I became financially independent right after entering college.

Chapter 135 Mistress

"Playing the patriotism card is indeed a very effective marketing tactic, and our competitors have all used this approach to some extent..."

The marketing manager paused for a moment: "But do we really need to imitate that company to this extent? Using such high-end marketing methods at this stage seems a bit of a waste of talent."

"At least until we officially enter the TWS field, the investment and return of this marketing approach will not be proportional, and the company's reputation is also highly polarized..."

Playing the patriotism card is not a tactic unique to Dongda University and its companies; any country or company in the world will conduct this kind of propaganda in its own country.

America plays "God Bless America" ​​every day, and Trump shouts "MAGA" all the time. Samsung's marketing tactics on the Korean Peninsula are pretty much the same as those of that other company in Tokyo...

This kind of advertising is common in the mass market, such as for mobile phones and cars. Potential users of niche products are relatively less concerned about such things.

"Polarization doesn't matter. Being famous is still being famous. Having a reputation is better than having none. Moreover, before officially entering the TWS field, the proportion of patriotic brand promotion will not be too high. The main promotional methods in the early stage are still winning awards at headphone exhibitions, marketing technology, and the marketing methods commonly used by headphone brands."

Given the company's size and the different sectors involved, even though both are patriotic brands, the specific marketing methods and proportions will definitely need to be adjusted.

"Then there's no problem." The marketing team breathed a sigh of relief, as long as they didn't blindly and verbatim copy that company.

After setting the overall tone for the company, everyone roughly determined the work plan for the next period of time.

Bai Chou oversaw the overall process, including the sound tuning style and the design style of the headphone housing. The vocal engineers were responsible for the tuning and design of the sound units of the three headphones, while the structural engineers designed the housings according to Bai Chou's requirements. At the same time, they contacted manufacturers of various accessories such as headphone cables with Bai Chou and purchased suitable headphone cables.

As for the headphone case and packaging, which cost twice as much as the headphones themselves, we can only outsource that to major design companies for the time being.

The meeting finally ended, and everyone went about their respective duties, working diligently to advance their tasks.

During dinner that evening, Kim Hyo-joo raised her concerns: "Isn't what we're doing to the company a bit unfair? I have a feeling we're cheating people out of their money..."

Kim Hyo-joo still felt a bit guilty. The total cost of rent, utilities, development and design, labor, materials and taxes was only 300 yuan, but the price was as high as 1800 yuan. In addition, the cost of publicity and promotion was more than all other costs combined.

This is different from what Kim Hyo-joo imagined about starting a business.

"That's just how this industry is, or rather, that's how doing business is."

Bai Chou said expressionlessly, "We are newcomers to the industry, and we are making headphones, a product where subjective factors determine everything. We will definitely have to invest a lot in marketing and promotion."

"Then what's the difference between us and that company?" Kim Hyo-joo also didn't mention the company's name. She could tell that Baek Chou had a lot of opinions about that company.

After a moment of contemplation, Baek Choo gave an answer that would at least ease Kim Hyo-joo's conscience: "At least we don't cheat the poor, and our headphones really do sound good."

Even though the earphone shell wasn't even finished yet, Bai Chou was confident that his earphone would sound great, given his professional level 6 electroacoustic engineering skills.

His headphones certainly won't satisfy everyone; everyone's ears are different, and different people prefer different sound signatures. But Bai Chou is confident that his headphones will be outstanding in terms of pure sound quality compared to other products in the same price range and with similar sound signatures.

He can balance marketing and product quality, which is the biggest difference between him and that company.

Ok.

Upon hearing this, Kim Hyo-joo's conscience was indeed eased considerably; they truly did not cheat the poor.

An average person might spend a couple thousand, or even several thousand, on a pair of headphones, but they would never spend that much money on a wired pair. Or rather, someone who spends that much money on a pair of headphones and a pair of Air Jordans is most likely not poor.

"Do you have any other questions?"

"There are no problems. If I had to point out any issues, it would probably be that I feel you are too professional in running the company... or too focused on making a profit, rather than giving back to the people or just playing around."

"To borrow a line from 'The Godfather,' business is business." Bai Chou's rationality was almost frightening.

If I'm not aiming for profit or to grow bigger and stronger, then what kind of company should I start? What kind of big company is a manufacturing company that doesn't make a profit, or rather, doesn't have a profit prospect?

He definitely needs to pursue profits. Even if the company's initial profits are just a drop in the ocean for Bai Chou, he still has to pursue profits or have a profit prospect.

