Chapter 818: Standing in front of a speeding dump truck and shouting??

Had lunch at a Japanese restaurant in Sumida Ward at noon~

Stacks of small Japanese dishes filled the table in the tatami room; this was mainly because they were drinking... Being young, the two of them didn't have the appetite of the "herbivore" generation after the Heisei era; a little bit was enough.

"Naoki, the daily revenue of a KTV is comparable to the protection money we used to collect in Shizuoka for a whole month..." Ma Sai had downed two bottles of sake earlier and was already slightly tipsy. "Thinking back on those days, what kind of life was I living!"

"......"

Naoki Nagayama silently accompanied him with a drink. The times have changed. If you don't touch drugs, gambling, or prostitution, you won't find many emerging industries that are more profitable and have lower costs than KTVs... unless you go into things like smuggling or arms dealing?

"I just bought another sports car..." Ma Sai said. "It's a Mercedes... I want to buy a Rolls-Royce and a Ferrari later... The Toyota Century you bought is too old-fashioned; it's not stylish at all!"

"Haha, it's better to keep a low profile~"

"Why be so low-key when you've made money?!" Ma Sai fit the image of a nouveau riche perfectly. "You should live in a mansion, wear a gold watch, drive a sports car, and pick up beauties..."

"......." Everything you just said, I don't seem to be missing any of it...

Naoki Nagayama silently continued drinking, not interrupting his cousin's wild talk, but instead occasionally offering advice about keeping a low profile while being high-profile in one's actions.

"Looking at the international financial situation recently, there are undercurrents... Cousin Ma Sai, it's like what we said at Shanying Yuan last time; you can prepare some liquid funds for the near future. The yen is going to appreciate..." Naoki Nagayama still offered a few words of advice.

"Hai, hai, hai, I understand!" Ma Sai nodded. He knew his cousin wouldn't lie to him.

However, as a young man currently riding high, he didn't place too much importance on making more money. Having never really faced any setbacks, Ma Sai just wanted to enjoy himself and squander his wealth now that he had made some.

"Anyway, I'm going to marry Xia Hua later, and then have several sons... to inherit my empire..."

Ma Sai was getting carried away and saying anything that came to mind.

"By the way, Naoki, when do you plan to get married?"

"This, uh..."

Naoki Nagayama really hadn't thought about it... His relationship with Akina was going smoothly, just like following a set routine: dating, living together, and about to meet the parents... Come to think of it, the next step was marriage, and there didn't seem to be any surprises... But a specific time hadn't surfaced in his mind... He just felt like something was missing...

"Speaking of which..." Ma Sai didn't wait for his cousin's answer and continued on his own. "I proposed to Xia Hua a while ago... As for the wedding date, it will be set after I go back to see the old man..."

Ah!

A proposal!

It hit Naoki Nagayama's mind like a thunderbolt~

Only then did he realize that he seemed to have never formally proposed to Akina... It was as if he had simply overlooked it.

"Naoki... Naoki?" Ma Sai saw his cousin dazed and asked strangely, "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm fine... It's just that I suddenly thought of something." Naoki Nagayama smiled, then continued to fill up Feng Nagayama's glass. "Big Brother Feng, I'm a bit curious, how did you propose?"

"Ha, this... that was on a sunny day when we went to Kobe..."

Ma Sai then described his proposal experience to Naoki Nagayama in detail. Although he spoke with great excitement, to Naoki Nagayama, it sounded like just that...

To sum it up, it was buying a gift and asking "Will you marry me?"... The sense of ritual was also very average...

Well~ but as long as the two of them are happy~

Having drunk alcohol at lunch, Naoki Nagayama naturally couldn't drive, and it wasn't time to go home yet~

After sending Ma Sai back to his own company, Naoki Nagayama slowly strolled along the banks of the Sumida River to sober up.

The Sumo Hall is located in Ryogoku. At this time, there was no Tokyo Skytree landmark, but following the riverbank forward would lead to the direction of Senso-ji Temple and Sumida Park~

Spring is in the air, the grass is growing and the warblers are flying, the green grass is lush...

On the shimmering river surface under the sunlight, a wild duck foraging for food flew past from time to time, plunged into the water, and when it came out, it quacked a few times with its mouth, and the neck shook rapidly, splashing water droplets that made the already bright feathers even more brilliant.

There aren't many willow trees on the banks of the Sumida River, but rather cherry blossoms that are in full bloom... Approaching April, pink smoke and clouds permeate both banks of the Sumida River, quite like the ancient artistic conception of "ten miles of long embankments with flowers like clouds."

