Chapter 4

The next day, my workstation was empty.

When Kyle saw me come in, he lowered his voice and said:

“Walter, Ryan had someone move everything last night. He said Administration needed to take back the computer and that he was taking the account books to review.”

I stood there and looked at the empty desktop.

There was only one thing left on the desk, and it was the sheet of paper pressed under the glass panel—the new purchasing rules.

I pulled it out, folded it, and put it into my pocket.

Kyle asked softly, “Walter, what are you going to do?”

I said, “It’s fine.”

I walked to the door of Ryan’s office, and the door was closed.

I knocked, but no one inside answered.

The young woman from Administration passed by and said Manager Miller had gone out early and would not be back until the afternoon.

At noon, I went to the cafeteria for lunch.

I got two dishes and found a corner to sit in.

Halfway through my meal, Ryan came over with his tray and sat across from me.

He looked at my tray and clicked his tongue. “That’s all you’re eating?”

I said nothing.

He picked up a bite of food and said while chewing:

“Walter, I thought about it, and maybe I was too impatient about yesterday’s matter.”

“How about this? Write an application, and I’ll approve one month of leave for you. Go home and rest, then come back after this storm blows over.”

I looked at him.

He smiled. “Really, I’m not lying to you.”

“For an old-timer like you, I don’t want to make things too hard either. But you have to understand me. A new boss has to make some moves.”

I said, “Has the list been submitted?”

He said, “It has.”

I said, “Am I on the list?”

The hand he used to pick up food paused, and he said nothing.

I lowered my head and continued eating.

He threw his fork onto the tray and stood up. “Fine, if you insist on being this stubborn, don’t blame me.”

He left.

I finished the last bite of my food and took the tray to the return station.

At three-thirty, the department held a meeting.

Everyone in the department was there, and Ryan sat at the front, holding a document.

“Today, I’m going to talk about something regarding personnel optimization.”

He paused, and his gaze swept around the room. “The higher-ups approved it, and logistics will cut two people. The list has already been finalized.”

No one in the meeting room spoke.

He read two names, and neither was mine.

I was stunned for a moment.

After he finished reading, he closed the document and smiled at me. “Walter, you’re lucky. You’re not included this time.”

I said nothing.

After the meeting ended, Kyle ran over excitedly. “Walter, everything’s fine now!”

I said, “Yeah.”

Seeing that my reaction was off, he asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

I did not explain.

At five-thirty, the end-of-work bell rang.

I began packing my things and put those folders into a cardboard box.

When Kyle saw it, he ran over and asked, “Walter, what are you doing?”

I said, “Moving to the storage room.”

He froze.

I picked up the cardboard box and walked toward the end of the hallway.

The storage room was next to the chairman’s office, and it had always been locked, with useless old desks, chairs, and empty boxes piled inside.

I had found the key in the supply room before and had never returned it.

I opened the door, and the inside was a mess.

I put the box by the door and started cleaning up.

At six-thirty, Ryan got off work and passed through the hallway, where he saw the storage room light on.

He walked over, stood at the doorway, and froze.

“What are you doing?”

I righted an old desk and ignored him.

He walked in, looked around, and suddenly laughed. “Walter Clark, do you have a fucking death wish?”

I straightened up and looked at him.

He pointed at the door. “Get the hell out.”

I stood still without moving.

He took one step forward, and his finger almost jabbed into my face.

“You’re just logistics, and you dare take over this room? Do you know whose office this is next to?”

I said, “I know.”

He froze, then became even angrier. “You know, and you still dare? Fine, wait here. I’m calling security right now.”

He took out his phone and had just pressed two buttons when someone suddenly spoke outside the door. “Ryan, what’s going on?”

Ryan turned back, and his face changed.

The chairman stood at the doorway.

He was silent for two seconds, then walked over and patted my shoulder.

“Dad, why did you move here?”