A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

2002 really went by quickly; inexplicably, the year was over.

Originally, after the four little actresses became popular, he had thought about doing a year-end review to see what achievements these four people had made in the new year... but the atmosphere in the office made him give up that idea.

Besides... if he finds out about Zhao Wei's situation, it's best to keep a low profile.

Being on duty on New Year's Day is actually quite boring. There are only three people in the office: him, Qian Jun, and Sun Xiaoying, and they don't interfere with each other.

The New Year's Day holiday has come to an end in this quiet atmosphere.

On the 4th, after the holiday, everything returned to normal.

Then, the date came to January 12th.

That day, Li Mu suddenly received an unexpected phone call.

"Hello, Chief Chung."

"Hello, Ms. Li. Do you have a moment right now?"

Hearing Zhong Beihai's voice, Li Mu smiled and said:

"Yes, Director Zhong, what can I do for you?"

"Yes, there really is. I'd like to ask you to write another report."

"Uh... about what?"

Li Mu was somewhat puzzled.

"It's still about prevention and control."

"Wasn't it already published in November? And I remember when I interviewed you, you said that things would basically stabilize after December. Do we still need to write about it now?"

"Can I write this?"

Zhong Beihai's tone also seemed somewhat hesitant.

"It's possible, Director Zhong. Is there a problem? This kind of news needs to have a reason. If it's released rashly, not to mention the readers' reaction, it might not even pass the internal review. We have three levels of review for releasing news: editor, director, and editorial board. If it gets blocked at any one of these levels, the news can't be released."

Although he had only met him once, based on his understanding of Director Zhong, he was certain that the other party's phone call was not unfounded.

There must be a reason.

But Zhong Beihai didn't say that; he only said:

"Well... never mind, forget I asked. Reporter Li, you can go ahead with your work."

"Uh... okay."

Doodle.

The phone hangs up.

Li Mu was a little puzzled. After thinking for a moment, he dialed Zhang Wei's number.

"Beep beep... Hey, Xiao Li, what's up?"

"Sister Weiwei, Director Zhong just called me..."

After explaining the general situation, he continued:

"Is there something wrong at our hospital?"

"Huh? No."

Zhang Wei's voice was also full of confusion. You see, she was in an administrative position; while she couldn't treat patients, she was at least a medical graduate. If anything happened, even if she wasn't on the scene, being in the same hospital, the news would reach her immediately.

But she genuinely didn't know; she wasn't hiding it from Li Mu.

Nothing much has happened these past few days.

"Should I ask around for you?"

"Uh...no thanks."

Li Mu thought for a moment and checked the time.

It's already past 3 p.m.

"I'll go there tomorrow. I guess Director Zhong probably feels that it's hard to explain over the phone."

"That's fine, but remember to take precautions. Since he called you, it means that precautions are very important."

"I understand."

"Okay, I'm hanging up."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Li Mu scratched his head.

Although he didn't know what was going on, his intuition as a reporter told him that the other party definitely didn't make this call casually.

This matter... is definitely newsworthy.

With this in mind, on the morning of the 13th, he left his workplace and went straight to the First Affiliated Hospital.

He didn't call Guan Yi until he reached the ward building, telling him that he had come to visit Director Zhong.

A few minutes later, Li Mu saw Guan Yi wearing an N95 mask.

"Brother Guan."

He greeted him with a smile, then reached out to shake hands, but Guan Yi inexplicably waved his hand away:

"No need to shake hands anymore, I just came from the ward. Come on, Reporter Li, your teacher is waiting for you."

"it is good."

Just as Li Mu was about to follow them inside, he heard Guan Yi say:

"Mask. Do you have an N95? Wear it."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu was taken aback, then quickly rummaged through the car to find the box of masks, took one out, and put it on his face.

But I started to have doubts.

Last time I saw this guy wearing an N95 mask, he said N95s were too expensive. Actually, under normal circumstances, medical masks are enough to block particles and viruses. But this time… he's wearing one too?

Is it...

"!"

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

His body's instincts made him somewhat resistant, and he suddenly didn't want to go.

But the next second, the paused steps resumed normally.

He is a journalist, an information anchor for this era.

They bear the responsibility of providing readers with the most useful information every day.

This little difficulty... is it comparable to 9/11?

What's there to be afraid of!

Doctors are on the front lines, why should I back down?

With that in mind, he followed Guan Yi into the building without hesitation.

However, as he walked, he took out his phone and sent a message to Xiaomi:

"Xiaomi, go buy some N95 masks, buy several boxes, and see if there are any children's masks. Send them to your sister's house. Ask your sister for the money later, I'm telling you."

After sending the message, he put away his phone, pinched the bridge of his nose to make sure his mask was on properly, and then followed Guan Yi into the elevator.

When Zhong Beihai was seen again, he was washing his hands at the small sink in his office.

"Director Zhong."

