Chapter 175
Chapter 175
“Ahem. Everyone, find a seat. Let’s begin the meeting.”
As an elite-looking man entered the conference room, the discussions immediately died away.
Cheng Miao noticed that King had completely immersed herself in her role. Holding a stack of documents, she stood alluringly beside the man in high heels.
“As you all know, Endeavor Technology Co., Ltd. is the largest and most successful company in Qing’an City. None of this would be possible without the hard work of every employee.”
“We previously distributed a survey asking for your suggestions on the company’s development. Today, we will fulfill everyone’s wishes and make the appropriate adjustments to company operations.”
“The general consensus was that working hours were too short and rest periods too long, preventing everyone from contributing more to the company. After comprehensive consideration, we have decided to adjust the previous schedule of working from 7:00 a.m. to noon, then from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.”
“Under the latest company regulations, work will still begin at 7:00 a.m. There will be no lunch break, and everyone should fit meals around their work. The workday will end at midnight.”
Cheng Miao’s hand slipped where it rested on the table, and she nearly struck the tabletop.
Fortunately, Qiudong silently placed a hand over the edge of the table and stopped Cheng Miao’s hand.
An uproar rose from the crowd, and Cheng Miao saw everyone’s brows draw tight.
She kept the hint firmly in mind. She prepared to follow everyone else’s reaction and even considered standing to protest.
Then she saw her section chief rise first.
“Chairman, as you can see, none of us are satisfied with this new policy. Let our Secretary Section speak first.”
“We still believe the rest periods are too long.”
Cheng Miao stared in disbelief.
She turned her head woodenly and found the other players equally dumbfounded. What kind of hellish place had they entered?
Qin Xi continued, “The company is already extremely humane. Every employee receives a private dorm room, and we already rest one day each month. That is incredibly luxurious. How can we possibly take another six hours of rest every day?”
The balding man on the other side rose. It was Liang Zheng, who had brought Cheng Miao and the others out of the Confinement Room. He nodded his sparse-haired head.
“I agree with Section Chief Qin. We don’t need such long rest periods. As you said, the company is at a crucial stage of development. This is no time for us to rest and grow lazy.”
He turned to look at the employees in his section. Following everyone’s gazes, Cheng Miao quickly identified An Xin as Yan Yang’s companion in Human Resources.
The old man and young woman both looked somewhat dumbfounded now.
Liang Zheng spoke with solemn sincerity. “The Human Resources Section requests that daily rest be reduced to five hours!”
Just as Lin Zhu nearly choked on his saliva, the Director of the General Office stood as well. Tugging Lin Zhu, Qi Jiajia, Tang Shouren, and the other employees with him, he declared, “The General Office hopes to rest four hours a day and half a day each month!”
Voices rose one after another in a noisy clamor, making Cheng Miao’s head throb.
Lin Zhu, Qi Jiajia, and the young woman following Elder Yan, An Xin, had received a brutal lesson from society before they even started work.
Qi Jiajia, Lin Zhu, and An Xin all thought, Is this the world of adults? It’s terrifying.
Just as the instance’s warped values left Cheng Miao seeing stars, her phone vibrated.
She picked it up and saw a message from Linda.
Linda: What’s going on between you and Qiudong? I thought you two really had the nerve to start an office romance. But you haven’t even gotten together yet, so how did you end up in the Confinement Room?
Cheng Miao thought, So that’s my assigned character.
After some consideration, she cautiously typed a reply: Don’t make things up. We’re not together. I don’t know why we were sent to the Confinement Room either.
Linda: You were already sitting together, and you still claim nothing is going on? Hehehe. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it secret.
Linda: By the way, why are you so listless today? Aren’t you usually the most impassioned one here? When you heard we would still get six hours of rest, why didn’t you jump onto the table and demand no rest at all? Did the detention make you stupid?
Cheng Miao wept silently inside. She wanted a different script.
The corner of her mouth twitching, she typed, I’m gathering my emotions. Then Cheng Miao took a deep breath, forgot all about her social anxiety, and slapped the table as she stood beneath the other players’ bewildered gazes.
“Section Chief, I don’t think the Secretary Section needs any rest! Not a single day or month! One or two hours of sleep a day is enough for every one of us!”
Lin Haichao and Song Lei, the two players assigned to Sales with Qin Musong, turned in perfect unison to look at him. They said nothing, but their eyes conveyed everything.
Your companion…
Is something seriously wrong with her?
Qin Musong kept his expression unchanged. The Sales Director furtively leaned closer. “Old Qin, you’re our top salesperson. Shouldn’t you make a statement too?”
Confusion appeared in Qin Musong’s eyes. He had to speak as well?
But what else could he say? If he pushed any further, no one would survive. They might as well work themselves to death.
The director slapped Qin Musong’s shoulder, then sighed to Lin Haichao and Song Lei. “You should learn from Old Qin. He remains our number-one salesperson without needing extremely long hours. Not everything is achieved by piling on time.”
Qin Musong had decades of work experience. He immediately understood the implication and stood.
“I disagree with the other sections. I believe the chairman’s proposal is absolutely correct. Performance and ability aren’t produced simply by dragging out the hours. The Sales Section can guarantee that our results won’t decline even if working hours aren’t extended.”
His speech made the Sales Director nod repeatedly.
Watching two teammates suddenly square off and argue opposite positions, the slower-reacting Shen Si, Fan Rui, Kiki, Tang Ying, and the others were left numb by one shock after another.
Cheng Miao glanced back at Qin Musong, disdain on her face but laughter in her eyes.
One look was enough. They had both suffered at the hands of their damned assigned characters.
Tang Shouren sat with the General Office group and narrowed his eyes at the impassioned crowd. He still did not understand what “get into character” meant.
Were Cheng Miao and Qin Musong not interpreting it too simply?
He rubbed his chin and turned his gaze to Kiki, who sat nearby.
Although Kiki was also confused, her naturally gloomy appearance kept the people around her at a distance.
Tang Shouren leaned over, and Kiki hurried closer.
“Doctor Tang, what is this instance about?”
Tang Shouren looked at Kiki, his gaze gentle. “I think their approach is wrong.”
Kiki, who could not understand what Cheng Miao and the others were doing, breathed a sigh of relief. “Right? I think it’s wrong too. Also, I haven’t been able to find Monkey anywhere.”
Tang Shouren had noticed that long ago. But this instance was too bizarre, and he could barely protect himself. He had no attention to spare on where someone else might have gone.
“He’s fine. Don’t worry.” After reassuring Kiki with two sentences, Tang Shouren narrowed his eyes. “Kiki, Brother Tang needs you to do me a favor.”