Chapter 145: The Future is Entrusted to You!

"Lies!"

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

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

Didn't the higher-ups promise to let you transfer back to "New"? They could even arrange a deputy editor-in-chief position for you! And you even agreed to it.

Now that you've said all this, do you have other intentions?

Are you an idiot? With your actions today, even if you leave Mantan Publishing, no other publishing house will dare to hire you in the future.

Damn it, you aren't even Akiwara Yuto's girlfriend, why are you doing this? Don't drag me down with you!

Kikuchi intended to step forward to stop Asano Aiko from continuing, but before he could even lift his rear, he realized they were currently on a live interview.

Right now, 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 tacitly admitting that what she said was true?

For a moment, Kikuchi fell into a dilemma.

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

A few days ago, Asano Aiko had suddenly called to inform him that the Mantan Publishing Public Relations Bureau had invited her to participate in a live interview.

At the time, Akiwara Yuto immediately understood her 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 about my plan."

Then, Asano Aiko shared her 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 Mantan Publishing had taken the initiative to invite her, she planned to "use their own strategy against them."

She first proposed 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 made, it could lower some people's guard.

Immediately after, she provided a piece of "dirt" she had forged and submitted it to the Public Relations Bureau for review.

After such a series of actions, the Public Relations Bureau 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 instead advised: "Asano, I hope you consider this carefully. Doing this might be helpful to me, but for you, it will cause major problems..."

In Japanese society, what companies value most is an employee's loyalty and dedication to the firm.

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

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

Moreover, the relationship between him and Asano Aiko was, after all, just that of an editor and a writer who had worked together.

As things stood, without having repaid Asano for her kindness in recognizing his talent, if she were to make such a huge sacrifice to help him...

He really didn't know what to do.

"Akiwara, this is an opportunity. If we miss it, it won't come again. And this is my own decision, I hope you don't need to persuade me anymore..."

Asano Aiko understood what Akiwara Yuto meant, and then, in a firm voice over the phone, she refuted him.

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

Akiwara Yuto was about to respond, but unexpectedly, she hung up the phone, and subsequent calls could not get through.

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

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

The future, entrusted to me?

She must be referring to work arrangements; it seems I need to plan this well.

Don't worry, Asano, since you have made such a great 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, holding the microphone and continued: "As Akiwara-sensei's editor, I know his character very well. In my view, he is a very gentle and humble person..."

She first praised Akiwara Yuto's merits, then talked about some daily interactions between them, and even mentioned how other publishing houses and magazines had tried to poach him but were rejected.

After praising his character, Asano Aiko spoke about some of the unfair treatment "New" had given Akiwara Yuto.

These words didn't need to be faked; in fact, one only needed to look at the issues of "New" from July to see. During that time, Akiwara Yuto's work was clearly the most popular with readers, yet it didn't even get a few covers.

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

As Asano Aiko spoke, she couldn't help but shed tears.

The beautiful female host, listening to this continuous stream of words, was completely stunned.

Before this episode, she had already received the fixed interview script, which clearly stated all the content that should be brought up during a normal interview.

Furthermore, the show's producer had requested that the focus be on the two people from Mantan Publishing, and she only needed to be responsible for "guiding" and "setting the atmosphere."

But to her surprise, this beautiful guest named Asano Aiko had completely deviated from the pre-arranged script and was saying things entirely different from the other guest, Kikuchi.

What exactly was happening?

Was this a broadcast accident?

No, what should be done next?

The female host subconsciously looked up at the director on the other side, using her eyes to signal for a follow-up solution.

But the director was hesitant.

According to the business department's requirements, the purpose of this interview was to resolve the public relations crisis currently facing Mantan Publishing, so there were no high expectations for ratings.

But now, because of Asano Aiko's words, the ratings for this show were rising in a straight line.

After all, the internal strife between guests undoubtedly attracted the audience's interest, and the issue of Mantan Publishing bullying Akiwara Yuto was also a social hot topic that many viewers cared about.

How truly frustrating!

He wanted to cut the show, but he couldn't bear to lose the soaring ratings. After hesitating for a long time, he gave the female host a gesture to continue controlling 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 had a blank expression.

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

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

This broadcast accident was mainly caused by the guests invited by the business department; even if they wanted to assign blame, it wouldn't fall on her.

Forget it, say whatever you want...

Asano Aiko "cried" while finishing the story of Akiwara Yuto's ordeal.

Then, with her head lowered, she used a "suggestive" tone to hope that the senior management of Mantan Publishing would correct the overstepping behavior of individual managers.

Her personality was gentle; usually, in meetings, she didn't even dare to refute anyone loudly.

But there was only one chance in the public opinion arena; if she didn't do this, Akiwara Yuto would likely be misunderstood by many people.

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

For the sake of her dream, she could only throw caution to the wind.

Anyway, once this show aired today, she would definitely have no place left within Mantan Publishing. Since that was the case, it was better to say everything she wanted to say completely.

She raised her voice slightly and continued.

For her, she had been suppressing herself for too long!

At the same time as Asano Aiko was speaking, the head of the Mantan Publishing Public Relations Bureau was also stunned.

But he reacted immediately and had someone call Tokyo TV.

After much negotiation, the show was finally cut off and switched to a travel promotional video for Akita Prefecture.

However, by this time, the prime moment had already passed.

And what Asano Aiko said had basically already been seen by the audience in front of their televisions.

The person in charge frowned, his heart sinking continuously.

It was meaningless to assign blame now; what needed to be considered was how to handle the subsequent public relations.

Damn it, it seems he could only negotiate with Akiwara Yuto...