novelraw Chapter 174: Nohara After Makeup! First Meeting With Sato Tokugawa!
Chapter 174: Nohara After Makeup! First Meeting With Sato Tokugawa!
Early morning, Tokyo's air carried a kind of clarity of washing away leaden vanity, the winter day's faint light passed through the apartment's window, using a kind of meticulously filtered softness, sprinkling onto Nohara Hiroshi's bedroom.
He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, on his body was a hand-tailored suit Misae ironed early in the morning, dark gray fabric, well-fitting tailoring, smooth lines, fitting snugly exactly like a second layer of skin.
Reflected in the mirror, was a young and also capable man, the sharpness between the brows was polished away a few degrees of fierceness by the meticulous grooming, adding a few traces of composure.
He raised a hand gently stroking past the necktie, touch silky smooth, that was the whisper of top-tier Italian silk.
“En, indeed handsome.”
Nohara Hiroshi faced his own self inside the mirror, softly muttering to himself.
This wasn't out of narcissism, but more like a kind of objective evaluation towards this vitality and spirit before his eyes.
Nohara Hiroshi's foundation itself wasn't bad to begin with.
Now still young.
Truly is the time of the best stage in life! Especially him looking at that pair of calm eyes of his own, inside not having a single trace of confusion belonging to greenness, only the profundity and composure polished out by years and experiences.
Adding this attire exactly like a battle robe, endowing him a layer of elegant and noble armor for the imminent social arena.
Even more satisfiedly nodded his head again:
“Truly handsome to the point of not working!”
“Pfft——”
From behind transmitted a sound of unable to suppress light laughter, breaking this patch of brief self-examination.
Misae unknowingly when had already woken up, exactly lazily leaning against the head of the bed, using the blanket to cover her mouth, inside those bright big eyes of hers filled with mischievousness and teasing, like two pieces of obsidian awakened by the morning light.
“Hiroshi-kun, you are muttering to yourself again. Praising yourself so early in the morning, aren't you ashamed?”
Her voice carried the hoarseness of just waking up, yet was also sweetly cloying and also full of teasing.
Nohara Hiroshi turned around, looking at that charmingly naive appearance of hers, the corners of his mouth unconsciously hooked up a gentle arc.
He walked to the bedside, leaned down, gently kissing on her smooth forehead, feeling that familiar mixed scent of shower gel and faint body fragrance on her body, that trace of slight tenseness in his heart produced because of imminent stepping into the vanity fair, instantly then was melted by this stream of mundane warmth.
“This isn't muttering to myself, this is the appreciation towards beauty. Don't you feel, this attire of mine, is handsome to the point of soul-stirring?”
He lightly smilingly teased, fingertips gently rubbing on her flushed cheeks, that warmth, exactly like morning dew moisturizing each other's hearts.
Misae's small face "swish" at once then turned red, she reproachfully rolled her eyes at him, inside those bright big eyes of hers, yet couldn't hide a trace of sweetness.
“Yes yes yes, Hiroshi-kun is the most handsome! Handsome to the point even I looked dumbfounded!”
She said on her mouth, but yet couldn't help but rub into his embrace.
“Alright, my Madam President, hurry and get up ba.”
Nohara Hiroshi lightly smiling, gently pinching on her perky small nose, inside his tone full of doting:
“Today I have to go out early, to go pick up an important guest.”
“Who ah?”
Misae subconsciously curiously asked, but yet in the next second fiercely sat straight up, inside those big eyes of hers flashed up a crafty light.
“Oh! Right! Hiroshi-kun, you are going to attend that, Tokyo Metropolitan Government's New Year banquet today!”
Her tone carried intense envy,
“I heard you mentioning it previously when calling with Deputy Director Asumi, saying many celebrities and nobles and big officials will all go, and even will be on television ne!”
Nohara Hiroshi's corners of the mouth imperceptibly twitched for a bit, this girl Misae's ears are sharper than a rabbit's.
“Yeah.”
He helplessly sighed a breath of air, reaching out a hand rubbing her hair, that doting, exactly like spring breeze brushing past her heart:
“However, that is merely an ordinary social occasion that's all, nothing big of a deal.”
“What do you mean nothing big of a deal!”
