Haruki Kitahara casually greeted his desk neighbor, the girl who had never shown her face on camera—and, once again, he was completely ignored.
The next day, Setsuna Ogiso gave him a clear response: she turned down his invitation to join the light music club.
But Haruki Kitahara wasn't one to give up.
He tracked her down at her part-time job and tried talking to her again. After some hesitation, Setsuna Ogiso asked him to come back in an hour for her answer.
"This is moving kind of fast, isn't it?" Qin Yin muttered as she munched on a lamb skewer.
"Fast is good. Better than 'Your Lie in April'—by episode 11, the female lead died right after the confession. Talk about 'too little, too late.'"
In the KTV room, Setsuna's karaoke prowess was on full display—singing nonstop for two hours without even catching her breath.
A campus idol who visits KTV alone every week to relieve stress.
She loves singing deeply, and though she initially turned Haruki down out of shyness, she regretted it—so she invited him here to clear things up.
This scene subtly revealed a bit of her indecisive and self-conscious nature.
Eventually, she agreed to join the light music club.
"Let me sing to the sound of your guitar."
With her beautiful face lit up with anticipation, Setsuna looked at him and said those words.
Even Qin Yin, a girl herself, couldn't help but feel her heart flutter a little.
This character… is just too lovable.
Time passed, and 'White Album 2's ratings climbed steadily:
From 1.68%
To 1.71%
Then 1.79%
Now reaching 1.89%
But truthfully, this wasn't solely because of how captivating the early plot was.
Despite some beautiful shots and the undeniable charm of its musical score, the pacing was admittedly slow.
If not for the popularity of 'Your Lie in April', 'White Album 2's first episode would never have reached these numbers.
But there are no "ifs" in this business.
After 'Your Lie in April', the faces of Yu Youqing and Jing Yu alone were guaranteed to draw in viewers.
Anyone who had seen 'Your Lie in April' and tuned into 'White Album 2' was unlikely to switch channels, no matter how slow the pacing.
As episode one neared its end, Haruki's mysterious desk neighbor once again ignored him completely.
This brief moment passed quickly.
With the issue of the lead vocalist resolved, the next step in reviving the light music club was finding a bassist, drummer, and keyboardist.
And the first person who came to Haruki Kitahara's mind was the mysterious pianist who had always accompanied his guitar from the next room.
But the door to the neighboring room was locked.
So what did he do?
He climbed the wall.
A five-story building, rope tied to his waist, scaling the outside wall—
"This is insane!"
"All this just for a light music club? Let it die already!"
"That's what makes it a drama, people!"
"Damn, it's so high! My fear of heights is kicking in."
"Was this scene filmed on location?!"
"He's definitely going to fall."
And just like in every drama where someone takes a dangerous action, something is going to happen.
But unlike most shows, where it's always the male lead saving the girl, 'White Album 2' flipped the script.
A breeze fluttered the curtains.
Inside the room, a delicate female figure sat at the piano, her outline barely visible through the fabric.
Then, Haruki Kitahara slipped.
Despite the safety rope, Qin Yin gasped.
At that exact moment, a slender pale hand reached out from the open window and grabbed his wrist.
From Haruki's upward point of view, he saw a cold yet stunningly beautiful face.
Clear eyes. Elegant features. A slightly scolding expression.
"Are you an idiot?"
"Using your precious hands for something so pointless?"
Her voice was tinged with annoyance—and concern.
The background music kicked in—
And with that, Kazusa Touma made her first on-screen appearance.
This sudden, dramatic save—her striking close-up—hit just as hard as Setsuna's rooftop singing scene earlier in the episode.
So the girl who always ignored Haruki, the one whose face had never been shown…
The mysterious pianist who had been his hidden partner for so long…
The one he believed to be a student from the music department—
It was her.
Kazusa Touma.
[The first time I touched her hand… it was nothing like I imagined.
Her fingertips were calloused—
proof of years spent playing the piano.]
As this inner monologue played, the legendary insert song "Closing"—also composed by Jing Yu—faded in softly.
Fade to black.
Episode 1 ends.
Qin Yin was still frozen in awe.
So that's why she never appeared in the trailers or the promotional material…
She had watched an entire episode thinking this was a single-female-lead romance about Haruki Kitahara and Setsuna Ogiso.
But in the final moments, they dropped Kazusa Touma, played by Xia Yining, with a gorgeous, dramatic scene that left a deep impression.
A twist. A mystery. A hook.
And then—the ending theme played.
Also written and composed by Jing Yu.
Also… genuinely good.
Is this guy even human?
Qin Yin felt a familiar itch in her heart. Not because episode one made her desperate for episode two, but because...
The foundations had been laid.
Haruki and Setsuna's budding connection…
Kazusa Touma's sudden and unforgettable appearance…
Where would this three-person story go?
In the fan chat:
"So cool."
"Xia Yining's entrance just now? I got chills. She looked amazing!"
"Compared to her role in 'Your Lie in April' as Igawa Emi, this character's style is way more striking. And honestly, the entire cast's visuals are even better this time around."
"Bigger budget = better-looking show. Obvious, isn't it?"
"Still, I'm a die-hard Yu Youqing fan. Xia Yining is gorgeous, sure, but Yu Youqing's characters always hit me right in the feels."
"Same here."
"+1."
"Honestly, the only two scenes that really stuck with me were Setsuna singing on the rooftop and Touma saving Haruki. Visually stunning—but the plot's still kinda slow."
"It's a romance drama! What do you want—confession in episode 1, dating in episode 2, marriage in episode 3?"
"It's a love triangle. I just hope Jing Yu gives us something fresh. 'White Album 2' doesn't feel as impactful as 'Your Lie in April's first episode. Kaori's violin scene was a knockout."
