499: Chapter 499 Ji Guoxiong's live interview! It's almost too captivating to stop watching!

Chapter 499: Ji Guoxiong's Live Interview! A Little Bit Addicted!

Guodilao quietly withdrew from the trending searches, while Nine Fragrance Hotpot's popularity exploded.

For a time, Nine Fragrance Hotpot branches everywhere were overcrowded.

Long queues formed outside many of the hotpot restaurants.

Ordinary people began heading to Jiuxiang Hotpot Restaurant to check in and post videos and photos on social media.

Internet celebrities also flocked to Nine Fragrance Hotpot branches to ride the wave of its popularity!

The entire Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain showed a trend of developing into an 'Internet Famous' dining establishment.

Fortunately, Ji Guoxiong had notified all branch managers early on to prepare for a large influx of customers.

Combined with a relatively redundant number of staff, each branch was able to serve the customers well.

In Mountain City, Xu Zhu was beaming with joy as she saw the long queue in front of 'her' Jiuxiang Hotpot Restaurant.

After being in business for so long, this was the first time she had seen a return on her investment!

Although she hadn't broken even yet, she could already see the dawn of profitability.

She couldn't help but sigh, "It really hasn't been easy!"

"Little Wang, let me help you!"

Xu Zhu happily rolled up her sleeves and helped the waiter, Little Wang, move plastic stools for the customers waiting in line at the door.

"Manager Xu, let me do it!"

Little Wang was a young man, a high school graduate with clean and delicate features; he was the type who was quite popular with girls.

He had previously worked in a factory and as a delivery driver. Later, hearing that Nine Fragrance Hotpot offered good benefits, he made a point to apply.

It just so happened that an employee was resigning, so he was hired!

Little Wang was very diligent at the hotpot restaurant, rushing to do any task.

The store manager liked him as well and planned to train him.

Little Wang nimbly lifted the plastic stools and headed out of the restaurant...

This left Xu Zhu feeling a bit helpless. Although the hotpot restaurant was about to make money, she didn't feel much of a sense of accomplishment.

She had invested the money, but it seemed she couldn't actually do much, aside from perhaps smoothing over some local relations!

However, thinking that the two hotpot restaurants she had shares in could break even, she was still very happy.

Once she made a profit, combined with the dividends from the cafeteria side, she would have pocket money to pursue her own career again!

Maybe she could even use the good news of her 'successful profit-making' to squeeze a bit more money out of her dad.

Now that she could make money on her own, her dad should believe in her entrepreneurial ability... right?

By the time Su Yang arrived at Xinduqiao, the traffic to Jiuxiang Hotpot Restaurant had almost reached its peak in a short period.

At this time, Ji Guoxiong of Jiuxiang Catering once again accepted a live interview with local media, proactively standing before the public once more to answer questions from media friends and netizens!

Nine Fragrance Hotpot was currently a hot topic online, and the local TV station was very happy about Ji Guoxiong's initiative to appear on camera.

This interview program quickly attracted the attention of many forces.

In addition to the management of Jiuxiang Catering, Spark Entertainment Group—including Spark Media, Xingli PR, and Mingxuan GG—and their old rival Guodilao, there were also many domestic catering companies, companies collaborating with Jufan Holdings' subsidiaries, and many netizens.

At 7:50 PM that day, the live broadcast was about to begin.

Ji Guoxiong, in his forties, sat on the sofa. This time, he wasn't wearing a formal suit.

Instead, he wore relatively simple, sporty clothing that didn't look like any famous brand.

With a kind smile on his face, sitting next to the well-known Rongcheng host Chen Xiao, who was in a slim-fit suit, he looked like a middle-aged uncle you might run into randomly while out for a stroll!

As the program was about to start, Ji Guoxiong nodded to Kang Xuyan, the General Manager of Xingli PR, and Ji Sheng, the Deputy General Manager, who were offstage.

He wasn't particularly worried; everything was scripted.

He had deleted the questions netizens cared about that were sensitive or truly inconvenient to answer.

The PR company had also communicated with the production team to add some questions that Jiuxiang Catering wanted to address!

The TV station would naturally show Jiuxiang Catering some respect; after all, Ji Guoxiong was doing them a favor by appearing on their show.

They also hoped that the Jiuxiang Catering headquarters might place some advertisements with them!

Everyone knew how much TV stations had declined.

Except for a few major stations that could barely hold on, local TV stations everywhere were struggling.

Furthermore, they knew that Jiuxiang Catering's local background was very solid!

Offstage, Kang Xuyan whispered, "It should be fine, right?"

"Definitely fine. We rehearsed with Mr. Ji for a long time just for this appearance. Even the host has rehearsed with him. What's there to worry about?" Ji Sheng said in a low voice. "Besides, aren't we right here?"

He flipped through the drawing board in his hand. If Ji Guoxiong made a mistake in his speech, they could provide prompts or damage control!

Chen Xiao was only somewhat famous locally; she wasn't a celebrity host like those from Matong Station.

Her appearance fee wasn't expensive!

And as long as the money was right, these celebrity hosts could be hired to host weddings or birthday parties... there was nothing they couldn't be invited for!

They wanted the results for Xingli!

As soon as it hit eight o'clock, tens of thousands of netizens flooded into the local TV station's live room, and the number continued to climb.

