My Name is Hiroshi Nohara, Star of Neon Film and Television!

Chapter 143: A Deal in the Izakaya! The Shocked Iwata Masao!

Tokyo, Shibuya Ward.

On the top floor of the Kirin Real Estate Headquarters Building, a private club not open to the public, where only senior management of the group could enter.

The air here was permeated with the scent of luxury and indulgence.

Stepping underfoot was a handmade silk carpet from Persia, so soft it felt as if it could suck in a person's entire soul.

Hanging on the walls were paintings by modern masters, seemingly casual, but each one sufficient to cause a small stir at an auction.

Takada Toshihide, this Executive Deputy Director who was sufficient to make anyone in the TV Tokyo Production Bureau keep quiet out of fear, at this moment had his back ramrod straight, and on his face hung that humble and respectful smile he had practiced thousands of times.

His eyes, which always carried a bit of gloom, were currently observing the two people sitting opposite him.

But his gaze also occasionally glanced at the empty seat at the head of the table.

Because the true host had gone to the restroom.

Beside him, Iwata Masao was already like a dead dog with its spine pulled out, sitting humbly on the very edge of the sofa, his buttocks only daring to touch one-third of it. He didn't even dare to raise his head, merely staring fixedly at that cup of top-grade Da Hong Pao tea that had long gone cold in front of him.

Being able to be brought by Executive Deputy Director Takada to step into this legendary place was already a supreme glory sufficient for him to boast about for half his life to those colleagues outside.

So Iwata Masao had to maintain extreme humility.

Forming a sharp contrast with the constraint of these two television station "big shots" was the pair of young men and women sitting opposite them.

The man was called Kamiki Shunsuke, and the woman was called Kitagawa Miyuki.

They were the male and female leads of Iwata Masao's highly anticipated, large-scale period drama production touted to "clear previous shame" —— "Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree".

Kamiki Shunsuke, currently the hottest top-tier idol in Japan, that face was handsome like a prince walking out of a manga, a pair of peach blossom eyes innately carrying a bit of careless affection.

At this moment, he acted like a true host, leaning lazily on the sofa with his legs crossed, those extremely valuable handmade Gucci leather shoes even casually resting on that coffee table made of a solid piece of golden thread nanmu wood.

And Kitagawa Miyuki, similarly an A-list actress currently in the limelight, she wore a well-tailored white Chanel skirt suit, carrying a perfectly appropriate sweet smile on that delicate, doll-like pretty face.

Only deep in those seemingly pure eyes hid a shrewd calculation for fame and wealth unbefitting her age.

"Director Iwata."

Kamiki Shunsuke didn't even bother to lift his eyes, merely using his chin to lightly point towards that top-tier red wine cabinet with constant temperature and humidity not far away, his voice as flat as if an ordering the humblest servant: "That bottle, the '82 Romanée-Conti, open it."

"..." Iwata Masao's body jerked violently.

He subconsciously raised his head, and on that face whose edges and corners had long been ground flat by reality, a trace of the humiliation of being publicly insulted flashed.

Romanée-Conti?

Although he didn't understand red wine, he had also heard of this resounding name. It was said that a bottle of this wine was enough to equal several months of his salary!

He cast his gaze towards Takada Toshihide beside him as if asking for help, in that look carrying a trace of a final small struggle.

However, Takada Toshihide seemed to not have seen his gaze seeking help, merely making the smile on his face even more genial, and using an almost doting tone towards Kamiki Shunsuke, he said gently: "Shunsuke-kun's taste is still as good as always. Iwata, why aren't you going quickly? Making Shunsuke-kun drink happily is also what we, as his seniors, should do."

Iwata Masao's heart instantly sank to the bottom of the valley.

But he didn't hesitate.

He immediately answered, stood up, and amidst those several playful gazes, walked step by step to the front of that red wine cabinet exuding a cold yet luxurious aura.

Those hands that had once directed affairs on set and scolded countless staff members were at this moment trembling slightly due to extreme humiliation.

But he still opened the wine cabinet.

Carefully, like holding a rare treasure, he took out that priceless red wine from inside, and then, using a clumsy method, opened that bottle of liquid gold sufficient to make any ordinary salaryman go crazy using a corkscrew.

