"Akasaka Yoshitoki?" Su Yan's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing the name.
Not far from him, Shinozaki Ikumi also immediately grew alert when she heard it.
What was going on?
"I don't have time lately. I'm busy filming 'An Ancient Love Song'. I really can't spare a moment to meet with him."
Su Yan understood that his mentor, Sawai Teruhiro, was relaying a message for someone else, so he responded politely.
"Su Yan, you've been at the TV station, completing your internship, for almost two years now. You know how things work... Are you sure you want to reply to Akasaka Yoshitoki like that?" Sawai Teruhiro gently reminded him.
It didn't take a genius to figure out why Akasaka Yoshitoki wanted to meet Su Yan now—he saw Su Yan's potential and tried to recruit him.
From Teruhiro's perspective, rejecting this invitation was like walking away from a golden opportunity.
"It's fine," Su Yan replied with a smile.
"Just tell him, 'I don't have time right now.' That's all."
Sawai took a deep breath and fell silent for a moment. In the end, he couldn't help but admire Su Yan a little.
In the Sakura Region, both in the real world and in the Xia Nation, people respected loyalty.
They might not be loyal themselves, but they admired it in others.
If Su Yan had immediately jumped ship to Akasaka's side, it would've been the "smart" thing to do.
After all, Minister Yoshizaki Shigeyoshi was aging and in poor health. Anyone with eyes could see that Akasaka Yoshitoki was going to rise in the Production Department soon. The station was full of people trying to cozy up to him.
But Su Yan's response made his stance very clear.
It was Producer Shinozaki Ikumi and Ogata Aya's camp that had helped him get his last two projects greenlit. Su Yan's talent played a major role in his current success, but those people gave him the opportunity to showcase it.
Who jumps ship just because they got a bit of fame?
Su Yan wasn't about to suck up to Akasaka Yoshitoki.
From a pure benefits perspective, his choice was unwise. But emotionally, Sawai Teruhiro respected it.
"Understood, Su Yan."
"Keep working hard. I have a feeling you'll surpass your master in this industry sooner or later. When that happens, don't forget to buy me a drink," Teruhiro said with a laugh.
"Let's hope your words come true, Sensei. And if I do make it, of course, I'll treat you. We won't go home until we're drunk," Su Yan replied cheerfully.
After a few more pleasantries, he hung up.
"How did it go?" Shinozaki Ikumi came over, looking tense.
"Who contacted you?"
"Akasaka Yoshitoki," Su Yan replied.
"He wanted to meet with me."
"What did you say?"
Ikumi instantly understood what kind of scheme Akasaka was trying to pull.
"I told him I don't have time to meet." Su Yan grinned. "Basically, I told him to get lost."
Of course, she knew Su Yan wouldn't actually say something that rude. He must've phrased it more politely.
But his attitude came through loud and clear.
As she looked at his calm, confident face, Shinozaki Ikumi felt unexpectedly touched.
"Did you say that because of me? You didn't even want to hear what kind of conditions he might offer?"
"Producer Shinozaki, don't flatter yourself," Su Yan joked again.
"I'm not the kind of person who'll forgive a slap just because I'm handed ten dates afterward. He blocked both of my projects before—two slaps. I'm not petty, but if he wants me to go to his side, then he'd better let me slap him twice, too. If he's willing to do that, then we can talk."
"Have you really thought about your future?" Shinozaki's gaze froze slightly.
She didn't want Su Yan to join Akasaka's camp, but even she had to admit—Akasaka could offer him more.
More funding. Better promotion. Even A-list actors for his projects.
If Su Yan maintained the quality of 'Rurouni Kenshin' and 'An Ancient Love Song', he could become one of the top writers in the industry in just a year or two.
"My future depends on me. Not anyone else." Su Yan's expression turned serious.
"'No time'?" Akasaka Yoshitoki was stunned when he heard the report from his assistant.
"This young man… a bit of success and he already thinks he's invincible."
"Well then, let's see just what kind of storm this so-called genius can stir up."
The weekend arrived.
