Chapter 521: The Best 'Mythology' Marketing

Fanghuan Group, Marketing Department.
Previously, the marketing department was always thinking about how to create a sensational advertisement, how to orchestrate a marketing event that would go viral online.
Of course, they still pursue that goal now.
But above all, there is a more important, more core mission.
That is—to maintain Fanghuan's brand image.
In the world led by Fanghuan, the rampant growth of social networks and information technology has turned this world into an impenetrable glass house.
The eyes of the public are everywhere.
If a restaurant dares to shortchange customers or neglect their duties, negative reviews with high-definition photos and vivid descriptions will spread at lightning speed across major platforms within half an hour, ultimately leading to its closure.
If a celebrity dares to behave improperly or have questionable personal ethics, overnight, advertising contracts will be terminated, exorbitant lawsuits will be filed, and the entire internet will be blacklisted—a complete, streamlined process.
The era of unbridled, lawless behavior is gone forever.
The same applies to businesses.
Labor exploitation, product counterfeiting, selling user privacy, data breaches…
These scandals, which might have been suppressed with money and public relations in the past, are now being thoroughly investigated by angry netizens, unleashing an uncontrollable media storm.
“But the biggest misconception the public has is that they genuinely believe public opinion is ‘uncontrollable’.”
Marketing Director Ma Jun leisurely sipped his coffee, his gaze fixed on the large television screen on the wall.
On the screen, Su Hao sat next to the host, a slightly shy and nervous smile on his face.
The conference room was silent.
Ma Jun looked at the slightly uneasy Su Hao on the screen, a fervent admiration flashing in his eyes.
“Other companies can’t control public opinion because they don’t have the power. But Fanghuan… is different.”
A cold smile played on Ma Jun’s lips.
“As long as all the team leaders here work together, we can make any negative news, post, or comment about Fanghuan vanish from the internet without a trace.”
This was the truth!
Fanghuan’s most core department, the one with the most resources, wasn’t the trading department, nor the strategy department, but the marketing department, which Ma Jun headed!
Their mission was singular: to protect Fanghuan’s image at all costs.
No, more accurately, to protect Su Hao’s image!
This was the more important, paramount goal!
To this end, they had already used various capital means to firmly control several major social media platforms and leading forums.
Those netizens who surfed, gossiped, and commented on these platforms every day would never know that their free-flowing online space was actually Fanghuan’s backyard.
The latest artificial intelligence algorithms monitor the entire internet 24/7, automatically filtering and deleting any comments unfavorable to Su Hao.
Once the system detects an attempt to publish defamatory content, it not only deletes the post instantly but also immediately bans all of the user's accounts on all platforms.
The entire process is completed automatically by AI.
The world is no longer what mortals see.
“But Mr. Ma, those conspiracy theories about Chairman Su online are so detailed and convincing,” a team leader asked, puzzled.
“Assassinating political figures, creating earthquakes to manipulate the world… have we been ignoring all this?”
“Because… there’s no need,” Ma Jun chuckled. “Leaving them is fine.”
“Huh?”
“Put yourself in their shoes. If someone told you,” Ma Jun coaxed,
“that someone’s investments are 100% successful, that they’re willing to kill world leaders to rule the world, and that they possess the magic to cause earthquakes and tsunamis, would you believe it?”
“…Of course not, it’s too far-fetched.”
“That’s right. The more you deny conspiracy theories, the more guilty you seem.
The best way is to push them to the extreme, to the point of utter absurdity, letting them become a joke themselves.
That way, these conspiracy theories themselves become the best form of ‘deification’ marketing, adding immeasurable mystery and legendary status to Chairman Su.”
This is the ultimate way to play the conspiracy theory game.
"Our true goal is singular," Ma Jun said, his eyes gleaming with fervor.
"To make Chairman Su an idol loved and worshipped not only in Xia Country, but throughout the world!
What we need to do is build an unbreakable 'wall of trust' around him.
So that in the future, no matter what so-called 'dirt' comes out, people's first reaction will be: 'Impossible! He's definitely not that kind of person!' And they will spontaneously defend him and fight for him!"
