Chapter 110 Mom's Call

Pei Qian glanced at the time. It was already Friday, and there wasn't much he could arrange for today.

First, he would have a brief conversation with Meng Chang to prepare him. Then, he'd arrange for the online marketers to stir up some buzz and lay the groundwork over the weekend.

Then, starting Monday, Tengda would officially issue a statement, Meng Chang would film a promotional video and post on Weibo, telling players that he was collaborating with Chi Xing Studio...

Slowly, things would get back on track.

Next month would probably be busy with Chi Xing Studio and the VR glasses. Once that was over, it would almost be time for the settlement.

Although many projects had failed this cycle, there were still projects like the Experience Store and the Snack Market, which were popular but not very profitable. Add to that the money spent buying a bunch of shops, as well as the two money-burning events of the 515 Game Festival and the Summer Sale, and he was confident he could get a commission if he worked hard enough.

Anyway, he'd worry about the next cycle when it came. For now, he'd focus on ending this cycle perfectly.

Having made up his mind, Pei Qian immediately took a car to the Shenhua Grand View Building, heading straight for the Advertising and Marketing Department instead of his own office.

...

Meanwhile, in the Advertising and Marketing Department.

Meng Chang was listlessly playing a game at his workstation.

It wasn't that he particularly enjoyed playing games, but he was bored here. There was nothing else to do besides watching dramas or playing games.

Meng Chang often had to come up with promotional plans related to games, so naturally, he had to play more games and learn more about them in order to do reverse promotion effectively.

Although he could cram at the last minute, it wasn't very useful for an amateur. He still needed to study and integrate the knowledge.

Now that Meng Chang had already quit and didn't want to do it anymore, he still retained the habit of playing games.

On the other side, Yu Yao was whispering to the colleague next to him.

"I feel like Brother Meng's mood was a bit down for a while, right? It's only gotten a little better these last two days. What's going on? Wasn't the promotional plan for the Inspiration Class a great success?"

"Why does it feel like Brother Meng's style is becoming more and more like Boss Pei's? Is he now worrying about Tengda's worries before Tengda does?" the colleague asked, puzzled.

Yu Yao shook his head slightly. "I don't think so, or rather, not entirely."

"First of all, you become like the company you keep. Brother Meng has worked under Boss Pei for so long, and Boss Pei has imparted all of his sales strategies. It's only natural that Brother Meng is influenced by Boss Pei and undergoes some changes."

"But to say he's 'worrying about Tengda's worries before Tengda does'... I don't think so."

"After all, the two of them play different roles. Boss Pei is the helmsman of Tengda Group, while Brother Meng is just the head of the Advertising and Marketing Department. No matter how much he's influenced, his ideological level shouldn't reach Boss Pei's level."

"I think Brother Meng's reaction is more accurately described as... a state of dissatisfaction with himself and striving for improvement?"

The colleague was a little puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Yu Yao explained, "Look, Brother Meng used to be very confident in his promotional strategies. Back when he was at Cold Faced Lady, he was able to manipulate the internet and attract the attention of all netizens. How impressive was that?"

"But after coming to Tengda, Brother Meng completely negated his past marketing methods under Boss Pei's guidance, and the plans he made were even more popular and explosive than before."

"This is enough to show that Boss Pei's promotional and marketing methods are far above his!"

"So, the more successful our plan is, the more Brother Meng will see the huge gap between himself and Boss Pei. And this gap makes it difficult for him to be happy. He feels dissatisfied, feels pressure, and naturally shows a worried expression."

"I think this is the essential difference between him and Boss Pei."

The colleague nodded in understanding. "I see!"

As the two were discussing in low voices, they saw Boss Pei walking in quickly from the door, then heading straight for Meng Chang's workstation.

"Come to the conference room. I want to talk to you about the promotional plan."

Watching the two of them enter the conference room one after the other, Yu Yao and his colleague exchanged a look, even more certain of their speculation.

"See, I told you, Boss Pei's shadow is behind Brother Meng's promotional plans! This time, it's probably because the upcoming promotional plan is more important, so Boss Pei even came to the Advertising and Marketing Department himself."

"I just don't know what the upcoming promotional plan will be... I'm so excited!"

...

Pei Qian and Meng Chang came to the conference room and sat down.

"As we agreed before, you'll be fully involved in this promotional plan. Since you're fully involved, it shouldn't be a problem to lend a hand and execute it, right?" Pei Qian asked.