The Motei cherry blossoms falling with the wind slowly drifted onto the embankment, paving the whole road in a pink tone, making people feel reluctant to walk on it~

However, Naoki Nagayama at this time didn't put his heart on the falling cherry blossoms... No matter how beautiful, after seeing it ten or a hundred times, it would be just like the ordinary.

His head was tipsy, but his consciousness was still very clear. The word "proposal" mentioned during the drinking session kept circling in Naoki Nagayama's mind.

"If it's a proposal, what should I do?"

This thought lingered in his head, and he didn't even have the mood to pay attention to the beautiful scenery outside...

"Is it a public proposal, or a private one? Is it in front of friends, or when the two are alone? Is it sensational, or low-key?"

One question after another surfaced and fell. The scenes of proposals he had heard and seen flashed through his mind... Then, more and more memories began to emerge, gradually connecting into a piece...

An ordinary man at a construction company pursuing a gentle and beautiful cellist, rushing out into the road, standing in front of a speeding dump truck and shouting, "I like you, so I won't die!" "I will definitely make you happy"...

A bride in a wedding dress running to a middle-aged man on the road at night, choking up and saying, "Please accept me"...

"《101st Proposal》?"

Another urban pure love drama... 《101st Proposal》 was very moving when watched back then. It turns out that sincere unrequited love can really move the other party...

But thinking about it now, a middle-aged uncle with no job, no savings, and no house getting the heart of a beautiful and gentle cellist... no matter how you look at it, it's a toad eating swan meat...

Naoki Nagayama pressed his temples, feeling a bit dissatisfied with his subconscious...

"The famous scenes are very interesting... but what do you mean by making me think of them now... Do you want me to run in front of a speeding dump truck to propose to Akina? Do you want me to transmigrate again?"

"Or let Akina wear a wedding dress and propose to me in reverse?" Thinking of this, Naoki Nagayama was stunned for a moment. "Eh? This idea... seems quite interesting..."

"......."

After taking a taxi back to the Takanawa 80 Building, Naoki Nagayama was much more sober.

The alcohol had worn off, and naturally, he didn't think letting Akina propose in reverse was a good idea. However, he still immediately went to the study and started writing down the content he had just thought of... 《101st Proposal》 was, after all, a TV series with significant influence, having been remade in many countries.

"When the time comes, at worst, I'll let Otomo-san act in it..."

Kamakura, an old-fashioned large house by the sea, unknown wildflowers blooming on the side of the road~

"Slowly, don't be in a hurry..." Masataka Komori was directing the junior student Matsuo Munao behind the camera. "You have to grasp the best light and shadow... to shoot the most beautiful scenery..."

"Hai!"

Matsuo Munao replied, and then operated the camera more carefully. He wanted to capture all the beauty of spring in Kamakura while the light was at its best.

Other members of the crew were also more or less familiarizing themselves with filming and acting, and there were experienced old employees guiding them. The whole set seemed a bit chaotic, but it was slowly getting better.

The filming cycle of 《Our Little Sister》 was very long, so Masataka Komori wasn't worried about delaying the filming. His requirements for everyone were strict... On one hand, it was to shoot the best shots, and on the other, it was to train their abilities.

This was Masataka Komori's work during this period. While filming 《Our Little Sister》, he had to hone this batch of reserve forces to serve as the new strength for Tree Friends in the future.

"Komori-san, there's a phone call..." A crew member in the room called out to Masataka Komori. "It's Otomo-san..."

"Hai~~ Coming right away~"

Hearing that it was Yoshimura Otomo's call, Masataka Komori immediately put down what he was doing and headed to the telephone.

"Otomo-san?!" Masataka Komori said respectfully, "I'm here!"

"Ah, Komori-kun..." Yoshimura Otomo's gentle voice came from the receiver. "How is the filming of 《Our Little Sister》 going?"

"The filming is going very smoothly, and the juniors are slowly growing up~" Masataka Komori said. "Currently, we are filming the spring scenery..."

"Smoothly, that's good..." Yoshimura Otomo praised a few words and then asked, "How is that Matsuo Munao you mentioned before who has talent?"

"Munao-kun, he learns very quickly..." Masataka Komori could only say this. "Very steady... I think he will be able to operate the camera independently soon."

"Is that so... Since that's the case, give him more opportunities~ Let him return to Tokyo tomorrow..." Yoshimura Otomo nodded. "Naoki-san wants to produce a creative film, so let him play the lead role..."

"Acting?" Masataka Komori was surprised. "Otomo-san, Munao-kun is not an actor... He is a director..."

