Sunday night.
Despite having spent the previous week furiously cursing Su Yan online over the insane plot twists of 'Tokyo Love Story', Xia Ting still found herself, like clockwork, planted in front of the TV, waiting for the next episode to begin.
No matter how absurd the actions of the main characters had become—
At least Rika Akana was undeniably flawless in her portrayal.
Her only so-called "flaw" was that before dating Nagao, she had briefly been in a relationship with her department manager—and yes, he was still married at the time.
But it was Rika who chose to end it, precisely because of that.
Ever since she met Kanji Nagao, her feelings had been nothing but wholehearted.
In this day and age, how often do you see a romance where the woman is the one always apologizing?
And yet, that was exactly who Rika was.
Thanks to Gu Qingyuan's performance, she didn't come across as submissive or pitiful—but rather, someone so in love that she was willing to forgive, time and again.
Before episode 10 even aired, the 'Tokyo Love Story' fandom had already whipped the forums and comment sections into a frenzy:
[It's already episode 10—only two more left. Please don't disappoint me this time.]
[Su Yan, you damn sadist, you know what we want to see!]
[Why do I know what Su Yan's like, and still keep watching his shows? I really regret it. Should've stayed away from this drama completely.]
[Same. I just wanted a peek at episode one… now I'm ruined.]
[Can't lie, I'm impressed. Every other character is getting flamed left and right, but Su Yan's managed to keep ratings and reputation rock solid just off Rika's shoulders alone.]
[If Su Yan dares make Nagao go full scumbag and break up with Rika in this episode, just watch—episode 11's ratings will plummet.]
[Even though I beg for Rika not to get hurt, the idea of her ending up with Nagao being the best possible ending just feels wrong. Does he deserve her?]
[Nagao's not evil, per se. He's a conservative guy from the countryside. Rika's too dazzling, too modern for him. Maybe clinging to Satomi—his "white moonlight"—is just a normal man's instinct.]
[Come on, let's be real. Everyone online flames Satomi, but if there was a real-life Gu Qingyuan-level green tea next to you going "onii-chan~", most of you would throw your wife and kids into the trash.]
[Exactly. People only hate Satomi because she's hurting Rika. If Nagao were dating a random girl instead, most fans would probably root for the drama's current direction.]
[Let's not pretend. Drama fans' morality often follows character design. If both girls had the same looks, then people might start considering personality. Nagao is basic, sure, but he's not illogical. It's just… compared to Rika, he's not enough. She completely overshadows him.]
[Stop defending him. He made Rika cry over and over. He's a three-star loser in my book. If he actually breaks up with her, he's a peak-level scumbag, and I'll hate his character forever.]
Even just scrolling through the forums, Xia Ting could feel the seething resentment fans had toward Su Yan—and toward everyone in the drama who wasn't Rika.
In terms of character discussion, 'Tokyo Love Story' had already eclipsed every other drama Su Yan had ever written.
8:00 PM. Episode 10 began.
Xia Ting held her breath.
Last episode, Nagao had made plans to clear things up with Rika—but when Satomi asked him to stay, he bailed on their meeting.
And now?
At the office the next day, Rika saw him… and walked right past.
Nagao didn't have the guts to talk to her either.
His face looked pained—but he said nothing.
On the stairs, they passed each other.
Rika's face, upon realizing he didn't even apologize for standing her up, showed a flicker of sadness.
And Xia Ting's blood pressure spiked within the first minute.
He was the one in the wrong.
He ghosted her.
And he still had the nerve to act heartbroken—like he was the victim?
[You ditched her, and couldn't even say sorry?!]
[Every single time they fight, Rika's the one to apologize. Are you even a man, Nagao?]
Xia Ting was mentally unleashing every insult she could think of.
The episode continued.
Nagao tried several times to talk to Rika.
But she kept avoiding him—quietly, but deliberately.
Xia Ting scowled.
[What are you trying to say, Nagao?
Tell her not to go overseas?
So you can break up with her cleanly and ease your conscience?]
Even Rika's avoidance seemed less about him—and more about dreading the inevitable.
[She already knows.
She knows this is the end.
She just doesn't want to face it yet.]
Xia Ting clenched her fists.
Then came a new scene—Satomi chatting with a coworker at her preschool.
"Didn't you say you hate love triangles?" the coworker sighed.
"Well, sometimes you can't help who you fall for," Satomi replied gently.
"If he rejects you, I'll comfort you," the coworker offered.
Xia Ting stared at the screen, dumbfounded.
[Are you people for real?
Satomi, you broke up Rika and Nagao.
Of course you don't regret it.]
