Tokyo: My obsession with China led me to become the king of Japanese entertainment.

Chapter 96 Past

"Ms. Sakurada, it wasn't until I met you today that I realized how superficial my understanding of characters and IPs was. Thank you so much!"

"Not at all, it's all thanks to Xu Feng's excellent performance that the character of Duanmu Yan was brought to life, which allowed for such a wide range of development opportunities later on! We still need to work together sincerely in the future!"

"Definitely! Definitely! I think every entertainer who has even a passing interest in tokusatsu should come and take a course from you, Sakurada-sensei!"

"Oh, that's too kind of you..."

As they chatted happily, they switched back to Chinese from Japanese, and strangely enough, they both felt that the communication was much smoother this way.

Watching the two, who had gone from a polite first meeting to being all arm in arm in just one meal, Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock.

Especially Ryunosuke Kamiki.

Although Xu Feng and Kamiki Ryunosuke were only nodding acquaintances and colleagues, they worked in the same firm, so Xu Feng had some understanding of Ryunosuke's personality.

Although he is a good person and has excellent interpersonal skills, Xu Feng is, in the end, a pure Chinese.

It's unrealistic to say that he can fully integrate into the local artists' circle.

Xu Feng is well-liked at Amuse, and has good relationships with Sato Takeru, Ryunosuke Kamiki, and many other actors.

Besides Amuse, he also has good relationships with celebrities like Hideo Ishiguro, making him a social butterfly in the tokusatsu (special effects) industry.

Even friends who have known him for several years rarely see Xu Feng in such a relaxed state.

But today, Sakurada Jun only needed one dinner and one conversation to advance his relationship with Xu Feng to this point.

To Ryunosuke Kamiki, it was utterly inconceivable.

After the meal, the four left. Sakurada Jun and Xu Feng talked loudly in front, while Kamiki Ryunosuke and Hamabe Minami watched the fun from behind.

"Sakurada-kun... is his social skills really that terrifying?" he muttered to himself as he followed behind.

"I don't think it's because of Jun's social skills..." Hamabe Minami observed the two in front of her, her expression filled with a playful curiosity.

"Is it possible that Xiao Run's deep understanding of Chinese social dynamics made Xu Jun feel a sense of home in a foreign land?"

"...Possibly!" Kamiki Ryunosuke wholeheartedly agreed.

Having reached a conclusion, Minami Hamabe showed no sign of giving up, her gaze fixed on Jun Sakurada's retreating figure with curiosity.

How did a Japanese boy who grew up in the countryside of Akita, not yet sixteen years old, become a China expert?

There has to be some opportunity or reason, right?

However, figuring this out is quite simple; we can just ask Jun Sakurada himself in a little while...

……

"Don't worry, Ms. Sakurada, I'll definitely make things clear to them!" Xu Feng said, patting his chest as he left.

"Then I'll eagerly await good news from Professor Xu." Jun Sakurada said with a beaming smile.

This is why he took the initiative to befriend Xu Feng. Not only is Xu Feng himself a walking traffic magnet, but his extensive network in the tokusatsu industry can also be transformed into a continuous stream of guest resources for Jun Sakurada.

In some ways, the friendship with Xu Feng is even more valuable than the friendship with ordinary top Japanese celebrities.

At this moment, Xu Feng and Kamiki Ryunosuke said goodbye and returned to the agency. Sakurada Jun was thinking of saying goodbye to his senior before leaving when he saw the latter curiously approaching him.

"Hey, junior," Minami Hamabe said bluntly to Jun Sakurada, "How do you know so much about China? The way you were with Xu Jun just now, you acted just like a real Chinese person!"

Junko Sakurada said, "You've never seen real Chinese people interacting like this," but he just smiled and said, "It's for work, after all—"

"But work needs to have a beginning, right? Why did you suddenly decide to open up the Chinese market?" Minami Hamabe turned her head, her big eyes full of curiosity.

At this point, she wasn't disguised much except for her mask. Although it's best for celebrities to keep a low profile when they're out and about, it was already night, and they weren't in any bustling area, so Minami Hamabe became a little bolder.

"The reason? It's not really something to be proud of..." Sakurada Jun didn't show much emotion in response to Hamabe Minami's curiosity.

From the moment he made up his mind to cling to his fellow townsmen, Jun Sakurada knew very well that sooner or later someone would become curious about these things.

How did a country boy suddenly transform into an overseas market expert?

In response, Jun Sakurada had naturally prepared a set of explanations based on his early experiences.

"Well... it's probably because I've never been a very sociable person," Jun Sakurada chuckled, a hint of "complex light" flashing in his eyes.

"I've never really understood how to read the room since I was little. I often couldn't quite grasp the unspoken rule in the group that 'you should understand even if I don't say it.'"

"Plus, I had rather strange hobbies. I guess I was considered an oddball when I was a kid."

Jun Sakurada shrugged.

"Because I couldn't fit into the group, I wasn't very happy during elementary and middle school, especially in junior high."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Back then, there were probably only two kinds of people in my class: those who were attracted to me and gave me love letters, and those who isolated me because they thought I was weird."

"Back then, I used to get into fights. I beat a bunch of delinquents on campus so badly they couldn't get up. That's when I developed my physical fitness."

