That day was very ordinary for Feinmei. Everyone was busy at their respective posts, occasionally speaking softly, but mostly silently typing on their computers.

Luan Nian was in a management meeting. During the meeting, Dony was talking about revising a new strategy, but no one was speaking. Luan Nian wasn’t speaking either; he only raised his head and gave Dony a faint glance—a glance devoid of any discernible emotion.

Tracy also looked up at Dony, then lowered her head and messaged Luan Nian: “I especially put on makeup today.”

“It should be ceremonious,” Luan Nian replied.

The meeting was tedious, but contrary to his usual behavior, Luan Nian didn’t call it to a halt. He even leaned back in his chair, watching the departments bicker.

After a while, Luan Nian saw Tracy’s expression change—she who had weathered many storms. She interrupted Dony: “Sorry, Dony, please stop for a moment. Luke, could you come out for a minute?”

Luan Nian followed Tracy out of the meeting room and saw that something was wrong at the workstations. People were whispering, suddenly falling silent when they saw them.

Luan Nian took Tracy’s computer and saw the email with the subject line: “I am Flora Shang, and I am formally reporting Planning Department head Dony for long-term sexual harassment against me.”

Blood rushed to Luan Nian’s head. He felt something collapse inside him, so painful. His eyes turned to Shang Zhitao’s workstation. She was sitting there upright, enduring strange glances and pointing. So calm, so composed, her lips slightly pursed, like a warrior about to duel. Luan Nian would never forget that day, nor would he forget Shang Zhitao’s posture—a bravery and resolution he had never seen before.

“Finish reading it, Luke.” Tracy didn’t realize her voice was already trembling. She thought, if she had experienced this, how many nights would she spend with nightmares, unable to sleep peacefully?

“The first time I formally met Dony was in his office. After I explained the budget management process to him, he suddenly asked if I had a boyfriend. I asked if this was related to work, and he said no, but that he was single. My intuition told me something wasn’t right. The first time came too suddenly; I had no evidence.”

“I bought a voice recorder, and every time I was alone with Dony, I would turn it on.”

“Dony harassed me a second time in the company’s pantry. At that time, colleagues were all working, and I was getting coffee. He walked up beside me, looked me up and down, and said: ‘Flora, you look beautiful today. Want to have dinner together?’ I said, ‘Sorry, I have plans tonight.’ This time, although I felt something was off, I still thought it was just normal workplace communication.”

“The third time was on a small path through a hotel during the Dunhuang 108. He invited me to dinner the next day, and I refused. That night, he suddenly sent a half-naked photo and told me: ‘I always believe men should be disciplined. Would Flora like to work out with me?’ I rejected him and pointed out that his photo was too explicit, suggesting he shouldn’t send such pictures in the future.”

“Since then, I’ve often received messages from him in the middle of the night. Sometimes, they invite me to dinner, photos. Once, he sent a picture of his genitals and asked if I wanted to try. That time I broke down and blocked him. But I was very afraid inside; I didn’t know how to face this situation. I started having nightmares.”

“But he didn’t let me go. He said to me on the company’s communication software: ‘Flora, you’re very unprofessional. If there’s work, I can’t find you. If it’s because of that photo, I’m very sorry. I was drunk. I’ll be mindful of boundaries.”

“Dony harassed me, again and again, each time worse than before. Until that day in Chengdu, when I went to the restroom, and he pulled me into an empty private room.”

“I didn’t want to stay in Chengdu. I was terrified. From Chengdu to Beijing, 1,520 kilometers of flight distance, I was trembling the entire time.”

“I’ve also contacted women previously harassed by Dony; evidence is attached below. I earnestly request the company to initiate an investigation procedure.”

From Chengdu to Beijing, 1,520 kilometers of flight distance, I was trembling the entire time.

That night, Luan Nian heard Luke frolicking downstairs. He closed his computer, intending to go down to check, but saw Shang Zhitao walk into his room, take off her clothes, and crawl into his arms. She was constantly shaking, as if frightened by something.

He asked her what was wrong.

She said nothing.

Luan Nian closed Tracy’s computer, walked back to his office, and locked the door. His heart felt like a great fire was burning inside, scorching it with searing pain.

Outside was very quiet. After a while, Lu Mi heard Kitty say at her workstation: “Couldn’t reach an agreement, huh?…”

Just this one sentence, full of malice. Some colleagues nodded: “Dony was very polite to me.”

Lu Mi glanced at Shang Zhitao, who sat there without saying a word. The malice of the world swept over her like a fierce wind. From the very beginning, she knew people would say it’s impossible, it’s not like that, why would he choose her? Couldn’t negotiate terms? Only a minority would ever believe that the girl was bullied for no reason.

Lu Mi stood up, walked to the aisle, then turned to Kitty’s workstation, suddenly grabbing her hair and pulling hard: “I’ll fucking kill you today! Don’t think no one knows about your shit! Do you believe I’ll expose it all?!!!”

Kitty struggled, while Lu Mi’s face tilted back, her hand never releasing Kitty’s hair.

Lu Mi gave Kitty a severe beating, and no one came forward to stop her. Today, Feinmei was enveloped in a strange atmosphere. Shang Zhitao’s accusatory email had shattered Feinmei’s superficial prosperity, revealing its inner decay and rot in full view.

Suddenly, a girl said: “I also received messages from Dony. I thought he liked me.” Her voice was small, timid, but she finally spoke up.

Luan Nian heard the commotion outside but didn’t move. He was listening to the recordings in Shang Zhitao’s email.

When Shang Zhitao first started working, she spoke very softly. If you looked at her, she would blush. She was gentle-hearted, always helping others, interacting with people using her almost awkward social skills. Such a girl, pulled into a dark private room, was told: “You want to join the Planning Department but don’t have enough qualifications, right?”

