After the performance stats for 'Clannad' and 'Kaiji' came out, Qingyun Video's registered user count continued rising day by day.
However, the top brass at Qingyun Video couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed—things hadn't gone as they had imagined, with Jing Yu's works crushing all competing dramas of the same season.
Still, no one dared voice complaints against Jing Yu. After all, he had never guaranteed a certain performance level upon release.
No screenwriter in Great Zhou would sign a contract with such conditions, and it wasn't like Jing Yu had never made slow-burn dramas before.
Not just the audience—these video platform executives, too, had a certain degree of confidence in the abilities of their company's second-largest shareholder.
At the Modo City Film Studio,
The 'Clannad' and 'Kaiji' crews were located side by side, making it convenient for Jing Yu to check on the progress and shooting status of both projects.
That morning, after finishing his scenes for 'Clannad', Jing Yu shifted his attention to discussing certain technical details with the VFX team working on the Fate series.
Right now, his main energy was focused on 'Clannad', but progress on Fate was continuing in parallel.
"So, Mr. Jing Yu, when do you plan to officially start production on 'Fate/Zero'?"
The VFX team rep asked again.
"Sometime soon—within the next month and a half," Jing Yu paused, then gave a clear reply.
A series like Fate couldn't be treated like 'Kaiji' or 'Clannad'—its VFX timeline was long and demanding.
And often, they had to shoot the full scenes first before the effects team could even begin their work.
This wasn't like his past slice-of-life romance shows, where he could film an episode a week.
Even if he poured in more budget and staff, the VFX team would still have a minimum time requirement.
It was like trying to shorten a ten-month pregnancy—you couldn't just get nine women to help and expect a baby in one month.
Some things, no matter how much money you throw at them, simply can't be rushed.
If Jing Yu wanted the Fate series to release on schedule, he'd need to plan everything far in advance.
Especially for future VFX-heavy dramas or films, without meticulous pre-production, it was a given that a single project could take over a year—or more.
After sending the VFX rep off, Jing Yu collapsed into his chair with a long sigh.
"Being a boss is exhausting…"
"Well, isn't that what you asked for?"
A voice rang out from the doorway.
Jing Yu looked up.
It was Yu Youqing, stopping by his office during her lunch break.
She was still in costume—school uniform blouse, short skirt, and white knee socks Jing Yu had insisted on to stay faithful to the original, giving off a bright, youthful vibe.
Jing Yu's gaze lingered an extra two seconds on her slender legs before he spoke:
"Why aren't you resting at noon? You've got a ton of scenes this afternoon."
"I'm used to it. Whether I rest or not doesn't affect my performance in the afternoon. It's just my energy at night that takes the hit," Yu Youqing said, placing a small bag on Jing Yu's desk.
"What's this?"
"Pastries from a popular dessert shop downtown. I bought a set so we could share it."
She casually shut the office door behind her.
After all, both of them were public figures. Privacy mattered.
If someone from the crew snapped a photo of them in the office eating desserts together and posted it online… rumors about their relationship would probably sweep through the entire Great Zhou entertainment circle in a few days.
"You don't have to be so cautious. Even if it gets out, so what? I'm a screenwriter and an actor. Don't tell me I've lost the right to date someone normally?"
"Come on—you seriously don't know what kind of figure you are now? The hottest name in drama, film, and television. Plus, you've been in the top three for public attention and trending topics for two years now. And let's not forget—you're also one of Great Zhou's top music producers. If you actually sang, you'd probably be the number one pop idol right now."
Yu Youqing crossed her arms proudly.
"What are you so smug about?" Jing Yu laughed.
"Of course I'm smug! I mean, out of all the girls in Great Zhou who adore you, I get to be your girlfriend."
Yu Youqing beamed, eyes turning into happy little crescents.
She opened the dessert box, scooped a piece with the included fork, and brought it to Jing Yu's lips.
"It's sweet," Jing Yu said after taking a bite.
The texture was soft, the taste sweet—but not overly rich.
"Sugar bomb," he muttered.
"Exactly. That's why it's too much for a lunch substitute. I didn't want to waste it, so I came to share it with you."
Yu Youqing slid over a nearby chair and sat down beside him without hesitation.
"Dating is great. All those things I used to want to do—I can finally do them now."
She leaned her head gently on Jing Yu's shoulder.
But Jing Yu's mind was already deep in work mode.
Fate character drafts, sheet music for 'Clannad', quality checks, and shoot progress for 'Kaiji'—
There was just too much going on. Some of the material was even needed for the afternoon's filming, so he really didn't have time to flirt.
"Hey, Jing Yu… Aren't you going to reveal the '5 Centimeters per Second' Easter egg?"
Yu Youqing had picked up on how busy he was.
She hadn't come to be a distraction—just wanted to enjoy the dessert she'd been looking forward to, and spend a quiet moment with him.
But this question had been burning inside her for a week.
"Do I really need to announce it myself? You figured it out. I bet plenty of people online have already solved it, too," Jing Yu paused his typing to reply.
I figured it out…
Yu Youqing choked slightly at the phrasing. She took a deep breath.
"But the reality is—'5 Centimeters per Second's third part finished airing nearly two weeks ago. The hype's still growing, and all three parts combined have over 15 million paid views… but—"
"Still no one has guessed your riddle."
"No one?" Jing Yu asked, genuinely surprised.
"Not a single person."
"Then how did you figure it out? Don't tell me you're smarter than ten million fans."
"Obviously, it's because you and I are a destined pair! I just understand how you think. Plus, I've been around you long enough to pick up on your patterns."
Yu Youqing replied, a bit guilty.
"Is that so?"
"Of course! What else could it be?" she coughed awkwardly.
"Alright then…" Jing Yu thought for a moment.
"Since you're the first viewer to solve the Easter egg, how about this: post your solution under my Qingyun Blog profile. I'll pin it using my author privileges. While the buzz is still hot, the timing's right. Wait too long, and it won't make much impact."
"Me? Post it from my account? Wouldn't that seem too fake?" Yu Youqing blinked.
"What's fake about it? You are the first and only person I've seen get it right. If you're worried about getting called out by fans, just use a smurf account."
"A smurf?"
"Uh, I mean… a burner account."