Fortune-Attracting Manicure
Xiaoya's fingertips were adorned with ten silver snakes, their scales reflecting an ominous light under the lamplight. This was not some avant-garde fashion statement, but a carefully crafted "snake-year fortune-attracting manicure" she had spent a full two thousand yuan on. In this era where everyone believes in metaphysics, everyone in the office had become a Feng Shui master, and Xiaoya was no exception. She felt that these cold, gleaming silver snakes would surely bring her a wealth of fortune, or at the very least, stop her proposals from being utterly trashed by her supervisor.
Her company was housed in a modern office building with glass curtain walls, like a giant, cold honeycomb. Everyone was like a bee, buzzing day after day in their cubicles, producing honey called "performance." Xiaoya was just one slightly anxious worker bee in this swarm. Her position was neither high nor low, teetering on the edge of promotion and elimination, making her every day feel like walking on thin ice.
Today was another proposal presentation day. Xiaoya took a deep breath, looked at her meticulously maintained snake-shaped manicure, as if they were saying: relax, the God of Wealth will favor you. She walked into the conference room where Supervisor Lao Wang was already seated, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
"Xiaoya, I've looked at your proposal," Lao Wang's voice was cold, like a synthesized computer voice. "The data is severely insufficient, the logic is chaotic, and there are no highlights."
Xiaoya's heart sank. She had revised it countless times, meticulously considering every detail. How could it be without highlights? But she didn't dare to argue, and could only listen silently to Lao Wang's reprimand, her fingers gripping the edge of the report tightly.
"You know, the economy is not good right now, and the company needs to streamline expenses," Lao Wang continued. "Employees like you who have no value will be eliminated at any time."
Xiaoya felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. She knew Lao Wang was hinting at her. She had sacrificed too much for this job, almost all of her personal time, but she still couldn't get recognition. She looked at her manicure, the silver snakes still shining, as if mocking her incompetence.
"However, the company is humane," Lao Wang changed his tone, forcing an awkward smile. "We are implementing an 'Employee Happiness Program' to allow everyone to enjoy life outside of work."
Xiaoya was a little confused. When did Lao Wang become so concerned about the lives of employees? As she was thinking, Lao Wang clapped his hands, and the door of the conference room was pushed open. Several young people in pink uniforms came in, holding various manicure tools.
"In response to the 'Happiness Program', the company has specially invited manicurists to give free manicures to all employees," Lao Wang said. "Everyone can choose their own styles to make our fingertips more vibrant."
Xiaoya looked at the pink uniforms and the dazzling array of nail polishes on the table, and felt that the whole thing was a bit absurd. Her 2000-yuan fortune-attracting manicure hadn't even had time to work before being covered by the company's uniform manicure. She suddenly realized that everything she had done was in vain. The so-called "fortune" was nothing more than a projection of her own inner anxiety.
Everyone sat down one after another and began to choose their favorite manicure styles, pink, blue, green, all sorts of colors. Xiaoya looked at the silver snakes on her fingertips, and felt an indescribable sadness in her heart. She lowered her head, letting the manicurist paint her fingertips a bright pink.
After the manicure, Lao Wang looked at everyone's colorful fingertips with satisfaction. "Today, everyone's work efficiency has increased by 30 percent!" he announced. "Everyone's performance bonus will be increased by ten yuan."
Xiaoya looked at her fingertips, the pink was still bright, but the silver snakes were nowhere to be seen. She suddenly laughed, an absurd, even slightly crazy laugh. She thought that this might be the role she played in this company, and even in this society: an individual who is constantly being transformed, devoured, but still striving to "attract fortune." Her fortune-attracting manicure had indeed attracted "fortune," but this "fortune" was not what she wanted.