Chapter 776

When Naoki Nagayama opened his eyes, the sky was not yet fully bright; the blue-gray sky light filtered in from outside the window, but it was already enough to wake the person on the bed.

Subconsciously touching the warm person beside him, a sentiment abruptly appeared in Naoki Nagayama's mind... the bed that had been empty for a long time finally had someone in it again!

A short separation is better than a new marriage; last night was naturally a "several times a night" affair, but waking up early in the morning, he only felt refreshed, and even somewhat energetic, feeling restless early in the morning.

A body in its twenties had a strong tendency toward developing into a "Taishan" (a playboy), and his eyes involuntarily drifted toward Akina who was still sleeping soundly beside him...

"Pah! Craving her body again! Beast!!!"

In the end, he still had a bottom line; Naoki Nagayama didn't touch his girlfriend like a beast early in the morning, but instead got up and dressed lightly, and then extinguished his impulses with a handful of cold water in the washroom~

After walking downstairs, Eitaro had already wagged his tail to get close, while Miaotaro was still curled up in the cat bed sleeping soundly.

"What does Eitaro want to eat this morning?"

Perhaps to appease the dog who was shut out last night, Naoki Nagayama asked very generously,

"How about chicken?"

Saying this, he went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, took out the chicken soup left over from yesterday, picked out the chicken meat and shredded it, added washed rice to the remaining chicken soup, and put them together in a clay pot to steam and cook.

At the same time, he soaked and washed fresh shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and carrots, heated oil over medium heat, added green onions, ginger, and garlic to stir-fry, and added a little salt...

Then, after waiting for the porridge to cook to a certain degree, he added the stir-fried ingredients, and finally added the shredded chicken and mixed it evenly...

As time passed bit by bit, a rich fragrance wafted out from the clay pot; even Miaotaro woke up, smelling the fragrance and circling around Naoki Nagayama's feet.

During this time, Akina Nakamori naturally woke up too, hurriedly washed up and went downstairs, and was immediately attracted to the kitchen by the fragrance~

"Naoki-san! What delicious thing are you making again!"

A soft body first pressed against his back, and only after wrapping around his waist did her head look over from the side; a girlfriend who had just reunited was just this clingy~

"Chicken porridge~" Naoki Nagayama said, "I feel like I haven't had porridge in a long time."

"Is it made with yesterday's chicken soup?" Akina walked to the side, sniffed, and showed an enjoying expression, "So fragrant!"

"Need you ask?"

"Naoki-san is getting thicker-skinned~"

"......"

Morning life began with bickering; a thin layer of snow had accumulated outside Shanyingyuan, but the interior felt warm and relaxed.

In the milky-white chicken porridge, white shredded chicken, red carrots, and brown mushrooms were mixed together; every spoonful was full of ingredients, and the rich fragrance of the chicken soup mixed with the rice fragrance, making anyone who smelled it have a great appetite!

A spirited day began just like this!

After Akina finished her makeup and changed into clothes for going out, Naoki Nagayama drove with her toward the headquarters of Nakamori Pro... they had agreed to visit~

Naoki Nagayama was already very familiar with the Nakamori Pro headquarters building; even the receptionist, Rie Kinoshita, could be considered an acquaintance.

"Rie-chan, Happy New Year~"

"Naoki-san? Why are you here?"

Naoki Nagayama was just about to reply, but Akina beside him answered first,

"Naoki-san is here for a New Year's visit!"

"So that's how it is..." Rie Kinoshita hurriedly bowed and saluted, "I will notify President Hanami immediately!"

The president of Tree Friend had come, so naturally, the president of Nakamori Pro had to come to welcome him.

"Let's go up and see Hanami-san!"

Akina Nakamori led Naoki Nagayama toward the elevator; she was a shareholder now, so she was much more relaxed in speaking and acting at the agency, and Rie Kinoshita also hurriedly called to notify the president upstairs.

When Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori arrived at the office, Akira Hanami had already walked out of the office and welcomed them in a pedantic manner:

"I didn't expect Naoki-san to come in person; I apologize for not being able to welcome you from afar~"

"Haha, because it's Nakamori Pro, I specifically swapped with Otomo-san." Naoki Nagayama laughed, presented the New Year's gift, and then the group came to the large office together.

"I haven't congratulated Naoki-san on your film being shortlisted for the three major awards yet..." Akira Hanami handed over hot tea and began to exchange pleasantries with Naoki Nagayama, "It's really amazing~"

"Not at all, not at all, it's not a big deal, not worth mentioning~" Naoki Nagayama was very humble.

