After finishing all six recorded songs, Gao Fei in the video began to sign off.
By the time he finished his thank you speech, exactly twenty-five minutes had passed.
Both the online live stream and the television channel then began a five-minute commercial break.
In the studio, all staff members also got busy simultaneously, performing final equipment checks and preparations for the upcoming interview.
Director Weng, while directing the work, kept an eye on the real-time data on his computer.
The television channel's viewership was declining, dropping from a peak of 4.0% to 3.1%, and it was still decreasing.
The number of online viewers for the live stream, however, did not decrease due to the commercial break after the songs; instead, it continued to rise.
Just as he was signing off, the six videos of Gao Fei's performances were simultaneously released by official media outlets such as the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, Central Television, and the Beijing Daily.
Upon release, within less than a minute, they rapidly climbed to the trending lists on the three major platforms.
Within two minutes, the popularity exceeded one million, heading straight for ten million.
The account for Yuan Fei Studio broke through seventeen million followers in a very short period.
An account with seventeen million followers is considered only a moderate force on online platforms.
Currently, the account with the highest number of followers has surpassed seventy million.
However, even a thousand accounts with tens of millions of followers could not compare to Yuan Fei Studio.
This was because Gao Fei's seventeen million followers were all active accounts; none were fake bot followers.
Their engagement and value were extremely high!
The commercial break lasted only five minutes.
However, within the shorter three-minute period, many people were once again astonished by Gao Fei's immense influence.
Although the ten million trending topics made many actors, singers, and internet celebrities extremely jealous and envious, they all knew in their hearts that Gao Fei's current terrifying traffic was related to yesterday's Jia Da Film Festival.
If they could have participated in the film festival and won awards, they would likely have had such tremendous traffic as well.
However, these envious people seemed to have forgotten something.
Could Gao Fei have made it to the film festival without talent?
Could he have attracted seventeen million active followers without talent?
The jealous and envious celebrities and internet personalities only saw the terrifying traffic, but failed to grasp the underlying essence.
In their own words, "It's just participating in a film festival, I could do it too."
Because of this mindset, and due to the ten million trending topics, some minor celebrities and internet influencers, ranked eighteenth or lower, finally couldn't resist posting online to capitalize on the trend.
They claimed that if they had acted in "Black and White Edge," they would have become as famous as Gao Fei.
Others boasted, "It's just six songs, I can write them too with my hands."
All sorts of "trend-hopping" posts were quickly sent online.
The final result was that they were thoroughly thrashed by Gao Fei's fans, forcing them to delete their posts and apologize.
Some minor celebrities and internet influencers who tried to gain attention through mockery faced consequences ranging from account suspension to outright bans from the platform in more severe cases.
These individuals sacrificed their future careers for the sake of ten million trending topics.
And all this "trend-hopping" and account banning that was happening occurred solely during the commercial break after the songs.
...
The five-minute commercial break was nearing its end, and the interview was about to begin.
Inside the studio, the countdown also began.
As Director Weng announced, "Start," the live stream and Channel 9 of the television simultaneously switched their screens.
The first to appear on screen was the interview host, Tang Xue.
Among the interviewers Gao Fei had interacted with, Tang Xue had interviewed him the most.
Furthermore, his agent, Jin Qiqi, was introduced by Tang Xue, and they were also cousins.
Tang Xue, possessing both beauty and grace, smiled at the camera. After a brief warm-up, she began to introduce Gao Fei.
The live stream and television channels then simultaneously showed them together on screen.
"Hello, Comrade Xiao Gao!"
"Hello, Miss Tang!"
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tang Xue officially commenced the interview.
Most of the interview questions pertained to the filming of "Black and White Edge."
Topics included his initial aspirations for making the film, the challenges encountered during filming, and his interactions with the crew.
The early part of the interview revolved around the movie.
Subsequently, the interview shifted to Gao Fei's nomination for the film festival, receiving nominations, and his feelings after winning awards.
These interview questions were very formal, and the answers had already been prepared.
After more than ten minutes, due to the overly formal nature of the interview, the number of online viewers in the live stream began to decrease, and the television channel's viewership dropped directly to 2.8%.
[This interview is too formal, it's making me sleepy. Tag me when it's time for bullet comment interaction, I'm going to get some fresh air.]
[This interview would be better as a separate program. Fifteen minutes have passed, and they're still asking the same official questions. Like the person above, I'll wait for the bullet comment and SMS interaction.]
[Even as a hater of Gao Fei, I find this interview boring. His answers are too official, and there's nothing to criticize him about. I'm leaving!]
[The anti-fan army is exiting the live stream, let's go argue with the fans in the trending topics!]
The bullet comments were flooded with remarks about the boring interview.
Seeing the comments and the continuously declining figures, Weng Pinggui frowned.
Finally, with a decisive move, he signaled Tang Xue on the teleprompter to ask questions freely.
Upon seeing the hint, Tang Xue blinked at Gao Fei, asking with her eyes.
