Chapter 327

After many days of hard work, the editing for *Boys Over Flowers* has finally come to an end.

After copying all the tapes in the morning, Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang went to the television station building in Shinjuku again this afternoon. This time, of course, it was to let the "Party A" bosses inspect the goods~

"Naoki-san, Shuichi-san!"

Because they had called ahead, Tai Sugiura was waiting at the entrance early on. When Naoki Nagayama parked the car and walked into the main entrance, he saw the two of them immediately.

"You've had a hard journey!"

Naoki Nagayama smiled brightly: "Not at all, the traffic today was great, it didn't take too long."

Then he patted the briefcase in his hand, "Look, we've already brought *Boys Over Flowers*!"

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"That's wonderful!" Tai Sugiura nodded in agreement, "Department Head Takano is also waiting upstairs for you two, let's go up first!"

Amidst the pleasantries, Tai Sugiura led the two to the production bureau's floor via the elevator and took them directly into the conference room, where Rumi Nishi could already be seen debugging the equipment inside.

"Rumi Nishi, Naoki-san and Shuichi-san have arrived!" Tai Sugiura greeted Rumi Nishi, "Is the projector ready?"

"It's already OK, we can play it at any time!" Rumi Nishi, wearing an office lady suit, replied briskly, and then greeted Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang, "Naoki-san, Shuichi-san, the day has finally come!"

"Yeah, we've finally reached the end!" Shuichi Yin Tang sighed with emotion, "Come to think of it, when you're seriously immersed in work, time really flies like an arrow."

"Ha, why are you starting to get all sentimental? Today we're here to verify the results!" Naoki Nagayama interrupted their reflections from the side, and as he spoke, he took the *Boys Over Flowers* tape out of his briefcase.

"Come on, let's inspect the goods!"

Rumi Nishi couldn't help but laugh: "Hahaha, Naoki-san's tone right now is just like a Yakuza transaction..."

Although it was called an inspection, Tai Sugiura and Rumi Nishi had actually come to watch during the editing process, so there were no issues at all with the early editing effects. Today was mainly to showcase it to Department Head Takano of the production department.

However, it was naturally impossible to watch all the episodes in a short time. After Department Head Takano arrived, the high probability was that he would only watch the first episode first, and then take the tapes to review them slowly.

While the few were chatting, Tai Sugiura pushed open the conference room door again and invited Department Head Takano in. Seeing Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang, the old gentleman, who was over fifty with half-gray hair, greeted them very warmly:

"Haha, aren't these the great Director Nagayama and the great Director Yin Tang? It's truly an honor to have you all gathered in this conference room today!"

This person had naturally been invited to the Film Academy Awards ceremony, and he also attached great importance to the achievements of the two.

However, on such an occasion, Shuichi Yin Tang, who was older, was more accustomed to the polite social niceties: "Not at all, not at all, Department Head Takano is the one who is of high prestige..."

"Director Yin Tang is a man of great accumulation!"

"Department Head Takano is a pillar of the industry!"

"Director Nagayama is overflowing with talent!"

"Department Head Takano... is full of spirit?"

After a round of flattery, Naoki Nagayama fully experienced what is known as commercial mutual praise among adults. In the end, perhaps because Department Head Takano was older, or perhaps because he was one against two, his thinking couldn't keep up, and he finally ceased the hostilities:

"Alright, alright, let's all take a look at the effect of *Boys Over Flowers*!"

Closing the curtains, Rumi Nishi nimbly turned on the projector, and then the first episode of the first season of *Boys Over Flowers* began to play slowly on the television screen...

"Eitoku Academy," "Flower4," "Tsukushi stands up to injustice," "Red paper," "Rui Hanazawa saves the damsel"...

An absurd background, an interesting plot, the classic core of Cinderella and Prince Charming...

Such a novel campus romance drama, filled with humor, captured Department Head Takano's attention from the very first episode.

When the first episode finished playing, Department Head Takano finally moved his eyes away from the screen: "Naoki-san, Shuichi-san, this is truly an interesting TV drama! It's been a long time since I've experienced the joy of watching a TV drama."

Because of his profession, as the boss of the production department, when Department Head Takano watches a TV drama, he first looks at whether it has points that can attract the audience, then looks at whether the plot background is interesting, and finally looks at the smoothness of the editing, the use of camera angles, the acting of the protagonists, etc...

With such a critical attitude, most TV dramas were just commodities to him, and a random sample check was usually enough.

TV dramas like *Boys Over Flowers* that could attract him to keep watching were very rare.

