Chapter 1143: Let

Generally speaking, Japanese companies are definitely busy with financial reports in the first two months of the year, and a few large corporations continue until the fiscal year-end in April.

While Otomo Yoshimura was buried in financial data, the two executives, Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang, appeared quite relaxed~

"Ah... it's snowing again~"

In the air-conditioned office, Naoki Nagayama looked at the snowflakes outside the window and sighed once more.

Shuichi Yin Tang, who was drinking hot tea nearby, shook his head:

"It always snows in winter... what's the big deal~"

"Shuichi-san, as a creator, you should be a bit more sentimental; that's the only way to create good works!" Naoki Nagayama said, "Haven't you noticed that artists always look like they have fragile souls~"

"..."

Shuichi Yin Tang glanced at the vibrant Naoki Nagayama.

"You look perfectly normal to me!"

"I'm an exception!"

"..."

The two chatted about this and that in the office, looking exactly like old men in a park killing time, with no sign of the ambition expected of bosses of a large company, making one wonder how a company as big as the Tree Friend Group managed to develop to this point.

"Knock knock!"

The office door was pushed open, and Otomo Yoshimura walked in wearing reading glasses, holding a stack of documents.

"Naoki-san, these reports need your review..."

Thick dark circles, slightly furrowed brows, a receding hairline, an impeccable suit, and a decisive attitude... Ah, it seems the hero behind the company's rapid development has been found!

Seeing Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang leisurely drinking tea, Otomo Yoshimura was so angry he almost threw the documents on the floor:

"I'm saying... I'm working myself to the bone, and you two are actually here drinking tea?!"

"..."

Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang exchanged a glance; one hurriedly took the documents, and the other immediately pulled the man to sit on the sofa, pouring him a cup of fresh tea:

"Hahaha, we're just stealing a moment of leisure while busy!"

"Yeah, yeah, I just took a sip of tea, and Otomo-san arrived!"

Otomo Yoshimura angrily took the tea, and smelling the rich aroma of the top-grade Gyokuro tea leaves, his resentment welled up again.

"You two, you can't just dump all the company's work on me!"

"No, no... we are very concerned about the company's development!" Naoki Nagayama winked at Shuichi Yin Tang.

And Shuichi Yin Tang immediately spoke up:

"Yeah, yeah, yesterday we even went to talk to the president of the Burning Agency and agreed to jointly establish the Tokyo Film Association!"

"Ikuo Suo?" Otomo Yoshimura slightly suppressed his anger. "Did you reach an agreement?"

"Yes, he supports us to be the decision-maker for the first term... and we support him for the next!" Naoki Nagayama said, "We get along very well, and we even agreed to go fishing together later!"

"Fishing? Then remember to wear a helmet... cough, cough, cough..."

Otomo Yoshimura didn't know why he suddenly blurted that out, but he reacted quickly.

"Ah... I meant you should choose the fishing spot carefully and be mindful of safety..."

"..."

Naoki Nagayama nodded and changed the subject.

"By the way, Otomo-san, the end of January is approaching, and this year's Film Academy Awards and Blue Ribbon Awards ceremonies are about to start. I'm going to the Blue Ribbon, and Shuichi-san is going to the Academy Awards... do you want to go to the Mainichi Film Awards?"

"Me? What would I go there for?"

Otomo Yoshimura shook his head; he knew very well that he had no future in the film industry.

"Let Masataka Komori and Xu Mudao go. The Mainichi Film Awards, the Kinema Junpo Awards, and such are all good for the juniors to gain some experience."

In the eyes of Shuyou at present, several major awards are already in the bag for Shuyou.

Last year, Tree Friend Film had too many excellent works. The "Hayato Legend" at the beginning of the year, "Tiger of Ginza" in the middle, and "Ghost" at the end of the year all achieved great success in both reputation and box office. Tree Friend's presence was indispensable in every major award.

"Then let them go..." Naoki Nagayama nodded. "Masataka-kun has been in the editing room for too long... By the way, why haven't I seen Kijima-kun lately?"

"..."

Otomo Yoshimura and Shuichi Yin Tang both fell silent. Ah... it really has been a long time since we saw Xu Mudao.

"Uh..."

After a while, Shuichi Yin Tang said,

"Has anyone found a wild gold Rolex lately?"

"..."

After the trio speculated in the office, they finally decided to put aside their work and start searching for the employee in the Tree Friend building... let's see who finds Kijima-kun first!

In the editing room, Masataka Komori scratched his head:

"Kijima-kun... I really haven't noticed lately, I've been busy editing..."

