Chapter 1193: Some people work part-time just to experience life~

After two weeks of promoting the song, Akina's new record *BLONDE* finally started selling.

The gorgeous dance music with a flamboyant and free style had fascinated many fans since its first appearance, especially the figure of their idol twisting in her Hermès silk scarf performance outfit on stage, which was imprinted in their hearts like a stamp.

The A-side of the record is a dashing city girl, while the B-side is the ascetic *Puritan*. Putting these two songs with completely opposite styles together seems to show people the different sides of a woman's heart... making the record more attractive.

So on the day the record was sold, the stock in the record store was swept away, and the application for replenishment made Warner Pioneer very happy~

At the same time, the news that Akina Nakamori would have another special record was also circulating among the fan groups.

This time... it is said to be the theme song of a TV drama!

At the Fuji TV headquarters, the promotion for *Long Vacation* had begun in an orderly manner.

First, the hosts in the popular variety shows would guide the topic to the TV drama from time to time, followed by the exposure trailers in other TV programs, and then there was a dedicated advertising time to play the trailer for *Long Vacation*...

Because Chikako Aoyama's fame was slightly larger, the actors were mainly Chikako Aoyama, but Masaharu Fukuyama's appearance was also exposed, and he got the title of "creamy little fresh meat"...

In other aspects, it naturally also used the gimmick of Akina Nakamori singing the theme song to promote it~

The first broadcast time was set for the Saturday night of the second week of May... Prime time!

The fame of Tree Friend's Moon Nine drama this time has to be maintained by *Long Vacation*~

In Yamasakura-tei.

Akina pushed away the promotional activities and stayed at home specifically, because Naoki Nagayama's parents were coming to Tokyo today. They had scheduled to come in May for a comprehensive physical examination... Akina's mother's rectal cancer was very lingering.

"Hua-chan, Grandpa and Grandma are coming..."

Akina held Xiaohua and touched her nose,

"You have to call them Ojisan and Obasan then..."

"Ah... ah ah ma ah..."

Xiaohua thought her mother was playing with her, and laughed happily, her mouth mixed with vague words.

"Ojisan, Obasan..."

She now, besides calling Mom and Dad relatively clearly, can also say words like "eat," "poop," etc., and even calls Yingtailang "wang wang" more often... But it was still a bit difficult to call Grandpa and Grandma.

And at her current age, she might not even recognize them after not seeing them for a few months~

The driver went to the station to pick up the two old people, so Akina was waiting at home while taking care of the baby, and chatting with Mori Nonaka about daily trivial matters from time to time, such as whether the guest room was ready, and other bathroom supplies, etc.

This time Ken Nagayama and Nanako Nagayama came to Tokyo to stay for a few more days

Amidst this conversation, a car slowly drove into the iron gates of Shanyingyuan.

The first to react was Eitaro, who had been lying nearby; he seemed to hear a familiar sound, and with a 'whoosh', he ran over from the side...

Then, a cry of surprise was heard from the garage, followed by laughter~

When Akina Mori arrived at the entrance holding little Xia Hua, she saw Eitaro lying on the ground, whimpering and acting coquettishly toward Nanako Nagayama, his short, thick tail wagging incessantly on the ground—he was unbelievably enthusiastic... And Nanako Nagayama was also smiling as she stroked the dog's head, saying happily:

"Eitaro... such a good boy... did you miss Grandma?"

Beside them, Ken Nagayama was carrying a small suitcase, watching this scene with a face full of tenderness~

"Father, Mother... was the journey smooth?"

Akina walked up to greet them, while little Xia Hua in her arms was clutching her mother's collar, looking at the two people outside with some curiosity.

"Very smooth, the car wasn't crowded either..."

Ken Nagayama, the father-in-law, just nodded and answered concisely, while Nanako Nagayama, after soothing the dog, looked at her daughter-in-law and the little granddaughter in her arms.

"We didn't even need to be picked up, we could have come over directly... Ah... Hua-chan... you've grown again~"

"Hua-chan, come... call Grandma... Grandpa."

Akina encouraged the daughter in her arms, but at this moment, the little one was actually shy and buried her head right into her mother's neck.

"Ah... but she could say it before~" Akina said to her parents-in-law with a smile, "It looks like she's shy~"

"So young... it's like this after not seeing each other for a month..."

