can enter, not as a banquet, but simply as participants?

Or, to put it more accurately...

How far do we have to go to reach the main hall?

He was puzzled.

But the lake of the heart was stirred up once again.

This feeling was so strange that he was almost stunned.

But this time, no one reminded him to go inside, because apart from those on the award list, accompanying personnel from other organizations were not among the invited guests.

So he just kept looking and looking, and when he came to his senses, he was already in last place.

"call……"\

Under the watchful eyes of the receptionist, Li Mu took a deep breath and stepped onto the stairs.

These steps... seem to be much lower than normal stair steps.

Easier to walk.

Can……\

But it's even harder to climb.

He didn't know why he felt this way, and at that moment he was somewhat absent-minded.

But no matter what

And so, he continued his ascent, step by step, steadily climbing upwards.

Whether the steps are high or low, difficult or not...

You have to climb it eventually.

Isn't that right?

……\

During the dinner, the leader returned and toasted all the award-winning journalists present.

And this banquet...

It tastes great.

He remembered it vividly, and even kept a few beautifully packaged toothpicks as souvenirs.

Finally, he returned to his girlfriend's house with the heavy certificates and trophies in his hands.

As soon as I entered, Xiao Fan pounced on me like a madman:

"Wow! The first prize is back!!!"

"ha."\

Li Mu chuckled softly.

Seeing his girlfriend so happy, he was indeed quite happy too.

But... I'm not really happy.

Or rather, I was somewhat distracted.

That's weird.

But upon seeing Fan Tao and Zhang Chuanmei, he composed himself, smiled, and handed over the certificate.

After reading it, Fan Tao handed it to his wife and then went to the kitchen to busy himself.

Such a joyous occasion certainly deserves a grand feast.

……\

It was a little after 8 PM, just before 9 PM.

Li Mu, who had drunk half a jin of liquor, got into his girlfriend's car.

He adjusted the car seat back a bit to make himself more comfortable. But he wasn't sleepy at all; he was just spacing out.

The BMW drove out of the underground parking garage and headed towards the hotel.

As the car drove along, suddenly, Li Mu said:

"Shall we take a stroll along the long street?"

"?"

Fan Bingbing was taken aback:

"Are you sure? It's almost 9 o'clock. Going there and then to the hotel is such a long way."

"Hmm... never mind then."

Li Mu then closed his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing that her boyfriend seemed a bit off, Fan Bingbing was puzzled.

Li Mu opened his eyes again, thought for a moment, and said:

"Have you ever been to the Great Hall of the People?"

"Yes, I've been there. It was my first time in Yanjing, and my mom took me. Why?"

"Have they gone in yet?"

"No, I definitely didn't. I just looked around the square. But I did go to the memorial hall and stuff... What's wrong?"

"It's...very big inside."

"nonsense."\

Fan Bingbing rolled her eyes, thinking to herself, "Do you think I need to tell you?"

But Li Mu closed his eyes again, exhaling a breath of alcohol:

"It's huge, so huge... I don't know how long it would take to see it all."

Now, Fan Bingbing understood the hidden meaning in his words.

After thinking for a moment, he asked:

"Did something happen to you? I knew you were acting strange today. When you won the Guangdong News Award, you were beaming like a little fool, but when you came back today, you seemed so calm. Happy, but not really... What's wrong?"

"..."\

Li Mu remained silent.

After about one traffic light cycle, he finally spoke:

"At noon, I stood at the bottom of the steps, looking at it, and wondering... what does the main hall look like? Our banquet is held in the secondary hall, right?"

"…Brother, the main hall is for holding large meetings, what are you thinking? You think we'd dismantle all those seats for you guys?"

"I know, what I mean is... I actually really want to go see the main hall."

"You're not allowed in?"

"I didn't ask."

"You're going to the main hall, probably for a meeting, right? Like the annual representative assembly or something."

"right."\

"So? You want to be the representative?"

"Well, if that's what you're saying, then at noon, I was probably thinking, 'When will I be able to attend meetings outside of the representative assembly?'"

"Well……"\

Fan Bingbing paused for a moment, then suddenly turned the car around and walked towards the long street.

Li Mu didn't pay attention; his eyes remained vacant.

"Is your group's boss qualified?"

"It's probably... not enough, right?"

"If you wanted to become chairman of the board starting now, how long would it take?"

"That would take a very, very long time."

"That's it, your dream is probably shattered."

Although her words were somewhat disheartening, Li Mu knew that his girlfriend was telling the truth.

"So, when I left today, I looked back at it several times. I was thinking, 'Will this be the only time I ever go inside...'"

"No, it can also play movies."

"Get out!"

Li Mu rolled her eyes at her, annoyed.

But Fan Bingbing chuckled:

"Hehe, just kidding. But... baby, people walk the path. Go wherever you can get. If you really want to go, then run in that direction. Even if you die on the road, it's better than not daring to go, right?"

"..."\

Li Mu remained silent.

Is it a dead end...?

The next second, his hand was grabbed by his girlfriend:

"I support you!"

A moment later, a BMW drove down the long street in the night.

The car wasn't going fast.

The two people inside the car watched everything happening over there from a distance through the glass.

Everything came into view.

It's etched deeply into my mind.