Depressive Screenwriter

Starting from July 1st, the major television stations began broadcasting their dramas for the current season.

Not all dramas aimed solely for the weekend prime time slots with the largest audiences. Many television stations and production teams were self-aware, often choosing to broadcast their dramas on weekdays.

After a few days, a bunch of new dramas were broadcast on various television stations, but audience reviews were generally mediocre.

On Friday and Saturday, the dramas "Summer Romance", "The Hopeful", and "Singles" from Shanghai and China Central Television successively aired.

Their ratings, at 4.37%, 4.13%, and 3.91% respectively, temporarily ranked first, second, and third among the season's premiered dramas.

Among them, Shanghai Television's "Summer Romance" received rave reviews right from its premiere, with media outlets and viewers giving it a score of 9.0 that night.

Such large-scale historical dramas are relatively rare, mainly due to high costs and the ease with which they can be criticized by meticulous viewers.

However, "Summer Romance" clearly had its quality recognized by the audience.

The next day, Sunday, a group of Shanghai film and television media outlets went on a praising spree for the drama.

Based on this premiere rating, word-of-mouth, and score, the 4.37% rating is just the beginning for this drama.

"Veteran screenwriter Yu Xiaodong steps in to save the declining Xia Country film and television market."

"For three consecutive quarters, the Xia Country film and television market has not produced any explosive hits, allowing a newcomer screenwriter to reign supreme in the market. This quarter, this pattern will be completely changed."

"Exquisite costumes, props, and makeup, carefully polished script, 'Summer Romance' has the makings of a champion this season from the very beginning."

In the April production team's office, Su Yan was carefully reading the media's reviews of the A-level dramas that premiered on the weekend.

He was paying close attention, as these were his competitors.

"Premiere rating of 4.37%?" Su Yan took a deep breath.

"To the Moon" only reached this rating in its final episode.

But for "Summer Romance", it was just the achievement of its first episode.

This was due to Shanghai Television's full support, half a year of advance production and promotion, and a cast of leading and supporting actors who were all A-list stars. To save on salary costs, these A-list actors were given low salaries plus a share of the work's revenue.

Although it is still only an A-level drama, not yet an S-level drama, within the category of A-level dramas, this investment, lineup, and promotional production treatment can be considered top-notch.

On the other side of the office, Ayumi Shinozaki was also frowning as she stared at the ratings data of these dramas.

"Amazing! Even though Yu Xiaodong is an old screenwriter in his fifties, he shows no signs of losing his touch. With the premiere word-of-mouth and score of 'Summer Romance', the ratings will definitely continue to rise, and will likely break the 4.6% mark."

"This is the norm in the industry. The film and television industry has indeed been performing poorly in the past few quarters, so a gradual recovery is a good thing. When the market heats up, sales of merchandise and online paid downloads of our dramas will also increase," Su Yan said with a smile.

"But if the competitors are so strong, how will 'April' achieve the goal you set!"

Having known Su Yan for so long, Ayumi Shinozaki was naturally influenced by Su Yan's firm goal of taking the seasonal championship.

In the past, it wouldn't have been unusual for the drama "April" to not win the seasonal ratings championship when it premiered on Qingkong Television, right?

But now, having tasted the sweetness of "To the Moon", Ayumi Shinozaki's thinking is now leaning in that direction.

Not taking first place feels like a failure for the drama she produces.

"Don't worry, have confidence in the drama 'April'. Although the opponents are strong, I am no longer the newcomer screenwriter who just debuted last year with no reputation," Su Yan said with a smile.

"You're so confident, could it be that this drama will have some kind of divine twist like 'To the Moon' later on? Is it not simply a youth campus musical?" Ayumi Shinozaki's expression was full of suspicion.

Because the production of the "April" drama started early, the crew is already filming the fourth episode.

Su Yan smiled and didn't say much.

But this smile already represented a lot.

Ayumi Shinozaki seemed to understand something.

Sunday night at eight o'clock.

Sakura Television's S-level drama for the current season, "The Simplest Love!", premiered.

After nearly an hour, the first episode of the drama ended with an extremely sweet scene.

Many viewers watched with great interest.

Obviously, this drama is much more interesting than Sakura Television's main dramas in previous quarters.