If he can't do it, it only proves that he is a failure.

"By the way, I bought a house off campus these past few days. It should be ready in a few days. Would you like to move in with me?" Bai Chou suddenly changed the subject.

"Buy a house? When? And aren't you starting a business? Where would you find the time to look at houses?" Kim Hyo-joo was slightly surprised.

"During the holiday, I didn't go back to my hometown. While I was in Nanjing, I looked at a few houses and bought one that I liked." Bai Chou spoke of buying a house in an extremely casual manner.

"Couldn't you wait until the house is all set up before driving me there and giving me a surprise?" Kim Hyo-joo pouted and complained, "You're not romantic at all."

Kim Hyo-joo did not complain about why Baek Choo did not go with her when buying the house, or that Baek Choo did not add her name to the property certificate.

She is a conservative "gold digger" who has always believed in giving the best romantic experience without expecting anything in return, or at least not outwardly.

Kim Hyo-joo certainly has the costs of making money, but she definitely won't pursue quick riches like the gold diggers of the reformist faction, demanding cars and houses.

What she wanted was Bai Chou, Bai Chou's future, and Bai Chou to remember her kindness, to be her only love forever, and never want to leave her again.

As long as Bai Chou doesn't leave her, she will eventually get what she deserves. It is precisely because he does not contend that no one in the world can contend with him.

"It's just about buying a house and asking if you want to move in together. What's so surprising about that?"

"Buying a house, moving out together, it feels like we're getting married. Isn't that a wonderful surprise?" Kim Hyo-joo hugged Baek Choo's arm, imagining their married life.

Buying a house and cohabitation have extremely special significance for most people, especially in this era of rampant real estate growth.

For Kim Hyo-joo, Baek Choo's invitation to live together was even more significant.

This means that her position is more secure; she is now the recognized mistress of the new house by Bai Chou, rather than just a boyfriend and girlfriend.

"Stop thinking about all that nonsense and just tell me, do you want to move in with me?" Bai Chou pinched Jin Xiaozhou's little nose.

"Of course I'm going," Kim Hyo-joo answered without hesitation. There was no way she could refuse Baek Choo's invitation to live together.

To put it bluntly, if she doesn't want to live there, plenty of others will. Not to mention, there's Shan Meng in their dorm who's eyeing her covetously, and while Chen Rongrong isn't a threat, she definitely has her own ideas.

Refusing Bai Chou's invitation to live together might make Bai Chou think she doesn't value the relationship, causing a rift and giving Shan Meng an opportunity. She will never give Shan Meng any chance to rekindle their relationship!

Thinking about it carefully, Chen Rongrong is a green tea bitch, Shan Meng is a white lotus flower, and both of her roommates have feelings for her boyfriend. On the contrary, the carefree rich princess Li Xue is the safest.

Xiaoxue is still the best.

Kim Hyo-joo sighed at Lee Seol-sung's unwavering integrity, then added with concern, "However, I'm afraid our counselor won't approve my commute too easily."

Most counselors wouldn't easily approve a student moving off-campus, so it was only because Bai Chou had already secured Tan Xuan's move through a deal that the approval was granted so easily.

"It's okay, just sneak over to my place tonight. A lot of college students who live off-campus move out without the school's permission."

"also."

Kim Hyo-joo nodded slightly: "When the dormitory supervisor and student council check the dorms, I'll have Xiaoxue cover for me. If that doesn't work, I'll just have to go back and cancel my leave."

Kim Hyo-joo still hasn't forgotten Lee Seol, who remains as pure as ever, and feels that Lee Seol is the easiest to get along with in the entire dormitory.

Bai Chou was somewhat speechless.

During the past few days, while Li Xue was staying at his place, Kim Hyo-joo was always the one covering for her. Now that Li Xue has moved out and Kim Hyo-joo has moved in, it's the other way around – Kim Hyo-joo is the one covering for her.

The two have a deep friendship. I wonder if Kim Hyo-joo will tear Lee Seol apart if she finds out that Lee Seol cheated on her one day.

"By the way, did you ever invite Zhou Haoyu and his friends to a housewarming party?"

"The house isn't even ready yet, how can I host a party?" Bai Chou naturally wouldn't let the truth slip.

"When I move in, I'd like to invite a few of my roommates to our new home for a party, is that okay?" Kim Hyo-joo's eyes sparkled.

“By inviting you to live with me, I’m implicitly assuming you’re the lady of my new house, so you certainly have the right to invite your friends over for parties.” Bai Chou had no objection to this.

