novelraw Chapter 1630 - 1628: Our Goal Is the Stars and the Sea (Aoko’s Sourness Is Deadly!)
Chapter 1630 - 1628: Our Goal Is the Stars and the Sea (Aoko’s Sourness Is Deadly!)
Early the next morning, Fang Zheng first accompanied Yukina to Ogata Office to terminate the contract, as this was a major matter and he couldn’t just let Yukina go alone.
In fact, it wasn’t easy. Although Yukina had decided to terminate the contract, Ogata Office clearly wouldn’t let go of this cash cow. Fang Zheng could foresee that they would certainly try hard to keep Yukina, which is why he personally appeared. The producer couldn’t be relied upon, and Yukina’s parents had no experience dealing with agencies. If Fang Zheng didn’t go himself, Yukina would be basically unable to terminate the contract smoothly under isolation without support.
And things turned out as Fang Zheng expected. When he and Yukina arrived at the office, they were soon led to the president’s room.
"Do you really want to terminate the contract?"
Sitting behind the boss’s desk, the president of Ogata Office stared at Yukina in front of him.
"Miss Komizo, you should know how much effort our Ogata Office has put into you. We’ve hired so many excellent teachers for you, and in terms of promotion, the office has also exerted great efforts......"
"But it’s still not worth eighty million, is it?"
Fang Zheng decisively interrupted President Ogata’s attempt to reason emotionally.
"It’s precisely to ensure that your efforts don’t go to waste that the eighty million breach of contract fee was set, isn’t it? Now here are the eighty million, do you have any problems?"
"Miss Komizo is an extremely rare talent. I can assure you that she can become a superstar idol...... I know the previous incident has been quite a blow to you. Yamamoto’s actions are unforgivable; I have already fired her. If you wish, I can offer you some vacation time......"
"If someone doesn’t want to do it, they just stop, that’s all there is to it."
Seeing that talking to Fang Zheng wasn’t working, President Ogata had no choice but to look at Yukina.
"Miss Komizo, won’t you reconsider? Have you talked to Miss Morikawa Yuki about this?"
"......I talked to Sister Yuki about it."
Faced with the inquiry from her own president, Yukina hesitated for a moment, but finally confessed.
"Sister Yuki also advised me, but...... I’m sorry, President, I’ve had enough...... I don’t want to be an idol anymore."
Although Yukina had experienced happiness while being an idol, everything she faced after that had completely scared her. No matter how significant being an idol is, isn’t one’s life more important? Without life, what’s the point of being an idol?
"If you really feel this way, there’s no other way. But you should remember, President Kawano has been very attentive to you. Currently, you still qualify as an idol star. Once you leave......"
However, before President Ogata could finish his words, Fang Zheng threw a newspaper onto his desk.
"Take a look for yourself."
"What is this?"
Feeling a bit dissatisfied with Fang Zheng’s attitude, President Ogata still picked up the newspaper beside him. After glancing at it, his eyes widened.
"This......"
"Kawano Corporation is suspected of financial crime and has been sealed off. President Kawano himself was arrested last night. The specific charges are all detailed inside, I don’t need to elaborate further, do I?"
To Fang Zheng, Kawano Corporation was trivial, using Ratziel to settle matters swiftly without caring about other trivialities.
But to President Ogata......
"Any other issues?"
"No, there are none now."
This time, faced with Fang Zheng, President Ogata immediately adjusted his previous attitude, becoming respectful. He wasn’t a fool; from yesterday to today, in just one night, so many things happened. Kawano Corporation was quite a big name in the entertainment industry and collapsed overnight. To say this had nothing to do with the young man before him, President Ogata wouldn’t believe it. Not to mention the other party took out eighty million without batting an eye......
President Ogata was curious about Fang Zheng’s identity before, but now he’s not curious at all. Many people could take out eighty million without blinking, but being able to effortlessly topple Kawano Corporation overnight? He had never seen anyone like that.
Curiosity killed the cat, as the saying goes, and he understood it well.
"Terminate the contract."
When Yukina walked out of Ogata Office and reached the gates again, she felt as if she were in a dream. She had never imagined that this matter would be resolved so easily. So much so that until she was back in the car and was brought to 765 Office by Fang Zheng, she still hadn’t come to terms with it.
Fang Zheng pushed open the door and walked into the office. At that moment, the girls were all there. Upon seeing Fang Zheng appear, they immediately rushed over.
"Producer, are you and Sora really leaving?"
"Is this true, Producer? What should we do?"
"What’s going on? Why are you leaving?"
Looking at the girls surrounding him with constant questions, Fang Zheng raised his eyebrows and then looked at Sora in the distance, who nodded slightly — it was clear that Sora had already explained to the others before Fang Zheng arrived.
This was part of the plan.
"Calm down."
Fang Zheng reached out his hand to press down slightly. Seeing his gesture, the others quickly closed their mouths and watched him.
"As Sora said, the contract we initially signed with 765 is only for one year. After the contract expires, we will leave because we have more important tasks to complete. As for the issues here, you don’t need to worry. Before Sora and I leave, we’ll introduce newcomers to take over our jobs. And depending on the situation, our connection with 765 may not be entirely severed in the future."
"???"
Perhaps Fang Zheng’s words were too complex to understand, causing the girls to look puzzled. But Fang Zheng didn’t give them much explanation, for they should understand after they see it for themselves.
"Now, what I want to talk about is the biggest job currently at 765 Office, and whether to accept it depends on whether you’re willing."
"Eh?"
Hearing this, the girls were even more surprised because in the past, Fang Zheng decided the work for them—they just needed to do it. Why is it different this time?
