Chapter 604: Sorry! Save myself, sacrifice the friend!

Naoki Nagayama stayed in the courtyard in Kyoto for three days...

Every day when he opened his eyes, he saw the beautiful scenery of green mountains and clear waters; when he was hungry, he took out stored ingredients from the cold storage to make a delicious meal, or he could let a professional chef make it; when he was full, he strolled to the small low mountain in the backyard to worship the Bodhisattva; when he was bored, he could watch TV in the living room or read books in the study; when he was tired, he took feed to tease the koi in the pond...

He fully enjoyed the decadent life of a capitalist country~

It was just a bit lonely. Although he could chat on the phone, he couldn't see anyone. It was okay to live for a short time, but for a long time, it was about the same as a monk practicing in the mountains~

So, before the sky was fully bright this day, Naoki Nagayama embarked on the journey back to Tokyo!

Naoki Nagayama was called back by Ito Shuichi Ido's phone call the night before:

"Naoki-san, the opening ceremony is starting tomorrow! Are you back yet?!"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow morning!" The voice on the phone was a bit anxious. "At 9 o'clock in the morning, at that restaurant! Naoki-san, you didn't forget, did you!"

"Uh..." Naoki Nagayama paused. "If I say yes, Ito Shuichi-san wouldn't run to Kyoto at night, would he?"

"..." For some reason, Naoki Nagayama seemed to hear the unbearable creaking sound from the receiver on the other side. "However, if Naoki-san doesn't appear at the restaurant at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning, I will run into the wardrobe of Shanying Yuan every night!"

This threat was too terrifying! It forced Naoki Nagayama to take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo early in the morning...

The sky slowly brightened, and the morning light seemed to tear through the remnants of the night in an instant, awakening the silent mountains and plains. The crystal-clear dew dissipated in the white morning light, and the trees and wild grasses were transparently green at this time, as if they had just been washed.

Seeing the date on the passenger's newspaper, Naoki Nagayama suddenly realized that he had stayed in Kyoto for a few days, and it was already May!

"Time has passed so inadvertently!"

Naoki Nagayama, who came out of Tokyo Station, didn't choose to return to Shanying Yuan, but instead took a taxi directly to the filming location of *Love Like Rain*, a comprehensive home restaurant that combined a cafe, dessert shop, and restaurant.

It was already 8:30 when Naoki Nagayama arrived. At this time, there were already many people in front of the restaurant, as well as some temporary rain shelters and altars for the opening prayer ceremony.

"Haha, Ito Shuichi-san, I'm here!" He saw Ito Shuichi Ido in the crowd and hurriedly went to report.

"Still made it, huh!" For some reason, Ito Shuichi-san's tone was a bit disappointed. Could it be that he couldn't openly crawl into the wardrobe of Shanying Yuan? "I thought Kyoto was so lingering that Naoki-san might not be able to come back~"

"Yes, the scenery is indeed good~" Naoki Nagayama said. "However, how could I miss Ito Shuichi-san's movie opening ceremony? I got up at 6 o'clock in the morning! Just to not be late!"

Seeing this, Ito Shuichi Ido didn't say much more: "Naoki-san, prepare yourself. After the opening ceremony, there might be a simple interview with reporters."

"Is there still a reporter interview?" Naoki Nagayama turned his head and looked around, and sure enough, he saw many people with cameras. He originally thought they were all crew members!

"Just chat for a few words~"

Ito Shuichi Ido said simply, then turned to welcome the shaman who was wearing grand ceremonial robes.

That very old shaman had clearly seen her living standards rise a lot in the past two years. Her face was rosy, her eyes were bright, and she was full of spirit. Even the strange ceremonial robes made of colored cloth strips that looked like mops had been replaced by silk scarves!

Naoki Nagayama watched Ito Shuichi Ido greeting the shaman enthusiastically, seemingly asking if the rain today would hinder anything, etc., and couldn't help but shake his head.

As of now, his soul, which had grown up with materialist education, had to have some awe for the forces in the dark.

As time approached, the creative team of *Love Like Rain* all arrived. With the crisp sound of a dharma bell, the film's opening prayer ceremony officially began!

"?? √? *? ℡??" The shaman chanted incantations that people couldn't understand and danced a strange dance in front of the altar.