"Yeah, same here. But we shouldn't expect him to top 'Your Lie in April' immediately. If 'White Album 2' can reach even 60% of 'Your Lie in April's magic, I'll be happy."
"What if it hits 60% of 'Your Lie in April's depression, too?"
"Shut up!"
"Don't jinx it! There's no way this one will go full tragedy. And Setsuna Ogiso is 100% the main girl. Jing Yu wouldn't risk alienating 'Your Lie in April' fans at such a critical point in his career. It has to be Yu Youqing's win."
"We disagree! Both Igawa Emi and Setsuna Ogiso are from 'Your Lie in April'—why should Yu Youqing automatically win? We're rooting for Xia Yining!"
"Let's be real. Xia Yining should've stayed a side character. Now that she's up against Yu Youqing, she's doomed to be the tragic loser."
"That's just your bias talking. Yu Youqing's last two dramas ended in tragedy. You really think she'll get a happy ending this time? I love Kaori, but I like Igawa Emi too. I just happen to like Xia Yining more. Sue me."
Love triangles always spark controversy over who the "real" female lead is, and after episode one, 'White Album 2' was no different.
What fans didn't yet realize, though, was just how vicious these debates would become in the weeks to come.
Meanwhile, Jinhui TV's internal ratings report for episode one was finalized:
Peak rating: 2.06%
Average rating: 1.81%
Jing Yu received the report later that evening.
"1.81%, huh?" Jing Yu sighed.
"Even with 'Your Lie in April's popularity backing it, that's all we managed for episode one…"
And yet, this was still far better than 'Your Lie in April's spring premiere.
But autumn's lineup was fiercely competitive.
Within just three days of July, two dramas had already broken 2% average ratings.
"Whatever. Let's take it slow. Ratings take time to grow anyway…"
Jing Yu turned his gaze to the scripts sitting on his desk—
Episodes 4 through 6.
This… is where the story truly begins.
The first three episodes were set up.
From episode 4 onward, the tone would shift.
And from episode 5 till the end…
There would be no more warmth. No more softness.
The next day, 'White Album 2's viewership data spread across Jinhui TV and the Lan Province drama industry.
Local critics were stunned—and began to praise the show, even if they felt the pacing was a bit slow.
Elsewhere, the national media remained more cautious.
Most said the show was worth watching, but not groundbreaking.
And some, of course, blasted the first episode, claiming it was nowhere near 'Your Lie in April's level and predicting the show's ratings would crash after episode 3.
As the first week of July came to an end, all of Dazhou's new autumn-season dramas had aired their first episodes.
'White Album 2' ranked 19th in viewership for premiere week.
Setsuna Ogiso, thanks to 'Your Lie in April' fans' support, landed 13th in popularity among new female characters.
Meanwhile, Kazusa Touma, who only appeared in the last few seconds, didn't even crack the top 40.
Haruki Kitahara—played by Jing Yu—ranked 27th on the male character popularity chart.
Though 'Your Lie in April' fans were fiercely loyal, their support was limited to Yu Youqing. Jing Yu and Xia Yining didn't receive the same treatment.
But that would soon change.
As Kazusa Touma's charm began to shine, her support rate would soar.
On the other hand, Jing Yu had a feeling that his own popularity might drop fast.
After all, the sites hosting the rankings allowed both upvotes and downvotes.
And looking at the list in reverse?
It basically showed which male lead was the most hated.
July 8th – 'White Album 2' Filming Set
Jing Yu finally handed over episodes 4–6 to the crew.
First to receive it: Director Gao Wencang.
He read the scripts carefully, and by the end—
He was stunned.
Completely speechless.
Some scenes even gave him physical discomfort as he read.
The first three episodes had painted a beautiful bond between the three characters. Two charming, lovable heroines. A heartfelt friendship. The only "conflict" was that both girls liked Haruki.
But that wasn't a problem. Love was fair competition. As long as no one crossed the line, it could've been a wholesome drama about friendship and first love.
That's what Gao Wencang thought, anyway.
But what did he read next?
The sweeter the setup, the crueler the fall.
The harmony built over three episodes would be utterly shattered in the most brutal way possible.
"Jing Yu… are you really sure about this?" Gao Wencang held the script, visibly distressed.
"Don't worry. The audience will love it," Jing Yu said with a cough.
Gao hesitated, then sighed.
Let the professionals handle it, I guess. I doubted him with Kaori's death, too, but that scene only made 'Your Lie in April' even more popular.
If I argue now and the ratings soar later, I'm just slapping myself.
Later that night, Yu Youqing and Xia Yining also received the updated scripts.
They both read them at home, and both were shocked.
"Wait—so I'm the manipulative green tea b*tch?" Yu Youqing was stunned.
But as she read on—
"Actually… maybe not. Even if I knew Haruki and Touma liked each other, so what? It's unspoken. No one confessed. He's single. Why can't Setsuna pursue him too? She's not wrong."
Meanwhile—
"Wait—I'm the homewrecker?" Xia Yining stared at her pages in disbelief.
But again, reading more closely:
Kazusa Touma met Haruki Kitahara first. She liked him long before the story began. Does she accompany him from the next room with the piano every day? That wasn't just a coincidence.
Later episodes explained why she cared so much.
That rain-soaked scene where she searched for the foreign language book Haruki had lent her—it showed how much he meant to her.
They loved each other, silently.
If Setsuna Ogiso hadn't appeared, they would've gotten together easily.
But she did appear—and inserted herself, even after noticing their feelings.
So who's really at fault?
Setsuna Ogiso wasn't the green tea villain.
Kazusa Touma wasn't the shameless homewrecker.
But someone was going to lose.
So tragic. So inevitable.