33-1：The Visit

Shenzhen Le Sheng Audio Company's manufacturing base is situated in the Shenzhen Industrial Park, just 9 kilometers away from the company headquarters. The base comprises four main sections: the speaker production line, the audio cabinet production line, the audio technology research institute, and the employee cafeteria and dormitories. The production and living areas are separated by just a wall, with most of the workers being young women from Sichuan, Anhui, and Henan provinces. Due to the "Ge Lü Shi" incident, production has halted, and the once-busy factory now lies quiet, with only the occasional security guard patrolling the grounds.

The audio technology research institute of Le Sheng Company is located on the top floor of the speaker production workshop. At this moment, Lin Yufeng and Zhao Qing are in the anechoic chamber, observing the technicians test a high-end bedroom speaker still in development. As the name implies, the "bedroom speaker" is designed with the refined tastes and aesthetic preferences of women in mind. The design is compact, elegant, and luxurious, focusing on a pure, subtle, and ethereal sound rather than grandeur and impact.

As the melody of "Dream Left Behind in the Seine" plays, Zhao Qing's phone rings, an intrusive noise in the anechoic chamber. He quickly steps outside to take the call, leaving the others to continue the test.

After the song ends, an engineer comments, "The instrument tests are fine, but the sound feels a bit too straightforward, lacking nuance and subtlety."

Despite the ongoing production halt and impending litigation, Lin Yufeng remains composed, having weathered many storms in the business world. Today, he is in good spirits and, after hearing the engineer's feedback, says, "The mid and high frequencies lack foundation and stability. This isn't a speaker issue; it's a volume and wall thickness problem. It's dull without substance, floating without grace."

A young cabinet designer asks, "Chairman, how about the red wood grain curved panel I designed?"

Lin Yufeng smiles and replies, "When designing for women, you need to highlight a cultured elegance without being ostentatious. For men, emphasize an unrefined sophistication that has depth."

Impressed, the young technician says, "Chairman, your philosophy of aesthetics is remarkable."

Lin Yufeng jokes, "Flattery might get you in trouble."

The technician responds, "I understand, women's products should be bold and eye-catching."

Just then, Zhao Qing reenters the room, saying, "Chairman, we have a situation."

Lin Yufeng follows Zhao Qing out of the anechoic chamber and stops at a glass window in the corridor.

Zhao Qing says, "People from Ge Lü Shi have arrived. Chairman Ouyang Xue and General Manager Ye Xiaoming are in the reception room, being attended by Secretary Fang. They received the lawsuit yesterday and came to negotiate a settlement."

Lin Yufeng is slightly taken aback by the prompt response, almost amused by their haste. "So soon?" he remarks with a hint of disdain.

Zhao Qing smiles knowingly, "Ge Lü Shi hopes for an out-of-court settlement. They're offering 100,000 yuan as an apology gift."

Lin Yufeng replies, "100,000 yuan? That's barely enough for a lollipop. Mr. Ding wouldn't find that amusing."

Zhao Qing asks, "How should we respond?"

Lin Yufeng says, "Do we need to think about it? We should make a show of this opportunity." He glances at his watch, noting it's 3:15 PM, then after a moment of thought, continues, "Entertain them for now and arrange formal negotiations at 9 AM tomorrow in the company meeting room. Contact some media outlets to cover the event. Prepare suitable gifts for the reporters."

Zhao Qing, slightly puzzled, asks, "Isn't this a trap? Could there be a catch?"

Lin Yufeng replies, "Even if it is a trap, we must face it. Their visit to apologize can't make us look guilty. Even if it's a commercial dispute, they still owe us for damages."

Zhao Qing adds, "The losses are so great that even taking over Ge Lü Shi wouldn't cover them. 100,000 yuan is too small an offer; are they truly unaware or just pretending?"

Lin Yufeng says, "It's all insincere, so we'll put on a show and send them off."

Having decided on the strategy, Zhao Qing goes to arrange the tasks. Lin Yufeng returns to the anechoic chamber to continue discussing the development of the bedroom speaker with the technicians.