"......." Other directors would cry if they heard this!

Akira Hanami displayed his decades of skill in facial expression control, echoing as if he agreed very much:

"Haha, for Naoki-san, this is indeed nothing~"

"Yeah... I actually hope to win international awards like the Palme d'Or or the Oscars~" Naoki Nagayama took a sip of tea; it was indeed the president's collection, the tea fragrance was rich and had a sweet aftertaste.

"Cough cough..."

Akira Hanami seemed to have choked; "If I call you fat, you really start panting!" He actually wanted to win international awards; these kinds of international film awards were still mostly won by Westerners.

"That... should be very difficult, right?"

"Hmm... the Oscars are very difficult..." Naoki Nagayama nodded, "But the chances for the Palme d'Or should be okay..."

"......" He really has confidence...

Looking at Naoki Nagayama's calm appearance, one knew it shouldn't be a lie...

Thinking back to his age of only twenty-something... what was I doing when I was twenty? Oh, watching female students play basketball with friends...

Akira Hanami felt for a moment that his first half of life seemed to have been wasted, achieving nothing!

"Hanami-san, Hanami-san?" Naoki Nagayama saw the middle-aged man suddenly silent and called out softly.

"Ah... Naoki-san..." Akira Hanami came back to his senses and casually found a topic, "Do you have any plans for the New Year?"

"Uh..."

This middle-aged man's thinking is so jumpy! Naoki Nagayama looked at Akina Nakamori beside him and got a naturally dazed look, as if she were a child suddenly brought into a social setting...

However, in order not to let the conversation drop, Naoki Nagayama still spoke up:

"For the New Year, I want to try an animated film..."

"Animated film?" Akira Hanami was surprised, "This is completely different from ordinary films!"

"Oh, President Hanami also understands the production of animated films?"

"Slightly understand, slightly understand..." Akira Hanami laughed; being old has one advantage, rich experience!

"For animated films, starting from planning, script, character design, scene design, storyboard design... you need to draw the pictures one by one and film them with camera film..."

Akira Hanami talked endlessly about his knowledge and then sighed,

"Films generally have 24 frames per second, so ten minutes of animation requires tens of thousands of negatives... making animated films is very difficult!"

"......"

Naoki Nagayama finally had a sense of reality; although he knew that animated films required drawing many pictures, but... tens of thousands for just ten minutes?

"In short, there is still very complicated work; this is really a completely different field. Naoki-san is truly courageous..." Akira Hanami's eyes were full of praise.

"...... Haha, young, so I want to try everything..."

Naoki Nagayama responded with some embarrassment and then quickly changed the subject,

"By the way, Akina also said before that she wanted to try records of different styles..."

Akina Nakamori, who was playing the role of a good child and drinking tea honestly, was startled and immediately sat up straight: "Hai, different styles..."

"?"

Akira Hanami looked over thoughtfully; he knew that this guy Naoki Nagayama didn't come just for a New Year's visit today.

"Akina-chan's changeable image of one rebellious song and one sweet song has already gone deep into people's hearts... what other different styles do you want?"

Akina Nakamori immediately said:

"After staying in Xia Weiyi for so long, and having been to Europe and America before... I have had contact with foreign culture and music... For my next record, I hope to focus on foreign elements..."

"Foreign elements?"

Akira Hanami was a bit worried when he heard this word, because following Akina's current style, at least it wouldn't go wrong... If she rashly tried a new style, the record sales might drop significantly...

"Hai!" Akina was very confident, "Hanami-san, as more and more people go abroad from Nihon... Nihon's acceptance of foreign culture is also getting higher and higher, like rock music, hip-hop, etc... aren't they all very popular?"

"But Akina... among idols, there is no such precedent..."

"Then I'll be the first!"

Perhaps because she had confidence, Akina Nakamori, who was becoming more and more confident, showed an indescribable dominance, making Naoki Nagayama beside her sigh; she was truly becoming more and more "royal"!

Akira Hanami advised from the side: "Akina-chan, why not try it little by little first? For example, one song first? After all, you still have a gambling agreement with the agency!"

Naoki Nagayama hurriedly spoke: "President Hanami, I believe in Akina's ideas, and foreign-style songs can make Akina's image as a 'Hundred-Change Song Diva' go deeper into people's hearts!"

What's the use of you believing! Akira Hanami's eyelids jumped; you aren't from Nakamori Pro! You have no say here at all!

Besides, what is a "Hundred-Change Song Diva"? My Akina is clearly a changeable idol... Eh? This image of "Hundred-Change Song Diva" seems even more high-end!

