Traveling through the Tokyo bubble era

Chapter 978 Don't put all your eggs in one basket
"Thank you for protecting me just now, sir."

Having just left Lotte Department Store, Lee Young-ae, knowing that she had escaped danger thanks to Hideki Hanyu's protection, immediately expressed her sincere gratitude to him.

"It's what I should do. After all, I invited Miss Li here to meet me, so I naturally have to be responsible for her safety."

Hideki Hanyu's firm tone when he answered gave Lee Young-ae a sense of security from the bottom of her heart.

She was well aware that Hideki Hanyu's willingness to reject Akio Shigemitsu and have a falling out with Takeo Shigemitsu and his son for her sake was not enough simply because of his sense of responsibility in inviting her.

After all, on one side are financial giants like Takeo Shigemitsu and his son, and on the other side is an ordinary person with no background. Even if she were replaced by Hideki Hanyu, they might not choose to help her after weighing the pros and cons.

Therefore, in Lee Young-ae's view, there is only one reason why Hideki Hanyu did this: that Hideki Hanyu is a good person full of a sense of justice.

Thinking of this, she said again, "The truth is that my husband helped me. If it weren't for his insistence, even if they let me leave today, they would never let me go in the future. I really don't know how to thank him enough."

Upon hearing this, Hideki Yuzuru thought to himself, "You should just offer yourself to me."

However, for a beauty like Lee Young-ae, a scumbag wouldn't be in a rush.

So what he actually said was, "If you don't know how to thank me, then treat me to lunch. I didn't finish my meal because of that father and son, and I'm still a little hungry."

Hideki Hanyu didn't say that on purpose; he was genuinely hungry.

Don't be fooled by his current energetic appearance and the fact that he still has the strength to vent his anger on Shigemitsu Takeo and his son; his feat of taking on five opponents single-handedly last night was no joke.

Even though he ultimately won by virtue of his strength, the exertion of the night was real. He didn't eat much for breakfast to maintain his condition, hoping to replenish his energy at lunch.

Unexpectedly, Shigemitsu Takeo and his son gave him a pleasant surprise.

In his original plan, even if the two women were blinded by lust, they wouldn't dare to provoke him on the spot.

Who would have thought that Akio Shigemitsu, that good-for-nothing, would be even more useless than imagined?

He had actually investigated the family before collaborating with Lotte.

Akio Shigemitsu was seven or eight years older than him. After finishing his studies at the age of twenty-five, he was sent to Nomura Securities, the largest securities firm in Japan, for training and learning.

Not only did he perform poorly, but like his father, he also caused a lot of trouble because of women. Later, after being transferred back to Lotte, his management skills were also terrible.

Hideki Hanyu, who was well aware of the future of the Rakuten Group, knew that Akio Shigemitsu had devoted almost all of his few skills to power struggles.

While consolidating power within Lotte and driving its development, he also did many foolish things.

Internally, he turned the tide in the power struggle for Lotte's succession, even when his brother was on the verge of succession in Japan and had the upper hand, and became the next leader of Lotte.

However, these companies that relied on privileges and monopolies to grow and thrive in South Korea later suffered the consequences, ending up in prison for bribery and embezzlement.

Although he was eventually granted amnesty, he was actually imprisoned for only a few days, which shows that his methods were not very sophisticated.

It can be said that due to Akio Shigemitsu's dementia, Hideki Habu's gains today far exceeded expectations. If Takeo Shigemitsu hadn't reacted decisively, he might have made even more money.

That's fine too; he can still reap some benefits from the cooperation, which won't be bad for his business.

If the talks with Lee Maeng-hee go smoothly tomorrow, and we can ride the wave of CJ Group's independence from Samsung, then many of our businesses in South Korea won't have to rely on Lotte Group anymore.

Not putting all your eggs in one basket has always been Hideki Hanyu's style.

He also always likes to prepare an escape route and counterattack methods in advance before his "partners" turn against him.

This can be attributed to his cold-hearted, suspicious, and prone-to-judgment nature.

As a time traveler, from the first day he arrived in this world, he could only trust himself. He would use countless disguises to protect himself firmly.

Upon hearing Hideki Hanyu's request for how to express his gratitude, Lee Young-ae felt a surge of warmth in her heart, believing that simply offering a meal as a form of repayment showed that Hideki Hanyu was considering her feelings.

After all, a big shot like Hideki Hanyu can get whatever he wants, so why would he need a girl from an ordinary background to repay him?

"I'm just an ordinary person, I don't have the money to treat you to such a delicious meal."

