Chapter 26: Layoffs Hit a Major Artery

At the same time, in the open office area.

After Xu Yunzhou finished handing over his work, he calmly packed his personal belongings on his workstation.

Several colleagues who normally had a decent relationship with him gathered around, their faces written with concern and doubt:

"Yunzhou, what's going on? Did Witch Zhao cause trouble for you again?"

"I heard you're going to resign? Is it because of asking for leave yesterday..."

However, a few discordant discussions also came from the corner, full of schadenfreude and dark speculations:

"Tsk, offending Director Zhao, can he still have good fruit to eat? He must have been advised to resign by HR, right?"

"Serves him right, who asked him to always act so arrogant and ignore people."

Just as everyone was discussing spiritedly, Zhao Lili rushed over with a "clack clack clack" of her high heels, forcefully squeezing out a flattering smile uglier than crying on her face:

"Aiyo, Little Xu, look at you, how could you take it seriously?"

Zhao Lili's voice was so sickly sweet it caused panic,

"Sister was just joking with you earlier, testing your stress resistance! You child, why can't you take a joke? Hurry, put things down, we can discuss thinghs properly!"

This face-changing made the entire office area instantly quiet down. All the colleagues were dumbfounded, doubting if they were hallucinating.

Xu Yunzhou's hands didn't stop moving, and he didn't even raise his head, his tone indifferent:

"Don't, Director Zhao, I am narrow-minded and can't take a joke. Moreover, if a person like me stays, I'm afraid it would tarnish the company's... rich values of 'responsibility and fraternal love'."

He paused and added,

"Actually, even without today's scene, I planned to resign."

These words were like a boulder falling into water, stirring up a thousand ripples.

"Real or fake? Is he really resigning voluntarily?"

"Did he find a better next stop? BAT or TMD?"

(TL: "BAT or TMD" references iconic corporate acronyms used in the Chinese technology sector to classify industry giants. BAT stands for Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent [the legacy titans], while TMD represents the second-wave tech disruptors: Toutiao/ByteDance, Meituan, and Didi Chuxing.)

At this time, Fatty Wang, a programmer in his thirties with already thinning hair, stood out, carrying a bit of a "peacemaker" posture:

"Xu Yunzhou, that's enough, Sister Zhao has already given you a way out, quit while you're ahead, don't make everyone lose face."

Han Muxue, that female colleague from the planning department who always liked to curry favor with Zhao Lili, also chimed in eccentrically:

"Exactly, Xu Yunzhou, when has Sister Zhao ever given someone so much face? Don't be unappreciative when given face, enough is enough!"

Xu Yunzhou swept a cold glance at them. Just as he was about to speak, an even more unexpected figure appeared—General Manager Li Yuan actually ran over personally, panting heavily!

He grabbed the cardboard box Xu Yunzhou was about to lift up, his face piled with an unprecedented flattering smile, his tone almost humble:

"Brother Xu, what are you doing? We brothers have fought side by side for so many years, what misunderstanding can't we sit down and talk out properly? Is there a need to make a scene to this extent over a small matter?"

This scene made the jaws of all the spectating colleagues almost drop to the floor!

President Li actually called Xu Yunzhou "Brother Xu"? And even called himself "brother"?

Xu Yunzhou finally raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping past the pale-faced Zhao Lili and landing on Li Yuan, his tone still without much fluctuation:

"President Li, it's not a misunderstanding. It's mainly that your esteemed company's corporate culture, especially the values advocated by the HR department, I truly am not worthy to climb so high to reach."

Li Yuan instantly understood in seconds. Almost as a conditioned reflex, he abruptly turned around, pointed at Zhao Lili, his voice and expression fierce:

"Zhao Lili! From now on, you are fired! Immediately! Right now! Go to the finance department to settle your salary, then pack your things and get the hell out!"

Fatty Wang and Han Muxue, who had just jumped out to act as "objective bystanders," instantly turned pale as paper and froze in place.

