Chapter 153: Optimized Graduation, Mirror Twins!
"I'm going to Las Vegas next week. What a shame my flight doesn't overlap with yours."
Alex, discussing her work schedule on the other end of the video call, looked regretful. "The week after next, I'm going to Chicago. Another tech company there is downsizing."
"Isn't your company promoting remote work?"
Chuck asked.
"Indeed,"
Alex nodded. "It's more efficient and significantly reduces costs. After all, the cost of flying HR specialists around the country is a huge expense. But I don't like working remotely. It's so impersonal."
"But it's safer,"
Chuck reminded her.
"Are you worried about me?"
Alex looked at Chuck with ice-blue eyes and smiled. "Don't worry. Our industry has a complete set of protocols. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to handle so many companies' downsizing and restructuring projects.
Let me explain briefly.
First, we tell them that this is a company-wide organizational restructuring, not targeting them personally.
If they can't accept it, we advise them to be open-minded. This is also a way to contribute skilled talent to the marketplace. Transitioning to a different field might allow them to achieve even greater success and contribute more to society.
If they still can't accept it, we sincerely ask them, do you have dreams?
Of course you do!
Everyone has aspirations. Working for a paycheck is about making a living, but they may not always enjoy the job. Instead of dwelling on it, why not seize this opportunity to pursue your dreams again? That way, when your children ask you about it, you'll have inspiring stories to share.
This transition is just like another graduation ceremony.
From restructuring to talent reallocation to graduation day, we've prepared a comprehensive framework to help them clarify their future direction.
Of course, the most important thing is never to use the word 'layoffs.'"
"Backlash."
Chuck shook his head. "Your approach might convince most people to leave quietly, and the company might avoid immediate problems. But when they're struggling to find new jobs and realize what actually happened, you, the ones directly handling the terminations, will face the biggest blowback. The money you're earning is hazard pay for personal risk and psychological trauma."
"Personal risk and psychological trauma... you put it so accurately,"
Alex said with a bitter smile.
Their line of work does involve personal danger, and often, verbal abuse from those being laid off is standard, with emotional distress and depression being common occupational hazards.
They're more like scapegoats than human resources experts in workforce reduction, earning compensation for taking on personal risk and psychological trauma.
"But this is all I know how to do. What else could I do?"
Alex shook her head. "The job market isn't good right now. If you don't eliminate others' positions, you'll be the one getting eliminated."
"What about your original dreams?"
Chuck said. "I'm sure you had them. After all, what's the difference between a person without dreams and a dead fish? Just think of it as going back to school and graduating again. You can contribute to society in other ways too."
"Ha!"
Alex burst into laughter seeing Chuck use their own tactics on her. "It seems that being around those amusing friends has made you more witty. That's wonderful."
"I'm not joking,"
Chuck said seriously.
"Ha!"
Alex laughed again, then stopped smiling and nodded. "I understand. I'll think about my original dreams. It's been so long, I can barely remember them. Well, after I finish the Chicago assignment, I'll consider graduating myself..."
"Don't mention Chicago,"
Chuck interrupted.
"What?"
Alex was startled.
"Don't tempt fate!"
Chuck said, "Haven't you watched movies, TV shows, and read books? Anyone who makes statements like that always meets a tragic end."
"Are you in those movies, TV shows, and books?"
Alex smiled and said, "No, right? I trust you!"
The two chatted for a long time, mainly Alex talking and Chuck listening, but Alex clearly felt that Chuck was much more talkative than before, which made her unusually happy. She really believed it was the influence of those interesting friends on Chuck.
She just laughed until she nearly cried.
The next day.
Princeton University.
Three young women were walking across campus, chatting and laughing, when they saw Professor Alicia Harper approaching with her usual elegance.
"Professor Harper."
Two of the women greeted her proactively.
"Cheryl, Justine."
Professor Harper heard them, stopped to look, and seeing they were her students, smiled and nodded. Her eyes fell on the third woman. Seeing that she had a face exactly like Cheryl's, she said with surprise, "Is this your sister?"
"Yes."
Cheryl pulled her sister forward: "This is my twin sister Tracy. She's also attending our school now, but she's studying art. Tracy, this is Professor Alicia Harper, our physics professor I've always told you about."
