"So... although 'White Album 2' ultimately didn't make it into the top ten of the autumn season ratings, it was still the only drama in the top twenty that didn't air on one of the Big Six.
For that, I sincerely thank you all."
As Jing Yu gave a slight bow, a wave of enthusiastic applause echoed through the banquet hall.
He shook his head slightly. The alcohol was finally catching up to him—lightheaded, dizzy.
The drinks hadn't been strong, but the aftereffects were something else.
The celebration went on for over two hours. By the end, nearly everyone was tipsy.
Thankfully, they'd planned for this—the manor had resting areas.
Jing Yu, not able to hold on any longer, left first to rest. Soon after, the rest of the crew also began to drift away.
The next morning, before sunrise—
Xia Yining was already awake.
She did her makeup, dressed carefully, and stepped out into the cold late-October morning.
Guided by memory, she walked through the manor grounds and soon arrived outside the room where Jing Yu had stayed the night before.
After all, 'White Album 2' had wrapped. If she didn't take the initiative now, she knew Jing Yu certainly wouldn't.
"From high school to college, I've had so many guys chase me… and I always thought they were annoying. I'd make it obvious I wasn't interested, but they still hovered around like flies. And now look at me… karma, huh?
Can't believe I'm the one acting like this over a guy."
She walked along the stone path, glancing at her reflection in the artificial stream beside her.
She still found herself breathtaking. But Jing Yu? That guy showed zero reaction.
She poured his drinks last night. Sat close. Deliberately brushed against him.
And what did he care about?
His phone.
Data. Numbers. TV station rankings.
Those seemed far more attractive to him than having two gorgeous women beside him.
"Could he be… into men?"
"No way. He had an ex—Song Xin."
Taking a deep breath, Xia Yining adjusted her skirt and was just about to wait quietly outside Jing Yu's courtyard—ready to stage a "coincidental" encounter when he woke up.
But then… she saw someone else already there.
Yu Youqing.
Also beautifully dressed.
Also nervously watching the courtyard.
Also unmistakably here for the same reason.
"Good morning, Sister Yu," Xia Yining said, her heart skipping a beat.
"Why are you here?"
"Oh? Little Yining, you're up early too?" Yu Youqing's smile froze for a moment.
"Nothing much. Just wandering around and happened to come this way."
"Same here. Look at this tree… the branches may be bare, but there's a certain… artistic vibe to them, don't you think?"
"Hehe…"
"Haha…"
Both of them let out awkward, hollow laughter.
And both, immediately, knew exactly why the other was there.
"Sister Yu, you're so pretty. Why have you stayed single all this time?" Xia Yining asked, breaking the silence.
"Why have you stayed single? Same reason, I guess," Yu Youqing replied with a faint smile.
"Then… what do you like about Mr. Jing Yu?" Xia Yining asked after a brief pause.
"Huh?" Yu Youqing froze, caught off guard by how direct she was.
She was more introverted by nature—unlike Xia Yining, who might come off cold, but was never socially anxious. She simply had no interest in talking to people she didn't care about.
So, a question like that? Yining had no problem asking it head-on.
"His talent? His looks? His potential?" Xia Yining leaned back against the railing casually.
No point playing dumb. They'd all been working together for over half a year. If they had feelings for the same person, there was no need to pretend otherwise.
"How should I put it?" Yu Youqing sighed softly, giving up the pretense. "At first, I just thought he was… weird. In a good way. He wasn't like the others I've met in the industry—vulgar, careless, or manipulative."
"He was always respectful. Always polite. Never once did they take advantage of me during filming or use the role as a way to hint at anything else. If he thought you were right for the part, you got in—simple as that."
"So… that made you like him?" Xia Yining asked.
"At first, it just made me consider him a friend. I let my guard down around him more easily than I ever had with a man."
"Then it was that first kiss scene in 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday'—I was so nervous. My heart was pounding. But we got through it. That was my first kiss on-screen, first time holding hands, first time sharing a blanket with a guy. At first it was awkward… then it became normal… and eventually…"
"I began to look forward to it."
Yu Youqing took a deep breath.
"At some point, I realized—I didn't want it to be just acting anymore. I wanted it to be real. I wanted to experience a youthful romance with him… not in front of the camera, but in real life."
"From 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday', to 'Your Lie in April', to 'White Album 2', I never cared that much about ratings or fame. What I cared about most was—do we have scenes together today? Because when we're in front of the camera… I can do all the things lovers would do."
She finished, then turned to Xia Yining.
"What about you?"
"Me?" Xia Yining looked at the goldfish swimming in the pond nearby.
"It wasn't as clear for me. At first, I thought he was just an annoying try-hard. But after spending time in the crew, I realized… he's really something. I guess I was struck by his talent."
"I started paying attention. Asking others about him. And slowly, it was like… he started taking up more and more space in my head."
