The President's Tender Trap

Lu Ming sat in a corner of his office, his fingers dancing across his computer keyboard, his gaze unfocused. The sunlight from outside filtered through the glass onto the floor, warm and bright, but his heart felt like the shadow beneath it, heavy and gloomy. Ever since the company announced its "structural optimization," a tense atmosphere had permeated the office. Lu Ming was filled with unease. He knew the optimization meant layoffs, and he wondered if he would be the next one to go.

"Lu Ming, come here for a moment." Suddenly, the manager's voice came from the side, interrupting his thoughts. Lu Ming's heart tightened. He took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and walked towards the manager's office. Every step felt like walking on the edge of a knife, and he kept repeating to himself: "Don't panic, maybe it's just routine."

Pushing open the door, Lu Ming saw his manager sitting behind his desk, his face solemn. The corporate slogan on the wall—"Growing Together, Building a Future Together"—stood out in the spotlight. He couldn't help but wonder, is this what they meant by "growing together"?

"Lu Ming, please sit down." The manager's voice was low, "I want to talk to you about the recent situation." Lu Ming's heart tightened, realizing that things were not simple.

After sitting down, the manager tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if pondering how to speak. Lu Ming's heartbeat quickened, the voices in his ears gradually faded, and the entire world seemed to consist only of him and the silent man before him.

"Our company has been facing some financial pressure lately, and management has decided to lay off some employees," the manager finally spoke, his voice filled with resignation and apology. Lu Ming was shocked, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Was he really going to lose this job?

"The layoff list is still under review. We will try our best to minimize the impact on employees." The manager's voice was full of powerlessness, and Lu Ming realized that he was not the only one who felt panic.

"I understand. Everyone's been having a hard time lately." Lu Ming tried to sound calm, but anxiety surged inside him. He tried to recall every detail of his time at the company. Could all his hard work and dedication be wiped out with this piece of paper?

"You have performed very well in the company. I hope you can continue to maintain a positive attitude." The manager's words were like a placebo, but Lu Ming knew in his heart that such comfort could not change the reality that was about to come.

Leaving the manager's office, Lu Ming's mood grew heavier. He walked back to his workstation, the chatter of his colleagues buzzing in his ears. Everyone's face was filled with worry, and it seemed as if the air was filled with unease.

"Lu Ming, have you heard? Sales have been down recently, and some people might be laid off," his colleague Xiao Li whispered. Lu Ming nodded, but he was wondering if he would be the one to be laid off.

He turned on his computer and tried to focus on the task at hand, but the anxiety in his heart was like a dark cloud that was hard to dispel. Every time he saw his colleagues discussing a project, he couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart, as if he was the most useless person in the group.

"How about we go get some coffee together?" Su Wan suddenly appeared beside him, a look of concern in her eyes. Lu Ming looked up, saw the worry on her face, and his heart softened as he nodded.

In the café, Lu Ming stared out the window at the street, his thoughts in turmoil. Su Wan gently held his hand and said encouragingly, "No matter what happens, I will support you." Her voice was like the winter sun, warm and resolute.

"But I'm really scared. I don't know what to do." Lu Ming finally couldn't help but confide, his eyes slightly red. He used to think he performed well in the company, but at this moment, he felt extremely vulnerable.

"I know you work hard, and maybe this is not your fault. No matter what happens, I will help you find new opportunities." Su Wan's determination warmed Lu Ming's heart, and he secretly made up his mind that no matter what the result, he would fight for himself.

After returning to the office, Lu Ming began to organize his resume, trying to prepare for a possible resignation. Although he still felt a little uneasy, he understood that only by facing it positively could he find a way out.

A few days later, the layoff list was finally announced. Lu Ming's heart felt like it was hanging in the balance, ready to fall at any moment. The waiting felt like a long prison sentence, and every day was a torment.

Finally, on an ordinary afternoon, Lu Ming received a notice from the Human Resources Department. His heart raced, his palms sweated, and he could barely breathe. The moment he walked into the Human Resources Department, he knew his life might change at that moment.

"Lu Ming, thank you for your hard work and dedication to the company. Unfortunately, you've been placed on the layoff list." The HR specialist's voice was calm, but it struck Lu Ming's heart like a hammer. His mind went blank, and he sat in his chair, stunned, feeling like nothing had happened to him.

"I... I understand." Lu Ming tried to remain calm, forcing himself to accept the fact. Although his heart was in turmoil, he knew that he had to cheer up.

Leaving the HR department, Lu Ming's mind raced, as if at that moment, he had lost all hope and direction. As he walked out of the company building, the sun was still shining brightly, yet he felt incredibly lonely and lost.

"What should I do?" Lu Ming muttered to himself, tears welling up in his eyes. He knew that this wasn't just the loss of a job; it was also a questioning and denial of his own abilities.

Walking down the street, Lu Ming felt lost, his heart awash with pain. He thought of his friend Zhou Qiang, the ever-motivated man who seemed to have never experienced such setbacks. Perhaps he could talk to Zhou Qiang and get some support and encouragement.

However, he hesitated again and thought to himself: "Zhou Qiang should be getting a promotion now and won't understand how I feel at all." Such thoughts made him feel helpless, as if he was trapped in endless loneliness.

As night fell, Lu Ming tossed and turned at home, unable to fall asleep. The scene of layoffs kept appearing in his mind, and the loss and despair in his heart were intertwined, as if there was nowhere to escape.

"Maybe I should start over and find new opportunities." Lu Ming said to himself silently. Although he was still panicked, he realized that he could not sink in the loss, but had to bravely face the challenges of the future.

Finally, he decided to start updating his resume tomorrow and actively looking for a new job. Perhaps this is just a turning point in life, not the end.

In this shadowy moment, Lu Ming finally realized that loss wasn't a terrible thing; the most important thing was to bravely start over. He took a deep breath and silently vowed: no matter how difficult the future, he would persevere and find his own light and hope.