Chapter 513

After entering December, you can feel the atmosphere of the New Year.

TV started to show year-end reviews, year-end planning, and other programs one after another. Newspapers also had strange year-end data, person of the year, and other reports. Even the nearby department stores hung up year-end big sale advertising banners.

And companies in Tokyo also started the year-end reporting mode. Of course, there was also the question that workers cared about most: how much is the year-end bonus.

Naoki Nagayama certainly didn't need to worry about how much the year-end bonus was. What he cared about more now was how to distribute the year-end bonus to employees.

"Naoki-san, overall, our profit source this year is mainly the box office share of the movie. The total box office of 'Crows Zero' reached 4.9 billion." Otomo Yoshimura said to Naoki Nagayama, "So in the evaluation of the year-end bonus, I will give appropriate inclination to the employees who directly participated in the production of the film."

"Hai, that should be the case~" Naoki Nagayama glanced at Shuichi Itou beside him. "Shuichi-san led it very well~"

"In addition, the record sales share this year is also very good. Junko Itou, Yuki Saito, and the newcomer Chikako Aoyama under our banner have all achieved top rankings. The total record sales reached 2.4 billion, which is very considerable. There is also the share from Yutaka Ozaki, and the income from holding concerts is also surprising."

Otomo Yoshimura said with a smile, "After deducting the share, I also plan to give everyone in the record group some extra surprises at the end of the year."

Naoki Nagayama also smiled: "Haha, then everyone will be happy~"

Otomo Yoshimura continued: "Next is the more average TV dramas and variety shows, as well as advertising endorsement income..."

Even if it was a simple data summary, Otomo Yoshimura talked for more than ten minutes. Various sales figures and share numbers appeared constantly, eventually summarizing into the gross profit and net profit of the whole company.

Naoki Nagayama listened for a long time and only heard one meaning: Shuyou Film made a fortune this year!!!

Shuichi Itou's face was also full of smiles: "Although we still don't have a hundred people, the income we created has exceeded that of a medium-sized enterprise with hundreds of people! Just from the perspective of human efficiency, Shuyou Film should be one of the highest in the industry."

"Naoki-san, I will improve the year-end bonus plan as soon as possible." Otomo Yoshimura said to Naoki Nagayama, "There is also the monthly meeting at the beginning of the month today. Naoki-san will attend, right?"

"Anyway, I'm already here~" Naoki Nagayama didn't care.

The main work in December, on one hand, is the end-of-year affairs, and on the other hand, it is mainly the release and distribution of "Ringu". Riko Hayano in the conference room reported to Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Itou:

"Naoki-san, Shuichi-san, the early publicity has already begun. The press releases about 'Ringu' have already appeared in major newspapers, and according to Naoki-san's previous opinions, the first-aid equipment in major cinemas is also being prepared."

"The most urgent thing next is the preview of 'Ringu', tentatively scheduled for this Friday... at 7 o'clock in the evening."

Speaking of this, Riko Hayano grinned: "In winter, it's already completely dark at this time, so it will feel more atmospheric..."

Riko-chan also looks very black-bellied~

"Currently, through the publicity of thriller programs and haunted houses, a group of lucky viewers has been drawn to participate in the preview. Invitations have also been sent to film critics and professionals in the industry..."

"Heh~ I don't have any problems." Naoki Nagayama looked at Shuichi Itou beside him. "Shuichi-san, this time, let's not invite those older friends... like Teacher Machida..."

Shuichi Itou patted Naoki Nagayama's shoulder: "Naoki-san, are you trying to murder Teacher Machida by inviting him?!!"

"That wouldn't go that far, he's a person who has been a director anyway..."

Naoki Nagayama smiled, but for old people like Shin Aoyama, forget it. Chikako-chan will come to me for revenge!

Turning his head to Riko Hayano, he said: "Riko-chan, just to be safe, for this preview, let's prepare an ambulance parked at the entrance of the cinema!"

"... Hai!"