"Director Iwata, thank you for your hard work."

Kitagawa Miyuki picked up the goblet, a sweet smile hanging on her face, attempting to use her high emotional intelligence to defuse this awkwardness.

However, her words had just fallen when Kamiki Shunsuke beside her let out a snicker full of contempt.

The voice wasn't loud.

Yet it acted like the sharpest needle, accurately piercing that hypocritical veil she had disguised with sweetness and docility.

"..."

The smile on Kitagawa Miyuki's face instantly froze. She glared fiercely at that man who was too lazy to even look at her properly, a trace of undisguised disgust flashing deep in those beautiful eyes.

It was double disgust, mentally and physiologically.

"Please."

Iwata Masao acted like the most professional waiter, pouring that scarlet liquid into the glasses for both Kamiki Shunsuke and Kitagawa Miyuki.

Then, he silently retreated back to his seat.

"Speaking of which, Director Iwata."

Kamiki Shunsuke gently shook the wine glass in his hand, that scarlet liquid swirling in a dangerous arc on the glass wall, he didn't even bother to taste it before pulling the topic back on track, his tone still full of commands: "Regarding the script, I read it again yesterday. I feel that my character's scenes are still too few."

"Few?" Iwata Masao was stunned.

He subconsciously wanted to rebut: "But... but Shunsuke-kun, you are already the absolute male lead! In the entire movie, almost all core plots revolve around you! If we add more scenes, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will affect the pacing of the entire story."

"Pacing?" Hearing this, Kamiki Shunsuke finally lifted those affectionate peach blossom eyes, yet in that gaze, carried a disdain almost akin to looking at an idiot: "Director Iwata, did you miscalculate something? Does the audience spend money to enter the movie theater to watch some bullshit pacing? They are here to watch me! Watch my face!"

He pointed at that flawlessly handsome face of his, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking arc:

"So, I don't care what method you use. What I want is very simple. First, cut out half of those irrelevant emotional scenes of the female lead, and replace them with my personal show."

"Second, for all shots, you must use the best lighting, the best angles, to film me looking a hundred times more handsome than I am now! Especially my left profile, remember, it's the left profile! That's my golden angle! Understand?!"

Even when he spoke, he completely didn't care that the female lead was sitting right next to him, as if casually giving an order.

And they had to obey him!

These words, full of an amateur directing an expert, and even possessing insulting demands, acted like a red-hot branding iron fiercely searing onto Iwata Masao's already riddled heart.

He was the director!

"You——!"

Iwata Masao abruptly stood up, an anger of trampled dignity igniting in those hollow eyes!

"Kamiki-kun! Movies are an art! Not your..."

"Iwata! Shut up!"

However, before he could finish his words, he was forcibly interrupted by Takada Toshihide's low shout full of warning intent!

Takada Toshihide slowly put down the teacup in his hand. On that face always carrying a bit of gloom, at this moment bloomed a smile full of confidence like an old fox.

He looked at Kamiki Shunsuke. That look was like the shrewdest merchant evaluating the most valuable commodity in his hands.

"What Shunsuke-kun says makes a lot of sense."

His voice was gentle, yet carried a coldness sufficient to make anyone shudder: "Art, is indeed important. But box office, is the only pursuit for us who make commercial movies. Shunsuke-kun's personal charm is the greatest box office guarantee for this movie of ours. We, of course must maximize this guarantee."

He turned his head, looking at Iwata Masao who had already been struck dumb by his words, that look like looking at an ignorant child.

"Iwata, what are you still standing there for? Why aren't you writing it down quickly? Every single one of Shunsuke-kun's demands must be satisfied for me a hundred percent! This is an order!"

"..." Iwata Masao shuddered.

But at this time, Takada Toshihide also glared at him, and said in a deep voice: "Hurry up, pour wine for our male lead! Have some situational awareness!"

"Hahahaha! Well said! Well said! Takada-kun!"

In this atmosphere full of suppression and humiliation, a burst of arrogant laughter sounded without any warning from outside that heavy mahogany door!

"I said it! Our Kirin Real Estate absolute chose the right people to cooperate with your TV Tokyo! This vision! This boldness! Deserving of being the Executive Deputy Director of the Production Bureau!"

