The next day.
Modo Airport.
Jing Yu and Yu Youqing, both bundled up in thick down jackets, face masks, and sunglasses, kept their heads down as they boarded a flight back to Lan Province.
After several hours of turbulence, Jing Yu finally returned to Lancheng in Lan Province—his first time back in years.
The city hadn't changed much since he left. After all, Lan Province's economic condition had always been modest. It wasn't like a major metropolis such as Modo, where a few years could completely transform a district.
"I'm telling you now—I've got nowhere to stay in Lancheng. You've got your family home, but I'm stuck with a hotel," Jing Yu said as he took Yu Youqing's hand.
He'd arrived in this world empty-handed and left Lancheng the same way.
Although his household registration was tied to Lancheng, he didn't own a single asset there.
"Then hotel it is," Yu Youqing replied with a smile.
"I thought you'd invite me to your place, maybe introduce me to your mom. You're really making me stay at a hotel?" Jing Yu teased.
"Forget it. I don't want all of Lancheng knowing that Jing Yu, the big-name screenwriter, is my boyfriend. I'd become public enemy number one among your millions of female fans," Yu Youqing laughed behind her hand.
"You really shouldn't underestimate a fifty-year-old woman's gossip radar. I haven't even dared to tell my mom I'm in a relationship. If I did, our story would've spread through every aunt and cousin in my family by now."
"Then why bring me back to Lan Province?" Jing Yu asked curiously.
"Because I know this place. Back when we worked at Jinhui TV, I invited you to check out tons of nearby attractions—but you never had time. Now that we're finally together, I'm taking back what I missed out on," Yu Youqing said, squeezing his hand.
"Come on, it's already late. Let's go find our place to stay."
"Our place?" Jing Yu blinked. "You're not going home?"
"What do you think?" Yu Youqing glanced at him.
"We're a couple on a one-week trip together. You expect me to go home every night?"
Jing Yu noticed the faint blush in her eyes.
He really hadn't expected it—it was Yu Youqing who made the first move toward this stage in their relationship.
Maybe he really was just too dense.
While the two of them enjoyed their getaway in Lancheng—not exactly revisiting old places, but more like their first honeymoon trip…
Cheng Lie was back in Modo, preparing the initial promotion campaign for 'Fate/Zero'.
To be fair, Jing Yu's previous works in Lan Province had influence, but nothing nationwide.
His true rise to national fame came with works like 'Hikaru no Go', 'Initial D', 'Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal', and 'Clannad'.
His other projects were well-received and profitable, but none of them had the explosive post-airing impact these did.
Take 'Initial D'—even now, the "Akina Speedster" meme was still widely known in Great Zhou. 'Hikaru no Go'? That one was legendary. Two years after it ended, Go players in Great Zhou had increased by over two million, and even this year, tens of thousands more were expected to take up the game because of it.
'Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal' even won him nominations for Best Screenwriter and Best Film in a prestigious national award show last year—though Jing Yu was too busy filming to attend, so Cheng Lie accepted on his behalf.
As for 'Clannad', its reputation needed no further explanation. It held a 9.8 rating on Yindou Net, still topping the winter season charts despite airing on Wednesdays and Thursdays—a less favorable slot—and despite most of the audience already having seen it online.
With such a run of phenomenal works, Jing Yu's status in Great Zhou's TV industry didn't necessarily surpass the historical greats—some pioneers and founding figures held unshakable positions regardless of the appeal of their work.
But among active screenwriters, Jing Yu was widely regarded as the current #1 in the field.
Sure, these kinds of rankings couldn't be truly quantified—like the saying goes, "No first place in writing, no second place in martial arts." But audiences had their own sense of judgment.
Even if industry insiders didn't acknowledge it, the viewers did.
So when Cheng Lie's team announced on BlueStar Media's official website that a 'Fate/Zero' trailer would be released on the last day of November…
That very night, the news went viral in TV drama fan circles across Great Zhou.
"Teacher Jing Yu is incredible! Just one season of rest and he's already launching a new wave of drama hype next year?"
"I've never seen such a workaholic screenwriter. I'm crying."
"Jing Yu is just built differently—unlike those other writers who are low-output and low-quality."
"I heard it's a 200-million-plus production! We haven't had a show on that scale in two years. The last one was probably 'Great Zhou Elegance', and that was all flash and no substance."
"With Jing Yu's work, you never have to worry. If anything, the visuals lag behind the writing—not the other way around."
"If 'Fate/Zero' becomes another hit, wouldn't that make Jing Yu undoubtedly the best screenwriter in Great Zhou?"
"Best male lead too, don't forget!"
"And best drama composer. Just look at the music charts—'Dango Daikazoku' is #1, 'Ripple' is #2, and six songs from 'Clannad' are in the top 10."
"Doesn't he deserve Best Film Screenwriter, too?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. He's only written two films. '5 Centimeters per Second' was split into three parts. He doesn't have the volume to claim that title."
"Still, his potential is huge. What if he focuses on films in the future?"
"Please, no. His dramas are tragic enough—but all his movies are full-on tragedies. Let's keep him on TV."
"Now that you mention it, I still get depressed thinking about '5 Centimeters per Second' and 'Trust & Betrayal'."
Jing Yu's fans were clearly thrilled by the 'Fate/Zero' news.
But Jing Yu himself paid no attention, happily enjoying several carefree days with Yu Youqing in Lan Province.
After years of continuous work, doing absolutely nothing but spending time with someone else every day felt unfamiliar to him.
While revisiting their old stomping grounds at Jinhui TV, he did feel a little nostalgic.
Not for his time at Jinhui TV, but because 'Your Lie in April' and a few other works were wasted there.
If those had aired on Yunteng TV, they probably would've become national hits. As it stood, their impact remained muted.
One morning, Jing Yu woke in the hotel to find Yu Youqing curled up in his arms, her pale shoulder exposed outside the blanket.
He gently pulled the covers over her.
"Sigh… can't believe we're leaving today," he murmured.
"What's wrong? You don't want to leave?" she asked, eyes opening—she'd already been awake when he covered her up.
"Is it the city you'll miss?"
"No… It's this kind of life. Being a carefree slacker is kind of nice. Eat, sleep, repeat. But back in Modo, I've got a hundred people at the company waiting for me to get back to work," Jing Yu replied.
"It's time to go… You should get up and wash up."
"Turn around first, so I can change," Yu Youqing said softly after a pause.
"What's there to be shy about? After last night, we—"
Yu Youqing quickly slapped her hand over his mouth.
"Don't say it! That's embarrassing!"
Jing Yu's eyes traced the curve of her pale arm and beyond.
Even though the curtains were tightly drawn, blocking most of the light, it was enough for his eyes.
Yu Youqing blushed and pulled the covers up tightly.
Since Jing Yu wasn't cooperating, she had no choice but to wrap herself in the blanket, grab her clothes, and go to the hotel dressing room to get dressed.
Back on the plane, Yu Youqing leaned her head on Jing Yu's shoulder.
By the afternoon, they arrived in Modo. Before they even left the airport, someone from Cheng Lie's team was already there to pick them up.
After all, tonight was the release of the 'Fate/Zero' trailer. As the biggest spring release next year—airing simultaneously on the three major streaming platforms and Yunteng TV—it had to make a splash.
Cheng Lie had even arranged a live broadcast for the trailer premiere. The stars? Jing Yu and the show's main cast.
Naturally, everyone had to appear in costume.
Gilgamesh's outfit alone was a nightmare—just the makeup took several hours.
Jing Yu sighed helplessly, glancing at Yu Youqing, who looked at everything with curious eyes.
He knew his busy routine was about to start all over again.