But nearing nine o'clock, many television viewers at this time slot faced a choice.

At nine o'clock, two B-level dramas premiered.

Sakura Television's "Scarlet Romance" and Qingkong Television's "April is Your Lie!".

Frankly speaking, television stations are like brands, and the production quality of the three major television stations' dramas is guaranteed. Without knowing which drama is better, most viewers will choose to watch the dramas from the three major television stations to save time.

But precisely...

Su Yan had been the reputation guarantor of Sakura Television for the past several quarters.

His departure from Sakura Television was heavily reported by the media several months ago.

During the production of the "April" drama, various news stories about him and Shen Liqian, Gu Qingyuan, and other well-known actors were reported.

Putting aside everything else, Shen Liqian, this A-list actress, hasn't had a new drama broadcast in over a year, and her fans have long been unable to wait.

In addition, Su Yan's fans are absolutely die-hard supporters of him.

They say they won't follow Su Yan's new drama, but in reality...

Many people are counting down the days until this day.

"Here it comes."

"Finally waited for this day."

"Su Yan, the old thief's campus romance musical, let's see how he can surprise us this time?"

"After watching 'To the Moon' during the winter season, I cursed Su Yan for a few days. When the spring season had a drama shortage, I missed him... After watching 'To the Moon', watching those spring season dramas, I really couldn't watch them."

"Same feeling."

"Anyway, I'm very curious about Su Yan, the old thief, and Shen Liqian's musical performance in this drama. Shen Liqian said in an interview that Su Yan's musical level is higher than hers... But it is generally recognized in the entertainment industry that Shen Liqian has a level close to or even reaching that of a professional violinist. Xia Country's musicals in the past were terrible, I hope 'April' can bring me surprises!"

The comment section of the online broadcast page of "April is Your Lie!" on Raccoon Net is already bustling with voices.

Although the drama's online broadcast platform will be delayed by a week, the online broadcast page has been opened in advance.

Even Su Yan's official verified account as a screenwriter on Raccoon Net already has nearly four million followers.

Yu Shiqi shifted her gaze from her phone, then used the remote control to switch the television channel to Qingkong Television.

She usually doesn't watch this television station very often, so it feels a bit unfamiliar, but she just tuned the program signal over.

The television screen paused, and a melodious piano and violin duet theme song began to play.

This fresh and fast-paced style of theme song instantly grabbed Yu Shiqi's heart.

Just from the musical level of the theme song, it is undoubtedly stronger than "The Simplest Love!" that was just broadcast!

First, the words "April is Your Lie!" appeared in large letters.

Then came the cast and crew information.

With sharp eyes, Yu Shiqi saw the personnel information about the theme song.

It was indeed a piano and violin duet, and the duet personnel information for the theme song was Su Yan and Shen Liqian.

"Really? Is this a piece played by Teacher Su Yan?" Yu Shiqi closed her eyes slightly and focused her ears.

Two minutes later, she looked at the television screen with astonishment.

Good... So strong...

This duet is really good to listen to.

However, the theme song of a television drama is more of a pop music style, and its performance difficulty is not high in itself.

Yu Shiqi could only hear from the theme song duet that Su Yan and Shen Liqian's level was very high.

But there was no concept of exactly how high it was.

At this time, the theme song ended.

In sight, were mountains and plains, pink cherry blossoms blooming in spring.

Yu Shiqi's eyes lit up at once.

The next shot was of a girl carrying a bag and eating pastries in her mouth.

Long hair draped over her shoulders, skin as white as snow, clear and transparent pupils, and a lively smile on her face.

"So beautiful... Shen Liqian," Yu Shiqi took a deep breath.

Xuedai Ba, played by Gu Qingyuan, is the kind of feeling that is stunning at first glance.

But Kaori Miyazono, played by Shen Liqian, is the kind of youthful heartbeat that makes you involuntarily like her at first glance.

The girl, wearing the JK uniform typical of the Sakura Island region, chased after a chance encounter with a black stray cat on the road with a smile.

Simple plot, without a single line of dialogue...

But what kind of personality the character played by Shen Liqian is, jumped into Yu Shiqi's heart.

The scene switched.

