Zhongcheng Group headquarters, 6th floor, Food and Beverage Business Department.
Stairwell.
Zhang Lei put away his mobile phone and took out a crumpled cigarette from his pocket to light it up.
Amidst swirling smoke, he slumped on the cold concrete steps, staring at the ashes left on the ground, feeling utterly lost.
Yesterday afternoon, he suddenly received a conversation notice from HR, informing him that he had failed the probationary period.
The reason given was "business skills do not match the job requirements."
This reason was utter nonsense.
He wasn't a rookie fresh out of school; after years of struggling in the workplace, he knew exactly what this meant.
Last night he specifically went to find the department manager, Liu Huixiang, someone who was considered an "insider" because his uncle had used connections.
But all Liu could do was sigh, pat him on the shoulder, and say it was the decision from the higher-ups and he couldn't do anything about it.
