A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

When Li Mu got home, it was already past 9 o'clock.

Over the past six months, there have been some changes at home. Nothing much else has changed, except for a few more sets of dumbbells. But on the sofa, there are now many colorful yoga pants with the labels still on them.

He checked the time and sent a message to his girlfriend:

"Are you done with your work?"

Fan Bingbing did not reply.

"well……"

Li Mu couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

My thoughts were a bit complicated, but I still added one more sentence:

"Call me when you're done. I need to talk to you about something."

Then she went back into the bathroom to take a shower.

As soon as he came out, he heard the phone ringing, so he quickly went to the bedside and picked it up:

"Feed".

"Phew... I'm so tired."

Fan Bingbing's extremely tired voice came from the other end of the phone.

Hearing this, Li Mu asked while wiping himself off:

"Is it in the car? Or at the hotel?"

"In the car. What's wrong? I'm so tired right now that I have a headache and want to sleep. I got up at 3 a.m. to have a meeting with my sister-in-law, which lasted until 4:30 a.m. before I went back to sleep. But I got up at 8 a.m. and I've been like this ever since... My head hurts so much."

Subtext: Speak quickly, you can't hold on any longer.

"Then you should rest for a while. Call me again when you get back to the hotel and start your skincare routine."

"Okay. Oh right, did you receive the things I mailed to you?"

"What?"

"My dad made you shrimp paste. It's made with salt. If you think boiled vegetables are bland, you can dip them in it. Take it quickly, it's hot, don't let it smell bad."

"Okay. See you in a bit."

"Okay, I'm going to sleep for a while."

The call ended abruptly, and Li Mu went downstairs.

We quickly found a styrofoam box at the gatekeeper's place. As soon as we opened it, a stench filled the air.

For a moment, Li Mu couldn't tell if it was spoiled or if it was just supposed to taste like that.

After holding my nose and carrying it home, I stuffed it directly into the refrigerator.

Goodness, this smells really strong.

After washing the smell off his hands, he randomly picked out a copy of "And Quiet Flows the Don" from his stack of books and went back to bed.

The more I watch, the sleepier I get.

In the end, I unknowingly fell asleep.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he was awakened by a phone call.

After glancing at the caller ID, she paused for a moment, then remembered that they had agreed to call each other, so she quickly answered the call.

"Feed".

Are you asleep?

"Uh... yeah. Are you feeling better?"

"I'm alright, I just took a shower and I feel a bit more refreshed now. I've been losing hair lately... clumps of it falling out. It's driving me crazy!"

"Is the pressure of making the movie 'Cellphone' really that great?"

Li Mu asked.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly.

I thought to myself, "Damn it, I've taken so many precautions, but I still couldn't prevent it."

"Cellphone" is the name of the movie my girlfriend is currently filming.

Filming for this show started in March and has continued until now.

And it really was a coincidence. Li Mu thought that the movie called "A World Without Thieves" was the real "Cellphone," but it wasn't.

That film was shelved by Huayi Brothers.

According to his girlfriend, the protagonist of the script was a thief who was eventually brought to justice, but the subject matter was still somewhat sensitive and it hadn't been approved. However, Huayi Brothers couldn't go a whole year without releasing any new works, so this script came into being.

During the filming of "A World Without Thieves," Fan Bingbing explicitly withdrew from the competition for the female lead role, giving it to Li Bingbing. Although the script was shelved, Li Bingbing was quite considerate.

In return for her kindness, she didn't even touch the script for "Cellphone".

Huayi Brothers, upon seeing this, thought, "Fine, then you two can each make one."

So the script was sent directly to Fan Bingbing.

Furthermore, the script was in preparation from the end of the year, with the plan to film it at the beginning of the year. Li Mu was busiest during the entire month of February, from the end of the year to the beginning of the year.

Not only are they busy, but the pressure they face every day is unimaginable for most people.

Fan Bingbing couldn't come, and Li Mu wouldn't let her come either. But fortunately, the two of them were no strangers to long-distance relationships.

And... although her boyfriend was still stammering, through her attention to detail and the articles he started posting, she keenly sensed that he had gone to the front lines.

Suddenly, she felt a lot of psychological pressure.

But ironically, she was very sensible and didn't say anything like "I don't want you to go" or "Don't go."

All she could do was offer her boyfriend a little comfort through her gentle words over the phone when he was tired.

But at the same time, she was also under a lot of pressure.

