Chapter 2: My Seat Is Occupied by a Massage Chair?
Su Xiaolan, as usual, rushed into the Li Group headquarters building in the elevator at 8:59:05 AM, executing a precise sliding tackle, and successfully swiped her employee card at 8:59:59. Perfect! Another successful punctuality day!
Humming a tuneless song, she cheerfully walked towards the open office area on the top floor where the CEO's office was located. She had stayed up late watching dramas last night and was still a bit sleepy, but it didn't matter. Her small cubicle, though simple, was perfectly adequate for a short nap...or so she thought.
However, as she rounded the last corner, her eyes fell upon her workstation—
"Phoo!" Su Xiaolan almost choked on her own saliva, her feet rooted to the spot, and her eyes wide open like copper bells.
Her simple workstation, which previously held only a computer, a file cabinet, and a few pens, was now occupied by a huge, silver-gray, sleek ergonomic massage chair—majestic, dominating!
The massage chair seemed incredibly expensive, brimming with futuristic high-tech design, starkly contrasting with the standard office chairs around it. It stood there like a spaceship that had descended from the sky, radiating an air of "I'm expensive, come lie on me."
The entire office was silent.
All the colleagues who had arrived earlier, whether holding coffee cups, turning on their computers, or pretending to organize files, froze. Dozens of gazes converged on her... and the overly conspicuous massage chair on her workstation. Those gazes were filled with shock, bewilderment, curiosity, and a strong sense of "what in the world is happening here?"
Su Xiaolan felt a jolt of apprehension. She stiffly turned her neck and looked at Lin Xiaomei, who was looking utterly distressed at her cubicle next door, whispering, "Xiaomei姐...this...this is...? A new prank game? Or...a company-wide benefit package?" The last part she didn't quite believe. Which company would give a first-line assistant a high-end massage chair as a benefit?
Lin Xiaomei took a deep breath, leaned closer, and whispered with a tone of "I have seen it all," "Xiaolan...tell me honestly, did you...did you save Mr. Li's life? Or...are you Mr. Li's long-lost sister?"
"I swear I didn't!" Su Xiaolan almost cried, "I haven't even spoken to Mr. Li more than three sentences!" She scrambled to her "new throne," flustered, "This...this who put this here? Is it misplaced?"
Just then, Secretary Wang Jing, in high heels, walked over with a slightly hurried pace. Her expression was somewhat complex; her gaze on Su Xiaolan held an indescribable… awe? And a touch of sympathy?
"Su Assistant, good morning." Wang Jing's voice strove to remain calm.
"Good morning, Secretary Wang!" Su Xiaolan, grasping at straws, said, "This...this massage chair...was it misplaced? I...I don't have enough space for such a large…" she gestured to her cramped cubicle.
Wang Jing adjusted her glasses, her eyes behind the lenses flickered, and then she spoke in a tone that was as solemn (and slightly self-soothing) as if announcing an imperial decree: "No, it wasn't misplaced. This was personally instructed by the CEO, a 'high-efficiency work aid' for you."
"High-efficiency… work aid?" Su Xiaolan and the colleagues who had gathered around were dumbfounded. How could a massage chair assist work? Assist in taking naps?
"Yes," Wang Jing's tone grew more confident, as if convincing herself, "The CEO believes that prolonged sitting can lead to employee neck and back pain, which in turn affects work efficiency and mental state. In order to…uh…maximize employee potential, ensure physical and mental well-being, and thereby increase overall work output, this advanced equipment has been approved. Su Assistant…" She looked at Su Xiaolan, her gaze meaningful, "You are the 'pilot' for our department."
Pilot?!
Su Xiaolan felt like a monkey being stared at in a zoo. Her colleagues' expressions instantly shifted from shock to blatant envy, resentment (though carefully concealed), and disbelief. Giving a junior assistant a top-of-the-line massage chair as a pilot? Could this reason get any more far-fetched?!
"But...but…" Su Xiaolan still tried to argue, "This is too precious, and I…" She just wanted to be a relaxed lazy fish, not a focus of attention!
"This is Mr. Li's decision." Wang Jing cut off all her escape routes, her tone firm, "The equipment is now installed and tested, and please Su Assistant 'must' utilize it well, demonstrating its 'value in assisting high-efficiency work'." She deliberately emphasized "must" and "high-efficiency work", then turned and walked away, her back conveying a sense of "I need to be alone" weariness.
Su Xiaolan was left alone, facing the enticing (and expensive) massage chair, completely bewildered.
For the entire morning, Su Xiaolan was on edge... or rather, on an edge-of-a-massage-chair. She didn't dare sit on it! The thing was like a giant spotlight, drawing the attention of every colleague who passed by. She could even hear hushed whispers:
"Did you see that? It's the new Su Xiaolan…"
"A massage chair! Still an H-brand top model! It's said to cost hundreds of thousands!"
"A 'high-efficiency work aid'? Puh...Mr. Li's reasoning…"
"Pilot? Why her? Could it be…"
"Shush! Don't talk nonsense! But...so envious...I want to try it too..."
Su Xiaolan just wanted to curl up and hide in the pile of files. She felt like her happy little fish-lying-flat life was being ruthlessly crushed by this sudden massage chair! What was Mr. Li thinking?! Was he unhappy that she left work on time yesterday, and intentionally using this method to "punish" her, making her a target of everyone's criticism? This was too cruel!
Finally, the lunch break bell rang, and colleagues got up to eat. Su Xiaolan heaved a sigh of relief, just about to take out her packed lunch, when her phone buzzed. A text message from an unknown number:
[Li Chenyuan]: "Have you tried the chair yet?"
Su Xiaolan's hand trembled, and her packed lunch nearly fell on the floor. Li… Mr. Li?! How did he have my personal number?! And… he sent a text message asking about this?!
Her brain went blank, and her fingers trembled, completely unsure of how to reply. To say she hadn't tried it...