Tonight, after the 'What IF' ended, Su Yan's comment section was the most harmonious it had ever been following the completion of one of his works.
["Even if the plot was a bit plain, this is exactly what I wanted to see!"]
["Rika in a wedding dress was so beautiful~."]
["This is how the drama should've been! It's not like Satomi couldn't find another man. It's like her world only had Kenichi and Nagao. Nagao rejected her in Episode 3; she broke up with Kenichi in Episode 6—any normal woman would look for a third option instead of going back to an ex. If Su Yan had written her that way from the start, there wouldn't have been so much conflict between Nagao and Rika!"]
["That's why it's called a TV drama! If it weren't written like that, what would we even watch?"]
["Last week's episode made me cry to death. This week? So sweet!"]
["Sigh, you Yan-Liqian shippers are satisfied. When will we Yan-Qingyuan fans get a happy ending?"]
["Wasn't last week's version technically that?"]
["I absolutely refuse to acknowledge last week's version. And I refuse to acknowledge that Gu Qingyuan ever played Satomi."]
["Exactly. The 'What IF' line is the true canon happy ending. Last week's ending? What was that? From start to finish, I didn't see a single redeeming trait in Satomi. Whenever something went wrong, she cried. Got rejected by Nagao? Cry to Kenichi. Got rejected by Kenichi? Cry to Nagao. If she had even one shining personality trait, I'd support her with Nagao."]
["Forget it. The drama's complete now. No need to overthink."]
["Yeah. Two parallel worlds, two different destinies. Both have good futures. No need to argue."]
["As a girl, this drama gave me one big takeaway: men can never forget their first love."]
["Not just in dramas. In real life, too. A man's first crush shapes his entire view of love. I understand Nagao's feelings for Satomi—but I fell for Rika at first sight. So sorry, Satomi, just stay far away."]
["Congratulations on the finale!"]
["Su Yan, the old sadist has delivered another masterpiece! Looking forward to his next drama."]
["Feels like this might be the peak of his creative career."]
["Judging from tonight's online buzz compared to last week, the ratings must've surpassed 6%, right?"]
Across the four major streaming platforms, at least three or four of the top ten trending topics were related to 'Tokyo Love Story'.
Its rating climbed to an astonishing 9.8.
The 'What IF' line wasn't as dramatically intense as the original ending.
But in terms of emotional payoff, it was unmatched.
Tonight, the entire Xia Nation television industry was drowned in discussion of 'Tokyo Love Story'.
And the other two of the Big Three TV stations sensed it.
This week's online buzz clearly surpassed last week's—
And last week's ratings were already 5.84%.
Sakura TV
Akasaka Yoshitoki stayed in his office all night.
He couldn't describe what he was feeling.
Objectively speaking, 'Blood Route' performed very well this quarter.
But 'Tokyo Love Story' had performed too well.
He couldn't help wondering—
If things hadn't gone sour with Su Yan back then because of his nephew, what would the situation be now?
With Su Yan's talent, he wouldn't have stayed at Sakura TV forever.
But even if he had left to go independent, wouldn't his first choice for broadcasting new dramas have been his old home?
Would it really have been Zhongxia TV?
If Akasaka Yoshitoki had been able to oversee hits like 'Tokyo Love Story', 'Your Lie in April', and 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' during his tenure—
Forget just Head of Production.
With a few more years of collaboration, even higher executive roles wouldn't have been out of reach.
But now—
"It's useless thinking about it."
He exhaled deeply.
"There's only one path left. In April next year, Sakura TV must reclaim its lost dignity."
He looked at the scar on his palm—a filming accident injury from twenty years ago.
Just one visible price he had paid for climbing to his current position.
If 'Tokyo Love Story' truly broke 6%,
What writer in the Xia Nation would dare claim they could defeat Su Yan head-on?
At this point, the only hope left was that 'Tokyo Love Story' would prove to be Su Yan's peak.
After reaching the summit, a decline often followed.
Noon – The Set of '5 Centimeters per Second'
Snow fell across Tokyo in mid-December—perfect for filming.
They were currently shooting the snow scenes of Tōno Takaki and Akari during their middle school years.
"This is an insert song I composed for '5 Centimeters per Second'. Have musicians arrange it first."
"And here's the special effects budget approval—I've signed it."
Su Yan handed Shinozaki Ikumi a stack of documents along with a hot coffee.
Though primarily a romance film, '5 Centimeters per Second' required crucial visual effects—
Rocket launches, slicing through the sky.
Surreal shots of massive celestial bodies hanging above the horizon.
Cherry blossoms blooming in the snow.
Not many VFX scenes, but each is vital.
Shinkai-style works weren't driven purely by plot.
They relied equally on atmosphere and visual beauty.
If that ethereal aesthetic couldn't be recreated, the film would suffer greatly.
For this movie, visual beauty was paramount.
Outside, the young actors playing Takaki and Akari endured the cold, cheeks red from the wind.
Director Sugiyama Yutaka called "Cut!" again and again, demanding perfection.
For fourteen-year-olds, portraying nuanced young love under a strict director wasn't easy.
Ikumi accepted the coffee gratefully, warming her gloved hands before sipping.
"Outdoor shoots are brutal," Su Yan said. "They've been in the cold for four or five hours."
"That's the industry," she replied. "Otherwise, where do you think a hundred-million-yuan investment goes?"
She paused.
"Have the 'What IF' line ratings been released yet?"
"Should be soon."
Right then, Su Yan's phone buzzed.
He smiled. "There it is."
Only Zhongxia TV would text him at this hour.
He opened the message.
Looked for two seconds.
Ikumi leaned in. "Well? Did it break or not?"
She saw the number.
6.02%.
It broke 6%.
A huge stone lifted from her heart.
But instead of cheering, she grew thoughtful.
"What's wrong?" Su Yan asked. "Normally you'd be jumping around."
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm happy. Just… what do we do now?"
"If 'Tokyo Love Story' hits 6.02%, what if this is the best result of my career? What if I never produce something this successful again?"
Su Yan laughed.
"You're in your twenties. I'm twenty-three. We've barely started."
"Yes, it'll be hard to surpass 6%. But hard doesn't mean impossible."
"Hard?" she echoed.
"Just hard. Not impossible." He grinned. "After all, a screenwriter's golden age lasts a long time. I'm still growing."
She burst into laughter.
"If you're still growing, your peers will cry."
She looked at him, eyes bright.
"Maybe I don't know if we'll surpass 'Tokyo Love Story'. But one thing's certain."
"In Xia Nation's producer history, my name is now secured."
She suddenly smiled mischievously.
"And next month's Xia Flame Awards… I can't wait."
"Why?" Su Yan asked.
"I can't wait for us to sweep awards in front of everyone at Sakura TV."
She imagined giving a speech—broadcast on Sakura TV itself.
"That'll feel even better than anything I dreamed of when I left."