On Sunday, after several consecutive days, news related to 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' had already spread throughout the Xia Nation's TV drama fan community.
A show that had only just started filming—and merely released a few character posters—was nearly overshadowing 'Kimi ni Todoke', whose ratings this season had already surged to around 5.9%.
But that wasn't surprising.
A 600 million investment drama was almost unheard of, even in Su Yan's previous life, let alone in Xia Nation.
Back then, TV dramas often ran for fifty, sixty, even seventy or eighty episodes, claiming investments of several hundred million, yet the final quality was often disappointingly low.
As for 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion', even if both seasons were filmed together, it would only total around twenty-something episodes. The combined salaries of all actors had been compressed to under 200 million, with the rest of the budget devoted entirely to production and visual effects.
Once fans understood this, their anticipation skyrocketed.
However, by the afternoon, discussion threads about 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' were pushed down again by those about 'Your Name'.
After all, 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' had only just begun filming in August. Even with simultaneous VFX production, it was conservatively estimated that it wouldn't air before April next year.
Meanwhile, 'Fate/stay night' in January and the Spring Festival release of 'Rurouni Kenshin' Part 2 would both arrive earlier.
Fans were far more focused on what was airing tonight—
'Kimi ni Todoke'.
After being distracted by Su Yan's recent projects, no one had forgotten last week's painful cliffhanger.
["Charge!!!"]
["Tonight's ratings should break 5.9%, right?"]
["The growth of this show's ratings is so slow!"]
["Can't be helped. Romance dramas don't appeal to kids as much—can't compare to action-heavy shows like 'Fate/Zero' or 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'."]
["Don't obsess over ratings. Honestly, I think 'Kimi ni Todoke' is even better than 'Fate/Zero'. But that's just my personal preference. All of Su Yan's works are peaks in their respective genres—no need to compare."]
["Still, I just want his shows to keep getting higher ratings!"]
["Same here."]
["I don't care about ratings—I just want to know if there's a confession tonight. Will there be?!"]
["Please, stop dragging it out—just confess already! I heard on Sakura Island that you can get married right after high school. Let them confess, get married, and have kids already! They already like each other—no need to 'develop feelings' anymore!"]
Su Peishan's fingers flew across the keyboard as she replied to messages in five different fan groups in rapid succession.
By the time she noticed, the show was about to start—and her fingers were sore.
In the heat of August, she grabbed half a chilled watermelon from the fridge and scooped out a big bite.
Refreshing.
As an unambitious office worker, being able to watch Su Yan's sweet romance dramas while eating watermelon—
She wouldn't trade that even to be emperor.
["Su Yan… It's been two months. Eight whole weeks. Don't drag this out anymore."]
Her thoughts drifted, but soon, the TV screen in her living room flickered. Sakura TV's advertisements disappeared—
And then—
The familiar opening theme of 'Kimi ni Todoke' began to play.
As the theme song started, Su Peishan's emotions rose, her nerves tightening.
Episode 8 wasted no time.
Right from the start, Kazehaya Shota grabbed Sawako Kuronuma's hand.
Ignoring his close friend, Sanada Ryu.
Ignoring Kurumizawa nearby—
He simply held Sawako's hand and ran with her down the school hallway.
Though Sawako didn't understand what was happening, she followed instinctively.
"Why?"
Kurumizawa's pupils widened, tears welling up.
Sanada Ryu looked at the two running off, then at Kurumizawa, who was on the verge of breaking down.
Thinking back to his earlier conversation with Sawako—
He seemed to understand everything.
He figured out who had written the note that summoned him.
And he realized why, despite Sawako saying she hadn't written it, both of them had been called there.
This entire scene—
Had been staged for Kazehaya Shota to see.
"Whatever. Not my problem."
Sanada Ryu walked away, bored.
Before Kurumizawa completely lost it.
Soon enough, her hysterical cries echoed behind him—
But he didn't look back.
Su Peishan couldn't hold it in anymore.
This Sanada Ryu really didn't follow any routine at all—and mentally, he was completely unbothered.
Then, in a quiet corner of the school, Kazehaya Shota released Sawako's hand and turned to face her.
"Kuronuma… do you like Ryu?"
Sawako's eyes widened.
Her inner monologue began.
Like?
Like…
The word echoed in her mind, but her gaze remained fixed on the boy in front of her—unblinking, unmoving.
"What I feel for Sanada… isn't romantic love!"
A gentle, beautiful BGM began to play.
"It's not love!"
This wasn't her answer to Kazehaya—
It was her answer to herself.
Her feelings for Sanada Ryu and Kazehaya Shota were completely different.
Two distinct kinds of "liking."
Only now did she truly understand.
She liked Kazehaya Shota.
Without doubt.
Without confusion.
Su Peishan's eyes gradually reddened.
Before even becoming a couple, they had already understood their feelings for each other.
Compared to those who dated—or even married—yet still couldn't figure out their own hearts…
They were far more certain.
In that quiet corner of the school, the boy and girl untangled all their misunderstandings.
No baseless suspicions.
No unnecessary drama.
The moment Kazehaya sensed a misunderstanding, his first instinct was to clarify it.
Meanwhile, Sawako's friends, Chizuru and Yano, pieced together Kurumizawa's true intentions from various clues.
But then—
Came the funniest moment of the episode.
Kurumizawa, standing alone and acting awkwardly, ran into the delinquent teacher passing by.
This teacher was Kazehaya's relative—more like an older brother figure—but his reputation at school was… hilariously ridiculous.
A total airhead, like Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Already emotionally unstable, Kurumizawa's awkward behavior was immediately misunderstood by him.
"There's no doubt about it!"
His expression was exaggerated.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in kids."
["Pfft—!"]
Su Peishan spat out the frozen watermelon in her mouth.
["Ah—HAHAHAHA!"]
Just from that line, you could tell how narcissistic, dense, and downright foolish he was.
To be misunderstood as liking someone like him—and then rejected—
That was pure humiliation.
Kurumizawa's expression froze completely.
"I understand how you feel. If I were a girl, I'd fall for myself too. But you're still about ten years too early. Go find some kid your own age."
He spoke with unwavering seriousness.
What made it even funnier—
Kazehaya happened to walk in and witness this scene.
"I won't tell anyone…"
He looked shocked, then gave Kurumizawa a sympathetic glance.
At this point, Su Peishan was clutching her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
"This is supposed to be a romance drama, not a comedy, right? This is ridiculous! Kazehaya actually thinks Kurumizawa likes that teacher?"
The story continued.
Yano and Chizuru finally found evidence of Kurumizawa spreading rumors and causing trouble at school. In front of Sawako, they confronted her directly—
Exposing her true nature completely.
The "friend" Sawako believed in—
She was actually the one secretly hurting her and her friends.
The revelation hit her hard.
"You're in my way, Sawako. You've always been in my way! I never considered you a friend…"
At that moment, Su Peishan's anger surged.
Even if it was the truth—
Wasn't that too cruel to say?