Hearing Jing Yu's words, Liu Neng and Gao Wencang fell silent for a moment—then both visibly shuddered in realization.
They finally understood why Jing Yu always seemed so restless, why he set such high goals—it wasn't just about good enough for Jin Hui TV. That wasn't enough.
Doing well within the network didn't guarantee support. Politics between higher-ups was far beyond their control. If promotions were solely based on merit, history wouldn't be littered with incompetence.
The entertainment industry was no different.
But if you made your name known across the entire industry, the playing field widened.
Suddenly, they wouldn't be begging the station to fund their next drama. Instead, TV networks would be coming to them, money in hand, asking them to make shows.
But first, they had to prove their value.
By that afternoon, the whole 'Your Lie in April' cast had heard the news about Episode 2's performance. Everyone showed up on set with renewed energy and fire in their eyes.
Gao Wencang, too, felt something ignite inside him.
"2%... I'm ready to dream a little, too," he thought, looking toward Jing Yu with determination.
Later that day, Chu You, a senior executive from Jin Hui TV, visited the set for the first time.
And his enthusiasm? Off the charts.
The viewership for 'Your Lie in April's second episode caused a sensation across the entire station.
A drama with just 10 million RMB in funding, airing on a low-traffic Friday night slot, achieved an average rating of 1.29% and a peak of 1.55%.
Miraculous.
By contrast, their flagship Sunday drama Dangerous Girlfriend, which had a budget of 40 million RMB and a top-tier national actress in the lead, only scored 1.4% average and 1.6% peak in its first episode.
The difference was staggering.
Chu You's mind was racing.
"Don't worry about the budget, Jing Yu," he said, clapping his shoulder. "I've already filed the paperwork—we're giving 'Your Lie in April' another 5 million in funding."
They chatted at length that morning. When Chu You finally left, Jing Yu walked him out with a grateful smile—then turned around, his face quickly returning to its usual calm.
Meanwhile, over at the Dangerous Girlfriend production office...
Jiang Shiqing, Xu You, Tang Yidong, and Song Xin sat gathered, their expressions grim.
"What the hell's going on with Jing Yu's drama?"
"Why's the second episode pulling in such insane numbers?"
"Did the station mess up the stats?!"
Jiang Shiqing looked like he was about to explode.
Spring was supposed to be his season. The spotlight should've been his. But now Jing Yu—again—was stealing it.
Tang Yidong, watching Jiang and Xu panic, felt an uneasy void inside.
'Your Lie in April's sudden rise had thrown everything off. Despite all the resources poured into Dangerous Girlfriend, the neighboring low-budget drama was outperforming them in every way—including reputation.
For Jiang Shiqing and Xu You, it was a PR nightmare.
But for Tang Yidong? It was personal.
"A drama this good... and the female lead is Yu Youqing?"
She clenched her fists.
If it hadn't been for her leg injury, 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' wouldn't have been created. And without 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday', 'Your Lie in April' wouldn't exist.
And now? Yu Youqing had starred in both dramas. She was everywhere. 'Your Lie in April's Episode 2 alone was already at 1.29%—how much more could it grow?
Even if it didn't surpass Dangerous Girlfriend, Yu Youqing was the lead. Tang Yidong, meanwhile, was playing second fiddle.
Today on set, everything made her feel like she was chewing on cockroaches.
Especially when Xu You had already made multiple passive-aggressive comments about her injury, hinting at how it had ruined their plans.
Next to her, Song Xin sat frozen, her hands clammy.
She could still hear Jing Yu's voice from a few days ago:
"Just make sure Dangerous Girlfriend doesn't flop too soon. If it does, 'Your Lie in April' overtaking it won't be nearly as satisfying."
"No way," she had told herself back then. "No chance that the show beats us."
But now?
1.29% wasn't just competitive—it was explosive.
Song Xin's flawless features twitched with regret.
Even if 'Your Lie in April' plateaued at 1.29%, it was still a smash hit for Jin Hui TV.
Being the female lead in that show? Way better than being fourth billing in Dangerous Girlfriend.
