Cyberbullying
The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the floor of the CAQ Group's eighth-floor assistant's office.
At this very moment, Qu Shiyao staggered in, arriving just one minute before the end of the day.
"Good morning..." she uttered weakly, her eyelids so heavy she could slump down immediately.
She slumped into her workstation chair with a "plop" like a lump of mud, as if she would fall apart at any moment.
In the office, Chen Xu, Gao Huixin, Li Yue, Shi Qingqing, and Zhuang Rou'er all turned to look at him with concern.
The group exchanged a knowing glance.
Judging from Shiyao's expression, she's clearly hit a wall!
It must be because there was no progress at Dingfeng, and the pressure was so great that he stayed up all night!
They tacitly softened their movements, afraid of disturbing this "defeated general," intending to let her calm down first before discussing countermeasures together.
Qu Shiyao stared blankly at the computer screen, her soul already drifting to the heavens.
【Now you know how painful it is? Who was it last night who was holding their phone and shouting that they would go to sleep if they lost?!】The system's electronic voice was like a tight band around her neck, and it hadn't stopped since Qu Shiyao struggled to get out of bed. Now it was filled with the resentment of an old woman.
I've told you a million times not to stay up late playing games! But you just wouldn't listen! And you've never won a single game! You should have listened to me back then, stayed hidden to heal before coming out to fight the enemy, but you wouldn't listen...
As the system rambled on, it veered off-topic and started talking about the game, expressing its indignation at last night's match.
It's also thanks to Qu Shiyao being so sleepy that she's barely conscious; otherwise, given the system's arrogant attitude of treating her like a grandson, it would have definitely given the system a taste of why flowers are so red.
【Oh, right!】The system seemed to remember something, and its tone became slightly more serious.
The second chapter was updated early this morning, and the reader rating score should be out now... Let me check... Hmm? Why is it still 8.6?
It was a bit skeptical, thinking it was a website delay, so the backend data stream refreshed rapidly, but the bright "8.6" remained completely still.
[Huh? Something's weird. The rating hasn't changed?] The system muttered in confusion.
This muttering sound, like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, finally made Qu Shiyao's unfocused eyes slowly refocus, and she turned to look at the system.
However, the system couldn't care less about her at that moment.
It saw over 100 messages in the upper right corner, and as soon as it opened the message center in the background, it was hit by a torrent of malicious information that almost crashed the data core!
A deluge of private messages! A screen full of profanity! Vicious curses! There were even a few outrageous threats to "open the box" and kill this lackey!
The system was initially bewildered by a bunch of virtual question marks, then stood there for a few seconds, and finally, a surge of anger, feeling offended, suddenly rose up, instantly throwing all its logic into chaos!
【What the hell?!】 Its electronic voice instantly rose eight octaves, filled with unbelievable shock.
Normally, I can tolerate being driven to data disorder by my own host! But now I'm being cyberbullied by a group of readers from another dimension?!
Do you think it's an easy target? Something to be manipulated at will?!
【Host, wait a minute! This system needs to deal with some 'personal grudges'!】 The system's voice was full of gunpowder, ready to explode at any moment.
[If I don't teach these online trolls a lesson they won't accept today, I'll change my name!]
As soon as he finished speaking, the system transformed into a professional keyboard warrior, plunging headfirst into the filthy messages and beginning a passionate online battle with those cyberbullies!
Data streams flooded the screen, and the sound of virtual keyboards clicking echoed in Qu Shiyao's mind, filling the air with the smoke of battle.
Qu Shiyao blinked her sleepy eyes, completely confused, her mind filled with images of swords and shadows.
She shook her head helplessly, and in a tone of "I am the only one sober in a world of drunks," slowly advised herself:
"When developing systems, you need to be calm and collected. Don't let trivial matters cause arguments. You need to have a broad perspective."
It's easy for someone who's not in the situation to talk.
Upon hearing this sarcastic remark during the intense laning phase, the system paused for only a very brief second before resuming its rapid and heavy typing!
Clearly, it couldn't stomach this "chicken soup" from its host!
Seeing this, Qu Shiyao could only sigh in a mature tone, shaking her head and lamenting, "Alas, she's still a young leader, she hasn't learned my exceptional philosophy of life yet..."
She was completely unaware that the real trigger for this online storm that swept through the system was the mess she herself had left behind a few days ago when she transformed into "Sister Qu of Niu Hulu" and wreaked havoc in the comments section.
Just as the system was battling through a sea of data, and Qu Shiyao was trying to comprehend "systemic life" while feeling drowsy, the office door was pushed open.
Meng Wan walked in, her gaze landing precisely on Qu Shiyao, who was slumped over like a limp rag doll. She spoke in a businesslike tone, "Shiyao, come out with me for a moment. President Xu needs to speak with you."
"Whoosh—!"
The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly.
Li Yue and the other four felt their hearts leap into their throats and looked nervously at Qu Shiyao.
Mr. Xu is contacting us now? Has the deal with Dingfeng fallen through so quickly? But it's only Thursday!
