I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 143 The Deal in the Izakaya! Iwata Masao's Shock!
Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.

On the top floor of the Qilin Real Estate headquarters building is a private club that is not open to the public and can only be entered by senior executives of the group.

The air here is filled with an atmosphere of extravagance and decadence.

The carpet beneath my feet is a handmade silk rug from Persia, so soft it seems to draw in my entire soul.

Hanging on the wall are seemingly random paintings, but each one is enough to cause a small stir at an auction.

Takada Toshihide, the executive deputy director of the production department at TV Tokyo, who was enough to silence anyone, stood up straight with a humble and respectful smile on his face, a smile he had practiced a thousand times.

His eyes, which always carried a hint of gloom, were now observing the two people sitting opposite him.

But his gaze would occasionally drift to the empty space above.

Because the real owner went to the toilet.

Beside him, Masao Iwata was already like a spineless dead dog, sitting humbly on the very edge of the sofa, his buttocks barely touching the edge.

He didn't even dare to look up, but stared intently at the glass of top-grade Da Hong Pao tea in front of him, which had long since gone cold.

Being led by Deputy Director Takada to this legendary place was an unparalleled honor for him, something he could boast about to his colleagues for the rest of his life.

Therefore, Masao Iwata had to maintain extreme humility.

In stark contrast to the reserved demeanor of these two "big shots" from the television station were the young couple sitting opposite them.

The man's name is Shunsuke Kamiki, and the woman's name is Miyuki Kitagawa.

They are the male and female leads in Masao Iwata's highly anticipated period drama, "The Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree," which was touted as a chance to "avenge his previous defeats."

Shunsuke Kamiki is currently the most popular top idol in Japan. His face is so handsome that it looks like a prince who stepped out of a manga, and his peach blossom eyes naturally carry a touch of nonchalant affection.

At this moment, he was lounging on the sofa like a true master, his legs crossed, his expensive Gucci handmade leather shoes casually draped over the coffee table made from a single piece of golden nanmu wood.

Kitagawa Miyuki, also a rising A-list actress, wore a well-tailored white Chanel suit, and her delicate, doll-like face was adorned with a perfectly sweet smile.

But deep within those seemingly innocent eyes lay a shrewd calculation of fame, fortune, and desire that was beyond her years.

"Director Iwata."

Kamiki Shunsuke didn't even bother to look up. He simply pointed his chin at the top-of-the-line wine cabinet with its constant temperature and humidity not far away, his voice as flat as if he were instructing the most humble servant: "Open that bottle, the 82 Romanée-Conti."

"..." Iwata Masao's body trembled suddenly.

He subconsciously raised his head, and a trace of humiliation at being publicly shamed flashed across his face, which had long been worn smooth by reality.

Romanée-Conti?
Although he knew nothing about wine, he had heard of this renowned name. It was said that a single bottle of this wine was worth several months' salary for him!
He turned his pleading gaze to Takada Toshihide beside him, his eyes carrying a final, small struggle.

However, Takada Toshihide seemed not to see his pleading look. Instead, his smile grew even warmer as he spoke gently to Kamiki Shunsuke in an almost indulgent tone, "Shunsuke-kun's taste is as good as ever. Iwata, why don't you go? It's our duty as seniors to make Shunsuke-kun happy."

Masao Iwata's heart sank to the bottom.

But I didn't hesitate.

He immediately responded, stood up, and walked step by step to the wine cabinet that exuded a cold yet luxurious aura, amidst those playful gazes.

His hands, which had once commanded the film set and reprimanded countless staff members, were now trembling slightly from extreme humiliation.

But I still opened the wine cabinet.

Carefully, as if holding a priceless treasure, he took out the bottle of priceless red wine from inside, and then clumsily opened the bottle of liquid gold with a corkscrew—a bottle that would drive any ordinary wage earner crazy.

"Director Iwata, thank you for your hard work."

