“I don’t need to remind you that Public Relations represents the image of the entire company, do I? If our own department has such a poor reputation, what will others think of us? We now have a rat turd in our department who refuses to learn his lesson. He’s seriously damaged our department’s image. We can no longer let this slide. We must issue an internal disciplinary notice against this rat turd.” Although An Zi Yan hadn’t named anyone, everyone knew exactly whom he meant. One by one, they turned to look at Mai Ding, who wanted nothing more than to throw himself into a river.
Feng Fei Meng clicked over beside An Zi Yan in her high heels. Fighting desperately to swallow her laughter, she announced with a straight face, “The disciplinary notice is as follows. Mai Ding of the Public Relations Department has engaged in disgraceful personal conduct. Multiple women have come to the department to make scenes; he attempted to molest President Wang’s daughter, Wang Xi Yuan; harassed the girlfriend of a client doing business with our company; and indecently assaulted the company’s cleaning lady, among other offenses. His behavior has reached a level that outrages both heaven and humanity. The Public Relations Department therefore imposes the following penalties upon Mai Ding: First, this notice will be posted at the department’s main entrance as a warning to Mai Ding and all other employees. Everyone should learn from his example and avoid following his depraved path. Second, Mai Ding must pay a fine of 300 yuan to the department to compensate all the unfortunate colleagues who have suffered because of him. Third, Mai Ding must write a letter of repentance within one day, to be displayed alongside this notice. Fourth, Mai Ding must sincerely apologize to Manager An for his conduct and beg his forgiveness. This notice is hereby issued.”
Were they going to let him live or not?! Mai Ding tried several times to protest, but Feng Fei Meng spoke so quickly that he couldn’t get a word in. The moment she finished and he opened his mouth, she continued, “If Mai Ding is dissatisfied with these penalties or refuses to comply, he should pack his belongings today, collect his final salary from Finance, and leave the company.” Mai Ding thought he might genuinely cough up blood. Too ruthless. This was far too ruthless. He directed the full force of his hatred at An Zi Yan. Tonight, when they got home, he was going to poison his food. If An Zi Yan didn’t die, Mai Ding would! Whenever he was bullied at work, he talked about what he’d do when they got home. Mai Ding vastly overestimated himself. His status at home wasn’t much higher than it was in the office.
“Mai Ding, do you have any objections? This is your chance to raise them.”
“NONE!!!!!”
Ignoring his colleagues, who were laughing so hard they were crying, Mai Ding began typing his letter of repentance. It had been ages since he’d written his first one. If he remembered correctly, that one had concerned how he should respect his husband. He’d silently vowed back then never to suffer such humiliation again. And yet this second humiliation was somehow even worse. Biting his fingernails, Mai Ding thought that writing the letter would mean admitting every accusation. No. He absolutely couldn’t write it. Guo Ping noticed his hesitation and pulled ten yuan from his bag. “You know the company’s been busy lately. As your shifu, I can’t even give you a proper farewell meal. Here’s ten yuan as a little token from me. Have a safe trip.”
“E-even if I don’t write it, An Zi Yan can’t seriously fire me, can he? This is just a joke.”
“You were publicly disciplined. If you refuse to comply, you’re defying office rules and An Zi Yan’s authority. That only leaves…” Fan Shao Jun looked up from his documents. “Besides, I heard Yan’s wanted to get rid of you for ages. Better take the hint, or else…” Both men left the rest of their threats hanging with mysterious expressions. Mai Ding grew agitated. “Who told you that? It has to be a rumor!”
“He told me himself.”
“An Zi Yan? He wouldn’t dare…” Mai Ding forcibly swallowed the words that nearly escaped. “Would he dare fire me without President Wang’s approval?”
“Well, listen to you. You make it sound as though President Wang is particularly fond of you.”
Gao Shuang delivered the final verdict. “President Wang and Yan both hate you.” His tone, together with what he said, crushed Mai Ding’s spirits. Mai Ding stared at the blinking cursor and began typing with unusually heavy fingers.
Letter of Repentance
Dear Manager An of the Public Relations Department,
Today, filled with guilt, pain, and bitter remorse, I write this letter of repentance to express to you and everyone in Public Relations my profound regret for my filthy, dissolute behavior and my determination never to repeat it.
I’m not trying to make excuses, but the pressure my family puts on me is so great that it drove me to behave worse than a beast and bring shame upon Public Relations. In fact, I’m a kind, friendly, and upright person. I’ve done many good deeds and prevented many bad ones. I wasn’t planning to mention this, but I used to perform in school arts events, and everyone in my class unanimously elected me study monitor. And now I’ve been misunderstood…
Mai Ding’s fingers flew across the keyboard. What kind of letter of repentance was this? It was practically turning into a letter of self-praise. At some point, An Zi Yan had appeared behind him and was reading the words on his monitor.
“What on earth are you writing?” Mai Ding jumped and threw himself over the screen to cover it, like a student caught composing a love letter. “I-it’s not finished yet. Don’t look!”
“Remember, I told you to write a letter of repentance.” An Zi Yan rested a hand on the back of Mai Ding’s chair. His expression and manner were terrifying. “If you refuse to write it properly, you can leave.” Anyone could tell that An Zi Yan was genuinely angry. Mai Ding froze too, never expecting him to take this seriously. Did An Zi Yan really believe he’d harmed Public Relations’ reputation? While Mai Ding was distracted, An Zi Yan’s fingers strayed from the back of his chair and began tickling him. Mai Ding, who was terribly ticklish, burst out laughing and shot to his feet.
“You think I’m joking?” An Zi Yan’s expression grew even more stern. His colleagues also looked at Mai Ding as though they couldn’t comprehend his behavior. Inside, Mai Ding was itching with fury, but he couldn’t say why. He could only lower his head and apologize. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean that. A damned pest crawled onto me just now, and I couldn’t help myself.” An Zi Yan snorted, glanced at the contrite Mai Ding, and walked away. Mai Ding sank heavily into his chair, suppressing the urge to draw a knife. He deleted the self-congratulatory section from his letter and began again.
Letter of Repentance
Dear Manager An of the Public Relations Department,
Today, filled with guilt, pain, and bitter remorse, I write this letter of repentance to express to you and everyone in Public Relations my profound regret for my filthy, dissolute behavior and my determination never to repeat it.
Having joined the company, I no longer represent only myself. I also represent Public Relations, and even the company as a whole. I should not have harassed respectable women. I’m a villain who wouldn’t even spare the cleaning lady. I now fully recognize my mistakes and am ashamed of my vulgar shamelessness. I truly should have controlled myself. I shouldn’t have toyed with women, and I certainly shouldn’t have harbored filthy thoughts about the cleaning lady.
I was wrong. I was truly wrong. Please, everyone, forgive me. I will sincerely mend my ways, submit to correction, and become a new man. I ask all my colleagues to supervise me. I will never disgrace Public Relations or bring shame upon the company again.
I’m scum! I’m human trash! I’m a beast!
Are you satisfied now? If you’re still not satisfied, my only option is to die!
Repentant offender: Mai Ding
Mai Ding looked no different from a prisoner condemned for a crime he hadn’t committed. With blood and tears in his heart, he’d written words he didn’t believe. Silently, he added another offense to An Zi Yan’s record. He would take revenge. Not now, but someday. He would carefully plan another act of retaliation.
Both his letter and the disciplinary notice were posted in the most conspicuous spot in Public Relations. Everyone who entered stopped to read the two sheets carefully, then turned to look at Mai Ding. Mai Ding wanted to emigrate somewhere far, far away. Surely there had to be a place out there where he could live in peace.