Chapter 1 — The Whole Company Knows

My name appeared on the list of personnel cuts. The whole company knows this is just a show by the boss's daughter. Only I don't know. I quietly handed over the job, finished negotiating the severance compensation, signed a non-compete agreement and had it notarized. The next day, the boss's daughter came to me in high heels: "That list is only used to appease my ex-boyfriend, don't take it as real." I turned the notary paper to the last page. Signer: Her father. Fine for breach of contract: Twenty million yuan. She was stunned for three seconds, then started calling: "Dad, do you know what you signed?" The other end of the line was silent for five seconds. Then hang up. 【Chapter 1】 Friday afternoon, three-thirty. I'm sitting at my desk editing the plan, having edited the seventeenth version. The customer said they wanted to be "youthful", they had to have "quality", they also had to be "close but not rustic". I already want to tattoo the three words "youthful" on the client's face. Lam Vien Chu poked his head from the next table. “Mr. Bac, have you seen the notice board?” "Not yet." “Do you… want to come over and take a look?” "Busy." “Are you really not going to see it?” “Seventeenth edition.” I didn't raise my head. Lam Vien Chu withdrew his head. Five minutes later, he poked his head over again. “Mr. Bac.” “Say it.” “That… have you offended anyone recently?” I finally raised my head to look at him. “If you want to borrow money, say so directly.” “No…” The expression on his face was very complicated, like he was both constipated and won the lottery, “You should really go see the notice board.” I looked at him for three seconds then stood up. The notice board is located next to the tea room. On the way, I realized that there was something wrong with the way my colleagues looked at me. How should I say it? It's like looking at a person about to be taken to the execution ground, but everyone knows the executioner is only holding an air hammer. Only I don't know. On the notice board stick an A4 piece of paper. White background, black text, red company stamp. “Announcement on optimizing the company's organizational structure.” I scanned the list. Third person. Co Bac, Project Department Three, project manager. OH. It's been cut down. I stared at the paper for about ten seconds. The first thing that comes to mind is neither anger nor self-pity. Which is a very real problem. If social insurance is interrupted, my eligibility to buy the house I am aiming for will have to be recalculated. Then there's the second problem. Will the severance compensation be N+1 or just N? Third problem. Is this month's performance bonus still being distributed? I turned back to my desk. When passing by the reception desk, Tieu Chu looked at me, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. In the end, she just forced out a smile that was more unsightly than crying. "Brother Co... come on." "YES." Back at my desk, I opened my computer and created a new document. Title: List of work handover upon termination. Lam Vien Chu poked his head over again. This time he almost squeezed in, lowering his voice: "Mr. Bac, I'm..." "Handover." "No, I heard you say..." "If there's anything, wait until I finish handing it over. I still have three projects in hand, and the plan still has two unfinished versions." "But..." "If you're free, help me return the projector in the conference room. I borrowed it last week but still haven't returned it." Lam Vien Chu opened his mouth, the two words "but" rolled around three times in his mouth, finally turning into a sigh. "Okay. I'll go return the projector." As he left, he turned his head to look at me. That look… I later found out… It meant: “You idiot, that was fake.” But at that time, I just felt he was pitying me. I hate being pitied by others. So I hand over even faster. At four o'clock in the afternoon, I sent an email to all members of Project Department Three. Title: Notice of work handover. The content is very brief: Due to the company adjusting its organizational structure, from today I officially enter the handover period before quitting my job. Request those in charge of receiving to confirm the projects below. Attachments include current progress, items to be processed, and customer contact information. The moment it is sent,

