The idea for the fully automatic smart debating machine was something Pei Qian came up with.

The trigger was OTTO Technology wanting to launch a smart speaker for the phone’s artificial intelligence system, riding on the wave of AI assistant popularity.

Currently, several AI speakers had appeared on the market, mostly priced around 200 to 300 yuan, with none exceeding 500.

Pei Qian considered that OTTO Technology’s request to make AI speakers was reasonable, and he couldn’t find a good reason to refuse, so he agreed.

He just tried to guide them slightly off track: requiring it to merge with the fully automatic debating machine, and to set the price directly at 2,588 yuan, creating a clear gap with other smart speakers.

This way, absolutely no one would buy it, right?

Actually, the fact that so many debating machines had been sold before already felt surreal and incomprehensible to Pei Qian.

This time the price increased several-fold, plus it integrated AEEIS specifically for arguing with people. Considering those who already bought debating machines absolutely wouldn’t buy another one…

This definitely wouldn’t sell now, right?

Although very confident in his heart, Pei Qian cautiously clicked into the product details page to check.

Seeing the pitiful single-digit sales figures and empty review section, Pei Qian felt relieved.

Good, good, this world was finally normal!

See, nobody was going to buy it.

Though… Chang You’s side didn’t seem to deliberately promote this debating machine, just placing a splash screen ad in OTTO phone mall?

Considering OTTO phone’s sales weren’t high, this splash screen ad’s effect was negligible.

Pei Qian, fearing there might be something fishy, quickly called Chang You.

“Hello? Mr. Pei, you saw the stable version system update too, right? Any instructions?” Chang You asked.

Pei Qian nodded, “Yes, I saw it. All the system update content is good, fully meeting my requirements. But don’t get complacent – our pursuit of user experience is endless.”

Chang You quickly said, “I understand, rest assured, Mr. Pei!”

Pei Qian’s intention was for Chang You to continue working on these details, preventing him from channeling excess energy into developing unnecessary new features and backstabbing him unexpectedly.

“I see the fully automatic smart debating machine is on sale too, but you didn’t spend much on promotion, right?” Pei Qian asked casually.

Chang You quickly answered, “Ah, yes, Mr. Pei. Since the previous debating machine wasn’t specifically promoted, this time we didn’t either, still waiting for your instructions. If you think we need to promote it…”

“No need!” Pei Qian interrupted hastily, “You did well. The fully automatic smart debating machine doesn’t need any promotion.”

“However, promotion is one thing, stocking up is another. Though promotion isn’t needed, stocking up must be done promptly.”

Chang You didn’t question further: “Understood, Mr. Pei.”

Pei Qian gave a few more brief instructions, like everyone had worked hard on development for so long, it was time to give employees vacation for rest, and resume new work next month, then hung up.

After the call, Pei Qian felt much more at ease.

Chang You was quite good! Very skilled at grasping my intentions!

This time not promoting the fully automatic smart debating machine lowered the chances of selling it even further.

Quickly stocking up, keeping everything piled in warehouses – this way, another large sum could be spent.

Each machine cost 2,588, casually stocking a few hundred would mean spending millions, burning money much faster than the initial debating machine.

What happens afterward aside, spending money suddenly before this month’s settlement should be fine, right?

Pei Qian couldn’t think that far ahead now, just needed to get through this cycle’s settlement first.

Lunch was finished, Pei Qian ordered coffee, sitting comfortably by Slackin’ Internet Café’s window enjoying the sun.

“Hmm? No, wait.”

“I should check user reviews too!”

As they say, once bitten by a snake, fear ropes for ten years. Countless backstabs had shaped Pei Qian’s cautious nature. Though already convinced the fully automatic smart debating machine couldn’t sell, despite seeing the pitiful sales in the mall, Pei Qian still felt uneasy.

He began checking user reviews about OTTO phone’s system update on forums.

“OTTO phone had a major system update! They didn’t even hold a press conference, just quietly pushed the update notification!”

“So much update content, don’t other phone manufacturers always hold press conferences to boast extensively? I was waiting for Chang You’s cross-talk, but there’s no press conference at all?”

“These system animations are so smooth, praise! Finally, domestic phones feel as smooth as pineapple phones. This silkiness never stops!”

“Not just domestic phones, other foreign Android phones can hardly achieve this level. OTTO Technology really put in effort.”

“This spirit of continuously polishing details is truly worth other phone manufacturers learning. Linear animation isn’t that hard to do, it’s just about whether they care, whether they’re willing to invest enough time and manpower.”

“Camera system update is great too. Took a few photos, the algorithm improved significantly.”

“Voice assistant exists now with a fancy name, but why do I feel it doesn’t treat me like a person? Isn’t this attitude problematic?”

