Chapter 429: A wrap party? It

The downpour that had lasted for two days finally came to an end, though the clouds in the sky still blocked the sun, and the cool moisture left by the rain had yet to turn into mugginess.

At this moment, the crew at the studio was in the conference room, watching the freshly minted trailer.

This was the two-minute trailer for *Crows Zero*, finally completed after Yin Tangxiuyi and Xiao Sen Xiaoshen Zhengxiao had dragged everyone into two days of overtime, even pulling them back to select footage after drinking in Roppongi!

"Genji, charge!!"

Following this final dying declaration, along with the sound of gunfire and the splash of someone falling into water,

The beginning and the end of the *Crows Zero* story had begun!

The brawls that started at the drop of a hat, the persistence of holding on to the end, the youthful passion gathered in the rain, and that final roar facing the sunset—it was enough to make anyone's heart race!

The short two-minute trailer was over quickly, but for a moment, there was no sound in the conference room.

Naoki Nagayama, with bloodshot eyes, was the first to speak: "Dayou-san, what do you think?"

Fangcun Dayou looked at the others in the conference room—Director Yin Tangxiuyi, Xiao Sen Xiaoshen Zhengxiao who had followed the filming throughout, Cinematographer Araki Shizhi, Planner Zao Ye Lizi, and other crew members—and took a small sip of ice water:

"Naoki-san,

even someone of my age felt the urge to smash something just now!"

"Hahaha~"

Laughter erupted in the conference room, and the group began to share their thoughts one after another.

"I really thought it was a Yakuza member being executed~"

"My heartbeat was perfectly in sync with the rhythm of the walking!"

"It felt amazing on set, but I didn't expect it to be even more shocking on screen!"

Watching everyone's high spirits, Naoki Nagayama and Yin Tangxiuyi exchanged a look, knowing that the trailer's effect had been verified.

"Since there are no issues, we can release it." Naoki Nagayama looked at Fangcun Dayou. "Dayou-san, the venue for the wrap party tonight is already booked, right?"

"Hai, we've booked the third floor of a restaurant on Ichiban Street in Kabukicho for the wrap party." Fangcun Dayou had naturally handled this long ago. "We've notified everyone else as well."

"That's good. But make sure to have a projector ready so we can play this trailer."

"Hai!"

Fangcun Dayou nodded; if the restaurant didn't have one, Shu You Film naturally wouldn't be short on projection equipment.

"By the way, about the promotion discussed with Kadokawa's Gong-san."

Naoki Nagayama remembered the agreement reached with Gong-san at the club in Roppongi two days ago with Fangcun Dayou.

"We've invited newspaper reporters for tonight, right?"

"Mm, we invited all the ones we have good relations with." Zao Ye Lizi replied. "As for the initial press articles, we'll start building momentum early tomorrow morning, and we're still confirming the broadcast time for the trailer with the TV station."

"Additionally, Kadokawa has promised to give *Crows Zero* corresponding 'support' in the programs they are currently airing."

So-called support is a common method in Japanese film marketing, revealing information about a new movie during a program or film.

"That's good~"

Seeing there was nothing else, Naoki Nagayama walked out of the conference room.

Seeing the other employees busy in the lobby—everyone had participated in the filming of *Crows Zero* to some extent, so naturally, they would all go; there were only about 30 people anyway~

Looking at the wrinkles on his clothes and his mental exhaustion, Naoki Nagayama announced in the lobby:

"Minna-san, let's take the afternoon off!

Go home and tidy up, and come to the wrap party tonight!!

Relax properly today!"

As his voice fell, cheers erupted from the employees in the studio. A half-day holiday out of the blue, plus a banquet in the evening—such good news was naturally worth celebrating.

Fangcun Dayou, who walked out behind him, couldn't help but shake his head after hearing this and said to Yin Tangxiuyi beside him:

"What a willful president."

Yin Tangxiuyi laughed and patted him on the shoulder:

"Hahaha, that's a good president! The kind of guy who makes people work overtime every day won't be liked by everyone!"

"Anyway, I have to go home and change my clothes too~" Yin Tangxiuyi walked out happily.

"See you tonight~"

Returning to Shanying Yuan, Naoki Nagayama gently pushed away Eitaro, who had run over:

"Eitaro, on such a hot day, aren't you hot?"

But this dog didn't give up, instead rubbing against Naoki Nagayama's side, his thick tail wagging back and forth, hitting his leg like a small mallet.

Naoki Nagayama couldn't help but grab Eitaro's tail, feeling it was chubby, just like a sausage:

"I say, Eitaro, I hear that oxtail and pig tail are 'live meat' and very chewy. I wonder if your tail is the same?"

Although Eitaro couldn't understand his master's words, with his tail held, he could only aggrievedly let out a whimpering plea for mercy.

