Chapter 1009: Want to go back to Hong Kong

In the afternoon, Naoki Nagayama came to the Tree Friend Building again.

Just after entering the office, he was rushed by Tomo Yoshimura:

"Naoki-san, hasn't the candidate for *Tiger of Ginza* been decided yet?"

"Ah.... this~"

Naoki Nagayama rubbed his temples with a headache. During this period of time, Masataka Komori and Xu Mudao Xu, the two guys, sent a batch of protagonist candidates almost every day, which made him a bit helpless...

"After so many days of testing, I have actually decided on the roles of two people. Due to special reasons, Xu Mudao-kun's personality is a bit introverted, which is more suitable for focusing on the pursuit of movie art, so I plan to give him the director..."

"And Masataka-kun, his director strength is also quite good, and he is also very harmonious in dealing with the entertainment industry, and his fame is enough... so maybe he can assist Shuichi-san in coordinating the work of the Film Department in the future....... so he will serve as the producer this time."

Actually, it's just that Xu Mudao Xu is taking the technical route, deep-plowing on the director's road, while Masataka Komori is being trained toward the management post, becoming Yin Tangxiu's small account and helper.

Tomo Yoshimura didn't say much after listening. As outstanding employees of Tree Friend's second echelon, they should indeed be trained in the direction that suits them.

Plus, Tree Friend Films, which is the main business, is expanding so fiercely now, making movies, operating film and television bases, holding film festivals... Now it has also started the innovative business of animated movies, and it really needs more management.

"Since Naoki-san has already decided, announce it to the two quickly!"

Tomo Yoshimura complained,

"During this period of time, the two guys, besides looking for people everywhere in the entertainment industry, also came to me to harass me... simply unbearable!"

Hearing this, Naoki Nagayama immediately laughed:

"Haha, they finally found that the most powerful connection (tool man) in Tree Friend is Tomo-san! After all, when I need people, I also have to trouble Tomo-san!"

"......"

This sentence is not a special compliment. After Tree Friend became more and more powerful, even if there was not much time for socializing, Tomo Yoshimura also found that his connections were getting more and more, and the quality was getting higher and higher...

In the past, when making friends, he had to rely on social skills and drinking, but now almost connections are coming to him, and he only needs to choose...

"Naoki-san, you have already planned helpers for Shuichi-san..."

Tomo Yoshimura didn't say much on the topic of tool men, but shifted to others,

"Then the group management is so busy, I also need an assistant! What about mine? What about my helper?"

This sentence is not easy to answer, because many of Tomo-san's jobs were originally Naoki Nagayama's! So his eyes drifted to the green plants on the windowsill, looking a bit guilty:

"Uh.... doesn't Tomo-san have Masami-kun?"

"Masami-kun's work in the agency alone is very cumbersome!" Tomo Yoshimura said, "He can't spare the energy to host the operation of the group!"

"Does the company have no other excellent talents?"

"If there were, I would have discovered them long ago!"

Tomo Yoshimura sighed. When Tree Friend was still in its infancy, the requirements were not high. Most of the people recruited were from the bottom of the entertainment industry, and it was really troublesome to train them into management talents for large enterprises.

Like Masami Inada, managing all the business of an agency is almost the professional peak, and even he himself feels a bit powerless to manage the Tree Friend Group...

Fortunately, there is Naoki Nagayama

"Uh..." Naoki Nagayama thought back to having just returned from an interview at Tree Friend Capital that morning, and a flash of inspiration struck him. "Otomo-san! Since it's graduation season, let's try recruiting a batch of management trainees—new employees specifically trained for management positions..."

"Attract the most outstanding graduates with higher salaries and career prospects... select newcomers with leadership talent and train them into middle and senior management talent~"

"Otomo-san, when the time comes, rotate them through the various positions at Tree Friend and give them plenty of opportunities to take charge; that's how management talent is forged!"

The management trainee system would become very popular in the future. It could be said to be a necessary system for small and medium-sized enterprises to improve their leadership and execution on the road to becoming large corporations. So many companies around the world used it, and Naoki Nagayama didn't think the leadership of those companies were all fools~

He just needed to study and refer to it~

"Is that so? Management trainees..." Fuyumura Otomo frowned for a moment, then remembered that the Japanese police system had a similar setup. "Naoki-san, isn't this just like the 'career track' in the police force?!"

"'Career track'?" Naoki Nagayama was taken aback.

In the Japanese police system, those who enter the force after passing the Grade 1 National Civil Service Examination start directly as Assistant Police Inspectors (known as the "career track") and, after 3 months of executive training plus 9 months of practical experience, are promoted directly to Police Inspector.

