00:00Half an hour after I turned in my resignation to HR, the CEO called me.
00:03What the hell are you doing?
00:04I just approved 3 million for your annual bonus and you're quitting?
00:06I calmly told him, why don't you check with finance first and see how much I actually got?
00:10Dead silence on the other end.
00:11The CEO had said it three times at the all-hands meeting.
00:14Peishu led this year's project.
00:15His year-end bonus, 300k, is locked in.
00:17The room erupted in applause.
00:18I was sitting in the front row, heart burning with pride.
00:21300k to someone like me, ordinary family, making it alone in the city.
00:24That was life-changing money.
00:25My first thought was my parents.
00:26Mom's rheumatoid arthritis.
00:28We could finally get the imported meds.
00:30Dad had been eyeing that massage chair forever.
00:32Now we could make it happen.
00:33I'd already gone ahead and added everything to my cart on a shopping app,
00:35just waiting for Payday to hit confirm.
00:37I believed the CEO.
00:38He founded the company.
00:39His word is law.
00:39And honestly, that project was mine.
00:42Three months of grinding, leading the team to close the deal,
00:44bringing in nearly 10 million in profit.
00:46A 300k bonus was more than fair.
00:47My co-workers were all looking at me with envy, congratulating me ahead of time.
00:51My direct supervisor and manager were clapping me on the shoulder,
00:53grinning ear to ear.
00:54Keep it up, Xiaopi.
00:55Next year, I'll push for even more for you.
00:57I nodded and smiled, full of hope for what was ahead.
00:59Payday finally came.
01:00That afternoon, I was in the middle of writing a project recap when my phone dinged on the desk.
01:04My heart jumped.
01:04It was a bank deposit notification.
01:06I took a deep breath and picked up my phone, hand slightly trembling.
01:09I swiped the screen.
01:10A number stared back at me.
01:113,000 yen.
01:12I sat frozen, staring at those digits, terrified I'd misread it.
01:151-0, 2-0s, 3-0s.
01:16Yep, 3,000.
01:17Not 300k.
01:18I sat there a full 10 minutes, mind completely blank.
01:21The sound of my co-workers' keyboards fading into the distance.
01:23It wasn't until the screen went dark that I finally snapped back.
01:25No way.
01:26Absolutely no way.
01:27I grabbed my phone and walked fast to the finance office.
01:29The finance office door was open.
01:30Only the finance manager, Joe Wei, was inside.
01:32He saw me and didn't even look up.
01:34Can I help you?
01:35I kept my voice steady.
01:36Hey, Joe.
01:37I had a question about my year-end bonus.
01:38My bank notification only shows 3,000.
01:40Joey finally looked up.
01:42There was a faint hint of contempt in his eyes.
01:43It is 3,000.
01:44He said it like it was obvious.
01:46My blood rushed straight to my head.
01:47But the CEO said 300k at the meeting.
01:49Joey let out a short laugh and set down his pen.
01:51The CEO said 300k, but the approval form that came through to me says 3,000.
01:56Company money follows the process.
01:57I go by paperwork, not by what people say.
01:59Airtight.
02:00Every single word.
02:01I felt ice cold all over.
02:02I locked eyes with him.
02:03Who signed that approval form?
02:04I want to see it.
02:05Joey leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
02:08That's an internal company document.
02:09You don't have access to it.
02:10He paused, visibly annoyed.
02:12All right, stop wasting my time.
02:13That's it.
02:14If you don't like it, go ahead and sue.
02:15That last line hit like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head,
02:18killing the last bit of hope I had left.
02:20And every last drop of passion I had for this company,
02:22I looked at his cold, cruel face.
02:24And just like that, my heart went numb.
02:26The anger was gone.
02:27I calmly nodded.
02:28Got it.
02:29I turned around and walked back to my desk, step by step.
02:31Behind me, Joey let out a scornful snort.