After the meeting, Naoki Nagayama walked into the editing room with Shuichi Itou again to carry out the editing work of "Love Letter". Masataka Komori and Xu Mudao were still helping out inside.

However, when editing "Love Letter", there was no sense of urgency like in "Ringu". The working atmosphere was very relaxed, and Naoki Nagayama could even chat with Shuichi Itou.

"Shuichi-san, who do you think is pushing the scandal between me and Akina Nakamori behind the scenes during this time?" Naoki Nagayama was very confused. "The time with Yuko Tanaka before was because of Kenji Sawada's wife, which is understandable. But this time... Akina Nakamori shouldn't have anything like intervening in other people's relationships~"

"Could it be targeting you, Naoki-san?" Shuichi Itou had seen a lot of content about their scandal in the past two days.

"How could it be me?" Naoki Nagayama shouted. "I am such an honest, kind, and helpful person. I wouldn't even step on an ant on the road. How could anyone want to harm me?!!"

"..." x3

The editing room fell into absolute silence for a while. The other three didn't expect to hear such words from Naoki Nagayama's mouth.

Instead, Naoki Nagayama continued to say with an unchanging expression:

"Actually, I thought about it carefully at home. I appear less in public and don't participate much in entertainment industry activities, so the possibility of targeting me is very small. On the contrary, Akina Nakamori has more black fans, and there are competitors, like the Seiko faction..."

Shuichi Itou silently added: "Naoki-san, don't forget when 'Crows Zero' was just released..."

At that time, someone wanted to bribe the Japanese Film Ethics Committee to obstruct the release of "Crows Zero", and there were also black materials and criticisms in media reports.

Masataka Komori also added: "And when the 'Gas Station Robbery Incident' happened last year..."

"There are bad people in the film circle!"

Hearing these two facts, Naoki Nagayama curled his lips.

"But it seems Haruki-san said last time that it was a director named Kinji Fukasaku."

"Yeah... Because of him, he specially exported 'Crows Zero' and then imported it back, putting on an FBI warning opening."

Shuichi Itou even laughed when he said this.

"Many viewers thought it was an adult movie when they saw it for the first time."

After a slight silence,

"Hahahahaha~"

The editing room laughed out loud, and the slightly stuffy atmosphere disappeared.

Naoki Nagayama said while editing the film: "If it's Kinji Fukasaku again this time, then this director is too petty, right?"

"Villains behind the scenes are all like this. What can you do? You can't catch his handle. Even if you catch it, so what? Find the police to catch him?"

When Shuichi Itou first came out to work, he also encountered many villains, which was why he had been lingering at the bottom of the film circle for a long time.

Naoki Nagayama thought it was the same. Such villains behind the scenes are indeed very annoying, and there is generally no good way.

Sighing, he changed his mood and joked with the others:

"Why don't we invite him to the preview..."

"?" The others were a bit puzzled.

Naoki Nagayama showed a wicked smile: "Speaking of which, this director Kinji Fukasaku is over fifty years old, right? I don't know if his health is good..."

"???!!!"

The other three were stunned. Are you going to scare this director to death?!

Shuichi Itou was stunned first, and then his first thought was actually...

"This method seems highly feasible. Being scared at over fifty years old is indeed risky. If successful, the problem will be solved at once, and there will be no risk of being discovered as murder...

If it doesn't succeed, it doesn't matter, we'll talk about it next time."

When he came back to his senses, Shuichi Itou couldn't help but feel ashamed in his heart. This is premeditated murder!!!

He actually really considered the feasibility!

"Slap" he slapped himself.

"Naoki-san, although Director Fukasaku is very annoying, it hasn't reached the point of killing him! Although this suggestion is very feasible, let's shelve it... This is premeditated murder..."

Shuichi Itou said this, but found that Naoki Nagayama was looking at him in horror:

"Shuichi-san, you actually seriously thought about the feasibility of this plan?!!"

"Hmm?"

Shuichi Itou looked at the other two and found that they were also looking at him in horror, as if they were looking at a potential murderer.

