Chapter 738: That guy really got off easy!!!

The indoor recording for the *Love Journey* was completed very quickly, thanks to the outstanding performance of the two leads.

There were no retakes, no revisions, and no other on-site accidents; it was actually finished in just one morning.

"Naoki-san, Akina-chan, *Love Journey* is scheduled to air next Wednesday..." Akihito Yasushi said, "It's in prime time, avoiding popular programs like *The Night Hit*, *The Best Ten*, and *Music Station*..."

"We will notify you once it has been edited!"

"Hai, arigato." Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori nodded and thanked him in unison.

After walking out of the studio, it was already noon. Akihito Yasushi had originally wanted to treat the two to a meal at a nearby restaurant; hosting important guests was part of a producer's job, and there was an entertainment budget for it!

"Sumimasen, I still have some work to do..."

Akina Nakamori politely declined. She needed to return to the agency, Nakamori, to discuss her upcoming work schedule, and then she had to go back to her hometown in the afternoon; she didn't have much time for a meal.

"Of course, work comes first..." Akihito Yasushi naturally wouldn't say anything more, then looked at Naoki Nagayama. "And you, Naoki-san?"

"Haha, I can't today either... Tree Friend Films has a movie holding a preview, I need to hurry over and see it..."

Naoki Nagayama had originally come today not just to record the show, but also to chat with the people at Fuji TV about other programs. However, having already received an invitation for the *New Words and Buzzwords Awards* year-end planning, he didn't want to chat much more for the time being.

The company side was more important, after all...

Since both had things to do, Akihito Yasushi didn't push them further and politely sent the two heavyweight guests off.

Everything had already been discussed, so when Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori parted ways, they didn't linger and headed off in their respective directions quite briskly.

Iwanami Cinema, the preview for *Blue Sea*.

Shuichi Yin Tang had used his connections to invite quite a few big names from the film industry, including his own mentor, Yasutomo Machida, as well as many media reporters. This preview was much livelier than the premiere of *Kikujiro's Summer*.

By the time Naoki Nagayama arrived, the preview had already ended. Shuichi Yin Tang had specifically planned a seminar, and under the siege of long guns and short cannons, several famous film critics were discussing their thoughts on *Blue Sea*.

Everyone participating was in a suit and tie, dressed impeccably... they didn't look like ordinary people; it could be said that there were no commoners among the visitors, and the conversation was filled with scholars.

"This film uses subtle techniques to express the inner world of teenagers!"

"The melancholic cool tones symbolize the sensitivity and introversion of a girl when she possesses emotions different from her peers during puberty~ The only bright tone is the moment between the two female leads; the emotion is like a highlight in a memory..."

"The overall film adopts delicate expressive techniques, with warm details in life, revealing impulses within restraint~"

"..."

The people on stage spoke eloquently, giving high praise to the film's artistry. This was the consistent behavior of the film industry toward art films.

Art films are the vanguard, the experiment, the future of cinema... but things that are too avant-garde are generally niche, so the box office for such films is usually not great.

At this time, the seniors in the film industry naturally wouldn't be stingy with a little verbal flattery.

After all, not everyone could be like that guy Naoki Nagayama, who could turn even art films into box office champions!

On stage, Shuichi Yin Tang received the encouragement of many seniors very modestly, then answered the reporters' questions in an orderly fashion, though he felt a sense of regret.

"In the past, when Naoki-san held media press conferences, reporters would always have this or that unexpected situation... there were also some more special films... but when it got to me, why is it so smooth?!"

Shuichi Yin Tang shook his head, feeling that he might be crazy. Isn't it good that it's smooth?!

Does it only count as having buzz if there's controversy like Naoki Nagayama?......... (It seems that's indeed the case! — Shuichi Yin Tang's inner monologue)

Just at this moment, a reporter suddenly asked:

"Director Yin Tang, may I ask if the two leads of this film were both discovered by Naoki Nagayama? Is this true?"

"Uh... the two are artists discovered by our Tree Friend Group..." Shuichi Yin Tang was a bit stunned for a moment, but still explained.

