I have a life simulator.

"What's wrong? Are you getting ready to fulfill the bet?"

It has to be said that Amaze Ichika's current state is indeed just like the emoji in her profile picture. As soon as Horikita Suzune sent her a message, she immediately replied with a sentence, highlighting the carefree attitude of slacking off at her workstation.

Seeing that Amasawa Ichika couldn't stop talking about the bet, Horikita Suzune, true to her word, typed out a reply:

"Anyway, I'm available anytime. You can come whenever you're free. Besides, the one who might not be available right now is Ryo. Hiyori has already booked another room at that hotel and is going to stay there for a long time. Sometimes I wonder if I'm witnessing the birth of the next Hayasaka Rin."

Who is Hayasaka Rin?

"A mystery novelist who specializes in writing erotic stories, I just hope that one day I won't see Hiyori's debut work being some kind of indescribable murder case."

Although Horikita Suzune wasn't a particularly dedicated mystery novel fan, she was definitely the one who read the most among the girls around Kitagawa Ryo. She had a habit of reading in her daily life, and moreover, Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori used to joke about this book a lot for a while, so she took a look at it when she had some free time.

"And not to mention Hiyori, Ryo has been extremely busy these past two days, and we even split up today."

"Is it about the advertisement that Lingyin mentioned a couple of days ago? It seems like this can't be included in the discussion, but there's nothing I can do about it."

"I know, since I can't help with anything, whether it's acting, screenwriting, or anything else. So I've been thinking about how to carry out this special exam by myself. I originally planned to complete it independently, but then I found out that Ryo was doing something similar, so we ended up teaming up."

Although Tianze Yixia really wanted to retort, "Do you even believe what you're saying?", she ultimately didn't type it out and continued replying, following the other person's lead:

"If you can't come up with any good ideas, go out for a walk and look for inspiration. After all, Tokyo is such a big city that interesting things happen every moment. It's much better than staying in the studio alone and working in isolation."

"Didn't Lingyin initially want to become a food blogger? Exploring different restaurants would be a good idea, wouldn't it? If you need start-up capital, I can sponsor a little bit—"

Facing her friend on the other end of the phone who shamelessly claimed to be the eldest daughter of the Amasawa family and showered her with gold coins, Horikita Suzune, knowing full well that the other person couldn't see it, still subconsciously rolled her eyes slightly before replying:

"Then I might as well just ask Liang for help. Besides, compared to what you've said, the food blogger I want to become is more interested in making dishes than tasting them. After all, I can't taste anything specific about whether it's good or bad before I can describe it."

However, what Amazusa said at least reminded Horikita Suzune of the contact information on several business cards she had received at last year's cultural festival, which she had kept in her phone.

As the largest cultural festival in the history of Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, last year's festival invited almost everyone related to Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, including many people from the catering industry. After all, the student cafeteria and various restaurants in Keyakizaka Shopping Center are all outsourced businesses, and many have chain stores of the same brand outside the school.

"I'll try my luck. At least a few people spoke highly of me during last year's cultural festival, and even said things like if I'm interested in working there after graduation."

"Last year's cultural festival? Oh, it was the one when Suzune, Ryo, and Airi made desserts and opened a dessert shop together, right? All three of you are really good at it. Although Suzune is not as good as Ryo, she is definitely in the class that can open a shop."

"Okay, that's all for now. I'll go make the contact."

After finishing her chat with Amazusa, Horikita Suzune got up from her seat and stretched, unconsciously recalling her experience of gradually falling into the deep pit of cooking.

Perhaps because Kitagawa Ryo had told her about the origin of his name, and because Japan was indeed deeply influenced by the Tang Dynasty (especially the widespread popularity of Bai Juyi's poems), Horikita Suzune would often read those Tang Dynasty poems.

However, she is not the kind of person who would "smile and cook for you in a long dress" or "never lift a finger to cook for you." After all, Horikita Suzune did not suddenly start learning to cook for someone. Rather, Sakura Airi is closer to that description, since she was truly influenced by the coolness and devoted herself to studying baking for many years.

For Horikita Suzune herself, what Kitagawa Ryo taught her, or rather what she learned from cooking, was closer to a kind of self-awareness and a way of dealing with people. Just like the saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," it was a process of self-growth through a deep understanding and familiarity with oneself and others.

In fact, in the year and a half since she entered Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, many students have come to her to learn cooking skills. Some are cramming for Valentine's Day chocolates, while others, like Ibuki Mio, are just looking to learn another skill. Even Shiina Hiyori, who lives nearby, has asked her about it these past few days.