Akina Nakamori heard her boyfriend's strong support, and a happy smile appeared on her face, her eyes smiling into crescents~

"Hai, I also think there's no problem! The gambling agreement or whatever will definitely be fine!" Akina Nakamori instantly returned to her good girl tone, "Hanami-san, please believe in me this time!"

"This..."

Akira Hanami saw the two people in front of him singing in harmony and shook his head... where was this a New Year's visit? It was clearly coming to apply pressure!

"Alright, the new record can be tried..." Akira Hanami agreed, "But if the sales are not good, the next record must return to the original style!"

"Hai!" Akina Nakamori agreed readily, "Arigato, Hanami-san~"

"President Hanami is truly courageous!"

Naoki Nagayama also praised, making Akira Hanami's expression relax~

The atmosphere in the office became very harmonious again, until Naoki Nagayama inadvertently said again:

"By the way, Hanami-san... I feel Akina's schedule is a bit too much... As a top idol, the next stage should consider more about transformation... After all, being a singer and actor is a long-term career path..."

"? What does Naoki-san mean?"

"It's just... those unimportant announcements Akina takes, collaborative performances, etc., can they be fewer, so Akina has more time to rest..."

Naoki Nagayama talked endlessly; after Akina told him about the newly set schedule last night, he thought it was a bit excessive... No rest days for a whole month? Is the exploitation still this serious!

"......." Akira Hanami was stunned, "Naoki-san, Akina-chan is still an idol of our Nakamori Pro, right?!"

"That is naturally correct... but Hanami-san..." Naoki Nagayama's expression was calm, "You don't want Akina to be forced to retire because she can't balance work and life, right?!"

"!!!"

This is a threat, this is a naked threat!!!

Akira Hanami felt his blood rushing up, his cheeks heating up, and a heat in his chest rushing straight to his crown... This guy actually dared to use his own artist to threaten him?!

And retire?

Not afraid of being banned if she retires?... Oh, she's already retired...

Not afraid of not making money if she retires?... Oh, the other side is a rich person...

Then not afraid of breach of contract fees if she retires?... Oh, the other side is a rich person...

Then if she retires, do her family members agree? What about those important fans?... Oh, the one on the other side is the most important person...

Akira Hanami felt for a moment that he had absolutely no way to check and balance Akina Nakamori... Now that the person on the other side was clearly threatening to cut off his cash cow, he could only swallow this breath sullenly...

"Cough cough... since Akina feels the schedule is too dense, we can still reduce some..." Akira Hanami said helplessly and humbly.

"Hmm, although she is an artist, a two-day weekend definitely can't be guaranteed..." Naoki Nagayama continued to ask for a high price, "But at least six days of rest time a month is still needed, right?"

"......" Akira Hanami's mouth twitched, but he still nodded, "Hai, we will try our best to coordinate..."

"For girls, sleep is very important!" Naoki Nagayama continued to add weight, "Although rehearsals will be very late sometimes, she can't get up too early, right..."

"...... Hai, we will pay attention..."

"And..."

"And?"

"......"

After Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori walked out of the office, Akira Hanami immediately called the employee in charge of recruiting new people for his agency:

"Hurry up and find me new people! Go to junior high schools, go sweep the streets, go to talent shows, go find peers to buy news too!!!

Hurry up and find me a new idol with as much potential as Akina Nakamori!!!

Otherwise, our agency won't be able to stay open!!!"

"???!!!"

The employee who received the call was full of question marks~

At the same time, another plane returned to Tokyo.

Another top female idol in the entertainment industry was returning from work in Xia Weiyi... While shooting commercials, she spent the New Year at the Ishihara family's Yujiro Ishihara's place; during this vacation, Seiko Matsuda met Masahiki Kanda...

The trouble with Hiromi Go had been going on for a long time; except for the one time they sang together at the Kohaku Uta Gassen, Hiromi Go and Seiko Matsuda basically hadn't spoken since the New Year; they had completely fallen out.

Just at this time, Masahiki Kanda, who was filming a movie with her, walked into her heart... Is this taking advantage of the situation? Seiko Matsuda suddenly smiled.

"It's time to make an end!"

Seiko Matsuda, who was very decisive about feelings, secretly made up her mind in her heart; after returning to Tokyo, she would make things clear with Hiromi Go, whom she had been dating for four years.

At the same time, there were fans, the media... for the sake of her image, these all had to be considered in advance, and communicated clearly with the agency in advance...

After all, at this time, Seiko Matsuda only thought of it as a new relationship; she still couldn't give up her career!

"Let's just... promise to be together in the next life..."