“The Secret of ‘Released from Prison‘“

“Hello everyone, I’m back!” On the screen, "Xiao Tuan Tuan" waved to the audience with a bright smile, sporting slightly disheveled short hair. She was no longer the heavily made-up, saccharine-voiced entertainment streamer from before. Now, she was bare-faced, wearing a plain gray crew-neck shirt, looking more like a college student just stepping out of a dormitory.

"I've gone through a 'special' rehabilitation, and now, I've been released from prison!" She spoke in a light tone, as if sharing an amusing story, but it caused an uproar in the live stream.

"What's going on? Did Xiao Tuan Tuan do something wrong?"

"Oh my god, did I hear that right? Released from prison?"

"Is this some kind of performance art?"

Faced with a barrage of questions, Xiao Tuan Tuan didn't explain. Instead, she pulled out a "rehabilitation report" with the heading "XX Company Employee Re-education Center" emblazoned on it.

"You didn't see it wrong, I was indeed 'rehabilitated'." She pointed to the dense clauses on the report and read them out one by one: "Prohibited from using coquettish tones in the live stream; prohibited from using a sweet voice to respond to fans; prohibited from using exaggerated filters; prohibited from establishing private connections with fans; prohibited from..."

As she read, the live stream comments gradually quieted down, replaced by a wave of astonishment.

"I was accused of being 'too market-oriented,' 'overly entertainment-focused,' and 'lacking professional ethics.' So, I was sent to the 're-education center'." She shrugged, her tone tinged with helplessness, yet also with a hint of smugness, "for three months, under full closed-door management."

Life at the "re-education center" wasn't as miserable as she described. They woke up at six every morning for callisthenics; had breakfast at seven, consisting of uniform cereal and milk; started "training" at eight, studying the "Employee Code of Conduct" and watching "Professional Ethics Education Films"; had "reflection" sessions in the afternoon, writing reflections and conducting self-criticism. Lights went out promptly at nine o'clock.

"The hardest part was the 'emotional detachment' training." Xiao Tuan Tuan recalled, "They would make you practice smiling without any expression in front of a mirror, repeat phrases like 'Please consume rationally,' and 'Be cautious when consuming' in a monotonous tone, until you were completely turned into a 'tool'."

"I tried to resist, but each time the 'tutors' would brush it off with 'This is for your own good' and arrange more 'rehabilitation' projects." She said, a wry smile appearing on her lips, "My 'rehabilitation' goals were: 'de-vulgarization,' 'de-entertainment,' and 'de-personalization'."

"Now, I've finally been 'released from prison'." She stretched out her arms, making a gesture of embracing the world, her eyes filled with confusion, "I'm back, but it feels like I'm not the same person anymore."

After a brief silence, the audience erupted into an even more intense discussion. Some found it unbelievable, some found it absurd and comical, some felt it was a workplace version of "The Truman Show," and some had a nagging feeling that they were also undergoing similar "rehabilitation."

Suddenly, a group of uniformed staff members surged into the live stream. Their expressions were serious, and their tone was cold, "Xiao Tuan Tuan, your 'release from prison' application has not yet been approved. Please cooperate with us and return to the 're-education center' immediately for further 'rehabilitation'!"

Xiao Tuan Tuan was stunned, her smile frozen on her face, her eyes filled with panic.

"Why?" she asked in a trembling voice.

"You have revealed the internal information of the 're-education center' during the live stream, which is a serious violation. You must undergo 'secondary rehabilitation'," a leading staff member coldly replied.

Xiao Tuan Tuan opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but found herself unable to say anything. She was dragged away from the live stream like a prisoner by the staff members, and the screen went black instantly.

The audience in the live stream was in an uproar. They finally realized that Xiao Tuan Tuan's "release from prison" might just be the beginning of another "rehabilitation." And they had become witnesses to this "rehabilitation," and might even become the next targets of "rehabilitation."

The screen went black, and the comments gradually thinned out. Finally, there was only an unsettling silence left.