These words sent chills down one's spine.
Even more shocking was that this wasn't Ma Jun's personal will, but a direct order from Chairman Huang Fengwen.
Su Hao's personal image was more important than Fanghuan Group itself!
"Now, let's see what Chairman Su looks like on TV," Ma Jun gestured, pointing to the screen.
"You look...very nervous?"
"Yeah, it's normal to be nervous, it's your first time on a show like this."
"Tsk tsk tsk, you guys are still too young and naive."
Ma Jun shook his head, looking at a bunch of clueless blockheads.
"Do you think this is 'real' nervousness?"
His smile deepened.
"Use your brain! Who is Chairman Su?
A man who always lives a secluded life, so low-key he practically hides himself, why would he suddenly agree to appear on television?"
"This…"
"Because the time has come. Chairman Su needs to step out from behind the scenes and into the limelight!" Ma Jun's voice carried a chilling, all-knowing edge.
"When a person's reputation and positive image reach their peak, when they are portrayed as a perfect and kind national hero, they are completely safe!
At that point, anyone who wants to touch him is no longer touching an individual, but going against the will of the entire world!
Domestically, it's going against the entire nation;
Internationally, it's an international diplomatic incident!"
"Ah—!" Everyone suddenly understood.
"Therefore, Chairman Su has decided to personally step out of retirement. He wants to emerge from the shadows and personally step into the sunlight!
He wants to personally forge himself into a 'sacred image' that no one dares to desecrate, a 'sanctuary' walking among mortals!"
"And that tense, innocent, even slightly clumsy look on the screen right now is the first stroke he personally sculpted for this sacred image!"
"You...you mean...his current nervousness is all an act?!"
"Nonsense! What else?" Ma Jun retorted,
"A man who can mobilize trillions of dollars with a flick of his finger, stirring up world events without batting an eye;
a ruthless mastermind in those conspiracy theories, treating human life like dirt...
Do you think he'd be intimidated by a mere host and a few broken cameras?"
"!?!"
In the conference room, everyone was stunned by this shocking truth!
That boy next door who, on television, blushed and spoke rapidly because of a host's joke...
That whole performance was a complete charade!
“Tell me yourselves, seeing him like that now, weren’t you fooled too?” Ma Jun pointed at them.
“Didn’t you suddenly feel that the legendary, aloof god had become more human, less terrifying, even a little kind and endearing?”
“…Yes, yes. We thought Chairman Su was an extremely terrifying person, but… he’s completely different from what we imagined…”
“That’s it! That’s the effect he wanted!” Ma Jun slammed his hand on the table.
“Friendly, pure, humble!
A top figure, incredibly wealthy and young, yet not arrogant, humble, polite, even a little nervous and endearing.
Who wouldn’t love such an awesome persona?
Who wouldn’t be a fan?”
Only at this moment did everyone realize the truth.
It turned out that his entire demeanor on that show, from beginning to end—every expression, every subtle movement, even every seemingly nervous mistake…
was all calculated! All part of the strategy!
This acting skill, this cunning, was utterly chilling!
“Alright,” Ma Jun sat down again, regaining his composure. “Now, do you know what we need to do?”
“Understood!” A team leader immediately responded.
“What we need to do is maximize the dissemination of the ‘approachable’ image that Chairman Su presented on the program!”
“Spread the relevant video clips and text reports to every corner of the globe!
Let people all over the world feel his ‘innocence’ and ‘kindness’!”
“That’s right.” Ma Jun nodded in satisfaction.
“Chairman Su has personally come down, laid out the red carpet, and stepped onto the stage.
What we need to do next is to send him a deluge of flowers and applause from all over the world.”
We want the name “Su Hao” to become a symbol, a totem, in the future!
When people hear this name, the first thing that comes to mind will no longer be a ruthless capitalist tycoon!
But a pure, kind person, worthy of the world’s respect and love, worthy of being worshipped and protected with one’s life…
A living god!
(My darlings, I went to the hospital yesterday, and the doctor advised me to get enough sleep and stop staying up late at night. I plan to write during the day!
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to change my update time to around 1 PM. Thanks again for your support, love you all!!)