Although Naoki Nagayama thought she was just dancing blindly, in front of the altar filled with incense, it seemed that this very old shaman had also received some mysterious bonuses, making everyone who came to participate look solemn.

Only Naoki Nagayama, recalling the domestic popular science documentary *The Fraud of Wizards* he had seen in his previous life, had wanton thoughts constantly emerging in his lowered head:

"If I go up now and perform rosin powder fire-breathing, or use oil with vinegar to reach into the oil pan with bare hands, or snake from an empty basin... would I be considered a wizard descending to earth?"

"It seems that the mainland is in the middle of a qigong fever right now, should I pretend to be a qigong master..."

After thinking for a long time, Naoki Nagayama gave up. Confucius did not speak of strange powers and chaos; it was better to stay away from these things!

After about ten minutes, the shaman stopped her devilish pace, panting, and signaled to Ito Shuichi Ido that she had reported to the gods and they could offer incense!

Ito Shuichi Ido led a group of people to respectfully offer incense, and then announced to everyone who came to participate:

"Minasan, *Love Like Rain* officially started filming today!"

Amidst the applause of the crowd, Ito Shuichi Ido said to the media reporters again: "Dear reporter friends, please move to the main entrance, we will take a group photo there... and accept interviews~"

Everyone took a group photo in front of this restaurant, and then the question session began.

After asking a few irrelevant questions to the protagonists like Muga Tsukiwaki and Kobirumaki Kaoru Kobirumaki, the reporters' eyes turned to Naoki Nagayama, who was trying to hide in the crowd.

"Mr. Naoki Nagayama, can I ask a question?" A reporter saw that Naoki Nagayama still wanted to hide in the creative team and said directly, "You can't hide such a handsome man! Please come to the front, okay?"

"..."

Since he was named like this, Naoki Nagayama could only stand out. It was definitely not because he was praised for being handsome...

"Mr. Naoki, you didn't participate in the film disclosure meeting last time. What was the reason?"

"Uh... I went to Kyoto for some private matters."

"Oh? You didn't go to film a movie secretly, did you?" A voice asked in the reporter group.

"... No..."

It seems that his hobby of secretly filming small movies is no longer a secret~

"Naoki-san, having been in Kyoto for so long, are you dating someone?" "Mr. Naoki, do you have any plans to get married recently?" "Mr. Nagayama, is it true that you were often photographed going to KTV gatherings with some idols recently?"

Gradually, the original film disclosure meeting was about to become Naoki Nagayama's personal interview... Naoki Nagayama didn't know whether he should reply for a while. In short, he should find an opportunity to shift the focus of the reporters away!

"Director Naoki, you created the script for this film. Why didn't you direct it yourself?" Another reporter asked.

Ah! That's it! Save myself, sacrifice the friend! Ito Shuichi-san, I'm sorry!

"Because the script of this film was created based on Ito Shuichi-san's first love story as a prototype!" Naoki Nagayama said without changing his face, dropping a bombshell that shocked everyone at the scene!

"?" First was the protagonist Muga Tsukiwaki standing next to him, who looked over with surprised eyes.

"??" Next was the circle of actors around him.

"???" The reporters who asked the questions also seemed to be shocked by this news.

"??" This was the crew member with his mouth wide open.

"?" This was the shaman who didn't know the situation.

"!!!!!!" This was Ito Shuichi Ido, who was originally watching Naoki Nagayama being besieged by reporters and stealing a laugh.

In an instant, all eyes turned to Ito Shuichi Ido.

"Director Ido!" "Director Ido, is it true?" "Director Ido, is this film a commemoration of your first love?" "Could it be that Director Ido's first love was in middle age?!" "Is Kobirumaki Kaoru Kobirumaki the type of Director Ido's first love?" "Does Director Ido's first love know about this?" "..."

Questions like a rainstorm were thrown at Ito Shuichi Ido, and the flashing lights like lightning, and the noisy air like a howling wind, made this guy thoroughly enjoy the feeling of being in the center of the storm.

At this moment, the first thought that popped into Ito Shuichi Ido's mind:

"This report will be seen by my wife, Jiawei Ido, right!"

Then the second one: "Naoki! Nagayama! I will definitely crawl into your wardrobe tonight! With a knife!!!"

Taking advantage of the time when Ito Shuichi-san was besieged, Naoki Nagayama slipped out quietly and took a taxi towards Shanying Yuan.