"Hmm, it's just to play a young director..." Yoshimura Otomo explained slightly on the phone. "Naoki-san's new film is called 《One Cut of the Dead》, which is about the production process of a film... The lead role is the character of a director..."

Since it was brought up, Yoshimura Otomo's mouth felt itchy, so he told the general content of 《One Cut of the Dead》, focusing on what is called a reversal, a play within a play, and what is called breaking the second dimension, among other highlights.

Yoshimura Otomo finally said:

"Anyway, let Matsuo Munao come to the studio tomorrow morning for a discussion meeting... Naoki-san will explain the script to everyone."

"...... Hai, I will convey the notice!"

After Masataka Komori put down the phone, his expression was a bit strange, making the crew members next to him afraid to talk.

Naoki Nagayama's new film is something all young directors want to participate in... After all, every film that person makes can be a big hit, and one can also learn many filming techniques... camera movement methods...

Not to mention it's an experimental avant-garde film... Even Masataka Komori, who has already directed independently, wants to go for further studies!

When seeing Matsuo Munao, Masataka Komori's expression was even more strange. In the eyes of the Japanese who are good at reading the air, it seemed like... jealousy?

"Munao-kun, come here for a moment..."

"Hai?"

Although a bit strange, Matsuo Munao immediately put down the camera and came to Masataka Komori's side.

"The company just called and transferred you to another film project..." Masataka Komori said. "Meeting at the studio tomorrow morning to discuss the script for the new film..."

"Me?" Matsuo Munao's eyes widened. "How could it be me?"

Then he immediately became a bit panicked: "Komori-kun, I'm filming 《Our Little Sister》 just fine, I don't want to go to other film projects!"

Matsuo Munao also knew that 《Our Little Sister》 was a project specifically used to train seed players. The script was created by Naoki Nagayama, and there was a talented senior like Masataka Komori personally guiding him... It was really an opportunity not to be missed!

"Please, Komori-kun, beg the company for me! I want to stay here..."

"Oh?" Masataka Komori acted out a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Really want to stay here at 《Our Little Sister》?"

"Of course, I, Matsuo Munao, am Komori-kun's loyal vassal, with absolutely no second thoughts!!!"

Matsuo Munao hurriedly expressed his loyalty, looking like a lick-dog~

"Alright then... I'll call Otomo-san..." Masataka Komori made a gesture of calling. "Just say Munao-kun doesn't want to join Naoki-san's new film, please ask him to change to someone else..."

"Hai hai... wait a minute!" Matsuo Munao originally listened in agreement, but suddenly noticed a keyword. "Komori-kun said it's Naoki-san's new film?!"

"Yeah... Naoki-san's avant-garde creative film, I heard it will try a new narrative mode and revolutionize the history of film shooting~" Masataka Komori pretended to start dialing. "It's a pity, our Munao-kun doesn't want to leave 《Our Little Sister》, and has no fate with the new film~"

"Wait a minute!!! Wait a minute, Komori-kun!"

Matsuo Munao immediately pressed the button of the phone, his expression urgent as he said,

"I think I can reconsider~ I want to..."

"No... you don't want to..." Masataka Komori pretended to push his hand away. "Weren't you just my loyal vassal?!"

"Komori-kun, my dear Komori-kun!" Matsuo Munao hugged Masataka Komori's arm, his face full of flattery. "I am still Komori-kun's loyal vassal, just going to Naoki-san's side for further studies!!!"

"Humph humph..."

Masataka Komori snorted a few times,

"Let go of my hand..."

"Alright, alright... as long as Komori-kun doesn't make the call!"

Matsuo Munao had never thought he would be so fickle, but that was Naoki Nagayama's new film, and an avant-garde creative film at that... Rolling around in such a project, the whole person would be gilded!

Masataka Komori didn't continue to tease his junior, but instead exhorted:

"Munao-kun, you must take this opportunity seriously... Naoki-san's new film is something even I want to participate in..."

"Hai hai, I will definitely take it seriously!"

"Hmm..."

Masataka Komori continued,

"Naoki-san's filming is likely to be a bit different from ordinary directors... He is not the type who will shoot repeatedly, but every shot has deep meaning... So you must remember it as much as possible, and there will be many thoughts when looking back later..."

"Hai!"

"Anyway... work hard~" Masataka Komori patted his junior. "After coming back from Naoki-san's side, and participating in another film... you might have the opportunity to direct independently!"

"Hai!!!"

Matsuo Munao's eyes were shining. This is the upgrade path of the current backbone of Tree Friends, Masataka Komori and that Mu Dao Xu! ===== CHAPTER 819 =====