Misae dissatisfiedly pouted her lips, like an angry small pufferfish:
“That's a banquet held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government ah! Those able to go attend, are all Tokyo's most powerful, most status-possessing people! Hiroshi-kun, you are truly... too amazing now!”
She excitedly leaped up from the bed, bare-footed spinning two circles on the tatami.
“I definitely have to tell this good news to papa and mama and Masae and the others! Hiroshi-kun is going to attend the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's banquet! They definitely will be extremely happy!”
Misae's face written full of pride.
“Alright alright, my Madam President, don't just care about being happy.”
Nohara Hiroshi lightly smiling, pulling her into his embrace, stopping that impulse of hers about to rush out the room door:
“This is merely the qualification for a banquet that's all, nothing to show off about. You better not take this news, as some heaven-shattering happy event, going everywhere to show off to people ah.”
“Why ya?”
Misae uncomprehendingly raised her head, inside those bright big eyes of hers, full of doubt.
“Because...”
Nohara Hiroshi's gaze cast towards Tokyo out the window, inside his eyes flashing a trace of profundity:
“In this kind of occasion, the more low-key, the more composed, then the more able to let people look up to you. Excessive showing off, will only make people feel you are superficial.”
Misae seemingly understanding yet not understanding nodded her head, but that joy, yet didn't diminish in the slightest. She merely rubbed her small head inside his embrace, like a small cat that found a shelter.
“Then... Hiroshi-kun, I can only say this suit of yours, is truly handsome to the core!”
She raised her head, inside those bright big eyes of hers, full of undisguised appreciation and admiration:
“Pairing with this temperament of yours, is simply... exactly like a prince walking out from a movie!”
Nohara Hiroshi upon hearing this, the corners of his mouth unconsciously hooked up a satisfied arc.
Misae's praise is far more pleasant to hear, than anyone's flattery.
“Alright, my Madam President, we should head out.”
Nohara Hiroshi lightly smiling, gently scraping a bit on her perky small nose, tone full of doting,
“I'll send you to the company, you buy some bento to eat by yourself near the company ba.”
“En, okay~”
Misae upon hearing this, also immediately broke free from his embrace, agilely wearing her clothes well, like a butterfly preparing to spread its wings and fly high.
The two smiled at each other, and then holding hands together, walking out of the apartment.
Early morning sunshine, pulled their figures walking shoulder to shoulder, on the smooth as mirror corridor, into two silhouettes full of hope.
The black Toyota Crown, slid into Tokyo's traffic flow that never ceaselessly stops.
Very quickly then sent Misae to downstairs of Future Comic Club, that independent small building looking seemingly inconspicuous, yet also full of literary and artistic atmosphere.
“Hiroshi-kun, be careful on the road.”
Misae unfastened her seatbelt, on that handsome cheek, gently kissing, inside those bright big eyes of hers, full of expectations and longing:
“I'll wait for you to come back tonight oh!”
“En, okay.”
Nohara Hiroshi smilingly nodded, looking at that figure of hers full of vitality, disappearing behind the small building's glass door, he restarted the car, driving towards the direction of TV Tokyo.
Along the way, mobile phone and pager rang from time to time, those were greetings and work reports from various sides.
Nohara Hiroshi replied one by one.
When that black Toyota Crown, finally drove into TV Tokyo's massive underground parking lot, it was already nine in the morning.
Nohara Hiroshi stepping with composed paces, walked into that glass door symbolizing the highest power of Nippon television circle.
Along the way, all employees encoutering him, whether ordinary interns, or Level 2 Directors holding real power, all without exception, stopped their footsteps, facing him, respectfully bowing in greeting.
“Department Manager Nohara, good morning!”
“Department Manager Nohara, you are truly looking energetic today ah!”
“Department Manager Nohara, this suit of yours, is too handsome!”
Praises exactly like a tide surging over, tightly surrounding Nohara Hiroshi.
He merely smilingly nodded responding, that calm and indifference, that bearing of as if everything is within grasp, even more making those young employees, look with heart yearning and mind intoxicated.
When he walked into that patch of independent kingdom solely belonging to him, located on the seventeenth floor, the entire department was full of an excited atmosphere.
“Manager! You're back!”
“Manager hello!”
“Department Manager Nohara! You are truly handsome today ah!”
The young employees like a group of fans who saw their idol, instantly then tightly surrounded him, those young and also full of vitality faces one by one, written full of fanatic worship towards that god-like ability of their own manager.