Nanako Nagayama had already raised three children and also helped raise her eldest grandson, so she was naturally very experienced with small children.

After getting close to little Xia Hua, she gently took her hand and shook it, which made little Xia Hua feel a sense of familiarity with her long-lost grandmother.

"Oh my... how can we stand at the door..."

Akina suddenly realized that her parents-in-law had arrived and had actually been standing at the door for so long.

"Please, come in..."

She hurriedly brought her parents-in-law into the living room to sit down, and Mari Nonaka, acting as the nanny, brewed some tea and then retreated, leaving the space to this family.

Nanako Nagayama then opened the suitcase and took out some sun-dried seafood from inside:

"These were caught by Aoki from the sea... they can be used to make soup..."

Looking at the dried scallops, dried shrimp, abalone, and sea cucumber sealed in vacuum bags, Akina said in surprise:

"Brother Aoki can actually catch shellfish and abalone too?!"

"Hahaha, of course not~" Nanako Nagayama said with a smile, "In his spare time now, he goes sea fishing on a fishing boat... and buys the freshest ones from the boat while he's at it..."

"I see..."

Akina sighed with emotion; Brother Aoki's fishing career had reached a new level!

"Is little Yecao in kindergarten now?"

"Yes... he's getting bigger and bigger, and he's completely lost the quietness he had when he was little... running around everywhere..."

"Boys are like that..."

"Fortunately, little Xia Hua and little Baihe are both girls..."

Akina and her mother-in-law chatted happily about daily life, and before they knew it, little Xia Hua had run into Nanako Nagayama's arms, without any resistance at all, and was even laughing happily.

As for Ken Nagayama beside them, he occasionally took a sip of tea, while his other hand secretly stroked the head of the dog lying nearby... He also liked Eitaro very much~

"As for Naoki-san, he can't get away from filming 'Departures' right now... so he won't be able to return until the evening..."

Having taken too many leaves before, Naoki Nagayama now felt embarrassed to tell the crew he wanted time off... and the filming of 'Departures' was at a tense stage, so it wasn't convenient for him to leave.

"Ah, daijobu..."

Nanako Nagayama waved her hand with a smile, then lowered her head to gently stroke little Xia Hua's cheek.

"Having our little Xia Hua here to welcome us is enough, right?!"

When little Xia Hua heard this, she immediately started laughing and babbling...

"In the evening, Tsuruko will also come over... Naoki-san has already notified her."

Akina added another sentence; after all, as the only daughter of her parents-in-law, since they had come to Tokyo, they naturally had to see Tsuruko Nagayama~

"Good..."

Neither Ken Nagayama nor Nanako Nagayama raised any objections; their second son had already considered everything very comprehensively.

At the Owada family home in Setagaya, Masako Owada was reading a thick proposal—"Proposal for the Protection of Labor Rights and Interests in the Film Industry."

This was a proposal recently being promoted by Chairman Ito Shuichi Itang of the Tokyo Film Industry Association. As someone who often participated in gatherings, Masako Owada had also become interested in this proposal.

"Masako..."

Masako Owada's father, Hisashi Owada, walked into the study.

"What are you reading?"

"It's a recent proposal."

Masako Owada had no intention of hiding it and handed the "Proposal" directly to her father.

"It's a proposal that Chairman Ito Shuichi Itang of the Tokyo Film Industry Association is lobbying for..."

"A proposal from an industry group?"

Hisashi Owada said casually,

"Unless it's a financial group like the Japan Business Federation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, the chances of a proposal passing are generally not high..."

Economic groups in Japan are generally divided into comprehensive economic groups and specialized economic groups; simply put, one covers multiple industries, and the other covers a single industry... and the influence of comprehensive groups is more powerful.

"Yes, that's why Chairman Itang has recently invited celebrities from all walks of life to lobby..."

Masako Owada said to her father,

"Because it concerns the basic rights and welfare of film industry practitioners, many people have already expressed their support!"

"Who wouldn't say that with their lips..."

As a veteran of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hisashi Owada was accustomed to seeing through insincere plays... In diplomatic settings, people who say one thing to your face and another behind your back are the most common.

"It mainly depends on who is leading this proposal and how many people are seconding it..."

Bills accepted by the Japanese Diet are generally divided into two categories: one proposed by cabinet government agencies, and the other proposed by members of the Diet... A member's proposal generally requires more than a dozen members to second it before it is sent to the Speaker, and then sent to the standing committee for deliberation.

