Chapter 4 A Plan Written in 3 Hours Stunned the Whole Company
Wang Qiang was sitting in his office, legs crossed, scrolling short videos, already planning how to humiliate Lin Juan and fire him when he failed.
When he heard the knock, he didn't even look up. "Enter!"
Lin Juan walked in and placed the printed plan on his desk.
"Manager Wang, the plan is finished. Take a look."
Wang Qiang looked up and checked the clock: 11:55 a.m., five minutes early.
He actually finished it?
Wang Qiang immediately felt disdain. It must be garbage copied from the internet, patched together to fool him.
He picked it up casually, flipped a few pages, ready to find a mistake and throw it in Lin Juan's face.
But as he read, the scorn slowly faded, replaced by surprise, then complete shock.
His hand holding the plan trembled slightly.
This plan was more professional than any he'd seen in his decade-long career. User profiles were precise to age, spending habits, media preferences. Gameplay progressed layer by layer, with both traffic highlights and conversion loops. Budget was accurate to the single digit. It even listed 12 possible risks and corresponding solutions.
Not even the company's most senior planning director could write something this perfect in three hours.
Wang Qiang shot up, staring at Lin Juan like he was seeing him for the first time.
Was this the same new graduate who couldn't even revise a plan without being yelled at?
How had he completely changed overnight?
Wang Qiang opened his mouth, but all the insults he'd prepared died in his throat.
Lin Juan said calmly:
"Manager Wang, finished reading? Any specific revisions? If not, I'll go back to work."
Wang Qiang snapped back, his face flushing. He closed the plan and pretended to be calm.
"The plan… it's passable. Leave it here. I'll check carefully and call you if there are issues."
Lin Juan nodded and walked out.
As soon as he stepped out, the whole office swarmed around him, curious and shocked.
"Lin Juan, you really finished it? In three hours? Is that real?"
"How did it go? Did Manager Wang not yell at you?"
Zhang Chao pushed to the front, sneering:
"Obviously he got torn apart. I told you, three hours is garbage. He's just fooling around. Manager Wang will fire him any second."
Before he finished, Wang Qiang's door opened.
Wang Qiang walked to the center of the office with the plan and said seriously:
"Everyone stop what you're doing. Short meeting!"
Everyone sat down quickly, heads lowered, thinking Wang Qiang was going to criticize Lin Juan as an example.
Zhang Chao sat up straight, waiting for the show.
But the next second, Wang Qiang projected the plan onto the big screen and said loudly:
"All of you, look and learn! This is what a professional event plan looks like! This is what highlights and implementation mean!"
The office went dead silent. Everyone looked up in disbelief.
Wang Qiang pointed at the screen, growing more excited:
"This plan was written by Lin Juan — in just three hours! Look how clear the logic is, how detailed, how accurately it hits user pain points! It's ten times better than the messy stuff you all handed in!"
One sentence left everyone's heads buzzing.
Three hours?
A perfect full proposal?
How was that possible?!
Everyone stared at the screen, more shocked with every page. Every detail was precise. The innovative ideas were beyond their imagination. Even three days wouldn't be enough for them.
Zhang Chao turned pale. He'd just called it garbage, and now Manager Wang was making everyone study it? He leaned closer and froze.
This level of professionalism was beyond his entire career.
Wang Qiang then announced an even more shocking decision:
"This new project will be led by Lin Juan as overall person-in-charge! From today on, everyone in the project team must cooperate with him and follow his arrangements! Anyone who disobeys gets out!"
Boom!
The office exploded.
Lin Juan had only been there six months, a fresh graduate, and he was suddenly project leader? Even employees with three or four years had to take orders from him?
It was unbelievable.
Everyone's eyes fixed on Lin Juan — from mockery to shock, envy, and intense jealousy.
Lin Juan himself froze.
He'd only wanted to complete the task and slap back at Wang Qiang's sabotage. He hadn't expected to be made project leader.
Wait!
Lin Juan's heart sank.
