novelraw Chapter 154: The Persian Cat's Wariness! Cannot Let Director Sato Have Nohara Hiroshi!
Chapter 154: The Persian Cat's Wariness! Cannot Let Director Sato Have Nohara Hiroshi!
When that bus carrying the Kumamoto Prefecture performance team and cheering squad, bringing the fellow townsmen's simple laughter and satisfied sighs slowly drove away, that brief liveliness at the entrance of Studio 3, faded rapidly like the tide.
Nohara Hiroshi on the other hand brought the Koyama family, continuing to tour around Tokyo for a bit, doing his duty as a host as a prospective son-in-law.
Only in the corner of the parking lot, Kamiki Shunsuke sat in the car.
The autumn wind carried a few parts of coolness, blowing through the cracks of the windows, messing up his meticulously managed bangs, also blowing away that last bit of stiff smile on his face barely maintained by professional ethics.
Kamiki Shunsuke with a gloomy face, watched that Toyota Crown belonging to Nohara Hiroshi leave the parking lot.
His teeth grinding tight and making cracking sounds.
"Shunsuke-kun..."
Top agent Watanabe Junichi sat in the passenger seat, turning around to look at him, his face written full of cautious worry: "Are we... returning directly to the agency, or..."
But Kamiki Shunsuke didn't answer.
He merely slowly turned around, on that face incomparably handsome in the eyes of millions of young girls, at this moment was enveloped by a layer of deep gloom. Those peach blossom eyes carefully drawn with inner eyeliner, fiercely stared at that black Toyota Crown which had long disappeared into the flow of traffic. That look, like two venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, flashing with spine-chilling resentment.
"Return to Kirin Group Headquarters."
Finally, Kamiki Shunsuke squeezed out these words from between his teeth.
In that voice was an oppressive feeling, suffocating like before a storm arrives.
He wants revenge!
To take revenge on this young man who didn't have much age difference with him, but yet could gain the respect of countless people within TV Tokyo, gain the recognition of the upper leadership, and could obtain everything without needing to pay anything unspeakable!
...
The black sedan drove on the broad avenue leading to Minato Ward. Watanabe Junichi sat in the passenger seat, not even daring to breathe heavily.
He could clearly see from the rearview mirror that young man in the back seat, all expressions on that handsome face having faded, leaving only a twisted calmness akin to an evil ghost.
That was a nearly sickly calmness produced after extreme humiliation and disgrace.
He knew this Persian cat who was the best at acting arrogant because of favor and also the most precious, today, was truly enraged.
And moreover, was stepped underfoot in public by a mighty dragon crossing the river whom he fundamentally couldn't afford to offend, fiercely humiliated thoroughly!
The car eventually drove into the underground garage of a skyscraper that stood out from the crowd in the entire Minato Ward, emitting an aura of luxury.
[Kirin Real Estate · Headquarters]
Those few large characters cast in pure gold, full of the arrogant aura of capitalism, shone brightly under the dim lighting.
Kamiki Shunsuke couldn't even be bothered to wait for the driver to pull open the car door for him, merely pushing the door and exiting on his own.
He didn't walk that employee passage exclusive to star artists, but walked straight towards that private elevator, which only the most core higher-ups of the group were qualified to use, requiring fingerprint verification.
"Shunsuke-kun, the Chairman he... he might currently be receiving a guest." Watanabe Junichi hurriedly followed up, carrying a trace of dissuasion in his voice.
"Scram!" However Kamiki Shunsuke merely shot him a cold glance.
That look was like looking at a meddlesome servant.
Watanabe Junichi could only get out of the way.
The elevator doors slid open silently, bringing Kamiki Shunsuke to a brand new world full of a life of luxury and debauchery.
Top floor, private club "Kinkaku".
Here there was no cheap clamor of KTV boxes, nor the reserve full of a sense of distance of high-end restaurants.
The air permeated the unique aroma of the mellowness of top-tier cigars intertwining with the sweetness of aged whiskey.
Underfoot was a handmade silk carpet from Turkey, said to be worth a thousand pieces of gold for every inch.
Hung on the walls, were seemingly casual modern master paintings, yet in reality every single one was sufficient to cause a small stir at an auction.
A club manager wearing a high-end customized kimono, with a graceful figure, upon seeing Kamiki Shunsuke, instantly a flattering sweet smile bloomed out on her face.
