On the night episode eight aired, Su Yan's forums were as lively as a festival.
Fans had already braced themselves for a tragic ending.
But episode eight's direction was nothing short of divine inspiration.
Madoka's wish was the ultimate finishing move of the entire series.
[All hail Madoka.]
[Too bad Sayaka didn't revive.]
[Sigh… this ending is already good enough.]
[Wait, if she could make a wish like that, why didn't she do it in previous loops?]
[Because the number of loops wasn't enough yet. Her potential hadn't grown to that level.]
[I'm genuinely moved.]
[Even if no one remembers Madoka, Homura does. That's enough.]
[I remember.]
[Me too. I remember!]
[I remember too!]
[Shen Liqian and Gu Qingyuan's chemistry was off the charts! Even without romance, Su Yan still writes masterpieces. Absolute six-dimensional writer.]
[Long live Madoka. Series finale—congrats!]
[Finale, my foot. This is only episode eight. There are three more episodes.]
[?]
[Oh, right… episode eight.]
[Wait, what else can they even film? The protagonist has become a universal law. What's episode nine going to be?]
[Maybe character backstory episodes?]
[Madoka aside, Sayaka's past is already covered. But Homura, Kyoko, and Mami each getting an episode would actually fit perfectly.]
[Really? Has anyone confirmed that?]
[Probably not. Dimensional Pictures hasn't said anything. And Su Yan just posted on social media—he said the final three episodes will be even more exciting than the earlier ones.]
[?]
[He said that?]
[I just checked. He posted it right after episode eight finished airing.]
[More exciting than this? He's joking, right?]
[I can't imagine how the plot could develop further. Even if Homura uses time magic again, she can't return to before Madoka's wish. Madoka doesn't even exist anymore—she's a rule now.]
[Stop guessing. If you could predict Su Yan's scripts, you'd be in his writers' room, not in front of a TV.]
[See you next week, brothers.]
[Honestly, I'm already satisfied with episode eight.]
[Same. As long as the "Law of Cycles" setting isn't destroyed, I'm good. There's no way this turns depressing again.]
[Whatever happens, I'm watching next week.]
[At least tonight, Su Yan gets 100 out of 100 from me.]
From a structural standpoint, episode eight had resolved all prior foreshadowing.
It was natural that fans felt a sense of finality.
Though puzzled about episode nine, viewers across the Xia Nation were content that night.
Sayaka's death had been inevitable.
Madoka hadn't truly died—she had simply been forgotten, becoming a universal law.
Up to this point, it was a grand and bittersweet happy ending.
Even Shen Liqian and Gu Qingyuan's fans were thrilled—both actresses delivered standout performances in what felt like a finale.
For the first time since 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' began airing, the fanbase was harmonious.
Overnight, the rating surged from 9.4 to 9.8.
Public opinion shifted in an instant.
The next morning, Su Yan woke up to find his phone flooded with media coverage about 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.
On his drive to the company, Shinozaki Ikumi was already bombarding him with messages from the office.
After parking, he skimmed them—collaboration proposals from major domestic and international companies.
Game developers. Smartphone brands. PC manufacturers. All seeking crossover promotions tied to 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.
They were only preliminary proposals. If Su Yan showed interest, the company would follow up.
But today, his focus lay elsewhere.
Though 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' was still airing, and promotions for '5 Centimeters per Second' and 'We Made a Beautiful Bouquet' had fully launched—
The company's priority was now casting for 'Fate/Zero' and the 'Rurouni Kenshin' film.
'Fate/Zero' had many roles.
But only one absolutely pivotal character.
Saber—Artoria.
Su Yan knew that no matter how 'Fate/Zero' performed in the Xia Nation, Saber would be the breakout star.
If possible, he would've loved to cast Shen Liqian or Gu Qingyuan. Their popularity was sky-high.
But—
Their images didn't match. Both were around 170 cm tall, whereas Saber's character was petite.
More importantly, Saber's temperament was dignified and resolute—righteous without being sanctimonious.
Gu Qingyuan's cool elegance and Shen Liqian's lively brightness didn't fit.
This role required a nationwide open casting.
And quickly.
If 'Fate/Zero' was to air next January, filming wasn't the biggest issue—post-production visual effects were.
The episodes' VFX would need to be distributed among multiple studios simultaneously.
Eight to nine months total production time wasn't abundant.
Su Yan had no intention of delaying.
Beyond Saber, roles like Kiritsugu Emiya and Alexander also required careful selection.
Of course, Shen Liqian and Gu Qingyuan's popularity couldn't go to waste. If suitable supporting roles existed, they would be prioritized.
As for himself—
Su Yan had already reserved the golden, arrogant king role for himself.
'Fate/Zero' demanded complex planning.
In contrast, the 'Rurouni Kenshin' film was simpler.
Himura Kenshin would naturally be played by Su Yan.
As for the female lead, Kamiya Kaoru—
Yukishiro Tomoe was dead. Gu Qingyuan wouldn't reprise her role beyond possible flashbacks.
Su Yan intended to cast Shen Liqian as Kaoru.
Other roles were easier to fill.
But for the action sequences, he would hire top-tier martial arts actors.
When they filmed the TV version years ago, they had no money.
Now—
With a Spring Festival release target, the film had to reach industry-leading standards.
Lost in thought, time passed unnoticed until noon.
Su Yan's phone buzzed with Zhongxia TV's ratings report.
Shinozaki Ikumi was already waiting eagerly.
"5.76%," Su Yan announced with a smile.
"It rose again."
"I see." She appeared calm, but her constant sipping of water betrayed her nerves.
"Now that we know the numbers, it's time to assemble the teams for 'Fate/Zero' and 'Rurouni Kenshin'. I'll be counting on you."
"No need to worry," she replied. "I've already contacted agencies nationwide this morning."
"Some roles can go to agency actors," Su Yan said. "But some—no."
He looked at her seriously.
"For certain roles, we either cast unsigned newcomers or free agents without restrictive contracts. And we sign them ourselves."
"Especially the actress for Saber. She must sign with our company before participating."
"So cautious?" Shinozaki Ikumi frowned.
"I have no interest in making wedding dresses for others," Su Yan smiled.
"'Fate/Zero' will be a hit. And when it is, Saber will be the hottest character. I won't make another company's contracted actress famous only for them to raise prices on me later."
"I'm not a ruthless boss. But I'm not a fool either."
"But the role is demanding. Using a newcomer…" she hesitated.
"Tell me," Su Yan said calmly. "In today's Xia Nation television industry, what's the bigger brand—some celebrity's name, or 'Written by Su Yan'?"
"Even if she's a newcomer, as long as she matches Saber's image and temperament, that's enough. I'll handle the marketing."
Shinozaki Ikumi nodded slowly.
"I understand. I'll conduct the initial screening. In a few days, you'll be very busy."
"Open casting for both projects will officially begin."