Most reviews focused on basic system functions and linear animation since these were the most noticeable changes for most users: improved smoothness made phone usage more comfortable.

Few people commented on the new camera system or complained about AEEIS. Nearly no one discussed the fully automatic smart debating machine.

“People have such high evaluations of this system update?”

“But fortunately, what people like doesn’t make money, and what makes money people aren’t focusing on.”

Seeing no one cared about AEEIS fully automatic smart debating machine, Pei Qian was reassured.

Clearly, most people’s enthusiasm for debating machines had passed. Those who liked them already bought first-generation products, and those who didn’t wouldn’t buy new smart debating machines either.

Pei Qian sighed in relief – his worries seemed excessive.

The fully automatic smart debating machine definitely wouldn’t sell many units this month, so mass production could proceed confidently.

…

…

January 10th, Tuesday.

Pei Qian came out of the exam hall, first went to Slackin’ Internet Café for lunch, then grabbed his notes and headed straight to the self-study room.

This morning was an open-book exam, tomorrow morning still had a closed-book one. After finishing both, this semester would be over.

As for this morning’s exam results…

Hard to say, but at least the word count was sufficient.

Given such serious effort, shouldn’t at least some presentation points be awarded?

The exam was over anyway. Overthinking was pointless. The priority was afternoon cramming for tomorrow’s closed-book exam.

Arriving at the self-study room, Pei Qian, as usual, silenced his phone and placed it out of reach.

However, just as he was about to move his phone further away, a news notification popped up on screen.

“Another internet celebrity restaurant declares bankruptcy! Cold Noodle Girl myth ends, Meng Chang becomes judgment defaulter!”

Normally Pei Qian would ignore such news, but seeing this headline, he froze.

Cold Noodle Girl went down?!

He quickly clicked to read.

“Recently, Cold Noodle Girl founder Meng Chang was listed as a dishonest judgment defaulter by the court for failing to pay suppliers over 1 million yuan. This is likely just the tip of the iceberg of Cold Noodle Girl’s debts. Industry insiders analyze that Cold Noodle Girl’s debts might reach millions, completely unable to repay.”

“As an emerging internet restaurant brand, Cold Noodle Girl attracted countless consumers from its inception. Repeated marketing campaigns deeply linked ‘Cold Noodle Girl’ with grilled cold noodles, making eating grilled cold noodles fashionable, enticing investors to fund them repeatedly, sparking the internet restaurant brand craze. Within months, they secured multiple investments, reaching a peak valuation of over 300 million.”

“However, this internet celebrity restaurant appeared to collapse overnight. According to journalists, Cold Noodle Girl stores in the capital had closed, displaying ‘temporarily closed for renovation’ signs, but showed no signs of reopening for days. The founder Meng Chang, at the eye of the storm, has yet to respond publicly after the controversy.”

Pei Qian read the news two or three times in disbelief.

This was confirmed news, not rumors!

Cold Noodle Girl and Meng Chang becoming judgment defaulters – such news must have solid evidence. Store closures and Meng Chang’s lack of public response further confirmed this.

Pei Qian’s impression of Cold Noodle Girl lingered from two weeks ago.

Back then, bankruptcy rumors about Cold Noodle Girl emerged online, which Meng Chang denounced as lies.

Yet just over a week later, the so-called “rumors” came true – remarkably fast.

Actually, if Pei Qian had paid attention earlier, getting information from He Desheng or Mr. Li, he would’ve known sooner. But this past week, besides studying, he’d been following the ioi finals in Los Angeles, so his information was delayed.

Pei Qian went outside the self-study room to call He Desheng.

“Cold Noodle Girl went bankrupt?” After connecting, Pei Qian asked directly.

He Desheng said, “Yes, Mr. Pei. I was about to report this. Cold Noodle Girl apparently burned through their money and couldn’t secure more funding, so their cash flow broke. They still owe several suppliers.”

“Mr. Li just came to see me this morning to ask for your position. I haven’t responded yet. Mr. Li means if you’re still interested in Cold Noodle Girl, you could organize a meeting with all investors, as soon as possible…”

Pei Qian thought, “Alright, tomorrow afternoon then.”

“Notify Mr. Li and other investors to come to Jing Zhou if they’re not here, to discuss Cold Noodle Girl’s situation.”

He Desheng didn’t know why Mr. Pei chose tomorrow afternoon or his exact plans, but didn’t ask, just agreed.

Hanging up, Pei Qian returned to the self-study room.

Actually, choosing tomorrow afternoon wasn’t special – simply because tomorrow morning was the closed-book exam.

No matter how urgent, nothing could interfere with exams. Otherwise, all this review time would be wasted?!