"Hello, Professor."
Tracy greeted Professor Harper somewhat awkwardly.
"Hello, Tracy."
Professor Harper glanced at her and reminded her, "You're Cheryl's sister, so you probably know the basics about college life. I'll just remind you of one thing: Do you see those emergency phones?"
"Yes,"
Tracy said, looking in the direction she indicated. She saw a path lined with blue emergency call boxes.
"Those are blue light emergency stations; they glow blue at night,"
Professor Harper nodded. "Just because they light that path, don't assume you're safe just because you're on campus. Try not to walk alone on campus at night. If you encounter danger, immediately go to the nearest blue light station and call for help. Remember this."
"I understand, but Chuck is also a student here. I feel safe with him around,"
Tracy smiled.
Justine couldn't help but glance at her best friend, Cheryl.
Cheryl held her forehead with a pained expression.
Professor Harper nodded and continued on her way.
"Tracy, Chuck isn't always here,"
Cheryl said, "so you still need to be careful."
"Even if Chuck's here, you can't rely entirely on others for your safety,"
Justine added. "The only person who can truly protect you is yourself."
"I know,"
Tracy smiled. "Chuck gives me a sense of security, and I won't let my guard down. I just like that feeling."
"As long as you understand,"
Cheryl said with a helpless smile.
Justine glanced at her best friend sympathetically. She knew Cheryl had strong feelings for Chuck, and it seemed like her twin sister had also developed feelings for him due to the hero effect.
Under normal circumstances, Cheryl would have confronted her sister and told her to stay away from her "future boyfriend."
But unfortunately, her sister had just experienced such trauma: her fiancé was murdered right in front of her, and she herself was imprisoned, almost becoming trapped with her sister. At this moment, no matter how much she resented it, she couldn't say such things.
After all, Chuck gave her sister a sense of security.
Wasn't that exactly what her sister needed most right now?
"Look, there's Chuck!"
Justine pointed out.
The twins immediately looked over, and Tracy instinctively smoothed her hair. This was the first time she had seen Chuck since regaining consciousness.
"Chuck!"
Cheryl waved.
Chuck approached and nodded.
"Thank you for saving me,"
Tracy said quietly.
"You're welcome,"
Chuck nodded calmly.
"Tracy is also attending Princeton now,"
Cheryl explained.
"I wouldn't recommend that,"
Chuck shook his head.
"I know,"
Cheryl immediately remembered what Chuck had said before. They were twins, and very rare mirror-image twins with striking appearances. They would attract attention, especially from predators.
It would be fine if they were separated, but together, on a university campus with raging hormones, it was far too dangerous.
After all, the frequency of sexual assaults on American college campuses rivals, if not exceeds, the frequency of mass shootings.
The reason it doesn't get as much publicity as mass shootings is partly because most victims, fearing for their reputations and the repeated humiliation they face from defense attorneys in court, choose to remain silent.
Another factor is institutional control. After all, American universities are among the most prestigious in the world, attracting students globally. They generate enormous revenue, and constantly reporting such negative incidents would inevitably deter prospective students.
Also, like shootings, people have become desensitized. Unless it's a particularly unusual case, incidents rarely make major headlines.
However, the details tell the story, like Professor Harper's mention of the Blue Light Emergency System.
As everyone knows, when a horrific tragedy occurs in America, there are several standard responses: first, memorials, naming buildings and scholarships after victims; second, new safety protocols are immediately implemented, and then the process is considered complete and things continue as usual.
The Blue Light System on campus is a form of memorial, highlighting the horrific tragedies that have occurred.
"Can Tracy and I train with you like Justine does?"
Cheryl pushed aside her concerns and asked eagerly. Seeing Chuck studying the sisters without responding, she added, "We've actually had professional self-defense training before, so we have a foundation. It's just that it doesn't seem very effective in real dangerous situations, so we'd like to learn practical self-defense from you."
Tracy also looked up at Chuck hopefully.
Chuck considered for a moment, looking at the rare mirror-image twins and remembering his scientific curiosity. He nodded and said, "We can try."
He was curious to see if mirror-image twins were truly unique, and whether after learning combat techniques, they could fight with twice the effectiveness of two ordinary people.
(End of Chapter)
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