"One day, he left a bottle of sparkling water on set. Just took one sip and forgot about it. And I had this ridiculous thought:
'What a waste! If he's not gonna drink it, I will!'"
She looked over at Yu Youqing.
"I'm kind of a clean freak. Not just with guys—anyone. If someone even brushes my toothbrush, I throw it out. If a shirt touches the floor, I have to wash it before wearing it. At restaurants, I toss the first two napkins in any dispenser."
"So, for me to think of drinking from someone else's bottle? That's crazy. I thought I was going insane.
But then I realized—it was only around him that I stopped caring about those little details."
"That's when I realized… he might be special to me. At the very least—I don't dislike him."
"And since I've never met a guy I didn't dislike, if I miss this chance… who knows, maybe I'll have to wait another 22 years. I'll be 44 by then—an old fairy at best."
She gave a sweet smile.
"So, Sister Yu… could you maybe back off and let me have him?"
Yu Youqing looked at her.
Despite how twisted this situation was, she couldn't bring herself to dislike Xia Yining.
But her eyes narrowed slightly as she replied:
"Even if I stepped aside, it wouldn't make him like you.
And even if you fight for it, it doesn't mean he'll be drawn to you."
…Oof.
This acting major had some confidence, huh?
Xia Yining felt a fire light inside her.
Yu Youqing was only a few steps away. Between them stood the archway leading into Jing Yu's courtyard.
But halfway through walking over…
Yu Youqing's heel twisted.
She stumbled.
Right as Jing Yu stepped out.
She fell straight into his arms.
"Eh? Xiaoning? You're here too?" Jing Yu said, quickly steadying Yu Youqing.
Her frame was so petite that it looked like he was embracing her.
There was no reason to walk all the way here from the girls' dorm just for breakfast. The dining hall was between the male and female quarters.
Yu Youqing leaned softly into him, holding his arm for support.
"We woke up early and came out to look at the fish. One was really beautiful and swam all the way here. We followed it… and I must've been too focused. I twisted my ankle.
Thank you, Mr. Jing Yu, for catching me," she said, smiling shyly.
"Twisted your ankle? Is it bad?" Jing Yu asked, frowning.
He glanced at her left foot—slightly lifted in its high heel.
Xia Yining's jaw dropped.
No way.
She knew Yu Youqing saw Jing Yu coming and deliberately walked over to time it like this.
"No, I don't think it's serious. Just a little painful. Probably just need to rest a bit. You were headed to breakfast, right? Please, go ahead. I'll be fine in a few minutes."
"Well… if you don't mind, I'll walk you to the dining hall?"
"Really? Won't that bother your work?"
"What work? My contract's up in a week. I'm basically unemployed," Jing Yu chuckled.
"Then… I'll trouble you, Mr. Jing Yu."
Yu Youqing glanced back at Xia Yining and winked—sweet and smug.
Xia Yining's mind exploded with curses.
This woman is too sly. And damn good at acting!
"Mr. Jing Yu, actually…" she said, clutching her stomach. "I'm not feeling well either."
"Hungry, huh?" Jing Yu glanced at a female colleague from the lighting crew who happened to be walking by, still filming the river on her phone.
"Zhang Ni, can you help Xiaoning get to the cafeteria?"
Xia Yining looked like she'd just been hit by a truck.
That afternoon, Jing Yu returned to his apartment.
Chu You soon arrived, still with the same goal—convincing him to stay.
"Uncle Chu, I really want to go out and see the world. So… I'll have to say goodbye to Jinhui TV," Jing Yu said respectfully.
Chu You spent two hours trying to persuade him, but to no avail. In the end, he had no choice but to leave.
Now that 'White Album 2' was over, Jing Yu could finally focus on his next move.
The five Big Six networks that had contacted him had all presented similar offers—
The only real concession they made was to shorten the contract terms. From five years to four, or maybe three.
After weighing all the options, Chenghai TV still came out on top.
There was no huge quality gap between the Big Six. Some had bigger platforms, sure, but they were on the same level overall. Chenghai TV had even produced shows that pulled 7% to 8% viewership.
As long as the drama was good enough, anything was possible.
Midnight slot at Xingtong TV or second-tier prime time at Chenghai TV?
Jing Yu chose the latter.
He had no interest in "grinding it out" in a low-exposure timeslot. That came with risk.
What if his first show after switching flopped?
No matter how strong his skills—or golden his "cheat"—he couldn't afford to be arrogant.
Opportunities weren't infinite.
He'd seen it in his past life:
Writers and directors who lost their footing after one flop—some never recovered.
Even someone like Chen Kaige took years to recover from The Promise.
If Jing Yu's next drama failed, it was unlikely the Big Six would give him another shot.
He had to be cautious.
Sometimes, the choices in front of you aren't between good and bad.
They're between bad and worse.
So what do you do?
Pick the lesser evil.
Jing Yu was just about to call the Chenghai TV producer who had visited him before—
Knock knock.
Suddenly, a knock echoed from his front door.