America: My Time

Chapter 656 Danger
Chapter 646 Danger

Big shots all care about their reputation. Look at Riko's situation. Although she hasn't left the industry, she has long reduced her performances and spends more time by Akio Morita's side. It is precisely because she understands the importance of the big shots' reputation that she made such a decision. Naoko and Hitomi Kuromori are the same, but Akina Nakamori just hasn't realized it.

Of course, John didn't really care too much. As long as they didn't cross the line, he wouldn't care too much about their own pursuits. Kikuchi Momoko's retirement was largely due to her fear of making mistakes, causing some bad reputation that she shouldn't have, and getting herself out of the game. In comparison, she was more aware of what it was like to have John as her backer, and what it would be like without him.

Judging from Akina Nakamori's situation, the man she chose to follow is still sentimental, at least not as ruthless as the Japanese. So she understands that as long as she doesn't make mistakes, she will be fine. Therefore, the best choice is to retire, so that she won't have any other problems. If she could have a child, that would be even better.

While Momoko Kikuchi and Miho Nakayama were exchanging ideas, Hitomi Kuromori and Yasuko Sawaguchi were having the same conversation. Hitomi was somewhat worried about Sawaguchi's reaction. If they were following those bigwigs in Japan, sticking to their acting careers would be the right thing to do; at least their future livelihoods wouldn't be affected, and they wouldn't end up like their predecessors who suffered greatly. But now they weren't following those bigwigs in Japan, who were so cold-blooded and ruthless.

"Yasuko, you should seriously consider your next move. You're different from others; you're pursuing an entertainment career, and you're signed with Toho. In the short term, there shouldn't be any major problems; they won't dare to scheme against you, as they'll have their reservations. But things might change in the long run. If problems arise, your fate will be dire. You know how I got here. Without his protection, do you think you can still live peacefully? How do you think Yoshiaki Tsutsumi will deal with you? Don't put yourself on that path. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi is no good person. I don't believe you don't know how terrible his reputation is. Without his protection, you'll only fall into endless darkness and suffer endless humiliation. Don't believe that a reputation can protect you; it's all a lie. What about Akina? Does she have the ability to fight back? No! And do you really think Matsuda Seiko is as simple as she seems? Do you really think her agency can protect her? And what about Kashiwabara Yoshie? They both have untold suffering. Think about Johnny's Entertainment, and you'll understand how terrifying and dangerous it is to have no backing."

“Sister Akiko, I understand, but I don’t want to give up like this. Besides, I still have a contract, which isn’t so easy to terminate. The other party won’t give me that chance. I’m different from you. You come from Takarazuka, while I only came from the Toho talent show!”

"Foolish! If you're willing, I can step in and help you terminate your contract, allowing you to fade out of this industry. Do you really think Dongbao would dare to stop you from leaving? The prerequisite is that you make a choice quickly. Time is very important. Once you miss this window, leaving won't be an easy thing. You should know the difference!"

Yasuko Sawaguchi naturally understood Hitomi Kuroki's intentions. Now, all the big shots in Japan need John's help and dare not offend him, especially after the Akina incident, which made them even more hesitant. If she wanted to leave this circle now, Toho would not stop her, nor would they dare to. They would not offend a big shot like John for the sake of a woman like her.

Seeing that Yasuko Sawaguchi was still hesitant, Hitomi Kuroki gently shook her head and said, "Think about it again. Don't miss the last opportunity. If you miss it and make a bad name for yourself, it will be too late to regret it. No one can save you, not even me. Akina's situation is rare. And don't think that Akina is fine. She is also in a dangerous situation. In comparison, Momoko Kikuchi is smarter than all of you and made the best decision."

"Sister Zhaozi, is it really that dangerous?"

"It's dangerous, far more dangerous than you imagine. Do you really think what he said earlier was without purpose, urging us to sell our properties as soon as possible? That was a signal: he doesn't have a positive outlook on the Japanese economy, at least not on Japanese real estate. In his eyes, all of this is too crazy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept emphasizing that I sell these properties as soon as possible. Do you know how much they're worth now? It's beyond your imagination. You're smart, you know how to make choices. Sachiko has already gotten ahead of you, although her success was accidental, largely due to Akina's situation, which gave her recognition. Of course, part of the reason is also that she's very favored. Don't be fooled by her dedication to music; it doesn't affect her level of favor at all. I've seen this with Naoko!"