"Mr. Shunsuke, you're here. The Chairman is in the tearoom inside, meeting an important guest."
"Hmm."
Kamiki Shunsuke merely let out a light snort from his nose, not giving this graceful club manager a single bit of good face, rolling his eyes and walking straight towards that heavy private room door carved from a whole piece of golden Phoebe wood.
Leaving that club manager who wanted to stop him standing awkwardly on the spot.
Not knowing what to do.
Because Kamiki Shunsuke couldn't even be bothered to knock, abruptly pushing open that door sufficient to isolate the two worlds inside and out.
His imposing manner quite arrogant.
Moreover, this club manager also knew, when has the Persian cat raised by Chairman Sato ever abided by the rules?
Inside the room.
Sato Tokugawa, this absolute emperor of Kirin Real Estate, was sitting cross-legged in the master seat.
Placed before him was a set of bone china tea set that looked expensive. In those small eyes narrowed into a slit were carrying a smile, exchanging the essence of the tea ceremony, as well as matters regarding business with the guest before him.
And sitting opposite him, was a capable-looking middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes.
"...Therefore, Chairman Sato, the intention of our Mitsui Bank is, as long as you are willing to give the exclusive financing rights of the 'Castle in the Sky' phase three project to us, we are willing, to lower the interest rate by another zero point five percentage points, on the foundation of the current loan interest rate."
That middle-aged man was respectfully lowering his head and speaking, his posture, like begging for charity.
However, when he saw that young man who suddenly opened the door and entered uninvited, all the words that had reached his lips, turned into a light exclamation full of astonishment.
He recognized this popular star: "Mr. Kamiki Shunsuke?!"
Sato Tokugawa also saw him, revealing a doting smile: "Shunsuke, why did you come over at this time?"
He couldn't even be bothered to spare another glance at that Mitsui Bank executive, acting like the most enthusiastic person, greeting this popular idol star: "Come come come, hurry and come over, let me take a good look, is our Shunsuke, still as pretty today?"
The corner of that bank executive's eye, twitched imperceptibly. However the expression on his face instantly, switched to a genial smile full of tacit understanding.
"Aiyaya, so it turns out Mr. Shunsuke has returned. Look at this eyesight of mine, truly... deserve a beating, deserve a beating."
As he spoke, he stood up numbly, bowing deeply towards Sato Tokugawa: "Then... then I won't disturb the elegant interest of Chairman you and Mr. Shunsuke. Regarding the project matter, we... we will chat another day, chat another day."
As he spoke he tactfully, scrambled and rolled backing out of this, room that had long been filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.
When only the two of them remained in the room, on Kamiki Shunsuke's face, instantly bloomed out a flattering smile full of sweetness, a few parts sweeter than cherry blossoms: "Chairman Tokugawa!"
He walked over with brisk steps, offering up that cup of top-tier green tea already prepared for the other party on the table: "Why are you talking about these boring public affairs again? I still have matters to report to you."
"Hahahaha! You ah!"
Sato Tokugawa was coaxed until his heart burst with joy: "Not talking anymore, not talking anymore. Today, I specifically listen to Shunsuke talk!"
As he spoke, those eyes narrowed into a slit inadvertently caught sight of his slightly reddened eye sockets.
On that fat face of his, instantly was enveloped by a layer of gloom.
"Hmm?!"
He frowned, his voice no longer doting, but full of suffocating majesty: "Who ate the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard?"
In Kamiki Shunsuke's eyes, instantly covered with a layer of grievance: "Chairman Tokugawa... you... you have to back me up ah..."
He didn't add oil and vinegar, nor did he reverse black and white.
He merely used the most objective, and also the "victim" perspective most capable of inspiring the other party's protective desire, narrating exactly as it was, everything that happened in the backstage of Studio 3 today once.
Of course, he very cleverly concealed those details of how he initially provoked, how he was domineering.
And didn't mention half a word, about the name of that Executive Deputy Director named "Takada Toshihide".
He merely precisely pointed all the spearheads towards that hateful culprit who made him lose face in public —— Nohara Hiroshi.
"...He... he also said, even if you came personally, he wouldn't give you half a bit of face. He said, in the TV Tokyo Production Bureau, he... he is the true king." Kamiki Shunsuke pursed his lips and said.