After Li Yuan finished scolding, he immediately changed his face like magic, putting on a radiant smiling face. Facing Xu Yunzhou, he promised almost like swearing an oath:

"Brother Xu! I have already cleared out the black sheep! Are you satisfied with this handling? In addition, I will immediately apply for a salary increase for you! 30%! No! 50%!! As long as you are willing to stay, name any conditions! Shares, dividends, everything is negotiable!"

With this, the entire office completely exploded, the exclamations and discussions almost lifting the ceiling!

"My god! President Li fired Director Zhao in public?"

"50% salary increase? Then wouldn't the monthly salary be sixty thousand? Plus shares and dividends?!"

"What exactly is this Xu Yunzhou's background? Could he be the illegitimate son of some big shot at headquarters? Layoffs really hit a major artery?"

"Fatty Wang and Han Muxue are acting like dumbasses now, right? Flattered the horse's leg instead of its rump!"

Under the focus of the complex gazes of shock, envy, and jealousy from all his colleagues, Xu Yunzhou only gently but firmly pushed away Li Yuan's hand pressing on the cardboard box.

He steadily picked up that cardboard box holding his personal belongings.

He looked around at the crowd with various expressions, and a highly punchable, breezy smile appeared at the corners of his mouth:

"President Li, I appreciate the kind intentions. However..."

"As a person, I don't have any grand ambitions, I just don't want to... work with foolish idiots anymore."

After saying that, in the deathly silence, holding the cardboard box, he turned around gracefully, leaving everyone a back profile that deeply concealed his merits and fame.

Li Yuan watched helplessly as Xu Yunzhou's figure disappeared behind the elevator doors, his face turning red and white in alternating waves.

He abruptly turned around, almost stumbling as he rushed back to his office. With trembling hands, he grabbed the landline on the desk and dialed a number carved into his heart.

The call was connected almost instantly.

"Hello... is, is this President Song?"

Li Yuan's voice carried uncontrollable panic and humility,

"That... Xu Yunzhou, he... he resigned. I tried my best to keep him, offered all kinds of conditions, and even fired Zhao Lili on the spot, but he... his mind was set on leaving, and he couldn't be kept no matter what!"

From the other end of the phone came a woman's voice that sounded quite young, yet exceptionally cold and calm, without the slightest emotional fluctuation:

"Oh, got it. Fine then."

These three casually spoken words made Li Yuan's heart sink directly to the bottom of the valley.

That female voice continued:

"According to the previous agreement, settle one year's salary for him, not a penny less. In addition..."

She paused, her tone still flat,

"On our side, we are also preparing to start withdrawing capital. President Li, take care of yourselves."

"President Song! President Song! Can we not discuss this again? I'm begging you! Without this funding, the company is finished! Hello? Hello hello?!"

Listening to the busy tone coming from the phone, Li Yuan felt as if all his strength had been drained, collapsing into the expensive leather boss chair.

About half an hour later.

In the company's large group chat, which was originally buzzing with discussions because of Xu Yunzhou's resignation and Zhao Lili being fired, an officially worded notification personally issued by General Manager Li Yuan suddenly popped up:

"[Important Notice] Dear colleagues: We regret to inform everyone that due to the company encountering immense operational difficulties and a broken capital chain, following a board resolution, the company announces bankruptcy effective immediately and enters the final liquidation stage... Thank you for your continued dedication..."

This message was like a depth charge, instantly detonating the entire company completely!

"What?! Bankruptcy?!"

"What kind of international joke are you making?! Wasn't everything fine just now?"

"Yesterday we were still discussing new projects, and today we're directly going into bankruptcy liquidation?"

"Is it because Xu Yunzhou left? The company collapsed as soon as he left? What kind of fucking fantasy plot is this?!"

The company of nearly a hundred people fell into a chaos, panic, and unbelievable uproar.