Kitagawa Miyuki picked up her wine glass, a sweet smile on her face, trying to defuse the awkward situation with her high emotional intelligence.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, Kamiki Shunsuke, who was standing next to her, let out a sneer full of contempt.

The sound wasn't loud.

But like the sharpest needle, it precisely pierced through the veil of pretense she wore, disguised by sweetness and obedience.

"..."

Kitagawa Miyuki's smile froze instantly. She glared fiercely at the man who wouldn't even bother to look at her, a hint of undisguised disgust flashing deep in her beautiful eyes.

It is a dual aversion, both psychological and physiological.

"Please use."

Like a highly professional waiter, Masao Iwata poured the scarlet wine for both Shunsuke Kamiki and Miyuki Kitagawa.

Then, he quietly retreated to his seat.

"Speaking of which, Director Iwata."

Shunsuke Kamiki gently swirled the wine in his glass, the scarlet liquid tracing a dangerous arc on the glass. He didn't even bother to taste it before steer the conversation back on track, his tone still commanding: "Regarding the script, I read it again yesterday. I think my character still has too few scenes."

"Mao?" Masao Iwata was stunned.

He instinctively wanted to retort: ​​"But...but, Junsuke, you are already the absolute male lead! The entire movie, almost all the core plots, revolve around you! Adding more scenes would probably...probably affect the rhythm of the whole story."

"Rhythm?" Upon hearing this, Shunsuke Kamiki finally raised his amorous peach blossom eyes, but his gaze carried an almost idiotic disdain: "Director Iwata, are you mistaken? Audiences pay to go to the cinema to see some bullshit rhythm? They're here to see me! To see my face!"

He pointed to his impeccably handsome face, a mocking smile playing on his lips:

"So, I don't care what method you use. What I want is very simple. First, cut half of the female lead's irrelevant romantic scenes and replace them with my own personal show."

"Secondly, every shot must use the best lighting and the best angles to make me look a hundred times more handsome than I am now! Especially my left profile, remember, my left profile! That's my golden angle! Understand?!"

Even when speaking, he doesn't care that the female lead is sitting right next to him, as if he's just issuing a command casually.

Then we have to listen to him!
These words, full of an amateur instructing an expert, and even humiliating demands, were like a red-hot branding iron, branding Iwata Masao's already battered heart.

He's a director!
"you--!"

Masao Iwata suddenly stood up, his empty eyes burning with the fury of his trampled dignity!

"Kamimo-kun! Film is an art! Not you..."

"Iwata! Shut up!"

However, before he could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by a low shout from Takada Toshihide, which was full of warning!

Takada Toshihide slowly put down his teacup, and a confident smile, like that of an old fox, bloomed on his usually gloomy face.

He looked at Shunsuke Kamiki with the same gaze a shrewd businessman would give when assessing the most valuable item in his possession.

“What Junsuke said makes a lot of sense.”

His voice was gentle, yet carried a chilling coldness that could send shivers down anyone's spine: "Art is certainly important. But box office is the only pursuit for us commercial filmmakers. Jun-suke's personal charisma is the biggest guarantee for our film's box office success. Of course, we must maximize this guarantee."

He turned his head and looked at Iwata Masao, who was already stunned by his words, with the same look he gave a child who didn't understand.

"Iwata, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and write this down! Every single request from Shunsuke-kun must be fulfilled one hundred percent! This is an order!"

"..." Iwata Masao trembled.

But at that moment, Takada Toshihide glared at him and said in a deep voice, "Hurry up and pour wine for our male lead! Have some sense!"

"Hahaha! Well said! Well said, Takada-kun!"

In this oppressive and humiliating atmosphere, a loud, arrogant laugh suddenly came from outside the heavy mahogany door!

"I knew it! Choosing to cooperate with TV Tokyo was absolutely the right decision for Kirin Real Estate! This vision! This boldness! No wonder you're the Executive Deputy Director of the Production Department!"

