It was clear to anyone with eyes that "Cloud Sea Jade Bow Fate" had become a massive hit, a runaway success.
Even "Asking the Immortal," bolstered by two top-tier stars, couldn't suppress its continuously climbing momentum.
As time slowly ticked by, a divergence began to emerge among the four annual dramas.
"Son of the Red Emperor" concluded first, withdrawing from the ratings battle.
Not long after, "Mother-in-Law is also Mom" reached its grand finale.
As expected, no matter how cruelly the villainous mother-in-law treated her daughter-in-law, the ending saw the two families embracing, shaking hands, and reuniting in harmony.
The audience gnashed their teeth in frustration, nearly smashing their televisions.
With these two dramas concluding and exiting the stage, the rivalry between "Asking the Immortal" and "Cloud Sea Jade Bow Fate" entered a white-hot phase.
"Asking the Immortal" premiered with explosive ratings.
However, due to its utterly lackluster plot, it grew weaker as it progressed, making it difficult for even dedicated fans to stick with it from beginning to end.
In contrast, "Cloud Sea Jade Bow Fate" possessed remarkable staying power, with more explosive moments emerging the further the story unfolded.
The debate over who was the true female lead intensified with the progression of the plot, frequently dominating trending searches.
Pouring cold water on this discussion was a spoiler from a reader of the original novel.
Among the three great masters of Wuxia, Liang Yusheng, though he broke ground, did not garner as widespread attention for his works as Jin Yong and Gu Long.
Consequently, many were familiar with "Little Li Flying Dagger's silence echoes, Chu Liuxiang unseen by man" and "Flying Snow shoots the White Deer to the sky, Laughing Scholar-Hero leans on Jade-Green Mist," but remained unaware of how many equally excellent works Master Liang had penned.
As the audience argued fiercely over the lead roles of Li Shengnan and Gu Zhihua, a netizen chimed in: "What are you arguing about? Li Shengnan dies in the finale. Arguing any further is pointless."
This comment struck like a massive stone in water, creating a tidal wave.
【What, Li Shengnan died? How is that possible?】
【Nonsense, Li Shengnan is so beautiful, and so perfectly matched with Jin Shiyi, how could she possibly die?】
【The show hasn't finished airing yet, how do you know Li Shengnan will die? You're just talking nonsense.】
A flood of viewers who favored the character of Li Shengnan and hadn't read the original novel erupted in anger upon hearing of her supposed death. They unleashed a torrent of criticism upon the netizen who made the claim.
The netizen retorted with righteous indignation: "I'm not talking nonsense. That's how the original novel is written. If you don't believe me, turn to the last chapter of the novel and see. Li Shengnan dies on her wedding night with Jin Shiyi."
Such a confident assertion sent viewers and fans into a panic, scrambling to open Baidu, search for the novel "Cloud Sea Jade Bow Fate," and flip to the last chapter for confirmation.
The title of the final chapter was "A Perfect Couple Becomes a Tragic Pair, Deep Affection Seems to Turn to Indifference."
Before the viewers could read further, the word 'tragic pair' in the chapter title filled them with foreboding.
Then they read on. Oh dear.
Viewers and fans were struck as if by lightning, their entire beings thrown into disarray.
【This is unacceptable. Li Shengnan is the female lead, how can she die?】
【No! I want a happy ending, not a sad one!】
【This is too terrifying. Tell me, this is all fake, isn't it?】
【No, I protest this funeral. A wedding turning into a funeral, who does this?】
【Damn it, if the female lead really dies, then what's the point of watching?】
【I'll support you to death! I don't watch tragedies. Whoever dares to stab me, I'll kill them.】
【...】