Depressive Screenwriter

Lu Yuan's letter marks the first major turning point in the drama 'Ancient Love Song'.

It's also a letter that gave many 'Ancient Love Song' fans goosebumps tonight.

[We didn't just meet by chance. Rather, you have always been present in my life. I knew you would appear on the Shangsi Festival night in the fifth year of Yuanqi. When you met me that night and acted like you knew nothing, I knew that the future me hadn't told you anything.]

The audience understood.

[Writing this, I hope readers remember our domain name Taiwan Novel Network →ᴛᴡᴋᴀɴ.ᴄᴏᴍ]

So, that's why the 36-year-old Lu Yuan didn't tell Shen Buyan anything, but used three questions and three answers to trick Shen Buyan into joining her on the Shangsi Festival.

Because of her past experiences, she didn't want Shen Buyan to be like a moth drawn to her flame.

As for what those past experiences were...

Obviously, the drama has only aired three episodes, and it will definitely be explained later.

So, the 26-year-old Lu Yuan decided not to acknowledge Shen Buyan on this Shangsi Festival night.

And the 36-year-old Lu Yuan also adhered to the belief of her 26-year-old self.

[That day, I asked you what year it was. You said, probably, the fifteenth year of Yuanqi. Then I knew that after this time, I would have to wait another ten years to see you again.]

In the drama, many viewers couldn't hold back after this part of the letter was revealed.

Because those viewers with good memories could remember that when Shen Buyan said he appeared to be in [the fifteenth year of Yuanqi] in the second episode.

Lu Yuan had a silent expression for several seconds.

At that time, she really thought that if she didn't acknowledge Shen Buyan, he wouldn't get involved in her struggle with Li Yong and be in danger during this time travel.

But if they didn't acknowledge each other this time, the next meeting...

Would be in ten years.

But she endured it, always pretending well, always refusing Shen Buyan to approach her.

Until Shen Buyan, through his relationship with the foolish emperor, obtained the position of military supervisor and forcibly followed his younger brother Lu Shi's army to Huofeng Fortress.

And to save Lu Shi and her, he was willing to wear the general's mask and armor to impersonate Lu Shi and act as bait to die.

Lu Yuan was forced to expose herself.

She drugged Shen Buyan and took his place as bait.

[I know that everything you said is true, every time I hold expectations, they are shattered. If fate can really be reversed, the one wearing the mask shouldn't be you. If someone has to die, I hope that person is me. Because you and Lu Shi are both the most important people in my life.]

The content of the letter ends.

The camera flashes to the scene of the Northern Lie army ambushing Lu Shi in Liuli Valley.

The masked leader looked at the valley ahead without hesitation and rode forward.

The third episode of 'Ancient Love Song' ends in a way that the audience watching late at night cannot accept.

In the first episode, everyone didn't understand the plot setting. Although they subconsciously sensed the sadness, it didn't reach the point of pain.

In the second episode, everyone felt a little pain.

Because the 36-year-old Lu Yuan died smiling in Shen Buyan's arms, telling him not to be afraid, to go and meet her 26-year-old self, to experience the beautiful times that existed in her memory, unique to the two of them...

And in the third episode...

Lu Yuan told Shen Buyan everything, and to prevent Shen Buyan from acting as bait and dying, she smiled and walked into this ambush-filled valley.

"Damn it, does the screenwriter have no heart? Could it be that Shen Buyan's second time travel will bring Lu Yuan's death forward to the age of 26?"

"No, if Lu Yuan died at 26, how could the 36-year-old her still be alive?"

"Parallel universes? Does Shen Buyan create a parallel world every time he time travels?"

"I don't understand, I can't figure out the plot, but I really can't take it anymore. The third episode really made me cry."

"How could this be? The history book in the drama says that Lu Shi died in the Liuli Valley, but to change this history, one of Lu Yuan and Shen Buyan must die?"

"There's no way, it's all the screenwriter's fault."

"To be honest, I'll drop the drama if the female lead really dies."

"We must save Lu Yuan. The 26-year-old her can't die, and the 36-year-old her can't die either."

"This episode has stunned everyone. A boy watched it late at night with red eyes."

"Why isn't such a good drama famous?"

"No, I can't take it, such a healing drama can't just make me suffer. Can't let other Xia Country drama fans leisurely watch those idiotic dramas? We have to trick them into suffering together."

"Yes, that's right, why should we be trapped and suffer, watching the drama late at night with a sore nose, while others are really enjoying watching dramas?"