This reporter's question seemed to have opened a floodgate; the subsequent questions all involved Naoki Nagayama... even the questions asking about Chikako Aoyama and Yuki Saito couldn't be separated from Naoki Nagayama....

"What kind of person do you think Naoki Nagayama is..." "Are you looking forward to collaborating with Naoki Nagayama again?" "Will you be sad when you hear the news of Naoki Nagayama's romance?"

"Do you want to have Naoki Nagayama's monkey...... ah, no, do you want to develop a romantic relationship with Naoki Nagayama?!"

Hearing a reporter ask this, Shuichi Yin Tang, who was moonlighting as the host, hurriedly stopped them:

"Hey hey hey...... this reporter, your question is too off-topic! Questions like this are not allowed!"

"Sumimasen..."

The reporter conceded so quickly that Yin Tangxiu lost his excuse to continue reprimanding him, and could only mutter:

"Don't do this next time! Do you understand?"

However, he was complaining in his heart: isn't Naoki Nagayama not even here? How could this even be dragged back to him?

Just as he was about to find the next reporter to ask a question, he discovered that behind the many reporters, over by the entrance....... Naoki Nagayama was standing right there!!

"Sure enough, does this guy Naoki Nagayama have superpowers? Wherever he stands, he is the news center!" Shuichi Yin Tang complained silently in his heart, "Regardless of whether others have seen him or not..."

It wasn't until the press conference ended and the reporters had all left that Naoki Nagayama was able to talk to the people from Tree Friend Films.

"Yuki-chan, Chikako-chan...... long time no see!"

Naoki Nagayama greeted the two bright-eyed girls.

After spending a summer filming outdoors, the two hadn't tanned at all; instead, after a period of recuperation, they had become even fairer and more tender.

Yuki Saito's face had a slight baby fat, making her look very cute, while Chikako Aoyama...... this young girl was becoming increasingly mature, and with those big, watery eyes, she was the representative of the new generation of pure desire!

"Naoki-san!" "Yes, long time no see!"

"What have you been doing lately?"

"Resting...... and recording new songs..."

"And you, Naoki-san?"

"Filming a variety show..."

Seeing Naoki Nagayama chatting heatedly with the two young girls, Shuichi Yin Tang couldn't help but drag him out and into the group of film industry bigwigs.

"Naoki-san, come over here first!"

"Eh? Yin Tang-san, I was just talking to Yuki-chan and Chikako-chan!"

"This side is more important!"

No wonder Naoki Nagayama was labeled a playboy and a scumbag by the media; he was just too careless himself!

Chatting happily with girls in public, didn't he know that the reporters hadn't all left yet!!!

"Naoki-san, come quickly and meet someone, this is the editor-in-chief of *Kinema Junpo*..."

Shuichi Yin Tang took Naoki Nagayama to get acquainted with the various heavyweights of the film industry; they would all be important contributors to *Kikujiro's Summer*'s push for major awards later on!

Akina Nakamori drove her small blue Porsche to her hometown in Kiyose.

A blue Porsche was conspicuous even in downtown Tokyo, let alone in a small town; the people watching her didn't stop!

It wasn't until the Porsche slowly stopped in front of the old house where the six siblings had grown up that the townspeople's gazes finally stopped....... They all knew that the Nakamori family must have accumulated blessings for several lifetimes to have produced a big star artist.

Akina, who stepped out of the car, looked at this old house, and feelings of emotion and nostalgia welled up in her heart.

As the children grew up one by one and started their own families, the old house had become somewhat empty; only at night would the youngest sister stay here with their mother, Chieko.

"Okaasan~ I'm home!"

Akina Nakamori happily opened the door and immediately felt the slightly tense atmosphere inside the house.

Looking into the Japanese-style room, it turned out that her father, Akio Nakamori, had returned, holding a cup of tea with a cold face, saying something to her mother, Chieko.

Seeing Akina Nakamori return, her mother Chieko was slightly surprised, but immediately switched to a happy expression:

"Aki-chan~ why did you come suddenly? And you brought so many things..."

As she spoke, she stood up, took the gifts from Akina's hands, and pulled Akina into the room to sit down.