It came to a music hall.

A boy of about ten years old sat on the piano bench, expressionless, with empty eyes, but his fingers moved quickly on the piano like threading flowers and butterflies...

Precise and perfectly powerful notes rang out from the strings of the piano.

Yu Shiqi learned piano when she was a child.

But unfortunately, she was clumsy, and gave up after learning for a few years because she really didn't have the talent.

But although her hands are not good, her ears are not bad, and she can hear the level of performance.

She looked at the boy's fingers showing afterimages in the picture and the background music ringing in the television drama at this moment.

A thought arose in her heart.

Damn, so strong at such a young age?

In the original work, the piece played by the young male lead "Kosei Arima" at this time was the third movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

But in Xia Country, you definitely have to use the classical music scores on the Xia Country plane.

But these competition scores with considerable difficulty and similar styles are also easy to find, so even if you replace and change them, it will not affect the plot.

In the music hall with thousands of people, everyone looked at the little boy playing the piano with serious expressions and shining eyes.

The camera zoomed in on the little boy's numb and empty face, then zoomed out.

A handsome middle school student wearing headphones and taking a lunch break in the school's music room appeared in the camera.

Yu Shiqi understood that the piano genius boy from just now had grown up to be the teenager played by Su Yan.

At the beginning of the plot, the background of the male lead Kosei Arima is introduced.

Living alone, his mother died early, his father ran around for work, his personality was gentle but a bit melancholic.

He has two friends at school, Tsubaki Sawabe, a neighbor girl who seems to like him.

Ryota Watari, a sunny and handsome guy who is very popular with girls at school.

In the first ten minutes of the first episode, the audience was shown what youth is.

Moreover, in the first episode, this drama showed the Xia Country audience why this drama "April" had the nickname "April is Your Perfect Composition!" in Su Yan's previous life.

On the way home from school, Tsubaki Sawabe babbled next to him, questioning whether Kosei Arima had someone he liked.

"No one would like me!" Kosei Arima responded with a gentle smile.

"Your eyes are dull! You're too gloomy... We're just middle school students!" Tsubaki Sawabe said angrily.

"The eyes are black, and they are dull in themselves," Kosei Arima said with a smile.

"But Tsubaki, your eyes are shining, and the scenery you see must be colorful! Unlike mine."

Yu Shiqi's heart jumped.

Not to mention Tsubaki Sawabe in the drama, she was also charmed.

Su Yan, the old thief, I didn't expect you to be such a screenwriter.

Aren't you able to write these plots?

You can also create this gentle character that people like at once.

Why did you make tragedies in your previous works?

The two were neighbors, and after returning home, the camera gave Tsubaki Sawabe a close-up.

She received a phone call and was discussing something with someone on the phone.

Something that will definitely be done the next day.

Yu Shiqi, who was watching it for the first time, just felt that this plot was a bit abrupt, but didn't think much about it.

The smile on Kosei Arima's face faded after returning home.

His house was full of photos and trophies from his piano competitions when he was a child.

The most conspicuous position in the room was a photo of his deceased mother.

The music and atmosphere became depressing.

"In my opinion, the world is monotonous and boring, just like the sheet music and piano keys."

The male lead's inner monologue sounded.

Even in the camera, the world he saw from his eyes was gray and white.

"In the autumn of eleven years old, I couldn't play the piano anymore!"

A piano genius can't play the piano?

Yu Shiqi became interested.

Why?

Also, why is a person so pessimistic when they are fine.

The following plot introduced why he was like this.

His mother was a piano genius, but before she died, she placed all her dreams on him, who was still in elementary school.

She strictly trained him to play the piano, with no time for fun, and any slight mistake in playing would result in beatings and scolding...

But in order to make his mother happy before she died, he forced himself to accept his mother's arrangements, training, and competitions. Twenty-four hours a day, except for eating and sleeping, life only allowed for the existence of the piano, again and again...

Finally, after his mother died, because of his mental aversion to the piano, he would lose control of his emotions, become extremely nervous, and even hallucinate and see illusions as soon as he touched the piano.

Hey... Something's not right!

This male protagonist's persona, how does it have a bad premonition?

Yu Shiqi was frantically complaining in her heart at this moment.