Tanaka Kei, Yamamoto Takeshi and Hashishita Ichiro, these three capable subordinates, also similarly stood in the crowd, faces written full of stunning and admiration.
“Manager! This attire of yours today, is simply... too handsome!”
Tanaka Kei was the first unable to hold back, excitedly praising, on that always serious face of his, at this moment was also full of undisguised appreciation.
“Yeah! Manager! I have never seen you wearing a suit!”
Yamamoto Takeshi also followed chiming in, inside those eyes of his always sharp exactly like a falcon's, at this moment also flashed a trace of stunning:
“You usually always wear casual clothes, didn't expect... didn't expect you wearing a suit, actually could be this charming!”
“Manager, you specially dressed up today, is for tonight's Tokyo Metropolitan Government banquet right?”
Hashishita Ichiro also smilingly asked, on that honest face of his at this moment also written full of pride.
Nohara Hiroshi merely peacefully smiled, inside his eyes flashing a trace of helpless smiling intent:
“Alright alright, Happy New Year everyone. Don't just focus on praising me, all go to work ba.”
“Not praising, is speaking the truth based on facts! Manager! This outfit of yours today, is truly too handsome!”
Kitagawa Yao also walked over at this time, inside those bright big eyes of hers, full of undisguised appreciation and worship,
“You see, you also specially did your hair today, trimmed your eyebrows, your entire person all appearing exceptionally energetic, exceptionally capable! Simply... simply even can go be an idol star already!”
“Yeah yeah!”
Saying this, the surrounding young employees, immediately then followed chiming in, those young and also full of vitality faces one by one, written full of fanatic pursuit towards that handsome appearance of Nohara Hiroshi.
Because they truly discovered Nohara Hiroshi, fusing that kind of coolness and handsomeness belonging to young people now, as well as the majestic bearing of the lord of the department.
Gave them a kind of unreal impact sensation!
“Manager, if you were to go be an idol star, definitely will be one hundred times more popular than that fellow Kamiki Shunsuke!”
“Exactly! That fellow Kamiki Shunsuke, besides knowing how to act cool, what else does he know how to do?! How can he compare to our manager, possessing talent again, and handsome!”
“Our manager, is the true 'national idol'!”
There are also people at this time smilingly making jokes.
However on Nohara Hiroshi's face at this moment also surfaced a trace of helpless bitter smile:
“Alright, why pulling both me and Kamiki Shunsuke into connection?”
Nippon entertainment circle, idol stars are the worst artists.
Cliff-like worst!
However, exactly amidst this clamor full of fanaticism and pursuit, Kitagawa Yao yet suddenly wrinkled her brows, inside those bright big eyes of hers, flashing a trace of unquestionable seriousness.
“However...”
Her voice carried a trace of perfectly appropriate solemnity,
“Although Manager you are already very handsome now, but... I feel, it's still not exquisite enough.”
“Eh?!”
Saying this, the surrounding young employees, including Tanaka Kei, Yamamoto Takeshi and Hashishita Ichiro, all subconsciously let out exclamations, faces written full of bewilderment.
They looked at that well-fitting tailored suit of Nohara Hiroshi, looking at that impeccably handsome face of his, looking at that composure bearing of his, they truly couldn't figure out, what other places, could be called "not exquisite enough"?
“Kitagawa, what is the meaning of your words?”
Tanaka Kei couldn't help but open his mouth asking, face written full of incomprehension.
Kitagawa Yao didn't pay attention to them.
She merely walked in front of Nohara Hiroshi, those bright big eyes, exactly like the most professional stylist, meticulously examining him, from head to toe, from hair strands to shoe tips, every single detail, not letting past.
“Manager, your hairstyle although done, but is still a bit casual. Eyebrows also trimmed, but the lines can still be more fluent. Also your skin, although very good, but after all is working late at night, is still a bit tired. Most importantly is...”
She paused, tone becoming increasingly solemn:
“Tonight you, are going to attend the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's banquet! That isn't an ordinary social occasion! Every single celebrity there, every single noble, every single big official, will all use the most picky gaze, to examine you! Therefore, we must guarantee, you using the most perfect, most impeccable posture, appearing in front of them!”
“Therefore...”
