Dusk fell over Yanjing in February, heavy and dim, with a piercingly cold wind.
In the ground-floor lobby of Xiaomi Headquarters, Lei Yijun, Lin Bing, Li Wanqiang, and other executives frequently peered outside.
Unlike Chen Yansen's last visit, this time nearly all of Xiaomi's top executives had turned out, waiting downstairs to welcome him.
In the short span of a year, Chen Yansen had transformed from a leader in shopping-guide e-commerce to a top contender among internet smartphone brands.
His importance in Lei Yijun's mind had instantly multiplied.
Staring at the unmelted snow pellets by the side of the street, Lei Yijun found himself lost in thought. He had originally envisioned the Xiaomi Mobile Phone's sales performance after launch to be just like the Orange Mobile Phone's.
But now, the Orange Mobile Phone was far ahead, while Xiaomi couldn't even beat the likes of OPPO, Meizu, and Coolpad.
