Not surprisingly, in-app purchases sparked controversy.
Some players grumbled about the new paid items in QQ Speed Mobile.
But among those with cash to spare?
There was no resistance—only enthusiasm.
Many casual players didn't have time to grind.
They wanted powerful upgrades.
They were willing to pay for a smoother, more satisfying experience.
This time, Penguin Company kept things relatively balanced:
Premium racing cars were slightly stronger than standard models—
giving an edge without making the game fully pay-to-win.
The designs were eye-catching—one model even resembled an Audi A4.
But the real buzz came from a mystery car.
Among the new additions was a special racing car with a skin—
marked clearly in the store: "Not for Sale."
Is it the base price for regular racers? ¥68 (~$9.36).
But the skinned version couldn't even be bought.
Soon, sharp-eyed players cracked the clue:
Car name: Audi R8
Description: "Exclusive for Hongmeng S-series users who demand ultimate performance."
Speculation exploded.
Was China Star Technologies (CS) partnering with QQ Speed Mobile?
Meanwhile, at Xiaomi, Lei Jun received bad news.
Lin Wen returned empty-handed from China Star Semiconductor.
All 1.5 million Qinglong 810 chips were accounted for:
500,000 for Star M1 phones.
1 million have already been supplied to Xiaomi's first wave.
No extras. No new shipments.
Lei Jun felt a pang of frustration, but he wasn't shocked.
Haifeng had warned him months ago that orders had to be placed two months before.
Still, Lei Jun had contingency plans.
"If we can't get more Qinglong 810 chips, source Snapdragon 810s instead.
Rebrand it as Mi 4S if necessary."
The Snapdragon 810 could still compete against the Qinglong 810,
and Xiaomi's deal with Qualcomm gave them chips at over ¥100 cheaper than Qinglong units.
But before Lei Jun could finalize his backup strategy, a more urgent report arrived:
"CS is about to launch the Hongmeng S-series smartphones."
Lei Jun's expression darkened.
The mobile market was already tense:
Online: Xiaomi and Huawei are battling fiercely.
Offline: OV (Oppo/Vivo) and CS holding their ground.
But if CS dropped the Hongmeng S2 now—
with even stronger specs than last year's Hongmeng S1R—
The competition would escalate dramatically.
Lin Wen read the report aloud:
"First, the Hongmeng S-series this month...
Then, the Hongmeng X-series will challenge Apple and Samsung head-on in 2–3 months."
In just a few years, CS had risen from a local player to an international threat.
Lei Jun realized he had no time to cling to "hunger marketing" tactics.
He ordered immediately:
Accelerate production.
Push the Mi 4 second sale wave now.
Don't wait for CS to launch!"
Otherwise, the Mi 4 would be buried before it even had a chance to breathe.
Lin Wen silently nodded.
There was no other choice.
Meanwhile, at CS headquarters, Lu Haifeng was reviewing documents when his secretary Xiao Ai entered:
"Mr. Lu, Mr. Ma from Ali Group is here to discuss cooperation."
Lu Haifeng was momentarily surprised.
He hadn't expected Ali Group to reach out directly.
Still, he quickly rose and welcomed the visitor with a smile:
"Mr. Ma, it's truly an honor to have you here at China Star Technologies!"