Western countries have housewarming parties, and Dongda University also has traditions like housewarming banquets and hot pot parties. Although he certainly wouldn't invite Zhou Haoyu and the others to his house, he wouldn't refuse if Jin Xiaozhou wanted to invite her roommates to the party.

"Uh-huh."

Kim Hyo-joo squinted her eyes slightly with delight: "When will your house be ready?"

"Probably this weekend." Bai Chou estimated the time; there were still four or five days until the weekend, so he had plenty of time to tidy up.

"Okay, everyone's usually free on weekends, I'll go back to the dorm later and invite Xiaoxue and the others."

After having dinner together at ING Plaza, the two went their separate ways. Bai Chou returned to the villa, while Jin Xiaozhou returned to the girls' dormitory. This time, Jin Xiaozhou did not hint to Bai Chou that she could drink iced drinks.

We'll be able to live together in a few days, so a few more days won't make a difference.

Moreover, the last time he hinted that Bai Chou and the others hadn't done "that" in a long time, it was mainly because he felt a sense of crisis and wanted to use that kind of thing to enhance their relationship.

Bai Chou's invitation for her to live together today is enough to prove that there are no problems in their relationship. It's so solid that no one can get through to them, and Shan Meng will have no chance at all.

Back in the dorm, looking around, Shan Meng was doing her homework, Chen Rongrong was watching beauty videos, but Li Xue was nowhere to be seen.

"Has Xiaoxue still not come back today?" Li Xue hasn't returned to the dormitory for several days in a row. In the past few days, when the dormitory supervisor checked the rooms, Jin Xiaozhou covered for her more than once.

She went to the restroom; she's a local, and her family called her back for a blind date...

"Not yet," Shan Meng replied calmly.

Chen Rongrong also put down her phone and complained with a hint of sourness: "She's a rich girl, how can our shabby dormitory compare to her mansion?"

I guess the novelty wore off, and after a few days they didn't want to stay anymore.

Kim Hyo-joo frowned slightly.

When Li Xue was still in the dormitory, she had a pretty good relationship with Chen Rongrong. The two often ate together and went shopping together, and Li Xue usually paid for everything.

Li Xue had only been away from the dormitory for a few days, and Chen Rongrong was already talking badly about her. This green tea bitch's level is too low.

Reality isn't a novel, and it's rare to find a "green tea bitch" who expresses their true thoughts so clearly in words, at least not Chen Rongrong.

Regardless of what she thought in her heart, Chen Rongrong had always done a very good job at least on the surface.

Realizing she had misspoke, Chen Rongrong quickly changed the subject to cover up her mistake: "By the way, Xiaozhou, what did you want to see Xiaoxue for?"

Kim Hyo-joo didn't dwell on Chen Rongrong's mistake, and cheerfully announced, "I'm not looking for Xiaoxue, I have something very important to announce to everyone: Baichou bought a house off-campus!"

"Your name is on the property deed!?" Chen Rongrong asked subconsciously, feeling extremely jealous. It's so great to have a rich young master as a boyfriend; she's practically rolling in gold coins.

Luxury hotels, designer clothes, Hermès bags—and now half a house has been sold off.

"No, he bought it by himself. He just told me today." Kim Hyo-joo shook her head, not thinking there was anything wrong with Bai Chou not telling her about buying a house.

It's just adding her name to the property deed. Bai Chou had originally planned to give her a brand new Lamborghini, which costs over four million yuan, more than most houses in Jinling.

Upon hearing Kim Hyo-joo say that her name wasn't on the property deed, Chen Rongrong felt a slight disappointment, but secretly she was overjoyed. While her own success was certainly cause for celebration, her friend's failure was clearly even more worthy of celebration.

"He didn't even add your name to the property deed, so what's there to be happy about? And you even announced it to everyone," Chen Rongrong muttered.

"The important thing is that Bai Chou invited me to live with him during dinner. From now on, I will basically no longer live in the dormitory and will live off-campus with Bai Chou!"

After a pause, Kim Hyo-joo laughed and said, "Baek-chou's house is newly bought and no one has lived there yet. The two of us moved there from school, so it can be considered a housewarming."

So I'm thinking of having a housewarming party this weekend at our newly bought house, a kind of housewarming celebration, to add some life to our new home."

Kim Hyo-joo emphasized the words "cohabitation," "new house banquet," and "housewarming party," and while saying this, she kept looking at Shan Meng provocatively.

(End of this chapter)