Unlike the slight impatience of Ding Xiyao and Cai Jiadong, Meng Chang could be described as calmly waiting for his fish to bite, not anxious at all.
This was because he had already arranged his follow-up plans, including videos recorded under the name “Young Master Tian,” which were all completed.
The reason he hadn’t made his move wasn’t out of any mercy for Residence Group—Meng Chang basically didn’t possess such emotions, especially not toward a large corporation like Residence Group.
Meng Chang couldn’t wait for such big companies to die quickly, and incidentally take a big bite of meat for himself before they did.
He was waiting these few days mainly because he hadn’t yet received his commission.
Meng Chang looked at the date. Today was the 28th. If he held out until Friday the 30th, after finalizing his commission with Mr. Pei in the afternoon, it would be about time to make his move.
By the weekend, he could happily count his money at home while watching Residence Group struggle frantically to deal with the negative public opinion.
Of course, Meng Chang wasn’t merely waiting. He was constantly monitoring online news and public opinion trends, both regarding the game “Real Estate Agent Simulator” and Residence Group.
He knew well that the key to the “Pei-style Promotion Method” lay in the precise grasp of popularity and public opinion—a technique of “using four ounces to move a thousand pounds.” How to ignite the popularity, when to ignite it, and how to do it skillfully without leaving traces was a science.
Too early or too late, or with stiff movements, would greatly discount the promotional effect.
Meng Chang was a perfectionist, striving to do his best in everything, and naturally wanted to perfect an exquisite technique like the “Pei-style Promotion Method.”
“The situation with ‘Real Estate Agent Simulator’ is normal.”
“Indeed, the game’s content is quite rich. Although some things are hidden, players are unlikely to dig them all out in two or three days.”
“Having players sense there’s an issue but not being able to pinpoint exactly what it is—this state is ideal and most conducive for ‘Young Master Tian’ to play his role.”
“Let’s check on Residence Group’s side. They shouldn’t have any major moves recently, right…?”
“Hmm? What’s this?!”
Meng Chang did a quick search online for new information about Residence Group, originally thinking they would likely continue to push their old topics as before.
However, he was surprised to discover that Residence Group had released a new official announcement and promotional video this morning!
Meng Chang immediately sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly clicked to view it.
“Attentive Butler Service?”
“Residence Group is launching a new service at this critical juncture?”
After reading Residence Group’s official announcement and watching the promotional video, Meng Chang couldn’t help but frown slightly. This was unexpected.
This so-called Attentive Butler Service was clearly Residence Group’s promotional focus for the near future, launched to further consolidate their market position and suppress other real estate agencies.
In Residence Group’s own words, this Attentive Butler Service was designed to “further strengthen mutual trust between agents and tenants,” “establish long-term stable cooperative relationships,” “create personalized services tailored to tenant needs,” “enhance team professionalism,” “implement responsible service systems,” and so on.
Setting aside these official platitudes, in simpler terms, Residence Group hoped to create a new breakthrough for their business through promotional efforts focused on their agent teams.
According to Residence Group’s promotion, the “Attentive Butler Service” was an upgrade and transformation of the traditional agency model.
First, they would screen, eliminate, and train existing agent teams to improve their professional capabilities and quality.
Second, with improved agent teams, they could select more suitable properties for tenants, comprehensively analyze needs, and find the best rental options.
Finally, the agent teams would provide one-on-one service to customers, with personal responsibility. Both before and after signing a contract, the tenant would be served by this agent (now called a butler), which would, to some extent, prevent situations where agents try everything to close deals but take no responsibility afterward.
Meng Chang suddenly understood.
Why was Residence Group so eager to capitalize on the popularity of “Real Estate Agent Simulator”? Why did they spare no expense to make their own promotional videos and create buzz online?
Clearly, it was all purposeful!
If Residence Group didn’t have a related business to promote, even if they were riding the trend, they wouldn’t do it so urgently.
Obviously, Residence Group had been planning this “Attentive Butler Service” for a long time. The heated discussion sparked by the “Real Estate Agent Simulator” promotional video online played right into their hands, perfectly meeting Residence Group’s needs.
They had seized this wave of popularity to promote their new business!
Meng Chang speculated that Residence Group launched this new service primarily for two purposes.
First, to recover from the losses during the “Secure Housing” period and improve the company’s image and reputation.
Second, to explore a new model and further enhance Residence Group’s competitiveness in the agency market.
In fact, the “Secure Housing” service had been launched with similar goals initially.
