Chapter 8

“Lin Na, I was the only one who paid for what you said.”

Xu Qing suddenly spoke from the back row.

“I did see her give Su Nian the milk tea that day. Su Nian didn’t take it herself.”

I turned.

She gave me an awkward smile.

“We always believed you, really.”

“Not one of you said anything that day.”

Her smile froze.

I didn’t raise my voice.

“You were afraid of offending her, so you let me take it alone. Now that she’s in trouble, suddenly everyone saw everything.”

No one answered.

HR then announced the disciplinary decisions.

Based on the completed investigation and company policy, Lin Na’s employment was terminated for sustained attendance fraud.

Her deliberate false accusation and negligence on the project were also recorded in the disciplinary file.

Manager Zhou was removed as department manager. His failures in approvals and project management would be investigated separately.

My suspension record was rescinded.

A written correction would be sent that day to the original department group and everyone who had attended this review.

Lin Na sat there, as white as those attendance forms.

Not one person spoke up for her with so much as a “Let it go. That’s enough.”

After the meeting, the new person in charge asked me to stay and said we could discuss my position and compensation.

“The company did wrong by you. We see what you’re capable of now.”

I took out the resignation letter I’d already written.

“Think it over,” he said. “Everything’s been resolved now.”

I thought about the past three years.

The taillights of the last bus after my evening shifts.

Meals gone cold.

Every time my mother asked when I would have time, my answer was always:

“Just a little longer.”

“I’ve thought it through.”

I slid the letter toward him.

“I don’t want to wait for the next crisis before you see me again.”

Once we had agreed on my leaving date, I handed over the remaining files and keys, then collected my final pay statement and separation certificate.

On my last day, Xu Qing followed me to the elevator.

“Su, if I don’t understand something later and ask you on WeChat, you’ll still answer, right?”

She sounded perfectly casual, as if nothing had ever happened between us.

I held the Door Open button.

“For work questions, ask the person taking over. I’ve given him the full document list and procedures.”

Her smile gradually disappeared.

I let go. The doors closed.

Outside the building, I first made sure my written correction and handover evidence were safely saved. Then I opened my phone.

The department group. The project group. The temporary shift group. The weekend emergency group.

One by one.

I left them all.

Until the last work group disappeared from the list.

I used to keep my phone by the bathroom door even while showering, afraid of missing a message.

This time, the only message on my screen was my mother asking when I’d be home.

I replied:

“Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

Passing the milk tea shop downstairs, I bought myself a hot milk tea.

Eighteen yuan. Paid for by me.

The shop assistant asked whether I needed it packed quickly to take away.

I took the cup and sat by the window.

“No rush.”

I would take my time finishing this cup.

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