"After living like this for three years, I realized that it was difficult for me to integrate into the Japanese community no matter what, and then I had a new realization."

Looking up at the sky, Jun Sakurada narrowed his eyes slightly: "Or should we take a different approach and find a group that we can get along with?"

"Either make a name for yourself, grow from a nobody who needs to fit in to a big shot that the group needs to cater to."

"I tried both, and that's how I became who I am today."

This passage is certainly embellished, but it also carries a touch of genuine emotion.

Before regaining his memories, Jun Sakurada was one of the most isolated people in the class, a "maverick weirdo," and he remained so even after regaining his memories.

Before he transmigrated, his social life was perfectly normal.

The only difference is that after regaining his memory, Jun Sakurada, busy with games and accounts, no longer has the time to care about his classmates' opinions.

Isolate me all you want, as long as it doesn't interfere with your brother Run's money-making, whatever.

Don't ask, the answer is Japanese scum.

Hamabe Minami listened intently, her pupils dilating, clearly somewhat shocked.

I never expected that this socially adept junior would have a past where he was isolated because he couldn't fit in.

But upon careful reflection, Jun Sakurada's style seems quite reasonable.

When this boy is communicating, he always subconsciously tries to take control of the conversation, acting as a trendsetter and leader rather than a follower.

Moreover, he is very purposeful and efficient when socializing, and I have almost never seen him engage in any ineffective social interactions.

This highly sophisticated social model becomes less difficult to understand when connected with Jun Sakurada's past experiences.

"What's wrong, senior? Were you scared by the weird junior's experience?" Jun Sakurada teased when he saw that Minami Hamabe was not speaking.

"No way...isn't this super cool?!" Minami Hamabe shook her head vigorously.

In fact, in Japan, there are countless young people who, due to their isolation from their environment, vow to become big shots and make a name for themselves.

But those like Jun Sakurada, who truly stood out quickly after making a vow, are extremely rare.

He is indeed a big shot now.

Minami Hamabe couldn't quite articulate her current attitude towards Jun Sakurada.

It's definitely not admiration. Although Jun Sakurada is indeed devastatingly handsome, as a former child star, Minami Hamabe is quite immune to looks.

Moreover, Jun Sakurada's style of doing things, which involves talking about work and business, is indeed quite appealing.

But without a doubt, Jun Sakurada is the kind of person who can make people feel comfortable, and someone that Minami Hamabe is willing to sincerely get to know.

"So, after changing environments, has the big shot made any friends?" Minami Hamabe blinked her eyes.

"...Of course." Sakurada Jun smiled.

Although his initial purpose for coming to Tokyo had little to do with socializing, the environment of the entertainment industry meant that Jun Sakurada would have to come into contact with all sorts of people and make all kinds of friends.

Even though most of the time, Jun Sakurada himself approached making friends and developing connections with a purely self-interested mindset.

However, it is undeniable that people with compatible personalities will naturally develop genuine feelings for each other over time.

Taka, Hiroshi Nagano, Vaundy, Ao Sawaki, and of course, Minami Hamabe right in front of us... Hideaki Takizawa could perhaps be considered half of one too?

Of course, there's also his good buddies in the live stream room, the ones who cause trouble and joke around with him. That's where Sakurada Jun truly feels at home.

Seemingly because she had learned some of Jun Sakurada's past, Minami Hamabe was in a good mood, joking around with Jun Sakurada along the way, and the conversation was no longer limited to work.

It has to be said that Toho's little princess is also a person with high emotional intelligence. Being with her is quite comfortable, at least that's what Jun Sakurada thinks.

After chatting and taking a walk for a while, and saying goodbye to his senior, Sakurada Jun thought for a moment, then took out his phone and made a call.

"Hey, isn't this Johnny's rising star, JR Sakurada Jun? What brings you to call me?" A chubby guy's sarcastic voice came from the other end of the line.

During this period, Jun Sakurada was really busy, and his work focus was on Ultraman Tiga, so he had less communication with Vaundy.

"Doesn't that require a song? You're the first person I thought of when something like this happens, Vaundy-nii." Sakurada Jun ignored Vaundy's sarcastic remarks.

With the audition over, it's time to put recording the song on the agenda.

"Write a song? But I've been working on my own original songs lately..." Vaundy hesitated slightly.

"The production cost is 800,000 yen," Jun Sakurada said casually.

"How much?! How much?!" The chubby boy's voice started to crack.

"800,000 yen. I have the lyrics and music, but I need guidance on arrangement, mixing, and production. Is this price reasonable?" Jun Sakurada asked casually.

"Perfect! Perfect! Run-ge, when are you going to bring the lyrics and music? I'll start working right away!" Even through the microphone, Sakurada Jun could imagine the chubby guy's excited expression.

Although Vaundy is doing quite well right now, and her debut is not too far away.

But not debuting is not debuting. He had to pay a huge sum of tuition fees to his family in pursuit of his musical dreams, so he was extremely short of money at the moment.

Jun Sakurada's request was a godsend.

"Shall we set a time?" Jun Sakurada nodded in satisfaction.

See, even with friends, sometimes spending a little money can be very effective...