Girl idols are meant to be exploited!

After all, they had all visited Mizuno Ai and knew how serious her injuries were.

However, less than two months later, the other party reappeared in front of them in a radiant and calm manner, as if the pain had never existed.

“…Xiao Ai.”

The first person to come over was the girl who had replaced Xiao Ai as the team leader. She was also the person who had the best relationship with Xiao Ai.

She didn't say much, just gently opened her arms.

Mizuno Ai did not hesitate and went up to him, and the two hugged each other tightly.

Seeing this, the other members gathered around and hugged her with open arms.

“We’ve been watching your news.”

"It's great... It's great that you're back."

Mizuno Ai responded one by one, with a smile on her lips, but her voice was a little choked.

"I miss you guys too..."

There was no gap between Mizuno Ai and them. They were all partners working together. The estrangement during this period was quickly dissolved by everyone's caring words.

After a brief greeting, the shooting officially began.

The rhythm of shutter sounds and instructions intertwined rang out in the studio.

This is not the first time that Mizuno Ai has shot similar materials and promotional photos. Her calm demeanor and sense of camera when facing the camera are still online, and she handles the shooting with ease.

Soon, two sets of photos were taken.

One group is a classic team style, symbolizing past glory; the other group is a commemorative "future theme", hinting at the new path each of them is about to embark on.

The shooting is not over yet, there are still two or three sets of photos to be taken.

During the change of clothes, she had just sat down in the rest area beside the shed. Before she could say anything, Taku Hoshikawa handed her a bottle of mineral water.

He squatted down, his eyes level with hers, and spoke gently: "How is it? Are you tired? If you are, let's end it early. There's no need to be so stubborn."

Mizuno Aimoto was a little tired because of the long period of frozen posture, and she also pulled her shoulder, which had not yet fully healed, several times during the changing of clothes.

But at this moment, looking at his figure right in front of me, that familiar sense of security seemed to immediately dispel all the discomfort.

She shook her head slightly, her lips curled up: "It's okay, seeing you here makes me feel less tired."

Hoshikawa Taku was stunned when he heard this, and then he laughed.

He reached out to help her straighten the cloak on her shoulders, and gently tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears.

"Don't say that. I don't want you to get into trouble because you insist too much. Don't forget, your next concert is the most important thing. If you have any health problems before then, it will be more trouble than it's worth."

"Ok, I know."

A warm feeling rose in Mizuno Ai's heart and she nodded vigorously.

Just as the atmosphere on their side was as gentle as water, their teammates not far away had already begun to whisper.

"Look, there's something wrong between Xiao Ai and that handsome guy, isn't there?"

"Yeah, he's so gentle to her, and he even fixed her hair just now."

"I heard that he's not only Xiao Ai's agent, but also the manager of Xingchuan Agency... Could there really be something going on?"

"Maybe, look at Xiao Ai's eyes, they're all thready."

"Oh my god, I'm so envious... This feeling of being cared for and favored is really heart-warming."

"But we have a contract, so how can we have such casual contact with the opposite sex..."

"Only Xiao Ai... is now a free person."

Rather than jealousy, their tone was more of envy mixed with longing.

After returning from her injury, Mizuno Ai not only regained her original charm, but also gained this gentle companionship.

They all knew that Xiao Ai had experienced more than anyone else. Now that she could stand on the stage again and be protected by others, it could be considered as a compensation from fate to her.

The entire shooting lasted nearly three hours. The staff were busy in and out, the lights were adjusted several times, and the clothes were changed again and again, but Mizuno Ai never complained, and Hoshikawa Taku, who was standing behind her, never left for a moment.

Even when the lights in the studio were scorching and the air was stuffy, when she looked back and saw that familiar face, she would always feel at peace as before.

In the last set of photos, Mizuno Ai stood in the center, while the other members surrounded her.

The camera moves forward from the front, and everyone looks at her and applauds with a smile, as if announcing to her and the audience in front of the camera that she will embark on her new journey with everyone's blessings.

After the filming was over, everyone said goodbye reluctantly.

They knew that this would probably be the last time they would shoot material together as "teammates" and the next time they would meet would be at a concert.

At that concert, Mizuno Ai will officially announce her solo career and leave their group.

They hugged her and whispered goodbye:

"You must come and play more often in the future."

"We are still lifelong friends. Don't forget us."

"I'll buy every one of your albums."

Someone also secretly slipped her a letter in a pink envelope, carefully advising her: "Read it when you are not busy."

Mizuno Ai's eyes were a little red, but she tried to maintain a smile and responded one by one.

After everything settled down, Mizuno Ai finally returned to the nanny car.

She took off her boots, leaned back in her seat, and let out a long breath, as if letting out all the emotions that had been pent up in her heart for the past few months.

A trace of relief appeared in her eyes, and she said softly: "Finally... it's all over."

"No, it's not the end, it's a new beginning."

Hoshikawa Taku sat beside her and gently corrected her, "The past you has ended, but the new you is about to step onto the stage and become the most shining idol."

The corners of Mizuno Ai's mouth rose slightly. She didn't say anything, just nodded slightly, and then leaned her head intimately on Hoshikawa Taku's shoulder.

After a moment, Mizuno Ai said softly: "Mr. Xingchuan, now, can we sign the contract? I have been looking forward to it for a long time, and now I can finally become yours..."

Her words contained a hint of joking ridicule, but also concealed the girl's serious and bold expectations.

"Well, we'll sign the contract when we get back."

Hoshikawa Taku looked down at her and responded softly, but did not avoid the ambiguity in her words.