She fiercely turned around, facing the surrounding young employees, loudly announcing:
“Go! Invite the best makeup artist of our television station's costume and makeup department, over for me! I want to let him, give Department Manager Nohara, perform a, most serious, most perfect, makeup session!”
Saying this, the surrounding young employees, once again fell into a patch of dead silence.
They blankly looked at Kitagawa Yao, on those faces one by one, written full of unbelievable shock.
Makeup?!
Giving Department Manager Nohara makeup?!
This... this is simply, an unprecedented pioneering work!
“Kitagawa, this... this isn't necessary right?”
Nohara Hiroshi's corners of the mouth imperceptibly twitched for a bit, on his face surfacing a trace of helpless bitter smile:
“A grown man like me, going to attend a banquet, still putting on makeup? This... this is too exaggerated right?”
“Not exaggerated!”
Kitagawa Yao's tone unquestionable,
“Manager, you are representing our TV Tokyo going to attend the banquet! Your image, is exactly the image of our TV Tokyo! Therefore, you must be perfect!”
She looked at Nohara Hiroshi, inside those bright big eyes of hers, full of pleading and persistence:
“Manager, just treat it as for the sake of our TV Tokyo, you... you just try it out ba!”
Nohara Hiroshi looking at that persistence of Kitagawa Yao, looking at those gazes full of expectations of the surrounding employees, ultimately, helplessly sighed a breath of air.
“Alright ba.”
He compromised saying:
“Then... then just try it out ba.”
“Fantastic!”
Kitagawa Yao instantly then bloomed out a brilliant smile.
Even more having a kind of smiling intent of a conspiracy succeeding.
She immediately then like a small bee injected with chicken blood, vigorously and speedily rushed out the office, to go invite the makeup artist.
Not passing ten minutes, a female makeup artist looking around forty years old, dressed exquisitely and also professionally, then walked in under the lead of Kitagawa Yao.
In her hands she carried a massive makeup box, packed full of various bottles and jars inside, brushes, powder puffs, a superb collection of beautiful things, making people dazzled.
“Department Manager Nohara, hello.”
The makeup artist respectfully faced Nohara Hiroshi bowing appropriately, inside those professional eyes of hers, flashing a trace of curiosity and probing towards this youngest department manager of TV Tokyo.
But upon seeing Nohara Hiroshi, in her eyes also surfaced a trace of stunning expression.
“Troubling you.”
Nohara Hiroshi merely peacefully nodded his head, and then, under the guidance of the makeup artist, sat onto the makeup chair.
The makeup artist didn't say much nonsense words, she merely skillfully opened the makeup box, taking out various tools, and then, devoting her whole attention, throwing herself into her creation.
She first used a gentle facial cleanser, gently cleaning Nohara Hiroshi's cheeks, and then, again using ice-cold toner, awakening the skin for him.
Following that, is concealer, foundation, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner, contouring, highlight... every step meticulous, every detail striving for perfection.
She didn't deliberately go change Nohara Hiroshi's facial features, merely through ingenious embellishments, setting off that natural beauty handsomeness of his, to be even more perfect, even more exquisite.
She even also used professional hair spray and hair wax, arranging his hairstyle for him anew, making that originally slightly casual hairstyle, become even more possessing a sense of layers, even more stylish.
The entire process, fully lasted nearly an hour.
When the makeup artist finally put down the brushes in her hands, satisfiedly patting Nohara Hiroshi's shoulder, on that professional face of hers, also surfaced a trace of stunning feeling originating from the bottom of the heart.
“Department Manager Nohara, you... you are simply the most perfect canvas, I've seen in this lifetime!”
She excitedly praised:
“You are a natural beauty, facial features three-dimensional, skin tight, fundamentally don't need excessive embellishments, only need to slightly adde some decorations, then can bloom out stunning radiance!”
“Alright, Department Manager Nohara, you can open your eyes now.”
Nohara Hiroshi slowly opened his eyes.
When he saw himself reflected in the mirror, that unperturbed heart also couldn't help but slightly tremble.
Reflected in the mirror, was a stranger yet familiar man.
That face, was still his own face.
But that handsomeness, was yet amplified to the extreme, as if being applied with a certain matching magic, becoming even more profound, even more exquisite, even more impeccable.
The lines of the eyebrows, exactly like carved by knife and chiseled by axe fluent, gaze profound and also full of a sense of power, skin fair and also delicate, as if able to pinch out water.