Project leader meant coordinating all departments, handling emergencies 24/7, constant meetings and overtime. It went far beyond his job — and directly violated the system's lying-flat rules!
As soon as he thought that, the system's cold warning sounded.
[Warning! Detected high risk of involution: host is about to take on work beyond scope! Please reject this appointment immediately, or all current rewards will be deducted and mild punishment triggered!]
Lin Juan tensed. He'd almost forgotten the system's core rules!
He wanted to lie flat and leave on time — not get promoted or take extra work.
Wang Qiang saw Lin Juan frozen and thought he was stunned with joy. He smiled rarely:
"Lin Juan, do well! If this project succeeds, I'll push for your promotion and raise immediately. Your future here is unlimited!"
Colleagues looked at him with envy.
This was a chance people fought over: promotion, raise, instant success!
But just as everyone thought Lin Juan would gratefully accept, he lifted his head, looked at Wang Qiang, and spoke words that silenced the entire room.
Chapter 5 I Refuse! Promotion Is Nothing Compared to Leaving On Time
"Manager Wang, I'm sorry. I won't take the project leader position."
One soft sentence — and it exploded like a bomb.
Deathly silence.
No one breathed. Everyone stared at Lin Juan like he was insane.
They couldn't believe their ears.
Promotion, raise, project leader, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… and Lin Juan… refused?
Wang Qiang's smile froze. He stared for half a minute before snapping:
"What did you say? Lin Juan, say that again."
Lin Juan spoke calmly, word by word:
"I said, I refuse the project leader position."
[Ding! Detected host actively rejecting meaningless involution and work beyond scope. Fully compliant with lying-flat rules! Reward: 50 Lying-Flat Points!]
The system sounded. Lin Juan relaxed. No punishment.
Wang Qiang's face darkened with rage.
"Lin Juan, do you know what you're saying? What this means? Direct promotion from specialist to supervisor, double salary! People beg for this chance, and you refuse?"
"I know," Lin Juan nodded, unshakable. "But I still refuse."
"You!" Wang Qiang trembled with anger. "What is wrong with you? You don't want the opportunity? Are you opposing me on purpose?"
"Manager Wang, I'm not opposing you," Lin Juan explained calmly.
"My job is operations. Writing plans and execution are my duty, and I will do them well. But project leader requires coordinating departments, handling emergencies anytime, being on call 24/7. That means constant overtime. It's beyond my scope and doesn't fit my plans."
He paused, meeting everyone's shocked eyes.
"Also, I only work 9-to-5. I don't accept any overtime. The project leader role can't do that. So I decline."
The entire office gasped.
Crazy! Completely crazy!
He rejected promotion and a raise… just to avoid overtime and leave on time? How could someone be like this?
Zhang Chao's face twisted. He worked until 2 or 3 a.m. every day, grinding and flattering, just for a chance like this. And Lin Juan threw it away like trash?
Jealousy and hatred burned inside him.
Wang Qiang's chest heaved. He pointed at Lin Juan, then stormed back and slammed his office door so hard the glass shook.
Colleagues swarmed Lin Juan.
"Lin Juan, what were you thinking? That was an amazing chance!"
"It's just overtime! Work hard now, relax later!"
"Are you stupid? Promotion and money!"
Lin Juan smiled and returned to his desk without explaining.
They only saw the glory of promotion, not the cost: endless overtime, ruined health, 24-hour anxiety, and taking all the blame if the project failed.
If it succeeded, the credit was Wang Qiang's. If it failed, the fault was all his. Only a fool would take that job.
Besides, with the system, he made money lying down. Why suffer?
At noon 12:00 sharp, the bell rang. Lin Juan picked up his phone and walked to the cafeteria, leaving on time, not a minute late. The whole office stared, baffled.
In the afternoon, as soon as Lin Juan turned on his computer, someone stopped at his desk.
He looked up into clear eyes.
It was Su Qingyuan.
Product manager of the company, the project's contact person, and the company's recognized goddess. She wore a simple white shirt and black slacks, elegant and cold, rarely speaking to anyone主动.
