Jianyu Liu was under real pressure. Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi were all formidable players, and each flagship they launched came with its own standout tech and clear selling points.
Heifeng Lu looked at him, impatient. "What are you afraid of? Life and death, take it lightly. If you don't accept it, then fight."
"Besides, our third-generation Harmony X isn't behind them in the slightest."
Heifeng genuinely did not fear those three manufacturers. The third-generation Harmony X was not weaker than their phones. If anything, it was stronger.
Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi had already finished rolling out their premium flagships, yet many buyers did not rush to place orders. They waited. Everyone knew Huaxing Technology's third-generation Harmony X was only a few days away.
For users who had already owned Harmony X devices, anticipation was intense. Over the past few years, the Harmony X line has effectively become the pace-setter in China's phone market. Each generation brought something new, something that felt like progress, not just a minor refresh.
In the blink of an eye, launch day arrived. Huaxing's senior team left headquarters and headed for the venue, Yancheng Stadium.
Tonight's third-generation Harmony X launch would take place there.
"Hello, President Cai, Mr. Hu."
"Hello, CEO Lu."
"Hello, CEO Lu."
Heifeng turned toward the pair who had just arrived, and a gentle smile surfaced. Yinong Cai had brought Hu Ge with her, and Heifeng greeted them first. Yinong returned the greeting warmly.
As the spokesperson for the Harmony X line, Hu Ge had naturally been invited to attend the event.
It was obvious Huaxing had raised its standard of preparation this time, far beyond previous product launches. The Harmony X line was Huaxing's core premium flagship series, and it was also the clearest showcase of the company's strength.
This year's flagship battle carried extra meaning. Huaxing was confronting Samsung head-on, while also dealing with challenges from multiple Chinese competitors. If the third-generation Harmony X could beat everyone in the same season, Huaxing would truly secure its footing in the premium flagship tier and widen the gap.
Second by second, the stadium filled. What had been empty seats became a dense crowd.
Huaxing had invited nearly 2,000 attendees to the launch, and about 80% of them showed up. That kind of turnout made the point on its own. Huaxing still had influence, and people were still willing to show up in person to see what it had built.
As 7:00 p.m. approached, the stadium, dim a moment earlier, gradually settled into silence. A countdown began. Lights shifted. A bright beam cut across the stage.
A young man in a suit walked out calmly, as if this were routine.
Online, the reaction spiked.
"No way, CEO Lu is presenting this one."
"If I'd known he was hosting, I would've tried to get a seat."
Heifeng's appearance triggered immediate discussion. He kept a low public profile most of the time, but he still had a large following, and his decision to personally take the stage sent a clear signal.
At Xiaomi, Jun Lei was watching the livestream.
When he saw Heifeng under the stage lights, surprise flashed across his face. He quickly composed himself, then muttered, "I didn't expect Heifeng to host the launch himself."
"This must be extremely important to Huaxing. It probably means something."
"Something big might be coming."
The host tonight was not Jianyu Liu, the executive responsible for the Harmony line's operations, but Heifeng Lu, the actual head of Huaxing Technology.
Huaxing was putting weight behind this event. First, the Harmony X line had to define its value in a way no one could argue with. Over more than two years, Harmony X had steadily moved toward the premium flagship tier. Only now, on this stage, would that positioning be fully locked in.
Harmony X would always be Huaxing Technology's premium flagship.
Other phone makers watching the broadcast did not dare underestimate the man walking to the center stage. The person in front of them controlled two major groups, with tens of thousands of employees behind him.
Heifeng took the microphone.
"Hello, everyone. You're probably curious."
"Why isn't Jianyu Liu hosting tonight?"
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Huaxing Technology's first employee, Heifeng Lu."
"And I know many of you already recognize me, because I also serve as the chairman of Audi."
"Now that we've covered that, let's get to the point."
"Please welcome Hu Ge, our spokesperson this time. Let him say a few words."
Heifeng followed the planned flow and invited the spokesperson to deliver short remarks.
Hu Ge rose from his seat and walked toward the stage.
The livestream chat detonated.
"Husband, husband."
"Get lost, he's my husband."
"Hu Ge, why are you still single?"
Hu Ge's appearance instantly pushed the room's energy up. As one of the most popular celebrities at the moment, he has both visible achievements and a reputation for handling people well. That combination kept his popularity steady at a high level.
Under the lights, Hu Ge reached center stage, politely shook hands with Heifeng, and accepted the microphone Heifeng passed him.
Before he could speak, applause surged again.
"To be honest, this is my first time endorsing a smartphone," Hu Ge said. "And my understanding of smartphones started with the Harmony X1."
"I've used every generation of the Harmony X line. I can say this with confidence: every product in the series has been a step forward. Each one felt like a real leap."
"I'm genuinely grateful Huaxing Technology invited me to represent this series. I think the future of Harmony X is limitless."
"Again, I hope more of you can stand with me and witness what Harmony X becomes."
"Thank you."
Hu Ge stood center stage, smiling brightly as he spoke about his expectations for the line.
Although only two Harmony X generations were publicly available on the market, Hu Ge, as the spokesperson, had already received the third-generation device half a month earlier. In his view, if the Harmony X line kept progressing and innovating at the same pace, it would reach results most people could not even imagine yet.
He was also glad to be attached to a brand he considered genuinely strong.
After Hu Ge finished, he stepped back amid enthusiastic applause, leaving the stage to Heifeng.