"Eh?" Shinozaki Ikumi's expression froze, thinking she must've misheard.
"What did you just say?"
"Leave Sakura TV," Su Yan repeated calmly.
"Why? What are you talking about? Even if Akasaka Yoshitoki has lost his mind, there's no way he'd force you out, too, right?" Ikumi asked, completely stunned.
Her brain was working overtime trying to process what she just heard.
"Oh, that guy? His assistant came to find me yesterday," Su Yan said casually. "Told me that Akasaka would be waiting for me tonight at 7 PM in some private room at a hotel called something-Sea."
"But I got so into reading the newspaper in the office this afternoon that I forgot all about it. See? It's already past 7. I'm probably on his blacklist now. He's going to want me fired. So I figured I'd come see you and discuss what we're doing after we leave Sakura TV."
Su Yan smiled as if it were a joke.
But when he noticed Ikumi's eyes reddening, he quickly stopped.
If she cried for real, he wouldn't know how to handle it.
"…Okay, fine. The truth is, I'm planning to start a production company—my own investment, my own dramas, my own profits. And I need a partner. Someone to help manage everything on the outside. You know me—I'm completely clueless when it comes to coordinating a production crew," Su Yan said seriously.
"This is what I meant last year when I told you: after 'To the Moon' airs, I'll have something important to talk to you about."
"You're starting your own company? Why?" Ikumi asked, bewildered.
"You already have top-tier screenwriter treatment at Sakura TV. Your next script would definitely be greenlit as an A-tier drama. It'd air in a prime slot. It'd get the highest-level promotional resources. Even if Akasaka doesn't like you, he's not that petty. For the sake of profits, he'd tolerate it."
"If you just attended tonight's dinner, he'd assign the best producer to your team, give you the strongest crew he can find. You'd be a household name in the Xia Nation's screenwriting scene within a year. You might even win Best Screenwriter of the Year."
"You're right," Su Yan smiled.
"Akasaka's assistant, Okabe Sosuke, already hinted at all that yesterday. He even said if I showed up at 7 and toasted Akasaka, said a few humble words, he'd forget all our past grievances and groom me as one of his own. I'd have a bright future—and he even prepared a top-tier screenwriter contract for me."
"But…" Su Yan turned to look at her.
"You think someone like him can be trusted? If I sign with him, won't my future be under his control?"
"And if I really did join Akasaka, how could I ever treat you like a friend again? How could I invite you out for a meal without feeling like a sellout?"
Ikumi froze at his words.
"Come with me. Let's leave Sakura TV and start a production company together. I'll be the chairman, and you'll be the general manager. I'll give you 5% equity," Su Yan offered.
"I have just over 10 million yuan in cash. You've earned just as much from the three shows we've worked on together. If you invest 10 million in our new company under your name, we'll pool together 20 million to produce our first drama. Once we turn a profit, I'll repay you your investment."
"What do you say? Isn't that better than being shoved into some back-end support role here?"
"Or what—do you want to join another TV network? Didn't you tell me yourself that the core teams at those places are all built internally? Even if you switch jobs, you'll still just be a second-tier employee, never getting their full trust or support."
Su Yan had basically repeated the same words Ikumi had once used to convince him not to jump ship.
Ikumi's expression turned dazed.
After learning Akasaka had become head of the production department, Su Yan had already anticipated she'd be treated unfairly.
And while it made him feel a little guilty…
He had to admit, this was the outcome he'd hoped for.
It would've been nearly impossible to convince her to resign and abandon her mentors on just his own persuasion.
But thanks to Akasaka's "brilliant assist", Su Yan couldn't help but feel like he owed him a thank-you.
Besides, Su Yan needed funds to shoot 'Your Lie in April'.
With a limited budget, quality and success would be affected.
Pulling Ikumi in meant not only gaining a capable partner, but also a possible investor—two birds with one stone.
"I…"
Ikumi opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.
She glanced at her half-written resignation letter on the screen.
Leave Sakura TV… Find another job… Go be a producer at another station… Would things really be different?
A crack formed in her heart.
"…I'll invest ten million. But I want 15% equity," she said after a long pause, raising her head.
"Out of that ten million, five count as investment, five as a loan. Once the company profits, I'll repay you the loan. Your total equity share: 8%," Su Yan countered.
"That's my bottom line. No room to negotiate."
They sat across from each other in silence.
"…I agree," Ikumi finally said after thinking it over.
For a normal person, it would've been insane to agree to something like this after just one conversation.
But Su Yan wasn't just anyone.
His past three dramas had all been low-budget, high-return blockbusters.
If he managed even just two more like that, an 8% share might earn her another 10 million in dividends.
Of course, walking away from Sakura TV also meant losing its traffic, resources, and promotion.
No one could guarantee Su Yan's future shows would still succeed. She might very well lose her entire investment.
But then again, is there such a thing as a zero-risk investment?
If there were, Su Yan wouldn't be asking her in the first place.
And truthfully, the fact that he was even offering 8% equity—Ikumi found that almost… suspicious.
"Su Yan… There are plenty of talented producers in the Xia Nation. Why are you asking me? And offering me terms like this… You're not…?"
Ikumi's eyes narrowed suspiciously, her pretty face filled with curiosity.
"Don't get the wrong idea!" Su Yan waved it off quickly.
"Anyone I ask to invest will expect a share. So why not give it to you?"
"Besides, my terms are strict. Ten million investment for only 8% equity. I doubt anyone else would be crazy enough to believe I'm worth that much."
Ikumi went quiet at that.
"But what I can promise you," Su Yan added with a grin, "is that I'd never drag my good friend into a losing business. This will be the most profitable investment of your life."
Ikumi stared at him for a moment.
"…You haven't eaten yet, right?"
Su Yan smiled. The timing was just right—discussion over.
He knew that meant the deal closed.
Unless Akasaka Yoshitoki suddenly canceled Ikumi's reassignment the next day…
"Come on. Dinner's on me."
—
In a private room at a hotel.
Akasaka Yoshitoki sat among his inner circle of producers, all of them mildly tipsy.
Even as the dinner came to an end, one person never showed up.
As Akasaka got into his car and told the driver to head home, his face darkened.
Su Yan's no-show?
That was outright disrespect.
Of course, Akasaka would never remember that back when Episode 5 of 'To the Moon' aired and ratings were slipping, he was already scheming about how to bury Su Yan if the drama flopped.
He'd never recall how many times he'd tried to sabotage Su Yan's dramas.
No.
He only remembered how Su Yan had "snubbed his goodwill"—three times.
—
The next day, inside the office of the head of the production department:
Shinozaki Ikumi's resignation letter was personally handed to Akasaka Yoshitoki by Okabe Sosuke.
Akasaka signed it immediately and forwarded it to HR without a second thought.
The process was smooth. He had been expecting this.
That detestable woman Shinozaki Aki may have retired… But now, her only daughter has been swept out of Sakura TV by me. Let's see how long that smug face lasts.
Akasaka smirked in satisfaction.
But before long, Okabe brought in another update.
From the screenwriting department…
Su Yan's resignation letter had just been submitted as well.
Akasaka froze.
What…?