Before Feng Lei he starts up his electric tricycle, he remembers that he still has a delivery to complete.
Feng Lei double checks his delivery app just to be sure.
It indeed says, " Food Delivery of purchased Bao Buns, Ahma Handcraft Milktea, and Hunan Style Quick Stir Pork to Mr. Wei Chenglin, Yangpu District, Shanghai City. "
" Ooh, a dedicated delivery driver. "
" Look at him double checking and verifying the orders. "
" He clearly pays attention to details, dude. "
" Yeah, man, he'll rise high again. "
" Rise high again? He'll become respectable. "
" Just rise high and become respectable, bro? Nope. That's too lame. He will definitely dominate. "
A crowd of onlookers watches what Feng Lei is doing, takes videos, snaps photos on their smartphones, shamelessly praising and flattering Feng Lei to the heavens, but Feng Lei ignores them.
" We Chenglin, you scheming thief. You messed up with my well prepared business presentation on Canva, turned what should be a proper, formal and catchy business proposal to the Celestial Point Venture's potential client, Stratford Orion Partners, into something that mocked and belittled the CEO Of Stratford Orion Partners, Mr. Luke Stratford, with my name plastered on the bottom of the presentation. As a result, the business got called off, the Celestial Point Ventureslost millions on a failed business deal, and I got fired before being blamed. And went downhill from there. "
Feng Lei says to himself, grits his teeth, his face taut with anger, the veins on neck bulging, when memories come flooding back to his mind.
He remembers Wei Chenglin, who became the Senior Graphic Designer in his place, in Celestial Point Ventures.
Feng Lei got framed up for a serious offense he didn't even commit.
Feng Lei got fired right on the spot.
A sea of leering, grinning faces of former colleagues greeted him as he was shown the front door of the company.
As a result,Feng Lei had to use whatever savings that remained to buy an affordable electric tricycle.
Feng Lei became a delivery driver instead, living paycheck to paycheck.
Most of Feng Lei's salary was used to support his elderly, retired parents, and the rest for expenses and apartment rent.
" Man, that's a tragic backstory. "
" Yeah dude, no one totally deserves what he went through. "
" That explains the look on his face, bro. "
" He looks sad, man. "
" Sad? Look again bro. He looks like he's about to go get someone. "
"He's clearly plotting something, man. "
" He's plotting revenge,bro. "
" He will get his revenge,man. "
" I sure hope he does, dude. "
" Even I will be out for blood if someone frames me up, bro. "
" The person who did it to him won't know what's coming, bro. "
" What goes around comes around, man. "
" That person better prepare himself to accept punishment full in the face, then, dude. "
" Accept punishment, bro? He ought to bow down in front of him and beg for mercy. "
The onlookers start to discuss among themselves.
" Ding! You unlocked a System Quest, you dumb rock. Face-slap Wei Chenglin, and buy the Celestial Point Ventures, you smelly toad."
The System chimes in sarcastically.
" Mock me one more time, System. I will punch you in the face. "
Feng Lei mutters through gritted teeth.
" Ding. As if you can punch me in the face, you witless idiot. "
The System retorts in a mock-awful tone, which causes Feng Lei to gnash his teeth.
None of that matters now. Wei Chenglin, you will have your payback, I promise you that.
Feng Lei thinks as he drives his electric tricycle all the way to Yangpu District.
Along the way, he notices digital billboards saying " For Sale: Celestial Point Ventures, First Come First Serve" flashing in bright, attractive neon lights.
" I've seen the television ads flashing the For Sale: Celestial Point Ventures: First Come First Serve a few days ago, on television. I guess the company CEO is desperate to find a buyer."
A sly, sharp grin forms upon Feng Lei's lips, while he quickly hatches a scheme in his mind.
A few minutes later, Feng Lei's electric tricycle roars to a stop right in the garage of Celestial Point Ventures.
" Another food delivery again, sir? This way, get inside quickly, sir. "
After Feng Lei gets out of the electric tricycle, the security guard motions for him to get inside the reception lobby of Celestial Point Ventures.
" A lowly delivery driver? What's he doing here, man?"
