He had been with this company for over four years and had been in decline for almost two, with less than three months left until the five-year contract term expired.
If it weren't for the terminal illness he had been diagnosed with, he would still be enduring the hardship at this company, waiting for the contract to reach the five-year mark. At the same time, it was also to be able to draw a monthly salary of three to four thousand.
Two years ago, as the deputy manager of the planning department, his salary was around seven to eight thousand, and he was on the verge of becoming a regular employee, with a monthly income exceeding ten thousand. However, after he was quickly marginalized, his salary kept decreasing. Even with perfect attendance, performance bonuses, and partial bonuses included, he was only making three to four thousand a month—not only had it been halved.
This was after Chen Feng had completely let himself go, and the new boss had lost interest in suppressing him; otherwise, his salary might have continued to decrease.
Because the perfect attendance bonus was nine hundred yuan, Chen Feng, although indifferent at work and lacking ambition, still had a very good attendance record—hardly ever late.
But by today, he had already been absent for two days, so naturally, there would be no perfect attendance bonus for the month.
Before his divorce, he might have cared deeply, but now, of course, he was indifferent.
Chen Feng had no plans to go to the company on this new day.
But that morning, while leisurely eating lamb noodle soup at home, he received a call from Manager Yan Jun.
"Chen Feng, do you not want to work anymore? You took one day off, and now it's been several days?"
Two years ago, Yan Jun was just his apprentice. After betraying his mentor and demonstrating a profound knack for sycophancy, he rose rapidly. First, he replaced him as the deputy manager of the planning department, and within just a year, he forced out the genuine manager and took his position.
From his personal experience, this guy was a real corporate elite. He belonged to those who smiled to your face but stabbed you in the back.
After his ascent two years ago, although he made things difficult for Chen Feng here and there, he eventually realized that Chen Feng, having given up, was no longer a threat and stopped targeting him deliberately. At most, during department meetings, he would give Chen Feng a hard time without naming names, criticizing him indirectly.
Therefore, despite holding a grudge against him, and having thought several times about confronting him after work to beat him up, deep down, Chen Feng couldn't help but admire the man's office tactics.
This time, Chen Feng had taken one day off, but then he didn't show up for work for three days.
As the department manager, Yan Jun was bound to call and inquire, though his tone was rather unpleasant.
Now as a man with his days numbered, Chen Feng's outlook had broadened considerably, and he only leisurely replied after Yan Jun finished speaking, "I don't want to work anymore."
"...You don't want to work? Fine, resign then. Just pay the liquidated damages of one hundred thousand, and that's that."
"Enough, Yan Jun. Why are you so annoying? Don't you have a conscience? When you first joined the company, who was it that took you under their wing? Who helped you rent an apartment? Who fronted you the rent?"
"...Chen Feng, what's the point of bringing this up now? It's you who's not coming to work, not me forcing you not to."
"If you care at all about past kindness, just consider it granting me three days off."
"You were given one day off, not three. Alright, alright. It's up to you whether you come or not. Anyway, since you haven't come to work for three days, you definitely won't get the full attendance bonus this month, and your performance bonus and other bonuses will be cut in half at the least. If you don't come for four consecutive days, then you won't get any performance bonus or other bonuses for the month at all. Don't blame me for not warning you in advance."
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng was displeased and said coldly, "Today is already the 17th. I had worked half of the month when I took that day off. Even if I don't come to work for the rest of the month, there's no reason to take away all of my performance bonus and other bonuses. Yan Jun, people should have a conscience. It's been two years, you're still targeting me; do you find that satisfying?"
"I have no need to target someone like you, an old salted fish. Anyway, it's the company's policy, I've notified you. If you skip work again, then you'll lose your performance bonus and other bonuses for the month, and that's that."
After saying that, Yan Jun hung up the phone.
Chen Feng, though not caring about the pay at this point, found Yan Jun's actions excessive.
He was a dying man and didn't want to stoop to his level, but this guy's stubbornness persisted, still addicted to bullying his mentor with another stunt, and so there was no need to be magnanimous any longer.
Before death, of course, one should settle scores and repay kindnesses, leaving no regrets behind.
With newfound determination, Chen Feng continued eating his lamb noodle soup. Once he had eaten his fill and belched contentedly, he leisurely cleaned up and drove to the company.
Dianchuang Culture Company was located in a high-end business office building in the center of Xiu Zhou City. Its primary business encompassed undertaking event planning and execution for large corporations, building corporate culture, performing arts activities, brand strategy, exhibitions, product launches, and so on.
Among its peers in Xiu Zhou City, it was one of the leading large companies. It had been established for over a decade, employed more than two hundred staff, and rented an entire floor of the office building for its office space, with annual rent nearing ten million. It could certainly be described as a company with deep pockets.
