Chapter 118: A Soul-Stirring Shock

Chen Qi quickly saw the message. In fact, by the time he read it, it had already been circulating online for quite some time.

Unlike the exuberant netizens outside, who were cheering and optimistically claiming that the dealership and manufacturer had finally caved under pressure and were about to compromise, Chen Qi felt a wave of unease as he read the news.

To be precise, he was almost dumbfounded.

A press conference? And it would be broadcast live?

Why hadn’t anyone told them?

After all, they were one of the main parties involved in this incident. How could something as important as a press conference take place without so much as a notice to them?

Wasn’t this incredibly rude?

Chen Qi was truly stunned by the dealership’s audacious move.

Normally, before a press conference like this, wouldn’t both parties have at least reached some intention of reconciliation? At the very least, there should have been several rounds of negotiation, right?

Yet up to now, the dealership hadn’t even engaged in proper talks with them.

Nothing had even been discussed. What kind of conference were they calling? What could they possibly intend to say?

Chen Qi looked around the sales hall, uncertain and suspicious, confirming that the dealership staff were well aware of their presence.

A few salespeople stood at a distance, watching them like secret agents!

Unbelievable!

Chen Qi’s expression grew grave.

They were up to something!

Were they deliberately ignoring them? Trying to assert dominance? After having been forced to swallow so much, was the dealership finally preparing to strike back?

Clearly, the purpose of this press conference was not to resolve the issue!

Seeing how they hadn’t even attempted to engage with him, it seemed his earlier actions had truly infuriated them.

This significant decision to hold a press conference must have been reached after more than an hour of discussion among the dealership’s top management.

Chen Qi’s mind ran in circles as he tried to figure out their motive for this press conference.

Just then, his phone rang again.

It was Xu Bunián.

“Mr. Xu?” He answered quickly.

“What’s happening? Did they agree to a refund or replacement?” Xu asked.

“No,” Chen Qi shook his head. “To be honest, I’m puzzled myself. They said they were holding a press conference, but they haven’t notified us officially. I only found out online.”

There was a two-second pause, then Xu Bunián sighed bitterly. “I can’t believe the worst-case scenario I predicted is actually coming true.”

“What do you mean?” Chen Qi unconsciously frowned, realizing he might have missed something important.

Xu didn’t beat around the bush. “I just consulted a lawyer for you. He said that even though the issue has become quite high-profile, if the dealership holds firm, your demand for a refund or replacement doesn’t really stand on legal grounds.”

“How so?”

“The lawyer reviewed your social media posts. He said the dealership’s proposed repair plan complies with the national ‘Three Guarantees’ policy. The law states that only if the same problem is repaired more than twice without resolution does it qualify for replacement or refund.”

“Is that so?” Chen Qi genuinely hadn’t looked into the ‘Three Guarantees’ policy of this world.

“Yes,” Xu confirmed. “I checked the relevant law myself just now. That’s what it says.”

“Oh—” Chen Qi suddenly understood the dealership’s game.

If he guessed right, they were preparing to retaliate—using national policy to slap him in the face.

If that was the case, this really was a tricky situation.

“Are you still at the dealership?” Xu seemed to sense Chen Qi’s predicament as he remained silent.

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do? There’s only half an hour left until the press conference.”

“It’s fine, let me think.” Chen Qi managed to stay composed.

Now that he knew the other side’s tactic, he actually felt less anxious.

“Alright,” Xu Bunián said, hanging up without further disturbance.

Chen Qi put away his phone, deep in thought.

At that moment, a commotion arose in the sales hall.

The salespeople who had been standing by suddenly sprang into action, moving tables and chairs at lightning speed to set up the press conference venue.

They worked with such orderliness that, aside from the sounds of furniture being moved, there wasn’t a single extraneous noise.

Nearby, the uncle looked on in confusion, not knowing what was happening.

Just as he was about to ask Chen Qi, his own phone rang again.

It was his son calling.

After the call, the uncle’s expression brightened.