Meng Chang immediately nodded. "Of course, no problem!"

Meng Chang was eager to accept this suggestion.

Because he was indeed very curious about how Boss Pei would operate. He couldn't see many details from the sidelines, and he didn't know if Boss Pei would do anything underhanded.

But if he participated in the promotional activities and executed the promotional plan himself, he would definitely learn much more than just observing.

Pei Qian briefly explained to Meng Chang the parts he needed to cooperate with.

Mainly filming a promotional video and announcing the collaboration with Chi Xing Studio on his personal Weibo. In reality, it was to tie Meng Chang's personal image to Chi Xing Studio's upcoming series of marketing activities.

"As for how to shoot the promotional video... do it as you see fit. I only have three requirements."

"First, try not to show the real image of the DoubtVR glasses in the promotional video. Instead, use a very outrageous, exaggerated, and technological virtual image to replace it."

"Second, it should be shot in a sufficiently stream-of-consciousness style, even to the point of being inexplicable, making most people feel very confused after watching it. At the same time, pay attention to not making it too high-end."

"Third, add some exaggerated slogans, such as 'One of a Kind' or 'The Best VR Product You Can Buy in Three Years' or something like that. Feel free to use your imagination."

"I'll give you enough funding for the promotional video. You can decide how much money to spend on shooting it."

Pei Qian didn't need to explain the funding issue further. Meng Chang naturally understood.

The more money spent, the higher the commission. If you're reluctant to spend money at the beginning, you'll only earn one or two thousand in commission if you succeed in the end. That would be a huge loss.

But the more funding you have, the more likely it is that the finished product will be explosive. You have to carefully grasp the balance between the two.

Pei Qian thought that Meng Chang should be able to handle this.

Meng Chang, on the other hand, was carefully considering Boss Pei's three requirements.

After a moment, he asked, "Boss Pei, are you trying to... suppress first, then elevate?"

"This promotional video repeatedly hints to everyone that our VR glasses are a groundbreaking product, creating an unrealistic sense of anticipation for them. At the same time, you create controversy among different audiences, so that when the product is released, they will feel a sense of disappointment, right?"

Pei Qian couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

Finally, someone wasn't misinterpreting his intentions, but understanding his true purpose!

Wonderful!

So this is how happy it feels to not be misunderstood!

It's so refreshing to talk to someone who understands.

Pei Qian nodded. "That's right."

Meng Chang hesitated for a moment and said, "But, Boss Pei, just that alone might not be enough..."

Pei Qian couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Did he think I didn't know that?

Pei Qian continued, "This is just the beginning. There are other follow-up arrangements. Listen patiently."

"Then, you have to tie your image to Chi Xing Studio's marketing activities. I remember you have a lot of followers on Weibo. Use them and announce it at the right time."

"I'll make sure to talk to Chi Xing Studio beforehand so they don't sabotage you."

Meng Chang was stunned for a moment. "Boss Pei, you really are making the most of everything..."

Being as smart as he was, he instantly understood Boss Pei's intentions.

He planned to use his bad reputation to drag Chi Xing Studio down with him, and also make everyone look at this series of promotional activities with prejudice.

Meng Chang instantly felt a little regret.

Why didn't I think of this good idea before!

But then he thought again, it didn't seem right. Even if he had thought of it before, it wouldn't have been very useful.

Because this promotional activity was centered around Chi Xing Studio, Boss Pei had to first sever the relationship between Chi Xing Studio and Tengda Group before bringing out Meng Chang to make it work.

But the projects that Meng Chang was previously responsible for were all Tengda's own projects, so the effect would definitely not be as good as this time.

Therefore, Meng Chang stopped dwelling on it.

Moreover, Boss Pei's approach also gave Meng Chang some inspiration.

Could he find a way to use his bad reputation in the future?

For the sake of commission, Meng Chang can do anything!

Pei Qian was very happy that Meng Chang had fully understood and had not misinterpreted his intentions.

"Okay, that's about it. Today, take some time to think about the process and conceptualize the promotional video. The entire promotional campaign will officially launch next Monday."

"Let me tell you, I've gone to a lot of trouble to get you a commission this time, so you can't afford to screw up."

Meng Chang scoffed inwardly, not believing it at all.

But he still nodded. "I understand."

