"Overseas ratings have also completely topped the charts?" Su Yan's expression froze for a moment.
"Mm. There's no doubt about it—' Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' can be called the hottest TV drama in the world this year, bar none," Shinozaki Ikumi said with a smile.
For audiences in the Xia Nation, the mecha battles in 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' were something fresh and exciting. For international viewers, it was no different.
"If this trend continues, then by the time the 'Mobile Suit Gundam' TV series airs, your name, Su Yan, and Dimensional Pictures will spread across both Eastern and Western cultural spheres. The entire Western market will be opened up. By then, the market scale of all the company's businesses will probably multiply several times over."
"Let's not start celebrating too early," Su Yan quickly replied.
Although he knew Shinozaki Ikumi was right, he was naturally wary of jinxing things.
Over the next few weeks, Episodes 2 and 3 of Season 2 of 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' aired one after another.
The overall narrative structure was similar to Episode 1.
Zero reappeared, once again leading the Black Knights.
However, the higher-ups of the Britannian Empire were well aware—Zero was Lelouch.
The problem was, Lelouch was clearly staying at Ashford Academy, living peacefully with his younger brother Rolo. Nothing about him suggested he had secretly reconnected with the Black Knights.
Yet whether it was Suzaku or Rolo, both secretly suspected that the newly appeared Zero was in fact Lelouch, not some masked puppet set up by the Black Knights.
The core mystery shifted from Season 1's "Who is Zero?" to Season 2's "Is Zero actually Lelouch?"
But the story wasn't boring at all. In fact, the script quality was even slightly better than Season 1, and after Episode 3 aired, the ratings surged past 7.1%.
By the end of October, Dimensional Pictures also began early promotion for two films set for the Spring Festival release next year.
The stylish teaser for the third 'Rurouni Kenshin' film, along with the first trailer for 'Howl's Moving Castle'—featuring Su Yan as Howl and Zhuang Yuxin as Sophie—instantly shot to the top of trending searches in the Xia Nation's entertainment industry.
Among Hayao Miyazaki's works in Su Yan's previous life, 'Howl's Moving Castle' ranked easily in the top three to five and was one of his representative masterpieces. While its large-scale visual effects weren't especially overwhelming, it was one of the rare projects in recent years where Su Yan took on a leading role, sending fan anticipation soaring.
Kenshin was undeniably cool, but after three consecutive years, audiences were starting to feel some fatigue. Meanwhile, Howl's elegant aristocratic appearance in 'Howl's Moving Castle' rekindled the feeling fans once had watching Su Yan's youthful romance dramas.
With the planned 'Rurouni Kenshin' TV adaptation, the already scheduled 'Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works', and a series of upcoming games…
Dimensional Pictures had its lineup packed for the next one to two years, spanning TV dramas, films, and games.
Both domestic and international industry peers could clearly see what Su Yan was aiming for. Film and television alone could only make so much money—but building an IP and releasing derivative sequels, games, and adaptations every one or two years? That was sustainable growth.
Still, it wasn't something others could simply copy—they could only watch in envy.
Soon, October ended, and November arrived.
Although Season 2 of 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' had a somewhat exaggerated start, the introduction of the Chinese Federation brought frequent large-scale battle scenes. Combined with consistently strong storytelling and the continuous debut of new, stylish Knightmare Frames, the show's global influence kept rising.
Fortunately, Su Yan had laid out production lines for merchandise years in advance. This year, they ramped up output significantly, avoiding any supply shortages.
As the TV episodes aired, corresponding mecha models—designed and produced in advance—were released simultaneously.
Despite their high prices, fans eagerly bought them. In fact, overseas orders even surpassed domestic ones.
Major global brands in phones, computers, automobiles, and tech also approached Su Yan, hoping to collaborate on co-branded products.
As a result, Su Yan had no choice but to devote a significant amount of energy to this area.
Although he preferred acting, if he wanted Dimensional Pictures to grow into an IP powerhouse, he had to gradually shift his focus from actor to company chairman.
Soon, Season 2 reached Episode 6.
At this point, the main plot had fully begun to unfold.
Why were there so many Geass users within the Britannian Empire?
What was C.C.'s true identity, and what was her wish?
Who exactly was the newly introduced V.V.?
And most surprisingly, Shirley, whom everyone thought had already exited the story, returned.