Horikita Suzune already knew from Ibuki Mio that Shiina Hiyori had been learning to cook in preparation for Kitagawa Ryo's transfer to another class, but she didn't keep anything to herself and never held back what she had to say or teach.

In a sense, this could be considered her unconscious pride, since she was far superior to other girls who only started thinking about cooking halfway through, both in terms of her understanding of Kitagawa Ryo's taste and her specific cooking skills.

Therefore, she didn't need any dramatic contrast, such as her long dress transforming into a waitress or her coming here specifically to cook for him; everything just happened naturally.

Just like the simple poem, "On the third day, I entered the kitchen, washed my hands, and prepared soup."

Horikita Suzune stretched out her hand towards the windowpane, where her silhouette was clearly reflected. Her black hair, cascading like a waterfall, reached her waist, and her purplish-red pupils swirled in the mirror. At this moment, they resembled glass infused with wine, exuding a certain inner confidence and a touch of shyness.

Because she remembered the origin of the above phrase.

It is "The New Bride's Song" by Wang Jian, a poet from the Tang Dynasty.

----------------------------------

While Horikita Suzune was making up her mind to return to her old ways, Kitagawa Ryo was still at the advertising company directing a group of professionals who had been inexplicably assigned to his team to edit the script and film the movie.

It can only be said that, as Ichinose Honami thought, it is quite rare for the management of large companies in reality to engage in the kind of operations that are only seen in short dramas, where one person takes turns offering their face to be slapped by the protagonist, and after the younger one is slapped, the middle one is slapped, and after the middle one is slapped, the older one is slapped. After all, Kitagawa Ryo's background is not a secret in their circle. The Kitagawa family itself has publicized it in a big way, so there is no drama of superiors stealing credit from subordinates or security guards causing trouble.

With the script by Kitagawa Ryo confirmed to be of high quality and the client also feeling that the effect was good, the pace of work naturally accelerated. Kitagawa Ryo handled the task very smoothly, and his confident and composed demeanor made Ryuen and Yoshida, who were watching from the sidelines, feel a little uncomfortable.

After all, even though they had spent more than a year together at Dongyu, they found it hard to imagine that the person who was now dressed in a suit and tie, looking more mature and composed, and directing a large group of adults who were at least a year older than them, was a high school sophomore.

In the past two days, many female employees passing by have started discussing whether he is a recent graduate from the University of Tokyo or Kyoto University, with a powerful family background and his own abilities, and who looks remarkably like their next boyfriend.

After working non-stop at the advertising company for several days and finishing most of the job, Kitagawa Ryo suddenly bumped into Sakura Airi while buying a drink from a vending machine at the end of the company corridor.

"Isn't Airi filming on set right now?"

Kitagawa Ryo accepted the fruit drink from Sakura Airi, who seemed to have been waiting there, and asked her a question while pulling open the can.

"I just finished my first job and am currently on break. Hui told me she'd been here for the past two days, so I just stopped by. I've worked with one of the advertising distributors here before, when I was an idol, so I just said hello and came in."

After a week apart, Sakura Airi's demeanor had returned to the middle school days that Kitagawa Ryo was more familiar with. Compared to the long period when she deliberately reduced her presence in Dongyu, she was now closer to the super popular idol who shone brightly on stage and was recognized by the public.

For Sakura Airi, that idol experience was never the heavy past that Kitagawa Ryo thought she needed to forget. Rather, it was because of those years that she was able to genuinely like herself. However, due to the information gap, there was always some misunderstanding between her and Kitagawa Ryo.

After speaking frankly with Kitagawa Ryo during the student council election at the beginning of this year, the small misunderstanding was quickly resolved, and both sides naturally switched to a more comfortable way of getting along.

"How's work going? Did the director dislike your acting skills like I said before?"

"It's not entirely smooth sailing, but it's not to the extent that Liang described either."

Seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with Kitagawa Ryo's statement, Sakura Airi reached out and touched his forehead with her drink before gulping down a mouthful.

"There are times when I get praised and times when I get criticized, but my senior manager at the agency makes me feel very at ease, so there aren't any major problems. All that's left is to keep learning and gradually improve. After all, I'm just a newly retired idol and a newly entered actor, unlike Ryo who can do this so easily, even though he's also a newly entered director and screenwriter like me."

Kitagawa Ryo simply smiled at this, then extended his hand to her, inviting her to join him.

