When the power went out, I was eating the last pack of instant noodles.
The fork of instant noodles was hanging in the air, and the chopsticks held the noodles stiffly in his mouth. I chewed it twice, swallowed it along with the cold instant noodle soup, then reached out and tapped the light switch twice.
There were two snaps, but nothing happened.
I didn't move, just sitting at the dining table in the rental house, staring at the three-year-old LED ceiling lamp above my head. I know it won't light up again. I also know that I did not pay the electricity bill this month.
On the last day of last month, my boss called me into the office and politely said that the company had decided to streamline its personnel structure. I asked him what the proportion of downsizing was, and he said 30 percent. I asked again if I was the least hardworking person among the 30%. He didn't say anything and just pushed a resignation certificate and one month's salary compensation across the table.
I remember saying nothing at the time, taking the piece of paper, going back to my desk to pack my things, and then walking out of the thirty-two-story building without looking back.
Security guard Lao Zhang downstairs was still greeting me and said he was off work. I said yes, I got off work.
He probably doesn't know to this day that when I say get off work, I mean get off work completely.
I pushed the cool bowl of instant noodles away, took out my phone, opened Alipay, and looked at the balance. 82 Yuan and 50 cents. After paying the electricity bill, there is less than 20 left, which is enough for me to last three more days.