And at this moment, her father Akio Nakamori finally nodded with a sullen face and simply said, "You're back~"

"Hai..." Akina responded somewhat cautiously, then continued talking to her mother Chieko, "I went to record a travel show in the first half of the month, ran around to various places, and brought back some local specialties for everyone..... and some very beautiful silk scarves..."

Chieko took out the silk scarf very happily and couldn't stop praising it.

Akina Nakamori also took out the snacks she had bought for her father and handed them to Akio Nakamori, who was on the side.

Who knew that this middle-aged man wouldn't show a smile at all; instead, he looked at the snacks in his hand, then at the high-end silk scarf on Chieko's neck, and snorted coldly:

"Hmph, buying her such expensive gifts, and giving me this kind of perfunctory thing..."

Akina Nakamori was choked up and hurriedly explained: "Father, these are the most famous snacks in Kyoto..... you have to line up to buy them!"

"Heh..."

Akio Nakamori didn't mean to let it go. Looking at the harmonious atmosphere between mother and daughter next to him, he only felt like an outsider, completely out of place.

He had no intention of staying any longer and said in a low voice to her mother Chieko:

"Give me the money quickly! I have things to do at the shop!"

Her mother Chieko glared at him. She had wanted to mock him a few times, but thinking that her daughter was back, she didn't have the heart to continue arguing with him and silently took an envelope out of the room and handed it to Akio Nakamori.

After Akio Nakamori took the envelope, he said with a straight face: "I'm leaving."

He walked toward the entrance without any nostalgia, and Akina Nakamori could only say: "Take care on your way..."

When Akio Nakamori walked outside, he saw the conspicuous blue Porsche parked at the door and immediately knew it was his daughter's car......

Then he thought about how he still had to take the train back to the butcher shop in Saitama, and his heart immediately became very unbalanced:

"The father is still taking the train, while the daughter is driving a Porsche!! How can there be such logic!"

Saying this, he kicked the tire of the Porsche, and then walked away indignantly.

Inside the house, the atmosphere had eased up quite a bit...... Ever since they were little, every time Akio Nakamori returned, the atmosphere in the house was always oppressive and restrained.

According to later psychology, if there is always someone in a poor family who keeps creating internal friction, then that person in the Nakamori family must be Akio Nakamori.

After Akio Nakamori left, Akina asked:

"Okaasan, what was that about with Father?"

"He came to get money!"

Chieko said very normally. After Akina Nakamori checked the accounts last time, she had been sending a portion of her monthly income to her mother Chieko as a subsidy for the family, letting her allocate it.

Whether it was daily life, living subsidies for other children, or the tuition for Miho, who was still in school, she let her mother use it as she pleased.

But what Akina Nakamori didn't expect was that Akio Nakamori, as a father, was actually also taking subsidies from her mother?!

"This...... isn't Father running a butcher shop?"

As far as Akina knew, although Akio Nakamori said he went to Saitama to open a shop for the sake of the family, since she was in junior high, the household money her father brought home had been very little, basically equivalent to none.

All the income from the butcher shop should have been used on himself! How could he still be asking her mother Chieko for living expenses?!

"Living extravagantly, wining and dining..... how could the money ever be enough!"

Chieko was very clear about her husband, from her disappointment in the past to her indifference now; she now barely treated him as her husband in name and the father of her children.

Thanks to Akina Nakamori, their current life was much easier than before.

"Let's not talk about him!" Chieko didn't want to ruin her daughter's good mood after coming back and changed the subject, "Where did Akina go before? Was it to record a show?"

Akina Nakamori also put down the questions in her heart and chatted incessantly with her mother about the *Love Journey* of the past half month and other interesting things.

However...... Chieko was actually only concerned about one thing:

"Akina, how far has your romance with Naoki Nagayama gone? When will you officially bring him back for us to see?"

"This......" Akina Nakamori held her mother's arm somewhat coyly, "Naoki-san said he wants to take me to his house before the end of the year.... to meet his parents...."

In this era, the male-chauvinism in Japan was very serious. Generally speaking, when a couple meets the parents, even if they are celebrities, the woman usually goes to the man's house first.