Compared to Yasuko Sawaguchi, Hitomi Kuroki understands better how much John likes them. Naoko comes first, followed by herself and Akina, and now there's Sachiko too. However, Akina's current situation is not good; she's been dragged down by that greedy guy. Of course, a large part of it is also due to her own choices. If she had just spoken up about her situation, even just once, things wouldn't be like this.

Akina made this extreme decision without saying a word. How must John have felt? Kuroki Hitomi was right beside John at that moment and clearly sensed everything. That's why she said those things and worried about Akina, but she couldn't interfere in this matter! In contrast, Moritaka Chisato has no one to guide her. Too arrogant, she has no companions and therefore no one to guide her. She still doesn't understand anything. Kamachi Sachiko is the same, but unlike Moritaka Chisato, she has gained recognition.

"Sit down. Have you figured it out? Do you know where you went wrong?" John's face flashed with pity as he looked at Akina, who still exuded a frail and delicate appearance.
"I..." Akina wanted to say something, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know how to begin.

John sighed at Akina's behavior, shook his head, and said, "It seems you still haven't figured it out. Perhaps you feel you're not wrong, which is related to your upbringing. Japanese people always have the idea of ​​not bothering others, but that's the last thing I want to see. Why don't you discuss things with me? Even if you don't trust me, why don't you discuss it with Naoko and Akiko? Don't you trust them either? Why do you insist on bearing all of this yourself, and even come to this point! Do you know how much pressure Naoko and Sachiko have endured and how much pain they've faced?"

Trust—John values ​​trust above all else. If Akina can't even manage this most basic thing, she's lost her chance. People need to change. Kuroki Hitomi gradually changed herself, but John didn't see that change in Nakamori Akina. Even after all this turmoil, she still hasn't understood her mistakes, and she hasn't changed.

No one can keep making mistakes forever. This time, Akina's incident has already caused a huge uproar, and it has also brought John and the Japanese into a confrontation. This kind of thing can only happen once. If it happens again, it's not something John wants to see, and the consequences are something Akina can't bear. Everyone has to pay the price for their mistakes.

"I know, I don't want this to happen either!" In an instant, Akina broke down again and burst into tears.

"Since you know this, you should change it. What's the use of knowing if you still don't change anything? People should look forward and not dwell on the past. Do you know how long I've been waiting for you to admit your mistakes? I'm not forcing you to change or cut off contact with your family, but you need to know what you should do."

John would have been very happy if Akina had come to him immediately after being discharged from the hospital. It would have meant that Akina had emerged from the shadows and was willing to make changes. However, John did not wait for her to appear immediately. Several days passed. Although several days may not seem like much, it meant that Akina had not yet emerged from the shadows. This was exactly the situation that John did not want to see, because he did not have that much time to counsel her. At the very least, he could not let those Japanese guys think that Akina was his weakness, which would be very dangerous for Naoko, Hitomi Kuroki, and the others.

There's nothing these Japanese guys aren't capable of. In their eyes, sacrificing a few women for their desired profits is perfectly normal. If this situation with Akina continues, the consequences will be severe. Although John wanted to pity her, he couldn't let others be put in danger for Akina's sake, nor could he put himself in crisis. Those guys had never given up on scheming against him, and the mining acquisition was a new test. The slightest carelessness could lead to falling into their trap and putting him in danger.

John never underestimated the cunning and treachery of those guys. Despite the constant suppression they faced from the Americans, the Japanese hadn't given up. They still wanted to reverse everything and were still fighting. Therefore, John dared not relax his guard in the slightest. With these guys, no amount of caution was too much. The saying "a snake trying to swallow an elephant" perfectly describes these greedy bastards in Japan. In their hearts, there was nothing they wouldn't do, nothing that would deter them. Profit was everything; they would sacrifice anyone for it.

(End of this chapter)