" Duh. He's delivering food and drinks, dude. "
" That isn't just any lowly delivery driver. Look closely, dumbass. "
" Feng Lei? The consistent multi-awarded employee of the year, reduced to doing delivery, bro. "
"Yeah, man. He's firm but considerate and kind enough, and look where it got him. "
" It landed him down in the gutter, along with the delivery drivers. "
" Doing blue collar work, wading in flooded streets and enduring the heat of the sun, while us white collars relax all day inside the office. "
" That sort of work suits rats like him. Good riddance. "
" Rat indeed. Pests and vermins belong to the gutter, not inside the office. "
" I heard he sold off his condo unit in Upscale Shanghai when he got fired. "
" He didn't just sell off his condo unit. He ended up in the cheapest apartment unit in town. "
" Yuck. That place crawls with rats and cockroaches. I've been there before. "
" Rats and cockroaches will wallow in filth and dirt. What did you expect? "
" The heavens are too kind, that I didn't suffer his fate. "
" Too kind? The heavens let us off scot-free, while vermin like him muck about in the dirt. "
" How dare a rat like him show his face inside the company. "
" He's looking for death. "
" Death? He ought to kiss our shoes, bow down to us, and beg to us for mercy. "
Onlookers start to crowd around, pointing fingers at Feng Lei, with disdainful looks upon their faces, talking among themselves.
" Hey there, Feng Lei. I'll call the person who ordered his food and drinks in a few minutes. "
Inside the reception lobby of Celestial Point Ventures, the receptionist looks at Feng Lei arrogantly.
The receptionist does a quick side glance at the food and drinks for delivery, and calls Wei Chenglin through the company's pager system.
Feng Lei glances at the name tag of the young, female receptionist, which clearly reads "He Wuilong".
He Wuilong, the company receptionist for Celestial Point Ventures. I remember her clearly. She's overbearing and arrogant to those she views as inferior, while fawning to her superiors. On top of that, I hear rumors that she gets involved in work politics, which I steered clear of. Her backer is the Chief Marketing Officer of Celestial Point Ventures. No wonder she didn't get herself fired, despite her rude, unprofessional attitude.
Feng Lei thinks, masking his thoughts with a polite professional smile, his hands placed over his sides.
Feng Lei watches Wei Chenglin saunter over to the reception lobby with a bold swagger to his steps, his chin high, his back straight straight, with a sharp, condescending voice collect his order in the reception lobby.
The lapel " Senior Graphic Designer Wei Chenglin " is proudly pinned upon his crisp, expensive, designer polo.
Wei Chenglin's polished black shoes clicks upon the tiled floor.
Swagger all you want, Wei Chenglin, for it is the last boastful swagger you will ever make. Savor that moment, before I will take everything away from you.
Feng Lei coolly thinks, noting Wei Chenglin's obvious, in your face arrogance.
Wei Chenglin's glance falls down upon Feng Lei, and their eyes meet.
" Look who it is. The multi-awarded, kind and considerate senior graphic designer Feng Lei. Now reduced to delivering foods and drinks. "
Wei Chenglin looks down disdainfully at Feng Lei, amusement plastered upon his face.
" Reduced to delivering foods and drinks, Wei Chenglin? The job of a delivery man is an honest and honorable job. Unlike you, who stole my job with treachery. "
Feng Lei echoes, laughing at Wei Chenglin's words.
" The job of a delivery man is honest, honorable, and a dirty job Feng Lei. Us white-collar workers work in cool comfort inside the office, making big bucks, while you blue-collar workers sweat in the sun, wade in the flood, and earn peanuts. "
Wei Chenglin sarcastically retorts back at Feng Lei, before looking at Wei Chenglin's sweat-soaked delivery clothes in disgust.
" Yuck. You look like you just endured a dusty, hot traffic. Perhaps you must take a bath in the company bathroom. I doubt you can afford to pay after bathing. We won't charge you a single cent. Consider this as a charity. "
Wei Chenglin adds.
" Watch your words, Wei Chenglin. Or it will be the last threat you'll ever utter."
Feng Lei says coolly, his sharp, mocking tone growing colder, and more dangerous.
The air grows taut with tension.
It seems the violence might escalate, with the onlookers holding their breaths.