A high-budget, special effects-heavy production like 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' was fundamentally different from ordinary dramas.
Most dramas in the Xia Nation took only three to four months to produce—and for at least three of those months, they were filmed while airing.
But 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' was different.
Even though it was scheduled for a July release, by April, most of the first season had already been completed.
Only the final touches on the first and last few episodes remained.
At this stage, the company executives who had watched the full cut of Season 1 were overflowing with anticipation and confidence.
No one could truly predict how a show would perform after airing.
Of course, everyone hoped 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' would surpass 'Fate/Stay Night'—
But only the market could decide that.
The success of 'Fate/Stay Night' was already among the very top tier of Xia Nation television.
Even Shinozaki Ikumi, Zhuang Yuxin, Shen Liqian, Gu Qingyuan—and even Su Yan himself—
Had no certainty that 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' would achieve higher ratings.
But there was one thing they all agreed on:
The quality of 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' was definitely higher than 'Fate/Stay Night'.
That was the unanimous conclusion after watching the edited version.
Especially for Su Yan—
A huge weight was finally lifted from his heart.
In his previous life, 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' had been the pinnacle of "chuunibyou" anime.
To put it bluntly, the political schemes in the story weren't actually that sophisticated.
More often than not, side characters were intentionally "nerfed" to highlight the protagonist's intelligence.
Even the political conflicts sometimes felt simplistic.
But did anime fans not notice that?
Of course they did.
But audiences didn't watch purely for realism.
If a story had grand themes and could provoke thought, great.
If not—
As long as it stirred emotions and delivered excitement, that was enough.
And 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' did both.
Its ending elevated the entire story—
And while the journey was dramatic and over-the-top, it was undeniably thrilling to watch.
Su Yan's biggest concern had been:
Would a live-action adaptation feel awkward?
Would it break immersion?
But the final result proved—
He had been overthinking.
Most failed live-action adaptations came down to one issue:
Actors not matching the idealized image in fans' minds.
Animated characters were naturally "perfected" in viewers' imagination—
So when real actors appeared, it shattered that illusion.
But here—
There was no source material in this world.
No comparison.
No burden.
And on top of that—
This was the most visually impressive cast Su Yan had ever assembled.
Even background extras looked like celebrities.
Combined with the high-budget special effects—
The result spoke for itself.
"Production on 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' merchandise has already begun, right?" Su Yan asked.
"Of course," Shinozaki Ikumi replied.
"After what happened with 'Fate/Stay Night' selling out instantly, we won't make that mistake again. We're stocking up heavily."
She glanced at the pricing sheet and hesitated.
"But… these prices are more than 50% higher than most merchandise on the market. Isn't that a bit…"
"That's a reasonable price," Su Yan said calmly.
Of course—
That "reasonable" standard was based on pricing from mecha franchises in his previous life.
If 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' became a hit,
Then future projects in the same genre would follow.
If pricing wasn't set correctly now,
It would affect everything later.
For Su Yan personally—
Money wasn't the main concern.
He already had more than enough.
But for the company—
Revenue mattered.
Employee bonuses depended on it.
"Alright," Shinozaki Ikumi nodded.
"As long as the quality matches the price, it'll be fine."
"Then when should we start promotion?" she asked.
"Mid to late May," Su Yan replied after a moment of thought.
"Right now—
'Weathering With You' is basically finished,
And 'Howl's Moving Castle' won't release until next year's Spring Festival."
"It's been a long time since we've taken a break."
"Let's give everyone a vacation in April."
"Travel, spend time with family—let them rest."
Shinozaki Ikumi looked at him, surprised—then smiled.
"Didn't expect that from you."
"You're underestimating me," Su Yan said.
"I'm not some ruthless boss who exploits employees."
"Sure, they work hard—but they're earning four to five times the industry average."
"And what's the point of making money if you don't have time to spend it?"
Their management style was unusually relaxed.
But that was only possible because their profit margins were absurdly high.
For most companies, even a slight reduction in workload could lead to collapse.
But for Su Yan—
One successful project could sustain his workforce for years.
A month-long break?
No problem at all.
The Ripple Effect
News spread quickly across the industry.
Media outlets reported it extensively.
During the break, Su Yan shifted his focus elsewhere.
With tens of billions sitting in company accounts, he began making moves:
Purchased luxury cars for mid-to-senior staff
Planned to buy office properties in Hudu and Tokyo
Invested in major domestic and international streaming platforms
He also began investing in short-form video platforms—
The equivalent of TikTok in this world.
The internet industry in the Xia Nation was entering a rapid growth phase.
Su Yan didn't try to predict winners.
He simply invested broadly.
Even a small stake in a successful company could become enormous.
If he lost money?
So be it.
He could always earn it back with another project.
Because they trusted in him—
Shen Liqian, Gu Qingyuan, Zhuang Yuxin, Shinozaki Ikumi, and Shi Peihua all joined in.
Mid-May
The market remained unaware of these moves.
But industry insiders were starting to get confused.
[Where's the trailer for 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'?]
['Weathering With You' releases in two months—shouldn't promotion start already?]
[Didn't their staff already return from vacation?]
The confusion didn't last long.
May 20
Without any warning.
No buildup.
No teasers.
Dimensional Pictures suddenly released the trailer for 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'—
Simultaneously across global streaming platforms.
And in that instant—
The television market of the Xia Nation—
Silent for two months—
Exploded.