"If you've got a cold, stay home! Why are you still trying to chat with me?" Jing Yu's mood shifted in an instant, his tone sharp and ice-cold.
Gone was the gentle man of the past.
Is he seriously worried I'll infect him?
Song Xin's eyes widened. Jing Yu… you really dare talk to me like that?
"We're here. I'm leaving," Jing Yu said as the elevator doors opened.
It was only the second floor, but he clearly intended to take the stairs down to the first—just to get away from her.
That look of disdain cut deep into her pride. In that moment, Song Xin realized—
He did that on purpose.
He came here just to make me uncomfortable.
What a petty man.
Anger rushed to her head.
"Jing Yu," she called out, her tone coated in sugar, her smile looking pure and harmless. "Sure, 'Your Lie in April's debut rating of 0.82% was decent—but it's just a small success. There's no need to act arrogantly. A bit of humility goes a long way."
"After all," she continued, "ranking second among the spring season's new shows on Jinhui TV isn't much of a brag. There are only three new dramas total."
Small success, huh…
Jing Yu glanced at her and said lightly, "Oh, right—tonight's the premiere of Dangerous Lovers, isn't it?"
"Yes," Song Xin quickly replied. "Based on current projections, its first episode might exceed 1.5%. If that happens, it'll be the top-rated spring drama airing in Lan Province."
She no longer had any intention of rekindling anything with Jing Yu. That moment had passed.
"That's great. Best of luck," Jing Yu said with a calm smile.
"But make sure you all keep that #1 spot for a while," he added with a pause. "That way, when 'Your Lie in April' surpasses Dangerous Lovers, it'll feel that much more satisfying for me."
"Huh?"
Song Xin blinked twice before fully processing what he'd just said.
"Are you serious right now? You really think 'Your Lie in April' is going to surpass Dangerous Lovers in ratings?" She looked at him like he was delusional.
"You're the one who should reevaluate your attitude," Jing Yu replied calmly.
"What makes you think Dangerous Lovers is even in the same league as 'Your Lie in April'?"
He hadn't watched Dangerous Lovers, but he was very clear on what kind of show usually landed under 2% average in Da Zhou. And he knew 'Your Lie in April' wasn't that.
"You're insane," Song Xin muttered.
You get a little success, and suddenly you're inflated like a balloon?
"I don't need to explain anything," Jing Yu said as he turned to leave. "Time will tell."
He knew better than anyone that surprises could happen at any moment in this industry—but he also trusted Da Zhou's audience.
If they loved 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday', then logically, they'd love 'Your Lie in April' too.
And with that, he walked off.
Song Xin stood there for a few seconds, sneering, then turned and left in the opposite direction.
A brief, awkward reunion between exes—nothing more.
That evening, the premiere of Dangerous Lovers began.
Initial rating: 1.32%
Peak rating: 1.69%
Average for Episode 1: 1.56%
With names like Jiang Shiqing, well-known Lan Province actress Tang Yidong, and nationally recognized star Xu Xiangwen, backed by a budget close to 40 million, it wasn't a shocking result.
That night, the Dangerous Lovers production crew erupted in celebration.
Across Da Zhou, spring-season dramas had now all aired their first episodes.
On the national ranking chart, Dangerous Lovers landed at #21 for premiere ratings.
Which was... telling.
The fact that 1.56% only got you to #21 showed just how weak the drama landscape was this season.
Sure, ratings could rise over time. But realistically, the shows at the bottom of the Top 20 likely wouldn't even hit 2%—maybe not even 1.9%.
The Top 10, of course, still sat comfortably above 4–5%, just like every year.
The top-heavy nature of Da Zhou's TV industry remained unchanged.
As for 'Your Lie in April'?
It didn't even break the Top 50.
But that didn't mean it was being ignored.
All across the country, TV critics were starting to publish their roundups and ratings for the season.
Da Zhou had dozens of satellite channels, and each quarter, they collectively released over a hundred new dramas. No one had time to personally sift through them all.
And while the "big" dramas from the major stations weren't for everyone, regional dramas sometimes held hidden gems.
That's where these critic roundups came in: helping the audience avoid duds and discover quality content.
Among the four major Lan Province broadcasters, over a dozen new dramas had aired that week.
Critics across the board dedicated plenty of column inches to Dangerous Lovers, largely due to Xu Xiangwen's star power.
But in the midst of those articles, one unexpected drama kept appearing with unusually high recommendation scores:
'Your Lie in April'.
And their praise was strikingly consistent:
"A rare blend of music and youth drama that feels fresh."
"Far more emotionally resonant than the average romance."
"A breath of sincerity in a formulaic market."
One critic saying that wouldn't mean much. But many critics are saying the same thing?
That got people talking.
Interest in 'Your Lie in April' began to spread outside Lan Province.
Curious viewers started digging for more information—and then realized:
*Wait… this is from the team behind 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday'?
'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' had aired in multiple provinces and left a strong impression. The audience still remembered it vividly.
And then…
Clips began to circulate online.
The scene: Miyazono Kaori's violin solo.
The performance, dubbed by Jing Yu himself.
"What is this?!"
"Where has this gem been hiding?"
Even viewers who hadn't watched the full episode found themselves captivated by the music. The scene spread across:
TV station forums
Fan communities
Video platforms
Even people who didn't understand music found themselves moved by that performance.
"Wait… this is that good? A music romance from Lan Province?"
"Forget the plot for now—the music alone makes it worth watching."
"The female lead is amazing. I'm in love."
"Honestly, give it a try. Friday at 8 PM on Jinhui TV. I watched the first episode—it's better than Dangerous Lovers."
"I'm free this Friday. I heard the violin scenes were dubbed by the screenwriter himself? I've listened to them a few times already. Absolute chills."
"Apparently, next week's episode has the screenwriter doing a piano solo. It was in the trailer, though we'll have to see how it actually sounds."
"Screw it, I'll follow this show for a week. You don't get many music dramas like this in Da Zhou."
Through critics and word of mouth, drama fans across provinces began to recommend shows to each other.
And 'Your Lie in April', quietly but surely, began spreading its influence.
It didn't have major backing. No huge promo budget. No top stars. It was a slow burn.
But it had quality.
It had heart.
And more importantly, it had momentum.
In Da Zhou, regional dramas weren't incapable of going viral.
They just needed time… and the right spark.
And that spark had just been lit.
Another Friday afternoon.
Less than one hour remained until the airing of 'Your Lie in April's second episode.
The seed had been planted.
And now—
It was starting to sprout.