The two of them left the conference room. Pei Qian left directly, while Meng Chang returned to his workstation, closed the game, opened a document, and began to conceptualize the promotional video.

Yu Yao and his colleague exchanged a look and nodded slightly. Everything was understood without words.

...

Leaving Shenhua Grand View, Pei Qian looked at the time. It was already after three in the afternoon.

It was almost time to go home and enjoy a pleasant weekend.

But just then, his phone rang.

"Who is it!"

"Why are they still busy with work and calling me for instructions so late on a Friday afternoon?"

"If I find out who it is, I'll reduce the overtime quota for their department!"

Pei Qian took out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, and silently answered the call.

"Mom? What's the matter? Are you asking me to go home this weekend?"

His mother's voice came from the phone. "Ah? No, you don't need to. Just focus on your work there. Mom wants to ask you something. How much money have you saved up now?"

Pei Qian was stunned for a moment. "Huh?"

Because they lived close by, Pei Qian went home quite often.

But his parents didn't want him to come back too often because they knew that their son was doing very well at Feihuang Studio and must be very busy with work. They wanted him to focus on his work while he was young.

Especially since the box office for *Mission and Choice* had exploded recently, which made them very happy.

They all thought that with such a high box office, their son must have received a lot of dividends, right?

They were sincerely happy for their son.

But why were they asking about money this time?

Pei Qian answered truthfully, "About three million yuan, I guess."

His mother was clearly surprised. "Ah? You're making money so fast?"

"Then you must not work too hard. You must take care of your health."

Pei Qian was a little helpless. "I know. My work isn't actually that busy."

What he said was indeed true. His work wasn't busy at all, and it was even a bit health-focused. It just required a very strong ability to adjust his mindset, otherwise he would get sick from anger sooner or later.

His parents were like that. When their son was starting his career, they told him to work hard. When he made a lot of money, they immediately started worrying about his health.

But for Pei Qian, how much was that?

For someone who had obtained a system, he had only managed to accumulate three million yuan in personal assets in three years. Even with the house he bought before, it wasn't even five million yuan!

It was simply a disgrace!

Actually, if things went smoothly, he could earn three to four million yuan in one cycle. But things were never that smooth.

Okay, thinking positively, at least he had survived each cycle safely, and the system's initial capital amount was getting higher and higher. The theoretical maximum income he could get from losing money was also getting higher and higher.

Pei Qian asked, "Mom, do you need money urgently? How much do you need? I'll transfer it to you this afternoon."

His mother said, "No, why would I need money urgently?"

"I just heard recently that the houses in the old industrial area are going to increase in price. You can make money if you buy one. I thought, you're usually busy with work, so you definitely wouldn't pay attention to these kinds of news. Why don't you take this opportunity to buy one? Don't let your savings sit in the bank and earn interest."

Pei Qian was silent for a moment and said, "The news about the houses in the old industrial area going up in price... where did that come from? Don't be fooled by the real estate agents."

His mother's tone was very firm. "Don't worry, it's definitely very reliable news! Your mother has a very good childhood friend whose son is a core employee of Fuhui Capital. His son said that President Li of Fuhui Capital said it himself!"

"They've already found a place in the old industrial area, and they're probably going to complete the procedures this weekend."

"Fuhui Capital is one of the leading investment companies in Jingzhou. Can what President Li says be false? They must know some inside information and heard the news in advance before saying that!"

"They also said that this news is only circulating in a small circle for now. If your mother didn't have a good relationship with them, she definitely wouldn't have been able to find out this kind of news."

"Hurry up and buy one before the price completely goes up. We don't expect to invest in it. Just buy one set for ourselves to live in. You should also keep some money on hand for emergencies."

Pei Qian: "..."

The source of this news was simply amazing!

President Li knew about it? He must have seen me buying some shops and setting up a snack market there, so he bought it there blindly?

But me buying those shops was completely an accident. I didn't even consider making money with the snack market!

I invested there to burn money. I have a system! Why are you people blindly following along?

Pei Qian was very speechless. "Mom, this news that has been passed around four times isn't necessarily reliable. You know what the houses in the old industrial area are like. That rundown place won't develop. Buying it will probably be a waste of money."

His mother was obviously completely unconvinced. "You have to trust the professionals at this time. Do you know more about investment than President Li?"

