Chapter 145

"A lie!"

Hearing these words, Kikuchi Tai was shocked; he finally understood the reason for his previous unease.

Asano, haven't you and Akiwara Yuto not been in contact for a long time? Why are you still speaking for him?

Didn't the upper management promise to transfer you back to *New*? They could even arrange a deputy editor-in-chief position for you! And you agreed to it, too.

Now that you've said these things, do you have other intentions?

Are you an idiot? With your actions today, even if you leave Mantanshe, no other publisher will dare to hire you in the future.

Damn it, you're not Akiwara Yuto's girlfriend, why are you doing this? Don't implicate me!

Kikuchi Tai intended to step forward to stop Asano Aiko from continuing, but before he could even lift his butt, he realized that this was a live interview.

In front of the cameras facing them, at least hundreds of thousands of households were watching.

If he were to stop Asano Aiko, wouldn't that be tantamount to sitting by and watching, implying that the other party's words were correct?

For a moment, Kikuchi Tai fell into a dilemma.

On the other side, Akiwara Yuto sat in front of the television, watching Asano Aiko on the screen, and couldn't help but fall into silence.

A few days ago, Asano Aiko suddenly called and informed him that the Mantanshe Public Relations Force had invited her to participate in a live interview.

At that time, Akiwara Yuto immediately understood the other party's motive: to use Asano and Kikuchi as a breakthrough point to launch a counterattack in public opinion.

While Akiwara Yuto was thinking about how to respond, Asano Aiko took the initiative to suggest: "Akiwara, let me tell you my plan."

Then, Asano Aiko informed him of her own thoughts over the phone.

In Asano Aiko's original plan, she intended to anonymously send internal documents to relevant media to prove the fact that Akiwara Yuto had suffered unfair treatment.

But now, since Mantanshe had taken the initiative to invite her, she planned to "use their own strategy against them."

She first put forward a request to transfer her position back to the editorial department and hoped to serve as deputy editor-in-chief of *New*. After this unreasonable request was put forward, it could dispel some people's vigilance.

Immediately after, she provided a "black material" that she had forged and written herself, and handed it to the Public Relations Force for review.

After such a series of actions, the Public Relations Force would inevitably agree to her proposal to participate in the interview.

However, regarding Asano Aiko's plan, Akiwara Yuto did not accept it immediately, but advised: "Asano, I hope you consider it clearly. Doing this, although it helps me, will cause big problems for yourself..."

In Japanese society, what companies value most is the employee's loyalty and centripetal force toward the company.

Once Asano Aiko did what she said, even if she left Mantanshe in the future, she would be considered an "unfaithful" employee by other companies.

Let alone going to the other three major publishers, even large companies in other industries would close their doors to her.

And the relationship between him and Asano Aiko was, after all, just that of an editor and a writer who had collaborated in the past.

Up to now, without having repaid Asano's kindness of appreciation, if Asano made such a big sacrifice just to help him.

He really didn't know what to do...

"Akiwara, this is an opportunity; if I miss it, it will be gone. And this is my own decision, I hope you don't need to persuade me anymore..."

Asano Aiko heard Akiwara Yuto's meaning, and then refuted Akiwara with a firm voice over the phone.

"In short, my future is entrusted to you..." Immediately after, she said this with a smile.

Akiwara Yuto was just about to respond, but didn't expect the other party to suddenly hang up, and then calling back wouldn't get through.

He sighed and could only persuade himself to accept Asano's proposal.

Looking at Asano Aiko on the television screen, Akiwara Yuto couldn't help but think about Asano's words just now.

Future, entrusted to me?

She was referring to the work arrangement, right? It seems I have to arrange it well.

Rest assured, Asano, since you have made such a big sacrifice for me.

Then in terms of career, I will absolutely not let you regret it...

On the television screen, Asano Aiko faced the camera, held the microphone, and continued: "As Mr. Akiwara's responsible editor, I know his character very well. In my view, he is very gentle and humble..."

She first praised Akiwara Yuto's benefits, then talked about some daily life of getting along with the other party, and also talked about how other publishers and magazines wanted to poach him but were rejected by him.

After praising his character, Asano Aiko talked about some unfair treatment *New* had given Akiwara Yuto.

These words didn't need to be faked; in fact, just taking a look at those issues of *New* from July would make it clear. During this period, Akiwara Yuto's works were clearly the most popular with readers, yet he didn't even have a few covers.

If this isn't blatant suppression, then what is?

Asano Aiko talked while couldn't help but shed tears.

The good-looking female host listened to this series of non-stop words and was directly stunned.

Before this episode of the program, she had already received the fixed interview manuscript, which had already clearly stated the content that should be mentioned in a normal interview.

And the program producer also requested that it mainly focus on the two people from Mantanshe who came to the scene, and she only needed to be responsible for "guiding" and "setting the atmosphere."

But what was unexpected to her was that this beautiful female guest named Asano Aiko had completely deviated from the arranged manuscript content and started talking about things completely different from the other guest named Kikuchi Tai.

What exactly happened?

Is this a broadcast accident now?

No, what should I do next?

The female host subconsciously raised her head, looked at the floor director on the other side, and signaled the follow-up handling method with her eyes.

But the floor director fell into hesitation.

According to the requirements of the business department, the purpose of this interview was to resolve the PR crisis Mantanshe was currently facing, so there were no major requirements for ratings.

But now, because of Asano Aiko's words, the ratings of this program started to rise in a straight line.

After all, the fact that guests were having internal strife could undoubtedly attract the interest of the audience, and Mantanshe's bullying of Akiwara Yuto was also a social hot spot that many viewers cared about at the moment.

It's really tangled!

He intended to cut off the program, but couldn't bear to let go of the soaring ratings. After hesitating for half a moment, he gave the female host a gesture to let her continue to control the scene.

Then, he picked up the microphone and dialed an internal line, "Hello, I need to report something here..."

At the interview site, the female host was stunned.

This is already a broadcast accident, and you still want me to continue to control the scene?

She hesitated for a moment, pretended not to see Kikuchi Tai's "suppressed" expression, and continued to let Asano Aiko speak.

This broadcast accident was mainly caused by the guests invited by the business department, so no matter how they pursued accountability, it wouldn't fall on her head.

Forget it, say whatever you want...

Asano Aiko "cried" while finishing talking about Akiwara Yuto's encounter.

Then she lowered her head and, in a "suggestive" way, hoped that the upper management of Mantanshe would make corrections for the ultra vires behavior of individual management personnel.

Her personality was gentle, and she didn't even dare to refute loudly during meetings.

But there was only one opportunity in the public opinion field; if she didn't do this, Akiwara Yuto would likely receive a lot of backlash from the public.

By then, her plan to create a bestseller with Akiwara Yuto would undoubtedly be declared dead.

For the sake of her dream, she could only break the pot and sink the boat.

Anyway, once this program was broadcast today, she would inevitably have no place to stay within Mantanshe. Instead of this, it would be better to say everything she wanted to say completely.

She raised her voice a little and continued.

For her, she had been suppressed for too long!

At the same time as Asano Aiko spoke, the person in charge of the Mantanshe Public Relations Force was also stunned.

But he immediately reacted and had someone call the Tokyo station.

After many negotiations, the program was directly cut off and switched to a tourism promotional film for Akita Prefecture.

However, by this time, they had already missed the first opportunity.

And what Asano Aiko said had basically been seen by the audience group in front of the television through the television program.

The person in charge frowned, but his heart kept sinking.

Now pursuing accountability was meaningless; what should be considered was how to handle the follow-up PR.

Damn it, it seems I can only negotiate with Akiwara Yuto...