After teasing his own silly dog, Naoki Nagayama went to pet Miaotaro, who was lying on the sofa, and was just about to go upstairs to take a shower when he noticed the answering machine's indicator light blinking.

"Someone called for me?" Naoki Nagayama pressed the play button.

"Naoki-san? This is the Honma Architectural Office!" The voice on the phone was that of Suda Kazuhiko. "We have revised the design drawings for the Kyoto courtyard according to your suggestions.

Also, I wanted to ask, when the reconstruction project starts, will Naoki-san be going to the site to attend the groundbreaking ceremony?

Please let us know your thoughts when it is convenient for you. That is all."

Listening to the end of the voice message, Naoki Nagayama scratched his cheek:

"Groundbreaking ceremony? I haven't encountered one before~"

But it sounded quite interesting; if the time was convenient, he would go and attend.

Taking advantage of having nothing to do in the afternoon, after taking a shower, Naoki Nagayama went straight to the Honma Architectural Office, giving Ishichuan Shengliang a fright.

"Naoki-san? Why did you come over so suddenly?"

"Ah, Honma-san, I rushed over as soon as I heard the message."

Naoki Nagayama looked excitedly at the huge sand table in the middle; his courtyard model had already changed.

Sure enough, the small hill was now covered by a patch of small green bamboo, and a small red Shinto path on the mountain road extended directly to the private temple at the summit.

Additionally, based on the changes in the greenery on the mountain, the plants in the courtyard had also been adjusted accordingly: a courtyard with colorful flowers for the four seasons at the foot of the mountain, a pure and natural temple on the mountain, and the red ancient-style architecture at the foot of the mountain nestled among the greenery—the overall style was more harmonious.

"Honma-san, I am already very satisfied with the design effect. We can start preparing for construction."

Ishichuan Shengliang had originally planned to introduce the effort he had put in to Naoki Nagayama, but he didn't expect Naoki to agree just like that.

This was just like handing the initial design draft to the client, and the client-father just sent an "OK."

Although it was fast and smooth, without the battle of wits with the gold-master-father, Ishichuan Shengliang, as a designer, always felt something was missing.

Ah! He remembered!

It was the feeling of repressed frustration and relief when, after racking his brains to iterate and modify a dozen versions, the gold-master-father said, "I think the first version was better."

"Honma-san? Honma-san?"

"Hai?" Ishichuan Shengliang's mind had been wandering, but he immediately reacted. "What did Naoki-san just say?"

"I just asked when the construction of the courtyard will start?" Naoki Nagayama looked a bit strangely at the first-class architect who had just been distracted. "And about the groundbreaking ceremony."

"Ah! The time!" Ishichuan Shengliang adjusted his glasses.

"The estimated start time is at the end of August for demolition work, and then formal construction work will be in early September. That is when the groundbreaking ceremony will be held."

"The specific time will be slightly adjusted according to the construction situation, and we will inform Naoki-san in time."

Naoki Nagayama nodded: "Then, the groundbreaking ceremony?"

"Naoki-san's courtyard is very close to the Sagimori Shrine, so we can invite the priests from Sagimori Shrine to help pray for blessings." Ishichuan Shengliang said. "We have already consulted them, and the price is not expensive."

"You've considered it very thoroughly~"

"Hahaha~"

Since it was decided to start construction, Ishichuan Shengliang chatted with Naoki Nagayama about the subsequent construction milestones.

Before he knew it, a few hours passed quietly. At the end:

"By the way, Naoki-san, what should be written on the plaque of this courtyard? The name of the courtyard?"

"Ah, this~ let me think~" The plaque was in front of the main building, and the name was at the main gate of the wall. Naoki Nagayama's mind was agile, and he suddenly smiled.

"Honma-san, for the plaque, let's write 'Xiang Rui Xiangrui Yu Mian' (Auspiciousness Exempts Me)!"

"As for the name, I haven't thought about it yet. On the day construction ends, I will have it ready and nailed to the door."

"..." Suda Kazuhiko had a look of wanting to speak but not daring to~

"Naoki-san, what do you want to say?"

"Naoki-san, are you trying to ward off evil? 'Xiang Rui Xiangrui Yu Mian', 'Evil Spirits Disperse'..."

Ishichuan Shengliang had an expression of "a child who cannot be taught": "Kazuhiko, this phrase comes from the ancient book *Tang Shuo*: 'Where auspiciousness resides, exemption reaches through'!"

"It means that when there are a thousand strands of auspicious energy, one needs to let go of one's mindset."

"As an architectural designer, one must have some historical and cultural foundation. Kazuhiko, you still need to study more!"

Although the explanation was very formal, Naoki Nagayama was secretly laughing inside. "Xiang Rui Xiangrui Yu Mian" was more than just its literal meaning.

This could also be considered a prank to commemorate his past life~

The night in Kabukicho was brightly lit, with people coming and going.