In the General Affairs Section, Riko Hayano checked the records:

"I haven't received any leave or vacation requests from Kijima-san recently..."

At the front desk, Xing Jiahua patted her forehead:

"It seems, it appears, I have indeed seen Kijima-san come in every day... I've heard his voice saying hello!"

Finally, the group arrived at the Script Center. Editor-in-Chief Kota Ueda looked at the three executives who had come together and was momentarily flattered:

"Naoki-san, Shuichi-san, Otomo-san... why are you here?"

"I came to..."

Naoki Nagayama was halfway through his sentence when he saw a dazzling golden light flash from the desk by the window, and then he saw Xu Mudao looking up from a script, curiously looking toward the door.

"Ah... found him!!!"

"??" Xu Mudao looked in terror as the three bosses surrounded him.

"Kijima-kun, you've made us look hard for you!" Shuichi Yin Tang smiled and pressed Xu Mudao's shoulder. "What are you trying to do by hiding here?!"

"Huh? I wasn't hiding..."

Xu Mudao tremblingly picked up the script in his hand.

"I heard the Script Center received Naoki-san's new script and was proofreading it, so I came to help look at it..."

Otomo Yoshimura leaned over to look; it was indeed the script for the TV series "Long Vacation." He turned to Naoki Nagayama and said:

"It seems Kijima-kun wants to get a head start... but who will direct this TV series needs to be discussed at the monthly meeting in early February!"

"Young man, you have great initiative, I think highly of you~"

Otomo Yoshimura patted Xu Mudao's shoulder and then said to the other two,

"Since we've found him, it's fine... I have things to do! I'm leaving first!"

"Hmm..."

Naoki Nagayama watched Otomo Yoshimura's relaxed departure, feeling that he seemed very relaxed and happy, just like a child who finally found the last person in a game of hide-and-seek...

Only then did he turn his head to look at the surprised Xu Mudao, then sat down next to him and explained:

"Kijima-kun... the three of us executives just remembered that it seems we haven't had a heart-to-heart talk with you for a long time, so we came to chat with you..."

Shuichi Yin Tang also sat down on the other side and asked with a smile:

"Yeah, yeah... have you had any difficulties in work or life lately?!"

"..."

Kota Ueda, who had been confused since just now, suddenly had a series of question marks pop up over his head~

"Does our Tree Friend have this kind of corporate culture? Executives talking heart-to-heart with employees?"

"How come I've never encountered it?"

"I'm a full-time employee too!"

"..."

"There are no problems in life, it's always been very good..."

Xu Mudao felt flattered and spoke cautiously, with some expectation,

"But at work, I feel like there are no projects on hand for the New Year... Naoki-san, Shuichi-san, do you think I still have a chance with this 'Long Vacation'?!"

"..." As expected, he knows how to climb the pole!

Naoki Nagayama sighed that the once shy little employee had now become a workplace veteran... he had learned to seize every opportunity!

However, for the TV series "Long Vacation," he actually wanted to direct it himself... After all, "Jurassic Park" wouldn't start production until the second half of the year, and Naoki Nagayama actually had nothing to do in the first half.

Shooting a TV series to reward himself was not a problem~

"Kijima-kun... this..." Naoki Nagayama started to stall. "Regarding the script, we need to find a capable director, and we still need to consider it carefully... our leadership team will discuss it at the meeting!"

"... Naoki-san, I meet the qualifications and ability, and I have time now, always ready to contribute to Tree Friend!"

"Haha, I know Kijima-kun is very loyal..."

Sensing Naoki Nagayama's intention, Shuichi Yin Tang hurriedly took over:

"Kijima-kun... since you have time, why not come and chat with me about establishing the Tokyo Film Association? I'm very short of hands here!"

"But... I want to be a pure director..."

Xu Mudao was a bit resistant; he didn't want to be buried in complicated social interactions, and it wasn't his strength.

"Haha, there's no such thing as a pure director! To become a great director, you need experience in all aspects!"

Saying this, Shuichi Yin Tang pulled Xu Mudao out, seemingly wanting to pass on his experience one-on-one.

Naoki Nagayama, left behind, breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Kota Ueda:

"Ueda-kun, the proofreading of the 'Long Vacation' script should be almost done, right?"

"Yes, it's mostly finished." Kota Ueda nodded hurriedly. "We can start preparing for production!"

"Hmm... this TV series is produced together with Fuji TV, so the Script Center needs to send people to follow the crew and be ready to modify the script at any time..."

Naoki Nagayama said; although he was the screenwriter, doing everything by himself was very tiring.

"I understand!"

