A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

(There was a date bug at the end of the previous chapter, which has now been fixed.)

"Brother Kuan, the interview is over."

Sui Kuan, who was leaning against the car smoking, nodded after hearing Qian Jun's words.

"Hmm, what did you say?"

"The vast majority of students said they were not prepared, after all, classes have been suspended for so long, but the college entrance examination is not postponed... I could tell the students didn't look too good. But the questions didn't seem too difficult."

"What about the feedback from parents?"

"We've finished asking around, and several parents have directly stated that they want their children to repeat a grade, complaining that it wasn't postponed this year..."

"No interviews with complaints whatsoever."

"Understood."

With Qian Jun nodding, Sui Kuan checked the time and, seeing that it was almost time, said:

"Let's go."

"OK."

Qian Jun quickly got into the car, but after Sui Kuan drove for a while, he realized that this wasn't the way to work, and asked in confusion:

"Brother Kuan, where are we going?"

"First Hospital, pick up Li Mu."

"Well……"

Qian Jun paused for a moment, then subconsciously took out a new mask from his bag.

Upon seeing this, Sui Kuan frowned:

"It's already been cleared and the infection has been lifted, why are you being so dramatic?"

Qian Jun's hand froze, and he awkwardly put down the mask.

After a few seconds of silence, his tone became more ingratiating as he praised her:

"Brother Mu is really dedicated. He managed to keep an eye on everything by himself the whole time. I really admire him. He was the first to debunk the myth that Banlangen (Isatis root) is useless, the first to stand up and support Director Zhong in saying that it was a virus and not chlamydia, and the first to dare to go into the ICU to film those critically ill patients... He's a real hero, he really puts his life and death aside."

Sui Kuan ignored him.

They even thought Qian Jun was talking nonsense.

If you truly admired him, why didn't you offer to share the burden with Li Mu back then?

At the worst point, when Li Mu was overseeing two hospitals by himself, besides me, who among you stepped forward?

Should I praise him at this time?

Do you think you're being pretentious?

Seeing that he remained silent, Qian Jun didn't say anything more.

And so, the car drove all the way to the vicinity of the hospital and stopped in front of a gym.

Qian Jun was a little curious. Wasn't he going to the First Affiliated Hospital?

But Sui Kuan didn't say anything, and instead dialed Li Mu's number directly.

The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

He made another call, but no one answered, so he got out of the car and walked into the gym.

Qian Jun quickly followed.

When they arrived at the gym, Sui Kuan looked around and found that although the gym was large, there were hardly any people there.

Seeing this, he walked towards the changing room with practiced ease.

Upon entering, the steam from the shower, mixed with a slight masculine odor, wafted towards me.

"Li Mu?"

"Huh? Eh?"

Suddenly, the sound of water stopped. Qian Jun looked in the direction of the sound and saw a glass door in the shower area open, and a naked man walked out casually.

"..."

His lips twitched suddenly.

Beneath his wet hair are visually broad shoulders, bulging pectoral muscles, and well-defined abdominal muscles... He's a muscular man with very nice lines and shape.

This change is too drastic.

How did you achieve this level in just six months?

With a figure like that, which girl wouldn't be mesmerized?

Not to mention girls, men like it too!

Just as he was pondering this, Li Muchong and his companion nodded and walked over:

"Is the interview finished?"

"Um."

Sui Kuan was used to the intimidating feeling emanating from Li Muna's physique, since the two often met.

Only he knew why Li Mu had changed so much in the past six months.

To put it bluntly... it's caused by stress.

For the past six months, he's been dealing with life and death every day. Not only was Li Mu under immense pressure, but he himself was too. The difference was that Li Mu chose exercise to cope with the pressure, using extreme physical training and a disciplined diet, while he chose binge eating…

And look, she's already over 200 pounds.

"Wait a moment."

After quickly wiping himself with a towel in front of the wardrobe, Qian Jun noticed Li Mu picking up the training clothes that were on the vanity.

With a twist of the hand... water droplets started to fall out with a splash.

Goodness, how much sweat did he produce?

After wringing out all the sweat from his training clothes, Li Mu started getting dressed.

A simple vest and shorts, and the shoes were changed from sneakers to flip-flops.

At first glance, it looks casual, but the vest paired with his still-engorged muscles creates a sharp and striking aesthetic.

Finally, Li Mu took out a gym bag, pulled out a cup filled with protein powder, gulped it all down in one go, and said:

"Let's go."

When he reached Sui Kuan's side, he patted the other man's stomach:

"When are you going to start dieting with me? Feng Yuan has been nagging you for ages, hasn't she?"

"...I'll decide how much to reduce myself."

Sui Kuan was a little embarrassed, but Li Mu just rolled his eyes and said nothing more. The three of them left the gym together.

Fatty Sui drove, Li Mu sat in the passenger seat, and Qian Jun chased after them.

In the car, perhaps feeling the silence was too heavy, Qian Jun took the initiative to speak:

"Brother Mu, a lot of people at work are saying they're going to nominate you for the May Fourth Youth Medal. They're even saying you might get the provincial award this year."

"Hmm, is that so?"

Li Mu's gaze remained calm as he nodded slightly.

Then there was no response.

Qian Jun thought for a moment, then asked again:

"Brother Mu, have you applied for the Fan Changjiang Award and the Zou Taofen Award yet?"

