In early to mid-March, both 'Legal High!' and 'Natsume's Book of Friends' began filming simultaneously.
Since Jing Yu didn't appear in either series, his daily workload didn't actually increase.
However, the workload for the Fate series game ramped up significantly following the promotional teaser Jing Yu did on Yunteng TV. While Jing Yu couldn't directly participate in the game's production, the overall direction still required his final decision.
From story design to art style and pacing, the production team didn't dare make independent calls. So, although Jing Yu wasn't working on a drama project directly, most of his time was spent communicating with the game team.
Multiple projects were moving forward at once.
'Natsume's Book of Friends' was bound by its exclusive contract with Qinyun Video, meaning it would only air on that platform. However, exclusive streaming came with better revenue sharing — about 70%.
''Legal High!', on the other hand, was a very traditional TV drama. Jing Yu planned for it to air on TV first and only go to video platforms after the broadcast run ended.
Once all the major networks in Great Zhou learned of Jing Yu's summer schedule, their interest in 'Legal High!' skyrocketed.
By this point, no one doubted whether Jing Yu could balance making a game and a TV series without sacrificing quality.
His previous work spoke for itself. The top three TV networks had always doubted him, assuming the next project would flop — and for years, they kept losing that bet.
The reality was clear: as long as you could secure the broadcasting rights for a Jing Yu-produced drama, your network's ratings for that season were guaranteed.
Many companies in Great Zhou even formed the habit of adjusting their advertising strategy based on Jing Yu's shows. If your network aired one of his dramas, advertising slots for that time period would see a threefold increase in value, and even other time slots could jump by 30–60%. Some top-tier brands only placed ads on the platforms where Jing Yu's work aired.
Yunteng TV was a perfect example. Even though they didn't own the rights to Jing Yu's current drama, during the short airing period of 'Fate/Zero', their logo and frame ads sold for sky-high prices.
After all, this was a brand-new show with a record-breaking 11%+ viewership. Yunteng TV was making bank, and advertisers were thrilled.
So it came as no surprise that, despite ''Legal High!' only just starting filming, more than ten TV networks were already fighting for its broadcast rights.
This time, it was different. In the past, Yunteng TV didn't have the rights to Jing Yu's shows and offered only modest bids — usually around half the production cost. After all, Jing Yu could still profit from product placements, streaming rights, merchandise, and other channels.
But now…
Even though the production budget Jing Yu set for 'Legal High!' was just over 50 million yuan, the bidding war had already driven up the broadcast rights price to over 60 million, and offers kept coming in, especially from Yunteng TV, which bid the most aggressively.
The success of 'Fate/Zero' had lit a fire under Yunteng TV's execs. They realized their audience had come to associate Jing Yu's work with their network. Whether or not Jing Yu was still affiliated with them, as long as his shows aired on Yunteng TV, his massive fanbase would continue fueling their ratings.
Besides, buying his shows always paid off. Even without owning the rights, they still profited greatly.
Yunteng TV was now going all-in on 'Legal High!' — a show they hadn't even read the script for, and one Jing Yu wouldn't be acting in.
"This is what we call 'involution,' huh?" Jing Yu laughed, watching the networks scramble over the broadcast rights.
Just two years ago, before leaving Yunteng TV, if he tried to sell a show, networks hesitated.
"Not like it's cheap. For that money, we could make a series where we own all the rights."
But now, things had changed. Even a few months of broadcasting rights to one of Jing Yu's shows was worth more than a full IP production.
"So have you decided who to sell it to?" asked Cheng Lie, visibly pleased.
'Fate/Zero' had just broken another viewership record. Its reputation was soaring. Barring surprises, tomorrow's Episode 12 was projected to break the decade-long record of 11.9% average viewership for a single episode. Cheng Lie couldn't be happier.
Today's meeting was about which network to sell 'Legal High!' to.
"If the top bids are only a few million apart, let's go with Yunteng TV," Jing Yu said decisively.
Audiences were already used to seeing his shows on Yunteng TV. Jing Yu was comfortable working with them, too. Randomly switching networks might disrupt viewer habits and hurt long-term returns.
"That's about how I see it, too," Cheng Lie nodded.
"Oh, and what do you think of Qin Guangheng's performance as Komikado?" Cheng Lie asked.
"Hmm, how should I put it…"
Jing Yu thought back to the footage he'd just seen.
The scene was from the first episode of 'Legal High!', currently in active filming. Even just a few minutes were enough to tell what kind of tone the drama would have.
Qin Guangheng was someone Jing Yu had personally selected — a 34-year-old third-tier actor.
Honestly, back when Jing Yu first came to Modo city from Lansheng, he'd had more fame than Qin.
So why did Jing Yu choose him?
His portrayal was extremely similar to Masato Sakai's performance in Jing Yu's past life.
Different actors can create wildly different experiences, even with the same script. Just look at how many versions of 'The Deer and the Cauldron' exist — with Stephen Chow, Jordan Chan, and others delivering drastically different takes.