Comrade Xiao Gao didn't pay it much mind and nodded slightly in agreement.
After all, they could both see the real-time bullet comments online.
The formal part of the interview concluded, and Tang Xue breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as she asked, "Xiao Gao, everyone now knows that you plan to participate in the Oscars next year.
Can you reveal to us what type of film you plan to shoot for your next project?"
As soon as the question was asked, the bullet comments became rapidly active.
[Damn, finally getting interesting. Gao Fei, answer quickly, I'm ready to hate on you!]
[You haters are really active. As long as the questions aren't official, you pay more attention than we fans!]
[Forget the haters, even I, a loyal fan, couldn't stand the formal interview earlier. Comrade Xiao Gao, quickly tell us about your next movie so we fans can be prepared.]
The interview questions turned into casual chat, and no longer official, the bullet comments surged instantly.
The number of live stream viewers and viewership also began to rise.
Looking at the comments from haters and fans, Gao Fei said, "I haven't decided what to shoot for my next movie yet.
Since it's a film aiming for the Oscars, it needs careful consideration.
After all, films from Bluray are very competitive globally and come in a wide variety of genres."
He paused for a moment and continued, "How about this, I'll contact the three major social platforms and use Yuan Fei Studio's account to run a poll.
Netizens and audiences can vote on the type of movie they want to see by following the account!"
At this moment, Director Weng and others in the studio suspected that Gao Fei was advertising for his studio's account.
On the bullet comments:
[Old Gao, you're advertising again, how shameless!]
[Gao Fei, I suspect you're trying to gain followers for your account, but I have no proof!]
[Is Gao Fei advertising? No, he's letting netizens vote for the movie they want to see most. The number one advertiser!]
As the interview host, Tang Xue smiled helplessly and continued with casual questions.
After a few more questions, she turned to the camera and said, "Dear viewers, we are now entering the interactive segment for bullet comments and text messages. Please feel free to ask any questions you have!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the volume of bullet comments surged again, and the hotline in the studio simultaneously received hundreds of text messages.
Just as many netizens were curious about which questions the host would choose,
Voting options for questions appeared on the live stream's public screen, a small patch that Gao Fei had temporarily created for the live stream earlier.
The first question was revealed.
Tang Xue, looking at the question, coughed and asked, "Xiao Gao, many netizens are asking, since you're attending university, aren't you planning to date? What are your criteria for a partner?"
"...."
These netizens are really interested in gossip, Gao Fei muttered to himself, and replied, "I'm not planning to date yet.
As for my criteria, female, and alive, that's enough!"
Hearing this answer, the internet erupted in laughter.
Even the haters found the answer both amusing and exasperating.
Tang Xue, suppressing a smile, looked at the informal bullet comments and asked, "Netizens are also concerned about your relationship with your agent, Jin... for example, if you're friends!"
Seeing this question, Tang Xue almost couldn't ask it.
The bullet comment question was: Gao Fei, have you had relations with Jin Qiqi, who likes to sleep?
If Tang Xue hadn't reacted in time, she would have almost read it out!
Gao Fei, sitting opposite, also felt a bead of sweat, but calmly replied, "My relationship with my agent is very good. She's like a big sister to me and Wang He..."
He directly dragged Wang He into it, sharing the burden with his good brother!
After answering, Gao Fei felt speechless. This was definitely the work of haters, as only they would take pleasure in disgusting him.
The situation was as he suspected; all the questions were deliberately mischievous attempts by the haters.
Following Director Weng's prompt, the bullet comment and text message interaction concluded perfunctorily.
The main questions were too gossipy, and some were outright unbroadcastable.
Things like "Gao Fei, how big are you, what's your size, what's your preferred position," and so on...
In the voting segment, the fans ultimately bowed out.
After the interaction ended, Tang Xue asked with slight surprise, "I heard you have prepared another gift for your fans. Can we see what it is?"
Gao Fei quickly took out design blueprints from his bag, and the camera quickly focused on them.
"I will select a few lucky fans from the comment section of the studio account and give them jewelry and other items that I designed myself."
As he spoke, before Tang Xue could say anything, he put down the necklace design and took out several cosmetic design blueprints, saying, "These were also designed by me and a few like-minded friends.
If any viewers or netizens are interested, you can contact me for collaboration and mutual success!"
Gao Fei was advertising without explicitly stating it.
But his implication was clear: "Are there any interested parties for these designs? Contact me quickly. If we collaborate, I can even be your endorser!"
This clever advertising move left netizens, fans, haters, and viewers all impressed and in awe.
...
Kyoto University, Entrepreneurship Competition Organizing Office Building.
Qiu Dongsheng, assigned to Kyoto University, was also watching the live stream.
Looking at the design blueprints Gao Fei was displaying, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
"Design drawings... collaboration..."
Qiu Dongsheng looked at the related projects for the entrepreneurship competition.
A female student named Lin Lin and her design product entrepreneurship project caught his eye.