"Besides, isn't there also a snack market there? They say they're going to turn it into a food street in the future, with lots of food. Buying a house nearby means you can go eat there every day. It will definitely become more and more lively in the future. I think it's definitely right."

"But, it's your hard-earned money, so you should decide for yourself. Your mother is just telling you the news."

"Don't blame me when the house prices go up."

Pei Qian: "... Okay, okay, Mom, I understand."

Hanging up the phone, Pei Qian didn't know where to start complaining.

His unintentional act of burning money had formed a strange closed loop!

First, it was his spur-of-the-moment idea to prevent Cold Faced Lady from creating a snack market. Then, Liang Qingfan also bought half a street of shops on a whim.

As a result, President Li noticed it for some reason. When President Li saw it, he thought there must be something big happening and immediately invested in it without hesitation.

Then President Li told a few core employees about it, and one of those core employees told their parents, who happened to be childhood friends with Pei Qian's mother. So this news spread to Pei Qian...

Everyone else thought that Li Shi had some amazing insider information, but Pei Qian knew very well that there was no insider information at all!

It was all a coincidence, a misunderstanding!

Buy a house in the old industrial area? He'd have to be crazy to do that!

Pei Qian originally thought that this was completely unreliable, but then he thought about it and decided to open the app and take a look at the houses there.

Although it was unlikely that the house would appreciate in value, his mother was right about one thing. The surrounding environment would definitely be more livable in the future.

The old industrial area was originally relatively dilapidated and the environment wasn't very good. It had nothing to do with the word "livable". But with the completion of the Thriller Hostel and the snack market, the surrounding economy had been boosted somewhat.

Living here, you could go to the snack market for a stroll and eat something good. If nothing else, it would definitely be very lively.

The house near the high-speed rail station was in a good location and convenient for transportation, but it was obviously lacking in the everyday atmosphere that his parents needed. It was still a bit lacking.

The elderly didn't need convenient transportation or like big shopping malls, but they should like strolling through the streets and alleys of a snack street.

Moreover, the houses in the old industrial area should be very cheap. It wouldn't be a big deal to buy a newer, better-located apartment.

However, after browsing the app, Pei Qian was shocked.

"The house prices are rising too fast, aren't they?"

"These rundown houses are worth so much money? It's ridiculous!"

"A bubble, definitely a bubble!"

Pei Qian threw his phone aside when he saw the price.

Two years ago, Pei Qian had seen the house prices in Jingzhou. Houses in the city center were only about 15,000 or 16,000 yuan, and the apartments near the high-speed rail station were generally around 11,000 or 12,000 yuan.

At that time, the houses in the old industrial area were the price sinkhole in the entire Jingzhou, at most 6,000 or 7,000 yuan.

Because the development trend of the entire Jingzhou was westward and southward, the old industrial area was old and dilapidated, with no prospects for development. Most of the apartments were also old, with only a few new developments. The prices were naturally very low.

But Pei Qian now saw that the average price here had actually risen to more than 8,000 yuan!

Although house prices had generally been on the rise for the past two years, the house prices in the old industrial area were actually at 8,000 yuan?

Moreover, that was just the average price. Some of the better apartments must have broken 10,000 yuan.

Pei Qian couldn't accept it at all!

Obviously, this was a bubble. People like Li Shi were buying like crazy, and others were blindly following suit, pushing up the house prices.

"Can't people think independently these days?"

"Everyone blindly follows the trend. When they buy the house and the hype dies down, the house prices will fall. Won't they all be stuck with it?"

"Oh, really."

Pei Qian was very speechless and worried about these people.

However, after calming down, he picked up his phone again.

"Forget it, even at 11,000 yuan per square meter, a 150-square-meter apartment is only 1.5 million yuan. It's not like I can't afford it. I'm not expecting it to appreciate in value. If it falls, it falls."

This time, Pei Qian carefully looked at the apartments nearby.

He had to admit that although the houses in this area had all increased in price, the extent of the increase varied.

The rate of increase obviously depended on three factors: the distance from the snack market, the environment of the apartment complex, and educational factors.

Those new school districts with good locations were obviously the most popular and had the most outrageous price increases.

The price increases of apartment complexes that were far away were negligible.

This was also normal. The snack market and even the entire snack street could only affect a small area. The further away you were, the less investment value there was.

But Pei Qian didn't plan to invest anyway. He just needed to buy a new apartment complex that was within walking distance of the snack market and had relatively complete supporting facilities.