At this moment, the air in the car was quiet and warm, as if some subtle thoughts were quietly flowing.

Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming more and more ambiguous, Taku Hoshikawa glanced at Lupa who was secretly looking at them through the rearview mirror in the driver's seat, and then he remembered that there was another person in the car.

Hoshikawa Taku coughed lightly and said to the front as if nothing had happened: "Lupa, stop looking. Please drive."

Lupa also came along on this trip as their assistant and driver, but he never entered the office. Instead, he was working in a nearby cafe, waiting for them.

Sitting in the driver's seat, Lupa witnessed the entire process of the two people's intimate contact and Mizuno Ai's ambiguous words.

Although her professional ethics allowed her to sit steadily in the driver's seat with a calm expression as if she "heard nothing and saw nothing", she was already screaming in her heart.

There must be something going on between these two people!

I am still here. What if they start a game like this? Should I watch it or not?

Fortunately, the worst thing did not happen. Lupa quickly responded and slowly stepped on the accelerator.

Chapter 282: A signed contract that is more useful than a marriage certificate.

When the car stopped again, it had arrived at the door of the office.

Taku Hoshikawa gently patted Mizuno Ai, who had been sleeping all the way, and woke her up in a low voice.

"Here, get out of the car."

Mizuno Ai rubbed her eyes and nodded, then got out of the car in a daze, holding on to the car door.

After she left, Hoshikawa Taku didn't get out of the car. Instead, he looked at Lupa through the rearview mirror and said in a calm but meaningful tone:

"Lupa, you should know what to say and what not to say, right?"

The words were said lightly, but the underlying sense of oppression made Lupa's back tighten slightly.

But she quickly reacted and immediately played dumb: "Manager, what are you talking about? I didn't see anything, I didn't hear anything."

"very good."

Hoshikawa Taku nodded with satisfaction, then leaned closer to Lupa and whispered in her ear, "Lupa, I trust you very much, that's why I always keep you by my side."

"But...if I hear any rumors, don't blame me for promoting you from assistant to secretary and doing things I shouldn't do to you."

After saying this, Taku Hoshikawa got out of the car.

Lupa held the steering wheel with his hands, his ears gradually turning red.

"What does it mean when you say you shouldn't do something..."

Lupa was not afraid of Taku Hoshikawa's threats.

After all, she had been in close contact with Taku Hoshikawa for several months and knew his character. Apart from being a little fickle and promiscuous, this guy had no other shortcomings.

He said the things he shouldn't do, were they helping to order coffee, managing schedules, or... those things under the table, in the meeting room, by the window... that kind of thing?

“No, no, no—!”

Lupa shook his head vigorously, getting rid of the images that shouldn't have appeared in his mind, and then muttered to himself:

"I'd better not let my imagination run wild. Maybe the manager is just threatening me to stop talking nonsense, and there's no other meaning..."

Lupa comforted herself in this way, but her heartbeat still accelerated unconsciously.

……

When Taku Hoshikawa returned to the office, Ai Mizuno was already waiting for him there.

She couldn't wait to pull Xingchuan Taku over: "Mr. Xingchuan, let's sign the contract quickly!"

Her eyes were shining, and her tone was filled with unconcealed eagerness and joy.

She did not enjoy her freedom, but instead wanted to quickly leave the mark of Taku Hoshikawa on her body.

She had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

But Hoshikawa Taku didn't immediately take out the printed contract like he usually did when signing an artist. Instead, he sat across from her, looked at her seriously, and said frankly:

"Xiao Ai, although I said I want to sign a contract with you, I haven't prepared the specific contents of the contract in advance. Let's discuss it and see what kind of contract you want."

When Mizuno Ai heard this, there was a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"Then Mr. Xingchuan, what kind of contracts did you sign with the others?"

she asked curiously.

"Usually it's a ten-year contract, with a 10% commission and a base salary of 10 yen. However, this is a contract for a newcomer. You're already a popular idol and don't need the agency's resources at all. Even asking for a 60% commission is reasonable."

In the newcomer stage, the agency provides platforms, resources and exposure, and is the absolute dominant party, so it is normal for it to obtain most of the profits.

But as artists grow, their voice will also increase. Many famous artists even set up their own companies and are responsible for their own profits and losses.

Now that Mizuno Ai is a popular idol, her agency makes money by relying on her popularity, so she can naturally get a high share.

Taku Hoshikawa wanted to have a good talk with her and negotiate a fair contract that was even biased towards her, but Ai Mizuno shook her head gently.

She said seriously, "Mr. Xingchuan, the reason I was able to survive, the reason I was able to stand on the stage again, the reason I was able to peacefully terminate my contract with the agency and receive compensation... all of this is thanks to you."

"You could say that my life is yours. Even if I don't want any share, I'm willing to sign a contract with you."

Mizuno Ai looked at Hoshikawa Taku with deep affection in her eyes.

"If you need it, Mr. Xingchuan, you can take all the compensation I have on hand."

Although Hoshikawa Taku was very happy to have her trust, this trust was too "heavy".

Hoshikawa Taku shook his head and said sternly, "That won't do. I'm willing to lend you a hand simply because there's a girl in need. I don't expect anything in return. If I did that, wouldn't that make me end up like your previous firm?"

Hoshikawa Taku was righteous and sternly rejected Mizuno Ai.

However, Mizuno Ai was not happy, but her eyes became dim.

Her fingertips gently grasped the hem of her skirt and whispered, "Mr. Xingchuan... is that all? Could it be that you're only helping me because you feel sorry for me?"

Her voice was like a needle piercing the air, carrying with it a hint of hurt and grievance that could not be concealed.