[And this coworker? Go comfort your mother. If I had a coworker like Satomi, I'd stay ten miles away. But here you are, sipping tea with her like it's some rom-com.]
More rage. More frustration.
Another wave of emotion aimed straight at Su Yan.
[Truly… the besties from hell.]
The plot moved forward.
Kenichi, dumped by Nagasaki Naoko, was told their relationship had just been a fling.
But viewers could tell—it was her way of pushing him away under pressure from her family.
Still, in his heartbreak, Kenichi and Rika ended up spending time together.
This was where Xia Ting's interest sparked.
She loved the dynamic between Kenichi and Rika.
There was no romantic tension, just mutual insight and understanding.
Their dialogues always took the plot in unexpected directions.
They were soul confidants, not lovers—and it was refreshing.
As they shared their recent experiences, Kenichi asked:
"What about you and Nagao?"
"He said he had something to tell me," Rika replied, voice heavy.
"Oh? He still hasn't said it?" Kenichi sighed.
"I pretended not to know," Rika said, downcast.
"Why?"
"Because I already know what he wants to say.
And I… I don't want to hear it.]"
In just a few lines, both characters revealed everything.
Kenichi knew what was coming.
Rika knew too.
But she wasn't ready.
She blocked Nagao from saying it.
And in Xia Ting's mind, two words lit up:
Break up.
Her hands trembled.
Her eyes burned.
This was the last thing she wanted—but the show was sliding straight toward it.
"I tried… I knocked on his door.
Nagao, what are you doing?
Why won't you open the door?
Why won't you talk to me?
Do I have to try even harder?"
As Rika, with tears in her eyes, said this to Kenichi—
Xia Ting's eyes welled up, too.
Rika knew Nagao was going to end things.
And she tried—desperately—to stop it.
To talk.
To hope.
But Nagao?
He was firm.
His heart was already locked.
[Scumbag.]
Both Kenichi and Rika could see clearly through each other's relationships—
But when it came to their own?
They were helpless.
"When are you leaving?"
"In three weeks."
"Then you won't be lonely over there."
"It's not about having friends.
It's about… when someone is gone. That's when I feel lonely."
Xia Ting blew her nose hard into a tissue.
[Nagao, are you even a man?
You still think you're the lead?!]
Halfway through episode 10.
Episode 11 will air next week.
Three weeks remained in the story.
[Think carefully, Nagao.
You're really going to give up Rika for that green tea, Satomi?]
And then…
It happened.
Nagao found Rika alone one night after working late.
Rika had made peace with leaving.
She wasn't going to say "break up."
But a long-distance relationship?
That was basically a silent closure.
Still, not saying it meant it wasn't official.
There was still hope.
But Nagao?
He pushed forward.
He said it.
And Rika broke down crying and left.
Xia Ting slammed her fist down.
[Don't you dare act all sad and emotional, Nagao!
Rika clearly wanted to leave with dignity—to let both of you hold on to a sliver of hope.
If you were going to date Satomi after this, that was your business.
But no—you had to say it to her face and crush her heart.]
[You selfish pig.
You just wanted "closure."
You had to be clean, efficient, and leave no loose ends.
And in doing so, you poured salt into her wounds.]
[Certified scumbag.]
She tried to breathe.
But the anger kept boiling.
It was over.
They had broken up.
What was the point anymore?
[Let it all burn.]
And then—
A twist.
The day after the breakup, Rika vanished, skipping work.
Nagao searched everywhere in Tokyo—all the places tied to their memories.
No sign of her.
And when he returned home, surrounded by echoes of her presence, one memory rang out:
The time she asked to visit his hometown, Ehime.
To see the pillar at his middle school graduation—where he had once carved his name.
Xia Ting's chest tightened.
[Don't tell me… she really went there?
To Ehime?
After the breakup… all alone?]
Just thinking about it crushed her.
She'd begged Nagao so many times to take her there.
He never did.
And now?
Alone, brokenhearted, she might've gone—
To search for that pillar.
To retrace Nagao's past.
To hold on to some sliver of meaning.
To walk away from Nagao, Satomi, and Kenichi—the trio she was never a part of.
At the beginning, she didn't belong.
And now, she was leaving—completely alone.
Like a bird flying past a fish, only able to share a glance while passing over the water's surface.
[Su Yan, you absolute demon… You don't stab someone like this!] Xia Ting sobbed into her tissue.
She wanted to believe Rika just needed a break.
That she was on a spontaneous trip, trying to clear her mind.
That she would return and heal.
[Please don't do this to her.
Don't make her chase Nagao's ghost.
What's the point?]
[It's over.]
But this couldn't be her ending.
Rika had to smile again.
She had to walk away with her head held high.