"If you happen to have a freelance actor, why don't you give it a try as a director who's also just starting out?"

Sakura Airi was a little stunned when she heard this, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she just looked into his eyes and smiled and nodded.

Just like long after, at many award ceremonies, when reporters asked her, "Who is the director you have worked with most enjoyably as an actress so far?", she would always make that expression that made all movie fans discuss it enthusiastically for a long time until they suddenly realized the answer.

P.S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

PS2: Recently, the book review section has been asking about Kikyo Kushida again. I've mentioned this many times before. The main reason is that I personally just don't click with her character at all, so I didn't include her in the outline in the first place...

Chapter 83: Senior Sister definitely knows a lot (4k5)

More than a week has passed since the start of the summer special exams. Most students have gradually adapted to the work and life rhythm that is completely different from that at Tokyo Advanced Educational High School. However, how many people can actually learn something from these special exams, and how much they can learn, is another matter entirely.

However, for Asahina Nazuna of Class 3-A, this journey so far has clearly been quite meaningful.

Before systematically engaging with the fashion design industry, most people, including her, were only at the stage of 'drawing pretty dresses'. But like many other industries, fashion design is also a highly comprehensive discipline, involving not only art, technology, and marketing, but also requiring a high level of professional competence from practitioners in all aspects.

Her previous idea of ​​'drawing beautiful dresses' was just one link in this long industrial chain. Even this single link required her to master a variety of professional skills such as sketching, color matching, and graphic design, not to mention the manual pattern making and sewing techniques that would follow.

As the saying goes, laymen watch the show, while experts see the details. Tokyo Advanced Educational High School has indeed put a lot of effort into the companies they selected for this summer special exam. They chose either well-known international companies or smaller companies with a good reputation in their respective industries and specializing in a particular sector, striving to ensure that every ambitious student can learn as much as possible during this month-long period.

The latter was where Asahina Nazuna interned.

With her diligent attitude, down-to-earth and humble personality, and decent talent, after more than a week of internship at the store, she finally began to learn the most basic but also most important theoretical knowledge of the industry and related practices. She truly began to transform from an intern who came to the store to learn into an unofficial employee who could help out in some ways.

That's why Asahina Nagisa didn't experience any of the unexpected situations she and Kitagawa Ryo had worried about. She did have some work-related frustrations, but they were quickly overshadowed by the joy of learning new things and the kindness of others. It wasn't to the point where she needed to call someone out and have a good cry. Rather, Asahina Nagisa was completely immersed in the satisfaction of slowly learning things from scratch that she had never understood before.

But this good mood was completely ruined one morning.

Because she ran into someone she had been deliberately avoiding for a long time.

Nanyun Ya.

In fact, since losing her position as student council president and subsequently her status as a grade leader in the mixed training camp special exam at the beginning of the year, Nangumo Masa has been intentionally keeping a low profile, which is completely different from before.

That is why, even though most of the third-grade students were thinking of finding an opportunity to expel him, they still haven't found that opportunity six months later.

It was purely accidental that Nagumo Masaru would stroll up to Asahina Nazuna at this particular time.

Before this special exam began, he followed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's instructions and specifically chose the option of auditing university classes. However, he was merely using the university's cafeteria and dormitory for free. He did not attend any regular classes and showed no intention of completing any assignments.

Although this basically means he will receive a rather dismal final grade after this special exam, it doesn't really matter to Nan Yunya now.

However, perhaps because it had been almost three years since he last returned to Tokyo, he also took the opportunity to reflect on his life so far.

When I came to my senses, both studying and sports became my undisputed number one priorities.

When I came to my senses, a group of guys who wanted to take advantage of the situation had already appeared around me.

Even though it sounds quite Versailles, Nan Yunya would still say that he didn't actually work particularly hard, and that he achieved these accomplishments rather easily.

Excellent learning ability and physical fitness, handsome appearance, and a mature personality that can see through the appearance to the essence of things.

This is the necessary condition for becoming popular.

If being admired by others is a manifestation of ability, then he clearly possessed this talent from a young age.

Despite this, Nan Yunya, who is seen as a winner in life by others, sometimes still feels a mysterious sense of unease that she can never shake off.

That was the unease of not being able to find an answer.

In his carefree life, only this one thing lingered in his mind.

Even though people approve of him and follow him, this sense of incongruity has not disappeared.

He seemed to have found the answer he was looking for after entering high school.

The first person to catch the eye is Horikita Manabu, a man of exceptional wisdom and unwavering faith, who is equally respected.