As for everyone else, they need to serve as Assistant Police Inspectors for over 4 years of practical experience before they can take the exam to be promoted to Police Inspector... Even police officers recruited from the bottom can only reach the rank of Patrol Sergeant or Assistant Police Inspector at the highest in their entire lives...

"It does seem a bit similar..."

The career track has a high starting point and fast promotion, and they almost all end up in middle or senior management. Naoki Nagayama also knew that above the career track, there was the so-called "Gold Watch Group" consisting of graduates from Tokyo University; they were simply the candidates for the very top.

Fuyumura Otomo sat on the sofa and took a sip of tea:

"Alright, I'll arrange for the Human Resources Department to organize a relevant plan. It really is time for us at Tree Friend to do this."

"Mm-hmm~"

Seeing Fuyumura Otomo's expression suddenly relax, Naoki Nagayama chatted casually for a while, then said,

"By the way, Otomo-san, I'm going to Hong Kong in a couple of days... Let the General Affairs Department help me get my passport ready..."

"Hong Kong?" Fuyumura Otomo asked in confusion. "What are you going there for?"

"I can't find an actor for *Tiger of Ginza* in Japan, so I want to go to Hong Kong to try my luck..."

"Does the Hong Kong entertainment industry have one?"

"I don't know... There are very few young people in Japan who have suddenly struck it rich, but in Hong Kong right now, there are plenty of young people who have risen to success overnight!"

Hong Kong in 1986 had not yet been returned, but as a window to the outside world for the mainland, Hong Kong's prosperity could even be compared to New York or Tokyo...

The entertainment industry was naturally prosperous as well. Jackie Chan alone was already an international star, not to mention the batch of other stars active in Asia and even internationally...

For *Tiger of Ginza*, a story about young people in Ginza who suddenly strike it rich, Naoki Nagayama felt that if young Japanese actors couldn't pull off that feeling of sudden wealth, he could look for one in Hong Kong...

Not to mention, ever since he recalled *Once a Thief*, he also wanted to go back and take a look at that great country in the East.

The headquarters of Burning Productions.

Norinori Mingxing was leaning against the wall outside the costume design room, listening to the giggles and exclamations coming through the door crack, feeling itchy inside but unable to go in himself...

A fashion show was taking place inside~

In reality, it was just Yukiko Okada changing into the clothes designed for her, and there were two other new idols inside also trying on their stage costumes...

Thinking about how there were nothing but young, beautiful girls inside constantly changing clothes... fair and moving delicate bodies... Norinori Mingxing felt it was pure torture at this moment.

"Sigh~~~ Buddha, is this a test for me?!"

Norinori Mingxing took out a cigarette to soothe his nerves...

Inside the design room, besides the three girls, there were also Akina, Maki Ueda, costume designer Yoyo Ochi, and two female photographers.

Akina had designed the clothes for Yukiko Okada's album cover photo, and she had come over today to see how they looked when worn; they could also be altered at any time in the costume design room.

"It really is cute on Yukiko!"

Akina looked at the red princess tulle dress worn by Yukiko Okada; it was both lively and cute, and her eyes lit up.

Even as a girl, one loves to look at pretty girls!

"Ah, it's missing a princess crown!"

Akina found a large red bow nearby and put it on Yukiko Okada; it looked even more beautiful!

Yukiko Okada spun around under the direction of stylist Yoyo Ochi, letting everyone see the full look, and her face was filled with indescribable happiness:

"Every girl wants to wear a princess dress like this, right!"

Yoyo Ochi nodded:

"Akina's use of color is very bold! Princess dresses generally don't use bright red..."

Bright red is usually a tone that reflects maturity and cold elegance, but the puffy dress paired with lace patterns unexpectedly became both eye-catching and cute~

In fact, as an idol stylist, Yoyo Ochi had worked with many female idols, most of whom were like dolls, letting stylists and makeup artists dress them up however they pleased.

Some would have certain requirements for their look, leaning towards a certain style or the like... but it was rare to find someone with such superb aesthetic sense and fashion sensitivity as Akina Nakamori.

Being able to design and make clothes herself was truly one in a million!

"Akina-chan is amazing!"

Maki Ueda praised Akina Nakamori from the side, a happy smile on her face; she hadn't seen Akina in a long time either~

"You're making me blush~" Akina said with a smile. "Ochi-san is the amazing one, being able to make clothes so well based on just a drawing..."

"Hahaha, let's stop praising each other back and forth!"

Yoyo Ochi waved her hand.