Touched by Hideki Hanyu's "thoughtfulness," Lee Young-ae's voice unconsciously softened.

Hideki Hanyu answered frankly, "I like anything as long as it's Miss Li's treat."

These words immediately sparked countless fantasies in Lee Young-ae's mind. After a moment, instead of revealing what she wanted for lunch, she shyly asked, "What do you want for lunch?"

“Sir, you can actually call me Ying’ai. It’s a bit strange to always call me Miss Li.”

Seeing that the time was right, the scumbag asked without any politeness, "Young-ae, what are you planning to take me to eat next?"

Lee Young-ae thought for a moment and said, "I know a really good restaurant nearby. We don't need to drive; we can just walk there."

Hideki Yuzuru made a request, "Then please have Lee... Young-ae lead the way."

A few minutes later, Hideki Hanyu followed Lee Young-ae to the restaurant that she had described as having delicious food.

A noodle shop with soybean paste.

For some reason, when Hideki Hanyu saw the idea of ​​eating jajangmyeon (black bean noodles), he was reminded of the awkward situation South Korea had regarding the origin of jajangmyeon. Even though there are museums that acknowledge that it originated in China, some Koreans still shamelessly claim it as their own.

Actually, the South Korean version of Jajangmyeon, which has a slightly sweeter flavor, isn't particularly sought after in China.

However, in this day and age, such disputes have not yet arisen.

After all, South Korea is on the rise, so there are relatively few extreme idiots, and it hasn't completely turned into a mental hospital disguised as a state.

However, when Hideki Hanyu, dressed in a bespoke suit worth tens of thousands of dollars, followed Lee Young-ae into this jajangmyeon restaurant, he looked completely out of place with his surroundings.

However, Hideki Hanyu, who was hungry, didn't care about the strange looks from the people around him. He ordered a bowl of noodles, but it wasn't enough. He also ordered fried dumplings, fried chicken, and grilled beef from the restaurant.

As for the accompanying kimchi, Hideki Hanyu wasn't interested in pickled mustard greens at the condiment station in China, and he wouldn't touch them at all in South Korea.

Hideki Hanyu quickly finished all the food he had ordered. Although the taste was so-so, the combination of carbohydrates and high-quality meat protein was indeed the fastest way to fill his stomach.

Meanwhile, Lee Young-ae, who was on the other side, was still eating jajangmyeon (black bean noodles). Upon seeing this, her pretty face immediately showed a surprised expression.

Seeing this, Hideki Hanyu explained, "I've been quite busy with work lately, which has taken a toll on my health."

He could only use work as an excuse; he couldn't very well tell the other party that he had a record of one against five.

After finishing speaking, Hideki Yuzuru remembered the excuse he had used to invite Lee Young-ae today. While Lee Young-ae was still eating, he told her about Chen Shufen's desire to sign Lee Young-ae and the future development plans.

In the end, this is what Hideki Hanyu said.

"At first, Manager Chen probably won't assign you too much work. After all, we hope you can graduate from university smoothly, as a higher education is a plus in the entertainment industry."

After listening to Hideki Hanyu's words, Lee Young-ae did not express her own thoughts, but instead asked directly.

"Sir, could you give me some advice?"

After pretending to think for a moment, Hideki Yuzuru said, "My suggestion is to sign a contract, not because I invested in Hengxing Entertainment, but because compared to the South Korean entertainment industry, you will have more freedom and better treatment if you sign with a Hong Kong agency."

Moreover, Hengxing Entertainment belongs to the cloud-based system, and whether in South Korea, other parts of Asia, or even Hollywood, we have resources that allow our artists to continuously grow.

"Okay, I'll do as you say, sir. I'll sign the contract."

Faced with Hideki Hanyu's suggestion, Lee Young-ae chose to believe him without hesitation.

This shows that the 19-year-old girl has completely fallen into the trap woven by the scumbag.

Hideki Hanyu asked, "Have you thought it through?"

Lee Young-ae nodded and replied firmly, "I've thought it through. Becoming an actress has always been my dream, and I believe you wouldn't lie to me."

"Thank you for your trust in me. Now that you've made up your mind, go home as soon as possible to prepare. After all, you should definitely tell your family about something this important."

I'll have my assistant arrange your flight to Hong Kong in two days. Feel free to contact my assistant if you need anything in the meantime. There's a movie currently in development in Hong Kong that's perfect for you; you need to meet with the production company as soon as possible.