"Shuyou doesn't seem to have any supporting political parties among the members of the House of Representatives, right?"

"I heard it's being proposed through the Minister of Culture."

"Huh? A government department proposal?"

Hisashi Owada was even more surprised; they still wanted to pass a proposal under these circumstances?!

"Isn't that too whimsical?!"

Sure enough, Shuyou still didn't understand politics! They didn't understand Japan's deep-rooted legislative system!

Masako Owada, however, had great confidence in Shuyou:

"Chairman Itang doesn't look like a reckless person; he seems very confident..."

"Even if they gather enough seconding members before June of this year and submit it to the Speaker... the subsequent deliberations and voting... all require people with great influence to coordinate..."

Hisashi Owada shook his head; without the support of a political party, this could easily be stuck for a year or two in the middle, and in the end, it would just fizzle out.

"This kind of proposal to protect the rights and interests of industry laborers... how could everyone not support it?"

Having studied abroad, Masako Owada was greatly influenced by democratic and civil rights ideas. One must know that such proposals abroad would definitely be popular in the white-left camp, and countless members would compete to second them to show their support for democracy and freedom...

"This proposal involves labor law, film, and the cultural industry... You tell me, should the Ministry of Labor manage it, or the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, or perhaps the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology?"

Hisashi Owada said with a smile, placing the proposal on the table,

"And that's just one thing... Politics is not that simple..."

Listening to her father's explanation, Masako also began to feel some doubt... However, looking at Ito Shuichi Itang's eloquent manner at social banquets, he didn't seem completely ignorant of politics either?!

So, how exactly does the Tokyo Film Industry Association intend to persuade the Diet by putting forward this proposal?! Could it be that Naoki Nagayama has a private friendship with the Minister of Culture?!

More importantly, Masako Owada wanted to contribute to the proposal. With this credential of supporting human rights, she, as a diplomat, would also be welcomed in the upper-class society of Europe and America in the future...

In the evening, Naoki Nagayama returned to Shanyingyuan.

Because his parents had arrived today, he ended the filming a little earlier and rushed back to Shanyingyuan early to have dinner with them.

"I'm home..."

Just as he walked in the door, he heard Eitaro running over with whimpers—not to welcome him, but to hide behind his back.

Then he saw Tsuruko bending over, supporting little Xia Hua under her armpits, half-pushing and half-hugging her as they ran over with giggles:

"Eitaro, you can't escape today! Just surrender under the iron hooves of Aunt Tsuruko and Hua-chan!"

Little Xia Hua waved her arms wildly, laughing happily, her little feet skimming the ground here and there, giving the impression of a 'water-walking' technique... Under the leadership of her strange aunt, she had a tendency to develop into a little witch!

"..... Tsuruko, how old are you now..."

Naoki Nagayama reached out to pick up his daughter and rubbed against her affectionately, making little Xia Hua laugh again.

"You're actually bullying Eitaro with Hua-chan..."

"No way!" Tsuruko put her hands on her hips and argued, "We were just playing with Eitaro..."

Looking at the dog cowering behind his legs, Naoki Nagayama sighed... Eitaro, oh Eitaro, you're just not as smart as Miaotaro; didn't you see him already climb up the cherry blossom tree?!

"Woof woof woof! (I can't climb trees!)"

The white dog retorted pitifully... but it didn't attract any attention at all.

However, the dog was finally saved:

"Tsuruko!"

A call came from the kitchen,

"Come help serve the dishes!"

"...... Hai~~~"

Only then did Tsuruko walk toward the study with some reluctance.

Naoki Nagayama took his daughter to the living room and, seeing his father watching TV on the sofa, called out:

"Father, I'm home..."

"Ah..." Ken Nagayama answered somewhat uncomfortably, "Welcome home..."

Usually, it was Nanako Nagayama who welcomed him home like this... Only at this moment did Ken Nagayama have a real sense that the head of this household was his son, Naoki Nagayama!

"Was the trip over here smooth today?"

"It was okay... not very crowded..."

"The room has been arranged, right?"

"Yes... the sheets and quilt covers have all been changed to new ones..."

"That's good... stay in Shanyingyuan for a few more days this time... besides the physical examination, you can also take this opportunity to go see the Masaki Kanda Festival..."

