Chapter 884: Back on the newspaper headlines again!!!

Waking up alone in the huge Shanying Yuan, one always feels a bit empty~

No Akina, no Eitaro, no Meitaro... The Shanying Yuan, which had been expanded three times, felt like it had been built in vain~

"As the saying goes, one may have thousands of houses, but one only needs three feet of space to sleep..." Naoki Nagayama made breakfast for himself and sighed in his heart, "Actually, in the end, you only need forty or fifty centimeters, so why buy so many houses~~~"

Of course, it's to make money!

Naoki Nagayama consolidated his psychology again, sat at the dining table with a simple breakfast, bit into a piece of charred bread, and read the newspaper... and then he was shocked...

On the cover of the newspaper, the scene of Akina Nakamori showing the ring on stage was clearly visible, and the headline also emphasized in bold font that Akina Nakamori admitted it was an "engagement ring"!

"Akina... is she this brave?"

Although Naoki Nagayama had long been mentally prepared for the engagement news to leak, he was still a bit surprised that she had announced it so generously at the concert.

So he didn't even care about his breakfast. Naoki Nagayama began to flip through various newspapers and finally confirmed one thing... He, Naoki Nagayama, and Akina Nakamori had once again made the front-page headline of the newspaper~

"Ha... this can be considered a return to the peak!"

Ever since announcing the Tokyo International Film Festival, he hadn't made the headlines for several months... After relaxing, Naoki Nagayama began to enjoy his breakfast again~

"Akina Nakamori is engaged!" "Did you know?" "I knew it last night! It was broadcast on TV!" "It's with Naoki Nagayama, right?!" "Did they really talk it out like that?!"

In Tokyo, wherever people gathered to chat, they would discuss this explosive news today. Those who paid attention to the entertainment industry were sighing, how come it seemed like Seiko Matsuda had just gotten married, and another top idol was getting married!

This... is it possible that top idols even get married in groups?!

"Did they say when they are getting married?" "I don't know..." "It shouldn't be far after the engagement, right?" "Will it be within the year?"

Numerous voices were discussing the lifelong event of this couple, as if they were all close friends of Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori~

"There will be no engagement disclosure meeting for the time being... Akina-chan is busy with her national tour..."

Downstairs at Kenon, President Hanami-san had to stand in front of the flashes and lenses again, accepting the bombardment of reporters... This was something Hanami-san, who was committed to becoming a behind-the-scenes boss, didn't want to happen at all.

"Akina-chan is engaged... when is the wedding?"

"Regarding this marriage, there is no plan for the time being!" Hanami-san replied very officially.

"Is it in the near future?! Seiko Matsuda announced her engagement and got married two months later!"

"That's Seiko Matsuda..."

Hanami-san complained in his heart, but on the surface, he still said very politely: "Akina-chan and Nagayama-san's plans may be different from others..."

"Where will they get married?"

"There is no specific information on this for the time being."

"What form will they use? Western style? Shinto style?"

"There is no specific information on this for the time being."

"..."

The reporters at the scene were speechless. You don't know anything, what do you mean by holding a press conference? Are you playing with people?

"President Hanami, is Akina-chan's sapphire ring custom-made? What brand is it, and how much is it worth?"

A reporter asked a more detailed question.

"..."

Hanami-san felt bitter in his heart. He also wanted to know, but Akina Nakamori didn't tell him anything... Naoki Nagayama wouldn't even mention it!

"The engagement ring is a rare piece of jewelry, and its meaning may only be told to everyone by the parties involved..."

"..."

In short, Hanami-san stood out today to tell the entertainment industry that the engagement was true, and that everyone shouldn't guess randomly in other directions, and also let the media not think about marketing planning...

By the way, appease the fans:

"Regarding the idea of retiring when getting married, there is no specific news for the time being... However, no matter what decision Akina Nakamori makes, our agency will support it, and we hope that Akina's fans will continue to support Akina-chan in the future..."

You make people even more worried like this!!!

