86: Chapter 86 This isn't a tech company, it's a cult selling sentimentality.

Overnight, the tide turned.

If the previous "Quantum Raincoat" had turned Chenxing Technology into a gathering place for internet trolls and meme-makers, then this "Dream Machine" launch event had catapulted the company onto a pedestal.

It was no longer that "Pinduoduo style"—impressive, sure, but somehow lacking seriousness—but rather a near-religious, fanatical devotion.

Open Weibo, Douyin, or even your WeChat Moments, and you wouldn't see a single technical review about "resolution," "frame rate," or "battery life."

The entire screen was filled with tears.

The hashtag [#I Saw Grandma] had hung at the top of the trending list for a full twenty-four hours, followed by a dark red "Explosive" tag.

Clicking on it revealed nothing but videos uploaded by netizens.

Some were hugging thin air, crying like two-hundred-pound children; others set a table full of food in empty rooms, murmuring to the phantom across from them; still others used the Dream Machine at weddings so that their long-deceased fathers could "personally" hand their daughters over to the grooms.

The cold, hard shell of technology had been completely stripped away, leaving behind only the burning warmth of the human heart.

Beijing, a high-end office building.

Inside the headquarters conference room of "Phantom Vision Technology," the leading enterprise in the domestic VR field, the atmosphere was as grim as a funeral service.

Chairman Zhao clutched a freshly printed market analysis report, his hand trembling as if he had Parkinson's.

"Can someone tell me how we're supposed to fight this battle?"

Chairman Zhao slammed the report onto the table and, pointing at the terrifying sales curve of Chenxing Technology on the projection screen, roared:

"We spent billions developing VR glasses with 4K resolution, Dolby sound, and the ability to play AAA games! And what's the result? Our sales aren't even a fraction of theirs!"

"What are they selling? A crappy headband! It doesn't even have a screen!"

"They sell this piece of junk for 1999, and people are scrambling to buy it? Have the consumers today lost their minds?"

The technical director below wiped his sweat and stood up with a bitter face:

"Chairman Zhao, this isn't a matter of specifications."

"We dismantled Chenxing Technology's product... honestly, the hardware structure inside is outrageously simple. At its core is just a crystal chip we can't decipher, along with a few cheap sensor electrodes."

"But..."

The technical director swallowed hard, his tone filled with despair:

"But its algorithm is terrifying. It can directly read the human emotional center and materialize memories. This technology is simply not a product of our dimension."

"We sell glasses, games, and sensory stimulation."

"But Jiang Chen..."

The director took a deep breath and delivered a conclusion that left everyone present feeling suffocated:

"He is selling regret medicine."

"He is selling the obsession of 'seeing someone one last time.'"

"In this world, who doesn't have regrets? Who doesn't want to see those who can never return? This is a dimensional strike! As long as they are human, no one can refuse this temptation!"

Chairman Zhao slumped in his chair, his gaze blank.

Indeed.

When competing with the living for market share, you compete on price-performance ratio; when competing with the dead, you are competing with life itself.

Is Jiang Chen really running a tech company?

This is clearly building a cyberpunk-style "City God Temple"!

...

Meanwhile.

West Suburb Base, Chenxing Technology President's office.

Jiang Chen looked at the thick financial report in his hand, his expression not as ecstatic as the outside world imagined; instead, he frowned, looking conflicted and constipated.

"Old Chen, Fatty, don't you think... our style has gone a bit off-track?"

Jiang Chen pointed at the astonishing strings of numbers on the report and sighed:

"My original plan was to be a profit-driven profiteer, or perhaps an arms dealer that strikes fear into people's hearts."

"But now?"

"Look at the comments online! Things like 'Cyber Bodhisattva,' 'Dream Fulfillment Master,' 'If the world isn't worth it, Chenxing definitely is'..."

Jiang Chen covered his face and groaned in pain:

"What the hell is all this?"

"I'm selling electronic products! How did I end up looking like I'm doing charity, or even proselytizing?"

Sitting opposite him, Class Monitor Zhang Wei was frantically counting money—although it was an electronic account, he watched the constantly jumping balance and smiled so hard his eyes were almost disappearing.

"Brother Chen, who cares about the style!"

Class Monitor Zhang Wei said happily, "As long as we're making money, isn't that enough? Look at this cash flow! Billions a day! Even robbing a bank isn't this fast!"

"And now our company's reputation is invincible! In the future, no matter what we sell, even if it's a pile of... ahem, even if it's a brick, as long as it has the Chenxing label on it, those believers will snatch it all up!"

"You don't understand."

Jiang Chen shook his head, picked up a high-energy diamond (actually a type of energy crystal) shipped from the Wasteland from the table, and tossed it around in his hand.

"Money is just a number to me; it's used to buy energy."

"What I'm worried about is that once this 'warm and tender' persona is established, if I want to sell big-ticket weapons later, like exoskeleton mechs or laser cannons... will it scare my 'believers'?"

