Chapter 533: Advocating for Myself

The preparation took place a week ago. The impact emerged last night. By dawn, it topped the trending searches.

As the signs emerged, some matters began to spiral out of control.

With the internet business booming for a decade, this was the first time a platform offered refunds to customers, involving amounts over ten million.

Key was, the returned part wasn’t even due for a refund. It was practically eaten.

Chain reactions kept emerging…

The group-buying elites gathered in Kyoto couldn’t care less about the so-called seminar, their phones ringing non-stop.

Now it was their turn to decide, to refund or not, and when.

At such times, one wrong PR move, even a single wrong word, could spell disaster as it sets you against the consumers.

Nuomi was the first to falter, their PR issued a statement. It informed that during the discount coupon purchase, it was clearly communicated that consumers bear the loss if the coupon expires. Refunding the expired cost is against policy.

In just minutes, Nuomi faced a brutal online backlash, forcing them to shut down comments.

People numbed out, “Is this really the comment section, or a complete collection of national treasures, damn it.”

Shortly after, a well-known economist, Professor Wang from Linchuan University, stepped up to analyse Nuomi’s and Pintuan’s decisions.

He claimed the money from expired consumer coupons should be distinctly defined.

If no deal is reached, this money doesn’t truly circulate. In the legal sense, it still belongs to the consumer. Any site claiming it is committing robbery.

With an expert’s support, consumers felt emboldened. Memes demanding refunds started flooding forums and social networks massively.

Lashou was the second to respond, learning from Nuomi’s mistake. They stated they wouldn’t refund, but expired coupons could be reinstated. Meaning, previously expired coupons are now extended.

But within minutes, their comment section was also bombarded shut.

Why?

Eighty percent of these expired coupons were issued for first-tier cities, but Lashou had discontinued services in first-tier cities half a year ago, pushed by Pintuan to operate in second and third-tier cities.

So, I need to travel to a neighboring county to use my coupon? This is typical evasion, muddying the waters. We want our money, not your coupons!

“Too quick, now wasn’t the time for a response.”

“The more they respond, the more they fuel the incident!”

“Pintuan has already set the pace, we can’t follow their rhythm!”

Yang Xueyu murmured these words, sweat on his forehead. Turning to Chen Jiaxin, he noticed a dazed look in her eyes.

Just overnight, Pintuan made one move, completely turning the tables.

From appearing as blood-suckers about to bolt, they transformed into great benefactors. And us? Pushed directly opposite the consumer.

Chen Jiaxin felt dragged into a quagmire, struggling only dragged her deeper.

So Jiang Qin’s attitude last night wasn’t bluster. He truly never compromises and indeed, can hit back hard.

“What do we do now?”

“We need to urgently control the situation.”

“Other than refunding like Pintuan, what else can stabilize the situation?”

As Chen Jiaxin and Yang Xueyu brainstormed, the meeting room door swung open. Their own bosses, Zhang Tao from Lashou, Wu Bo from Nuomi, Shen Yang from WoWo Group, and Wang Binliang from Nuomi walked in.

They were followed by top executives and their personal secretaries.

Among the crowd was a man with a goat beard fiddling with a ring on his finger. He entered quietly, sat directly in the main seat without a word.

“Let me introduce, this is Meng Yansheng, Mr. Meng, an internet communication expert.”

“……”

At these words, everyone quickly realized, this was the mastermind behind the series of “Pintuan fund disrupt” events.

Meng Yansheng looked around, “You can’t respond directly because whether you refund or not, you’re aiding Pintuan.”

“Not refunding, you become the villainous capitalist, towering Pintuan’s image higher. Refund, you’re just as good, but Pintuan remains the leading good guy in consumers’ hearts.”

“Meaning if any of you refund, consumers would still credit their thanks to Pintuan.”

Kang Jingtao pursed his lips, “So, what do we do now?”

Meng leaned back in his chair, “He shifted the main conflict away, now we need to draw it back, and let public opinion land back to Pintuan’s imminent fund disruption.”

“How do we do that?”

“Remind consumers not to be penny wise, pound foolish. Make them think Pintuan’s sudden refund was a bait for bigger scams. All our site’s responses must clutch this point firmly.”

“!”

Hearing Meng’s words stunned everyone, their scalp tingling immediately.

True, Pintuan’s ability to drag everyone into the mire was because their refunding of expired coupons had won consumer favor.

But what if we attack their motive?

If we frame this behavior as non-innocent, aiming for bigger gains, that directly shatters his persona!

Like the newly emerged gambling sites letting you win initially, but when you invest more, they sweep all your funds.

Brutal! Playing with public opinion, truly soiled tactics.

“Hold off on responses for now, let the pace slow down. We’ve consulted some experts to issue statements by noon today, starting a discourse to shatter his persona.”