"... Didn't Naoki-san propose this..."

"I was just joking!!! Just a joke!!!"

Shuichi Itou's body stiffened, watching Naoki Nagayama, Masataka Komori, and Xu Mudao huddle together, whispering, occasionally looking at him...

Words like "dangerous person", "didn't expect Shuichi-san to actually...", "really has a gangster style", "ruthless person", "watch him closely", "stay away from him" kept drilling into Shuichi Itou's ears.

It was clearly Naoki Nagayama who proposed it first!

How come they all know it's a joke, but I took it seriously?

Although I considered the feasibility, I didn't agree with it!!!

Do you actually think I'm dangerous?!

Naoki Nagayama is the successor of the gangster, okay!!

Some things, once a second person knows, are no longer a secret, and there are four people here... Shuichi Itou can already imagine how his rumors will spread in the company tomorrow!

His consciousness gradually blurred, and only one sentence became clearer and clearer:

"Destroy it, I'm a bit tired~"

In view of the small situation in the editing room, Naoki Nagayama decided to suspend the editing work in the afternoon and take a holiday first.

At least let Shuichi-san relax his mood, at least don't have crooked thoughts about colleagues.

However, when he was about to leave, Otomo Yoshimura stopped him:

"Naoki-san, the live broadcast of the FNS Music Festival Music Awards will officially start tomorrow night! You haven't forgotten, right?!!"

"Uh..." After a pause, Naoki Nagayama immediately replied, "Of course! How could I forget!"

Otomo Yoshimura's eyes were sharp: "That pause just now, you definitely forgot!"

"Absolutely not. If you don't believe me, look at my serious expression!" Naoki Nagayama said with a thick skin.

"Forget it, forget it... Anyway, you are the award presenter, prepare the award speech!"

"No problem!"

Naoki Nagayama, who walked into the car, breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed: "Is it actually tomorrow? It's really fast!"

"FNS Music Festival Music Awards" is currently an award ceremony, mainly the distribution of various awards and song performances.

"What award am I presenting? Ah, Best Newcomer Award, Excellent Newcomer Award... They are all newcomer awards, so how should my award speech be said? Let me think..."

He muttered while driving.

However, Naoki Nagayama didn't intend to continue wasting time in Shanyingyuan this afternoon. He planned to go to another place to kill his youth...

Sanmaiju in Ginza, the teahouse he opened himself, he hadn't been there a few times this winter. It was really a waste of the good tea he had accumulated!

Even in cold weather, it didn't seem to hit the popularity of Ginza Street. The pedestrians on the road were still endless, and the shops on both sides of the street were also very lively.

Among them, the ancient architecture like a palace is naturally unique, especially with a green roof.

"Chisato-san!" Naoki Nagayama, who walked into the shop door, just happened to see Chisato Sakakibara.

"Ah, Naoki-san! I haven't seen you for a long time!" Chisato Sakakibara called out in surprise, and then hurriedly greeted, "Please come in~ Naoki-san, do you want to be on the second floor, or go to the third floor?"

"Second floor, just me~" Naoki Nagayama looked at the first floor, the number of people was not too many. "Chisato-san, is business okay recently?"

"Since the weather got cold, there have been more people coming to drink tea than before." Chisato Sakakibara led Naoki Nagayama to the booth on the second floor while introducing, "The ones who come are all regular customers, the first floor is relatively few."

Sanmaiju does high-end business, so there are not many casual customers and temporary guests in the lobby on the first floor. Many people also left in a hurry after seeing the decoration and tea leaves.

"Katsuo-san went to buy tea leaves today, so Akiki Matsumura and I are taking care of the guests."

Just as she was talking, the waiter Akiki Matsumura, who was hired before, walked down from the third-floor stairs. She was wearing a kimono and looked very gentle. After seeing Naoki Nagayama, she hurriedly bowed:

"Naoki-san!"

"Hmm! Akiki-san."