"Good..."

"....."

The conversation between a taciturn father and son is always awkward... After saying two sentences, it seemed there was nothing left to continue talking about.

Naoki Nagayama could only tease little Xia Hua in his arms, which made the atmosphere a little more relaxed.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before dinner was ready; thanks to the dedicated contributions of the three ladies in the kitchen, a table full of sumptuous dinner had already been laid out.

"Naoki-san... time to eat!"

"Dad, time to eat!"

"....." Both wives were calling their husbands, so Tsuruko rolled her eyes and called her little niece, "Hua-chan, time to eat!"

Once everyone sat at the dining table, the lively dinner began.

"Today's soup is very fresh..." Naoki Nagayama took a sip of the seafood soup and praised it.

"This is the catch your eldest brother got when he went sea fishing..." Nanako Nagayama said with a smile, "We dried a lot of it at home."

"Ha, has Big Brother's fishing skills become that good already?"

Naoki Nagayama also laughed,

"He's upgraded..."

"Going along with the fishing boat... I don't know how he came to like sea fishing..."

"Haha, everyone has their own hobbies..."

After chatting about their hometown for a while, Mother Nanako turned the topic to Tsuruko:

"Tsuruko... this year is your last academic year, right?"

"Hai... graduating next March..."

Tsuruko nodded; she had been in university for three years, and now she was at the age of imminent graduation~

"After graduation, are you getting married first?"

Nanako Nagayama asked,

"Are you and that Jin Tian Dalu still dating smoothly?"

"....." Tsuruko fidgeted, "We are dating... but I don't want to get married right after graduation!"

"I still want to go into the workplace and make a career for myself!"

According to the general path for the Literature Department of Waseda University, Tsuruko should join media publications as an editor, or become a clerk... However, with Naoki Nagayama's connections in the entertainment industry, she could be a screenwriter for anyone.

But... Tsuruko already owned a chain of over a dozen milk tea shops; she was already a rich woman!

"Tsuruko... you actually still want to work?!"

Naoki Nagayama said in surprise,

"Working is very hard, you know!"

"...... I just haven't tried it yet......"

"......"

So for some people, working is just an experience of life... As expected of the way a rich family's daughter does things...

"Then do you plan to stay in Tokyo?"

"Hai..."

Tsuruko nodded as a matter of course. If she could get a foothold in a big city, why would she want to go back to a small city?! How could country life be as exciting as the big city?!

"Sigh~~"

Mother Nanako sighed; children grow up and don't listen to their parents anymore... But fortunately, there was still the eldest son at home...

"Then where will you live in the future?"

At this moment, Naoki Nagayama said:

"Mother... Tsuruko can continue to live in the apartment she's in now..."

"Living in Shanyingyuan is also fine..." Akina also said, "The house is very big, and there are few people..."

The east side of Shanyingyuan was basically not used much, and with such a large space, there was no need to worry about differences in living habits. Even laundry, cooking, and cleaning were done by domestic staff, so rich families could sometimes really house a whole family.

But Tsuruko didn't want that and waved her hands hurriedly:

"That won't do, I've already grown up... I have to be independent!"

"....."

Naoki Nagayama saw her expression and suddenly realized... she wanted to have a world for two with her boyfriend!

"Hehe..."

"Baka Nii-chan, what are you 'hehe'-ing about?!"

"...... What's wrong with me 'hehe'-ing... can't I be happy?"

"You just can't!"

"....."

Mother Nanako looked at the bickering siblings,

"Alright, eat, eat... the food is getting cold!"

"...... Hai~" X2

Father Ken Nagayama chewed his food silently, watching the interaction at the dining table... feeling a little comforted and a little sentimental...

When they were young, the siblings used to quarrel like this, but when they reached adolescence, they seemed to become awkward, especially Naoki, who seemed to have inherited his own taciturn nature, and the two quarreled much less...

Now it's back again~

After dinner, Tsuruko went back to her apartment, and his father and mother slept in Shanyingyuan, even taking little Xia Hua with them, saying they wanted to sleep together at night...

For the first time in a long while, the couple was left alone in the bedroom...

"Akina..."

Naoki Nagayama, having finished his bath, lay on the bed and, seeing that Akina had also finished, patted the bed beside him,

"Come over here..."

"......"

A blush immediately surged onto Akina's beautiful face...