I pushed open the door to my rented apartment, and the sour stench of instant noodles hit me. My roommate, Wang Qiang, was laughing idiotically at the flashing, colorful game on his computer screen.
Seeing me return, he gave me a dismissive glance and sneered, "Well, well, isn't it Manager Zhou? Found a job yet? Let me guess—it's another one of your scam gigs, isn't it?"
I ignored him, walked straight to my bed, pulled out the worn box from underneath, and retrieved a crumpled job offer letter.
"Hongtu Weiye Co., Ltd." The name sounded impressive, but in reality, it was just a shabby little company with about ten people.
The probationary pay was abysmal, barely enough to cover next month's rent, let alone fund the grand plan forming in my mind.
Clutching the offer letter, I felt a swirl of mixed emotions. Sister Zhang had assured me this was the best she could find, given my tarnished reputation that everyone wanted to avoid like the plague.
"Haha, Hongtu Weiye?" Wang Qiang burst out laughing, nearly falling out of his chair. "That dinky little company? And you're actually going? Dude, just go home and farm already!"
I took a deep breath and told myself to endure. Revenge is a dish best served cold. When I make my comeback, let's see who'll still dare mock me.
On my first day at work, my colleagues lived up to Sister Zhang's description: every single one a seasoned slacker.
Their eyes were filled with scorn and suspicion, as if I were a harbinger of misfortune.
Quietly, I walked to my workstation and began familiarizing myself with the job.
The company's software was outdated and cumbersome, riddled with inefficiencies.
In my mind, I immediately envisioned a streamlined version and thought of small tweaks that could boost productivity.
During lunch break, I knocked on my boss Li Dahai's office door.
"Mr. Li, I have a suggestion that could improve our department's efficiency," I said in the calmest tone I could muster.
Li Dahai was devouring his lunchbox, his greasy mouth speckled with rice. He glanced at me with impatience, "You? A newbie? What do you know?"
I briefly explained my idea and demonstrated a few techniques. Li Dahai froze mid-bite, lowering his chopsticks. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
In the days that followed, I applied those techniques to finish my tasks swiftly, far outpacing my colleagues.
Their attitudes toward me began to change—from disdain to astonishment, and even a hint of respect.
Li Dahai, too, started consulting me from time to time.
Standing outside Li Dahai's office, I took a deep breath and knocked. "Mr. Li, I'd like to talk to you..."
"About an advance on my salary," I finally said, steeling myself, as my growling stomach added to my embarrassment.
Li Dahai looked at me as if I were an alien. His thick lips quivered, releasing a pungent wave of garlic breath. "An advance? You've barely been here a few days! Are you crazy?" His pudgy body jiggled in his chair like an angry meatball.
Swallowing my pride, I explained, "Mr. Li, I have an idea that could earn the company significant revenue, but it requires a small amount of initial funding..."
"An idea? You?" Li Dahai snorted disdainfully, cutting me off. He grabbed his tea and gulped noisily, the liquid trickling down his greasy chin like a miniature waterfall.
I took a deep breath, resisting the urge to dunk his oily face into his tea. "It's a small project, low risk, with high potential returns..." I outlined my plan briefly—one I knew had proven successful in the future. At this moment, it was a surefire win.
"Ridiculous!" Li Dahai barked, waving me away like a fly. "Don't think that just because you've done a decent job recently, you can act all high and mighty. No advances! Now get back to work!"
Walking out of his office, I was fuming. That stingy fatso would regret this.
In the following days, I worked even harder, going so far as to solve a long-standing technical issue that had stumped even the company's tech director.
My success forced Li Dahai to reevaluate me.
"Zhou Hao," he said with a strained smile, "your performance has been impressive. The company has decided to reward you with a bonus." He handed me an envelope stuffed with cash.
Holding that envelope, I felt a surge of excitement. This was my first income since my rebirth—not much, but a crucial first step.
With this money, I could finally initiate my plan.
Just as I was strategizing my next move, the office door burst open, and a sharp voice rang out:
"Mr. Li, are you seriously letting Zhou Hao handle that project? He's just a newbie. What does he know?"
Looking up, I saw several colleagues standing at the door, jealousy and resentment written all over their faces.
I shot them a cold glance, particularly at the leader—Wang Qiang, who always targeted me. He was undoubtedly envious of my recent success.
"Knowledge isn't determined by seniority," I said, patting the envelope in my hand. My confident smile only fueled their irritation.
Li Dahai hesitated, clearly swayed by their pressure. "Zhou Hao, you know this project is critical. These are seasoned employees..."
"I understand your concerns," I interrupted, pulling out part of the cash and placing it on his desk. "This is my advance. If the project fails, I'll reimburse every cent." My tone was firm, my gaze unwavering.
I knew this project would be a huge success in the future, and I intended to be the one to claim the glory.
After some hesitation, Li Dahai nodded. "Alright! I'll give you a chance. Don't let me down!"
Over the next few days, I threw myself into the project. Armed with my knowledge of future trends, I proposed a bold strategy that seemed risky but was guaranteed to succeed.
"This is insane! Zhou Hao, you've lost your mind!" Wang Qiang was the first to object, with others echoing his sentiment, eager to see me fail.
Ignoring their doubts, I calmly presented data and case studies to validate my plan.
In the end, Li Dahai was convinced and decided to take the gamble.
My plan paid off spectacularly. The project not only succeeded but brought immense profits to the company.
"Zhou Hao, you're incredible! We totally underestimated you!" Wang Qiang now approached me with a fawning smile, while others showered me with congratulations.
I smiled faintly, unfazed by their sudden praise.
I knew this was only the beginning.
Picking up a document labeled "XX Group Acquisition Plan," I saw the name of my ex-girlfriend's company—Su Ya's current high perch.
A cold smile crept across my face. "The game has only just begun."
I stood by the window, overlooking the bustling city streets below, feeling a surge of ambition.
This lifetime, I would stand at the top, forcing everyone who had belittled me to grovel at my feet.
Grabbing my phone, I dialed a number.
"Hello, Bai Yao? I need you to investigate XX Group's recent activities, especially..." I paused. "Especially everything about Su Ya."
YOU ARE READING
重生:失败者走向成功的旅程
FanficMy name is Zhou Hao. I was originally a nobody. I was betrayed by my girlfriend and even had my engagement called off. After hitting rock bottom, I was reborn into the past of a parallel universe. Relying on my memories of the future, I started from...
