Chapter 202: Just friends!?

After taking Akina Nakamori for a brief tour of Shanying Yuan, seeing the yard on the first floor, the graffiti on the corner of the stairs, the piano room on the second floor, etc., Akina looked at the time and started to get busy in the kitchen, while Naoki Nagayama also helped on the side.

"Naoki-san, go rest quickly. I can do it alone. Aren't you still very weak~"

Little Akina handled the pork ribs in her hand nimbly, looking like she was indeed capable. After all, she had been helping her family cook since she was a child, and she was naturally more than familiar with everything in the kitchen.

"How can that be? Letting a guest work alone in the kitchen is not the way it should be done." Naoki Nagayama said while cutting lotus root.

Lotus root and pork rib soup is good for nourishing qi and blood, and it is a good food supplement for people with weak bodies.

Seeing that Naoki-san spoke with reason, Akina felt that she definitely couldn't win against him in words, so she acquiesced.

Naoki Nagayama was very good at cooking, but mainly focused on Chinese food. He had learned many simple Japanese cooking methods in the Showa era, but because he found it troublesome, he went to high-end restaurants to eat more. Akina Nakamori, on the other hand, had been learning cooking from her mother, Chieko, since she was a child, and had already mastered Japanese cuisine.

Now that the two of them were cooking together, the difference between them could be seen.

"Naoki-san, you put too much oil!" Akina watched Naoki Nagayama put a spoonful of oil into the pot from the side, a little worried.

"If there is no oil, there will be no fragrance." Then he put in a handful of ginger and garlic to sauté.

"But if there are too many seasonings, won't the original taste of the food be lost?" Akina retorted seriously.

Naoki Nagayama looked at the green vegetables on the side... If it's the original taste, it will taste a bit bitter and have a bit of a grassy smell...

However, Akina on the side was still staring (。??? 。). He always felt that once she entered the kitchen, her aura became much bigger, so Naoki Nagayama could only reduce a part of the oil.

He silently said in his heart, "How can stir-frying green vegetables be so difficult..."

With the two of them busy, a decent post-illness nutritional meal was finally completed: lotus root and pork rib soup, fish porridge, stir-fried green vegetables, mixed seaweed, orange and apple, milk...

Since only two people were eating, the rules of eating quietly could naturally be ignored. At the dining table, the two chatted about interesting events that had happened recently.

"Naoki-san became the cover protagonist of a magazine. I was startled when I saw it."

"Hahaha, many people said so, and I didn't expect it either." Naoki Nagayama said with a smile, "But it was just an accidental event. In the future, Akina-chan will definitely be on magazine covers often."

"Haha, Naoki-san is just comforting others!" Akina laughed.

"I am not comforting Akina-chan, but have no doubt about this point."

"What~ Naoki-san, if you say that again, I'm going to blush~" Little Akina ate the lotus root and pork ribs in big mouthfuls, feeling that her cooking skills were indeed super-normal today.

After eating, the two sat cross-legged on the sofa in the living room, watching television leisurely.

Because Eitaro was bored, he went to the yard to play by himself. Akina Nakamori looked around Shanying Yuan and sighed:

"I really want to buy a house like this in the future, and then the whole family can move in and live happily."

She looked at the scene of the yard outside the glass partition and said: "If there is such a yard, that would be even better."

"The whole family living together?" Naoki Nagayama thought about the six people in the Nakamori family and imagined the situation of all of them living together. "Wouldn't that be noisy to death..."

"That's called lively!" Little Akina rolled her eyes. "Only when it's lively is it a family."

Recalling the time when her father still lived at home, even though they were strapped for cash, it was noisy and warm. But as she grew older, the family became poorer and poorer, her father slowly stopped living at home, and the quarrels with her mother became more and more frequent...

"As long as there is money, you can buy a big house, you can live a good life, and everyone can definitely live together lively."

Hearing such a wish, Naoki Nagayama felt a bit of emotion in his heart. This was Akina Nakamori's original intention for entering the entertainment industry!