Accompanied by the laughter, a portly man, dressed in an expensive-looking custom-made kimono and with a large string of jade prayer beads around his neck, strolled in unhurriedly like a moving mountain, surrounded by a group of bodyguards in black.

It is Sato Tokugawa, the chairman of this company, Qilin Real Estate, and also the biggest investor in the film "The Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree".

"Chairman Sato!"

Takada Toshihide and Iwata Masao jumped up from the sofa almost simultaneously and bowed deeply to the man.

"Oh, Chairman, you've arrived."

Kitagawa Miyuki quickly stood up, her sweetest and most obedient smile returning to her face. With elegant steps, she wanted to go forward and help the "God of Wealth" who seemed to have some difficulty moving.

However, before her hand could even touch the other person's wide kimono sleeve, a large, fan-like hand, with an undeniable force, ruthlessly pushed her aside.

"Go away, get out of the way. Don't get in my way."

Sato Tokugawa didn't even bother to lift his eyelids; his small, narrowed eyes were already completely captivated by another, even more "appealing" figure.

"Oh dear, Mr. Tokugawa..."

Iwata Masao, standing to the side, stared at him with disbelief, almost as if he had seen a ghost.

The arrogant and haughty star, Kamiki Shunsuke, who had just been so arrogant, now transformed into an adorable kitten, quickly stepping forward to greet him.

Then she took Sato Tokugawa's arm and said in a coquettish tone, "Why did you take so long? I... have been waiting for you for so long."

"...!"

The entire room instantly fell into an eerie, deathly silence.

Masao Iwata stared blankly at the scene before him, a scene brimming with magical realism. In an instant, all the expressions on his already pale face vanished completely.

He felt as if he had understood something, and stood there blankly.

He watched as the "top idol," who was smiling and helping the obese chairman to sit down in the main seat, was completely overwhelmed by an even more absurd and unreal feeling in that moment.

He finally realized that he seemed to have been wrong from the very beginning.

The real "female lead" of this project may not be the woman named Kitagawa Miyuki at all.

But... this guy...

Only Takada Toshihide remained standing there calmly, with that serene and gentle smile on his face.

It was as if everything before him was nothing more than a normal business social event, something he had already anticipated.

He watched as the "top idol," who was pouring the priceless Romanée-Conti for Sato Tokugawa like a professional waiter, let out a barely perceptible, venomous glint of coldness and disdain deep within his gloomy eyes.

Takada Toshihide glanced at Iwata Masao, who was already stunned, and frowned slightly, feeling somewhat annoyed with this subordinate and distant relative.

He reached out and pressed him back down onto the sofa. Following Chairman Sato Tokugawa's movement, he slowly sat down as well, his face once again bearing a kind and humble smile.

There was not a trace of arrogance or indifference.

They're so enthusiastic!

It's as if there's no executive deputy director of TV Tokyo here, just a salesman accompanying a client!

Pretty much the same, actually.

This is Chairman Sato Tokugawa, a major investor whom he only recently managed to connect with. Whether he can secure advertising business in the future depends on whether this chairman agrees.

As for the male and female leads, it doesn't matter.

It's the toy that makes Chairman Sato Tokugawa happy.

Forget about box office numbers.

Could it be.

Isn't this just a little firework to appease Chairman Sato Tokugawa?

Takada Toshihide's smile grew even more humble as he personally filled Sato Tokugawa's glass with the expensive Romanée-Conti. The crimson liquid swirled in the crystal glass, reflecting the eagle-like glint in his eyes.

"Chairman Sato, it is an honor for our entire TV Tokyo team to have you here. On behalf of the production department, I raise this glass to you!"

He adopted a very humble posture, and every word he spoke seemed to have been meticulously calculated, scratching the other person's itch just right.

"Don't give me that!" Sato Tokugawa simply waved his hand, his small, narrowed eyes revealing an impatient scrutiny befitting a superior.

He didn't even look at Takada Toshihide, but focused his gaze on the boy Kamiki Shunsuke.

