The Truth of Dong Dong Dong Dong

Old Wang hasn't been quite himself lately. He no longer complains about the office coffee machine always being broken, nor does he secretly play games during his lunch break. He spends his days holding a strange device, tapping it repeatedly, making a "dong dong dong" sound, like some primitive rhythm. His colleagues were initially curious, but later got used to it, assuming Old Wang was up to some new trick.

It all started with that "heroic rescue" news. A woman, by knocking on the floor and making "dong dong dong" sounds, attracted her neighbor's attention, ultimately saving her husband who had suddenly fallen ill. The news was everywhere, not only topping the headlines but also being heavily promoted as a "new era paradigm for saving lives". The government even launched "dong dong dong" rescue training courses, encouraging everyone to master this "practical skill". It was from then on that Old Wang became obsessed with practicing tapping.

He bought the most advanced sound wave sensor, practicing day and night, striving to make his "dong dong dong" more standard and louder. To avoid disturbing other colleagues, he even spent his own money to set up a small "dong dong dong" practice room in a corner of the office. His "dong dong dong" went from the initial awkwardness to later having a clear rhythm, increasingly resembling the real deal.

"Old Wang, are you going to participate in a 'dong dong dong' competition?" Li Mei from the next cubicle teased, her tone carrying a hint of incomprehension. Old Wang just smiled, not answering, continuing to immerse himself in his tapping world. In the office, besides the tapping sound, there were only the clacking sounds of keyboards and mice. Days went by, and Old Wang's "dong dong dong" became more and more vigorous, as if his life's meaning was reduced to just this one thing.

Until one day, the office suddenly experienced a power outage. In the pitch black, only Old Wang's "dong dong dong" was still rhythmically sounding. Colleagues began to panic, various cries for help rising and falling. But Old Wang's "dong dong dong" remained slow and steady, as if he was detached from the situation.

"Old Wang, what are you still tapping! Please help!" Li Mei's voice was tearful.

"I'm saving people!" Old Wang replied matter-of-factly.

Everyone looked at each other, stunned. Just at that moment, the lights suddenly came back on. It turned out to be just a circuit fault.

When everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they saw Old Wang staring blankly at the device in his hand. He was somewhat dismayed to find that the device screen did not display any distress signals.

"Old Wang, who exactly can your 'dong dong dong' save?" his colleagues asked with a mocking tone.

Old Wang didn't speak, only lowered his head, looking at the device in his hand. He suddenly understood that his "dong dong dong" hadn't saved anyone; it was just to complete a "saving people" gesture defined by social rules, a kind of performance. His frenzied tapping was just to prove that he hadn't been abandoned by the times. He was tapping mechanically to conform to some invisible social rules, to continue to play a useful person in this absurd world. And what difference was there between him and everyone else in this office?

He silently turned off the device, letting it emit a faint "beep" sound, like a wordless sigh, drowning in the clamor of the office machines.