The Happiness of 2 Days Off, 4 Days On, 1 Day Off

Lao Liu had worked at "Happy Interconnect" for fifteen years, transforming from a spirited college graduate into a middle-aged man with thinning hair. In those fifteen years, he witnessed the company's rise and contributed most of his sleep. Until last year, the company finally launched a brand new "2 Days Off, 4 Days On, 1 Day Off" work system. Lao Liu felt that his suffering had finally paid off.

"'2 Days Off, 4 Days On, 1 Day Off', how humane!" Lao Liu praised to everyone he met. Two consecutive days off meant he could do so much.

On the first "2 Days Off," Lao Liu slept like a log. When he woke up, it was already afternoon, and he felt exhausted, even more tired than when he was working. On the second "2 Days Off," he ambitiously planned a short trip, but ended up stuck in traffic on the highway, questioning his life. After returning, he just wanted to sleep for another day.

After working for four days, Lao Liu felt completely drained. These four days, the workload was even higher than before, because he had to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time, as if to make up for the lost rest time.

Finally, the "1 Day Off" arrived.

Lao Liu lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. He wondered what he should do today. Should he wash the mountains of dirty clothes piled up at home, or should he stock up on a week's worth of food at the supermarket, or should he go to the hospital to check his increasingly serious cervical spondylosis?

He rolled over, picked up his phone, and started scrolling through short videos. Other people's lives were so wonderful: traveling around the world, exploring restaurants, luxury cars and villas... It made him feel envious, but also felt unattainable.

"Lao Liu, come downstairs to get a package!" his wife's voice came from the living room.

Lao Liu reluctantly got up and went downstairs. The delivery man was a young guy, with a tired face but bright eyes.

"Brother, your company is so great, you actually get '2 Days Off, 4 Days On, 1 Day Off'!" the delivery man said with envy.

Lao Liu smiled and thought to himself, "What do you know? This isn't rest at all, it's slow suicide." But he didn't say it out loud, just took the package and said, "Thank you."

In the evening, Lao Liu sent a message in the family group: "'2 Days Off, 4 Days On, 1 Day Off' is so great, I feel that life is full of hope!"

Immediately, a bunch of envious expressions and praises flooded in.

"Lao Liu, you're so lucky!"

"So envious, our company is still 996!"

Lao Liu looked at these messages, a bitter smile on his lips. He turned off his phone, walked to the window, and looked at the flickering neon lights in the distance.

Suddenly, he noticed someone standing on the roof of the building opposite, waving at him. That person seemed to be Xiao Wang, a programmer from their company.

Lao Liu rubbed his eyes, trying to see more clearly.

Just then, Xiao Wang jumped.

Lao Liu was terrified and quickly dialed 110.

The next day, the company issued an announcement stating that Xiao Wang committed suicide for personal reasons and that it had nothing to do with the company. To express their condolences, the company decided to give everyone "1 Day Off."

Lao Liu looked at the announcement and suddenly felt that the "2 Days Off, 4 Days On, 1 Day Off" system seemed even more ironic. He opened his phone, wanting to say something in the family group, but found that he couldn't say anything.

He just silently deleted the message "'2 Days Off, 4 Days On, 1 Day Off' is so great." Then, he clicked on a new short video, in which a well-dressed internet celebrity was introducing a massager that was said to relieve cervical spondylosis. He placed an order, with the company address.