Most importantly is, that confidence and composure emitting from the bones, wrapped by this layer of exquisite outer clothing, becoming even more possessing oppressiveness, even more possessing attractiveness.
He felt, himself as if becoming a, perfect male protagonist walking out from a manga.
“Wa——!”
“Oh my god! Manager! You... you are simply... too handsome!”
“I... I all don't dare to believe my own eyes anymore! This... is this really our manager?!”
“Department Manager Nohara! You... you are simply one hundred times more handsome than Kamiki Shunsuke! No! One thousand times! Ten thousand times!”
“That fellow Kamiki Shunsuke, in front of Manager, is simply an ugly freak!”
“Manager! If you go be an idol star, definitely can enchant all the young girls of Nippon!”
The surrounding young employees, at this moment all blankly stood in place, those young and also full of vitality faces one by one, written full of unbelievable shock and fanaticism.
They looked at Nohara Hiroshi, that gaze like looking at a deity walking out from legends.
Especially those little girls who just entered employment, at this moment even more excited to the point their bodies slightly trembled, inside those bright big eyes of theirs, all popped out stars.
They never thought, their own manager, actually could be handsome to this kind of degree!
Simply is, suffocating perfection!
“Alright alright, all be quiet.”
Nohara Hiroshi's corners of the mouth, imperceptibly twitched for a bit.
He looked at that "perfect" self in the mirror, again listening to those exaggerated praises surrounding, on his face surfacing a trace of helpless bitter smile.
He knew he was considered thoroughly "becoming famous" today.
“Don't mention that fellow Kamiki Shunsuke.”
Nohara Hiroshi helplessly shook his head, inside those clear eyes of his, flashing a trace of self-deprecation,
“I don't want to be an idol star relying on face to eat. I still prefer, using my works, to conquer everyone.”
Saying this, the surrounding young employees, once again let out a patch of roaring laughter.
They looked at that "saying one thing but meaning another" appearance of Nohara Hiroshi, looking at that disdain belonging to a genius towards "relying on face to eat" of his, that worship and adoration towards him in the heart, becoming increasingly intense.
“Alright, everyone.”
Nohara Hiroshi stood up, he looked at the time on his wristwatch, on his face once again blooming out a trace of confident smile,
“Everyone continue working, don't slack off ah!”
Everyone enthusiastically responded to Nohara Hiroshi.
However anyone can see, these currently holding excited complexions department members, in the following days, definitely have even more topics of conversation already!
Young and talented also handsome Department Manager Nohara Hiroshi!
Too handsome!
......
Afternoon, TV Tokyo Production Bureau building, Bureau Chief Office.
Winter day afternoon sunshine carrying a trace of chilly golden color, obliquely passing through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, plating the indoors with a layer of solemn halo.
Sakata Nobuhiko sat behind his mahogany office desk, holding a quaint seal in his hands playing with it, gaze cast towards that patch of Tokyo skyline shrouded by thin mist out the window, eyes profound exactly like an ancient well.
“Bureau Chief.”
The office door was gently knocked, the secretary's voice transmitted from outside the door, carrying a trace of perfectly appropriate respect:
“Department Manager Nohara has already arrived.”
“En, let him enter ba.”
Sakata Nobuhiko's voice was peaceful, yet also containing unquestionable authority.
The door was slowly pushed open.
When that slender and also tall and straight figure of Nohara Hiroshi with makeup done, carrying a set of well-fitting tailored dark gray suit, appearing at the office doorway, those eyes of Sakata Nobuhiko that had seen accustomed to the ups and downs of the world affairs, also couldn't help but slightly tremble.
He put down the seal in his hands, gaze sizing up and down on Nohara Hiroshi's body, from those meticulously styled hair strands, to those perfectly appropriately groomed brows and eyes, again to under that suit and leather shoes, emitting composure and capability.
This reborn-like transformation, making Sakata Nobuhiko's heart also ripple out circles of complex ripples.
He doubted if he saw wrongly.
Is this still that young man who is always in casual attire on ordinary days, face bringing a few traces of childishness?
This is clearly a, noble young master walking out from an ancient picture scroll, or perhaps, an elite time-traveling over from the future world!
That handsomeness, that temperament, being set off by this attire, is actually this dazzling, this making people look sideways.