As Week 6 of the Autumn Season came to a close, 'An Ancient Love Song' climbed to 14th place in the weekly drama ratings thanks to its Episode 6 surge.
Meanwhile, 'Night Sakura' saw a slight increase, reaching 3.16% and holding onto 10th place.
The top 9 dramas hadn't changed since two weeks ago.
Even though the difference in ratings among them was minimal, the hierarchy remained strict.
In fact, among the top 30 dramas of the season, only 'An Ancient Love Song' had climbed significantly. The rest had barely shifted a spot or two since their premieres.
At 9 PM, once Episode 6 of 'Lone Doctor' wrapped up, fans of 'An Ancient Love Song' were already buzzing hours early on SakuraNet.
["Alright, no surprises here—Shen Buyan's third time-travel is coming."]
["I swear, I just want him to stab Li Yong dead already!"]
["Be real. Last episode was a bold move that fulfilled our wishes, sure—but if he couldn't save Lu Shi, how's he going to assassinate Li Yong?"]
["It's like that time travel paradox. If history can't be changed, something will always get in your way."]
["Ugh, this is painful to watch. Why can't Su Yan, the write two episodes a week?! This waiting is torture!
["Even if he could write that fast, the crew wouldn't be able to film it. Costume dramas are way harder to shoot than modern ones. Honestly, the fact that 'An Ancient Love Song' looks this good is already amazing."]
["We're already at 2.6% in ratings. You think there's a chance it breaks into the Top 10 before it ends?"]
["Definitely possible! But only if something even bigger happens in the story soon."]
Yao Xiaoling yawned as she scrolled through 'An Ancient Love Song' discussions on her laptop.
She'd only started the series yesterday after a friend's recommendation—and ended up bingeing all six episodes in one day.
It was her first time following a midnight drama, and she was already annoyed.
Sakura TV is seriously dropping the ball. Why would they air something this good in a dead time slot?
She glanced at the clock.
11:59 PM.
Seconds ticked by…
Midnight struck.
Episode 7 of 'An Ancient Love Song' began.
The episode picked up exactly where the last one ended.
Shen Buyan's assassination attempt had failed—Li Yong was only badly injured and survived after a month of recovery.
As for Lu Yuan, her reaction to Li Yong's words:
"I know everything you did five years ago."
...shifted the timeline to the first year of Yuanqi's reign.
Lu Yuan was 21.
Yao Xiaoling's heart tightened.
21 years old.
That's fifteen years before Shen Buyan's first meeting with Lu Yuan.
Same familiar Shangsi Festival.
Same bustling streets of the imperial capital.
The old emperor had passed.
A new one, Emperor Yuanqi, ascended the throne.
The scene opened at the familiar Mirror Flower Tower—21-year-old Lu Yuan made her entrance.
Yao Xiaoling immediately noticed a detail:
With each time-travel, both Lu Yuan's and Shen Buyan's costumes changed.
Lu Yuan had worn crimson at 36, pink at 26, and now, white at 21.
Shen Buyan had worn white for his first journey, deeper colors in the second…
In the third—he hadn't appeared yet.
The first year of Yuanqi saw major reforms by the new emperor. But Li Yong, the peace-favoring former prime minister, had grown distrusted by the court.
Wait.
If the emperor was still clear-minded now, how did he later become deranged?
The episode introduced the setting:
Mirror Flower Tower was under Li Yong's control. Lu Yuan helped manage it, gathering intel for him.
At this point, Lu Yuan truly believed in Li Yong as someone loyal to the country and its people.
She had met the emperor thanks to Li Yong.
"Wait—so the token that marked her as empress when she was 26… She got it now?" Yao Xiaoling murmured.
Then, Li Yong was targeted for arrest due to his anti-war stance. The imperial guards pursued him, and in desperation, he fled to Mirror Flower Tower—where Lu Yuan hid him.
He was the one who brought both Lu Yuan and Lu Shi to the capital.
And Lu Shi, his adopted son, had risen through military ranks and was now a war hero at the borders.