"Su Yan, right? After I finish watching 'Ancient Love Song', this guy's dramas will be blacklisted in the future, I won't even look at them."

"Directly blacklist him. And that Ayami Shinozaki too, creating 'Sakurajima Love Song', with a disgusting degree comparable to 'Qing Feng'. Then she found a new track, and together with Su Yan, she created these depressing dramas that break down a big boy like me. These two are too bad, blacklist them together."

"Everyone, bear witness, if I watch any drama by these two after watching 'Ancient Love Song', I'll turn into a dog."

In one night, the fans of 'Ancient Love Song' couldn't take it anymore.

They posted all kinds of comments in the comment sections of other dramas.

Comments like "An unparalleled sweet drama, you'll regret it if you don't watch it" were everywhere.

And to trick people into falling for it, the information was naturally half-true and half-false.

The time travel and other elements in this drama were also slightly spoiled by these viewers.

In a world without time travel themes, this concept is indeed very attractive when it appears.

Moreover, the fans of 'Ancient Love Song' scold Su Yan, but their love for Lu Yuan is also genuine.

They have an absolute dividing line between the work and the creator.

Su Yan being criticized doesn't affect the fact that a large number of people gave 'Ancient Love Song' a high score of 9.0 after the first and second episodes were launched on Sakura Network.

Basically, all the self-produced dramas of so many TV stations this quarter have been launched on the four major online broadcasting websites.

The scoring thing, the four major websites are actually scored by that group of TV viewers who like to comment.

Overall, although the ratings of 'Ancient Love Song' are only 23rd in the quarter, the score of 9.0...

Is among the top five dramas in the autumn season after so many film and television dramas have been launched.

Many passerby fans also began to be attracted.

'Ancient Love Song' has this rating in the midnight slot, and the score is so high, is it really a good drama buried in a garbage slot?

Let me see what's going on!

Many people directly took supplementary lessons on Sakura Network.

It's only two yuan for two episodes online, who can't afford it?

The next day, as the results of the third episode of 'Ancient Love Song' rose again, with a rating of 1.88% once again winning the highest rating drama in the same time slot...

The popularity and paid views of 'Ancient Love Song' on Sakura Network obviously increased greatly.

This battle can be regarded as surprising many people inside the TV station.

"Is it that powerful? The third episode of 'Ancient Love Song' has this kind of rating?"

"Won't it still rise?"

"The rating increased by 0.21% from the first episode to the second episode, and by 0.29% from the second episode to the third episode. Won't the fourth episode break 2% in ratings? This is the Sunday midnight slot!"

"A website score of 9.0? Why does it feel familiar! Su Yan's 'Rurouni Kenshin' also had a score of over 9 when the first episode premiered, right?"

At a time when the ratings of a bunch of dramas on the TV station are maintaining the premiere situation of the first episode, the continuous rise in ratings of 'Ancient Love Song' for two consecutive weeks is indeed extremely conspicuous.

Yoshizaki Shigeharu, the head of the production department, fell into deep thought looking at the latest TV station's internal ratings data analysis.

At this time, Akasaka Yoshitoki was also thinking about something in his office.

"Night Sakura" currently ranks twelfth in the quarter in terms of ratings, which is a certain distance from his expected top ten.

But he can't blame his nephew Kiyota Sanji for this kind of thing.

Kiyota Sanji is just a mascot for "Night Sakura", staying in the crew to make up the numbers.

The script was bought by Akasaka Yoshitoki, the main production members of the crew are basically Akasaka Yoshitoki's subordinates, and the participating actors are also people who have had good cooperative relationships with his faction in the past.

If the results of "Night Sakura" are temporarily not as expected, no one else can be blamed.

"But this Su Yan..."

Akasaka Yoshitoki frowned looking at the latest rating of 1.88% of "Ancient Love Song".

The fire of the short drama "Rurouni Kenshin" can be said to be luck.

"Ancient Love Song" can also have such a bright performance in the Sunday midnight slot this kind of schedule after three weeks of broadcasting, that is really strength.

But unfortunately, Su Yan is someone who was promoted by Konda Aya.

Sigh...

"Cut."

"Finally finished filming..."

Su Yan got up from Gu Qingyuan's arms and wiped the blood off his face.

"Congratulations. The second time travel scene of Shen Buyan in this drama is finally all filmed."

Gu Qingyuan's tearful expression instantly disappeared, replaced by a smile.

"How is it, Teacher Su Yan, how was my acting just now?"

"Very good. I almost didn't catch your play." Su Yan praised without stinginess.

