The following day, the 'White Album 2' crew held their wrap party.
Jing Yu made a special trip into the city to buy a suit. He looked tall and sharp in it—so much so that when he took off his mask in the dressing room, a store clerk immediately recognized him. The words "Jing Yu!" slipped out, and in an instant, he was surrounded by dozens of drama fans. It took considerable effort to finally escape.
The ending of 'White Album 2' had been well received by fans. In this timeline, Setsuna Ogiso got her redemption, Haruki Kitahara was no longer spineless, and Kazusa Touma had grown as a person.
It was arguably the best ending among all the routes from the original game.
Because of that, Jing Yu no longer had to worry about being mobbed on the street or having strangers shoot him dirty looks as if he were the scumbag male lead himself.
He rode his motorcycle around the city, enjoying the breeze. Only as the sun dipped below the horizon—around 7 PM—did he head to the event venue.
It was a private manor on the outskirts of town. The main cast and crew, around a hundred people in total, had already arrived.
"Good evening, Mr. Jing Yu!"
"Mr. Jing Yu, you're here!"
"Mr. Jing Yu, you look so handsome tonight!"
"Mr. Jing Yu, a music label wants to collaborate on a cover of the songs you wrote for 'White Album 2!'"
As he made his way inside, everyone greeted him warmly. Some were still handling final post-production matters and asked him for input.
Pushing open the inner wooden doors, he stepped into a banquet hall where an artificial stream flowed alongside the tables. Decorations and celebratory props had been set up in advance.
"Mr. Jing Yu, you're here!"
Yu Youqing, who had been chatting with Director Gao Wencang, lit up the moment she saw him and walked over quickly.
Tonight, she wore a soft pink long dress, her hair tied up. Light makeup brought out her fair complexion and mature charm—unlike her usual schoolgirl image. Standing next to Jing Yu, she seemed a bit shy, but her eyes sparkled with joy.
"You look beautiful today," Jing Yu said casually.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Jing Yu," she replied, beaming.
"Mr. Jing Yu—"
A second female voice called out behind him.
It was Xia Yining, dressed in an elegant black dress with her hair braided in delicate strands. Her clear, bright eyes were striking as always. She walked over directly, smiling.
"It's only been a few days since we last saw each other, but today you really feel… different."
"Different how?" Jing Yu asked, curious.
"Well, during filming, I was always immersed in Kazusa's perspective. So when I looked at you, I couldn't help but see you as Haruki. But now that filming's over, and a few days have passed… Seeing you again, I feel like, 'Ah, so this is the real Jing Yu.'"
Once she warmed up, Xia Yining was actually much more talkative than Yu Youqing. Her "cool girl" attitude only applied to strangers. Toward friends she recognized, she was approachable and lively.
Gradually, Jing Yu, Yu Youqing, and Xia Yining became the center of attention in the banquet hall. Many crew members cast curious glances their way.
"I heard Mr. Jing Yu's contract is almost up. I wonder if he'll renew with the station?"
"I hope he does. Then we'll have a powerful 'thigh' to cling to here at Jinhui TV!"
"But honestly… what do you guys think? Will he stay?"
"Hard to say."
"You mean 'you don't dare say,' right?"
After the end of 'White Album 2', no one in Jinhui TV cared anymore about what Jing Yu's next drama would be.
The real question was:
Would he stay?
The film and TV industry was a small world.
Jinhui TV might not be among Da Zhou's top-tier networks, but it had strong ties with other major stations. Some who left Jinhui TV even ended up at the Big Six. So rumors traveled fast.
Within a few days, word had spread internally:
Five of the Big Six had already approached Jing Yu.
Now, everyone was watching him with awe.
This is Jing Yu.
Maybe he wasn't on par with the most elite writers in Da Zhou yet, but the fact that the Big Six had come knocking on his door—that was already a rare feat.
Even the lower-level staff at Jinhui TV knew:
'White Album 2' might very well be Jing Yu's last drama at the station.
Director Gao Wencang and Producer Liu Neng had the same thought—but neither of them asked.
Over the past year, working with Jing Yu had brought them fame and success. Where he went next was his decision. They didn't want to interfere—and probably couldn't even if they tried.
But once the banquet started and they sat down to eat, Jing Yu suddenly spoke up:
"I'm leaving Jinhui TV."
Liu Neng's hand trembled mid-chopstick. Chu, you had asked him to persuade Jing Yu to stay, but he'd never brought it up. He knew his limits—yes, he was Jing Yu's friend, but not someone who could influence his career decisions.
Gao Wencang looked at him, then sighed.
"That's sudden. But… I can't say I didn't see it coming. Still, thank you, Jing Yu. It means a lot that you told us yourself. You really do treat us as friends."
"Of course," Jing Yu replied.
They'd worked together for nearly a year. These two were the people Jing Yu had spent the most time with since arriving in this world. It was only right to let them know in person.
Tonight's banquet was also, in a way, their farewell dinner.
Both Gao and Liu felt a little melancholic. If Jing Yu really moved to a bigger stage, the odds of working with him again were slim.
They had just started riding his coattails—and now he was already off to greater heights. Who wouldn't feel a bit disappointed?
Jing Yu didn't say much more. The topic was dropped.
Neither Gao nor Liu asked where he was headed. They knew that if Jing Yu's next destination was confirmed, the media would report it soon enough. Asking now would only make things awkward.
Beside him, Yu Youqing and Xia Yining also fell into silence.
"Here, a drink for you, Mr. Jing Yu," Yu Youqing said quietly, pouring him a glass.
Xia Yining looked at him from the side, her mood slightly downcast.
If Jing Yu was leaving Jinhui TV, then he likely wasn't going to one of the other local networks.
That could only mean one thing—he was leaving Lan Province altogether.
And if he left the province…
What future would she still have with him?
For the first time in her life, she'd developed feelings for a guy. But before anything even began, Jing Yu was already slipping away.
The more she thought about it, the more depressed she got. She poured herself a large drink in silence.
"Come on, drink up! What's the point of being all sentimental tonight? So what if you're leaving Jinhui TV? We'll still be friends, right?" Gao Wencang said, raising his glass to lighten the mood.
At the party, no one dared to pressure Jing Yu with too much alcohol.
But with so many people toasting him—
A little here, a little there—it added up quickly.
Before long, Jing Yu was starting to feel the buzz.
Eventually, as the heart and soul of the production, Jing Yu stood up with the speech he had prepared in advance.
He stepped forward to address everyone, giving his thanks and sharing his reflections.