Masato Sakai's 'Legal High!' was an excellent legal drama in Jing Yu's past life. But if a different actor played the lead, Jing Yu couldn't guarantee the same quality.
That's why he didn't go for flashy casting.
Qin Guangheng looked nothing like Masato Sakai, but the irritatingly smug vibe he gave off was nearly identical — it gave Jing Yu intense déjà vu.
"Out of 10? I'd give it an 8.5," Jing Yu said after a pause.
The 8.5 reflected how closely his performance matched the vibe. The remaining 1.5 was the actor's unique essence — no one can completely replicate another. Whether this version would measure up to Sakai's would depend on the ratings.
"Good, then I can rest easy," Cheng Lie exhaled in relief.
"After all, this show is supposed to follow 'Fate/Zero' on the network schedule. If it's confirmed for Yunteng TV, then it'll likely air right after. I was afraid it wouldn't live up to your name, especially since this is a bold legal drama. But if you're confident…"
"No need to worry. I won't promise astronomical ratings, but they definitely won't be low. And you're right — if this does air after 'Fate/Zero'…"
Jing Yu paused.
"Since the setting is also on the parallel world of 'Blue Star,' in a country called 'Japan'… why not have a few characters from 'Fate/Zero' make cameos?"
"Cameos?" Cheng Lie blinked.
"After the Holy Grail War ends, Waver and Kirei Kotomine are still alive. As for Kiritsugu, we don't need to mention him. But those two — especially Kirei, who even has Gilgamesh lingering in the modern world — we could write some bonus scenes where they show up in the early episodes of 'Legal High!'
"Like, say, Kirei loves mapo tofu and Komikado loves sweets — they could bump into each other at a restaurant and argue about food."
Jing Yu had plenty of experience with this sort of crossover writing — many past-life shows used similar tricks.
It was a great way to leverage one IP's popularity to boost another.
If hardcore 'Fate/Zero' fans, after finishing the finale, found out that familiar characters might appear in 'Legal High!', many would watch the whole new show just for that chance.
"That could actually work." Cheng Lie's eyes lit up.
The two continued hashing out the details.
The next day, Sunday.
As the clock neared 8 PM, Yunteng TV's viewership ratings crept closer to 10%.
Qin Yushan was fully prepared, waiting for the show to start.
Second-to-last episode.
Without even realizing it, She had accompanied 'Fate/Zero' for nearly an entire season.
And unknowingly, she had become fully entranced by the series.
Gilgamesh, Iskandar, Tokiomi…
She never identified with any one character — she viewed them all through an objective lens.
Yet every single one was captivating. In other dramas, remembering the male and female leads was already an achievement. But with 'Fate/Zero', she remembered nearly every major character vividly.
This past week, she obsessively searched for any information about the series — like she was possessed.
She knew — she was fully hooked.
At exactly 8:00, Yunteng TV didn't delay even a second. The opening theme for 'Fate/Zero' began.
Episode 12.
Still more buildup before the final battle — but this time, the focus shifted.
Waver's storyline took center stage.
Then came a deeper characterization of Kirei Kotomine.
And then Irisviel — Kiritsugu's wife — was captured.
Only four Masters remained. The final battle was imminent.
"Damn, Kirei killed Irisviel, too? How many more people is Teacher Jing Yu going to off?"
"From a full classroom of characters in Episode 1, now only a few are left. I have a bad feeling."
"My poor Irisviel! She was my favorite character…"
"Last episode, it was Kariya killing Aoi; now this one's Kirei killing Irisviel. Enough already! Why target the lovable girls?"
"Every one of these characters was so likable. How can Teacher Jing Yu be this ruthless?"
"Final battle time. Waver finally used his Command Seals."
"First seal: command Iskandar to win. Second: command Iskandar to obtain the Grail. Third: forbid Iskandar from failing. He's so gentle…"
"Is there any logic behind this method?"
"Basically, the seals forcefully restore Iskandar's magic supply. He's been low on mana, right? This brings him to peak condition. Even if he's distracted during battle, the seal will override his instincts and help him dodge deadly blows."
"Ohhh, I didn't think of that!"
"This is how Command Seals should be used. Everyone else used them for nonsense. Especially Tokiomi — using a seal just to make Gilgamesh retreat."
"Waver… he's just so moving. So gentle. Their relationship is what Master–Servant dynamics should be. They genuinely care about each other."
"Then I'm no longer your Master."
Waver looked softly at Iskandar.
After using all three Command Seals, he was no longer his Master. He no longer had any hold over Iskandar.
So even if Iskandar abandoned him mid-battle, Waver had no say.
This was his final gamble — Waver didn't want to be a burden.
Watching this, Qin Yushan felt deeply moved.
After so many episodes of grim and painful developments, it was refreshing to see someone like Waver — someone who remained innocent.
And in this moment, that innocence deeply touched many of 'Fate/Zero's' viewers.
At least Waver saw Iskandar as a person — not some Heroic Spirit tool to be controlled with seals.
He had even removed the possibility of being captured and forced to use the seals against Iskandar.