“Mr. Tokugawa~” then Kamiki Shunsuke spoke sweetly.

He was still leaning on Sato Tokugawa's thick shoulder, his amorous peach blossom eyes gazing at him with undisguised fawning: "Look, even Deputy Director Takada is being so sincere, why don't you just have a sip, okay?"

Where is there even a trace of the arrogant, top idol who looked down on everyone just now?

It is clearly a precious Persian cat that knows best how to please its owner and is also very aware of its own value.

"Hahaha! Our Junsuke really knows how to talk!"

Sato Tokugawa was delighted by his coquettishness. He reached out his large, fleshy hand, adorned with a huge jade thumb ring, and lightly pinched the delicate, handsome face. The possessiveness in his eyes was naked and undisguised.

"Alright! For Junsuke's sake, I'll drink this!"

As he spoke, he picked up his glass, lightly touched it to Takada Toshihide's glass, which always maintained a humble height, and then drank it all in one gulp.

In the entire room, only Masao Iwata and Miyuki Kitagawa sat there stiffly like two wooden sculptures.

Masao Iwata's face had long lost any dignity that belonged to a director; all that remained was a numbness that came from being utterly crushed by reality.

But Kitagawa Miyuki's pretty face, which always wore a sweet smile, now had a stiff smile, as if she were wearing a cheap mask, and her smile was extremely forced.

Especially when she looked at Kamiki Shunsuke's fawning expression, her slender fingers holding the wine glass were slightly white from the force.

It was a complex emotion, a mixture of jealousy and resentment, enough to drive a person mad.

"Speaking of which, Director Iwata."

After finishing his drink, Sato Tokugawa finally seemed to remember his business. His small, narrowed eyes fell on the man who was already in a daze, while his hand continued to caress the handsome face with affection.

“Our Junjie’s face is something Qilin Real Estate spent a fortune to cultivate. When you’re filming the movie, you’d better film it carefully and beautifully! Every shot, every angle, must be perfect! If I find that he looks even slightly uglier on screen than he does now…”

He paused, his voice icy cold: "You can't afford the consequences."

These threatening words were like a bucket of ice water poured over my head.

Prompted by Takada Toshihide's turn, Iwata Masao jolted awake, quickly stood up from the sofa, and bowed deeply, assuring him:
"Yes! Yes! Chairman, please rest assured! I... I will definitely! I will definitely present Mr. Shenmu's stunning good looks perfectly on the big screen! Every shot will be a work of art!"

"Hmm, that's more like it." Sato Tokugawa nodded in satisfaction.

His small, narrowed eyes seemed to remember something, and he glanced casually at Kitagawa Miyuki, who had maintained a stiff smile since earlier.

"Oh, right. And that...that female lead." His voice was devoid of emotion, as if he were discussing a trivial matter: "Our group's vice president, Kanda, has been doing quite well lately, making me a lot of money. He mentioned to me that this young lady is one of his people. Since he asked, we should give him that courtesy. Director Iwata, remember to give her some screen time too."

A single shot.

These four words, like four of the sharpest needles, precisely pierced Kitagawa Miyuki's already riddled heart.

Her already pale face became even whiter, like a sheet of paper.

She knew that she was nothing more than an insignificant dessert, a condiment to spice up the meal, in this feast of capital filled with dirty deals.

But she felt increasingly jealous.

She is clearly a woman.

But this Chairman Sato Tokugawa actually...

She had originally planned to take this opportunity to use Vice President Kanda to get close to Chairman Sato Tokugawa.

Now it seems that everything is going wrong.

However, before Iwata Masao could even respond, a voice filled with a hint of coquetry and resentment rang out again.

“Oh dear, Mr. Tokugawa,” Kamiki Shunsuke persisted.

His handsome face was filled with childlike grievance and domineering arrogance: "How can I give her more screen time? I must have ten times as much screen time as her! No! A hundred times! This movie can only have me as the main character! I am the most dazzling one!"