Accompanied by this laughter, a man with an obese figure, wearing a handmade custom kimono that looked extremely expensive, and a string of massive jade prayer beads hanging around his neck, surrounded by a group of bodyguards in black, walked in unhurriedly like a moving mountain.

It was the Chairman of Kirin Real Estate, and also the largest investor of this "Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree" —— Sato Tokugawa.

"Chairman Sato!"

Takada Toshihide and Iwata Masao almost simultaneously bounced up from the sofa, and deeply bent their waists towards that man.

"Oh my, Chairman, you're here."

Kitagawa Miyuki also hurriedly stood up, putting on that sweetest and most docile smile on her face again, taking elegant steps, wanting to step forward to support that "God of Wealth" who looked a bit rigid in movement.

However, before her hand touched the other party's wide kimono sleeve, a large hand like a palm-leaf fan, carrying an unquestionable power, mercilessly pushed her aside.

"Go away, go away, stay over there. Don't be in the way here."

Sato Tokugawa didn't even bother to lift his eyelids. Those small eyes narrowed into slits had long been thoroughly attracted by another, more "delectable" figure.

"Oh my, Mr. Tokugawa..."

Under Iwata Masao's unbelievable, almost as if seeing a ghost gaze off to the side.

That top-tier idol, Kamiki Shunsuke, who was just full of arrogance and insufferably haughty, at this moment directly transformed into the appearance of a cute kitten, taking brisk steps to quickly welcome him.

Then personally hooked onto Sato Tokugawa's arm, acting coy like a spoiled child as he said: "Why are you only here now? I... have waited for you for so long."

"...!"

The entire room instantly fell into an eerie silence where one could hear a pin drop.

Iwata Masao blankly looked at this scene full of magical realism before him. All expressions on that face that was already somewhat pale faded cleanly in an instant.

He felt as if he understood something, standing blankly on the spot.

He looked at that "top-tier idol" who was smiling charmingly, helping that obese Chairman sit down on the main seat, that already numb heart at this moment was thoroughly submerged by a more absurd, almost unreal feeling!

He finally understood, that he seemed... to have thought wrongly from the very beginning.

The true "female lead" of this project, perhaps, wasn't that woman called Kitagawa Miyuki at all.

But... this guy...

Only Takada Toshihide, still stood there calmly, hanging that unruffled, genial smile on his face.

As if everything before him was naught but a normal commercial social gathering completely within his expectations.

He looked at that "top-tier idol" who acted like the most professional waiter, pouring that priceless Romanée-Conti for Sato Tokugawa, deep in those gloomy eyes, a trace of imperceptible coldness and disdain akin to a venomous snake flashed.

Takada Toshihide glanced at Iwata Masao beside him who had already been stunned, frowning slightly, feeling somewhat annoyed towards this subordinate and distant relative guy.

He directly reached out and pressed him back down to sit on the sofa.

He himself also slowly sat down along with Chairman Sato Tokugawa's action of sitting down, bringing back an amiable and humble smile to his face.

Without half a bit of arrogance and indifference.

Extremely enthusiastic!

As if there was no TV Tokyo Executive Deputy Director of the Production Bureau here, only a salesman accompanying a client!

In fact, it was quite similar.

This Chairman Sato Tokugawa was a financial backer he only just managed to connect with recently. Whether they could secure advertising business in the future would depend on whether this Chairman nodded his head.

As for the male and female leads, it didn't matter.

They were just toys to make this Chairman Sato Tokugawa happy.

What box office or not box office.

Wasn't it.

Also just an entertaining firecracker to coax this Chairman Sato Tokugawa?

The smile on Takada Toshihide's face grew increasingly deferential. He personally filled that cup of priceless Romanée-Conti for Sato Tokugawa, the scarlet liquid swirling in the crystal glass, reflecting that glint like a falcon deep in his eyes.

"Chairman Sato, that you could grace us with your presence, is the honor of our entire TV Tokyo. This glass of wine, I represent the Production Bureau, to toast you!"

His posture was placed very low, every word like it had undergone precise calculation, perfectly scratching the other party's itch.

"Cut this out!" Sato Tokugawa merely waved his hand. In those small eyes narrowed into slits, revealed an impatient scrutiny belonging to a superior.