"Nohara... Hiroshi?"
In Sato Tokugawa's small eyes narrowed into a slit, a glint of shrewdness flashed.
He slowly leaned back on the sofa, that big fat hand wearing a massive jade thumb ring, absently, stroking that furry little head in his arms, like comforting a frightened pet.
"This name... I seem to... have a bit of an impression."
Sato Tokugawa pondered for a moment, that fat brain filled by alcohol and desire, started operating at a speed far exceeding ordinary people.
"Ah, remembered."
He violently slapped his thigh, an appearance of understanding surfacing on that fat face: "It's that young man, who recently caused quite a stir in the television circle. I heard, even that old fox Sakata Nobuhiko, views him favorably, even... even His Excellency Fujiwara from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Publicity Department, personally summoned him, greatly praising that whatever 'Kasou Taishou' of his."
"Eh?!"
Kamiki Shunsuke violently lifted his head from his arms, on that beautiful face covered in tears, written full of unbelievable shock: "He... he is this impressive?!"
"More than just impressive."
Sato Tokugawa smiled: "This young man, is not simple ah. I heard, he not only knows how to do television, but also knows how to right manga. The things he draws, even that Torishima Kazuhiko of Shueisha with eyes above his head, treats him as a treasure. Moreover..."
He paused, in those small eyes narrowed into a slit, a trace of playfulness flashing: "I also heard, this young man, looks... extremely handsome."
As he spoke, that big fat hand even unconsciously touched his own loose chin.
That look, that expression, was full of a certain strong interest.
"!"
These words were like the sharpest needle, precisely piercing into Kamiki Shunsuke's heart which had long been riddled with holes eroded by jealousy and unease!
"Are you... feeling that that guy named Nohara Hiroshi is more worthy of funding? Chairman Tokugawa!! You... how could you praise someone else right to my face?"
Kamiki Shunsuke spoke out of jealousy.
Only this jealousy didn't disgust Sato Tokugawa, but instead made him let out a loud laugh.
"Hahahaha! You ah!" He laughed until he rocked back and forth.
He acted like comforting a pet throwing a tantrum, picking up that expensive bottle of red wine prepared at the side, taking a big gulp himself first, and then handing that wine bottle before him: "Drink this, this is extremely expensive red wine, just treat it as Mr. Tokugawa, apologizing to you."
"Expensive red wine? Then I definitely have to taste it." Kamiki Shunsuke's eyes paused, but immediately smiled even more.
And then tilting his head letting that liquor slide down his throat, like the gentlest knife, temporarily numbing the humiliation and unwillingness that had long accumulated to the limit in his heart.
Sato Tokugawa looking at his obedient appearance, still said: "However Shunsuke ah, that Nohara Hiroshi, we temporarily cannot touch him yet. That 'Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree' of yours, still depends on broadcasting in TV Tokyo's New Year's Eve Slot. Falling out with him now, brings no benefit to us."
Unwillingness flashed in Kamiki Shunsuke's eyes: "Are we just going to let it go like this?"
"Of course we can't, just let it go like this."
Sato Tokugawa sneered at the corner of his mouth: "Wait until your movie is released, wait until our Kirin Real Estate's newest newly opened projects, need promotion, at that time, we will have plenty of opportunities, to make him, spit it all out to us with interest."
He paused, within those eyes full of anticipation, slowly tossing out a bait sufficient to make anyone go crazy.
"Rest assured, as long as you obediently listen, and help me do a good job on the promotional activities for those few real estate projects, at that time, I will give you, that apartment with the best view on the top floor of 'Castle in the Sky', as a gift. How about it?"
"Really?!" Kamiki Shunsuke's eyes instantly lit up!
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Kamiki Shunsuke finally also smiled.
Only when his gaze inadvertently, landed on that massive floor-to-ceiling window capable of overlooking the entire Tokyo night view, in his mind uncontrollably surfaced once again, the face of that young man who was even a few points more handsome than him.
An unprecedented, jealousy uncontrollably grew frantically from the bottom of his heart.
He thought he had to do something.
Must do something, in order to let himself return to the peak once again.
He lowered his head, all expressions fading, leaving only a bone-chilling gloom lacking the slightest warmth.
(End of Chapter)