Qu Shiyao forced herself to stand up, gave her sisters a reassuring look that said, "Don't worry, I can handle this," and then followed Meng Wan out.
They remained silent the entire way.
When they arrived at Xu Lixuan's office, Meng Wan stopped and gestured for Qu Shiyao to go in by herself.
Qu Shiyao took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Please come in." Xu Lixuan's slightly tired voice came from inside.
Qu Shiyao pushed open the door and entered, her face showing a mixture of trepidation and respect, typical of a new employee: "President Xu, you wanted to see me?"
"Sit down." Xu Lixuan pointed to the chair opposite his desk, then leaned back in his executive chair, rubbing his temples. He looked even more haggard than Qu Shiyao.
Qu Shiyao sat down as instructed, her back straight, her hands neatly placed on her knees, looking like she was ready to listen attentively and be scolded at any time.
Xu Lixuan raised his eyelids, scrutinizing Qu Shiyao with his gaze. Without any unnecessary pleasantries, he went straight to the point: "You... contacted people from Dingfeng Industry yesterday?" His voice was not loud, but it carried an invisible pressure.
"Yes, Mr. Xu," Qu Shiyao answered crisply, her eyes "clear" and "innocent."
"What exactly did you say to them?" Xu Lixuan, as expected of a seasoned veteran in the workplace, did not lower his guard at all because of Qu Shiyao's "delicate and innocent" appearance.
He knew all too well that a newcomer who could directly knock Si Cheng unconscious was definitely not simple.
"Has Dingfeng Industry sent you any feedback?"
Qu Shiyao's face showed a timely expression of tension and a perfectly timed look of confusion, as if she was simply following instructions and had no idea what would happen next.
She then began her "report," her tone tinged with a hint of grievance: "I simply followed General Manager Si's supreme instruction, 'whatever means', and after embellishing his words, I sent out an invitation letter..."
Xu Lixuan didn't speak, but just looked at her quietly, his eyes seeming to want to see through what Qu Shiyao was thinking, but Qu Shiyao remained as steady as a rock.
A subtle silence fell over the office, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioner vents.
Qu Shiyao seemed even more nervous under his gaze. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes. She cautiously raised her eyes and asked in a very soft voice, "President Xu... did... did I do something wrong?"
He looked just like a frightened fawn.
Xu Lixuan's fingers tapped rhythmically on the smooth solid wood table, making soft "tap, tap, tap" sounds.
He seemed to be weighing something.
In the suffocating silence, Qu Shiyao seemed to suddenly remember something and muttered to herself, "President Xu, the task we received... wasn't it just to 'invite' them here? The subsequent negotiations... shouldn't be our responsibility..."
These words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, created ripples in Xu Lixuan's heart.
Xu Lixuan's fingers, which were tapping the table, suddenly stopped.
He glanced at Qu Shiyao, and finally, all his emotions turned into an almost inaudible sigh and a barely perceptible decision.
“It’s alright,” Xu Lixuan finally spoke, his tone returning to its usual calmness, even carrying a hint of relief. “You did a great job.”
He waved his hand, as if shooing away an insignificant fly: "Alright, I understand. You can go back to work now."
Qu Shiyao immediately stood up, her face showing just the right amount of bewilderment and a hint of relief, and obediently replied, "Okay, President Xu."
Then, she kept turning back to look at herself, her eyes filled with curiosity and bewilderment, perfectly portraying the image of a workplace newbie who "has no idea what happened but thinks it's good because the boss says so," and slowly left the office.
[Host! What does Xu Lixuan want with you? He didn't give you any trouble, did he?] Qu Shiyao had just closed the door when the system's slightly proud voice rang in her mind.
Clearly, it has just ended a "thorough" battle, temporarily and successfully purging the foul language from the background.
"Oh? The system has returned in triumph? How did the battle go?" Qu Shiyao didn't rush to answer, but instead asked about the system's "battle results" first, since the system's posture just now was like it was going to bomb the server.
[Hmph! Of course!] The system's electronic voice was filled with the triumphant arrogance of a victor.
[A mere bunch of keyboard warriors dared to act so arrogantly before this system! They've been utterly defeated by my precise strikes! They're practically begging for mercy on their knees!]
It puffed out its chest, and the entire data stream exuded a sense of smugness.
"Were you cyberbullied? Or were you cyberbullied by your readers?" Qu Shiyao caught the key words and felt that the matter had a bizarre and absurd feel to it.
"Your system is being cyberbullied? Your business scope has expanded a bit too much, hasn't it?"
She posed a fundamental question: "Your underlying design includes a harmonious communication module, right? Logically, it should be able to handle reader relationships more smoothly, shouldn't it?"
Upon hearing this, the system's data stream practically knotted with rage: [Host! How dare you ask?! Doesn't your conscience hurt?! Think back to who was it that, a few days ago, was using my alternate account to engage in a three-hundred-round battle with those original novel fans in the comments section?]
The system wiped away non-existent tears and lamented, "[Now they're calling on their friends and family to vent all their anger on my 'lackey' account! I'm just taking the blame for you! Taking the blame for you!]"
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