After the broadcast of 'White Album 2's sixth episode, its impact didn't just linger—it rolled right into the airing of the seventh episode the following week, showing no signs of slowing down.
The Da Zhou version of the "Mistress Kazusa, B*tch Setsuna" meme exploded across the internet. Wild slogans like "Even if I'm dead, nailed inside my coffin, I will still scream from the grave with my rotting voice: Kazusa is a homewrecker, Setsuna is a btch!"* were being coined by the day.
Just two weeks ago, during the school festival arc, fans of 'White Album 2' were still united, basking in the warmth of a big, happy family ending. But now, in the blink of an eye, camps had formed—Team Kazusa, Team Setsuna, and the outlier faction: Team Yuri.
Of course, the Yuri faction was niche, with fewer supporters. Team Setsuna had the upper hand, bolstered by fans of Miyazono Kaori from Your Lie in April, but Team Kazusa wasn't far behind—current sentiment stood at a roughly 64-to-36 split.
Meanwhile, Yu Youqing and Xia Yining, the actresses playing Setsuna and Kazusa respectively, had completely dominated the Lan Province female celebrity popularity rankings, taking the top two spots.
The 'White Album 2' phenomenon was sweeping Da Zhou's entertainment industry, and within Lan Province's acting circle, reactions toward Yu Youqing and Xia Yining were a mix of admiration, envy, and bitterness.
They'd risen to fame far too quickly. Just a couple of dramas, and they were launched into stardom. And worse, they had the same screenwriter to thank for both—picked one after another. How terrifyingly lucky could someone be?
But among the 'White Album 2' fanbase, one thing was now unanimous:
No one liked the male lead, Haruki Kitahara.
On the Autumn Season's Male Character Popularity Chart, Haruki Kitahara held an unbeatable record—dead last, with four times as many negative votes as the second-last character.
And with a month and a half of the season remaining, it was practically certain: Haruki Kitahara was destined to take home the crown of "Most Hated Male Lead of the Autumn Season."
Fans looked at Jing Yu, the creator, with a strange kind of admiration.
He could've cast someone else to play such a scummy male lead. The actor Chen Zhongyi, who played Takeya in the same show, was just as handsome—he could've taken the role. But Jing Yu didn't let him.
He chose to play Haruki Kitahara himself—a walking red flag, a plot device only there to ignite a love triangle.
Yes, that was the only reason Haruki Kitahara existed. Without him, there'd be no triangle. He was like that top-lane player in a MOBA game who goes AFK halfway through—useless, but the game can't start without him.
Still, Jing Yu took on the role himself. Why?
Because if someone had to be hated, better it be him. He wasn't trying to act full-time anyway—his main job was as a screenwriter. A ruined image wouldn't hurt his future. He was burning himself to illuminate others—a true martyr of the drama world.
At least Chen Zhongyi was grateful. If Jing Yu hadn't stepped in, he might've been pigeonholed forever into the "charming scumbag" archetype.
Of course, no one on the production team suspected Jing Yu had other motives, too.
One was that the role required a lot of specialized skills only the male lead had—and thanks to the system panel, Jing Yu had already mastered them. So he was the best man for the job.
The other, more practical reason?
The paycheck.
The male lead's salary was over a million yuan. How could he give that up?
Fan backlash didn't bother him nearly as much as cold, hard cash excited him. He was just another guy living in the real world. If his image took a hit now, he'd simply fix it later with some roles featuring powerful, charismatic male leads.
Like Oguri Shun's role as Genji Takaya in Crows Zero. That one had violent elements, sure, but unlike Jing Yu's past life, Da Zhou didn't ban content at that level.
Sunday, August 14.
'White Album 2' Episode 7 aired.
A new opening theme. New background visuals.
Kazusa had flown abroad with her mother, Yoko, to study music—completely cutting ties with both Haruki and Setsuna.
Haruki and Setsuna entered university, but with Kazusa gone, their communication dwindled to almost nothing.
Haruki was now juggling an internship at a newspaper, a part-time tutoring gig, and his usual role as a straight-A student.
But finally, five minutes into the episode, the anxious fans got what they were waiting for: Haruki and Setsuna on screen together.
It was a brief encounter—an accidental run-in on campus.
And yet…
Faced with Setsuna's hopeful gaze, Haruki pretended not to recognize her. The two passed each other silently, without a word.
Later, the episode explained that he felt too guilty. He had betrayed her. He didn't have the face to interact with her—as a boyfriend, or even as a friend.
So, he chose to act like a stranger.
That's the state of their relationship now, as college freshmen.
They were strangers in all but memory—a huge emotional chasm had formed between them.
To fans who already hated Haruki, this scene was like lighting a match in a gas leak.
"I can't take it anymore. My stomach hurts!"
"This scumbag. He betrayed Setsuna and still treats her so coldly? Disgusting."
"But didn't he continue dating Setsuna after sleeping with Kazusa? That's what makes him the ultimate trash."
"???"
"Who the hell came up with a term like 'breakup sex'? That's so crude. They were clearly in love! It was mutual! Mistakes were made, yes—but you Setsuna fans are really going too far hating on Kazusa."
"Oh, so if it's mutual, then cheating is okay? Like people just accidentally have affairs? You Kazusa stans have no moral compass!"
And so, the war raged on in forums, chat groups, and social media.
Each side slinging the same arguments again and again—but loving every minute of it.
Meanwhile, the actual episode...
Though Haruki betrayed Setsuna, she never once blamed him. Even in college, she continued treating him with quiet gentleness.
Haruki, on the other hand, kept distancing himself—burying himself in work to forget both Kazusa and Setsuna.
Episode 7 was all about the broken, twisted relationship between Haruki and Setsuna.
The pacing was slow, the scenes drawn out, but the dialogue struck like knives.
In one moment, Setsuna saw a news clip on TV—Kazusa had won an international music competition.
While she was genuinely happy for her best friend, she also, for the first time in months, found a valid excuse… to call Haruki.
Yes, she was glad Kazusa had won. But she was also just looking for any reason to reconnect with the person she loved most.
She left him a voicemail:
"Please read the latest magazine. There's news about Kazusa's award. You have to call me after, okay?
No matter how late it gets—even if it's midnight, even if you stay up all night—I'll wait."
Because… as Kazusa's closest friends, they had to celebrate, right?
Even if it was just a phone call, even if they only talked about being happy for Kazusa—it was still something. Still a ritual.
And maybe, just maybe, it would ease Haruki's guilt.
Setsuna knew: if she stayed away from him, he'd bury himself in work to avoid the pain of what he did to her.
But she couldn't let go. She couldn't stay away.
"I can't take this anymore!"
"Why is Episode 6 heartbreaking, and Episode 7 also heartbreaking? Can't this screenwriter just chill?"
"Kazusa's gone abroad, right? So just break up or move on. This limbo is too messed up."
"Haruki wants to break up—but Setsuna won't let go. She still loves him, no matter what."
"They're technically still dating, but even a call needs an excuse? Setsuna's being so cautious..."
"The more painful it gets, the more I want to watch. Am I sick?"
"White Bird on Xing Tong is airing at the same time—it's a happy romance. But no, here I am watching this emotional torture on Jinhui TV."
"We're all sick. We love both female leads too much. No matter how painful the story gets, we have to see it through.
Even if Haruki's trash, Setsuna and Kazusa both fell for him. We just hope he gets it together eventually and treats Setsuna right. Forget Kazusa already."
"Forget Kazusa? Screw off. That manipulative Setsuna needs to leave. Kazusa is his true love. Without Setsuna's interference, Haruki and Kazusa would've been together, and this whole tragedy wouldn't exist!"