It's just that he didn't expect that later, the relationship between relatives would become more estranged because of money.

"Akina-chan, although I'm sorry, the idea that money can solve everything is wrong."

"Where is it wrong?"

Little Akina propped up her body and looked at Naoki Nagayama seriously, like a little cat showing its teeth, as if she would pounce on him if he didn't give an explanation.

"Not everyone can face wealth rationally. After having money, many people will change.

Some people are greedy and want more once they have a start, and will never be satisfied; some people are afraid of losing wealth and become anxious; some people become extravagant and no longer take money seriously;

For such people, no amount of money can make them happy."

"Didn't Naoki-san not change?" Little Akina retorted. "Clearly you look very rich."

"Hahaha, does Akina-chan think everyone is the same as me?" Naoki Nagayama laughed. Which young person in their 20s already has the life experience of a 50-year-old?

Looking at little Akina's unconvinced look, Naoki Nagayama thought about it and felt that someone seemed to be very suitable as a role model for Akina: "Does Akina-san know Momoe Yamaguchi?"

"Of course."

"Momoe Yamaguchi also became famous at a young age. After becoming a national idol, she naturally earned a lot of money." Naoki Nagayama paused. "But this money also didn't make Momoe Yamaguchi's original family happier."

"Is Naoki-san talking about Momoe Yamaguchi's irresponsible father?" Akina clearly also knew the history of Momoe Yamaguchi. Unknowingly, she compared her own family with Momoe Yamaguchi's family and seemed a bit angry. "But my family is different!"

"Father is still very good to us!"

Akina Nakamori subconsciously defended her family's reputation and didn't want others to know the real situation.

Naoki Nagayama also knew that it was not suitable to get involved in other people's family affairs at this time: "Yes~ yes~, I didn't say anything about Akina's family. Akina-chan's family is of course very good."

"The meaning is that making money doesn't necessarily make people happy."

Little Akina breathed a sigh of relief, but her little face was still puffed up: "Then why is Naoki-san still trying hard to make money?"

This sentence made Naoki Nagayama stunned, and then he suddenly laughed.

He thought of a line from *The Wolf of Wall Street*, so he changed it slightly, straightened his body slightly, and said to Akina:

"I've been rich, and I've been poor."

"But if I had to choose, I would choose to be a rich person every time!"

"Because at least when I have money, even if I face various difficulties, I live in a spacious villa, drive an 8 million yen convertible sports car, wear a 100,000 yen custom suit..."

Hearing this statement, little Akina's mouth opened slightly, and she couldn't speak for a while.

"What!" After a while, Akina buried her face in the sofa cushion, and a muffled voice came out, "Naoki-san speaks just like movie lines, making it seem like we are filming a movie!"

"Hahaha~" This really was a movie line.

In the studio, Shuichi Yin Tang was chatting with Otomo Yoshimura about the casting of the movie roles.

They listed a series of actors who seemed relatively suitable, but they couldn't judge them well no matter what.

"Shuichi-san, should we find others? Forget about the supporting roles, even if we play them ourselves, it's fine, but the few leads must be truly professional actors."

Shuichi Yin Tang was thinking with his head propped up: "Speaking of which, I do have a few candidates here, but I feel that no matter how we choose, the alternative actors always have this or that shortcoming."

"Yes, after all, it's a budget of nearly 100 million. We must find the most suitable one."

The two fell into silence for a while...

After a good while...

"Otomo-san, you said Naoki-san is sick. As friends, shouldn't we go visit him?"

Shuichi Yin Tang suddenly said this, and Otomo Yoshimura, who was flipping through the list at the table beside him, replied without raising his head:

"Visit the sick? It's just a minor diarrhea, what's there to..."

Otomo Yoshimura's words also suddenly stalled. He looked up at Shuichi Yin Tang, while Shuichi Yin Tang avoided his eyes at this time, looking very embarrassed.

Otomo Yoshimura's thoughts turned quickly: "Ah, that's true. It was Naoki-san who sent us home yesterday. Maybe that's why he got sick! Speaking of which, we really should go and visit him properly..."