But…
"Where's the male lead?"
The episode had been running for almost 20 minutes—still no Shen Buyan.
Where was he?
Just as Yao Xiaoling was wondering, a masked man entered the scene carrying a basin of water.
Li Yong, confused by the disguise, questioned him.
The man suddenly pulled a dagger from the basin—and lunged.
Yao Xiaoling stopped breathing.
That mask…
Wasn't that the one Lu Yuan gave him in Episode 1 when she was 36?
Before she could fully process it, the action moved fast.
Li Yong is weak in combat.
Shen Buyan is even weaker.
The assassination failed.
Li Yong pulled off the mask—he saw Shen Buyan's face.
Of course.
No wonder Li Yong recognized him during the first two time travels.
A flashback began.
Shen Buyan had entered Mirror Flower Tower immediately upon his third arrival in the Sheng Kingdom.
He saw Lu Yuan…
But didn't dare approach her.
He feared she wouldn't recognize him.
Because to her, it was their first meeting.
He watched her cut her own hand with porcelain to distract the guards and protect Li Yong.
He saw Li Yong hide in Lu Yuan's room.
So he disguised himself, carrying water to get close and try again to kill him.
If it could change Lu Yuan's fate, Shen Buyan would do anything.
Yao Xiaoling's fear deepened.
Through Shen Buyan's inner monologue…
She saw the show's deepest tragedy.
Lu Yuan had loved him most at age 36.
But that Shen Buyan had no memory of her.
From the end of Episode 6, when Shen Buyan died in her arms and whispered, "We will meet again,"
to the start of Episode 1, when he saw her again—and drew a blade on her.
She had waited ten years.
How bitter and strong must she have been to smile through her tears and ask:
"Our first meeting... and you want to kill me?"
Yao Xiaoling couldn't take it.
This wasn't a drama you could watch while remembering past scenes.
The more you recalled, the more it hurt.
Shen Buyan's feelings grew stronger with each time-travel.
But when he loved Lu Yuan the most…
That was the moment of their very first meeting.
And after that—there'd be no next time.
Unless…
Would the writer step in with a deus ex machina and change their fate?
Yao Xiaoling usually hated those kinds of plot twists.
But for 'An Ancient Love Song'?
She hoped it would happen.
She couldn't handle a tragedy anymore.
Back on screen, the details continued:
Shen Buyan kicked Li Yong down. But the recoil sent him to the floor too—his mask cracked on impact.
Yao Xiaoling's jaw dropped.
So that's why the mask Lu Yuan gave him in Episode 1 had a crack…
She had kept that mask for 15 years.
And gave it back to him the last time she ever saw him.
Then Lu Yuan rushed in.
She saw Li Yong collapsed—her expression turned sharp.
But when she looked at Shen Buyan on the ground, meeting his gaze—
The background music swelled.
Her fierce expression softened.
Her eyes filled with tears. A smile tugged at her lips.
Her voice trembled.
"You came back!"
Yao Xiaoling's heart skipped a beat.
This wasn't the last time they'd meet.
21-year-old Lu Yuan knew Shen Buyan.
And the love in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Did... you already meet me once before?" Shen Buyan asked, dazed.
He didn't know what had happened in Lu Yuan's past.
He just knew how to respond now.
"I came back!"
The scene was sweet—
And gut-wrenching.
Yao Xiaoling had seen countless romance dramas.
But none ever made her feel this conflicted.
Lu Yuan had already loved him this deeply at 21.
But Shen Buyan knew nothing about her past.
When did they first meet?
When did she fall for him?
He had no idea.
Lu Yuan knew the start of their love story—but not the ending.
Shen Buyan knew the ending—Lu Yuan's death at 36—but not the beginning.
They fell in love for completely different reasons.
That's the real tragedy.
Their past was each other's future.
And yet, in the middle of both their timelines—
They responded to each other's love without hesitation.
"You came back?"
"I came back."
These two lines broke Yao Xiaoling—and countless deeply invested viewers watching at home.
Her eyes were already full of tears.