02:33My co-workers watched me curiously, but no one dared ask.
02:36I sat down and opened my laptop.
02:37The unfinished project recap was still on the screen.
02:39Every single word on it felt like it was mocking me,
02:41mocking my naivety, my trust.
02:43Fine, I won't sue.
02:43I'll quit.
02:44I opened a new document.
02:45No hesitation.
02:46I typed three words.
02:47Resignation letter.
02:48Short and simple.
02:49Dear company leadership for personal reasons.
02:51I, Peishu, hereby formally submit my resignation.
02:53Please approve.
02:53Peishu.
02:54Not a single complaint.
02:55Not a word of thanks.
02:56I had nothing left to say to this company.
02:58Print.
02:58Sign.
02:58Done.
02:59I picked up that thin little letter and walked to the manager's office.
03:01My direct supervisor and manager.
03:03The woman who'd patted my shoulder and promised me a bright future.
03:06The door was open.
03:06I knocked.
03:07Come in.
03:08Manager.
03:08He was kicked back in her chair, casually sipping tea.
03:11She looked up as I walked in and set down her cup.
03:13Hey, Xiao Pei, what's up?
03:14I quietly placed the resignation letter on her desk.
03:16Her smile froze.
03:17She picked it up, glanced at it once, and when her expression changed.
03:20What is this?
03:21There was a hint of panic in her voice.
03:22You're quitting?
03:23Quitting.
03:24Simple as that.
03:25Manager.
03:26He's brows furrowed tight.
03:27She stood up and walked toward me.
03:28Xiao Pei, is this about the bonus?
03:30Don't do anything rash.
03:31Big companies make mistakes sometimes.
03:32Don't worry, I'll go ask about it right now.
03:34She sounded sincere.
03:35I didn't believe a single word.
03:36If this was really a mistake, would Zhou Wei and finance have acted like that?
03:39If this was really a mistake, why is she only thinking to look into it now?
03:42I looked at her, calm as ever.
03:44Manager.
03:44He, this isn't a mistake.
03:45This is an attitude problem.
03:47I put in three months, made the company 10 million, and apparently I'm only worth 3,000 bucks.
03:51I wasn't loud, but every word was crystal clear.
03:54Manager.
03:54He's face fell.
03:55She tried to play the emotional card.
03:57Xiao Pei, I get that you're upset, but think about how much the company has put into you.
04:01You're young.
04:02Think long term.
04:02Don't get hung up on short term wins and losses.
04:04I smiled, and it wasn't a warm one.
04:06Put into me?
04:07I've been here three years.
04:08Trained five interns.
04:10Written how many reports that had your name on them?
04:11Where were you when I was pulling all-nighters, and now you want to talk about investment?
04:15Manager.
04:15He was completely speechless.
04:17Her face went white, then red, then green.
04:19She probably never expected that the quiet, easygoing me would say something that sharp.
04:23The air in the office turned ice cold.
04:25She went quiet for a long moment, then finally dropped the act.
04:27Pei Shu, don't push your luck.
04:29You think this place can't run without you?
04:30Let me tell you.
04:31There are plenty of people out there ready to take your spot.
04:34There it was, her true colors.
04:35I watched her unravel, and the last bit of attachment I had just disappeared.
04:39Perfect.
04:40I'll clear the spot.
04:41Letters on your desk.
04:42Approve it or don't.
04:42Your call.
04:43I didn't look at her again.
04:44I turned and walked out.
04:45I skipped HR.
04:46My new manager, he would bury that letter.
04:48I went straight to the CEO's secretary's office and handed over an identical resignation letter.
04:51Please pass this along to the chairman for me.
04:53The secretary froze.
04:54He knew me.
04:55Knew I was one of the company's core technical leads.
04:57He started to say something, but saw the look in my eyes and swallowed it back.
05:00Of course, Mr. Pei.
05:01I nodded, turned around, and headed back to my desk.
05:03I started packing up.
