"Attention, viewers, a news bulletin is now interrupting our program!"
The host's announcement immediately drew the attention of the new recruits in the activity room.
News broadcasts typically focused on current events and political affairs, rarely featuring social news.
Although the new recruits had seldom watched the news during high school, they had watched it daily with their grandparents from primary to middle school.
As the host's voice faded, a beautiful melody emerged from the television.
Following the music, a familiar silhouette appeared on the news screen.
"Whoa, the person up there, isn't that Gao Fei!"
"Oh my god, how is he on the news again? This is the second time he's been on the evening news!"
"Isn't Gao Fei training with us? What did he do to get on the news this time?"
The activity room buzzed with speculation, all eyes shifting to Gao Fei.
Even the twelve class leaders and the instructor looked at him with puzzled expressions.
Gao Fei, who was watching the news, was equally confused. How had he suddenly appeared on the news while in the military?
However, as the melody from the television began, he suddenly remembered.
Today was the day the full version of "Classmate" was released.
Due to a day of training, even he had forgotten it was the song's release date.
Although they didn't get an answer from Gao Fei, the moment the lyrics of "Classmate" appeared on the news, everyone else quickly realized.
Without exception, everyone had forgotten the song's release date due to the training.
The news segment on "Classmate" only lasted ten seconds before concluding abruptly.
Then, the host stated in the video: "This song is titled 'Classmate.'
The entire song represents the youth that everyone can never go back to, a graduation season that can never be experienced again..."
"The lyricist and composer of this song is none other than Gao Fei, who achieved the top score in liberal arts in the national college entrance examination this year.
As a model for the new generation, we hope that Gao Fei, who has just entered Peking University, will continue to strive and set an example for all young students."
The news segment concluded after a mere thirty seconds.
In the military activity room, countless congratulatory voices erupted.
"Congratulations, Gao Fei, for bringing glory to all of us new recruits!"
"I never expected your song to make it onto the evening news. Truly commendable!"
"As the deputy class leader I personally appointed, you've really made me shine today. So proud!"
The new recruits offered their congratulations, and the class leaders also stepped forward to express their good wishes.
Even the instructor beside them offered his congratulations, looking at this freshman who seemed to radiate success.
An original song being featured on the evening news, with a thirty-second segment, was unprecedented.
Gao Fei could be considered the first among tens of thousands of singers in China to achieve this.
Not only within the military, but after the news broadcast, "Classmate" and Gao Fei once again dominated the trending searches online.
First, Channel One News and the Ministry of Education released congratulatory messages through their official media accounts.
Then, the Communist Youth League and People's Daily, among other major official Weibo accounts, reposted and praised him.
Following that were congratulatory messages from Ku Ying Media and some music platforms.
Finally, there were a few singers who jumped on the bandwagon, posting their well wishes on their media accounts.
Within an hour, Gao Fei's online popularity surged past one hundred million.
Concurrently, netizens showered the song "Classmate" with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
"Seeing 'Classmate' on the news again and topping the trending searches, my verdict is that it's well-deserved!"
"I agree with the person above. Before the song was released, I was a little worried it wouldn't live up to my expectations. But after listening to it, 'Classmate' surpassing millions of songs to be featured on the evening news is a testament to its absolute quality."
"After listening to 'Classmate' and seeing it trend online, I can only say that in the next ten years, no song will be able to surpass the status of 'Classmate,' and perhaps only Gao Fei himself can surpass it."
Netizens offered their heartfelt praise.
Initially, everyone had worried that the full version of the song might not meet their expectations.
However, after listening to the entire song, the instrumental melody and lyrics were perfectly matched, capable of outshining all graduation-themed songs on the market.
While commenting on the song online, some netizens began searching for Gao Fei's whereabouts.
"Do any of you know Gao Fei's social media accounts? With such big news, why isn't he out making a statement?"
"With Gao Fei's current fame and traffic, he's definitely a top-tier celebrity, but we still don't know his social media accounts. We can't even congratulate him or follow him!"
"Could it be that Gao Fei deleted his social media accounts due to the online smear campaign last time? If that's the case, then I can only say, you anti-fans are all orphans!"
As netizens scoured the internet for Gao Fei, the official media account of Peking University released a statement late at night.
"Good evening, netizens. Student Gao Fei is currently enrolled at Peking University.
However, due to Peking University's reforms in military training, Gao Fei is currently stationed in a military camp and is unable to see the online congratulatory messages and comments.
But we will promptly convey all your blessings to him. We also hope that with the encouragement of your good wishes, Gao Fei will successfully complete his three-month simulated recruit training.
Thank you all for your concern for student Gao Fei!"
...
Kyoto Military District, Activity Room.
At this moment, besides the instructor, twelve class leaders, and two hundred and forty new recruits, the activity room was also visited by leaders from the military district, including the battalion commander and company commander, due to Gao Fei's reappearance on the evening news.
They had not expected that a simple freshman military training would hide such talent.
They had heard about the astonishing performance of this freshman, nicknamed "Hidden Dragon," during formation training at noon.
Now that he had appeared on the evening news, they were eager to meet this prominent figure among the new recruits.
Facing the inspection from the military district leaders, Gao Fei remained composed, interacting with them respectfully and posing for photos.
Simultaneously, he accepted a brief interview from a reporter from the military newspaper.
After the interview, the military newspaper reporter, Yao Qiang, suddenly asked Gao Fei, "Student Gao, I heard you've become the deputy class leader, assisting in formation training for the new recruits in place of Li Dong?"
"That's correct!"
"In that case, does it mean you can finish the month-long formation training ahead of schedule?"
Gao Fei remained silent, glancing at the class leader Li Dong beside him. Li Dong directly stated, "That's right, Xiao Gao can finish his formation training early!"
Reporter Yao Qiang's eyes lit up, and he continued, "Student Gao, since you are skilled in lyric writing and composing, I have an unconventional request."
"Please, Reporter Yao!"
"I want to invite student Gao to participate in the recording of military songs!"
Yao Qiang extended the invitation and then explained, "Student Gao, to be frank, the recording of this military song is an order from higher authorities. They want to select a few songs from each military region's compositions as representative works for the entire army to learn.
However, current military songs were created by older generations of composers and lyricists, so creating new military songs that will be recognized by the elders is quite challenging."
Suddenly, he shifted his tone and said mysteriously, "However, if the new military song is approved as a representative work by higher authorities, there will be military merit rewards.
As long as student Gao can help our military region accomplish this, even if you are not a regular soldier, I can guarantee that you will definitely be awarded military merit."