"There are a few more sets, let's try those on too... We have to go for the official shoot later!"

"Hai~"

Accompanied by giggles, the process of undressing and dressing began again in the design room.

This was Yukiko Okada's first album since coming to Burning Productions, and everyone hoped she could continue the momentum from before and become the successor to Akina Nakamori and Seiko Matsuda.

After more than an hour passed, the door to the design room finally opened, and a group of girls walked out, chattering away.

Norinori Mingxing immediately stood at attention:

"Yukiko-chan, Akina-chan, have you finished trying on the clothes?"

"Mm~ everything has been adjusted, just waiting for the official photo shoot tomorrow!"

Yukiko Okada had a smile on her face; she felt that since coming to Burning Productions, even work had become enjoyable.

It wasn't like when she was at Sunny Agency, where she was pushed around like a piece of merchandise and had to digest all sorts of pressure all by herself.

In reality, April of Showa 61 was the countdown to the end of Yukiko Okada's life in the other timeline, but now, she was full of vitality and filled with expectations for the future...

When Akina walked past Norinori Mingxing, she smelled a heavy scent of smoke and immediately moved away:

"Fusa-san, why are you smoking so much... It's bad for your lungs!"

"......" If I didn't smoke just now, it would be bad for my nerves~

As she said this, Akina took the other girls with her and headed towards the main office area of Burning Productions.

Naoki Nagayama didn't smoke, and naturally, Akina didn't either... After becoming pregnant, she couldn't even stand the smell of smoke, and even when their dedicated driver, Zhian Toda, came to pick up Naoki Nagayama, he wouldn't smoke...

After arriving at the main office area, Akina smiled and greeted the employees she knew; even while carrying a big belly, she didn't feel clumsy at all~

And everyone naturally treated her with enthusiasm, occasionally asking about the recent status of Akina's baby...

When you are successful, all you see are smiling faces; this saying is absolutely true.

Although there were certainly people in Burning Productions who were unhappy with Akina—such as senior employees who had been bluntly contradicted by Akina while working in the past, or employees who had to work overtime because of Akina's scandals—everyone suppressed their petty thoughts for now and welcomed Akina with smiling faces.

After all, even if Akina was temporarily retired, she was still a shareholder of Burning Productions and, more importantly, the wife of the big shot in the entertainment industry, Naoki Nagayama!

"The baby should be born around August, right?"

Upon reaching Akira Hanami's office, the president also showed his concern.

"That's exactly the hottest time of the year..."

"Mm, it's definitely going to be a baby like a little sun!"

Akina said with a smile~

Akira Hanami also chimed in with a few words, and as they chatted, the conversation turned to the new album Akina had already started halfway through.

"Akina, the songs for the record *DESIRE* have already been written; you've seen them, right?"

"Hai, I've already seen the sheet music before..."

"This song was crafted based on your style; Yukiko and the others definitely wouldn't be able to interpret it well..." Akira Hanami asked, "Do you have any plans to make a comeback after the baby is born?"

"If you want to catch the Record Awards at the end of this year, we can start planning now..."

"Hmm..."

Akina was a bit indecisive; on one hand, she wanted to take care of her family and raise the baby, but on the other hand, she also hoped to continue singing.

"Are you considering Naoki-san's side?"

"No... Naoki-san has always been very supportive of my singing career!" Akina shook her head. "But I'm worried I won't be able to take care of the baby..."

"I see..."

Akira Hanami thought for a moment.

"In that case, Akina, why don't you consider just releasing records... without appearing on shows as an idol..."

"Just go to the recording studio to record the songs, and then shoot the album cover..."

"Based on Akina's past popularity, it will still have decent sales!"

"Eh? Is that okay?"

"Of course it is... many singers are like that..." Akira Hanami said; it's just that you can't make as much money.

There is a not-so-obvious difference between a singer releasing a record and an idol releasing a record: singers earn money from music fans, while idols earn money from fanatical followers.

Don't singers want exposure? Of course they do... but they don't necessarily have the same heat as idols...

Without exposure, trying to attract fans with vocal ability alone is not an easy task.

However, Akina's song had already been written, and it would be a waste to leave it there; it would be better to release the record and earn a profit!

"In that case, let's start the production!"

Akina nodded, deciding to start recording the record, and looked at her belly.

"...... but the cover photo, I guess I'll have to wait until after the baby is born to take it!"

"Haha, that's fine!"

Akira Hanami laughed.

"Take your time, we're not in a rush this time... We can even try out some other songs..."

This meant they weren't just doing a single, but wanted to produce a full album!