"Bro, is this for real?"
"Eighty percent performance boost from a system accelerator? Isn't that nonsense?"
Boos erupted from the crowd. Skeptics couldn't hold back anymore. Many believed Haifeng's claims were exaggerated to the point of comedy. After all, even Google's massive Android team could only push out incremental updates—and now someone claimed a 40% reduction in power consumption and 80% smoother performance from a single app?
"What's next, flying to the moon?"
But Haifeng had expected this.
"I understand your doubts," he said calmly. "Seeing is believing. Hearing is deceiving."
"Our Hongmeng smartphone OS is a secondary development based on Android. The System Accelerator is already available as an app. Anyone with an Android phone can try it—free for seven days."
The room buzzed again.
"If you're using a Hongmeng phone, the System Accelerator is built-in—no app required.For other Android phones, a paid version will launch soon."
Once again, his delivery stirred the crowd.
If I launch the accelerator now, no one will suspect I'm building a fully independent OS. They'll think it's a well-optimized Android skin.
That was precisely the cover story he needed.
Just then, a reporter raised a hand.
"President Lu, when will the Hongmeng S1 go on sale? What's the price?"
Unlike earlier, Haifeng answered directly.
"Pre-orders begin on the official website immediately after this press conference."
"Shipping will begin within three working days."
He paused, then gestured to the massive screen behind him.
"As for the price... please look."
Three models appeared on the screen:
2GB + 8GB: ¥2,999 (≈ $413 USD in 2025)
2GB + 16GB: ¥3,299 (≈ $454 USD in 2025)
2GB + 32GB: ¥3,699 (≈ $510 USD in 2025)
For a moment, the entire venue fell silent.
Then—
"That cheap?!""I thought it'd be over five thousand!""Buy, buy, buy!""I need five—at least!""President Lu, I love you!"
The reaction was electric.
Everyone had expected the Hongmeng S1 to match Apple's latest model, which had just launched at ¥4,999 (≈ $688 in 2025) for 512MB RAM and 8GB storage. But Haifeng's phone offered more power, better design, and cutting-edge features—at nearly half the price.
Is a smartphone this powerful at that price? It's a flagship killer.
The internet caught fire on forums, Weibo, Tieba, and every central platform.
Even better? All three models came in black, white, and gold, with no price difference between colors.
After the conference ended, Haifeng returned backstage. Xiao Ai was waiting.
"President Lu, you were amazing."
"No time to celebrate," he said. "Once the site goes live, we'll be swamped with orders. Make sure the servers don't crash."
"Got it. I'll head to the tech department now."
Zhang Yu also rushed off to coordinate with the production team. Everyone was moving into high gear.
Haifeng sat down for a moment—only to be interrupted again.
Xiao Ai returned with news.
"President Lu, President Lei from Jinshan wants to meet. Sequoia Capital and SoftBank have also requested appointments."
"Lei Jun?" Haifeng raised an eyebrow.
He smiled faintly, then shook his head.
"Tell him I'm busy these next few days. I'll invite him to visit when I have time."
Haifeng understood what this meant.
Lei Jun wasn't just the head of Jinshan—he was also a high-profile angel investor. In the past, Haifeng might've jumped at the chance to bring him in.
But not this time.He wasn't letting outside capital disrupt his company's foundation.He'd build this tech empire his way, on his terms.
And outside?
Tech blogs were posted. Video clips were going viral. Forums were on fire.
The Hongmeng S1 had just set the country ablaze.Reviews praised its performance. Photos of the phone flooded social media.Influencers, skeptics, and rivals alike were forced to pay attention.
And for the first time—Chinese Tech wasn't just catching up.
It was leading.
And the world was starting to notice.