But in fact, his achievements were no less than his opponent's, and in some aspects he even surpassed Horikita.

This isn't a game where you clear the stage by defeating the opponent. Even though you can temporarily suppress your confusion during this process, this sense of bewilderment resurfaces in Nan Yunya's heart after she becomes the student council president.

At first, he wanted to alleviate his confusion by defeating the junior chosen by Horikita Manabu, a first-year student named Kitagawa Ryo, just like he had done with Horikita Manabu before. However, the sudden appearance of the acting chairman shattered all the illusions in Nagumo Masaru's heart, finally letting him know what he truly wanted.

Compared to other children his age, he was undoubtedly the most popular one, but in fact, he never turned his superior abilities into something more practical from childhood to adulthood.

The unique environment of Tokyo Advanced Educational High School helped Masashi Nagumo take his first step. He integrated the class and grade, broke into the student council, and then happily obtained a small share of power from the school.

The grade has 160 students. If you exclude those who are no longer here or those who do not respect him, the actual number is just over 100.

But these numbers already made him the most famous and highest-ranking individual in the entire Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, practically standing at the top of the school.

What if we add a zero to this number, and then add another zero?

They would wave their votes at him, and then let him truly enter the core of the country's power, just like the man who suddenly appeared as the acting chairman of Dongyu woke him up with the fist of power. Of course, he could also do the same thing to another arrogant sixteen or seventeen-year-old high school student when he was the same age as Yuecheng Changcheng twenty or thirty years later.

After realizing this, Nagumo Masako lost all interest in Tokyo Advanced Educational High School or any other job.

Universities? If he were to rise to the position of a politician, plenty of universities would be willing to award him various honorary degrees and titles.

What job can compare to being a powerful figure who can arbitrarily control the operation of an entire country according to their own will?

During this special exam, Masaru Nagumo followed Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's instructions and wandered around places such as Shinjuku Station, Sunshine Plaza at Ike Station, and Hibiya Park. These places are all common locations where people from various political parties give street speeches.

The images of those middle-aged and elderly men who, in the past, would never have stopped to speak, were now a powerful stimulant for Nan Yunya. She listened with great interest to those dry, clichéd speeches and wished she could take their place and say them herself.

Since the street speech location that needed to be monitored today was in front of Shibuya Station, a gathering place for young people, politicians often come here to give speeches to attract young voters. That's why Masahiro Nagumo came here. Unexpectedly, he bumped into Nagisa Asahina, who works in the store.

However, the two of them actually had nothing left to say to each other. Although, in theory, their relationship had changed since they first enrolled in Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, not to mention that they were now heading in completely opposite directions.

But before leaving, Nagumo Masa made a provocative gesture to Asahina Nazuna with a gloomy expression.

Even if the other person does become a clothing design expert, the ultimate goal is to design a custom-made suit for themselves to speak in Congress twenty years from now after they have achieved success.

That will be the moment when the other party truly regrets it.

Asahina Nagisa also saw Nagumo Masaru's action, but she did not intend to respond. After all, since the other party had completely broken off with her, Asahina Nagisa no longer wanted to have any connection with him.

However, it must be said that this unexpected encounter this morning really put Asahina Nazuna in a bad mood.

"...Shall we talk to Ryo about this tonight?"

After all, the other party might be planning something detrimental to him.

Asahina Nazuna nodded, convincing herself of this.

----------------------------------

As luck would have it, on the very day that Asahina Nagisa bumped into Nagumo Masaru, Kitagawa Ryoya happened to be visiting the clothing design shop where she was currently interning.

"So Liang has become our store's client?"

"Yes, because we needed to make a few special outfits for the shoot, and I thought since you live nearby, we came directly to this store."

After entrusting the business negotiations to a specialist, Kitagawa Ryo started chatting directly with Asahina Nazuna:

"Then we'll have them bring their seniors along to participate, which would be the same as boosting both of our special exam scores at the same time. That's what you call keeping the good stuff in the family."

It can only be said that Long Yuanxiang's approach to this special exam does have some merit. After all, even in society, being a middleman with connections in various fields is a legitimate profession. The numerous free information centers on the streets are a good example. Connecting students from different companies through a job is a feasible thing.

"By the way, how's your class going, senior? I haven't heard from you these past few days, so it seems like everything's alright?"

"Hmm, now that I think about it, I was definitely worrying too much at the beginning."

"After all, my senior's personality and abilities are evident. I have always believed that she can achieve success no matter where she is or what job she does. Gold shines wherever it is."