When her body hit the wall, there was a noise in the recording—a noise that cut through Luan Nian’s heart.

Sharp pain.

He removed his earphones, not realizing his eyes had moistened. He stood up, left his office, walked into Dony’s office, suddenly grabbed the teacup from the desk, and smashed it on his head. Screams erupted outside. Dony stood up to fight back, but Luan Nian gave him no chance. He grabbed Dony’s tie, wrapped it around his neck, pulled hard, and said in his ear:

“You like bondage, don’t you?”

“You like asphyxiation, don’t you?”

“You like drugging people, don’t you?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you like it?”

Luan Nian had no intention of letting go; he wanted to kill him. In his teens, he liked guns, liked fighting, always wanted to kill those disgusting people. None of them was as disgusting as the person in front of him.

Finally, two people rushed in and pulled Luan Nian away. Tracy stood in front of him and said: “The police are here.”

He released the tie; his palm was marked with red imprints, and his eyes were even redder, like a wild beast about to kill and burn. He walked out of the office and saw everyone looking at him, but he didn’t speak, only looking at Shang Zhitao once through the silent crowd.

His heart was in agony.

Truly.

Such a good girl, harassed by a maggot for so long, plagued by nightmares, yet forcing a smile every day. He pushed her against the wall, his hand gripping her neck—that impact even created static in the voice recorder.

How scared she must have been at that time. From Chengdu to Beijing, 1,520 kilometers of flight distance, trembling the whole way.

Luan Nian hated himself for acting too slowly and also blamed Shang Zhitao for taking matters into her own hands.

Dony walked out of the office, covering his neck, and looked at Luan Nian: “You set me up?”

“I wanted to kill you.”

Luan Nian’s expression was terrifying. When he was truly angry, his killing intent wasn’t so obvious but resided in his eyes—just a thin layer, a faint glance at you, not even deigning a second look.

Tracy stood in the middle of the aisle, exchanged a glance with Luan Nian, then looked at everyone, very sincerely, seeming a bit sad: “At Feinmei China, the ratio of male to female employees is 45% to 55%. Female employees are the rapid march of Feinmei’s high-speed business development in China. I didn’t foresee today’s events, especially Flora’s email, which pains me deeply.” For the first time, she wept in front of everyone: “As a woman myself, I feel sad for Flora’s experience, truly.”

Shang Zhitao still sat there without moving. Lu Mi sat beside her, holding her cold hand.

Tracy wiped away her tears, calming herself down: “Dony was hired by Feinmei headquarters. The background check didn’t go through Feinmei China—this was also a personnel error by the group. Early this morning, we received a call from the police asking us to cooperate with their investigation into a rape case, which led to the scene everyone just witnessed.”

“I’ve also learned from the police that Dony is suspected in more than just this case. Six women have jointly filed complaints. But because I don’t know much at this point, I can only say this much.”

“As the head of Human Resources for Feinmei China, I will initiate an internal investigation into Dony today. I welcome female colleagues to come talk to me. At the same time, I implore everyone to respect every woman who stands up. You’re not in their shoes only because you’re a bit luckier.”

“Thank you.”

Tracy bowed to everyone, then walked to Shang Zhitao and patted her shoulder. What a good girl. When she first interviewed her, she liked her from the first words she spoke.

“Flora, I listened to the recordings you provided. There’s one thing I feel I must tell you personally: Dony said your qualifications weren’t sufficient for the Planning Department. I disagree. In your more than two years at Feinmei, you’ve received A+ performance evaluations twice, led the supplier management project and the marketing department efficiency project, achieving remarkable results with outstanding ability—clear for all to see. The Planning Department will soon open internal transfer headcount, and you’re welcome to apply.”

Shang Zhitao nodded, but she was a bit tired. Today, even though she hadn’t spoken or worked, her body felt completely drained. She said to Tracy: “Can I take a day off today?”

“Yes.”

Shang Zhitao packed up and went downstairs. She didn’t want to stay at the company. When she passed by Luan Nian, she suppressed the urge to throw herself into his arms and sob uncontrollably—an unprecedented sense of grievance and vulnerability. The gazes of others had stripped her bare. She knew she would be questioned and was prepared for it, but when she heard that phrase “couldn’t reach an agreement,” all her defenses collapsed.

Lu Mi escorted her downstairs. Sun Yu and Sun Yuanzhu were waiting for her there. Luan Nian stood by the window, watching Shang Zhitao walk up to them. Sun Yuanzhu took her backpack and patted her head. They left.

Luan Nian had asked Shang Zhitao countless times: “Has Dony ever harassed you?”

She said: “No.”

She had never thought of telling him about Dony. When she encountered difficulties, she never felt he could help her. She would rather be afraid, worried, and anxiously enduring one night after another than seek his help.

He stood by the window watching them walk away, suddenly understanding that Shang Zhitao was never as he saw her. She had never truly relied on him; she was clear-headed and independent, always keeping him outside her circle of trust. Just as he had told her at the beginning:

We’re just bed partners, no need to be responsible for each other.

If either party finds a new relationship, we can terminate this anytime.

We parted on good terms.

Shang Zhitao had fulfilled it all.

Luan Nian sat back at his desk, suddenly feeling it all meaningless. He opened his computer and wrote a resignation letter:

I am not prepared to take the blame for the company’s erroneous personnel strategy. Dony’s appointment did not go through me; even the background check materials were problematic.

I don’t know whose interests Dony represents, but this personnel accident by the company fully demonstrates the lack of trust in me.

I resign from all my positions at Feinmei effective today.

That’s it.

Luan Nian closed his computer and walked out of the office building.