She thought back again and again to the call Jing Yu made to her two months ago.
"If I hadn't worried about Jiang Shiqing's feelings and accepted the role in 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday'*, then the lead in* 'Your Lie in April'* would've definitely been mine."*
Her mood soured further.
In just a few months, she'd done two dramas with Jiang Shiqing—one as the third female, now this as fourth.
Meanwhile, Yu Youqing, who had no prior ties to Jing Yu, had landed both of his lead roles. And all because Song Xin had thrown the opportunity away herself.
As of this morning, on the Lan Province popularity rankings, Yu Youqing had officially surpassed her.
What if 'Your Lie in April' really did outperform Dangerous Girlfriend by the end?
Song Xin didn't even want to finish the thought.
If that happened, she'd be the biggest fool among all rising actresses in the province.
And once that kind of story spread?
She'd be the punchline of the station for months.
Inside Jin Hui TV, the atmosphere shifted the moment Episode 2 aired.
Dangerous Girlfriend's second episode pulled in 1.59% average, which looked like growth… but it only outperformed 'Your Lie in April' by 0.3%.
Considering the fourfold difference in budget, that margin felt like a joke.
Behind closed doors, more and more producers and writers started mocking Jiang Shiqing and Xu You.
At Monday's production meeting, things escalated.
Xu You and Chu You clashed directly over funding allocation.
Backed by 'Your Lie in April's success, Chu You had leverage. After an hour-long argument, he managed to secure most of the station's newly approved funding for April instead of Dangerous Girlfriend.
Even in the station headquarters, the two production teams started feeling the tension.
The awkwardness in the air was palpable.
Meanwhile, in the public sphere, 'Your Lie in April' exploded.
Over the week following Episode 2, the show was showered with praise by major film critics—especially for its music.
Word-of-mouth spread rapidly among TV drama circles.
Most notably, on Xingtong TV's drama review program—a highly regarded show that regularly features top-quality series from outside the "Big Six" networks— 'Your Lie in April' was officially ranked.
That program doesn't rank purely by viewership. Otherwise, smaller stations could never compete.
Its ranking system includes:
- Writing quality
- Character development
- Acting
- Music and technical production
- Viewer feedback and critical acclaim
In the second week of the spring season, the rankings were updated:
4th place: Dangerous Girlfriend
2nd place: 'Your Lie in April'
This wasn't just a Lan Province debate anymore.
This was how the entire industry saw the two dramas.
And while Dangerous Girlfriend still had the edge in ratings, 'Your Lie in April' was crushing it in reputation.
Then Friday arrived.
Episode 3 aired.
Fans had waited all week for the update.
The pace of this episode was gentler.
It opened with the aftermath of Kaori's collapse, revealed to be caused by a serious illness. But in the story, she brushed it off with a casual excuse to fool You Gongsheng.
The entire episode focused on their growing school life dynamic and internal emotional development.
Zemu's feelings for You Gongsheng, her evolving relationship with Kaori—all were handled with subtle emotional detail.
'Your Lie in April' was a drama-filled with nuance. There was no melodrama. No cheap plotting. Just real, relatable confusion between teenagers wrestling with their feelings.
And even though the whole episode lacked a music performance, it was still captivating.
Jing Yu's You Gongsheng, Yu Youqing's Kaori—
The way they went from strangers to friends.
Zemu's anxiety as she noticed Kaori growing closer to the boy she liked.
It was all real, and it kept the audience glued to the screen.
Near the end of the episode, two of You Gongsheng's former piano rivals, Xiang Wu and Jin Hui, made their debut—ramping up anticipation for the next chapter.
Viewership Results (Episode 3):
Average: 1.53%
Peak: 1.72%
It didn't crash like the haters had hoped.
Instead, 'Your Lie in April' rose again, climbing another 0.3% compared to the previous week.
From this moment on, 'Your Lie in April' officially became the biggest spring drama in Lan Province.
Students, office workers, families—everybody was talking about it.
And as for Jing Yu and Yu Youqing?
They now had to wear masks every time they went outside.
Or risk being mobbed by fans on the street.