After Hideki Hanyu finished speaking, he noticed that Lee Young-ae seemed hesitant to speak, so he asked, "Is there anything else you're worried about?"

"Am I going to Hong Kong alone?" Lee Young-ae asked with some concern.

After all, she's only nineteen years old and has never been far from home. It's normal for her to be a little scared when she suddenly has to sign a contract and develop her career in a foreign country where she knows no one.

Hideki Hanyu joked, "Of course, do you expect me to come with you?"

Although Lee Young-ae did not answer, the expectant look in her eyes as she looked at Hideki Hanyu proved that this was indeed what she thought.

Upon seeing this, Hideki Hanyu realized that the time to pull him away had come.

Next, of course, comes the part of the scumbag's expertly used "playing hard to get" tactic.

"Miss Li, perhaps my attitude has given you the wrong impression. I just hope you don't misunderstand."

After all... my job is very demanding.

With that, Hideki Yuzuru stood up. "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Li, but I've already paid the bill. I never like girls to pay when I eat out. Goodbye."

After saying that, Hideki Yuzuru turned and left, disappearing from Lee Young-ae's sight without hesitation.

Inside the noodle shop, the nineteen-year-old girl gazed in the direction where Hideki Hanyu had disappeared.

His mind was filled with random thoughts, and he muttered to himself.

"Could it be that I've really misunderstood?"
But why are you so good to me and considerate of me so much?

In the end, they called me Miss Li again, even though they had already changed how they addressed me before.

Did my attitude make him feel burdened?

......"
-
In the black Bentley that had just left the noodle shop, Kaoru Chiba was reporting to Hideki Hanyu.

"The collaboration with Lotte has already been communicated to the relevant company's South Korean branch manager."

Hideki Hanyu said, "Very good, let's finish this quickly."

Kaoru Chiba continued her report, "The materials for tomorrow's meeting with President Lee Meng-hee of Daiichi Sugar are all ready, and the return flight of the Cloud-top to Tokyo will be at 6 PM tomorrow."

Hideki Hanyu asked, "Is there any work I missed during this trip to South Korea?"

Kaoru Chiba replied, "Aside from the cancellation of my scheduled PBS TV appearance, there was no work left undone."

In response to Chiba Kaoru's words, Hideki Hanyu explained.

“Recently, the democratic protests against the president in South Korea have been too active, and some people are even questioning the issuance of the PSB television license. At this time, it is not convenient for me to appear on PBS.”

Although PBS has not been established for long, it has produced a series of hit programs and its development in South Korea has been rapid, thanks to its strong financial resources, its ability to recruit talent, the copyright and creative support provided by Hideki Hanyu, and the resources of the Cloud Alliance.

Today, PBS is leading its competitors in many time slots and is steadily moving toward becoming South Korea's number one television network.

Under these circumstances, it's perfectly normal for PBS to be targeted by those with ulterior motives.

Hideki Hanyu had received word of the situation from the South Korean leadership before his arrival, which is why he canceled his trip to PBS.

Although he was confident that this would not affect him in any way.

However, he did not want any accidents to cause problems with his media strategy in South Korea, so it was best to keep a low profile when necessary.

Chiba Kaoru asked worriedly, "Mr. Yuzuru, what preparations should we make for this?"

"No need, our partners will help us sort this out."

Hideki Yuzuru waved his hand, then immediately added, "I'm entrusting Lee Young-ae's matter to you. You should know what to do."

Hearing Hideki Yuzuru's words, Kaoru Chiba tentatively asked, "Since you left so suddenly, will Ms. Li change her mind and not sign the contract?"

"When people see hope, a shortcut, and a bright future, who can easily give up?"

Hideki Hanyu wasn't worried at all that Lee Young-ae would change her mind.

People strive for higher positions, just as water flows downhill. He had already discerned Li Ying's inner desires; she was a woman who was unwilling to be ordinary.

"Teacher, please rest assured, I promise I won't let you down."

Chiba Kaoru didn't ask any more questions, but instead adopted an attitude of leaving everything to me.

She naturally understood that what Hideki Yuzuru was talking about was definitely not as simple as signing a contract with Chen Shufen.

During this process, some tricks will inevitably be used to create opportunities for one's own teacher to appear out of nowhere and rescue the damsel in distress.

After making her assurance, Chiba Kaoru followed up with a report, "Miss Lee Fu-jung contacted me today to ask if you would be returning to Itaewon to rest tonight."

"Don't reply. Tell her I have to work."

Samsung's heiress is beautiful, but while she's nice to be around for a short time, you'll eventually get tired of her after a while.