Academician Chen Shuyin, who had been silent on the side, was currently wearing a Dream Machine headband, seemingly testing some data.

Hearing this, she took off the headband, a glint of wisdom flashing in her cold, clear eyes.

"You're overthinking it."

Academician Chen Shuyin adjusted her glasses, "The essence of humanity is to admire strength. They worship you now because you gave them emotional comfort. When you bring out power that can destroy the world, their worship will only escalate."

"Going from a 'benevolent father' to a 'god of war'—this contrast will only make them crazier."

"Besides..."

She glanced at the huge diamond in Jiang Chen's hand, a playful smile curling the corner of her lips:

"Do you think everyone treats you like a god?"

"In some people's eyes, you are now just a piece of fatty pork that's dripping with oil but has no teeth."

"Hmm?"

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean? Someone dares to target me? Haven't the Eagle's aircraft carriers been repaired yet?"

"The Eagle has been beaten into submission, but some people domestically have short memories when it comes to pain."

Academician Chen Shuyin handed over the tablet, "See for yourself. Just five minutes ago, someone publicly 'declared war' on you on Weibo."

Jiang Chen took the tablet.

On the screen was a hot Weibo post that had just hit the trending list.

The blogger's verification information was long and very wealthy: [Chairman of Shanxi Coal Industry Group / Tianhai Real Estate Tycoon / Tenth on the China Rich List — Niu Wanguan].

This Boss Niu, as his name suggested, posted a Weibo that reeked of coal dust and nouveau riche vibes.

He had posted a photo.

The background of the photo was his luxury mansion living room, decorated like a palace, with tables piled high with bundles of pink banknotes, and two rows of beauties in bikinis standing behind.

The caption was simple, crude, and full of provocation:

"@Chenxing Technology - Jiang Chen Heh, what kind of bullshit national husband? What cyber bodhisattva?"

"I think you're just a scammer selling sentimentality! Using a few crappy headbands to trick ordinary people out of their tears—what kind of skill is that?"

"Heard you've been arrogant lately? Made a little money and forgot who you are?"

"Young man, don't get too full of yourself. Your little turnover is nothing but a fart in my eyes!"

"Dare to come out and compete? Forget about that fancy-schmancy technology, let's just compare one thing—"

"Who has more cash!"

"I'm putting it out there today! Tonight at eight, in my livestream room, I'm going to show you what it really means to be—wealthy enough to rival a nation!"

After reading this Weibo post, Jiang Chen was stunned for a full three seconds.

Then.

"Pfft—hahahaha!"

He burst out laughing, laughing so hard tears came out, and he almost dropped the diamond in his hand onto his foot.

"In this day and age... there's still such a retro way to show off wealth?"

Jiang Chen wiped the corner of his eye, pointing at Niu Wanguan on the screen, looking incredulous:

"Flaunting cash? And he wants to compete with me on who has more money?"

"Has he never seen a bank card in his life? Or did his home just get connected to the internet, and he doesn't know what I do?"

Fatty Class Monitor Zhang Wei also leaned over to take a look and immediately became indignant:

"Brother Chen! This bastard is a typical nouveau riche! He started by mining coal, then switched to real estate, and scammed quite a few people. He's just jealous of our popularity and wants to leech off our traffic!"

"Leech off our traffic?"

Jiang Chen stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

His gaze pierced through the glass and fell deep into the heavily guarded base beneath his feet.

There, a newly built underground vault was used specifically for storing Wasteland supplies.

Because that spendthrift woman Jiang Wanqiu was just too enthusiastic, every time she made a sacrifice, she stuffed a bunch of "useless decorations" in to fill the gaps.

For example, gold.

For example, gemstones.

For example, those rare metals that were worthless in the Wasteland but could trigger wars on Earth.

"Alright then."

Jiang Chen turned around, a bright, extremely 'nuclear-friendly' smile appearing on his face.

"Since Boss Niu is in such a refined mood and wants to spar with me."

"Then if I don't accept the challenge, wouldn't it make this 'Cyber Bodhisattva' look like he has no temper?"

He waved his hand at Class Monitor Zhang Wei:

"Fatty, notify the technical department; we're also doing a livestream tonight at eight."

"Also, go open the door to Underground Vault No. 3."

"Find a few strong special forces soldiers and bring shovels."

Class Monitor Zhang Wei was stunned: "Why bring shovels? Are we going to bury Niu Wanguan?"

"Bury him?"

Jiang Chen shook his head, his tone as contemptuous as if he were talking about an ant:

"Is he even worthy?"

"The reason for the shovels is because the stuff we have in there... if we don't shovel it, the audience might not be able to see that it's a mountain."

"Since he wants to compare cash, that's too tacky."

Jiang Chen adjusted his collar and walked out with long strides, his back looking incredibly dashing:

"We're going straight for hard currency."

"Let him see what it means to... weigh wealth by the ton!"