05:04I tried to keep it quiet, but my co-workers noticed anyway.
05:06They stared at me, stunned.
05:07I didn't explain.
05:08Fifteen minutes later, everything was packed.
05:10One cardboard box, one backpack.
05:12I took one last look at the place where I'd grinded for three years.
05:14No sadness, just relief.
05:16I walked toward the exit.
05:17Passing the manager's office, I could hear manager he screaming,
05:20Who does he think he is?
05:21Seriously, tell him to get out and don't ever come back.
05:23I smirked.
05:24Don't worry.
05:25Even if you came to me on your knees, I wouldn't come back.
05:27I walked out of the building with my box.
05:28The afternoon sun was almost blinding.
05:30I stood on the sidewalk and took a deep breath.
05:31The air smelled like freedom.
05:32My phone rang.
05:33I pulled it out.
05:34It was the HR manager.
05:35I picked up.
05:35Peshu, what's your deal?
05:36Manager?
05:37He says you quit.
05:38She had an attitude.
05:39Yeah.
05:40My letter's all ready with the CEO's secretary.
05:42I answered calmly.
05:44She sounded like she wanted to blow up, but held it back.
05:46Where are you right now?
05:47Come back and handle off-boarding.
05:48No need, I said flatly.
05:50All my stuff is gone.
05:51Just process the rest by the book.
05:53And I hung up.
05:53I had nothing more to say to anyone at this company.
05:55I flagged down a cab, gave my address, and we pulled away.
05:57The office building got smaller and smaller out the window.
06:00I leaned back and closed my eyes.
06:01Three years of my life wasted.
06:03I got home, dropped the box in the living room, and collapsed onto the couch.
06:06Exhausted.
06:07Not physically, emotionally drained.
06:09I didn't want to do anything.
06:10Just lie there.
06:11I'm not sure how long it passed when my phone rang again.
06:13I figured it was someone from the company.
06:14Didn't want to answer.
06:15But it kept ringing.
06:17I grabbed it, annoyed.
06:18Unknown number.
06:19Local area code.
06:20I frowned, but picked up anyway.
06:21Hello?
06:21Is this Peishu?
06:22A clear, strong woman's voice on the other end.
06:24It sounded familiar.
06:25It was Chin Zhen, our group's chairman.
06:27My stomach dropped.
06:28Why would she be calling me personally?
06:29I gripped the phone and said nothing.
06:31Chin Zhen's tone was noticeably sharp.
06:32What are you doing?
06:33I just got back from overseas and I hear you're quitting.
06:35I paused, then said,
06:37Yes, chairman.
06:38My voice gave nothing away.
06:39Chin Zhen sounded even more fired up.
06:41That's ridiculous.
06:42Peishu, the company has been good to you.
06:43Why are you suddenly resigning?
06:45I talked to manager He.
06:46She said it's about the bonus.
06:47How can you be this short-sighted?
06:49Her voice came through the phone with this air of superiority.
06:51I almost laughed, so that's how people at the top see it.
06:53The frustration and pain of people like us at the bottom is just being short-sighted.
06:56Chin Zhen clearly wasn't done.
06:57She kept going.
06:58Do you know how much I believe in you?
07:00Do you know what I approve to keep you here?
07:01I just signed off on 3 million for your annual incentive.
07:04And you want to quit?
07:05Are you out of your mind?
07:063 million.
07:07My head started spinning.
07:08I thought I'd misheard.
07:093 million, not 300k.
07:10Chin Zhen was still going off on the other end, but I couldn't hear her anymore.
07:12My mind was reeling.
07:14If the chairman approved 3 million, then where did my 300k turn into 3,000?
07:17What happened in between?
07:18I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm.
07:20Then I put the phone back to my mouth and, in a voice as cold and steady as I could
07:23manage,
07:23said,
07:24Chairman, why don't you ask your finance team and HR and find out how much I actually received?
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