Upgrade

Wang Defa has been feeling a bit uneasy lately. It's not because of the new intern who keeps flirting with him, but because of the company's bizarre "Happiness Upgrade" program.

What they call "Happiness Upgrade" is actually forcing everyone to change their phones. The company has made a bulk purchase of new phones from a certain domestic brand, claiming that "technology empowers and improves employee happiness." Old phones are to be traded in, with the amount depending on the phone's condition and your relationship with your direct supervisor. Of course, the official explanation is "big data assessment."

Wang Defa’s old phone, which he bought three years ago after gritting his teeth, was specifically chosen for its high-resolution camera. Now, it’s considered an "obsolete device" and its trade-in value is just a fraction of the original price. What annoys him even more is that he doesn’t even need most of the new phone's features; he mainly uses it for calls and short videos. But the company said that it’s not just about changing phones, it’s an "upgrade," it’s "embracing the new era," and it's "responding to the national call," so everyone has to switch.

The office building where Wang Defa’s company is located has also recently joined the ranks of "smart offices." The entrance has been replaced with facial recognition, the elevators require card access, and even the toilets are equipped with sensor systems, supposedly to "analyze employee health, reminding everyone to drink more water and take breaks." He feels like it's all a huge cage, and he’s just an animal locked inside.

In the first month after changing his phone, Wang Defa realized that his daily clock-in time was accurate to the second. His phone automatically uploads his work hours, step count, and even his web browsing history. A large screen has also been added to the boss’s office wall, displaying real-time "happiness scores" for the employees. Those with high scores are praised at the monthly meetings, while those with low scores... Wang Defa doesn't want to know.

The first thing Wang Defa does every morning at work is open the "Happiness App" on his phone. Based on the previous day's data and backend algorithms, it assigns him "happiness tasks" for the day. For example, today his tasks are: share a company promotional article on his WeChat moments, like 5 posts from his colleagues, and send three "cheering" emojis in the work group.

Wang Defa feels like this "happiness" is a bit fake. He carefully follows the instructions of the "Happiness App," afraid that his happiness score might drop to the bottom if he's not careful. He finds that everyone else is the same, rushing through their "happiness tasks" every day, liking each other's posts on WeChat moments, and sending "cheering" emojis in work groups.

One day, Wang Defa accidentally noticed that the "Happiness App" on his phone had been updated. This update added a new feature: "Happiness Blind Boxes." The system would randomly distribute "happiness blind boxes" to employees. By opening a box, an employee might receive a small cash reward or some "happiness privileges," such as "a day off from clocking in," "leaving an hour early," or "assigning a colleague to make breakfast."

Wang Defa tried opening a "happiness blind box," and the screen displayed: Congratulations, you have received a "Happy One-Hour Workday" privilege.

Confused, Wang Defa asked his colleagues what was going on. They just smiled mysteriously, saying it was an "upgrade" perk. Wang Defa opened his work calendar and realized that today was April Fool's Day. He was stunned, and looking at the "Happiness App" on his phone, he suddenly felt like it was all a carefully crafted joke.

He decided to resist. He opened the "Happiness App" and wrote on the "Happiness Task" interface: I don't need your happiness. Then, he threw his phone into the trash can.

The next day, Wang Defa was fired by the company. The reason: seriously affecting the company’s happiness score and damaging the company’s image.

While packing his things, Wang Defa found that the phone in the trash was still lit up, with a line of text appearing on the screen: Congratulations, you have successfully unlocked the "Free Life" hidden achievement.

Wang Defa laughed, a laugh that was a mix of helplessness and relief. He picked up the phone from the trash and put it in his pocket. He didn't know what would happen next, but he knew that, at least, he wouldn’t have to worry about "happiness" every day. But as he walked out of the company gate, he noticed that everyone was holding the exact same new phone as him, smiling mechanically at the screen.