In the car, Naoki Nagayama comforted himself:

"Everything is for the movie~ I can also be considered to have made the movie more popular, right! For the sake of art, Ito Shuichi-san sacrificed a little bit of reputation, he shouldn't blame me, right! He definitely won't blame me, right!"

After arriving at Shanying Yuan, Naoki Nagayama affectionately stroked Eitaro who pounced on him. Although he had been out for a few days, he had also hired someone specifically to walk the dog! The food in the automatic feeder in the room was also sufficient.

"Eitaro, you must be very vigilant today, do you know!" After Naoki Nagayama appeased the dog, he began to exhort him. "If any strange guy tries to sneak in, you must roar loudly! Be a howling dog! It's no problem to pounce and bite a few times!! Do you understand?!"

"Woof woof woof woof! Woof woof!" Eitaro must have understood. The meaning of his bark just now must have been "I know, Master!"

After walking around the living room and courtyard, he saw Miaotaro on the eaves of the veranda:

"Miaotaro, you too. If someone tries to climb in from the second floor, you can also scratch him twice!"

"..." The cat star looked at the bipedal beast with a cold gaze.

"Ha, I'll take it that you already understand~"

After staying at home for a while and handling the chores of the past three days, including the letters, bills, and voice messages that were sent, Naoki Nagayama didn't eat lunch at home, but drove directly to the studio.

"Naoki-san? Shouldn't you be at the opening ceremony?" Masataka Komori in the office asked with great surprise. "Is it over?"

"Haha, I slipped back." Naoki Nagayama said with a smile, not telling Komori-san the real reason. "By the way, Komori-san... I plan to take a long vacation..."

"Take a long vacation?" Masataka Komori looked over with surprised eyes. "Naoki-san, it's not summer yet!"

His boss would definitely take a long vacation in the summer and winter of every year, ranging from half a month to a month; and usually, he would take irregular vacations in spring and autumn... ranging from three days to a week... This was an open secret of the Shu You Group.

"It's not because of the time..." Naoki Nagayama said.

"Then what is the reason?" Masataka Komori asked.

"You'll know soon... I won't appear much during this time!" Naoki Nagayama felt a little guilty.

"..." Since that was the case, Masataka Komori didn't ask for the reason. "..." Then, how long will Naoki-san take a vacation?"

"Until Ito Shuichi-san is no longer angry!"

"???"

"In short, is there anything I need to handle recently? I'll handle it all now!" Naoki Nagayama urged.

"Uh... this..." Speaking of business, Masataka Komori also restored his diligent attitude. "The payroll for the headquarters this month, you need to sign it... and the project budget for *Crows Zero 2* later... it's already necessary to form a production committee..."

Most of the things that needed Naoki Nagayama's final handling were documents that had been reviewed by Masataka Komori and Ito Shuichi Ido, and he just needed to make the final confirmation on the process.

Naoki Nagayama handled it quickly, and then said a strange thing to Masataka Komori:

"Komori-san, don't tell Ito Shuichi-san I've been here!"

"???"

It was approaching noon, and Naoki Nagayama didn't eat the company's work lunch, but stepped on the gas all the way to Harajuku.

It wasn't a weekend or holiday, and although the KTV was open for business in the morning, there were almost no customers... The KTV looked empty, and the waiters and shift leaders in the store were all in a relaxed posture.

"Naoki-san!" Shift leader Tetsuhiro Kurita saw Naoki Nagayama and hurriedly came over to greet him.

"Tetsuhiro-kun, is Cousin Feng here?" Naoki Nagayama remembered that he should be here at this time.

"Ah, Feng-dage went to Roppongi, and even called Shogo Hamasaki-dage and that group of people over..." Tetsuhiro Kurita said. "It seems to be the demolition project of the new store..."

"So fast?" It had only been three days, and the transfer procedures for the bookstore had been handled?

"I'm not sure about the specifics, but Feng-dage took the designer with him." Tetsuhiro Kurita continued.

"Designer? Ishida Kokai?" A sentence instantly popped into Naoki Nagayama's heart: "These two guys have problems!!!"

"Naoki-san?" Tetsuhiro Kurita saw Naoki Nagayama not speaking, so he asked, "Do you want to open a private room to rest?"

"Ah... no need." Naoki Nagayama originally came to find his cousin Feng Yongshan, since he went to Roppongi!