Now she held an iced Americano and held it out to him, a faint smile on her lips.
"Lin Juan, I read your plan this morning. It's excellent, very clear logic, and you hit user pain points perfectly. I'm impressed."
Lin Juan took the coffee and thanked her, surprised. They'd barely interacted in six months. He only knew she was capable and earned her place with skill, not looks.
Su Qingyuan pulled over a chair and looked at him curiously.
"I heard you rejected the project leader position… just because you don't want to work overtime?"
"Yes," Lin Juan nodded. "I don't want overtime. I just want to leave on time and live my life."
Su Qingyuan froze, then laughed, eyes full of undisguised admiration.
"You're so brave. I also hate 996 and meaningless overtime, but as a product manager, I can never leave on time. We often pull all-nighters for releases. I envy how free you are."
It was the first time anyone at work agreed with him instead of calling him crazy. Lin Juan felt a faint good impression of her.
[Ding! Detected host recognized by like-minded person. Aligns with anti-involution theme! Reward: 30 Lying-Flat Points! Unlocked skill: God-Level Product Thinking (Basic)!]
The system notified him. Lin Juan was delighted — a bonus reward.
Massive product knowledge flooded his mind: user demand analysis, product logic, iteration, UX optimization — all crystal clear.
Su Qingyuan had come to confirm details, but the more they talked, the more shocked she was. Lin Juan not only wrote great operation plans but also understood products deeply. She'd been stuck on several problems for ages, and he clarified them in a few sentences.
"Lin Juan, you're amazing," Su Qingyuan said, eyes shining.
"Talking to you is eye-opening. Can I come to you for product questions often?"
"Sure," Lin Juan nodded, smiling. "But only during work hours. Don't look for me after work. I don't handle job stuff then."
Su Qingyuan laughed out loud and nodded firmly.
"Deal! I won't take up your personal time!"
The whole office watched as the goddess smiled warmly at Lin Juan — someone who'd never given anyone the time of day.
Zhang Chao's eyes burned with jealousy. He'd chased her for a year with gifts and dinners, and she'd barely noticed him. Now she was friendly with Lin Juan?
Old and new anger exploded. He secretly messaged Wang Qiang, snitching that Lin Juan was slacking and chatting during work, disturbing others.
At 5:30 p.m., half an hour before leaving work.
Wang Qiang stormed out with a thick stack of documents and slammed them on Lin Juan's desk.
Papers scattered: competitor product materials and operation data.
"Lin Juan, here are 5 top competitors' deep analysis reports. We need them for the 10 a.m. project launch tomorrow," Wang Qiang said harshly.
"Work overtime tonight and finish them. They must be on my desk tomorrow morning."
Everyone was stunned.
Five deep competitor reports, at least 5,000 words each, with data and analysis — even an expert needed a full day. Wang Qiang was giving him one night?
It was obvious revenge for his earlier refusal.
Everyone watched, thinking he'd have to give in or get fired.
But Lin Juan just glanced at the papers, then at Wang Qiang, and said calmly:
"I need them for tomorrow morning's meeting. I'll write them tomorrow during work. I'll have them to you by 10:00."
Wang Qiang laughed mockingly.
"Write them tomorrow? 9:00 to 10:00? Only one hour? Lin Juan, you're delusional. One hour for five reports? You think you're a god?"
Lin Juan smiled.
"I can finish it."
"Fine!" Wang Qiang snapped, waiting for this. "If you hand in five complete reports by 10:00 tomorrow, I'll give you my department manager position!"
"If you can't, you work overtime tonight! Mention no overtime again, and you're fired!"
Lin Juan nodded.
"Okay. Deal."
At that moment, the office bell rang — 18:00 sharp.
Lin Juan stood up, organized the papers, picked up his backpack, and walked toward the punch card machine under the dumbfounded gaze of Wang Qiang and everyone else.
He pressed it. The familiar sound:
"Clock-in successful."
Lin Juan turned, waved at the fuming Wang Qiang, and walked straight out.
Leaving the entire room in complete, stunned silence.