I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 95 Director Sakata's Banquet! Keiko Matsumoto's Curiosity.

After dealing with the harassers, Hiroshi Nohara carried his briefcase and returned to the apartment where his beloved was.

"I am back!"

"Welcome back!"

Accompanied by a fragrant breeze, a delicate figure came flying over like a young swallow flying into the forest.

Meiya was still wearing the apron with the cute little bear pattern on it, and there were a few drops of crystal water on the ends of her hair. Her pretty face, which always looked a bit cute and naive, now had a helpless yet sweet complaint on it.

"Guangzhi-kun, you're finally back!"

She extended her slender index finger and gently tapped Nohara Hiroshi's chest. Her big, watery eyes were filled with helpless pouting. "You have no idea how many guests came to our house today! The phone is almost blowing up! Some said they were from Nagoya, some from Osaka, and one from Fukuoka. They spoke with such a heavy accent that it took me a while to understand they were all looking for you!"

As she spoke, she stood on tiptoe and helped him unbutton his collar, her posture like a dutiful little wife.

Very virtuous!

Nohara Hiroshi looked at her lovely appearance and felt soft in his heart. He smiled and hugged her in his arms, gently kissing her smooth forehead.

"Thank you for your hard work, my Lady Nohara."

"Hmph, I'm glad to know." Meiya pouted, but the sweet smile in her eyes could not be hidden.

She took his hand and forced him to sit down at the dining table, then brought out some home-cooked dishes from the kitchen like a little squirrel offering treasures.

There's no French-style baked snails, and no melt-in-your-mouth Saga Wagyu beef.

There was only a plate of tamagoyaki that had just been simmered in broth, a bowl of refreshing side dish made with fresh dried fish and grated radish, and a pot of potato stew that was still steaming and exuding a rich aroma of sauce.

Very ordinary and homely.

But the smell that was a mixture of soy sauce, mirin and the aroma of the food itself was like a pair of the most gentle hands, instantly soothing Nohara Hiroshi's fatigue after a day of running around.

This is the taste of home.

After a satisfying meal and vigorous exercise, the two of them snuggled up on the small sofa, watching the boring variety shows on TV, enjoying the tranquility that belonged only to them.

Meiya was like a lazy cat, resting her little head on his legs, holding a fashion magazine in her hand, pretending to flip through it casually, but her beautiful big eyes would secretly glance at him from time to time, and her eyes seemed to hold a lake full of stars.

She was so beautiful just now.

Now I am still in the afterglow.

Especially when she saw the young, handsome and capable Hiroshi Nohara, who was her boyfriend and future husband.

Meiya has a sense of unrealistic illusion.

It's like a thief in life.

The feeling of having stolen... a beautiful life that doesn't belong to me.

"Hehe." Misaya, who is only 17 years old, laughed secretly.

"Little greedy cat, are you greedy again?" Nohara Hiroshi stretched out his hand and held her tightly in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head that smelled of shampoo, but he was thinking about something in his heart.

That is the bubble economy that the three harassers just mentioned, and the question of whether he can get out of the vortex.

He has a 60-square-meter apartment awarded by Tokyo TV!
"House..." he murmured softly.

On the eve of the ruthless bursting of the bubble economy, an apartment in downtown Tokyo is more like a time bomb about to explode than an asset.

If he can hold on for another two or three years, when the country is in dire straits and housing prices have fallen to cheaper than paper, he will have plenty of opportunities to buy a house that is bigger, better and has a yard with one-tenth or even one-hundredth of the current price.

"Ah, speaking of houses!"

Misae, resting her head in his arms, seemed to have triggered some switch. She sat up straight with excitement in her bright eyes. "Guozhi-kun, I asked the real estate agency today! Our apartment in Setagaya has been put up for sale!"

She bent her slender fingers, like a little money-grubber, and reported proudly:
"The agent said our apartment is in a great location and was awarded by a TV station, so it's a big name and a lot of people are vying for it! He said that at the current market price of 38 yen per square meter, our small 40-square-meter apartment could fetch at least million yen!"

More than 20 million!

This number made Misae's eyes turn into money symbols. She held her face in her hands, her little face full of longing for the future. "Guangzhi-kun, are we really going to sell it? That's a 20 million house! Selling it off would be such a shame, wouldn't it?"

"fool."

Nohara Hiroshi looked at her adorable, money-obsessed appearance and couldn't help but smile and pinch her nose. "Houses are dead, but money is alive. Listen to me, if someone offers you a price of at least 20 million, sell it as soon as possible. We'll save part of the cash and exchange the rest for gold."

"Change it into gold?" Mei Ya's simple little head was instantly filled with countless question marks.

"Yeah." Nohara Hiroshi nodded, but did not explain too much.

He couldn't tell her that within two years, the Japanese yen would experience an unprecedented plunge, and gold would become the strongest hard currency in the world, right?
"Just listen to me, you won't go wrong." He just ruffled her hair with unquestionable tenderness.