Shuichi Yin Tang then looked over and nodded in response: "Right, after all, as good friends, we should care about him properly."

"Yes, yes~"

The two old foxes reached a consensus on ideological awareness tacitly.

Well, it was purely to visit the sick person, and there was absolutely no idea of asking for ideas!

Akina Nakamori walked around Shanying Yuan again. According to her, she must buy a villa like this in the future, so she had to walk around and prepare well.

However, according to the income of an idol singer, even if it is a top idol, it is estimated that it will take several years to save up.

"Akina-chan, remember to buy real estate early after you have income!"

Naoki Nagayama was sparing no effort to promote his ideas. In fact, he had said it many times among friends and family. Currently, Otomo Yoshimura had already put it into practice and had brought his family to Tokyo, and his father and mother in his hometown seemed to be a little tempted.

"But, won't you be burdened with a huge debt?"

"Daijoubu, Akina-san, believe me, the growth rate of housing prices in the next 8 years will definitely be faster than inflation." Naoki Nagayama, who had the experience of later generations, guaranteed it firmly.

Little Akina was a little confused: "What is inflation?"

Er, Akina dropped out of high school... although high schools in Japan in this era wouldn't teach too much economic information.

"It's a phenomenon where prices rise." Naoki Nagayama explained it. "Akina-chan should have noticed it since she was a child. Cabbage that could be bought for one or two yen when you were a child now costs ten yen."

"Yes, so Naoki-san's meaning is that real estate will become more and more expensive in the future? Buying it now will be very cost-effective?"

"Yes, and because houses in Tokyo are scarce resources, more and more people will want to buy them, and competition will become more and more."

Akina Nakamori looked like she didn't understand but felt it was powerful. "As expected, there is a reason why Naoki-san is good at making money."

"..." How should he put it, is this a compliment?

"Then within 8 years? Will you not be able to catch up after 8 years?" Little Akina asked like a curious little cat.

"This... is just a rough judgment based on the growth of productivity, short-term debt cycles, and long-term debt cycles, combined with the general situation of the world economy."

Naoki Nagayama said terms he didn't understand without blushing or panting. Bluffing, who wouldn't do it as an expert? Anyway, the final result will endorse me.

"Akina-chan, remember to sell the house before the 8-year period arrives."

"Sugoi!" The ignorant girl Akina was deceived by the bad brother just like that.

Just as Akina and Naoki were discussing the graffiti on the corner of the stairs, the doorbell of Shanying Yuan rang again.

"Eh? Someone is actually pressing the doorbell again." Naoki Nagayama said to Akina differently. "It's rare for anyone to press it twice a month before."

"Is it a friend?"

Akina Nakamori suddenly became a little nervous. What if she was discovered by Naoki-san's friends or relatives (Hezi) at Naoki-san's house? What should she do?

Suddenly she wanted to find a place to hide, what should she do?

"Probably a salesperson? No one else said they were coming over." Naoki Nagayama put on his slippers and prepared to open the door.

"Naoki-san, do I need to avoid it?" Akina, who was standing in the dining room, was a little nervous.

"Nani? Why avoid it? You are my friend. Isn't it normal to come and see me?" Naoki Nagayama said this and walked out of the room toward the main door.

"Yes~" Little Akina breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a little disappointed. Just... just friends?

Opening the door, two middle-aged men were standing side by side at the door, holding fruit and other comfort gifts.

"Naoki-san, how is your body?" "We came to visit you."

Although Naoki Nagayama was a bit confused by these two guys, he still welcomed them in.

After entering the door, seeing that there was already someone in the living room, and it was a cute girl, Otomo Yoshimura and Shuichi Yin Tang were a little embarrassed. "Does Naoki-san have guests?"

Naoki Nagayama had just put the fruit away and smiled when he heard this: "Ah, yes, this is Akina Nakamori, who also came to visit me."

