Summary of Key Points
Sun Dongxu, formerly the CEO of Dongfang Zhenxuan, was criticized as a negative example in the workplace for dropping his phone during the "small essay" incident at the end of 2023 and for his handling of the situation with Dong Yuhui. After leaving the company in 2025, he began live-streaming book sales under the name "Sun Meili" and unexpectedly topped the Douyin (TikTok) book charts, turning from a public figure widely disliked to one welcomed by netizens. This turnaround can be attributed to his relaxation after escaping the high-pressure workplace environment, his strategic approach to book selection and sales, as well as public empathy towards workplace stress and a re-evaluation of the issues at Dongfang Zhenxuan.
Detailed Analysis
1. The Transformation from "The Arrogant CEO Who Dropped His Phone" to "Sun Meili, the Book Seller"
- The Former Sun Dongxu: During the 2023 incident, he was portrayed as an arrogant and harsh individual for dropping his phone and suggesting that Dong Yuhui's annual salary of tens of millions was just part of his income.
- The New Sun Dongxu: Now, as a book seller on live streaming, he presents a more relaxed demeanor. His background uses ordinary home decor, he disables the reward function during streams, and recommends books like "Juvenile World History" and "My Mother Works as a Cleaner," which are more relatable to the audience. Netizens comment positively, saying things like, "Little Sun is back!" or "I didn't expect you to be selling books." Some even apologize to him.
- Netizen Humor: They joke that his appearance has changed since leaving his job, suggesting he has shed the airs of a CEO and become more approachable.
2. The Arrogance of a CEO as a Product of High Pressure
Sun Dongxu's arrogant behavior was not innate but a result of his role:
- Having a background in education, he was accustomed to treating employees like students (given that New Oriental is an educational company). During the early days of Dongfang Zhenxuan's transition to live streaming, this management style was effective for rapid experimentation and high execution. However, it didn't work well with celebrity hosts when Dong Yuhui became popular, as fans saw through his approach.
- As a CEO, he faced performance targets and team management responsibilities, which led to constant stress (the phone drop was a sign of this strain). Without these pressures, he has become more natural in his speech.
3. The Smart Strategy for a "Safe Comeback" in Book Sales
- Choosing the Right Genre: Sun Dongxu chose a business model with lower risk of failure: books are less susceptible to issues like product composition (like cosmetics) or false advertising, and they can be seen as genuine recommendations rather than sales pitches.
- Thoughtful Book Selections: The books he recommends, such as "Juvenile World History" for children and "My Mother Works as a Cleaner," are well-received because they resonate with the public. His fans, who already enjoyed his knowledge-based content, were more open to his book sales efforts.
4. Public Acceptance: From Judgment to Empathy
- Workplace Empathy: Netizens relate to his situation of leaving a job in middle age and starting over, seeing themselves in similar stressful situations.
- Dongfang Zhenxuan's Issues: After Sun Dongxu left, other hosts left the company, and Yu Minhong admitted to management problems, revealing that the issues were not solely his fault.
- The Need for Positive Stories: The public prefers stories of people who learn from their mistakes. Sun Dongxu's silence and relaxation are seen as signs of self-reflection, and his decision to disable rewards is viewed as a sign of maturity.
5. The Power of Authenticity in Live Streaming
- Authenticity Matters: In live streaming, authenticity is more valuable than pretense. Sun Dongxu no longer needs to maintain the image of a CEO; his natural speech style resonates with viewers.
- Comparison with Dong Yuhui: While Dong Yuhui still has to maintain a perfect image, Sun Dongxu is free from the pressure of maintaining high popularity.
Conclusion
Sun Dongxu's turnaround in public opinion is not about a change in character but about returning to his true self. Workplaces often force people to adopt certain roles, but once you let go of those masks and return to being your authentic self, you are more likely to be accepted. This reminds us that no matter our position, we should never lose our humanity—what others truly appreciate is the real us, not the persona we put on.