Chapter 2064: with translation of chapter title

Cui Heming was working desperately.

Market competition is fierce, pressure growing ever greater. For a small company like his, providing software services, survival is only possible in the cracks.

If they could create a hit software product and then have the whole company acquired by a giant, that would be great.

Each time, Cui Heming used this reason to console himself.

But he also knew it was just a daydream.

A small company, unlike the bloated bureaucracy of big firms, yet Cui Heming, the nominal manager and boss, also threw himself into the front lines, enduring the 996 schedule.

If it were really 996, that would be fine.

Cui Heming hadn't gone home for three days already; when tired he slept on the office sofa. Besides him, six other employees worked there.

As manager, he had a separate office of over ten square meters, while the other employees worked outside.

The office was filled with a scorched smell, a byproduct of overusing the brain.

Everyone's temper had unknowingly become explosive, perhaps due to work pressure or constant late nights.

The office coffee machine was no longer used, since grinding coffee also takes time.

Instant coffee and vitamin Function drink for alertness became the theme of these days; everyone used them indiscriminately to add energy, staving off falling asleep.

If customers don't know what they need, create the need—that's Cui Heming's idea. To survive in the cracks, some innovation is essential.

Proposing a concept is easy, but truly implementing it becomes extremely difficult.

Just keep working overtime; having a job that earns money to support living in a first-tier city is already not easy.

Cui Heming brewed a cup of coffee, eyes fixed on the screen, right hand moving the mouse, left hand lifting the cup and taking a sip.

He forgot the coffee was just brewed, the water scalding. After half a sip, he almost spat it onto the computer screen.

Cui Heming habitually tugged his ear, seemingly to ease the pain of the mild burn.

And after being scalded he seemed a bit more alert, so he grabbed the vitamin Function drink beside him, opened it, and took a big gulp.

Whether it was a psychological effect or the drink actually helped, Cui Heming felt his energy renewed and threw himself back into work with all his might.

Suddenly, a clamor came from outside.

Soon, the sound of glass shattering bang-bang and a woman's scream came through.

Cui Heming stared blankly for a moment.

Having not rested properly for too long, plus his inherently high blood pressure, slowed his neural reflexes by a beat.

After a few seconds, Cui Heming realized the hoarse shouting outside was likely from an employee named Zhou Qiang.

He was capable, energetic, rarely rested, and was Cui Heming's capable assistant.

What's going on? Cui Heming, puzzled, opened the door full of Worry, Anxiety.

Just as he stepped out, a folder slammed onto his head with a "pa" sound.

This made Cui Heming angry.

"What the hell are you doing!" Cui Heming shouted.

Zhou Qiang's eyes were bloodshot, filled with red veins, showing a pathological frenzy; he grabbed various documents and flung them at nearby coworkers.

His agitation reached its peak, like a trapped beast making a final desperate struggle.

"Seize him!" Cui Heming felt his blood pressure "whoosh" up, his head spinning, the world turning.

Half a year ago, after undergoing aortic arch replacement Shou Bing at 912, he feared similar problems might arise.

Manager Zhao had warned him to keep his blood pressure under control; if it acted up again, he wouldn't be so lucky to run into Zheng Lao Ban.

Instinctively he covered his chest with his hand, but seeing Zhou Qiang "go crazy" before him made Cui Heming's blood pressure impossible to control.

After a struggle, Zhou Qiang was finally subdued, panting heavily.

"President Cui, what should we do?" an employee asked.

"What else can we do? Call 120 Emergency!" Cui Heming leaned against the wall, truly afraid that his aorta or other blood vessels might tear again from the Blood Pressure Increase.

Zhou Qiang was held down, his limbs twitching nonstop, gasping for breath; he himself had no idea what he was doing.

Looking at Zhou Qiang's state, Cui Heming highly doubted his mental health had broken. Damn it! Hope he doesn't develop a mental illness.

Although overwork can kill, not overworking means starving to death—a dilemma.

In the adult world there's no such thing as "easy"; if one had to describe it, Cui Heming felt the four words "isolated and helpless" summed up his current situation.

Seeing the chaotic office, seeing the employees utterly exhausted from successive all-nighters, Cui Heming knew he was surely worse off than them.

No choice; first go to the Hospital for a check-up, he tried not to think about things that would raise his blood pressure.

Soon, an Emergency Rescue Service vehicle arrived; doctors and nurses secured Zhou Qiang on a stretcher and lifted him away.

Cui Heming sat on the ground, easing his mind, trying to keep his blood pressure under control so he wouldn't break down.

What happened to Zhou Qiang? After feeling a bit better, Cui Heming began to recall the incident.

Actually the answer lay in his heart: work pressure was too great, and Zhou Qiang's mental health had broken.

Lately, news about death from overwork has been increasing.

Cui Heming had a classmate who worked desperately in Yangcheng, owning four properties. He planned to pay off the loans, then live off rental income, retire, and start a new life.

But at thirty-five he ultimately couldn't withstand life's pressure; a sudden heart attack took away all his dreams and reality. (Note 1)

He left behind a wife nine months pregnant and a six-year-old child.

These memory fragments appeared in Cui Heming's mind like a curse, seemingly related yet also seemingly unrelated.

Was his blood pressure about to collapse? Cui Heming faintly felt some chest pain.

He glanced over; the other employees had all gone to send Zhou Qiang to the Hospital.

Struggling to stand, he returned to the sofa to rest for two Minute, then began measuring his blood pressure.

The cuff inflated, pressure increased.

Cui Heming had an illusion, feeling as if he were on an airplane, with someone beside him giving him infinite security, comforting him.

It's fine, relax, once you reach Di Du you can solve the problem.

Blood pressure normal, Cui Heming let out a breath.

But what's up with Zhou Qiang? He thought for a moment, then called an employee.

After confirming the sent-to hospital was 912, Cui Heming found Zheng Ren's number and placed the call.

"Chief Zheng."

"I have an employee who went crazy, currently being sent to the 912 Emergency Department."

"Sorry to trouble you, I feel a bit tight in my chest…… no, no, blood pressure's normal, I'm fine. I'll be there soon, please take a look."

After hanging up, Cui Heming felt life was really too hard.

His hometown classmates see him thriving, having made a name for himself in Di Du. But who would know his struggles!

He lay still for a few minutes, then Cui Heming slowly sat up. He didn't dare move too vigorously, lest he die here……

He didn't want to die, nobody really wants to die.

……

……

Note 1: Two weeks ago, a friend of a friend just passed away like that.

Silence……

Dear readers, take care of your health, stay up less for cultivation, don't let stress get too high. Updates every early morning, so you can wake up, have something to do when you sleep in, and start the day happily.

Living is not easy, pay attention to your health.