Phi-Fic Chapter 230 Circle Leader Lu Xiao
Chapter 230 Circle Leader Lu Xiao
TUTU's press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the venue is the small theater in the Shanghai Cultural and Art Center—the same venue where the "Super Girl" finals were held.
Lu Ran stood backstage, looking out through the gap in the curtain.
The 800-seat theater was packed, with media reporters in the front row, their cameras and microphones aimed at the stage.
The back row consisted of fan representatives, holding various support banners. The most eye-catching one was the orange color – the exclusive color of the "Left-behind Rabbits Alliance".
"President Lu," Xiao Yang from operations leaned over and whispered, "Lin Weiwei from Xingguang has arrived and said she wants to do a live stream after the press conference."
"Zhang Ruo from Xinghua is also here, saying she'll demonstrate how to teach rabbits to talk dirty."
Lu Ran was both amused and exasperated: "Tell them they can do whatever they want after the press conference, but don't try to steal the spotlight now."
This time, the home turf still belongs to TUTU.
He took a deep breath and straightened his suit collar.
Shen Yuege bought him this suit last week, saying that "a boss should act like a boss."
After putting it on, Lu Ran looked in the mirror and indeed looked quite presentable.
"Please welcome—Lu Ran, founder of Tutu Technology!"
As the host finished speaking, applause erupted.
Lu Ran walked onto the stage, the spotlight shining on him, which was a bit dazzling.
He glanced at the audience; familiar and unfamiliar faces were all looking at him.
"Thank you all for attending today's press conference." He began, his voice resonating throughout the venue through the speakers. "This press conference was originally supposed to be held two weeks ago. But at that time, TUTU was being thoroughly humiliated by others, and I was too embarrassed to hold it."
A burst of good-natured laughter rang out from the audience.
"What we've been through these past two weeks, as you all probably know," Lu Ran paused, "is what we've been through. The WeChat gaming platform launched, giving away money every day, a total of 100 million yuan in seven days. We lost five million users in just three days."
"Back then, someone asked me, 'Lu Ran, aren't you panicking?'"
"It would be a lie to say I wasn't panicking. I was so panicked that I couldn't sleep at night, staring at the backend data, watching that green line drop with my own eyes, and my heart would clench every time it dropped."
He spoke very casually, but upon closer reflection, one would realize that it was actually not easy at all.
The opponents are two behemoths; an ordinary company would have been easily crushed long ago.
It's truly remarkable that Lu Ran has managed to hold on until now and launch a counterattack.
"But later I discovered that some things money can't buy," Lu Ran continued.
Lu Ran turned on the large screen behind him.
A screenshot of the TUTU community appeared on the screen—【Left-behind Rabbits Alliance】.
"This circle was established the day after WeChat Weibo was launched," Lu Ran said. "The circle owner is called 'Rabbit Guardian,' and he wrote in his pinned post: 'So what if WeChat Weibo is giving away money? I only have one rabbit.'"
"This post was shared over 10,000 times that day. This circle gathered two million people in three days."
Some people in the audience started to applaud.
Lu Ran raised his hand to smother the conversation and continued, "These two million people chose to stay when TUTU was facing its most difficult time. It wasn't because our game was more fun than WeChat's, or because our red envelopes were more plentiful—it was because they couldn't bear to leave."
"I'll miss the rabbit I've had for a month. I'll miss the virtual pet that talks nonsense. I'll miss the habit of getting up early every day to feed it and petting it before bed."
"I can't bear to part with TUTU's home."
"These people really treat TUTU like home."
As soon as Lu Ran finished speaking, applause erupted from below, even more enthusiastic than before.
After the applause subsided, Lu Ran and the others clicked on the next page of the screen.
"Today, I have three announcements to make."
"First, Tutu Technology has officially entered into a strategic partnership with Starlight Entertainment and StarHua Entertainment. Starting today, all artists under Starlight and StarHua will gradually join Tutu. New dramas, new songs, and new variety shows will be promoted on Tutu first. Fans can interact with their idols up close on Tutu."
The logos of Starlight and StarHua were displayed on the big screen, and the sound of camera shutters clicking was constant in the media area below the stage.
"Secondly, TUTU will create brand-new fan community features. Ranking, support, fan clubs, merchandise purchases—all your idol-following activities can be done on TUTU. From now on, TUTU will be your premier platform for supporting your idols."
"Third—" Lu Ran paused, looking at the orange crowd below the stage, "To thank the users who chose to stay during TUTU's most difficult time, TuTu Technology has specially launched the 'Guardian Medal'."
A medal image appeared on the big screen—a rabbit standing on a city wall looking into the distance, with a line of small text next to it: [Thank you for being there for me during the most difficult days].
"This badge is only available to users who log in and remain active for the next seven days. It will be discontinued and will never be available again."
The orange crowd below the stage began to erupt in cheers, and some people stood up and waved banners.
"Also," Lu Ran looked at the young man wearing a rabbit headgear in the first row, "the leader of the 'Left-Behind Rabbit Alliance' is also here today. 'Rabbit Guardian,' please stand up."
The young man paused for a moment, then slowly stood up, removed his mask, revealing a slightly immature face. He was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wore black-rimmed glasses, and seemed a bit socially awkward.
"The real name of the leader of this 'Left-Behind Rabbits Alliance' is... let me see," Lu Ran glanced down at the teleprompter, "Lu Xiao, currently working at an internet company in Shanghai."
Lu Xiao stood there, her face flushed red to her ears.
Someone in the audience started chanting, "Circle Leader! Circle Leader!"
Lu Ran gestured for everyone to be quiet, then said seriously, "Lu Xiao, today in front of so many people, I want to say a few words to you on behalf of TuTu Technology."
Lu Xiao nervously swallowed.
"First, thank you. Thank you for standing up when this community needed people the most, thank you for the sentence you wrote in the pinned post, thank you for bringing two million people together. Without you, there would be no 'Left-behind Rabbit Alliance'."
Lu Xiao scratched his head and said softly, "I just... I just wrote something down casually..."
"Secondly," Lu Ran continued, "TuTu Technology wants to invite you to join us. Not as an ordinary employee, but as a special contributor. You can choose any position you like, you name your salary, and you define your job responsibilities. If you wish, you can even continue to be your circle leader, but you'll receive a salary from then on."
...