These childish and fantastical words did not provoke any displeasure from Sato Tokugawa. Instead, they brought a burst of indulgent, almost manic laughter to his fat face.

"Hahaha! You little devil! You're getting more and more spoiled and arrogant!"

He laughed so hard he almost fell over, his enormous body trembling on the sofa like a mountain of flesh about to erupt.

He looked at the boy who was pouting, with a look that said, "If you don't agree, I'll cry." His small, narrowed eyes gleamed with undisguised satisfaction and possessiveness.

"Okay, okay, whatever you say."

He spoke as if soothing a sulking pet, his voice full of reassurance: "Kanda, after all, helped me close a big deal recently, so he'll have to give me some face. But don't worry, this movie will absolutely center on you! After this project is finished, I'll invest in another one for you, an even better one! I'll make you the sole, absolute lead! How about it?"

"Really?" Kamiki Shunsuke pursed his lips, looking aggrieved.

Seeing his expression, Sato Tokugawa laughed even louder, "When have I ever lied to you?"

"Then we have to pinky swear!" Kamiki Shunsuke extended his slender, pale pinky finger, like an innocent child: "No taking it back!"

Chairman Sato laughed even harder, "Hahaha! Let's pinky swear!"

With the agreement reached, Shunsuke Kamiki finally smiled contentedly.

However, when his gaze inadvertently met that of Kitagawa Miyuki, who maintained a stiff smile throughout, a cold, undisguised mockery and disdain, full of the air of a victor, flashed in her amorous peach blossom eyes.

His eyes seemed to say—this is an insurmountable gap!
"..."

Kitagawa Miyuki's body trembled slightly, uncontrollably.

Her already beautiful eyes were now completely filled with a cold flame.

She didn't say anything, but simply picked up the glass of scarlet wine in front of her and drank it all in one gulp.

The spicy liquid slid down her throat like the sharpest knife, slowly tearing apart her heart, which was already riddled with holes by jealousy and resentment.

She knew she had to do something.

We must do something that will make this man, who manipulates everyone, pay the price.

"Alright, alright, since the chairman and Junjie have both said so."

In this atmosphere rife with undercurrents, Takada Toshihide's voice, full of a peacemaker's tone, rang out once again at just the right moment.

He looked at Iwata Masao, who was still standing there dumbfounded, and his eyes carried an unquestionable command.

"Iwata, did you hear that? Hurry up and promise the chairman and Junsuke that you will definitely make this work into a timeless classic that showcases the strength of our Kirin Real Estate and the stunning good looks of Junsuke!"

"Hi! Hi!"

As if waking from a dream, Iwata Masao quickly stood up and bowed deeply to the two real "sugar daddies" once again, his voice carrying a resolute tone that suggested he would entrust his life to them.

"Please rest assured, both of you! I, Masao Iwata, will certainly not fail in my mission!"

Looking at this scene full of "harmony" and "unity," a satisfied, devilish smile finally appeared on Takada Toshihide's face.

The atmosphere in the room is getting better and better.

But it was just out of the corner of my eye.

Everyone had their own ulterior motives.

Even the originally chosen leading lady, Kitagawa Miyuki, was now glancing around at Iwata Masao, who had been suppressed all along, her eyes flickering uncertainly.

It seems they've come up with some ideas.

So, as everyone began to chat privately, she swayed her slender waist and sat down next to Masao Iwata, holding a wine glass and giggling, "Director Iwata, once filming begins, I'll need your guidance on the script and acting, Director Iwata~"

Seeing this, Takada Toshihide, who was standing nearby, showed a hint of mockery in his eyes, but didn't say anything.

For him, the deputy director of the production department.

artist.

It is a puppet that can be manipulated.

Moreover, he is an idol star with the lowest status in the entertainment industry.

That's practically something you can summon and dismiss at will.

something.

It's all too common!

(End of this chapter)