Although her memories had been altered by Lelouch, she was still a student at Ashford Academy, still part of the student council, still attending the same school as him.
And during the year when Lelouch had his memories tampered with—living at Ashford Academy and acting as an ordinary student with his "younger brother" Rolo—
She fell in love with him again.
Even if you forget someone you once loved, you'll still fall for them a second time.
This development reignited the nearly extinct Shirley faction.
Though C.C. was irresistibly charming, not all Lelouch fans preferred her.
Many were still hoping for a fresh start between Lelouch and Shirley.
But in Episode 6, an upgraded version of the "Orange" man appeared.
After being publicly manipulated by Lelouch's Geass in Episode 1—earning him the nickname "Orange"—he received a new ability from V.V.: the power to nullify Geass.
When he activated this ability indiscriminately across the city, Shirley's Geass was undone.
Her memories returned.
And with them, her emotional collapse.
Meanwhile, Rolo, who had originally been sent by the Britannian Empire to monitor Lelouch, had already been turned by Lelouch's manipulation, made to believe their bond was genuine. For a boy who had never known family, he willingly allowed himself to be used.
But in this episode—
After Shirley finally came to terms with her feelings, resolved to help Lelouch, and told Rolo she wanted to restore Lelouch's happiness and help bring back his real sister Nunnally—
Shirley was mercilessly killed by Rolo.
She lay in a pool of blood, barely breathing, watching Lelouch rush to her side. Lelouch repeatedly used Geass to command her not to die—
But it was useless.
"No matter how many times it happens, I'll still fall in love with you. This… must be fate. Even if I'm reborn, even if I'm reincarnated, it will still be the same. So… it's enough."
Shirley's final words—and her fate in this episode—became the biggest talking point since Season 2 began.
This was also the greatest turning point of Season 2.
Before this, Lelouch could still hide behind the scenes, pretending to be a student, playing house with Rolo.
But Rolo's actions—driven by fear that Nunnally would return and take his place—destroyed that fragile illusion completely.
At the end of Episode 6, Lelouch's eyes, bloodshot and filled with killing intent, became the final shot.
That very night, the Shirley faction completely collapsed.
Su Yan's fanbase erupted once again in outrage.
[Su Yan, if you can't write, hand me the pen—I'll do it myself.]
[You brought Shirley back in Season 2 just to kill her again?]
[Are you even human? Why would you do this?!]
[Wasn't losing her memory in Season 1 enough? Why kill her in Season 2? I can't sleep after watching this—I keep thinking about her.]
[That fake little brother Rolo—die! All of you, just die!]
[A fake is still a fake. If you don't kill Rolo, Su Yan, I'm done with you forever.]
[Come on, Rolo is pitiful too. Trained by the Britannian Empire since childhood, no family… now that he finally has something, of course, he's afraid of losing it.]
[Pitiful my ass! He knows he's a fake. What's the point of killing Shirley? Lelouch will bring Nunnally back sooner or later—if he's got guts, go kill her!]
[Wait… is that actually what happens next? Rolo kills Nunnally and betrays Lelouch?]
[That would be disgusting! Everything Lelouch has done is for Nunnally. If she dies too, that's total despair.]
[Knowing Su Yan, he loves pushing protagonists into despair. Lelouch probably won't truly break unless Nunnally dies.]
[I'm scared to keep watching… this feels like it's heading toward a tragedy. Euphemia is already dead—how long until Nunnally?]
[Is Lelouch going to kill Suzaku too?]
[Good. I hate Suzaku anyway.]
[I thought I was a C.C. fan, but Shirley's death still hurts. You better hold back, Su Yan—don't turn this into a full tragedy!]
[What if the real bombshell is that C.C. dies too?]
[No way—she's immortal!]
[Whether she dies or not depends on how Su Yan writes it.]
[Heh, if C.C. dies, Dimensional Pictures' Tokyo branch is getting stormed by fans worldwide.]
More than a month into Season 2's broadcast, just as the plot and audience emotions were reaching new heights, Episode 6 delivered a crushing blow with Shirley's death.
Everyone had thought the most tragic moment was Euphemia's death in Season 1.
Now… they weren't so sure anymore.
It seemed Su Yan had once again unleashed his unpredictable storytelling.
No matter how the plot turned—
Despair remained the central theme.