"Oh... okay." Although Mei Ya was still a little confused, she had already developed an almost blind trust in her omnipotent man.

She nodded obediently, like a kitten whose fur had been smoothed by its owner, and snuggled back into his arms.

However, after a while, she seemed to remember something, and a hint of anticipation appeared in her beautiful big eyes again.

"Um... Hiroshi-kun." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito, with a hint of tentativeness: "Once the house is sold, can I... go out to work? I don't want to stay at home all the time. I feel so useless."

"Wait another two years." Nohara Hiroshi answered almost without thinking.

Of course, he couldn't tell her that two years later, the economic crisis would break out, countless businesses would go bankrupt, and the unemployment rate would soar. By then, a stable job would become more precious than gold.

He didn't want her to experience the pain of the times.

He just wanted her to be like this forever, carefree, and be the only one responsible for being beautiful Mrs. Nohara.

"Oh..." Meiya pouted. Although she was a little disappointed, she didn't insist.

'Beep! Beep!'

At this moment, a rapid electronic alert sound came from the pager that Hiroshi Nohara placed on the coffee table, breaking the warm tranquility.

He picked up the small black square and glanced at the unfamiliar number and the short message displayed on the screen. His eyes, which always held a hint of a smile, narrowed slightly in an instant: "Hmm? What is this!?"

"Nohara-kun, I'm Director Sakata. Asumi gave me your number. If you have some free time, could you come to Kikushiro in Ginza for a chat?"

Director Sakata?
Director Sakata!
The weight of this name flashed through Nohara Hiroshi's mind.

Nobuhiko Sakata is the Director of the Production Department of TV Tokyo and also serves as the Executive Deputy Director of the station.

In this country where the station director is merely appointed by the government and is more like a civil servant, this executive deputy station director who holds the real power in the production bureau is, in a sense, the real local emperor who has the final say in the entire Tokyo TV station!

This top-level figure who usually only exists in legends would actually... send him a pager personally?
Nohara Hiroshi did not reply immediately. He picked up the phone on the table and dialed the number that he had already memorized.

"Hello, Deputy Director Ming Rihai, it's me."

"Hahaha! Hiroshi-kun! You finally called!" From the other end of the line came Asumi's irrepressible, proud laughter. "Don't hesitate! Come quickly! Director Sakata is in a good mood today. He talked about your 'Wonderful Stories of the World' and 'Anshibai Shin Season 3' and specifically requested to meet you, this young genius!"

The excitement and pride in his tone almost overflowed from the receiver.

After all, everyone knows that Hiroshi Nohara is his man and the rising star of their Kanto faction.

Now Director Sakata has said that he would like to invite Hiroshi Nohara to come over.

Doesn't that mean that the rising stars of their Kanto faction have been recognized by Director Sakata?

"I understand." After hanging up the phone, Hiroshi Nohara turned his head and looked at the girl who was looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and worry. A gentle smile returned to his face.

"It's work, a very important party, I have to go."

"Well, then go quickly and don't keep your boss waiting anxiously." Meiya nodded obediently and stood up to get his coat for him.

……

Ginza, Chrysanthemum Tower.

This top-notch private club, which only exists in legends and where it is said that even a napkin costs more than an ordinary wage earner's daily salary, is now brightly lit.

When Nohara Hiroshi, led by the graceful club manager in a high-end custom-made kimono, pushed open the heavy box door carved from a whole piece of golden nanmu wood, a suffocating and unique scent mixed with the richness of top-grade cigars, the sweetness of aged whiskey, and... belonging to the pinnacle of power, rushed towards him.

There were shadowy figures around the huge round mahogany dining table.

There were nearly twenty people.

Nohara Hiroshi glanced over and found that everyone present was a big shot in the film and television industry, not only in Tokyo TV, but also in the entire Japanese television industry, whose stomping of feet could cause a small earthquake.

Sitting in the main seat was the legendary director of the production department, Nobuhiko Sakata.

He looked to be in his early fifties, slightly plump, and always had an amiable smile on his face, like that of Maitreya Buddha. However, his eyes, which occasionally narrowed, flashed with the sharp brilliance of a superior.

On his left and right are Asumi Asuka, the deputy director of the Kanto faction, and Toshihide Takada, the executive deputy director of the Tokyo faction.

Further down, there are several first-level directors who are usually elusive, and several second-level directors who are currently the most popular in the production department.

Keiko Matsumoto is among them.

In the entire box, there were clinking glasses and laughter. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, but in fact, there were clear divisions.

The Kanto school headed by Asumi and Kurosawa Eiji, and the Tokyo school headed by Takada Toshihide and Matsumoto Keiko, each occupy half of the world. Their invisible stances and auras collide violently in the air, stirring up invisible ripples.

And in this top-notch dinner party that could be described as a battle between gods, the appearance of Nohara Hiroshi, who was not even a third-level director but just a fourth-level director with the title of "Head of Special Production Group", seemed so abrupt, so... out of place.

"Hmm? Who is this kid?"

