The dormitory of Class Five was silent.
Upon hearing Gao Fei's monthly income of over twenty million, the room instantly fell silent.
Everyone stared at each other. Eight-figure income, and you still find it insufficient!
Even the class monitor widened his eyes, seeing for the first time someone who found over twenty million yuan a month insufficient.
Noticing the strange looks from those around him, Gao Fei was about to explain when everyone immediately turned away, ignoring him.
After more than a month together, they had discovered that while this guy was incredibly wealthy, he also loved to show off.
Moreover, they were all freshmen, and Gao Fei's current monthly income of twenty million meant they still needed living expenses from home.
Therefore, the entire class gave him no opportunity to show off, as it was too disheartening!
Two hours later.
"Power off!"
The class monitor's stern command signaled the end of their mobile phone entertainment time.
The freshmen who were still chatting with parents, family, friends, and partners hastily exchanged a few words before reluctantly hanging up.
Those playing mini-games or browsing entertainment news sighed and closed their browsers before powering down.
Soon, the phones that had been taken away and placed in the bucket were returned by Yi Yi.
Seeing the reluctant expressions of everyone, the class monitor said with understanding, "Alright, stop looking so glum. I have some good news for you.
After discussion with the company commander and others, it's been decided that starting next week, you'll have two hours of mobile phone time every Saturday.
As long as you train well and complete your training content on time and to the required amount, this time might even increase."
Upon hearing the announcement, everyone was overjoyed.
Since joining the military, this was possibly the best news they had heard.
As Gao Fei was queuing to hand in his phone, Li Shuishui called from behind, "Lao Gao, you seem to be trending again?"
"Isn't it normal for Gao Fei to trend? What's the big fuss?"
Zhang Cheng, at the very end of the line, said as if it were routine.
"No, this time it seems Lao Gao is being slandered again!"
Gao Fei blinked and looked at the phone being handed to him. On the screen was a trending headline.
"A new era youth whose three songs have taken the nation by storm, the most sought-after young lyricist and composer, Gao Fei, has announced that his song request price is one hundred million per song. Those without the funds need not bother!
Is the genius teenager inflated by fame, or corrupted by money? He dares to demand a sky-high fee of one hundred million per song!"
Upon its release, the news immediately attracted the attention of netizens across the internet!
When they saw the leading news stating that Gao Fei refused to take song requests from popular young male idols and quoted a price of one hundred million per song, the online discourse immediately erupted.
As fans of popular young male and female idols, after reading the provocative news, they exploded on the spot, launching all sorts of accusations.
"Heh, he's only just become famous and is already charging sky-high prices for song requests. Has Gao Fei never seen money before? One hundred million per song, why doesn't he ask for ten billion per song!"
"I can't believe I promoted his song 'Classmate' before. I never expected Gao Fei to be so money-grubbing. One hundred million per song, does he think money is made of paper?"
"My Kun Kun only earns about ten million for an appearance or a variety show, and he has to endure harsh weather and exposure in various activities. Earning money is very hard. But you, Gao Fei, with just a word, ask for one hundred million per song, taking away all the hard-earned money of Kun Kun. Do you have any conscience?"
"It's the same for our Yao Yao. She only earns twenty million for a film, and she works tirelessly on set every day, performing dangerous stunts. You, Gao Fei, demand a hundred million upfront. Do you understand the labor of actors?"
"Who knows if those songs were written by him. This is a freshman who just sits back and reaps the rewards. It's possible he was packaged by others, preparing to enter the entertainment industry."
The fans were distressed for their idols and strongly condemned the exorbitant prices for song requests.
Meanwhile, Gao Fei's fans immediately retaliated against these accusations and slander.
"Those who are scolding Gao Fei, look carefully. It was Gao Fei who refused song requests at a high price, not that he writes a song for one hundred million!"
"What a bunch of idiotic fans. Your idols' singing relies on million-dollar auto-tune, and their acting uses various stand-ins. You feel sorry for them earning money, why don't you think about how hard your parents work to earn money? You use your parents' hard-earned money to vote for them, truly lacking in brain function."
"I also formally remind you fans that Gao Fei's songs are all self-composed. And when you say his songs were packaged, are you questioning the existence of those two military songs?"
"Also, your idols haven't even spoken yet, why are you dogs barking? Hurry up and ask your idols if you want to ride the coattails of fame, just say it. There's no need to post such leading news!"
While Gao Fei's fans weren't all students, half of them were people from various walks of life who had already entered society.
Facing the whimpering idols' fans, they were like knocking down children with one punch.
In an instant, the comment section of the trending news was occupied by Gao Fei's fans, whose combat effectiveness was extremely strong.
However, because the idol fans questioned the authenticity of the military songs, this leading trending news was immediately deleted and removed.
Seeing the trending news deleted, Gao Fei's fans immediately restrained themselves and stopped the flame war.
They understood that the rapid deletion of news and trending topics likely meant that relevant departments had intervened.
As for the idol fans, they were relentless.