“Hiroshi-kun, you... this attire of yours today, is truly... making me somewhat unable to recognize you anymore ah.”
Sakata Nobuhiko lightly smiling shook his head, inside that voice, carrying a trace of imperceptible teasing, yet also full of appreciation.
“Bureau Chief overpraises.”
Nohara Hiroshi smiled.
He knew this meticulous dressing up of his, indeed can give these old-school higher-ups, bring a kind of strong visual impact.
“Overpraises?”
Sakata Nobuhiko stood up, slowly walking to the front of Nohara Hiroshi, he extended his hand, gently patting those straight shoulders of his, gaze like a torch, as if wanting to thoroughly see through him.
“No, not overpraising at all.”
The corners of Sakata Nobuhiko's mouth hooked up a playful arc,
“I think this kid of you, if really debuting going to be an idol star, afraid you can enchant all the young girls of Nippon right? That fellow Kamiki Shunsuke, in front of you, but becomes an... ugly duckling already.”
Nohara Hiroshi upon hearing this, on his face surfacing a trace of helpless bitter smile.
Why comparing with Kamiki Shunsuke again?
This kind of "idol star" label, towards a creator pursuing "works" like him, is a kind of invisible shackles, also an underlying belittlement.
But Sakata Nobuhiko's teasing, yet also carrying a kind of an elder's doting and appreciation towards a junior, making him unable to refute.
“Bureau Chief, you just stop making jokes on me.”
Nohara Hiroshi softly opened his mouth, inside his tone carrying helplessness:
“I don't want to be some idol star. I still prefer, using my works, to conquer everyone.”
“Hahahahaha!”
Sakata Nobuhiko upon hearing this, finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, that sound, exactly like the ice surface broken in winter days, full of hearty satisfaction.
He heavily patted Nohara Hiroshi's shoulder, all the teasing in his eyes had already faded away, only leaving a kind of, sincere appreciation and praise.
“Good! Exactly a 'use works to conquer everyone'!”
Sakata Nobuhiko praised:
“Hiroshi-kun, this kid of you, is truly... too ambitious!”
He restrained the smile, his eyes also becoming solemn:
“Let's go, time is about up. We should go attend the banquet.”
......
TV Tokyo's black commercial vehicle drove into Ginza.
Outside the car window, neon lights overflowing with brilliant lights and vibrant colors, decorating this sleepless city exactly like a fantasy.
Nohara Hiroshi sat in the front passenger seat, gaze peacefully sweeping over that patch of urban scenery overflowing with brilliant lights and vibrant colors out the window.
“Hiroshi-kun, have you been here before?”
Sakata Nobuhiko's voice transmitted from the side, carrying a trace of casually asking.
“Not yet.”
Nohara Hiroshi shook his head, on his face surfacing a trace of perfectly appropriate curiosity.
“Then today, you can be considered broadening your horizons.”
Sakata Nobuhiko lightly smiling, inside his tone carrying a trace of profound meaning,
“Our destination tonight, is Ginza's top-most private club, 'Kinkaku'.”
He paused, his gaze casting towards that patch of gorgeous building complex outlined by lights out the window, eyes profound:
“This 'Kinkaku' is no ordinary club. It, is the industry of Ginza, symbolizing the Pavilion of Gold, is the entire Greater Tokyo metropolitan area's, most top-tier social venue. Being able to hold a banquet here, is not something ordinary people are able to accomplish.”
The corners of Sakata Nobuhiko's mouth hooked up a trace of mockery:
“Speaking of which, one of our TV Tokyo's financial backers, Kirin Real Estate Group's chairman, that old fellow Sato Tokugawa, on the top floor of his own headquarters building, also imitated a similar 'Kinkaku'. However, that 'Kinkaku' of his, compared to here, but appears somewhat... petty.”
Nohara Hiroshi upon hearing this, the corners of his mouth hooked up an arc.
These words of Sakata Nobuhiko weren't only introducing the origins of "Kinkaku", even more making no show of feelings or intentions, revealing to him some secretive information regarding Tokyo's upper society.
He nodded his head, his gaze once again cast towards out the window, that "Kinkaku" appearing increasingly mysterious in the night color.
The car slowly drove into a secretive underground parking lot, under the guidance of several security personnel wearing black uniforms parking steadily.