"What’s the job, Producer?"
Haruka asked on behalf of everyone.
"A large concert centered around STARS, with full participation from everyone."
"Wow!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was amazed.
"Then where will it be held?"
"On the battlefield."
"......Huh?"
Faced with Fang Zheng’s response, everyone was dumbfounded. They looked at each other, seemingly not fully understanding what Fang Zheng meant. After a moment, Xuebu timidly raised her hand.
"Um... Producer, I didn’t quite understand. Are you saying..."
"Battlefield."
"But... I haven’t heard of any wars recently."
This world is quite peaceful, with no wars breaking out anywhere, so naturally, there are no reports of such.
"Not here, to be exact, not on Earth, but in space in another world. Here’s the situation..."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng gave the girls a brief introduction to the situation in the Mech World, including how the current immigrant ships of the Chinese Federation are battling aliens outside the Solar System. The opponents are a cultureless race that only knows war. Only singing can stimulate the latent cultural genes within them, weakening the enemy. Therefore, they need members capable of communicating with the aliens through song. Coincidentally, the artists from 765 Office under Fang Zheng’s management, along with the perfect performances from STARS, are deemed qualified. So he decided to have the girls from 765 go to that world and hold a concert.
"...Alright, that’s the general situation. Do you have any questions?"
"..........."
After Fang Zheng finished speaking, the girls were speechless, not knowing how to respond. After all, what Fang Zheng told them sounded more like a science fiction story than actual work...
"Producer, this wouldn’t be the movie we’re going to shoot next, would it."
Kikuchi Makoto spoke up at this point.
"You can think of it that way if it makes it easier for you to accept."
"I still find it... hard to believe."
"Yeah, yeah, is this really not just a joke you’re playing on us? Is there anything wrong with you?"
Although Fang Zheng had explained it clearly, the girls still seemed a bit unconvinced, even suspecting whether Fang Zheng had a fever... Well, that’s a normal human reaction.
"So, what are your thoughts? I must say in advance, I will protect you from harm, but other than that, you will be in a battlefield. Unlike a concert that would have rehearsals and preparations, you would need to be mentally prepared if you decide to perform. The concert will last as long as the battle does, meaning as long as the battle continues, so must the concert. It could be as short as two to three hours or as long as four to five hours."
If Fang Zheng had his way, they could simply record a concert and play it on the battlefield; however, Anya rejected this proposal. Based on Anya’s investigation, it seems only live singing can produce something akin to brainwaves or telepathy, giving the song its "infectious power." Just playing music doesn’t significantly affect those alien giants.
Fang Zheng could only understand this as world building.
After all, he has seen even more ridiculous scenarios, so what’s one more?
Nevertheless, the girls were still at a loss because what Fang Zheng said was too far from their common sense. To be honest, they could imagine performing on a battlefield. But going to space? That was beyond their comprehension.
"By the way, not only will you participate, but she will as well."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng pushed Yukina, who was originally standing behind, into view. Yukina didn’t expect to be pushed forward and greeted the group, looking bewildered. Seeing her, the girls were also taken aback.
"Isn’t that Komizo Yukina?"
"What’s going on, Producer? Are we going to hold a concert with her?"
"Why is she here? Is she joining 765?"
The group was quite surprised, as they never expected Yukina to appear here.
"Yukina has already left Ogata Office, but she’s not planning to join 765 at the moment. This is just a collaborative performance for now... Anyway, what’s your decision?"
"I’m going!"
At that moment, Meixi jumped up first.
"Where HONEY goes, I go! I don’t want to be separated from HONEY. If HONEY stops being a producer, then Meixi will retire."
"Eh?!!"
Meixi’s statement about retirement obviously shocked everyone more than anything else they heard.
"Wait, Meixi, you’re not serious, are you?"
"Meixi is serious."
In response to the others’ questioning, Meixi nodded.
"I said it before, I just wanted to be an idol who could take it easy. But after becoming an idol, work has been piling up, and the training has become exhausting. It’s because Meixi wants HONEY to see the shining Meixi that I’ve held on till now. If HONEY quits, then so will Meixi because it’s too tiring."
This does fit with Meixi’s way of thinking, a quite "unconventional" yet logical reason. Hearing this, Fang Zheng was at a loss for words... As this year’s best star, Meixi’s workload indeed has been hectic. If it were Yukina, perhaps she’d endure it, but Meixi...
If she’s unhappy, even the gods themselves stand no chance with her.
Seeing Meixi’s response, Yukina’s expression was somewhat complex. Retiring was a decision Yukina had made only after much deliberation, yet Meixi seemed to reach the conclusion almost without a second thought... This left Yukina feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
"Let’s set that aside for now."
Fang Zheng had to bring the girls back on topic as they were chattering away and diverging from the subject.
"Whether or not Meixi will retire, I’ll discuss with her later. For now, just focus on the current job. Do you agree to take it on?"
Fang Zheng was now regretting organizing a big meeting. Perhaps it would be better to talk to them individually. One woman equals five hundred ducks, and with so many girls here, it seemed like there were thousands of ducks. The constant topic shifts were quite frustrating for Fang Zheng.
"I’m going!"
Iori quickly gave her answer.
"I want to see whether what you’re saying is true or not."
With Iori leading the way, the other girls quickly agreed too.
"Me too!"
"I want to see what space is like. I’ve never seen it before!"
"Alright then."
Seeing everyone agree more in a playful tone, Fang Zheng simply shrugged.
"Then it’s decided for now."
After all, if they didn’t want to later, they’d still have to face reality.