“They said they’re holding a press conference,” he immediately relayed the good news to Chen Qi.

Chen Qi smiled, unable to bring himself to dampen the man’s spirits.

“My son says the situation’s become so big, the authorities have gotten involved,” the uncle added, his previously dull gaze regaining some light as he looked at the staff preparing the venue.

“Yes,” Chen Qi nodded. “Don’t worry. Even if you can’t get a refund, you should at least get a replacement.”

The uncle smiled gratefully at him.

Chen Qi smiled back and turned to watch the staff at work.

It was awkward—no one had come to inform them about the press conference.

Fortunately, he had a thick skin; an ordinary person would have been unable to sit still by now.

Anyone else might have been worn down by the dealership’s tactics.

Being treated as invisible was not something most people could endure.

It had to be said: when it came to dealing with consumer complaints, this dealership certainly knew what it was doing.

After a moment’s silence, Chen Qi checked online for updates.

Like the uncle, netizens, upon seeing the joint statement from the dealership and manufacturer announcing the press conference, believed the dealership was about to yield.

Many were even praising the dealership’s swift response.

Moreover, everyone seemed to think the two sides had reached a settlement, just waiting to be announced at the press conference. Because of this, Chen Qi’s social media was flooded with comments and requests for insider information.

Seeing their curiosity, Chen Qi decided not to satisfy them just yet.

He would give them a “surprise”—let them feel the shock deep in their souls.

Given the scale the incident had reached, with all kinds of coincidences amplifying its impact, and with the outcome imminent, all of society was watching closely.

It was easy to imagine how shocked they would be when the dealership publicly insisted on their repair plan at the press conference.

From this perspective, Chen Qi couldn’t help but admire the dealership and the car manufacturer. Such unyielding resolve was not something ordinary people possessed.

Truly worthy of being a world-renowned brand!

He had to hand it to their arrogance.

If it were a smaller brand, they would have surrendered long ago in the face of such a commotion, never mind trying to stage a comeback by invoking the regulations.

Chen Qi fell into deep thought.

Even knowing he was at a disadvantage, he felt no panic; on the contrary, there was a faint excitement welling up inside him.

From a consumer’s standpoint, he found the requirement to repair the same issue twice before qualifying for replacement or refund utterly unreasonable.

For minor faults, perhaps—but for something as serious as a car stalling unexpectedly, how could the same standard apply?

Such rules needed to be broken!

Such rules demanded to be overturned!

He was eager to try.

If he could really disrupt this standard, his “destruction points” would surely soar.

As his mind raced, he took out his phone to research the relevant policy in detail. Then, borrowing the uncle’s phone, he checked his call records.

Before long, Chen Qi had a rough strategy in mind.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

Turning, Chen Qi saw a group of reporters carrying equipment being led in by dealership staff.

At last, someone approached them.

The round-faced salesperson came over briskly, politely inviting them to attend the upcoming press conference, and even “warmly” invited them to rest in the VIP lounge.

Of course, Chen Qi refused.

He didn’t know whether the dealership wanted to put on a show for the media or feared the reporters might try to interview him now, but either way, he wasn’t interested in playing along.

The salesperson didn’t seem surprised by his response, nodded gently, and walked away.

Not far off, the reporters who had waited outside eagerly spotted Chen Qi, and their eyes lit up as they instinctively moved toward him.

As expected, they were intercepted by the dealership staff, who formed a wall between the reporters and Chen Qi.

The reporters, recognizing the situation, sensibly gave up.

There was little choice—on someone else’s turf, you had to follow their rules.

But it didn’t matter. The press conference would start soon; they could always interview him afterward.

Like the netizens, the reporters assumed Chen Qi and the dealership had reached a settlement. Many had already drafted their articles, waiting only to insert a few key phrases after the press conference before publishing.

Chen Qi watched calmly in that direction, his expression betraying nothing.

But when he saw staff placing name cards bearing titles on the tables, a look of surprise finally flickered across his face.