When Nohara Hiroshi followed Sakata Nobuhiko stepping out of the elevator, stepping into that patch of magnificent club hall, a stream of mellow aroma mixing top-tier cigars, aged whiskey and high-class perfume then assaulted the face.
Beneath the feet were from Turkey, said to be an inch of silk worth a thousand golds hand-made silk carpets, hung on the walls, were seemingly casual, but actually every single painting sufficient to cause a small commotion at auctions modern master paintings.
The entire hall, was shrouded by gentle lighting, the air permeated with a kind of arrogance full of money and power.
Waiters wearing high-class tailored kimonos, stepping with elegant small steps, shuttling back and forth in the crowd, providing the most thoughtful service for those glamorous celebrities and powerful figures.
Nohara Hiroshi's gaze peacefully swept over the hall, inside those clear eyes of his, not the slightest ripple arose.
He saw those business circle elites in suits and leather shoes, those affluent ladies and socialites dazzling with jewels, those political important figures chatting and laughing merrily.
On their faces, all hung perfectly appropriate smiles, between raising hands and stepping feet, all revealing a stream of reserve and decency belonging to the upper society.
However, under these seemingly harmonious superficial phenomena, Nohara Hiroshi yet keenly captured a trace of, undercurrents surging belonging to the vanity fair.
In everyone's eyes, all hid a trace of probing, a trace of examination, a trace of calculation.
They are here, not only for socializing, even more to consolidate their own status, expand their own influence, searching for new opportunities.
“Bureau Chief Sakata, you finally arrived!”
Right at this moment, a man wearing a gorgeous kimono, looking around fifty years old, holding a glass of champagne, enthusiastically came forward to welcome.
On that always hanging genial smile face of his, at this moment written full of perfectly appropriate respect and flattery.
Following his greeting, the surrounding celebrities and powerful figures, also one after another cast their gazes towards Sakata Nobuhiko, and then, carrying identical respect and enthusiasm, clustering over.
“Bureau Chief Sakata, Happy New Year!”
“Bureau Chief Sakata, you are truly looking energetic today ah!”
“Bureau Chief Sakata, congratulations to you ah! The box office of "Seven Samurai", is truly... too astonishing! You once again, created a miracle for our TV Tokyo ah!”
Praises exactly like a tide surging over, tightly surrounding Sakata Nobuhiko.
Sakata Nobuhiko merely smilingly nodded responding, that calm and indifference, that bearing of as if everything is within grasp, even more making the surrounding celebrities and powerful figures look with heart yearning and mind intoxicated.
This then should be the appearance of TV Tokyo's Production Bureau Chief!
However, when their gazes, inadvertently glimpsed at Nohara Hiroshi standing beside Sakata Nobuhiko, upon those faces one by one full of respect and flattery, yet without prior agreement, surfaced a trace of imperceptible bewilderment and... surprise.
They looked at that excessively young face of Nohara Hiroshi, yet also handsome to the point of almost perfect, looking at that well-fitting tailored suit of his, looking at that composed bearing emitting from the bones of his, alien lights all flashed in their eyes.
“This young man is...”
An elderly wealthy businessman, couldn't help but open his mouth asking, that gaze, carrying a trace of examination, a trace of probing, yet also hiding a trace of, unspeakable gossip.
He looked at Sakata Nobuhiko, again looking at Nohara Hiroshi, inside that gaze, even flashed a trace of, subtle expression of doubting Sakata Nobuhiko's "sexual orientation".
After all, Sakata Nobuhiko in Tokyo's political and business two circles, is famously not approaching women, throwing his whole heart on work "old stubborn".
And now, he actually brought a so young, so handsome "companion" attending this kind of occasion?!
This... this is simply, heaven-shattering big gossip ah!
The surrounding celebrities and powerful figures, also all tacitly exchanged a glance, a playful smile all surfaced on their faces.
They knew, tonight's banquet, afraid would because of this young man, become even more "interesting".
Sakata Nobuhiko looking at the gazes full of gossip and probing of the crowd, on his face surfacing a trace of dumbfounded helplessness.
He knew these fellows every single one were astute people.
He lightly smilingly shook his head, and then extending his hand, gently patting Nohara Hiroshi's shoulder, inside his tone carrying a trace of perfectly appropriate pride.