Li Mu greeted him with a smile, while Zhong Beihai, who wasn't wearing a mask and had a horizontal indentation on his nose, nodded upon seeing him.

"Sit down, let me wash my hands first."

At first, Li Mu didn't take it seriously, but when he sat in his office chair and saw Zhong Beihai facing him sideways, constantly washing his fingers, palms, backs of hands, and even wrists and arms with hand sanitizer, he wondered why he had to be so meticulous.

What kind of germophobia does Director Chung have?

Indeed, he washed his hands for a long time, then, in a gesture as if he were holding his hands upright, sat down opposite Li Mu, grabbed his thermos, and drank more than half of it in one gulp before looking at Li Mu:

"Why did Reporter Li suddenly come over?"

"Ha, Director Zhong, I just wanted to come and find out what's going on. After all, it might not have been convenient to talk about it over the phone yesterday."

Zhong Beihai was not surprised to hear Li Mu's words.

He simply nodded slightly, indicating that it was indeed inconvenient to discuss over the phone.

Then, he fell into deep thought.

This made Li Mu even more puzzled. What exactly was going on?

After a moment of silence, he suddenly said:

"Reporter Li, this isn't an interview today, right? And it won't be published?"

Li Mu was taken aback, then slowly nodded:

"Yes, I've just come to pay a visit to Director Chung."

"Okay... I went on a business trip a while ago..."

……

Noon, 11:20.

"Brother Guan, no need to see me off, I'm leaving."

"Okay... Reporter Li, remember to wash your hands frequently and ventilate your home often. Especially your mask, it must never be reused. And remember how you take it off your face, throw it away immediately after taking it off, don't waste it."

"I understand."

Li Mu smiled and nodded, then drove away from the hospital.

But they didn't go far; instead, they went into the pharmacy next door.

When they came out again, they were carrying a plastic bag full of various alcohol-based disinfectants, including N95 masks.

After getting on the bus, he thought for a moment and then dialed Dong Huaiming's number.

"Hey, Xiao Li? Haha, what's up? You're treating me to dinner again?"

Upon hearing Dong Huaiming's words, Li Mu smiled and said:

"If we're going to eat, it'll be at night, Brother Da Ming. We can't eat now."

"Ha, I was thinking the same thing. What's up? Is there something you need?"

"...Brother Ming, is it a convenient time for you to talk now?"

"Hmm, wait a moment, I'll call you back in a bit."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Li Mu drove towards his workplace, but after only two blocks, the other party called again:

"Hey, Li, it's all over, go ahead and tell me."

"Brother Daming, nothing else, I'm at Sister Weiwei's hospital."

"……what?"

Dong Huaiming looked a little confused, thinking to himself, "Why did you go to my wife's workplace?"

Then Li Mu said:

"I came to visit Director Zhong this morning, and I just came out. I haven't met Sister Weiwei yet... It's like this, Brother Daming. Director Zhong called me yesterday..."

The Santana was parked on the side of the road. After Li Mu explained the situation, he squinted as he looked at the traffic outside the window.

"Brother Da Ming, I saw the case reports and heard the explanations this morning. Director Zhong's meaning is actually very simple: he hopes I can write a news article to remind everyone to take precautions... Well, let's think about it the other way around: why is it that in previous years the flu was basically over by this time, but now they still want me to write a news article? Right?"

"...Um, so?"

"So, what I mean is, Director Zhong is such a domestic expert, and he attaches great importance to this. I think... Sister Weiwei is pregnant after all, and she's having very strong morning sickness, so... maybe we should let her rest at home and come back when the situation becomes clearer."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Dong Huaiming asked:

"Xiao Li, did you make that call because of what Director Zhong said?"

"He didn't say, and even hesitated a bit, but prevention is always better than cure. I'm going to write another report on preventative measures for Brother Bie when I get back. Brother Daming, the key isn't this matter, but Sister Weiwei. I think... pregnant women are inherently delicate and need to be protected. Besides, she doesn't work on the front lines; she's in administration. Taking a leave of absence for a while isn't a big deal, right? Moreover, it's almost Chinese New Year, so taking leave in advance is reasonable. Otherwise... if we're going to make the worst-case scenario, and everyone is prohibited from taking leave, then even if Sister Weiwei gets her leave approved, won't she still face criticism? She won't be happy then."

"...Okay, I understand."

After a moment of silence, Dong Huaiming said:

"I'll think about it. Thanks, Xiao Li, this news is very timely."

"Ha, it's all just my speculation, but it's always better to be safe than sorry."

"Yes, I understand."

"Then I won't bother you any longer, Brother Daming. I'll hang up now... Oh right, Brother, you should also remember to prepare some disinfectant like alcohol."

"Okay, I understand."

After hanging up the phone, Li Mu opened a new bottle of alcohol gel, rubbed it on his hands, face, and even his phone, then tossed the sticky phone into the center console and drove towards his workplace.