After the little girl left, Naoki Nagayama said: "Chisato-san taught her very well. She can already serve guests on the third floor."

"Akiki-chan is very spiritual." Simply saying a word, Chisato Sakakibara led Naoki Nagayama to the position he used to use. "Naoki-san, is it the same as before today?"

"Hai, Gyokuro tea, and some tea snacks..."

"Please wait a moment~" Chisato Sakakibara knew that Naoki Nagayama came here to drink tea for peace, so she didn't continue to disturb him, bowed, and retreated.

Naoki Nagayama took off his shoes and sat next to the small low table in the booth. Unlike the quiet independent private rooms on the third floor, the semi-open tea seats on the second floor were blocked by screens, but he could faintly feel the popularity. Looking down from the window on the second floor, the people on the street were not far or near, just in an atmosphere of "building a hut in the human world without the noise of horses".

The sunlight outside the window shone in, warm, and seemed to evoke the laziness in his body.

He picked up a magazine on the bookshelf next to him and flipped through it, with a sip of tea and a bite of snacks.

For killing time, it is indeed a good place, so many rich and idle guys near Ginza like to come here to drink tea.

In the detached house in Setagaya, Kinji Fukasaku, whom Naoki Nagayama mentioned before, was also drinking tea. However, he was in his own courtyard, drinking tea with other friends, and naturally talked about movies while chatting.

"Director Fukasaku, do you know Naoki Nagayama, who has been plagued by scandals recently?"

"Hmm, just a wet-behind-the-ears kid."

Kinji Fukasaku was proud in his heart. He just made a slight move, and he was in trouble!

"I heard that 'Crows Zero' has already reached a box office of nearly 5 billion." Toho photographer Daisaku Kimura said, "And the director of 'Crows Zero' seems to have another movie to be released."

"How can they be so fast?!"

As a famous film photographer, Daisaku Kimura naturally knew how difficult it was to make a movie.

"Hmph, it's a horror movie, it must be crudely made." Kinji Fukasaku said disdainfully, "Just like their first 'Paranormal Activity', this 'Ringu' is probably another low-budget movie shot with a video camera."

"But... Shuyou Film's every movie's box office seems to be very good!" Daisaku Kimura didn't know the conflict between Kinji Fukasaku and Naoki Nagayama, and said objectively.

Kinji Fukasaku stopped talking. He couldn't refute this point.

"However, this 'Ringu' has a big tone, and it even claims to be equipped with first-aid equipment in the cinema." Daisaku Kimura laughed, "If it's not scary enough, it will be laughed at!"

Kinji Fukasaku sneered: "Just a guy who seeks attention."

"If it's starring Yuko Tanaka, there is still some expectation." Daisaku Kimura said casually, "I heard the preview is on Friday."

"Oh? Is that so..."

Daisaku Kimura didn't continue to talk about Naoki Nagayama's movie. He wasn't familiar with Naoki Nagayama, so he just said a word.

However, Kinji Fukasaku took this matter to heart. After his friend left, he called Yoji Yamada:

"Yoji-san, I heard that the preview of 'Ringu' is next Friday?"

"Hmm... what's wrong?" Yoji Yamada had decided to distance himself from Kinji Fukasaku these days, and his tone was light when he heard the words.

"Did Shochiku receive an invitation letter? Get me one!"

"What are you going to do with this?!"

"Of course I'm going to criticize it! Saying it will scare people to death... and even equipped with first-aid equipment in the cinema." Kinji Fukasaku's tone was full of mockery. "I just want to poke his lie! Let people see Naoki Nagayama's true face. Does Yoji-san want to go together?"

"This... I have something at home that day..." Yoji Yamada found a reason, but he didn't hit Kinji Fukasaku. "If Fukasaku-san wants to participate, I happen to have an invitation letter."

"Oh? That's really great! Yoji-san, this time let me go and defeat this guy Naoki Nagayama!"

"... Good luck!!"

I wanted to ask for leave at the beginning of the month, but thought about it, forget it...