“Everyone, let me introduce.”
Sakata Nobuhiko's voice clearly transmitted into every single person's ears:
“This person, exactly is our TV Tokyo Production Bureau's Department Manager, Nohara Hiroshi-kun.”
“He, is exactly that movie causing massive sensation in the entire Nippon society recently, box office soaring wildly —— "Seven Samurai"'s, chief director and scriptwriter.”
“Simultaneously, he is also the producer of "Kasou Taishou", "Tales of the Unusual", "Yamishibai" these National-level programs.”
“Even more the author of "YuYu Hakusho", "Doraemon", "Midnight Diner" these phenomenal mangas.”
Sakata Nobuhiko's words, exactly like a dry clap of thunder on level ground, instantly resoundingly blasted in the entire hall!
“What?! Him?!”
“Nohara Hiroshi?! So young?!”
“Oh my god! He... he is exactly that Nohara Hiroshi?!”
After a short dead silence, a burst of massive clamor, accompanied by countless discussion sounds full of astonishment and questioning, exactly like a tsunami sweeping over!
Those celebrities and powerful figures who the previous second were still full of gossip and probing, at this moment upon those faces one by one, written full of unbelievable shock!
They never thought, that is regarded as "Genius", "Divine Miracle" Nohara Hiroshi on television, on newspapers, on all media, actually... actually really exactly is so young!
Moreover so handsome!
They looked at Nohara Hiroshi, inside that gaze, all contempt and gossip had already faded away, only leaving a kind of, shock and... awe originating from the marrow!
They knew, this young man, what he represents, isn't only the future of TV Tokyo.
Even more the cultural hope of the entire Nippon, the new era!
This young man has already possessed the strength to arrive here!
Is an expert just like them!
“Department Manager Nohara! Having heard your great name for a long time! Having heard your great name for a long time ah!”
An elderly wealthy businessman took the lead responding over, he fast-walked to the front of Nohara Hiroshi, extending both hands, tightly gripping Nohara Hiroshi's hands, on that face always full of majesty, at this moment written full of sincerity and enthusiasm:
“Your "Seven Samurai", I watched! Filmed too well! It isn't only a movie, even more a, great work sufficient to awaken our national spirit!”
“Yeah! Department Manager Nohara! Your "Kasou Taishou", those two little brats in my home, guard the television to watch everyday! They all said, you are the most amazing producer, they've seen in this lifetime!”
“Department Manager Nohara! Your "YuYu Hakusho", my son but is your loyal fan ah! He pesters me everyday, letting me ask you, when is it updating ah?!”
For a time praises surged over exactly like a tide, tightly surrounding Nohara Hiroshi.
He merely smilingly nodded responding, that calm and indifference, that bearing of as if everything is within grasp, even more making the surrounding celebrities and powerful figures, look with heart yearning and mind intoxicated.
He courteously returned the greetings, exchanging perfectly appropriate pleasantries with every single person coming forward to greet.
That composure, that steadiness, made everyone unable to associate him, with a merely twenty-three-year-old young man.
He as if natively belonged here, natively belonged to this stage full of power and wealth.
And exactly amidst this atmosphere full of praises and clamor, an astonished, tone even carrying a few parts of heavy voice, yet without any omen, from the rear of the crowd, slowly rang out.
“You... you are precisely Mr. Nohara Hiroshi?!”
Nohara Hiroshi followed the voice looking over.
An extremely fat and robust man, body carrying full of gold ornaments, was exactly squeezing over with difficulty from the crowd.
On that fat face of his, at this moment written full of unbelievable shock, inside those small eyes narrowed into a slit, yet flashing a kind of sharp light making people feel discomfort.
He even also his tone bringing a few traces of trembling, staring straightly at Nohara Hiroshi, tone increasingly unbelievable:
“You actually... so young!?”
“This is Kirin Real Estate Group's Chairman, Mr. Sato Tokugawa.”
Sakata Nobuhiko's voice, perfectly appropriately rang out beside Nohara Hiroshi's ear, introducing this uninvited guest for him.
And also coldly looking towards Sato Tokugawa, seemingly noticed something alike, raising his tone:
“That's right, this is exactly our TV Tokyo Production Bureau, youngest, and also most trusted, promising Production Department Manager, Nohara Hiroshi!”
(End of Chapter)