"Well……"

Qian Jun was referring to the two highest awards in the journalism profession, besides the National Journalism Award.

But he shook his head:

"I can't apply."

Both awards require more than ten years of work experience, which is a requirement for seniority.

That's such a pity.

"Um."

Li Mu responded with a sound, then fell silent again.

Just then, his phone rang.

After glancing at the caller ID, he quickly answered the call:

"Hey, Brother Guan."

Guan Yi's tone was relaxed:

"Xiao Li, what are you doing?"

"Just finished exercising and need to go back to the office. What's up?"

"You've already left?"

"Yes, they just left, not far. Is there something you need? Should I turn back?"

"No need for that. My teacher just said there's an awards ceremony in the province tomorrow for medical workers. Are you free? If you come for an interview, I'll arrange for you to interview all the other professors and experts you didn't get to last time."

"Haha, sure. What time tomorrow?"

"I estimate the awards ceremony will be over by 11 o'clock. I'll send you the time and location in a bit."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

"Um."

After hanging up the phone, he turned to Sui Kuan and said:

"Why don't you come with me tomorrow? There's an awards ceremony in the province, and Director Zhong and the other experts will be there."

"Okay."

Sui Kuan responded.

Meanwhile, Qian Jun waited anxiously for Li Mu to speak... or rather, for him to be included.

After three to five seconds, Li Mu finally turned his head:

"Where's Qian Jun? Is he free tomorrow?"

"Yes, Brother Mu, I have some."

"Okay, let's do it together tomorrow."

"Thank you, Brother Mu."

"Yes, it's nothing."

Sui Kuan glanced at Li Mu but didn't say anything.

After Santana quietly returned to the company, Qian Jun got out of the car.

It was already past five o'clock, and many people had already left work.

"Work overtime to finish the article and submit it to the editor on duty."

"Understood, Brother Kuan."

"Um."

Sui Kuan waved his hand, drove off with Li Mu in tow.

Qian Jun didn't dare to delay. The post-exam interview article would definitely be published tomorrow, so he had to write it quickly tonight, as the newspaper had already reserved space for it.

……

Why did you drag him along?

As soon as the car drove out of the company, Sui Kuan complained.

Li Mu looked at the traffic ahead indifferently and said:

"Since we've run into each other, let's go together. It's just a matter of filling in a name, and besides, with him around, we won't have to write any more articles."

"Wasn't it back when he was avoiding you?"

"Ha, that's all in the past, why bring it up?"

"You're so magnanimous, aren't you?"

Faced with his friend's complaints, Li Mu didn't seem to care, and instead yawned:

"Ha... um."

He was a little tired, but he couldn't sleep right now because the two of them had to go to a banquet.

Brother Bie called the two of them to go eat.

"By the way, what happened with the holiday? Now that the ban has been lifted and the numbers are zero, will there be any compensation?"

"I think it's going to be difficult. After the zero-COVID policy was implemented, Li Wei and the others inquired, but the newspaper still hasn't given any concrete information. It's already June, how can we make up for it?"

"Tsk tsk, so that means you haven't spent Chinese New Year at home for two years?"

"That's why I'm suffering! Feng Yuan is still pressuring me to get married..."

"..."

Hearing this, Li Mu rolled his eyes speechlessly:

"What? Don't you want to marry me?"

"I want to, but the problem is she keeps urging me to go to Beijing. I can buy a 100-square-meter apartment here, but over there I can only afford a few dozen square meters. Damn it, the housing prices in Beijing are too expensive!"

"Brother, you're looking at the East District, it's bound to be expensive. Why don't you look in the suburbs? The East District is almost 10,000, but the other districts are only 6,000 or 7,000."

"That's expensive! Besides, if I buy a house there, what will I do about my job? She can't come with me..."

Sui Kuan complained somewhat.

After more than a year of getting to know each other, their relationship had reached the point where they were ready to get married.

There was no way around it; Feng Yuan was three years older than him, already 28 this year. If they didn't get married soon... they'd really be approaching 30.

Li Mu didn't respond to those words.

He couldn't say that you might be transferred to Yanjing after a while.

Even if you told someone something like this, nobody would believe you.

So he could only shake his head, indicating that he couldn't help.

Amidst these complaints, the car soon arrived at the entrance of a restaurant.

After getting out of the car, the two went straight inside.

Soon after arriving at the private room, I pushed open the door and saw Bieyan holding a phone.

Upon seeing the two enter, Bie Yan didn't greet them, but instead held up the phone and said:

"It's okay, don't be nervous. Dad and Mom have already talked to each other and will accompany you during the exam in a couple of days. Let's just relax... Besides, you yourself said the questions from the Yanjing exam weren't difficult. Just stay calm... Oh, don't cry."

Upon hearing his words, the two, both of whom had gone through the middle school and college entrance exams, exchanged a glance.

Sui Kuan was speechless for a moment, his eyes conveying the same message: It's just the high school entrance exam, what's so difficult about it?

Li Mu shrugged.

Yeah, it's just the high school entrance exam, right?

What's so difficult about it?

But after trying to coax her for a while, Bie Yan finally hung up the phone in frustration.

"well……"

The older brother let out a long sigh, and then said:

"It seems we have no choice but to go to Yanjing."

Li Mu's ears twitched.

Ok?