Reborn To Dominate Technology

The comment section under Huaxing Technology's promotional video had become a wall of applause for Jay Chou's brand‑new single. Excited supporters quickly drowned out any pockets of criticism, and—as people finally pieced together the clues—everyone realized which product line Huaxing intended to unveil next: the Hongmeng S Series. Now that the name was public, curiosity about the phone itself skyrocketed.

Inside his modest bedroom, Jay Chou refreshed Weibo repeatedly, watching the likes and reposts climb in real time. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes.

"Success," he whispered, brushing a thumb over the trackpad. "I finally lived up to President Lu's expectations."

Jay's dream had always been simple yet stubbornly out of reach: becoming a songwriter everyone respected. He'd been mocked for mush‑mouthed lyrics and melodies that supposedly strayed too far from the mainstream. Tonight's tidal wave of praise proved the naysayers wrong—and he knew exactly whom to thank. Haifeng—President Lu to outsiders—had taken a chance on an unknown kid with a guitar, giving him the most significant stage imaginable.

Huaxing's marketing chief, Yang Qiang, understood better than anyone that music is the quickest way to a consumer's heart. When the company decided to make Jay the face—and voice—of the S Series, Yang set aside a healthy advertising budget. Banner ads, trending hashtags, short‑form videos—all of it funneled back to one unmistakable message:

"Musical prodigy Jay Chou lights up the internet!"

"'Starry Mood'—the most addictive track of the year."

"Meet the Hongmeng S Series: power, style, creativity—just like its spokesperson."

That paid push worked. By early April, Jay had leapt to seventh on the national new‑song chart and was still climbing. Overnight, his follower count ballooned by half a million, and the term "Rising Star" attached itself to the artist and the smartphone he represented.

Across town, Haifeng sat with Yang Qiang in Huaxing's conference room, fine‑tuning the launch plan. Last year's flagship, the Hongmeng X, had suffered a painful defeat; the company could not afford a repeat.

"How's inventory for the experience stores?" Haifeng asked, tapping his pen against a stack of briefing papers.

"Two thousand units per store, ready to go," Yang replied. "We'll open online and offline sales simultaneously—and I've arranged small gifts for walk‑in buyers."

Haifeng nodded, satisfied. "Good. Let's make sure those gifts feel special, not like leftovers."

April 5th, 6 p.m.—one hour until showtime. Backstage at the exhibition center, the atmosphere buzzed with last‑minute energy. Makeup artists flitted between Yang Qiang—tonight's lead presenter—and Jay Chou, who would close the event with a live performance.

Executive vice‑president Liu Jianyu lounged nearby, ribbing Yang in typical big‑brother fashion. "Relax, Old Yang. I hosted three launches last year and survived. You'll do fine."

Yang managed a shaky grin. Public speaking before millions was a different beast from engineering spreadsheets. Sensing his nerves, Haifeng joined the teasing. "Don't mind Liu showing off. The first time we pushed him onstage, he could barely string two sentences together. Just picture the audience in panda costumes—works every time."

Jay Chou, by contrast, looked unruffled. Talent shows and bar gigs had taught him to breathe in the roar of a crowd as naturally as oxygen. When he overheard Liu mention that one million viewers were already in the livestream (a figure that soon jumped to three), excitement—not panic—sparked in his chest. A born performer, he lived for that collective intake of breath when the lights finally came up.

Huaxing's reputation had grown alongside its product portfolio; some tech enthusiasts now grouped the firm with Huawei, Xiaomi, and the two "color factories" in the nation's informal Big Six. Yet high price tags kept the Hongmeng X out of reach for many college students and young professionals. The new S Series promised a mid‑range price without sacrificing the cutting‑edge features that defined the brand. For thousands who had admired Huaxing from afar, tonight might mark their first chance to join the family.

Seven o'clock sharp.

The auditorium lights snapped off, plunging the room into darkness. A single spotlight pierced the void, illuminating a lone silhouette. Gasps rippled through the audience and across the livestream chat as that figure—slim, confident—strode toward center stage. The launch of the Hongmeng S Series had officially begun.