Wait, are you sure this 'flagship phone' will have higher specs than the Hongmeng S1?"
"I don't know the exact specs yet, but I'm sure it'll be better, stronger, and more expensive than the China Star Hongmeng S1."
"Then why are you still recommending I buy the S1? You think I'm an idiot?"
"No, I just… I figured you might not be able to afford it."
"I'm broke, not dead. I've got cash—I'm just deciding which one's better."
"...Sorry. Didn't mean to offend you."
The conversation, posted in a forum thread, made readers laugh. But it also opened a lot of eyes.
Flagship.
That meant the lead ship in a fleet—the most powerful one.
So, a flagship phone? That was the most potent, advanced model China Star had ever released.
While regular users just realized what "flagship phone" meant, China Star's competitors caught on instantly.
At Xiaomi headquarters in Beijing, Lei Jun was already holding a meeting.
"President Lei, it's almost certain that China Star is preparing to launch a new high-performance model. We don't have the specs yet, but the press conference is officially scheduled."
It didn't matter that the model hadn't leaked—just announcing the event was enough to tell the industry that a new product tier was coming.
Lei Jun nodded, eyes gleaming with admiration.
"No company in China's mobile industry can shake China Star's position right now. They've already locked down the mid-range market while we've just entered it."
"And now, while we're still competing in the budget segment, they've jumped to the high-end market and even coined a whole new concept—the flagship phone."
It was hard not to respect the move.
Even with decades of experience in business, Lei Jun couldn't help but admire Haifeng's foresight.
"He may be young, but his vision is ahead of the curve."
His secretary glanced over. "Should we launch a flagship model of our own?"
Lei Jun shook his head without hesitation.
"No. Not for at least two years."
She was surprised. "Why? Flagship phones have high specs and prices—so they bring high profits too, right?"
He nodded.
"Sure. But if we're thinking this way, don't you think OPPO, Vivo, and the others are thinking the same?"
"Following in China Star's footsteps might seem safe—but whoever moves first eats the biggest slice of the cake. Everyone else fights over crumbs."
"Let them fight. We'll stick to what we do best."
The secretary blinked. "And that is...?"
"Cost performance."
If Haifeng had been in the room, he would've applauded.
Lei Jun had identified the core strategy for survival in a market about to explode with competitors: niche focus and segment dominance.
The market was heating up.
China was about to roll out 4G licenses, and the smartphone industry was poised to explode. Capital was rushing in, startups were forming overnight, and copycats were everywhere.
Everyone wanted a piece of the pie.
But very few understood how to divide the pie.
Haifeng and Lei Jun were the exceptions.
On September 26, the day of the launch arrived.
China Star rented out a science and technology museum in Piaocheng and set up a full-scale live press conference as they did for the S1.
Haifeng adjusted his jacket with Xiao Ai's help and stepped onto the stage.
The spotlight hit.
He stood alone before thousands of live attendees—and over two million people watching online.
"Thank you for coming to the China Star Smartphone Press Conference," Haifeng said, smiling.
"Today, I'm here to deliver a real feast—for those in the audience and everyone tuning in across the country."
"A feast worthy of China Star."
The audience erupted. The live stream chat was flooded with comments:
"We've been waiting for this!"
"Surprise us, China Star!"
"Drop the specs already!!"
Despite the buzz, the opening was brief. Haifeng didn't waste time.
Meanwhile, the live team backstage stared at their screens in disbelief—2 million viewers and rising.
Among them were:
Regular netizens
Industry Veterans
Investors
Rival brand teams
Journalists
Even foreign executives watching in real-time
Across the globe, people like Steve Jobs, Samsung's VP Xingcai, and Google's Smith were staying up late to watch this event.
They knew what was coming.
Back on stage, Haifeng continued.
"This is our second major press conference."
"Only one year has passed since the first one. Yet when I stand here again, it feels like a different world."
"Last year, China Star was still an unknown player. We had just shifted industries, barely stepping into the smartphone market."
"And now?"
"Today, I can proudly tell you: China Star has sold 15 million units of the Hongmeng smartphone series."
"From zero to 15 million in a single year."
"That's not just growth. That's a statement."
And that statement was clear:
China Star wasn't just a tech company anymore.
It was a force.