The colorful neon lights were flashing non-stop, and the iconic plaque of "Kabukicho Ichiban Street" was emitting a seductive red light, attracting everyone who came nearby.

Because Big Brother Feng didn't have a car yet, Naoki Nagayama went to pick him up after leaving the Honma Design Office, driving the spacious Toyota Century:

"Big Brother Feng, we're going to a wrap party, why are you dressed so seriously?"

Naoki Nagayama was a bit surprised to see Yongshan Feng wearing his uniform.

"Isn't *Crows Zero* releasing a trailer? Aren't there reporters? So I thought I should dress like in the movie."

Yongshan Feng looked at Imamura Bunichi and Nakazawa Hokuto in the back seat. "Omae-ra, don't think you're big shots just because you're sitting in the back. Didn't you guys also wear uniforms?"

"Boss! We just didn't know what to wear, so we subconsciously wore our uniforms!"

Imamura Bunichi said helplessly; he didn't expect Yongshan Feng to wear his too.

"It's fine, it's fine, let's just treat it as a feature~ It'll have more atmosphere when the reporters take photos."

Naoki Nagayama pacified them from the front. "Anyway, you've been wearing them for so long, you're used to it. You guys won't look conspicuous."

But what Naoki Nagayama didn't expect was that they weren't the only ones wearing uniforms today.

Matsubara Qiu Hui was a waitress at a high-end Japanese restaurant in Kabukicho. Today, the third floor of the restaurant was booked by guests to hold a banquet, which they called a wrap party.

She was sent by the boss to the entrance on the first floor to welcome the arriving guests and take those who had booked the third floor directly up.

By the evening, ordinary guests arrived one after another, and the dozen or so who came to the third floor first were quite normal, even bringing some equipment. The head waiter seemed to have said they were going to play something in the restaurant.

However, by the evening, the people who arrived started to become strange.

Although they all looked like young people, they were all wearing very strange high school uniforms.

And there was a clear hierarchy among these people. For example, when a person with half-long hair walked in just now, many uniformed youths were greeting him: "Genji-san!", "Genji!", "Boss Genji!"

Listening to these titles, Matsubara Qiu Hui couldn't help but let her imagination run wild: "Could these people be from a Yakuza group?"

She couldn't help but feel a little scared, because Kabukicho was a place with many Yakuza members. Those of them who worked here had all been harassed by Yakuza personnel to some extent.

And because Matsubara Qiu Hui was quite pretty, she had almost been forced into a sex shop.

Just at this moment, Matsubara Qiu Hui heard a uniformed youth who hadn't entered yet pointing at the driveway not far away:

"That is... Naoki-san's car, Naoki-san is here!"

"Wait, the one in the passenger seat is Big Brother Feng! Big Brother Feng is here too!"

Like a firecracker, the few people outside became excited.

The youth ran to the third floor to say something, and soon a group of uniformed youths lined up from the stairs on the third floor to the entrance on the first floor.

There were many people in Kabukicho at this time. Fortunately, the restaurant they booked was on the main road, because some of the side roads in Kabukicho couldn't be driven on at all.

The restaurant's location was obvious because there was a group of uniformed youths waiting expectantly at the entrance.

The spacious Toyota Century drove very slowly, just like all big shots, unhurried and calm.

"Big Brother Feng, you guys go up first, I'll park the car."

"Mm, Naoki, be quick~"

Just as Naoki Nagayama parked steadily, a uniformed youth opened the door of the black sedan beside him and said respectfully:

"Aniki!!! You're here~"

"Mm! The road was a bit jammed."

And after Yongshan Feng got out of the car, a group of people subconsciously surrounded him, bowing their heads to signal:

"Aniki!!"

Then, following Feng Yongshan's lead, a large number of uniformed people stood on both sides of the corridor from the entrance to the third floor, waiting.

When Feng Yongshan passed by, they all bowed to him in greeting:

"Aniki!!!"

This scene looked exactly like the posture of a yakuza boss out on the town.

Feng Yongshan was quite familiar with this routine, having encountered it often while in Jinggang County, and he nodded slightly.

With a cold, hard expression and a sturdy build, he naturally possessed the look of a boss.

At this moment, the ordinary customers on the first and second floors noticed this scene, their eyes widening as they watched the group of uniformed youths greet one man, already labeling them as yakuza in their hearts.

And for Matsubara Qiu Hui, who was acting as the greeter, this moment only confirmed her thoughts.

Whoever booked the third floor today must be some young yakuza gang; the so-called wrap party was surely just a front.

"You all must be sharp when serving on the third floor today."

After Naoki Nagayama parked his car and walked to the entrance, he happened to hear Matsubara Qiu Hui saying to the other servers,

"What wrap party? I see it clearly as a yakuza banquet!"

"If you accidentally offend them, you definitely won't have a good time!"