White Album 2 Filming Base.
Though it was already evening, the temperature still hovered above 30 degrees. At this point, the White Album 2 crew had been filming for nearly a month, and everyone had started to develop a good rhythm and rapport.
Gao Wencang wiped the sweat from his forehead while shouting out directions and urging the crew to prepare the props quickly.
Inside the studio, Jing Yu and Xia Yining were shooting an indoor scene.
"Ah, finally done,"
As soon as the director called out that the take was good, Xia Yining's usually cold and aloof expression relaxed a little.
"That's it for today's shoot. Xiao Ning, get ready—we've got a TV program to record tonight," Jing Yu said as he stood up.
"Eh? Another program? Didn't we just do one the day before yesterday?" Xia Yining groaned.
"It's the last one before White Album 2 airs. I get that these variety shows are boring and kind of meaningless, but fans love them—they want to get to know us through them. Besides, none of the other autumn dramas airing on this network even got this opportunity," Jing Yu replied.
"That's true," Xia Yining said thoughtfully.
"Teacher Jing Yu, do you think the character I play—Kazusa Touma—will be liked by the audience after the show airs?"
It wasn't really a question Xia Yining expected an answer to—more like an excuse to start a conversation with Jing Yu.
Even though Jing Yu was handsome, talented, and had a great personality, his only flaw was that he wasn't particularly warm.
Whether it was with her, with stunning beauties like Yu Youqing, or with other members of the crew, if there wasn't a work-related reason to talk, he usually kept to himself.
That wouldn't do. A screenwriter as upright and gifted as Jing Yu was someone she absolutely couldn't afford to ignore. She had to find a way to get closer to him, ideally securing a spot in his next script, or the one after that.
And honestly, setting aside any career benefits, she also thought Jing Yu was the kind of person worth being friends with.
"Liked?" Jing Yu paused for a second at her question.
"Of course."
"Then… compared to Sister Yu's character, Setsuna Ogiso? Who do you think will be more popular after the show airs?" Xia Yining's eyes sparkled with mischief as she smiled and asked.
"No idea."
To Xia Yining's surprise, Jing Yu answered that without hesitation.
"No idea?"
"But one thing I can guarantee—whether it's you or Yu Youqing, after this drama ends, you'll both have a lot of haters," Jing Yu said, looking straight at her.
"But at the same time, your haters… will be the die-hard fans of the other character."
"Eh? That extreme? It's either love or hate? Isn't there a chance it'll be like 'Your Lie in April' with Kaori, Tsubaki, and Emi—where all the characters were popular and loved?" Xia Yining's curiosity visibly deepened.
She'd only read the scripts for the first three episodes of White Album 2. From what she remembered, they mainly focused on the emotional developments between the male lead and the two female leads, as well as the growing friendship between the two girls.
It felt like the plot was heading toward a friendship-versus-love love triangle, but based on the characters' personalities in the early episodes, she couldn't imagine why there'd be any haters.
"The popularity? Sure, that'll be high. But positive reviews…" Jing Yu gave a strange expression.
Touma the Homewrecker, Setsuna the Btch, and Haruki the Scumbag.*
That was the infamous nickname trio from the White Album 2 fandom in his past life.
Among the three, Yukina(Setsuna) was even known by another moniker—Zhuge Yukina—a reference to her being as scheming as the legendary tactician Zhuge Liang.
Across the entire game series, when it came to manipulating the male lead, Haruki, emotionally and romantically, only one other female character surpassed her—Chiaki Izumi, from the CC arc—who completely broke Yukina(Setsuna) down in that timeline.
But regardless, all three characters had very obvious points of controversy.
Yukina(Setsuna) fans and Touma fans clashed constantly—but they always united in hating the male lead, Haruki.
"Teacher Jing Yu, what are you two talking about? You look like you're having fun."
Jing Yu was about to continue when Yu Youqing, who'd been waiting outside the studio, walked in with a smile.
"Just discussing some plot points of White Album 2," Xia Yining quickly jumped in before Jing Yu could answer.
"Is that so?" Yu Youqing glanced at Jing Yu.
"For the most part," Jing Yu replied.
Yu Youqing gave Xia Yining another look but didn't press the matter.
The three walked out of the studio where Gao Wencang and Liu Neng were already waiting in the car.
Half an hour later, at the Jinhui TV Station headquarters, the five of them were ushered into the makeup room by staff.
At 9 PM, a prime-time slot originally reserved for a foreign drama was reallocated by the station for White Album 2's final promotional push before its premiere.
Fans from all across Dazhou tuned in—Jing Yu, Yu Youqing, and Xia Yining's supporters all switched channels in anticipation.
In just twenty minutes, Jinhui TV's ratings surged from 0.83% to 1.21%. The back-end staff had expected a boost, but they were still stunned by the actual jump.
In the fan group chats:
"They're here! I get to see Yu Youqing again!"
"Jinhui should do more of these kinds of variety interview shows. One per week? Who are you trying to fool?"
"You guys have no idea how I've survived these past few months. Thank god I bought the Your Lie in 'Your Lie in April' DVD. I've rewatched it five times. I think I'm addicted to Kaori. Now I'm obsessed with Yu Youqing, too. I'm a girl—does this mean I'm going gay?"
"Yu Youqing forever! Jing Yu, get lost!"
"Two more days till 'White Album 2' airs… I'm so nervous. I hope Yu Youqing's character is just as sunny, lively, and lovable as Kaori!"
As the fan chatter heated up—
On July 1st, just two days before the premiere of 'White Album 2', the final promotional program aired on Jinhui TV.
During the hour-long segment—
This time, Jing Yu didn't hold anything back.
He answered the host's questions head-on:
"A lot of fans have asked why there's no footage of Xia Yining's character in the trailers. Is the show no longer a dual female lead story and now just focused on one? Nope. It's still a dual female lead drama. And as for Kazusa Touma, the character Xia Yining plays—I'm confident that by the end of the series, her popularity and the debates she sparks won't lose to Kaori from 'Your Lie in April'."
"Expectations for the show?"
"I'm still young. I'm not at the point of decline yet. I'm confident that White Album 2 will outperform 'Your Lie in April' in ratings."
"Confident?"
"Naturally. But not blindly so."
"Why did you create this drama?"
"No deep reason. I just wanted to make a warm, healing love story. I hope everyone watches it all the way through. I believe most people, after finishing it, will feel a renewed interest in falling in love."
"Heart-wrenching? No way. This drama's not tragic at all. If you're worried, just watch the first three episodes—if you find any painful drama in there, feel free to drop the show or file a complaint with the station."
"I, Jing Yu, solemnly promise: this drama has no superpowers, no main characters dying from illness, no chaotic love triangles with catfights. By the end, no main character dies, and all their relationships are harmonious. Watch it with peace of mind."
"Will the character you wrote for Yu Youqing end up with the male lead this time? Maybe give the fans some closure?"
"That's a secret. But… if, by the time the show ends, Yu Youqing's fans still overwhelmingly support her character over Xia Yining's, then I might seriously consider their wishes. So please—support your favorite character during the broadcast! Your support might change her fate!"
"I know people are roasting me in the fan chats. I've been lurking in quite a few of my own show groups. People say I'm heartless and cold, and that in every new show I write, the female lead always dies. That really hurts, you know? I'm not a monster—why would I do that?"
"And while the plot may have twists and turns, I promise: when White Album 2 ends, it will be one of those dramas you'll remember for a long, long time."