"Oh my, I even want to keep watching the second episode! Naoki-san's performance is also very interesting~"

"Haha, if Department Head Takano wants to watch, feel free to keep watching, we've already brought all the episodes." Shuichi Yin Tang replied with a smile, his face full of smiles after being praised by the head of the Fuji TV production department.

"That won't be necessary!" As a department head, he naturally had self-control, "Otherwise, my other work for today won't get finished~"

He said to Tai Sugiura and Rumi Nishi: "Sugiura, Rumi Nishi, I've watched the first episode, I'll leave the subsequent verification to you two."

After speaking, he encouraged Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang with a few words before taking his leave.

Watching Department Head Takano's figure walk out of the conference room, the atmosphere among the remaining four people became even more relaxed.

Tai Sugiura sat casually on a stool: "Naoki-san, Shuichi-san, since the department head has passed it, there shouldn't be any problems with the subsequent review."

After all, he had also been to the editing room many times during the editing process, "However, we definitely can't finish the review completely today, we still need to ask professional colleagues to check if there are any violations later..."

After talking about a whole bunch of internal review processes, he finally set the time: "In about three days, we will give you the final result."

"Hai, then I'll leave it to you!"

Naoki Nagayama left all the tapes behind, completely unafraid of the other party breaking the contract or swallowing them, not to mention the good foundation of cooperation, the master tapes were still with him.

After continuing to chat with Tai Sugiura and Rumi Nishi about the steps and timing of the release, Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang walked out of the Fuji TV building feeling lighthearted.

"It looks like there's no problem!" Shuichi Yin Tang's face was full of relief, "It should be able to air very soon."

"Haha, Shuichi-san, aren't you worried about the ratings?"

"Even Department Head Takano thinks it's good, the ratings definitely won't be a problem."

The source of this mysterious confidence was naturally Department Head Takano's professional eye. As the head of the production department, if he couldn't even judge this correctly, then it would be impossible for him to sit firmly in that position.

Naoki Nagayama didn't continue the discussion, but instead asked: "Shuichi-san, are you going back to the studio?"

"Me?" Shuichi Yin Tang was also stunned, looked up at the weather, it was almost time to get off work, "Let's not go back for now, I actually want to go have a drink! Naoki-san, are you going?"

"I won't go, I have an appointment to eat with someone today."

Naoki Nagayama decisively refused. What's the point of drinking with a middle-aged uncle? He was going to eat with a young girl! How can a middle-aged uncle compare to a young girl?

"Then Shuichi-san, you go by yourself, I won't see you off!"

"Eh?"

Shuichi Yin Tang only then realized that this guy Naoki Nagayama actually wanted to abandon him?

In Shinjuku, a place where he was a stranger... uh, actually, it was quite familiar.

"Alright, Shuichi-san, see you tomorrow!"

Naoki Nagayama waved his hand while walking towards the parking space, completely ignoring the middle-aged man who was at a loss in the cool breeze...

Today just happened to be the day he had an appointment with Akina to go see a movie.

In the afterglow of the evening, Naoki Nagayama drove the convertible sports car along the road, heading towards Shanying Yuan at a leisurely pace.

The originally blue sky had already been dyed with golden yellow, and the white clouds were dyed a fiery red. Under the sunset clouds, the city seemed to be covered with a layer of soft light, and the nearby high-rise buildings were all draped in a layer of golden red, becoming as unreal as in a manga.

Naoki Nagayama had to go back to Shanying Yuan first to do some camouflage work before going out, and then he had to change to an inconspicuous car. The pure black shell of the Toyota Century was not bad... It wouldn't be easily recognized at night~

When he arrived at Shanying Yuan, the sky had already become gray, and night was about to fall.

Naoki Nagayama pushed away Eitaro who was crowding up, hurried upstairs to change his clothes, and then prepared his hat, mask, and so on.

Then he went downstairs and changed cars to leave, leaving behind Eitaro, who was confused, barking softly twice in the courtyard.

When he arrived at the apartment in Nakano Ward, Naoki Nagayama just wanted to make a call from a nearby phone booth, but saw an inconspicuous Crown parked at the apartment entrance, and then Akina Nakamori's figure got out of the car.

They actually met just right, but at this time he couldn't go up and say hello directly. When Akina called earlier, she clearly stated that this time she was going to pretend to be sick to skip the evening training course!

If the manager found out it was to go see a movie, wouldn't she be scolded several times~

Naoki Nagayama hid in the phone booth, watching Akina bow to the manager, and then watched the car disappear at the entrance...

He originally wanted to wave and say hello directly, but Akina had already gone upstairs, so he could only make the call directly from the phone booth, leaving a message: "Akina-chan, I've already arrived~ I'm in the phone booth downstairs~"

Sure enough, after a while, he saw Akina's figure hurrying out of the apartment entrance.