"Hai~"

When he arrived in Roppongi, Naoki Nagayama felt that his itinerary today must have exceeded the standard. From Kyoto to Tokyo, and then almost circled Tokyo... This was only the morning!

As the bookstore chosen as the site, it had been cleared out, and a hoarding had been built at the entrance of the store, and several small engineering vehicles were parked beside it.

Walking into the hoarding, Feng Yongshan and a group of burly men were working in full swing!

"Cousin Feng!" Naoki Nagayama walked over.

"Naoki?" Feng Yongshan clapped his hands and stood up. "Aren't you in Kyoto?"

"Came back this morning..." Naoki Nagayama brushed it off. "Has the transfer of the bookstore been handled? Why did you start renovating?"

"It's being handled, but Ms. Fujita Huizi said the owner of the land is very straightforward, and it will be handled soon."

"Then why did you let the old people in the club come to help? Isn't there a specialized company?" Naoki Nagayama looked at Shogo Hamasaki and others who were covered in dust and couldn't help but ask.

"Sigh... isn't this because I want to be a little faster!" Feng Yongshan sighed. "The day before yesterday, I saw a group of people in the KTV always looking around, and even asking the waiters about the source of the karaoke equipment... These guys are definitely competitors!"

Since the opening of the KTV, business had been booming, and it had already gained a certain reputation among young people, so it was normal for peers to know.

These people who came to inquire didn't necessarily want to open a KTV, but at least they wanted to understand the secret of KTV making money. Once they found out that opening a KTV was very profitable, followers would definitely spring up like mushrooms after rain!

"Is that so..."

"Yes, so I let Shogo Hamasaki and the others come to help, at least let this store be renovated quickly!" Feng Yongshan said. "It's best to open for business in June!"

"..." This... it's not impossible..." Naoki Nagayama asked. "Is the design drawing out?"

"Ah! Kokai-chan already has some preliminary ideas, and today is to observe the site!" Feng Yongshan's face showed a smile, and he took Naoki Nagayama to the second floor. "She is making records in the office."

A small office, which should have been used by the bookstore manager, had been cleared of data, but there was a table inside. Ishida Kokai was spreading a design drawing on this table, drawing basic drafts with a pencil.

"Naoki-san! You're back in Tokyo!"

The little girl had returned with Honma Takashi on the first day she took Naoki Nagayama to Kyoto. They had a lot of things to be busy with!

"Hmm, I arrived this morning." Naoki Nagayama walked to the design drawing. "Is this the preliminary idea?"

"Hai! Because Feng-dage said the faster the construction period, the better, so I plan to make more use of the original layout of the bookstore." Did Ishida Kokai also call him Feng-dage?

"Fortunately, the bookstore was used to install bookshelves, and it had large blank spaces itself. However, there were also several offices and bathrooms..."

Speaking of her profession, Ishida Kokai changed her shy personality and became radiant, telling the two about the layout plan she had just made.

"If the design goes well, construction will be much easier!"

Naoki Nagayama nodded. He originally thought she was a young little girl, and more or less would be a bit inexperienced, but she seemed to be very talented!

Feng Yongshan, who was standing on the side, had an even thicker smile on his face: "Kokai-chan is indeed very powerful!"

"Where... this is the suggestion given by Honma-sensei..." After speaking, the shy personality returned, and a shy blush hung on Ishida Kokai's face, and she didn't even dare to look at Feng Yongshan.

"..."

Naoki Nagayama wasn't sure if he had been fed dog food. He only felt that he was a little hungry now... It was time for lunch!

Looking at the awkward look of the two guys, Naoki Nagayama decided to add fire:

"Cousin Feng, Kokai-chan, it's just lunch time, let's go eat together! My treat!"

"Eh? Is that okay?" Ishida Kokai hesitated a little.

"Haha, this is a reward for Kokai-chan's hard work!" Naoki Nagayama said with a smile. "If you don't believe me, ask Cousin Feng, he must think so too!"

Only to see Feng Yongshan beside him nodding constantly.

"Then... I'll be rude..." Ishida Kokai finally nodded.

Looking at the increasingly thick silly smile on his cousin's face, Naoki Nagayama silently thought about how he should leave first without leaving a trace...

Let the two be alone... ===== CHAPTER 605 =====