Chapter Eight: Resignation

When Liao Yuan awoke, his head throbbed with excruciating pain. Instinctively, he clutched his temples and gently tapped them, his mind buzzing incessantly as though a hornet’s nest had been disturbed within. Only after half an hour did he finally lift his head, gazing weakly at the dense text scrolling across his computer screen. At last, a faint smile appeared on his pallid face.

He glanced at the time—it was already two in the afternoon. Remembering that the Human Resources department had summoned him for a conversation, he closed his laptop, slipped it into his briefcase, and hurried to freshen up.

As he passed by Meiqi’s room, Liao Yuan couldn’t suppress the growing unease gnawing at his heart. After his call went unanswered, he quickly sent a text to his younger sister: “Come home immediately.”

Upon arriving at the company, Liao Yuan noticed that many people in the first-floor lobby were casting odd glances his way. Puzzled, he didn’t stop to ask, but followed his usual route to the Program Division Two office.

The entire workspace was unnaturally quiet. As soon as Liao Yuan entered, the eyes that turned to him were filled with regret. He said nothing, heading straight to his desk. After putting his things in order, he walked to the printing area and began compiling the next chapters of “Ghost Blows Out the Light.”

Just then, Director Jiang Heshun approached him. “Liao, you’re here.”

Liao Yuan nodded.

Jiang Heshun gave him a brief look and shook his head with a sigh. “Alright, I’ve said all there is to say. Pack up your things and come with me to HR to complete the resignation process.”

Liao Yuan gave a quiet assent.

He seemed almost slow to react, taking a few seconds before looking up and asking in a soft voice, “Is there really no chance for me at all?”

“The station has already given you many opportunities. With so many eyes watching, Liao, please don’t make this harder for me.”

Jiang Heshun patted his shoulder, offering some comfort. “You have a lot going for you. Frankly, our station has held you back. Perhaps elsewhere you’ll truly shine, don’t you think?”

Liao Yuan made no reply, neither confirming nor pleading further. He simply turned back to his desk and began packing his belongings.

Only then did he realize the storage box provided by the company was far too small. Forced to leave behind some lesser items, he packed only the most important things. Moments later, under the watchful gaze of his colleagues, he finished and stood to leave.

The entire office was silent. Everyone watched as Liao Yuan and Jiang Heshun’s figures receded down the corridor.

“Liao was always a decent guy. He hosted the midnight slot and was always the last to leave. I often saw him cleaning up the office before heading home. Seeing him go like this, I can’t help but feel sorry…”

“Competence is what matters. Good character doesn’t guarantee ability, and at the end of the day, it’s performance that counts for our station!”

“I’m not sure the rise in the midnight slot’s ratings is really due to Mi Maodian. I listened to ‘Ghost Blows Out the Light’ last night, and it was outstanding.”

“I love Liao’s narration, but Mi Maodian is a star in the industry, far more seasoned than Liao, who’s just a newcomer. His reputation precedes him—his stories must be more captivating than Liao’s.”

“Even Director Xi has given up on Liao. There’s no point arguing—let’s focus on welcoming the new colleague tomorrow!”

“Honestly, it’s a shame to see Liao go!”

In a corner of the office, Xu Jingkai felt a vague sense of unease. He thought Liao Yuan’s reaction was far too calm—eerily so, as if being dismissed meant nothing to him. That couldn’t be! In this day and age, finding a new job after being let go was a daunting ordeal, unless he planned to abandon his profession altogether and switch fields. Was he really giving up on broadcasting?

Xu Jingkai was skeptical.

Last night, Liao Yuan’s “Ghost Blows Out the Light” had given him a profound shock, making him see Liao in a new light. If not for appearances’ sake, he would have gone up and discussed the story with him just now. And if it really was Liao’s original work, Xu Jingkai knew that his departure would surely enrage the story’s listeners—assuming “Strange Tales of the Human World” actually had an audience.

Not far away, a phone editor from the Division Two afternoon program “Stories of the Republic” was half-listening to the gossip while absentmindedly scrolling through Weibo at his desk.

“Ayuan Ghost Blows Out the Light? That sounds familiar…” Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in his mind and his eyes widened. “Wait, isn’t that our own ‘Strange Tales of the Human World’?”

Someone nearby asked, “What’s going on?”

The editor, trembling with excitement, said, “It’s trending!”

“Who’s trending?”

“‘Ghost Blows Out the Light’! Liao Yuan’s ‘Ghost Blows Out the Light’ is trending!”

He paused, staring at the screen in disbelief. “Not just trending—it’s already in the Top 100 topics!”

No sooner had he spoken than the whole office was in an uproar.

Everyone wore expressions of disbelief as they hurried to open their computers and log into Weibo.

A moment later, gasps echoed through the room.

The ninth spot on Weibo’s trending list blazed with the words “Ayuan Ghost Blows Out the Light.”

Even Xu Jingkai shivered. Unable to believe his eyes, he glanced around to see everyone in shock, then rushed back to his desk to investigate further.

As head of the Division Two Planning and Publicity Team, Xu Jingkai understood the significance of the trending list better than anyone present. He knew exactly what it meant for “Ghost Blows Out the Light” to make it to the top.

Meanwhile, Liao Yuan, carrying his storage box, followed Jiang Heshun, the frequency director, into the company’s Human Resources department.

There, waiting patiently for some time already, sat Lai Yibai, focused intently on her phone as she scrolled through Weibo—reading all manner of comments about “Ghost Blows Out the Light.”

When she caught sight of Liao Yuan and Jiang Heshun out of the corner of her eye, a smile flickered across her lips, only to be quickly concealed as she assumed an air of nonchalance. Looking up as if surprised, she called out, “Director Jiang? What brings you here today?”

Jiang Heshun, momentarily taken aback, smiled. “So it’s Director Lai. What’s brought you down from the Internet Department? Is there a new star employee joining us that requires your personal attention?”

Without missing a beat, Lai Yibai turned off her phone screen, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and casually replied, “Nothing major—just here to discuss some work matters with Old Yu.”

Old Yu, whose full name was Yu Shuwen, was the general manager of the HR department. He was chatting with a subordinate but, upon noticing Jiang Heshun, walked over with a smile. “Director Jiang, good to see you.”

Then, turning to Liao Yuan, he said, “You must be Liao Yuan? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Hello, Manager Yu,” Liao Yuan replied quietly.

Yu Shuwen nodded, turned to retrieve a document, and handed it to Jiang Heshun. “Director Jiang, if there are no issues, please sign here. The rest of the handover will be between you and Director Lai.”