Especially at the end of February, when she was receiving a lot of news from Guangdong every day, her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

Therefore, her choice was to join the production team.

I didn't tell my boyfriend that I was going to be filming or that I was under a lot of pressure. I just said to him in the most relaxed tone:

"I've taken on a film project and I'll be joining the crew next month, so don't worry about me. We're filming in the suburbs, and the production team has booked a hotel, so there won't be any problems."

Li Mu didn't think much about it at the time, and didn't even ask what story the film was about.

Anyway... she wouldn't even let Li Mu watch the works she acted in.

Finally, after the crew had started filming, Li Mu casually asked:

"How long will it take to film?"

Fan Bingbing replied:

"It might take two or three months; Director Feng's filming pace isn't too fast."

When Li Mu heard the name "Director Feng," he realized something was wrong.

However, what's done is done.

Pressure, busyness, mutual understanding and tenderness... all these things eventually became a drama that no one could escape.

Li Mu was truly speechless.

But the contract has already been signed, so what can anyone say?

Hearing her boyfriend's words, Fan Bingbing's tone also sounded weary:

"Actually, there's not much pressure, but... you think about it, this film is full of big names, I have to show my attitude, so I'm on edge every day. But thankfully, filming will wrap up in a few days... can I come see you now?"

In the past six months, the two of them haven't seen each other even once.

The string of longing has indeed been stretched to its limit.

"Yes, you can come over once you're done. But you still need to take precautions when you're on the plane, okay?"

"Mmm...I miss you."

Her tone turned dejected again.

Instead of offering comfort, Li Mu said:

"Then let me tell you some good news?"

"What?"

"Brother Bie treated me to a meal today..."

After explaining the whole story, Xiao Fan was completely dumbfounded.

"What...what do you mean?! You...you're allowed to work here?!"

Her voice was trembling slightly at this moment.

She never imagined that the last barrier between her and her boyfriend would suddenly... disappear.

For a moment, I found it hard to accept.

In the past six months, although she had heard her mother say things like "Xiao Li said he would apply for a job transfer next year," as his girlfriend, she was confident that she knew just as much about the Southern Metropolis Daily as her boyfriend.

A job transfer?

How is that possible?

Although the Southern Metropolis Daily had a branch in Yanjing, that branch was purely for news purposes, and from a career planning perspective, it was the worst option.

If there's a real future for them, the highest-ranking official in this branch won't just be Wu Han, the editor-in-chief.

Therefore, being transferred to Yanjing is the worst option.

Even if Li Mu wanted to come, she wouldn't agree.

At worst, I can just move to Guangzhou to live. My boyfriend has a bright future ahead of him, how could I possibly hold him back?

But now...

"You're not lying to me?! You really aren't lying to me?! Let me tell you... if you're lying to me... may you be struck by lightning!"

"Haha~"

Li Mu couldn't help but laugh out loud, and the last bit of fatigue receded like the tide.

"I'm not lying to you, that's really what Brother Bie said."

"You...you really want to come with him? But he's right, this is a new company...what if it doesn't turn out well, what about your future?"

"So here's the question: which is more important, you or your future?"

"..."

One sentence left Fan Bingbing speechless.

What followed was a surge of emotion, almost like an emotional breakdown:

"Ugh...you're so annoying..."

"Hey, hey, don't cry."

"Waaah, I miss you so much... I haven't seen you for half a year... Waaah... Before, you were in the hospital every day, and I was so worried about you, but I didn't dare to ask you anything, afraid of causing you trouble... Waaah..."

Once the tears started, they couldn't be stopped.

All Li Mu could do at that moment was to let her vent her emotions.

Fortunately, the crying didn't last long before it turned into sobbing.

"You...you really aren't lying to me?"

May I be struck by lightning if I'm lying.

Li Mu said with a smile:

"Brother Bie said it will definitely be established this year, so... don't worry, no matter what, I will come... you won't have to work so hard anymore."

And so, through the telephone line, he personally whispered an incredibly bright future into her ear.

The two chatted until after midnight, dreaming about their future together.

We talked about many things, from the plans for the new newspaper to spending more time together, until finally, there was no further news from Xiao Fan.

I don't know when, but she had fallen asleep with her face pressed against the phone.

The even breath sprayed onto the microphone, causing Li Mu to hear bursts of static.

After calling out a few times tentatively, he hung up the phone.

Goodnight then.

Get some rest and sleep well. You can get back to work when you wake up tomorrow.

Everything is for that brighter future.