He didn't even look at Takada Toshihide, merely placing his gaze onto the youth Kamiki Shunsuke.

"Mr. Tokugawa~" Kamiki Shunsuke spoke sweetly.

He was still leaning on Sato Tokugawa's obese shoulder, a pair of affectionate peach blossom eyes looking at him tearfully, and with a tone carrying undisguised fawning: "Look, Deputy Director Takada is already so sincere, just take a sip, okay?"

Where did this appearance have half a bit of the look of a top-tier idol from just now who bossed people around and stepped everyone underfoot?

It was clearly a valuable Persian cat that best understood how to flatter its master and most clearly knew its own worth.

"Hahahaha! Still our Shunsuke knows how to talk!"

Sato Tokugawa was coaxed into elation by his coddling. He extended that thick, fleshy large hand wearing a massive jade thumb ring, pinching neither lightly nor heavily onto that handsome face so delicate it could break at a blow, the possessiveness in that look was naked naked without the slightest disguise.

"Alright! For the sake of our Shunsuke's face, I'll drink this glass of wine!"

As he spoke, he picked up the wine glass, lightly clinked it with Takada Toshihide's glass which had constantly been kept at a humble height, and then drank it in one gulp.

In the entire room, only Iwata Masao and Kitagawa Miyuki sat there stiffly like two wooden carvings.

There was long no longer half a bit of dignity belonging to a director on Iwata Masao's face, leaving only a numbness after being thoroughly crushed by reality.

And on Kitagawa Miyuki's pretty face that always hung a sweet smile, the smile at this moment form forced and stiff like putting on a poor-quality mask.

Especially when she looked at Kamiki Shunsuke's fawning appearance, the knuckles of her slender fingers gripping the goblet turned slightly white due to exerting force.

That was a complex emotion mixed with jealousy and unwillingness, sufficient to drive a person crazy.

"Speaking of which, Director Iwata."

After finishing his wine, Sato Tokugawa finally seemed to remember business, those small eyes narrowed into slits landing on that man who had been dazed for a long time, yet his hand was still fondling that handsome face unable to part with it.

"This face of our Shunsuke, is something our Kirin Real Estate spent a huge price to support. When you film the movie, you must film it a bit more carefully, film it more beautifully! Every shot, every angle, must be perfect! If I find out, that him on the screen, is even a tiny bit uglier than he is now..."

He paused, his voice incomparably icy: "You cannot bear the consequences."

These words full of threatening meaning poured down over his head like a basin of ice water.

Under Takada Toshihide's head-turning prompt, Iwata Masao jerked violently, hurriedly standing up from the sofa, bowing deeply to guarantee:

"Hai! Hai! Chairman please rest assured! I... I definitely! Definitely will perfectly present Kamiki-kun's peerless beauty onto the big screen! Every shot will be an artwork!"

"Mhm, that's more like it." Sato Tokugawa nodded in satisfaction.

Those small eyes narrowed into slits seemed to have remembered something again, casually glancing at Kitagawa Miyuki who had been constantly maintaining a stiff smile since just now.

"Oh, right. Also that... that female lead." In his voice, one couldn't hear joy or anger, as flat as talking about a trivial matter: "The Vice President surnamed Kanda of our group, recently his performance is quite good, earning quite a bit of money for me. He mentioned to me, saying this little girl belongs to him. Since he opened his mouth, this face must always be given. Director Iwata, you remember, to arrange a few shots for her too."

A few shots.

These few words, like the sharpest needles, accurately pierced into Kitagawa Miyuki's already riddled heart.

Her pretty face which was already somewhat pale was even paler than a sheet of paper at this moment.

She knew, she was nothing but an insignificant after-dinner dessert used to adjust the taste in this capital feast full of dirty trades.

Yet she felt exceedingly jealous.

Clearly she was a woman.

But this Chairman Sato Tokugawa unexpectedly...

Originally she even wanted to take this opportunity, to latch onto Chairman Sato Tokugawa through Vice President Kanda.

Now as a result it seemed, everything was impossible.

However, before Iwata Masao could open his mouth to agree, a complaining voice full of unfairness and coddling sounded again.

"Oh my, Mr. Tokugawa." Kamiki Shunsuke was relentless.