Since the trending news was deleted, they immediately shifted their battlefield.
They intended to find Gao Fei's social media accounts to vent their anger, but to their surprise, he didn't have any social media accounts.
These fans looked around in confusion, not knowing where to direct their ire!
They couldn't even find a target to criticize.
But soon, they set their sights on Gao Fei's songs "Classmate," "Strong Army," and "I am also a Soldier," and immediately launched their verbal attacks in the comment sections.
However, except for the comment section of "Classmate," any inappropriate comments on the other two songs were quickly deleted.
The situation escalated to a boiling point, yet the two idols still hadn't spoken out to stop their fans' actions.
...
Dragon Country, Haicheng, Hai Xing Entertainment Building, tenth-floor practice room.
Cai Kun, who had just finished rehearsing his dance, sat on the sofa. His assistant immediately handed him a bottle of mineral water.
While drinking water, he asked, "Xiao Luo, how are the trending topics online?"
Before his assistant could answer, a young woman in her late twenties approached from outside the practice room.
The manager, with a stern face, looked at Cai Kun coldly and said, "Explain, why did you overstep your authority, bypass me, and contact the company's public relations department to create a trending topic about you and Gao Fei online."
Facing the manager's questioning, Cai Kun chuckled dismissively and said, "Sister Hong, I'm about to have a concert, and Gao Fei refused my song request. It's perfect for some hype.
He has comparable popularity to top stars in the industry right now. Isn't it you who taught me to use such opportunities for hype?
Besides, it's just a small matter, no need to trouble you, Sister Hong!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the manager, Sister Hong, said sternly, "Issue a statement immediately to distance yourself from this trending topic.
Don't ask why, just issue the statement immediately!"
The manager's sudden anger made Cai Kun frown.
He smiled coldly, put on his headphones, and began practicing his concert songs loudly in a hoarse voice.
He paid no attention to the manager's warning!
...
Meanwhile, at the film and television base in Hangshi, on a white RV.
Enjoying the air conditioning and eating fruit, Wang Luyao was lounging on the sofa playing with her phone, while her assistant read script lines beside her.
Just as the script reading was halfway through, a woman in her thirties entered the RV.
She glanced at the assistant reading the script and then at the lazy Wang Luyao, frowning and asking, "Xiao Yao, did you secretly find the company's public relations department to stir up trouble with Gao Fei?"
"It wasn't just me, Cai Kun also contacted the company's public relations department."
Wang Luyao leaned against the sofa, eating a banana, and said lazily, "Gao Fei doesn't want to take song requests from me, so can't I cause him some trouble?
Besides, the popularity is so high right now, and my new drama is about to be released. It's no big deal to ride the wave, we're all in the same industry."
Hearing her reply, the manager's face immediately turned cold. She took away her phone and said, "Log in to your WeChat platform immediately and issue a statement distancing yourself from this trending topic. Now, immediately!"
"Ling Jie, it's just a trending topic for hype, is there a need to issue a statement!"
Wang Luyao didn't take it seriously, snatched her phone back, and continued playing her game, saying, "Gao Fei needs popularity, and I need popularity too. We each get what we need. This is an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry, there's no need for it!"
Just as the manager was about to explain the risks of this trending topic, the director's voice suddenly came from outside the car.
"Miss Wang, your requested stunt double has been found!
Now we just need to reshoot two scenes, and you can go back to rest. As for the lines, I'll find someone to dub them later."
Hearing the director's words, Wang Luyao, holding her phone, took her assistant and walked out of the RV without acknowledging the stern-faced manager.
Seeing her artist disobedient and acting like a diva, Manager Ling Jie was furious.
But seeing as she was a top star heavily promoted by the company, she couldn't hit or scold her.
Ling Jie thought for a moment, picked up her phone, and called the company's CEO.
After connecting, she said directly, "President Huo, I resign as Wang Luyao's manager. I want to train new artists. Don't even ask if I agree, my mind is made up."
In addition to her, Cai Kun's manager, Sister Hong, directly approached President Huo and stated her resignation as manager, intending to take on an operational role in the company.
The resignation of the two star managers was quickly approved, and new managers were assigned to the two artists that same day.
Just as Cai Kun and Wang Luyao were unconcerned about the trending topic incident, their fans' radical actions exceeded their expectations.
Since they couldn't find Gao Fei's WeChat platform account, they couldn't subject him to cyberbullying. The fans, within their respective groups, devised various ways to ensure Gao Fei suffered a significant loss.
Finally, fans from both sides joined forces, and after much discussion in group chats, they targeted a specific location.
...
On the day of the trending topic incident, it did not cause any major disturbances within the military base.
Upon learning that he was being slandered, Gao Fei did not immediately respond.
He knew that this trending topic was intentionally orchestrated. Currently, Cool Shadow Media, as a collaborating partner, would issue a statement clarifying his position, so there was no need for him to personally intervene.
That night, after all the freshmen and soldiers had fallen asleep.
In the communication room of the military sub-region, five landline phones rang simultaneously...