However, she had already changed into a yellow-collared black and white plaid shirt, her thick hair was simply combed into a bun, and she was even wearing a pair of round glasses on her face... She looked super like Arale-chan!

But in less than 5 minutes, she had changed her clothes, combed her hair, and as Akina approached, it was obvious that she had washed her face and put on a little light makeup...

Don't girls usually take at least half an hour to get dressed, with no upper limit? He had already prepared to wait in the car!

"Naoki-san!" Akina, who ran over, was slightly out of breath, "Sorry to keep you waiting!"

"Ah... I didn't wait long..." Naoki Nagayama looked at the girl whose face looked even smaller under the glasses, and couldn't help asking, "Akina-chan, are you nearsighted? Why are you wearing glasses?"

"These glasses? They're just for decoration! My eyesight is very good!" Akina Nakamori, who had recovered, replied with a smile, and adjusted the position of the glasses, "How is it, does it look good?"

Borrowing the light from the street lamp, Naoki Nagayama openly looked at the fair cheeks of the girl in front of him, and only said after making Akina blush a little:

"Hmm, after wearing glasses, Akina's face feels even smaller... and she feels even younger, just like a middle school student."

As he spoke, he led Akina towards his car.

"Middle school student?" Akina looked a bit troubled. Is this a compliment or is he treating her like a child?

After getting into the car, Naoki Nagayama asked:

"Has Akina had dinner?"

"Not yet..." Originally there was a work meal, but if she was pretending to be sick, she naturally had no appetite.

"Then let's go eat something first, and then go see a movie~" Naoki Nagayama started the car and drove towards Shinjuku Ward, "Is there anything Akina wants to eat?"

Having known Naoki Nagayama for so long and having eaten together many times, Akina Nakamori didn't say "anything is fine," but instead thought about it seriously:

"Hmm... I guess it has to be Western food..."

"You want to eat Western food?" Naoki Nagayama thought that Akina would prefer Japanese food in the evening.

"I have to go abroad often in the coming period... so I have to adapt to foreign food in advance... otherwise it's very likely I'll get sick from the change of environment!" Akina Nakamori's reason could be said to be very unique, especially with her solemn look, as if she really thought so~

"Haha, then let's eat Western food~" Naoki Nagayama didn't say much, "But is Akina going abroad? Where to?"

"It seems to be places like the UK, Germany, and France... to shoot materials for the next album..."

"So many places? Isn't that a tour of Europe?" Naoki Nagayama's voice was a bit envious, "I haven't even been to Europe to play yet."

"However, the schedule should be very tight, there won't be much time to play." Akina Nakamori's voice also had some sighs, "It's for work..."

"Time, if you squeeze it, there's always some~" Naoki Nagayama didn't care, since she was going on a business trip, shouldn't she play and look around? "Come to think of it, I also plan to go abroad to play in a while."

"Oh? Where is Naoki-san going?"

Akina became interested. Although it was unlikely they would meet, it wasn't impossible, right? Didn't they meet in Los Angeles last time?

"I haven't decided yet, but Paris in France and Rome in Italy are places I really want to see." Naoki Nagayama did plan to go abroad in May, when there shouldn't be anything urgent on hand.

"Rome from *Roman Holiday*~ I also want to go see it~"

Little Akina expressed her longing, but with the idol's current rising trend, it would be very difficult to take a vacation to play.

Nakano and Shinjuku were not far apart. Chatting all the way, the Toyota Century soon arrived at the commercial street in Shinjuku. After slowing down, they slowly looked for a suitable Western restaurant.

"Has Akina been to a Western restaurant here before?" The two looked in different directions, searching for a restaurant that caught their eye on both sides of the street.

"No..." Little Fatty Akina also looked out from the car window, "Does Naoki-san not have a familiar Western restaurant either?"

"Why does it sound like I'm looking for delicious places everywhere every day..."

I'm not *The Solitary Gourmet*!

"Haha, I always feel that Naoki-san should know high-end restaurants in Tokyo like the back of his hand..." Akina laughed, not knowing where her own idea came from.

"Am I a map..." Naoki Nagayama complained, then his eyes lit up, and he saw a strange building, "Akina-chan, look, is that building a restaurant?"

"Eh?" The girl turned her head, "It looks like an old noble's house..."

"I see tables inside, and people eating Western food..." Naoki Nagayama stepped on the brake and stopped slowly, "Besides, a Western restaurant hidden in such a building must have a very good environment."

The two looked at the lamp post at the entrance, and it indeed had an exotic style.

Here... it seems to be Spanish food?