Besides, Lee Fu-jung is, after all, the heiress of Samsung, so she can't act recklessly.

Given Hideki Hanyu's current physical condition, he has to take care of Tomiyoshi Lee every time, which puts him in an awkward position, making their time together anything but pleasant.

The novelty has worn off, and with the partnership with Samsung deepening, its strength is no longer something Lee Tomie can influence.

So, since it's a rare opportunity to come to South Korea, a few days is enough. If the other party isn't satisfied, you can simply part ways, saving him the trouble of feigning concern.

Seeing Hideki Hanyu's attitude, Kaoru Chiba stopped mentioning Lee Tomie and changed the subject, asking, "Regarding tonight's meeting with that female fan, which restaurant would you like me to book, teacher? Or is there anything else I need to prepare?"

"I almost forgot, there's something else tonight: book lover Kim Nam-joo, yet another new toy."

Hideki Hanyu then gave instructions to Kaoru Chiba.

"I'll contact a housekeeping company to clean up the house I bought in Yeongdeungpo District, and then arrange a private chef team. I won't go to the restaurant tonight; I want to enjoy the riverside night view."

……

September 1st, evening.

As the sun sets, a romantic candlelight dinner is taking place on the terrace of a penthouse duplex in a high-end riverside tower apartment in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

Hideki Hanyu sat at one end of the table, and could see the shimmering Han River and Yeouido Island across the river when he turned his head.

The Yeouido riverbank, already landscaped and greened under the sunset, has not yet been named Hangang Park.

The film "The Host," which holds historical significance for South Korean cinema, was filmed in this park.

Looking further afield, the Yeouido Financial District, which was originally a military airport and is known as Seoul's CBD, has its rows of office buildings, including the now-famous tourist attraction "63 Building," now lit up with their internal lights.

Among them are companies owned by Hideki Hanyu, such as the South Korean headquarters of Elf Broadcasting.

Tomorrow's meeting with Lee Meng-hee will also take place there.

The decent scenery and convenient location for work were the reasons why Hideki Hanyu bought this rabbit hutch.

Opposite Hideki Hanyu, at the other end of the table, sat Kim Nam-joo, whose appearance was still quite youthful.

The young girl, naive and inexperienced in the ways of the world, clearly had been completely immersed in the romantic atmosphere created by the scumbag, judging from her tense and enjoying expression.

As dinner drew to a close, the two gradually moved to the edge of the terrace, leaning on the railing to enjoy the night view of the Han River while chatting casually.

Of course, the conversation was all guided by Hideki Hanyu, leading the girl to become more and more deeply involved without her realizing it.

Before anyone knew it, Hideki Hanyu's hand had already wrapped around the young girl's waist.

"Miss Jin, did you have a good time tonight?"

Looking at the handsome face so close to hers, Kim Nam-joo stammered, "Happy... um..."

Before she could finish speaking, the scumbag silenced her with a kiss.

As the passionate kiss continued, the girl's skirt was lifted by Hideki Hanyu's large hand, and her hands were guided by him to grasp the railing of the terrace.

And so, under the night sky of Seoul, a moving concerto of life slowly began to play.

……

"I had a very pleasant chat with President Li today, and I look forward to our future collaboration."

"It is my honor to be able to work with President Yuzuru."

In an office building in Yeouido's business district, after nearly five hours of negotiations, Hideki Hanyu and Lee Meng-hee reached a preliminary agreement on cooperation in multiple fields, including logistics, retail, cinema chains, media distribution, film production, and biotechnology.

The two parties concluded their discussions with a satisfied handshake, and then assembled a professional team to conduct further negotiations and finalize the detailed cooperation details.

Lee Maeng-hee wants to lead CJ Group to break away from Samsung and urgently needs a strong external ally to help him through the "fragile" early stages of independence.

Hideki Hanyu, on the other hand, plans to forge alliances with more South Korean forces to pave the way for his development in South Korea and leverage their strengths.

CJ Group, which has not yet developed but is destined to grow stronger in the future, is undoubtedly the best choice.

Therefore, the meeting and discussions between the two parties were a perfect match, and everyone was happy.

After saying goodbye to Lee Meng-hee, Hideki Hanyu got into a car and headed straight for Gimpo Airport.

"Tomorrow is Yumiko Murayama's wedding. Haruko Naito called me a while ago to ask if I could be back on time. It seems that this young lady can't wait to go on vacation to Switzerland with me."

Perfect timing, after being so busy for so long, it's time to give myself a break.

(End of this chapter)