Ch. 1The Last Bar of Battery Drained
Key Plot Points and Events
- Su Miao, a fresh graduate, is struggling to find a job, facing numerous rejections and unrealistic job requirements.
- She endures a demeaning video interview where the director asks her to work hard for low pay, claiming it's for the "family culture."
- She applies for a New Media Operations Assistant position with extremely demanding requirements, including being online 24/7.
Character Developments
- Su Miao: She starts as desperate and exhausted, trying to find a job, but becomes increasingly disillusioned and angry at the exploitative job market. Her spirit is broken by the end of the chapter.
Significant Themes
- Exploitation and unrealistic expectations in the job market, particularly for fresh graduates.
- The pressure to succeed and provide for one's family, leading to burnout.
- The dehumanizing effect of job hunting and the interview process.
Character Interactions
- Su Miao interacts with her parents via WeChat, feeling their pressure and disappointment.
- She reads job postings and interviews with HR representatives, feeling frustrated and undervalued.
- She doesn't interact with anyone else directly, highlighting her isolation and desperation.
Brief but Detailed
Su Miao, a recent graduate, is overwhelmed and exhausted from her fruitless job search. She faces numerous rejections and unrealistic job requirements, leading to a video interview where she's demeaned and asked to work hard for low pay. The final straw is a job listing that demands she be online 24/7. The pressure to succeed and provide for her family, combined with the exploitative job market, leads to her mental and physical breakdown. The chapter ends with Su Miao losing consciousness, symbolizing her complete burnout.