The unspoken rule was whether the man's family could agree first, and only then could the woman's family agree.

Like in later generations, where children just notify their parents when they get married, that wasn't the mainstream in this era.

"Oh? Then that should be very soon!"

Chieko said happily. Her other children had all started families, and there were two more; it looked like one of them would be soon too!

"No way~~~ we haven't even talked about marriage yet~"

Akina acted spoiled with Chieko and talked a lot about the things they had done while dating and recent life events...... enjoying the rare family time.

After more than an hour, Akina sat in front of the mirror and let her mother help her style her hair.

As an all-around mother, Chieko could do a little bit of everything, and she had styled the hair of all six children from childhood to adulthood...... it saved money, after all; the haircut expenses for six children were not a small expenditure.....

Moreover, Chieko had very good aesthetics and an artistic eye; a simple trim could achieve good results. Akina Nakamori's keen perception of art was probably inherited from her mother.

"Akina..." halfway through grooming her, Chieko seemed to suddenly recall something, "There's something I want to tell you..."

"Hmm? What is it?" Akina Nakamori watched the change in her mother's expression in the mirror and asked curiously.

"It's about that child, Akiho..." Chieko said with some worry, "She wants to drop out of school and work in the entertainment industry just like you..."

"Akiho?"

Akina Nakamori felt a bit troubled; her younger sister... couldn't dance or sing, and as for her looks, they were just average; she had no competitiveness in the entertainment industry.

Even when she herself had just debuted, her posture teacher had told her that she looked unremarkable, so she shouldn't bother competing with other contestants on looks or cuteness; singing honestly was the only way to go!

Except for one thing: she was Akina Nakamori's sister...

"Mom... if Akiho goes into the entertainment industry, it might be very difficult for her..." Akina Nakamori didn't mince words with her mother and said it directly, "She doesn't have any specialized skills."

"Yeah, if only she had learned ballet with you back then..." Chieko sighed.

But since she was her youngest daughter, Chieko still helped ask: "Akina, with your current fame, can't you provide some help to Akiho?"

She could, but whether it was record companies or television programs, Akina Nakamori only had some connections to a certain extent...

After all, she hadn't spent these past few years in the entertainment industry for nothing; she had excellent talent, and behind her were the support of Naoki Nagayama and the Burning Productions agency, so most people in the industry would still give her some face.

But... if these resources were given to Akiho, she wouldn't be able to handle them!

After thinking for a moment, Akina Nakamori said: "Mom, actually, the entertainment industry isn't such a wonderful place; if she can avoid entering, it's best not to consider coming to the entertainment industry...

If Akiho really wants to enter the entertainment industry, then let her first participate in various talent auditions and competitions to exercise her ability to face live audiences... only then can I help find some resources..."

After listening, Chieko sighed slightly in her heart; she also knew her youngest daughter had no particular talent... Actually, if she could just find a good person and marry honestly for the rest of her life, that would be the best choice.

However, her daughter was grown up... and with a sister who was famous across the country right in front of her, she naturally wasn't content with being ordinary.

"Alright, I'll try my best to persuade her..." Chieko said, then looked at Akina's hairstyle in the mirror and revealed a satisfied smile, "Done!"

Akina Nakamori's baby fat was almost gone; her delicate, fair skin, large eyes with clear whites and blacks, exquisite and dainty nose bridge, and perfect jawline... she looked as if she had walked right out of a painting.

"My Akina is getting prettier and prettier! Every hairstyle looks good on her!"

"It really was a bargain for that guy Naoki Nagayama!"

"Mom~~~" Akina Nakamori leaned against her mother shyly and said, "It wasn't a bargain for anyone else!"

"Then don't marry him, and stay with Mom for the rest of your life!" Chieko pressed on Akina's shoulders and said with a smile.

Akina Nakamori wouldn't have it: "That won't do..."

After laughing and joking for a while, Chieko looked at the sky: "Is Akina staying for dinner tonight?"

"Probably not..." Akina Nakamori said, "I have to go to rehearsal tonight... for the new song's dance~"

Watching her daughter, who was increasingly like an adult, Chieko could only sigh:

"It's really hard work..."