Nevertheless, as an employee of the company, Chen Feng had noticed, even in his last two indifferent years, that the company's performance had been on the decline. There had been whispers indicating that the top brass was dissatisfied with the current management.
There might be a leadership change, or even a direct sale of the company.
Chen Feng arrived at the company just before ten in the morning, skipping the time clock.
At the front desk stood two pretty girls in professional attire with lovely bow ties around their necks. When one of them, Huang Li, saw Chen Feng come in, she quickly asked with concern, "Brother Feng, why haven't we seen you at work these past few days?"
"I had some family matters," Chen Feng said with a smile, nodding his head without going into detail, and headed inside.
After Chen Feng had gone in, the other receptionist whispered teasingly, "Li Li, aren't you a bit too worried about him?"
Huang Li gave her a gentle slap and retorted coyly, "What are you saying? Brother Feng really helped me out once."
"Psh, wasn't it just that he happened to scare off a few punks for you? How many times have you told that story? Do you plan to offer yourself to him in gratitude? He's a married man, you know."
"Stop talking nonsense; I'm not," Huang Li defended with a blush.
Chen Feng quickly reached the planning department's office area and saw Yan Jun barking orders at a few subordinates. Chen Feng's presence was noted only by a glance before he was completely ignored.
Chen Feng smiled at this, walked over, and casually sat down on a chair amidst the odd looks from his department colleagues.
The planning department was the core of the company, with a total of 25 people. However, they were not always in the office, as they often needed to supervise and coordinate on-site at client companies.
Thus, the office was often only staffed by a few people, as was the case today.
"Alright, everyone get back to work."
After Yan Jun finished handing out tasks to his subordinates, they quickly returned to their cubicles.
Only then did Yan Jun truly turn to look at Chen Feng with a cold expression, saying, "Chen Feng, now you decide to come back? It's too late! You've lost your full attendance for the month, and your performance bonus will be halved."
Chen Feng stood up from his chair, his gaze suddenly sharp, and shouted angrily, "Yan Jun, it seems you really are heartless! When I was your mentor, I treated you well. You stabbed me in the back and stepped on me to climb up the ladder. I didn't fuss over it too much. My patience with you in the past doesn't mean I was afraid of you, nor does it mean I'll tolerate you forever. Absence might be a small matter, and I won't argue about losing my full attendance bonus, but to deduct all my performance and bonuses, don't you think that's too much?"
Yan Jun did not expect Chen Feng to erupt like this, publicly questioning him so loudly in front of their colleagues. It was akin to flipping the table and tearing off masks.
The things from the past he had done were unspeakable, and spreading the word would not only damage his personal reputation but could also affect how the company's leaders viewed him.
Once Chen Feng finished scolding, Yan Jun was caught off guard for a moment before he angrily retorted, "Chen Feng, who do you think you are? Still think you're the Deputy Manager of the planning department from two years ago? You simply started at the company a year before me, led me for a few months, and you damn well act like you're some great benefactor? Don't apply gold to your face."
"Even if I'm not your benefactor, I was your mentor! You used to lick my boots and shower me with compliments only to turn around and rat me out to the newly appointed Mr. Cao over a minor mistake I made at work, climbing up the ladder on my back. Isn't that the case? Are the ungrateful things you've done something I can't speak of?"
In the past, Chen Feng had endured because he wanted to stay at the company for the five-year contract, so he hadn't exposed Yan Jun's dirty deeds—otherwise, Yan Jun would definitely have made it hard for him endlessly.
But now Chen Feng was on the verge of death, and Yan Jun was being so extremely overbearing. What did Chen Feng have to worry about? It was time to take him down.
Yan Jun, being in the wrong, and with their loud quarrel potentially becoming known to the whole company, could only end with him, the department manager, losing face.
His complexion turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, moved close to Chen Feng, and threatened in a low voice, "Are you trying to play tough with me? I have plenty of ways to destroy you, believe it or not?"
Chen Feng responded with a slight smile and then suddenly slapped Yan Jun across the face.
Slap!
The sound was loud, the force significant, and Yan Jun was caught off guard by the slap, knocking him to the ground.
While Yan Jun's head was still buzzing, Chen Feng grabbed a keyboard from a nearby desk, yanked it out, and mercilessly began bashing it on his head.
One hit was enough to down Yan Jun flat on the floor.
Just as Yan Jun groaned, another blow smeared across his face. Keycaps scattered across the floor as blood spurted from his nose.
Chen Feng was about to continue, but colleagues from the same department finally snapped to their senses and rushed forward to hold him back.