Chapter 1: intelligence system
General Manager's Office, Tiansheng Group.
"Chen Su, you are a talented individual, and personally, I really hoped you could stay. However, this was a collective decision made by the company's board of directors, and it can no longer be changed."
Inside the office, a middle-aged man in his forties spoke with a face full of smiles.
"It's fine to fire me. I've been with the company for a full five years; the company must at least give me N+1 compensation."
Upon hearing the word 'compensation', the middle-aged man's smiling face immediately slumped. His intention was simply to "get rid of" Chen Su.
As for providing compensation, that was fundamentally impossible.
"Chen Su, you need to understand the company's difficulties."
Chen Su's expression remained calm. "Then who is going to understand my difficulties? I don't care—either give me N+1, or just fire me directly."
"Chen Su, don't refuse a polite offer only to be forced into a harsh one." The middle-aged man slammed his hand heavily on the desk.
Chen Su ignored him and turned to leave.
Chen Su wasn't surprised at all that this layoff fell on him. He had been blocking the path to easy money for the General Manager, Liu Tianchuan, and his nephew, Liu Rong.
Originally, he was prepared to compromise and leave with the severance pay. Who would have thought that Liu Tianchuan would actually demand he resign voluntarily?
If this can be endured, what cannot?
Chen Su, who had always been conscientious and diligent, felt his temper flare up instantly.
He had just returned to his workstation.
A notice regarding Chen Su leaking company secrets to competitors was sent out to the email inboxes of all company employees.
At the same time the notice was sent, security personnel arrived at Chen Su's office and forcibly evicted him, throwing his belongings from his workstation onto the ground in front of the group building.
"Get lost already. Don't force us brothers to get rough. *Cough—ptui!*" The security captain, Xu Wenyuan, spat a thick glob of phlegm toward Chen Su before leaving.
Just like that, Chen Su was swept out the door. What was even more ruthless was that Liu Tianchuan used his connections to blacklist Chen Su within the industry.
The world is fickle, and human nature is cruel.
Chen Su couldn't believe that the company he usually treated almost like a home would treat him this way.
He also blamed himself for being too naive, failing to keep a paper trail while doing his work.
This was why Liu Tianchuan and his lot dared to be so unscrupulous.
Picking up his things from the ground, Chen Su walked silently toward the bus station.
Just then, Chen Su's phone rang.
The caller ID showed Xu Jing, Chen Su's girlfriend.
Seeing the caller, Chen Su's gaze softened instantly.
Xu Jing was Chen Su's fellow alumna. They had gotten together after graduating from university, and it was now their fifth year. Chen Su had originally planned to go to Xu Jing's home at the end of the year to propose marriage.
"Hello, Xiao Jing."
"Chen Su, let's break up."
"Xiao Jing, what's wrong? Did something big happen?"
"Chen Su, it's been five years. A full five years. I don't see any hope in you. Don't think I don't know you were fired and blacklisted from the industry. Tell me, how are you going to support me in the future?"
"Xiao Jing, believe me, I can definitely give you a good life." Chen Su pleaded.
"Fine, that's enough. I'm informing you, not asking for your opinion. I've already moved my things out. That crappy rental room—whoever wants to live there with you can stay. Goodbye, and don't ever contact me again!!"
"Fuck!"
Chen Su slammed the things in his hands heavily onto the ground.
He usually held Xu Jing in the palm of his hand, terrified she might suffer even a bit of grievance. Out of his 15,000 yuan monthly salary, he gave her 14,000.
In the end, this was the result.
To think he was still feeling smug about having a girlfriend like Xu Jing, occasionally bragging about her to his close friends.
Indeed, sincerity cannot be traded for sincerity.
"To hell with it!" Chen Su gave a heavy kick to the things he had thrown on the ground.
At this moment, he was utterly disheartened... After returning to the rental apartment and looking at the empty room, Chen Su only felt a sense of irony.
*Ding!*
"Your a Chinese online payment platform repayment deadline is approaching. Please make your payment promptly within the specified period."
He checked his a Chinese online payment platform bill; it was a full 50,000 yuan.
It was all from Xu Jing's usual online shopping.
*Ding!*
"Your a Chinese online payment platform repayment deadline is approaching. Please make your payment promptly within the specified period."
Checking the a Chinese online payment platform bill, it was another 40,000 yuan.
Truly, someone who doesn't love you will not only leave you heartlessly but will also silently leave you with a mountain of debt before going.
To hell with this dog-shit world.
Chen Su raised the water cup in his hand high, and just as he was about to smash it down...
He seemed to think of something and silently put it back down.
He was currently dirt poor—no job, no savings, and a mountain of debt.
He couldn't afford to be impulsive, he couldn't afford to be impulsive.
He sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
*Ding-ding~*
The sudden sound of a message notification pulled his thoughts back.
He tapped his phone to look; it was a message from Huang Da, an old elementary school classmate from his hometown whom he hadn't contacted in ages.
"Suer, what are you up to?"
"Rotting away, waiting to die."
Huang Da quickly sent another message.
"Look at what you're saying. Your brother here is getting married on the 10th of next month. Remember to come back for the feast if you're free."
Chen Su opened his mobile wallet and checked the balance.
"812.41"
Enduring the pain, he sent 400 yuan to Huang Da.
"Sure, I'll definitely go back if I'm free. Congratulations!"
"Great, waiting for you to come back!"
'Transfer has been accepted.'
Chen Su casually changed Huang Da's nickname to 'Huang Da 400'.
Setting his phone aside, Chen Su turned on the TV.
Chen Su had no heart to listen to what was being said on the television.
He simply felt that having the TV on made the room feel a bit more alive and warmer.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes to rest, and forced himself to calm down.
*Ding-ding~*
Chen Su opened his eyes and picked up his phone, about to see who had sent a message this time.
Suddenly, a light screen appeared before his eyes.
[Daily intelligence system Activated]
[System Level: LV1 (Pushes one piece of intelligence to the Host daily)]
[Would the Host like to obtain the intelligence now?]
Chen Su froze on the spot.
"What? Daily intelligence system?"
"What the hell is going on today?"
He casually tapped 'Obtain' on the light screen.
[Today's Intelligence [D-Rank]: The third slot machine from the left in the Shimei Dale Arcade will malfunction at 3:30 PM today, resulting in an infinite coin jackpot.]
[Time remaining until next intelligence refresh: 11:29:29]
Chen Su instinctively rubbed his eyes, feeling it was untrustworthy.
He then gave himself a hard slap.
The stinging pain made him gasp.
The light screen was still there; it seemed this ghost of a system was real.
He checked the time on his phone: 13:30.
Even though it was somewhat inconceivable.
Thinking of his current situation, Chen Su gritted his teeth and decided to believe it for once.
Grabbing his phone, he hurried downstairs.
He caught the bus to Shimei.
By the time he reached the Dale Arcade, it was already 3:15 PM.
After exchanging fifty 1-yuan coins at the front desk, Chen Su went straight to the third slot machine on the left.
He put in 10 coins.
He clicked the button.
"Biu~ biu~ biu~ biu~"