60: Big enough to suffocate you

After the "Shine on You" post was released, netizens were overjoyed. Fight, let's see a fight!

Just like the competition between shining 2 and hongmi 1; you set a launch price of 799, and before I even launch, you're scared into dropping it by 100, so I'll just go straight to 649.

In the end, it's the consumers who benefit.

Seeing the excitement online, another internet company couldn't sit still. Zou Hongyi, known as the Red Robe Cult Leader, called over his product manager to ask about their product's progress.

Last year, Zou Hongyi collaborated with brands like Huawei to launch the 390 Special Edition phone, leading to a war of words with Xiaomi on Social Media Platform.

Zou Hongyi called Lei Jun "Yue Buqun," a market bully in the phone industry. Lei Jun told him to put down his AK47 and stop dreaming of being the Red Robe Cult Leader.

In the end, the two even challenged each other to a fight on Social Media Platform. Zou Hongyi said something like, "Next week at 10 AM, if you're still a man, meet me at the East Gate of Chaoyang Park."

[Remember this site's domain. To read Taiwan novels, come to Taiwan Novel Website, twkan.com. Awesome!]

That war of words gave netizens plenty of drama to enjoy, but the fight never actually happened, and the matter was eventually dropped.

The 390 Special Edition didn't perform very well, but Zou Hongyi didn't give up; he still wanted a piece of the mobile market. So, he partnered with another veteran Chinese manufacturer, Coolpad, to co-found Qiku Company, preparing to enter the mobile market once again.

"President Zou, with all these companies holding press conferences next month, isn't it a bit... for us to join the fray now?"

Zou Hongyi understood what the product manager meant. It was essentially several fully-geared heavy warriors fighting, and him joining as a small support would just be feeding.

But Zou Hongyi was truly envious of the online buzz and traffic. Buzz and traffic meant exposure, and only with exposure could the Qiku brand make a big splash.

"Don't fear that. Aren't they trying to do something big? Our Dashen series is definitely big enough. The buzz this time is indeed huge, which is the perfect chance to make a name for our Dashen series. Can we make it in time?"

Without thinking, the product manager blurted out, "We can make it." He had the entire schedule memorized.

"As long as we can make it. Change the slogan; the more arrogant, the better."

"The more arrogant, the better? Won't that make us a target for everyone?"

Looking at the product manager, Zou Hongyi felt helpless. He was good at products, but far behind in marketing. Having studied Lei Jun for so many years, Zou naturally had his own insights into marketing.

"We have to be arrogant. If we aren't, how will people remember our Dashen phone? If we aren't, how can we generate buzz? Buzz and traffic are the essence of internet phones. In this regard, Lei Jun is a top-tier player."

"Oh, right, and now there's this Chen Chen who follows the same path as Lei Jun."

"Understood, President Zou. I know what to do."

Shortly after the product manager left, the slogan for the Qiku Dashen series appeared online.

[What we're doing is big.]

At first glance, the slogan was mediocre, but it became interesting when paired with the poster: a giant phone stepping on four other phones. Attentive people could even see the faint shadows of recent classic models from used colloquially, Huawei, Red Star, and Xiaomi under its feet.

"Holy crap! This Zou 'The Cannon' really dares to fire at anyone."

"Dashen phone? Why do I feel shadows of the Empress Dowager, declaring war on the whole world?"

"I thought Red Star's 'I'll Show You' declaring war on three companies was brave enough, but I didn't expect someone to be even braver."

"The Red Robe Cult Leader's courage is commendable, declaring war on four manufacturers at once. Is your Dashen series also launching next month?"

Zou Hongyi rarely liked a comment, but he did for this one and replied: "Yes, the Dashen series will debut on July 23rd."

"Awesome, awesome. I'll definitely check out how awesome and how big your Dashen phone really is then."

Seeing the heated discussions and various insults online, Zou Hongyi clapped his hands in satisfaction. As long as you talk big, wouldn't the buzz follow?

Although most of the comments were mocking them for overestimating themselves.

But negative fame is still fame, right, Kunkun?

Boss Jia, who had just released the Super TV at the beginning of the year, saw how lively the phone circle was and wanted to join in. Letv was currently flourishing, with its market value already exceeding ten billion. Boss Jia also wanted to build his own ecosystem.

To this end, he released the Letv Super TV in early March, establishing the first ecosystem link from the website to the user. But in Boss Jia's view, this was far from enough. Not just TVs—how long would a user actually watch a TV at home?

It had to be phones; they were the devices users spent the most time on and used most frequently.

"Secretary Li, do you think we should try making phones too?"

"Boss Jia, the phone market is so competitive right now. Is it wise for us to enter now?"

"I actually think now is a good opportunity. Haven't you seen the Red Robe Cult Leader coming out to make phones again? And Xiaomi's Lei Jun—which of them has a hardware background? They're all from the internet. Since Letv can make TVs, a phone is just a TV with a smaller screen. It's not that hard."

As he spoke, Boss Jia's hand began to slide down, and Secretary Li naturally leaned into him.

"We know nothing about the phone business. Isn't it a bit early to join their struggle now... mmm... gentler..."

"It's not early. In this era, traffic is king. I want to take this opportunity to release the news that we're making phones to attract more attention."

I've already thought of the slogan. It'll be: 'Big Enough to Suffocate You'.

"Mmm... it really is suffocatingly big..."

A minute later, having tidied himself up, Boss Jia called in the head of the marketing department.

"Go make a poster. We're going to join this traffic feast too. Promote our leshi super phone with the slogan: 'Big Enough to Suffocate You'!"

After hearing Boss Jia's words, the marketing manager was a bit dazed.

Wait, why was Boss Jia so impulsive? He just finished the TV, had a Super Car press conference next month, and now he wanted to make a Super Phone.

But he certainly couldn't oppose the boss's words. He glanced at the somewhat flustered Secretary Li and turned to go make the poster.

Soon, Letv's promotional poster was posted online.

["Big Enough to Suffocate You" — leshi super phone!]

"Isn't Letv a video website? Why are they making phones too?"

"The Red Robe Cult Leader makes antivirus software, and he's still making phones, isn't he?"

"I didn't expect the Chinese phone circle to have such a grand occasion. This would have been unthinkable just two years ago."

"So satisfying! This battle is getting louder and louder. Even Letv's Boss Jia has made a move. It seems the phone circle is really heating up this time."