The backstage staff were all smiles. They hadn't seen such large traffic in a long time and quickly reported the good news to their superiors!

The host, Chen Xiao, began chatting with Ji Guoxiong. She looked at him with feigned curiosity and said, "Mr. Ji, before I met you, I thought you'd be the type of mature middle-aged uncle in a suit and tie..."

Ji Guoxiong picked up the conversation, "After seeing me in person, are you very disappointed?"

"No! Not at all!" Chen Xiao shook her head with a smile. "I just feel that you're very down-to-earth!"

"Mainly, it's comfortable to wear!" Ji Guoxiong said sincerely, looking at his outfit. "I wear suits when I'm working, but this is an interview, and I want to show everyone a more authentic side of myself."

As the two spoke, many netizens left comments in the live room:

"Suits really are uncomfortable to wear!"

"Mr. Ji is quite down-to-earth!"

"I also wear whatever is comfortable!"

"I only wore a suit when I was looking for a job after graduation. Who wears that stuff normally? People who don't know me would think I'm selling real estate or insurance!"

"..."

Kang Xuyan smiled when he saw the netizens' comments.

It wasn't ten years ago anymore. Back then, many netizens still admired business elites with impressive degrees and billionaires... but the direction of public opinion had changed.

"Do you usually like to exercise?"

"Yes!" Ji Guoxiong nodded. "Spark Fitness is right downstairs from our company. Many of our employees are members there. I believe it's a good thing for employees to enjoy exercising. Only with a healthy body can one have abundant energy, work more efficiently, and be more passionate!"

Chen Xiao said with a smile, "Spark Fitness is indeed very famous in Rongcheng, but they haven't paid us an advertising fee. Director, quickly cut this part... Oh~ this is a live broadcast!"

A group of netizens burst out laughing and left comments one after another:

"I bet Spark Fitness definitely paid an advertising fee!"

"Spark Fitness's reputation is indeed very good, I like going there too!"

"Many employees are gym members; this proves their work intensity isn't that high!"

"Unlike me, I can only lie on the sofa when I get home from work every day, too tired to move!"

"Is it that I don't want to exercise? I just don't have the energy!"

"..."

Host Chen Xiao tried to steer the topic back on track: "Mr. Ji, it's you we're interviewing today. Netizens are very interested in your Jiuxiang chain, and many have asked questions... Are you willing to answer their doubts?"

Ji Guoxiong said with a smile, "Of course I am. I came here today specifically to answer questions!"

Chen Xiao picked up a question card and looked at Ji Guoxiong with a bit of embarrassment. "The first question might be a bit sharp..."

Ji Guoxiong gave a tactical cough. "Then let's skip to the next one!"

In an instant, the netizens whose anticipation had been built up couldn't help but laugh.

They had originally thought it would be a stiff, formal interview, but now it felt like it had great entertainment value, and the General Manager of the Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain was also quite interesting!

"That won't do!" Chen Xiao read from the question card, "The first question netizens are concerned about is: some people online have criticized the Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain for riding on Guodilao's popularity. Do you admit to this?"

As soon as this was said, the live room exploded.

Many fans of Nine Fragrance Hotpot began to speak up for Ji Guoxiong:

"This question is indeed sharp enough!"

"So what if they're riding the wave? I'm on Jiuxiang's side anyway!"

"A conscientious company like this should ride the wave more often!"

"..."

"Do I really have to answer?" Ji Guoxiong asked the host sheepishly. "Can I skip it?"

"No!"

"Then I'll speak the truth?"

"Okay, I'm looking forward to it too!"

Chen Xiao looked at Ji Guoxiong, her face full of curiosity.

Not only were the netizens expectant, but many companies following this live broadcast were also very curious!

In the Guodilao headquarters conference room, executives like Lei Mingwei and Chen Jianyun, along with employees from the marketing and PR departments responsible for public opinion management, were also watching the projection screen with great anticipation.

They were holding pens and notebooks, wanting to see if there were any flaws in Ji Guoxiong's speech that they could exploit!

"Alright!" Ji Guoxiong sighed. "I admit, we are desperately riding on Guodilao's popularity!"

In the Guodilao conference room, many executives and employees broke into smiles.

This was the pride of being an employee of a catering giant!

The only ones with sour expressions were a few vice presidents and senior managers.

They felt like their popularity was being leeched off once again!

"Then why are you desperately riding on Guodilao's popularity?" Host Chen Xiao seemed determined to get to the bottom of it.

Many netizens were starting to get annoyed by Chen Xiao's attitude.

Ji Guoxiong: "Do I still have to tell the truth?"

Chen Xiao nodded seriously: "Yes!"

Ji Guoxiong leaned back on the sofa and spread his hands helplessly. "The truth is that our marketing budget is very limited. Riding on existing popularity is the most cost-effective way to save on promotional expenses. It just so happened that Guodilao wanted to acquire us, and they have high traffic, so we hitched a ride..."

Ji Guoxiong added, as if reminiscing, "It's a little bit addictive!"

With a pfft, host Chen Xiao couldn't help but laugh.

On the live broadcast screen, a dense mass of bullet comments appeared:

"Hahaha!"

"I'm dying of laughter, 'a little bit addictive', what a line!"

"Haha... Mr. Ji is so candid!"

"I feel like Mr. Ji's expression can be turned into a meme!"

"..."