Then he introduced them to Akina: "Akina-chan, these two are my good friends. This is Shuichi Yin Tang, the director of Tree Friend Films, and the other is Otomo Yoshimura, the department head of Tree Friend Films."

So the two sides began the traditional Japanese meeting ceremony:

"Hello, I am..., nice to meet you, please take care of me..." Bow x3

During the conversation, Naoki Nagayama had already poured tea for Otomo Yoshimura and Shuichi Yin Tang, and the few sat down in the living room.

Otomo Yoshimura looked a few times and suddenly remembered: "Miss Nakamori, did you participate in the *Star! Birth! * program?"

"Yes, I did participate. It was the 38th session."

"Isn't that the same session as our Junko?"

Otomo Yoshimura suddenly thought that Akina Nakamori was the winner of that session. He also went to participate with Naoki Nagayama, but because of the sign-raising incident, Otomo Yoshimura was nervous the whole time, and his mind was entirely on Junko Yin Teng, and he didn't pay much attention to others.

"Is it Junko Yin Teng-san? Yes, we are in the same session." Akina Nakamori also remembered. Isn't this bald middle-aged man the one who came to *Star! Birth! * with Naoki-san?

With common ground, the distance was instantly shortened, and the topic was found.

"Ah, so it is Akina-san. Has Akina-san not officially debuted yet? It seems I haven't seen it." Otomo Yoshimura immediately started chatting.

"Yes, it is set to debut on May 1st." After knowing that the person opposite was an agent from another agency, Akina Nakamori also successfully showed the face of an artist and started chatting steadily. "Junko-san has debuted for a while, right? Is she preparing for her second song?"

"Yes, I just found it recently, and I'm about to go record it..."

The two chatted about idols, and Naoki Nagayama also participated from time to time, but Shuichi Yin Tang on the side seemed to be left out in the cold.

After talking for a while, Akina Nakamori seemed to have discovered that these two people seemed to have something to talk about when they came to find Naoki Nagayama, but it was not convenient for her to be here, so she politely said goodbye.

"Naoki-san, it's getting late today, so I'll take my leave first." Little Akina said generously, perfectly showing the style of an idol.

"Yes, thank you for visiting, Akina-chan. You've really troubled you today." Naoki Nagayama sent Akina to the door and watched her get into a taxi.

"Naoki-san, remember to take care of your body. Bye-bye~" Akina in the back seat of the taxi waved her hand.

"Yes, take care on the road~"

Naoki Nagayama, who returned to Shanying Yuan, found that the two middle-aged men were looking at him lewdly...

"I said, what's with your eyes?!"

Shuichi Yin Tang, who had been holding back for a long time, immediately said: "I didn't expect Naoki-san to actually attack an idol who hasn't debuted yet... Miss Nakamori is only 16 years old!"

"Akina-chan is already 17!" Naoki Nagayama retorted subconsciously, and then remembered something. "Who said I attacked an idol who hasn't debuted! We are just friends!"

Shuichi Yin Tang seemed to confirm something: "Ha, right, just friends!"

"Tsk, I won't talk nonsense with you. Neither of you is a good person!" Naoki Nagayama said indignantly. "Speaking of which, do you have anything to do when you come together?"

Shuichi Yin Tang was a bit hesitant this time: "We just came to visit..."

Otomo Yoshimura, who was drinking tea beside him, couldn't stand it anymore: "Shuichi-san, what's with the twisting and turning! A man should speak his purpose openly!"

Then he said to Naoki Nagayama: "Naoki-san, actually it's like this. Shuichi-san has been hesitant about the casting of the movie, but he is too embarrassed to disturb someone who is sick, so he wanted to take the name of visiting to see Naoki-san, and by the way, wanted to ask if you have any good ideas!"

After saying it in one breath, throwing all the blame on Shuichi Yin Tang, Otomo Yoshimura started drinking tea again, hiding his merit and fame!

Ah, this tea tastes so fragrant. As expected, I should ask Naoki-san for some when I leave~

Shuichi Yin Tang on the side was still in disbelief... ===== CHAPTER 203 =====