CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 389: CRYING OUT FOR SYMPATHY

In their words, leaving Penson was not wrong because Penson was exploiting them and did not trust them, forcing them to leave.

Once one person made such a claim, others naturally went along with it.

Otherwise, do they really want to be called opportunistic betrayers who burn bridges after crossing them? How would they stand in the industry after that?

But if the fault lies with Penson, then it’s different.

They also felt that it wasn’t right, but on deeper thought, Penson is a large company, and a bit of stigma wouldn’t affect it much.

Moreover, President Sterling was so generous, willing to let them leave Penson, surely not wishing for their future to be affected by such matters.

So they felt their actions were harmless, and Paige Sterling would understand.

However, these statements were met with intense ridicule from netizens.

"Saying Penson exploited you? Saying Penson didn’t trust you? Saying Penson forced you to leave the company? Search your hearts, as newly graduated students, to earn a million annual salary right after graduation— is that exploitation? As university graduates with no practical experience, becoming professionals within less than a year after graduating— don’t tell me it was all by your own efforts? Without the best conditions provided by Penson, without God Sterling’s personal guidance, could you have grown this fast? Is that what you call Penson not trusting you? Paige Sterling accomplished you, gave you the prestige you enjoy now, yet you betray and still have the gall to claim you were forced to leave by Penson? Could it be Penson’s intent to nurture talent only to push it into other companies? Do you think netizens are fools?"

"Are you saying you left of your own accord, only to turn back and bite the hand that fed you, forgetting the favor of discovery— are you still human?"

"Saying Penson is stingy and exploited you— have you ever seen a boss who directly allocates villas, arranges for your entire family, and awards year-end bonuses that exceed salaries?"

"Now you’ve become ’somebody’, do you not have a clue about your capabilities before joining Penson? Who gave you your current abilities?"

Everyone’s aware that before joining Penson, these individuals were just freshly graduated university students, numerous like a grasp of sand. Finding ordinary jobs wasn’t difficult, but to become high-salaried research talents with allocated housing right after graduation? That’s nearly impossible.

Their rapid growth was all due to Paige Sterling’s hands-on education.

Paige Sterling opened for them, almost, a gateway to a new world.

But now, they betrayed her, and the losses for Paige Sterling were imaginable.

Yet Paige Sterling never stood up to criticize them; when they wanted to leave, she released them after they paid the penalty.

Paige Sterling’s actions were commendable, there wasn’t a boss more tolerant or magnanimous than her.

Yet, those who betrayed her were the first to cry about their grievances— where is your dignity?

No matter how much those individuals cried on the internet, neither Paige Sterling nor their former colleagues responded. It was as if they were performing a one-man play on the internet without any sympathy from anyone.

"Haha, our God Sterling is currently leading her elite team researching cutting-edge technology, unlike you, who have time to fool around online, haha..."

"My God Sterling typically doesn’t bother with those who enjoy making noise online, if you’re aiming to ride on God Sterling’s fame, you’ll be disappointed in the end..."

The mocking voices online almost made those who left Penson unable to lift their heads.

In that moment, they desperately wanted to return to Penson, back to the days of tirelessly working in the lab.

Though it was hard, it was also fulfilling.

Worried they would go bald early, President Sterling even personally developed a hair growth cream for them; at that time, they were people everyone envied.

Yet after leaving Penson, they became the ones envying those who stayed at Penson.

Once having stood on the same starting line, from the moment they left Penson, they fell behind their former colleagues.

They began to propose stock shares to their new company, threatening to leave if not given shares.

But having contributed nothing yet to the new company, they demanded shares like lions— the company wasn’t foolish, why would they give them shares?

As for leaving?

Haha, the new company was not as easygoing as Penson, having them sign decades-long binding contracts along with penalty fees so high, they couldn’t afford to pay.

So, the new company neither agreed to the demand for shares nor let them go.

It was only now they finally tasted what true exploitation felt like.

They attempted to use their skills as leverage, threatening not to develop any products unless the new company met their demands.

However, the new company wasn’t compassionate and had various ways to deal with them.

No matter what kind of talent they are, the new company would still exploit their skills.

If they behaved, the new company wouldn’t necessarily get confrontational.

But the problem was, having had such good times at Penson, they assumed they could expect the same in the outside world— how could that be possible?

The new company wasn’t a charity, having spent so much to bring them in, yet they behaved like disgruntled women complaining about life— was the company raising employees or ancestors?

Soon, these individuals couldn’t endure the actions of the new company anymore, some even started to fight back, almost to the point of mutual destruction.

Paige Sterling was somewhat disappointed, starting to reflect on herself.

Had she been too good to them, causing them to forget society’s harshness, leading them to this outcome once they entered the real world?

Though Paige Sterling had intentions to teach them a lesson, her greater hope was that, as they stepped out, they could truly push forward the entire research industry.

Yet they let her down.

Paige Sterling sighed, leaving Penson, she encountered one of those who had left Penson at the gate.

He looked exceptionally haggard, clearly not having a good life since leaving Penson.

Seeing Paige Sterling, his eyes brightened, he stepped forward and said: "President Sterling, it was a moment of confusion that led me to leave Penson. Could you let me return to Penson?"

While at Penson, he lived quite easily, without the exhaustion described online.

But now, at the new company, due to disputes, he was nearly confined in the lab. The new company’s boss was someone who had washed his hands of previous ventures, with a cold heart, demanding he develop a product similar to Penson’s within a month, or face continuous retaliation, even involving his family.

The outside world truly felt threatening, and he was really scared.

Paige Sterling raised her eyebrows slightly, "You’ve already left Penson, and still want to come back?"

"President Sterling, it’s only after leaving Penson that I realized I have feelings for it. I miss my colleagues at Penson, the working environment. President Sterling, please let me return to Penson and continue contributing, would you?"

To him, only returning to Penson was a retreat, he believed Paige Sterling was a person who cherished old ties, seeing him in such dire straits, she would certainly be willing to let him return to Penson.

Moreover, the loss of talent was already significant for Penson. If he returned, Paige Sterling would undoubtedly welcome him back.

The thought of returning to Penson, ensuring a stable life and family safety, while gaining fame and status, thrilled him.

"Of course you can."