A second-level director named Sato Takashi, whose face was flushed from drinking and whose head had a shiny bald spot, was the first to frown.

Because it was dim, he couldn't see who it was, but he thought it was a young man.

He squinted his eyes and spoke in a drunken, unabashedly rude tone to his long-faced companion, who was also bleary-eyed, "This is our production bureau's core meeting. How come any random person can sneak in?"

"Who knows?" Director Ken Tanaka, with a long face, curled his lips, his voice filled with sour jealousy. "I guess that old guy Asumi wants to promote a newcomer from his faction and brought him here to see the world. Humph, young people nowadays are so ignorant. They think they can rise to the top by making one or two shows with decent ratings."

Perhaps they also saw clearly who it was and guessed who it was.

But how could the Tokyo faction admit it?
Their voices were not loud, but just loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

Those remarks filled with contempt and disdain, like two invisible needles, precisely pierced the young man who had just stepped into this world of fame and fortune.

However, Nohara Hiroshi seemed not to hear it.

There was no change in his facial expression. He just calmly bowed to Nobuhiko Sakata who was sitting in the main seat.

"Director Sakata, everyone, good evening. I am Nohara Hiroshi, your junior, and I apologize for being late."

The attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, but calm and appropriate.

Be dignified and upright.

"Hahaha! Not too late! You've come just in time!"

Before Nobuhiko Sakata could speak, Asumi was the first to stand up like an old hen protecting her chicks. He quickly walked to Hiroshi Nohara, put his arm around his shoulders enthusiastically, and led him to his seat.

"Come on, come on, Hiroshi-kun, let me introduce you."

He pointed at the smiling fat man in the main seat, his tone filled with genuine pride: "This is the head of our production department, Director Nobuhiko Sakata."

"Director, this is the one I've mentioned to you many times. He's from our Kanto faction, no, from our entire Tokyo TV station. He's a very talented person in the future... Nohara Hiroshi!"

At this moment, Kurosawa Eiji also put down his wine glass, his eyes filled with the admiration of an elder for a younger person. He said to Sakata Nobuhiko with a loud laugh, "Director Sakata, I, an old fellow, can guarantee that this young man has a bright future."

"Oh?"

A barely perceptible gleam flashed in Nobuhiko Sakata's narrowed eyes.

He has read Nohara Hiroshi's information.

I also know his talent.

However, he did not expect that his subordinate Asumi and the first-class director Kurosawa Eiji, whom he had always respected, would protect and value this young man so much, which really made him curious.

Nobuhiko Sakata looked up and down carefully at the young man in front of him.

Handsome, tall, calm, with clear eyes, facing these important figures who could decide his future destiny, there was no trace of nervousness or flattery on his face, only a calmness.

What a young man.

Sakata Nobuhiko secretly praised in his heart, and the kind smile on his face became even brighter.

"Hahaha! Great! What an unlimited future!"

He raised his glass and saluted Nohara Hiroshi from afar. His voice was resounding, full of the appreciation of a superior: "Nohara-kun, I saw your 'Wonderful Stories of the World'. It's well-made! Excellent! Not only in terms of ratings, but more importantly, it has opened up a whole new realm full of possibilities for us at Tokyo TV and for our entire Japanese television industry!"

"And your 'An Zhi Ju Zhen Season 3', you took on the task in a critical moment and turned the tide. This responsibility and ability make me, as a senior, feel ashamed!"

"You've brought great honor to our Tokyo TV station! This glass of wine is in your honor!"

After he finished speaking, he drank the expensive sake in the cup in one gulp. His attitude was generous and he did not allow any objection.

These words and this attitude were like a heavy bomb, hitting the hearts of all the Tokyo faction members present!
Takada Toshihide's gloomy face suddenly became three points darker.

The two second-level directors who were just making sarcastic remarks seemed to be strangled by an invisible hand, and their red faces looked like two cooked pig livers.

And the "God of Romance Dramas", Keiko Matsumoto, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, as if staying out of the matter, finally raised her head slowly at this moment.

In those eyes, which were somewhat tired and arrogant, there was a hint of curiosity towards the young man surrounded by the crowd.

“Is this the director of ‘The Wonderful World of Tales’?”

Matsumoto Keiko looked at the young man who, despite Director Sakata's highest praise, still smiled calmly, picked up the wine glass without haste, and calmly responded, and was surprised at his youth.

It seems that he is only in his early twenties.

An idea that even she herself found absurd popped up in Matsumoto Keiko's mind uncontrollably.

perhaps……

This seemingly peaceful night will be the beginning of a new era for Tokyo TV and even the entire Japanese film and television industry.

And the young man who stirred up the whole situation may be the protagonist of this era.

Matsumoto Keiko looked at Nohara Hiroshi, and a hint of excitement that she herself had not noticed, the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent, appeared on her face that was always full of pride.

"Interesting." She murmured to herself, picked up the expensive glass of red wine in front of her and shook it gently.

(End of this chapter)