Chapter 1

When Rosemary, who had a live streaming session scheduled, partied until 5 AM and submitted her third no-reason leave request of the week, I pressed the reject button without hesitation.

Soon after, Rosemary dragged me online and incited a wave of cyberbullying. Netizens were attacking me, calling me a wage-slave simp for the capitalist overlords.

Those seemingly kind colleagues also huddled together, whispering behind my back that I was annoying and hateful—the old witch who wouldn't approve leave requests.

Fine, everyone wants time off, right?

Approved! I'll approve every single leave request!

But when I actually started approving all leave requests unconditionally, the company went bankrupt...

When I saw Rosemary's third no-reason leave request of the week, submitted at 5 AM, I pressed the reject button.

I worked as an HR administrator at an MCN company, managing the streamers' attendance and payroll.

I was usually pretty easygoing.

When colleagues had major or minor issues—headaches, fever, whatever—I basically never nitpicked about attendance.

But this time, seeing Rosemary's leave request, I was genuinely angry.

Just then, Tommy from operations knocked on my office door.

"Hazel, Rosemary has a brand live stream at 10 AM today, but she still hasn't come to the office and I can't reach her. Can you help me find out where she is?"

Hearing Tommy's words made my anger spike even higher.

Without a word, right in front of Tommy, I dialed Rosemary's number.

The phone rang in the quiet office for a full two minutes, but no one answered.

Not wanting to lose my temper in front of a colleague, I suppressed my anger and offered Tommy a solution.

"She submitted a leave request this morning. I can't reach her right now either. Go talk to the brand side and see if Hugo or Daisy are free to fill in as backup."

"Ah, it's already been four days this week, and Rosemary's only done one stream. How are we supposed to work like this..."

Listening to Tommy's complaints, I felt helpless too.

"I'll try contacting her again. The priority right now is implementing the backup plan—we absolutely cannot have any more slip-ups with this afternoon's stream."

"Alright, Hazel. I'll go prepare then."

Tommy closed the door and left. I dialed Rosemary's number again.

Once, twice, three times.

By the eighth call, someone finally answered.

"Hello? Who is this? It's so early in the morning—can't a person get some sleep!"

Rosemary's irritated voice came through, laced with the slurred tone of someone who'd been drinking all night and hadn't sobered up yet.

Combined with her 5 AM leave request, anyone could figure out she'd been partying and drinking all night and had probably just gotten home to sleep!

"You have a brand live stream at 10 AM this morning. Get to the office now!"

I suppressed my anger, trying to remind Rosemary of the work schedule arranged well in advance.

But she actually said—

"Do I look like I need the money from one stream? Stop looking for trouble!"

Then, right before my widening eyes, she hung up.