Because Gu Qingyuan, a graduate of the performance class, is indeed very powerful. Su Yan often gets carried away by her while acting with her.

To be honest, watching this drama in my previous life was already depressing enough, and filming these scenes myself makes me feel even more deeply.

After this scene is filmed, today's filming plan is considered finished, and the handymen and members of various departments of the "Ancient Love Song" crew also began to pack up props and equipment.

Although it is only Friday now, the ratings ranking of several big production dramas on the weekend will not affect "Ancient Love Song", which is still ranked behind.

It can basically be determined that in the third week of the autumn season, "Ancient Love Song" can rank 19th with a rating of 1.88%.

First time squeezing into the top 20.

At this time, the ratings ranking of "Ancient Love Song" is only less than ten places away from "Night Sakura".

Ayami Shinozaki finally felt the hope that the goal was in sight.

At this moment, all the members of the entire crew also received the news, and were invited by the producer Ayami Shinozaki to go somewhere to eat and drink to celebrate.

"In that case, tomorrow we will reshoot some of the scenes of Shen Buyan returning to modern times, and the [10th episode and 9th episode] of this drama, that is, the actual 5th episode and 6th episode, will all be finished. The second time travel plot of the male protagonist Shen Buyan has also come to an end." Ayami Shinozaki also walked towards the two of them with a pile of documents at this time.

"Su Yan, your script for the 7th episode hasn't been submitted yet. You must submit the script by tomorrow morning at the latest, so that I can negotiate the location shooting and the lease contract for the venue..."

"Oh, wait for me." Su Yan hurriedly ran to the chair to take out a paper document from his bag and handed it to Ayami Shinozaki.

"This is all the plot scripts for Shen Buyan's third time travel in the drama 'Ancient Love Song'."

"Huh? You wrote so fast? Four episodes, you submitted four episodes of scripts to me at once?" Ayami Shinozaki said in surprise.

"After all, I promised you that I would never delay the submission time. You are already very busy, so I must be more conscious and not increase your workload."

Su Yan said seriously looking at Ayami Shinozaki's beautiful but increasingly tired face.

For a girl like her, it was the first time to serve as the producer of this kind of quarterly TV series, and she was also targeted by Akasaka Yoshitoki within the production department, her mental pressure was obviously great.

Obviously, Su Yan's words made Ayami Shinozaki very useful, and a smile appeared on her face.

"If only everyone in the crew could make me worry less like you."

Shi Peihua is old and wants to go home to rest earlier.

So Ayami Shinozaki only pulled Su Yan and Gu Qingyuan, the two leading actors, onto the company's car and went to the scheduled celebration restaurant.

On the way, Ayami Shinozaki seriously studied the script that Su Yan handed her. Originally, she was just bored and casually looking at it on the way. How to arrange the scenes in the script, how many actors are needed, how much budget these plays need, the results will only be available tomorrow when she, the producer, convenes her subordinates to hold a meeting to discuss and study the budget.

But the more she looked, the more strange her expression became, and she frequently turned her gaze to Su Yan during the period.

Because this plot...

Directly made her eyes red, and she couldn't take it anymore.

Especially at the end of the third time travel, the separation scene between Shen Buyan and Lu Yuan in the carriage separated by a curtain...

Made her stomach hurt.

"Su Yan..."

Ayami Shinozaki's voice sounded in the car.

"I remember you said that the drama 'Ancient Love Song' is not a tragedy, right?"

"Yes." Su Yan met Ayami Shinozaki's eyes and said with a calm expression.

"It's really not a tragedy!"

"Then what's going on with this script?" Ayami Shinozaki said.

"What's wrong?" Gu Qingyuan asked at this time.

"This..." Ayami Shinozaki said.

"Su Yan, if you write 'Ancient Love Song' into a tragedy again, all your fans will run away... Those 'Kenshin' fans came to chase this drama, not to watch Lu Yuan and Shen Buyan's life and death farewell."

Ayami Shinozaki took a deep breath.

To be honest, these four episodes of the script are really well written.

But she doesn't like tragedies!

And she doesn't like making tragic film and television dramas to continue being scolded.

"Has the plot developed in the direction of the tragic death of Yukishiro Tomoe in 'Rurouni Kenshin' again?" Gu Qingyuan's eyes widened.

The risk of depressing themes is too great, one bad operation may lead to a collapse in reputation.

"Qing Feng" in the last quarter is an example.

Although many plots in the filming process of "Ancient Love Song" are also sad, Gu Qingyuan has always believed that the plot will eventually be a happy ending.

