In the days that followed, Jing Yu devoted himself completely to finalizing the rest of the script and handling various errands in Lan Province.
As November drew to a close, Jing Yu made a phone call to Fu Jing of Chenghai TV.
Though the major TV stations competed fiercely, they were also extremely well-informed.
By now, Jing Yu's contract with Yunteng TV was no longer a secret among the top networks.
Of the Big Six TV stations, five had shown interest in recruiting him. Except Chenghai TV, the other four, upon hearing that Jing Yu had chosen Yun Teng, sneered at the decision.
"Sure, he's talented—but his judgment sucks."
The entertainment industry had always been about top-tier positioning. What's the point of being number one at Yunteng TV, if that station struggles to even break into the quarterly top 20?
In their eyes, joining Yunteng TV was career suicide—a move for someone with no real ambition.
As for Fu Jing, her feelings were… complicated.
She didn't think much of 'Hikaru no Go' as a project, but she never looked down on Jing Yu as a writer.
Every screenwriter has flops—it's part of the process. No one hits a home run with every script. If 'Hikaru no Go' wasn't working, just move on to the next one.
What she never expected was that Jing Yu would insist on producing 'Hikaru no Go' no matter what. And even more shocking—Yunteng TV was actually willing to throw tens of millions behind it, making it their flagship drama for the spring season.
Receiving Jing Yu's phone call, where he apologized, made her feel a little better.
"It's nothing. Our station passed on 'Hikaru no Go' out of risk concerns—how can I blame you for that?" Fu Jing said softly over the phone, taking a deep breath.
"We didn't get to collaborate this time… but who's to say about the future?"
They exchanged a few polite pleasantries. Just like that, Jing Yu's connection with Chenghai TV came to a formal end.
That afternoon, Yu Youqing visited Jing Yu at home.
She wore a light winter outfit. Though it didn't have the alluring style of her summer and fall skirts and tights, she still looked sweet and beautiful.
Ever since that night—when he told both Yu Youqing and Xia Yining he was leaving—things had been… awkward. Their subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints had left Jing Yu unsure how to interact with them.
He didn't dislike either woman—far from it. But it had always just been a working relationship. Now, suddenly, he was the only one still seeing it that way, and it threw him off.
Should he continue treating them as friends? But were they still treating him as one?
Jing Yu didn't have an answer. So in the end, he chose not to dwell on it.
His mindset had shifted, but his behavior remained the same—business as usual.
"My mom made these dried fruits herself. She said I should bring some to you—so you can still have a taste of Lan Province even after moving to Modo City," said Yu Youqing, placing a neatly packaged gift box on his desk.
"Please thank your mom for me," Jing Yu said, pouring her a cup of tea.
Then silence fell between them.
"You're leaving the day after tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yeah, the day after tomorrow," Jing Yu nodded.
He glanced at the gift box, then got up and rummaged through a pile of personal items.
"It's been a year since we met. I never gave you anything… here, take this."
"What is it?" Yu Youqing asked curiously, accepting the item.
It was a disc.
"It's a compilation of all the music I personally composed for my last three shows. It also includes some studio voiceover footage and behind-the-scenes clips. The sound team put it together for me when they heard I was leaving Jinhui TV. There are only five or six copies. I'm giving you one."
"I… I…" Yu Youqing's face lit up with joy.
"Thank you, Jing Yu. I really like it."
"I don't know what your plans are with Modo City, but as a friend, I hope you're making decisions based on your own career, not for anyone or anything else," Jing Yu said sincerely.
"If we see each other again, just call me Jing Yu. No need for the 'teacher' honorific—it feels strange between friends."
"Understood… Jing Yu," Yu Youqing said with a smile. She'd been waiting to call him that for a while, and this was just what she wanted.
"Then… see you in Modo City."
The next day, Xia Yining showed up.
It went similarly to the day before. Since he gave Yu Youqing a disc, Xia Yining got one too. That night, Jing Yu met Liu Neng and Gao Wencang for drinks and a final send-off.
The next morning, he made visits to Director Chu You and Production Head Shi Teng, delivering some parting gifts. Though both men were fairly profit-driven, they were reliable in getting things done when the benefits were clear. Jing Yu didn't dislike them.
It was worth saying a final goodbye.
November 30th, late evening, Jing Yu boarded a flight and left for Modo City.
In the early hours of December 1st, he landed. Someone arranged by Cheng Lie was already at the airport to pick him up and take him to his hotel.
That morning, with his signed contract in hand, Jing Yu officially reported in to Yunteng TV.
Walking into Yunteng TV's headquarters for the second time, Jing Yu finally allowed himself to take in his new surroundings—this was now where he would work.
He first completed the necessary onboarding paperwork, with the help of staff assigned by Cheng Lie.
Then, Cheng Lie personally took Jing Yu to greet several of the station's senior executives.
Finally, the question of housing came up.
After a year at Jinhui TV—where he'd worked as an actor, writer, and music producer—Jing Yu had earned a good chunk of money. He hadn't even received all the royalties for 'White Album 2' yet, but his savings already sat at 8–9 million yuan.
Originally, he planned to contact a real estate agent and handle everything himself, but Yunteng TV had already taken care of it.
They provided him with a duplex apartment in a high-end residential complex, less than a few kilometers from the station.
A 200-square-meter home, fully furnished, complete with a car and vehicle keys—all provided by the station.
They even assigned him two personal assistants to help with work and daily life.
Jing Yu had firmly declined any creative assistants for scriptwriting. After learning about his solo work model at Jinhui TV, Cheng Lie was initially shocked by his versatility and efficiency, but ultimately respected his wishes.
That night, Jing Yu lay on his brand-new bed.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his high-rise, he looked out at Modo City's vibrant skyline and glowing streets.
"A new beginning…"
As he was lost in thought, the doorbell rang.
He opened the door—and just as he expected—it was Cheng Lie.