“Once consumers doubt Pintuan’s motives, their imminent fund disruption becomes even more credible!”

“Remember, after spending so much on expired coupons, Pintuan’s next move would surely be fundraising activities.”

“As long as we control the narrative of impure motives, any activity he dares to launch will immediately be seen as a fundraising preview, collapsing trust once again!”

“……”

Managing public opinion isn’t like doing business, so business people alone struggle with forming strategies. But with professionals providing a direction, ideas suddenly become clear.

As a result, many experts eagerly awaiting payment received their fees and began recording videos from their provided scripts.

Some in suits, some with white hair, sitting upright facing the camera, speaking righteously, but no one could smell the money reeking from their mouths.

“The internet is full of traps……”

“Be cautious, don’t sacrifices watermelons for sesame seeds……”

“Group buying market is chaotic, the public should be more vigilant, not walk into traps……”

The filmed videos were then handed to major influencers, and upon Meng’s confirmation, were released.

As Pintuan’s refund was still hot, the dissemination was swift. With backdoor funding, doubt in the speed was unnecessary.

They aimed to plant a seed of doubt among netizens, continue attacking Pintuan’s financial issues while buying time to prepare for refunds.

Indeed, this angle quickly garnered attention. Many netizens, after watching the experts’ videos, suddenly realized, “Is this true?”

Could Pintuan really be using minor favors to hook everyone, then sweep away more money?

Watching everyone’s discussions and doubts, Meng Yansheng’s lips curled up, knowing his goals were gradually being met.

However, what he didn’t anticipate was, right after his videos went out, a trending search gradually topped without noise. When he checked it, his smile froze on his face.

“You only smelled my perfume, not my sweat.”

“……”

Around noon, after lunch, folks from Lashou, Dazhong, Nuomi, and WoWo Group gathered in the meeting room, visibly puzzled, seeking Meng.

They were monitoring online sentiment when they suddenly noticed the expert videos were gone.

“Mr. Meng, why were the videos deleted?”

“I had them removed. They can’t be out now, it would backfire.”

Chen Jiaxin frowned slightly, “Why?”

Meng paused before speaking, “Pintuan’s promotional video went live, currently climbing Weibo’s trending alongside their refunds’ heat.”

“Is it a promotional discount ad? That would be precisely what we needed,” Zhang Tao couldn’t help but interject.

“No, that… it doesn’t seem like an ad, more like Jiang Qin’s own promotional video. You should see it on Weibo for yourselves. We were wrong; he isn’t setting a persona for Pintuan, he is setting one for himself.”

“?”

Upon hearing Meng’s words, everyone rapidly fetched their phones, tapping into Weibo’s trending to see a headline.

【Jiang Qin Advocating for Myself】

This ad quickly rose in views amid the refund’s heat and was increasingly shared across various websites.

Jiang Qin is tall, with a straight posture and decent looks, but many overlooked another advantage—his voice, deep and magnetic.

As the ad began, a calm, unemotional yet gripping voice emerged.

“You only smelled my perfume, not my sweat.”

“You have your rules, I have my choices.”

“You deny my present, I decide my future.”

“You mock my having nothing, not worthy of love.”

“I pity you always waiting.”

The first half of the ad portrayed three short stories: a glamorously dressed female office worker facing workplace harassment chooses to refuse, a student persisting in drawing despite parental scolding receives an acceptance letter.

And a goddess between a poor boy and a rich second-generation guy arriving in a luxury car chooses to accept the poor boy’s gift.

Brief motivational clips, but aligned with Jiang Qin’s voice, subtly conveyed a sense of resilience and emerging strength.

The scene then shifts to Jiang Qin in a suit, seated in a stark white meeting room across three mature, poised CEOs with slight smirks.

Jiang, in the footage, waved his hand, scattering several contracts airborne, papers fluttering, pausing for a second displaying ‘Equity Agreement’.

At that moment, the mild background music suddenly intensified.

“You may scorn our youth; we will prove whose era this is.”

“Dreams are destined to be a lonely journey, not without doubts and mockery.”

Jiang Qin slowly lifted his head amid countless criticisms, fists clenched, expressionless, striking forward.

“But what of it?”

“Even if covered in scars, live beautifully.”

Beneath shards of shattered glass, Jiang Qin walked towards the only light in the darkness.

“I am Jiang Qin, advocating for myself.”

“……”

Long after, the meeting room was eerily silent, everyone’s scalp tingling anew.

With this ad, combined with his prior actions of paying for consumers’ expired coupons, Jiang Qin had established a persona impervious to any rumors!

Meanwhile, in the official Pintuan commercial’s comment section, a comment gradually rose to the top, seen by all.

“Is Pintuan being targeted by capitalists? Just because he wants to return our money?”