I heard a series of soft noises in the work area. Several people took out their phones at the same time. I guess they were talking about me in the group. No problem. It's not a loss of face to be cut down. It's not because my ability is not good. Adjusting the structure, anyone who understands will understand. I gathered my personal belongings from the filing cabinet, including a cup, an unopened tea box, and a half-read book. I put everything in a cloth bag, sat back in the chair, opened the human resources system and clicked on "Resignation application". I've never opened this thing before. The interface is quite simple, the process is not complicated. I filled in the reason for leaving: Optimizing organizational structure, passive resignation. Send it. System notification: Your application has been sent, please wait for confirmation from the human resources department. I closed the page and continued editing the plan. Seventeenth edition. Even if I have to leave, I still have to finish this job. Professional ethics. At half past five, human resources sent a text message. Ms. Truong, a veteran employee of Ba's Human Resources Department, has worked at the company for eight years. She sent a message via the internal app: "Tieu Co, is it convenient for you to go to the human resources office?" "Okay." I stood up. When he passed by Lam Vien Chu's desk, he was calling, his voice was very low. "...No, which one of you is going to tell him? I can't say... What would he know? He has already started the procedure now! The resignation application has also been sent on the system, do you know..." Seeing me, he choked up. The phone was almost pressed against my ear. “Mr. Bac.” “Go see the staff.” “Ah… ah.” He said to the phone, "I'm going to hang up", then chased after me: "Can you... take me over?" "It's only ten meters, no need to send it." “So when you talk, pay attention… don't go too much… that…” “Too much of what?” “Too… too serious.” I stopped and looked at him. “What do you mean?” His eyes blinked rapidly, as if sending Morse code. "It's... I understand. Some things... are not what they seem." “What do you want to say anyway?” He swallowed, his lips opening and closing. “I want to say…” At that moment, his phone rang. Caller: Deputy Manager Trieu. Lam Vien Chu looked at the screen, his face changed. "I answered the phone first. Mr. Bac, just go. Remember, don't... don't be too serious." He turned around to answer the phone. Don't be too serious. What do you mean? Are you criticizing me for overdoing it? I didn't intend to go to HR and cry loudly. I'm just going to negotiate a compensation plan. Is this matter serious or not serious? Whatever the law stipulates, you should receive whatever you deserve. Human resources office. Ms. Truong sat inside, with a cup of freshly brewed hot tea on the table. For jasmine tea, use a good company cup, not a disposable paper cup. This detail surprised me a bit. Normally when we go to the human resources office to talk, there are only paper cups and cold filtered water. Use a good cup again today, make delicious tea. Farewell tea? It also seems like there is human love. “Sit down, Tieu Co.” Ms. Truong smiled very gently, but in her eyes there was an indescribable feeling... like guilt? "Yes." I sat down. “Did you see the announcement?” “See it.” “So… what do you think?” I took a sip of tea. Quite hot. "Whatever needs to be done, just do it. Just follow the process." Ms. Truong nodded, her fingers tapping on the documents. "So first let's talk about the termination compensation plan. What the company means is..." "Ms. Truong." I put down my cup, "First I would like to talk about my request." She was stunned. Then smiled: "Okay, you say it." "First, the economic compensation must be calculated according to N+1, not N. I have worked at the company for three years and four months. If more than three years, it is calculated into four years, plus one month is five months' salary." “Yeah, yeah.” Ms. Truong nodded and quickly took notes. "Second, last quarter's performance bonuses must be distributed normally. The three projects I am in charge of are still being implemented, customer satisfaction scores are all above ninety, there is no reason to deduct them." “Yes, it will definitely play.” “Third, the number of days off in the year ch

preference must be converted into double salary.” “No problem.” “Wednesday…” I looked at her. Ms. Truong raised her head, the tip of her pen stopped in mid-air. “Non-compete agreement.” The tip of her pen stopped. “Non-compete agreement?” "Correct. My position is project manager, having contact with core customer sources and business data. According to Article 23 of the Labor Contract Law, if the company requires me to sign an agreement restricting competition, the corresponding compensation must be paid.” Ms. Truong looked at me, the smile at the corner of her lips stiffened in the blink of an eye. Then… Laughed again. Even brighter than before. “You're right. Non-compete agreements do need to be discussed.” She flipped through the file: "So do you think... what conditions are suitable?" I have researched before. Last night I worked overtime until eleven o'clock not to fix the plan, but to read cases related to labor law. “The competition restriction period is two years. Compensation is paid monthly, each month not being less than one hundred percent of the average salary of the twelve months before leaving the job." Ms. Truong's pen stopped. “One hundred percent?” "Correct. Industry practice is between thirty and fifty percent. But considering the customer base at hand and the situation of my competitors, I think it's one hundred percent reasonable.” Normally at this time, HR will have to bargain with me for a long time. But Ms. Truong only raised her head to look at me, her eyes were extremely delicate. It was like looking at someone who was so serious that it was absurd. Then she said: “Okay.” Okay? So you agree? I was stunned for a second. This company is also too generous. Not true. Is it because of the cuts that I feel guilty? Regardless. All you need is a white paper and black ink to sign. “So let's decide.” I said, "Tomorrow you send me the agreement, I will review it and sign it." “Okay, okay.” Ms. Truong smiled and closed the file, "Tieu Co, you are really... very professional." "Thank." “If you have any requests, just say so.” I think. “Last thing. Penalty clauses for breach of contract must apply equally to both parties. If the company violates the non-compete agreement, for example does not pay compensation on time, I have the right to terminate the obligation to limit competition. Similarly, if the company requires me to comply with the agreement but stops paying compensation before the deadline, I must pay a penalty for breach of contract." “How much is the fine?” Ms. Truong asked. “Twenty million.” The office was silent for two seconds. Ms. Truong looked at me. I looked at Ms. Truong. The scent of jasmine tea still lingers in the air. Then Ms. Truong laughed. Laugh very sincerely. “Okay, twenty million.” She lowered her head to write, muttering a sentence in her mouth. The voice is very small but I can still hear it. “It's not true anyway…” “What did you say?”