Residence Group saw that most rental properties on the market were old, small, and in disrepair—not appealing to young people. So they created the “Secure Housing” model for long-term rentals, renovating properties themselves before renting them to tenants. This both improved living conditions and generated profit—a decent business model.
Originally, “Secure Housing” had a good reputation, but unfortunately, in pursuit of profit, Residence Group turned “Secure Housing” into “Formaldehyde Housing,” causing their reputation to collapse.
Nevertheless, if the “Secure Housing” business model hadn’t deteriorated, it could have been considered a commercial innovation and breakthrough in the rental field that could have succeeded.
Now, with the Secure Housing name tarnished, Residence Group was internally planning to rename it, and it certainly couldn’t be a promotional focus anymore.
So Residence Group came up with “Attentive Butler” as a new promotional point.
If they couldn’t make improvements to the properties, they could only focus on the people!
Residence Group’s calculations were very clever. The properties indeed had formaldehyde problems, and once exposed, they could only accept their misfortune. But people surely wouldn’t have formaldehyde problems, right?
Moreover, this “Attentive Butler” business model addressed a major pain point in the current rental market.
Due to the existence of many small and illegitimate agencies, the identity of real estate agents wasn’t particularly honorable. If Residence Group could change people’s perceptions and make tenants feel that Residence Group’s agents weren’t just agents but highly skilled and responsible butlers, it would certainly be a huge advantage for Residence Group.
That’s why Residence Group had been consistently portraying the hardships and misunderstandings of agent work in their promotional videos—to build momentum for this new service.
Of course, shouting slogans loudly didn’t mean they could actually deliver.
Meng Chang was all too familiar with this marketing flavor.
Meng Chang knew clearly that Residence Group couldn’t fundamentally change the working conditions of the agent profession; at most, they would make superficial changes.
Perhaps changing uniforms, emphasizing polite language, or adjusting personnel structures.
The best result would be no more than implementing a superficial responsibility system.
What is a “superficial responsibility system”?
It means that if there’s a real problem with a property, you can indeed find the agent, and the agent will try to help resolve it, but this resolution would only be superficial, never touching the substantive issues.
For example, if a tenant discovers a drafty window after signing the lease and contacts their butler.
The butler would surely apologize sincerely and promise to resolve the issue, but the best solution would be no more than finding someone to bring materials and temporarily seal the window.
Replacing the window? Or even changing apartments or refunding rent?
That would be impossible.
Because the root of the issue isn’t with the agent but with Residence Group.
As a listed company pursuing profits, once Residence Group’s agents sign contracts with tenants by whatever means, the money is already in hand, and Residence Group won’t give it back.
Residence Group would inevitably find ways to shift the conflict to tenants and agents. For instance, raising rent, selling “responsible service” to tenants, telling them they have significant rights—if dissatisfied with the butler, they can complain and the company will definitely handle it seriously.
When real problems emerge and tenants complain, Residence Group would deduct money from the agent (butler). But the agent can’t fully satisfy the tenant’s requirements, so they can only try to partially solve the problem themselves or beg the tenant for understanding.
Although the property’s problem isn’t fundamentally resolved—for instance, most of the draft has been blocked but there’s still a small area that leaks air—the tenant sees how pitiful the agent is. Considering that further complaints are unlikely to yield better results, the tenant can only compromise and make do.
With this compromise, Residence Group achieves its goal.
They appear impartial and customer-focused to the tenant, maintain the reputation of the “Attentive Butler Service,” and still make a profit.
Meng Chang was crystal clear about these tactics. He could even predict the likely developments as soon as the service was launched.
But Meng Chang also knew that not everyone was as shrewd as he was.
Residence Group’s “Attentive Butler Service” did have strong deceptive qualities, especially compared to other rental companies, making it quite competitive.
Moreover, Residence Group had already laid the groundwork with preparation and promotion, and many people’s impressions of agents had indeed improved.
Barring any surprises, once this news was announced, Residence Group’s stock would surge.
Meng Chang couldn’t sit still anymore.
Though two days didn’t seem long, the Pei-style Promotion Method had its most suitable timing. Too early or too late might not achieve the best effect.
If Meng Chang made his move long after Residence Group’s activity was released, might Residence Group bite back, claiming it was organized defamation targeting the “Attentive Butler Service”?
Would what was originally a one-sided massacre turn into a mud-slinging battle where both sides get dirty?
Meng Chang stood up and paced quickly around the room.
“Can’t delay any longer. Delay breeds change.”