"Lu Yuan died again?"

"No, don't guess blindly." Su Yan quickly said.

"It's just that the plot of the protagonist Shen Buyan's third time travel has filled in some holes. Compared to the previous two time travels, the plot is slightly more uncomfortable..."

"Slightly?" Ayami Shinozaki sneered.

"I can guarantee you that in the ending, the 36-year-old Lu Yuan will definitely not die that night!"

"Really?" asked Ayumi Shinozaki, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"Really. I've already thought about the ending of the script. It's a scene where Riku En ends with a smile," Su Yan said.

Yeah.

She is indeed smiling.

And it is indeed Riku En.

It's just that it might be different from what Ayumi Shinozaki imagines.

To prevent Ayumi Shinozaki from exercising her producer authority and demanding that Su Yan change the plot, Su Yan could only say this.

He didn't really lie to Ayumi Shinozaki, but he only told half the truth.

"Alright... I believe you can make it work."

Ayumi Shinozaki looked at the four scripts she had in her hand, from episodes six to ten. She showed a trusting expression, put aside her distracting thoughts, and nodded to Su Yan.

"It doesn't matter if the process is a bit tearful, but the ending must satisfy the audience's expectations for a happy and complete reunion plot. Only then will the ratings be high, and your goal of achieving top ten seasonal ratings will be possible. I thought about the scene you mentioned where Riku En ends the drama with a smile, and it sounds pretty good, so don't change it."

"Definitely," Su Yan said with a smile.

"?"

Gu Qingyuan, who was next to him, looked at Su Yan's expression and felt a strange feeling arise.

She felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't figure it out.

Soon, the three arrived at the reserved dining location.

After filming the drama for more than a month in a row, this was the first team-building dinner for the crew. Relationships between people were brought closer through eating and drinking.

After a night of drinking, Su Yan had dozens more people's numbers on his contact list.

Time passed, and another Sunday arrived.

That night, after the popular drama 'The Lone Doctor' was broadcast, the fans of 'Ancient Love Song' on Sakura Net immediately became active.

Episode eleven of 'Ancient Love Song', which is actually episode four, began airing.

This episode began to unravel many of the mysteries surrounding the drama's setting.

For example, in reality, Li Yong colluded with the Northern Lie army, selling information about Lu Shi in an attempt to kill the great general he had supported but who now threatened his power.

But he didn't expect Riku En to impersonate Lu Shi, while the real Lu Shi led another army to attack the Northern Lie army, taking back the Fire Beacon Fortress, which had been lost for many years, in one fell swoop, thwarting the Northern Lie army.

Then there was Riku En fighting to the death. Although she was used as bait, she survived on the battlefield and met Shen Buyan, who had desperately rushed over after the effects of the drug wore off and he learned the contents of her letter.

This time, without concealment or hiding, she no longer concealed her feelings and directly hugged Shen Buyan after the crisis was resolved.

The plot was very sudden.

But it was also very sweet.

For Riku En, Shen Buyan was someone she had loved for many years.

For Shen Buyan, Riku En was a mysterious person he had only recently met.

But it was this infamous empress in history who was now hugging him, and who had even been willing to die for him twice in his two time-traveling journeys.

But in the end, the ending was good.

Lu Shi did not die in the Liuli Valley battle.

Riku En also did not, like in history, during this war, publicly display the token representing the empress's status that she had obtained from the demented emperor, and then use the empress's status to control the army.

History, was changed.

Riku En did not become empress, and Lu Shi was not killed, which meant that the future of Riku En's death at the age of 36 no longer existed.

Of course, the second half of this episode was full of sugary scenes.

Because Fire Beacon Fortress was not only the territory that Sheng Country had lost years ago.

But also, according to Riku En, it was once her and Shen Buyan's home.

When this plot was revealed, the viewers in front of the TV were immediately stunned.

What exactly happened between Shen Buyan and Riku En in the past?

Not only did the 26-year-old Riku En know that he was a time traveler, but she had also lived with him in Nanhumon Lake in Fire Beacon Fortress for a period of time?

Writer Su Yan, hurry up, we all want to see the plot of Riku En's past, it must be very sweet.

In addition to the sugary scenes between Riku En and Shen Buyan, there were also the emotional entanglements between Lu Shi and Yi Hua.

The whole episode was full of sugary scenes.

This episode completely dispelled the doubts in the hearts of many Rurouni Kenshin fans.

It seems that this drama really has nothing to do with being depressing.

Yay.