"At the end of the month, we will hold a script meeting to discuss this year's shooting projects... the scripts from the Script Center need to be ready!"

"Yes!"

After Naoki Nagayama left, Kota Ueda felt a bit aggrieved...

Why did the three executives talk to Xu Mudao like friends, while they treated him, the editor-in-chief, like a subordinate, directly assigning tasks... Does Tree Friend really bully newcomers!

But he had clearly been here for more than half a year!

Not being dragged out to drink today, Naoki Nagayama returned to Shanying Yuan in the afternoon.

Welcomed enthusiastically by the dog, he slowly walked into the West Building living room and saw Akina sitting sideways on the new carpet, watching little Xia Hua crawling around on the soft carpet, with some dolls and figures scattered around.

"Naoki-san, you're back!"

Seeing Naoki Nagayama return, Akina smiled.

"No social engagements today?"

"I'm sure there were some... but none that I had to attend..." Naoki Nagayama took off his shoes and sat next to Akina. "Rather than saying polite things to some people, it's better to come home and accompany Xia Hua."

"Just Xia Hua?!"

Akina puffed up her cheeks, like an angry pufferfish~

"Haha, of course, I'm also accompanying my Akina!"

Naoki Nagayama hugged his wife, who was actually jealous of her daughter... so he kissed Akina on the cheek~

"That's more like it~"

Actually, Akina had just turned twenty-two; in her previous life, she would still be a college student who hadn't left the ivory tower, but now she was already a mother~

Seeing her father return, little Xia Hua began to change direction, crawling toward them with a huff and a puff.

Naoki Nagayama picked up his daughter and felt that her neck was already sweaty:

"How long has she been crawling? She's all sweaty!"

"It's been a while..." Akina also took out a towel to help wipe the sweat. "Let's take a hot bath before sleeping later."

"Hmm..."

Naoki Nagayama looked at the snow outside, and suddenly an idea came to his mind.

"Akina... shall we go to a hot spring?!"

"Huh?"

"The hot springs in Hokkaido and Hakone are very good..." Naoki Nagayama said. "Now is also a good time to soak in the hot springs at the vacation house by Lake Toya!"

"Going there..." Akina was slightly moved; she had indeed stayed at home for too long this winter.

"We could also go to the uninhabited island in the Seto Inland Sea..." Naoki Nagayama said with a smile. "The hot spring house newly excavated there is said to be a volcanic hot spring..."

"Seto Inland Sea... that's too far!" Akina hugged little Xia Hua, who didn't understand anything. "If we take a long-distance trip, Hua-chan will be tired!"

"Hmm..."

Indeed, whether it's Lake Toya or the Seto Inland Sea, driving is very far, and the Shinkansen doesn't reach there; you need to change trains and boats...

Naoki Nagayama thought for a while and raised an eyebrow:

"Akina... let's buy a private jet!"

"... Ah?"

"Come to think of it, with my current wealth, I can afford a private luxury yacht, a private jet... I can also build a private golf course, a private horse farm, and so on..."

Naoki Nagayama counted the luxury toys of the rich in detail.

"It's just that I don't really like these..."

"Haha, I know, Naoki-san likes real estate!" Akina laughed. "That's why you bought so many..."

"..."

Gently patting his wife's thigh, Naoki Nagayama continued,

"But since there is a need, buying a small private jet is also very convenient."

"Doesn't a private jet need to wait for the factory to manufacture it?"

"Private jets are generally second-hand... the time to get them is short." Naoki Nagayama said. "It takes too long to build a plane from scratch, and you have to wait in line; it's estimated to take a year or two... and you don't know if a new plane will have any problems..."

"But second-hand planes have actually flown, and the maintenance manuals and maintenance methods are guaranteed..."

This is the difference between a new car and an old car. In fact, a plane that has flown for a year or two is theoretically when the plane's performance is most reliable, as everything has been broken in to the best state.

"Then are we going directly to the aviation group to buy it?" Akina asked, half-understanding.

"Ha, of course, there are specialized intermediary companies!"

Naoki Nagayama smiled; although aircraft transactions are not frequent, the price is very high, definitely the kind that allows you to eat for several years after one opening.

"In the case of not lacking money, it should be possible to buy it directly in a month or two!"

"At that time, I will take you and Xia Hua to fly whenever we want, flying everywhere to play!"

"Okay~"

Akina smiled and listened to her husband's words, and also imagined the life of flying whenever she wanted...

Little Xia Hua in Naoki Nagayama's arms didn't know anything about planes, looking left and right, and twisting her body to continue crawling~

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1144 =====