That handsome face was full of childish grievance and overbearingness: "How can you give her a few more shots? My shots must be ten times hers! No! A hundred times! This movie can only have me as the one protagonist! I am the most shining one!"

These words full of childish fantasy not only did not cause Sato Tokugawa the slightest disgust, but instead made a doting, almost crazed loud laughter bloom on his obese face.

"Hahaha! You little fairy! Truly becoming increasingly arrogant because of favor!"

He laughed back and forth, that obese body trembling on the sofa like a mountain of meat about to erupt.

He looked at that youth who was pouting, face saying if you don't agree I'll cry for you to see, in those small eyes narrowed into slits, flashed undisguised satisfaction and possessiveness.

"Alright, alright, whatever you say, whatever you say."

His voice carried a placating meaning like comforting a pet throwing a tantrum: "Kanda over there, after all recently helped me complete a big business deal, face always must be given somewhat. But rest assured, this movie is absolutely centered around you! When this project ends, I'll invest in another one for you, an even better one! Let you be the sole, absolute protagonist! How about it?"

"Really?" Kamiki Shunsuke pursed his lips pitiably.

Seeing this expression of his, Sato Tokugawa laughed even louder: "When have I ever lied to you?"

"Then we have to pinky swear!" Kamiki Shunsuke extended his fair and slender pinky finger like a naive child: "Cannot go back on your word!"

Chairman Sato burst into even happier loud laughter: "Hahahaha! Then pinky swear!"

With the agreement reached, Kamiki Shunsuke finally revealed a satisfied smile.

Only, when his gaze casually met Kitagawa Miyuki who had been maintaining a stiff smile from beginning to end, in those affectionate peach blossom eyes, flashed an undisguised icy ridicule and disdain full of a victor's posture.

The look seemed to be saying —— this is the insurmountable gap!

"..."

Kitagawa Miyuki's body uncontrollably trembled slightly.

Those already pretty eyes of hers were already thoroughly filled with icy flames at this moment.

She didn't speak, merely picking up that glass of scarlet liquid in front of her, drinking it in one gulp.

That spicy liquid sliding down her throat was like the sharpest knife, slicing her already riddled heart eroded by jealousy and unwillingness, piece by piece until no good skin remained.

She knew she had to do something.

She had to do something that could make this man before her who played everyone in the palm of his hands, pay a price.

"Alright alright, since the Chairman and Shunsuke-kun have already said so."

In this atmosphere full of surging undercurrents, Takada Toshihide's voice full of the meaning of a "peacemaker", rang out perfectly once again.

He looked at Iwata Masao who was still dazed at the side, in that look carrying an unquestionable order.

"Iwata, you heard everything, right? Why aren't you quickly guaranteeing the Chairman and Shunsuke-kun, that you will definitely film this work into a timeless classic sufficient to display the profound strength of our Kirin Real Estate and Shunsuke-kun's peerless beauty?"

"Hai! Hai!"

Iwata Masao woke up as if from a dream. He hurriedly stood up, and again deeply bent his waist to those two true "financier daddies", his voice carrying a decisiveness sufficient to entrust life and death.

"Please rest assured! I, Iwata Masao, will definitely not fail my mission!"

Looking at this scene full of "harmony" and "unity", Takada Toshihide's face finally revealed a satisfied smile like a demon's.

The atmosphere in the entire room was also getting better and better.

But just in the corners of their eyes.

Everyone harbored sinister designs.

Even that internally designated female lead Kitagawa Miyuki, at this time she was also rolling her eyes, looking towards that Iwata Masao who had been suppressed the entire time, her gaze flickering uncertainly.

It seemed she had some idea.

So just when everyone started chatting privately, she also twisted her slender waist to sit beside Iwata Masao, holding a wine glass and acting coy as she smiled: "Director Iwata, after filming starts, your servant girl will need Director Iwata you to give more guidance on the script and acting~"

Seeing this scene, Takada Toshihide beside her revealed a little mockery in his eyes, but didn't say much.

To him, this Deputy Director of the Production Bureau.

Entertainers.

Themselves were manipulable puppets.

Especially the idol stars at the lowest status in the entertainment circle.

That was simply beckoning them to come and waving them away.

Some things.

Were already common sights!

(End of Chapter)