"Knock, knock, knock—" For more chapters visit N()velFire.net

"Come in!" A commanding voice echoed from within.

Tang Song opened the frosted glass door and greeted, "Hello, Director Chen."

Chen Yunteng lifted his eyes from the computer screen and looked up, "Have a seat, Tang Song."

Tang Song nodded and sat in the chair beside the desk. Chen Yunteng, a programmer by training, was casually dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, jacket, and jeans. At about thirty-five or thirty-six, he had an ordinary appearance and messy hair, but he looked kind and sincere.

"Tang Song, I heard your attendance has been a bit lax lately?" Chen Yunteng adjusted his chair, a serious expression on his face.

"Director Chen, I’ve always strictly adhered to company regulations and have never been late or left early," Tang Song calmly met his gaze, unflinching.

He stayed at the company primarily to maintain his role as a Jinxiu Commerce - Development Engineer. Until Du Shaokai was fully capable of handling the SCM project, his chances of being laid off were slim. He could afford to be indifferent.

Chen Yunteng's eyes flickered at Tang Song's response, and he spoke earnestly, "Tang Son, you should know that I've been leading the backend group. The company is planning an organizational restructuring soon, and I’ll be focusing more on management. To be honest, I have high expectations for you."

Tang Song barely suppressed a smile, nodding, "Thank you, Director Chen, for your trust."

If it were when he first joined, he might have believed this. But after experiencing a series of workplace bullying incidents, he saw through Chen Yunteng’s character—a typical manipulator and master of empty promises. Even if a team leader were to be appointed, it would undoubtedly be Du Shaokai, leaving no chance for anyone else.

Chen Yunteng paused for a moment before continuing, "Regarding your salary increase, I've already discussed it with HR, and we're waiting for Mr. Xu's approval. In this critical period, make sure not to slack off. Work overtime and get more done!"

"Sure thing, Director Chen! I’ll get back to work now." Tang Song lowered his head, hiding the sarcastic smile on his lips. Since April 1st, he had been promised a 10% salary increase in May. Yet, half a month had passed, and Tian Jing, responsible for payroll, hadn't contacted him for any paperwork or received any evaluation notices. It was all just Chen Yunteng’s empty promises.

"Knock, knock!" Chen Yunteng lightly tapped the desk. "Oh, and one more thing. Recently, I've assigned a lot of work to Shaokai. Could you help with the development of new SCM features? We’re all colleagues in the same department, sharing both glory and loss."

"Understood."

"Alright, you may go."

Tang Song nodded slightly and left the office without showing any emotion. As soon as he returned to his workstation, he received a new notification on DingTalk. It was a requirement document from Du Shaokai.

Turning around, Tang Song saw Du Shaokai waving at him with a smug look. Tang Song smiled, deleted the email, and ignored him.

"Ding dong—" His phone screen lit up.

[China Merchants Bank: Your account ending in 6800 received a salary deposit of 6,224.84 yuan on April 14th at 16:14.]

March’s salary had been deposited! Normally, salaries were paid on the 15th of each month, but since the 15th was a weekend, they were paid early on Friday. Opening his company email, Tang Song saw the payroll sent by Tian Jing. He carefully reviewed it.

Salary: 8,000 yuan

Meal allowance: 225 yuan

With full contributions to social insurance and housing fund, the personal burden for insurance and housing fund was about 2,000 yuan, leaving him with a net salary of over 6,200 yuan. Taxes were minimal.

This was his first full salary after becoming a regular employee, something he had longed for, and it touched him deeply. Tang Song had no animosity towards Jinxiu Commerce; in fact, he was quite grateful. The company’s humane management, good benefits, and timely pay had allowed him to settle in Yan City, providing a stable income and peace of mind for his parents, and allowing him to envision a better future.

Despite workplace bullying, he hadn't left due to these reasons. But companies consisted of individuals with personal interests, and when those interests clashed with the company's, people like Chen Yunteng prioritized personal gains. After all, the company wasn’t theirs, and they could easily leave with a severance package and find another job.

...

At 9 PM, Tang Song completed a 30-minute high-intensity cardio session, panting heavily as he sat on his yoga mat. After a few minutes of rest, he felt his body gradually relax. Opening Little Red Book, he created a post titled "Day 10 of Transformation," uploading his current weight, today's meal plan, comparison photos, and exercise details before publishing.

Tang Song glanced at his follower count, which had reached 661, but it was still far from the 1,000 mark. Most of the followers were drawn by his bowl-cut post; subsequent posts were more ordinary and lacked viral appeal, slowing the follower growth.

"Buzz, buzz—" His phone vibrated with a new message.

[Operations-Guo Peng: "Tang Son, send me your address. I'll pick you up tomorrow."]

After some thought, Tang Song replied, "No need, Brother Peng. Just send me the repair shop’s location. I'll take a taxi there; it’ll be quicker."

[Operations-Guo Peng: "Mingjun Auto Repair Shop.map"]

They chatted for a bit and agreed on a meeting time. Putting away his phone, Tang Song freshened up, then stood naked before the full-length mirror, examining his post-weight-loss physique.

In just 13 days, his body had transformed significantly. His previously protruding belly was gone, replaced by a somewhat flat abdomen, though lacking defined abs. Fat had melted from his thighs, chest, and back. His facial changes were also noticeable; the double chin and excess cheek fat had vanished, and his nasolabial folds had softened, giving his face more definition. His neck looked much better, giving him an overall tidy and spirited appearance—neither fat nor thin.

His biggest issue was still his skin condition—complexion, spots, acne, blackheads, whiteheads, eye bags, and puffiness. These issues needed gradual improvement under Zhao Yaqian's guidance.

Tang Song’s facial features weren’t bad: high nose bridge, thin lips, double eyelids, and enough height. In high school, he was quite popular, a handsome boy with a youthful charm. But in college, driven by his crush, he became introverted and focused solely on academics, neglecting his appearance. He excelled in his major, earning scholarships and various certificates, even acquiring motorcycle and teaching licenses. In his senior year, he successfully landed a job at a major internet company in the capital, standing beside her again, but...

Shaking his head, Tang Song bit his lower lip, forcing himself out of his reverie. Taking a deep breath, he opened the system interface to check his personal information.

[Player: Tang Song (28')]

[Role: Jinxiu Commerce - Development Engineer]

[Height: 180 cm, Weight: 81.6 kg]

[Physique: 57, Endurance: 55, Agility: 50, Comprehension: 76]

[Asset Status:]

Balance: 25,200.50 yuan (Debt: 20,000.00 yuan)

Enterprise: None

Property: None

Vehicle: Yadea Electric Scooter

His agility had increased by 1 point, and his weight had dropped to 81.6 kg. He was just 0.6 kg away from completing the Restraint and Perseverance challenge.

This slight weight difference was within normal human fluctuations, and a night's sleep or a trip to the bathroom could easily resolve it. The Lung Strengthening Potion, a body-enhancing item, was within reach!

Additionally, he would soon acquire his first car and the accompanying Vehicle Gift Package.

Tang Song could hardly wait for tomorrow.