Naoki Nagayama, who drove to the Tree Friend building, found that the employees he met had strange smiles on their faces after entering the door.

"Congratulations, Naoki-san..." "Naoki-san, Ganbatte..." "..."

They were just short of saying "a hundred years of harmony and early birth of a noble son"...

"Naoki-san, good morning!" Star Jia-hua at the front desk greeted him relatively normally.

"Morning..." Naoki Nagayama took the mail addressed to him from the front desk, and then chatted, "Hua-chan... do you all know?"

"Hahaha, does Naoki-san mean the engagement?" Star Jia-hua replied with a smile, "Of course, everyone is talking about it... Naoki-san, congratulations~ We have been eating the sugar for three years, and finally we are about to welcome a beautiful ending!"

"Are you talking about marriage?" Naoki Nagayama shook his head, "Akina and I are so young, we don't have the idea of getting married so early... It will take about a year or two to get married..."

Actually, engagement in ancient times was something only wealthy families would do, because the process of marriage was very long...

According to ancient Chinese rules, there were the six rites: first, proposal; second, asking for the name; third, divination; fourth, sending betrothal gifts; fifth, choosing the date; sixth, welcoming the bride. From discussing the marriage to setting the marriage and then to getting married, a whole set of processes would take a year.

But now, when to get married after engagement is entirely up to the two parties involved, and it is very common to get married within a year or two~

Star Jia-hua continued to smile: "It's a phased result after all! Naoki-san, keep working hard!"

"..."

I always feel that my marriage has become a program for everyone...

Naoki Nagayama stayed in the office for a while and looked at his mail. Most of the mail sent to the company were invitations and activities from various film organizations and associations, and there was nothing too meaningful.

However, there were still some very important ones, such as this letter in his hand...

"Japan Academy Film Prize Committee?"

Naoki Nagayama read on. This letter was sent to him by the committee, wanting to invite him to be a judge for this year's Academy Film Prize.

As a Palme d'Or winner, a multiple Academy Prize and Blue Ribbon winner, and a well-known director, Naoki Nagayama indeed had the qualifications to be a judge, and even being the chairman of the jury wouldn't be too much.

"But... why do I have to go?!"

Watching movies non-stop for more than a month, and having to write evaluations (post-viewing feelings) and scoring... it sounds like a very troublesome thing~

Some people think that becoming a judge for a national film award shows that their status has been recognized by the industry and helps to further improve their reputation... but Naoki Nagayama doesn't need it!

As long as the Tokyo International Film Festival is held well, his name will definitely be written in the history of Japanese film... Wait, he already has a place in the history of Japanese film now!

"I'd better find a reason to decline it~" Naoki Nagayama thought about writing a letter to decline this invitation.

Just at this time, the office door was knocked, and Shuichi Itou walked in with a smile:

"Naoki-san... congratulations on your engagement~"

"..." "Arigato..." Naoki Nagayama replied again, and then was a bit surprised, "Why did Shuichi-san come over today?"

"Of course, there is something..."

Shuichi Itou had finished filming the latest episode of *Squid Game* and came to edit the final film. But his eyes caught the letter on Naoki Nagayama's desk.

"Naoki-san, were you invited this year too?"

"Oh? Hearing you say that, were you invited this year too?" Naoki Nagayama was curious.

"Yeah..."

Shuichi Itou nodded. As a new director of film, even if he didn't have as high honors as Naoki Nagayama, he had connections!

Unlike a dark horse like Naoki Nagayama, he was on the development path of a traditional director, filming movies, winning awards, and relying on mentors and other connections to improve his status...

If this continues, he will steadily rise, and will probably become a representative director of the film industry in his middle age, and become a senior boss when he is old... At that time, filming a main melody movie and getting a lifetime honor would be the ceiling~

"I didn't film a particularly excellent movie this year, and my mind was on TV series, so I went to be a judge to brush up on my presence in the industry..."

"..."

Naoki Nagayama felt a bit disgusted listening to this. He didn't film an excellent movie... whose fault is it!

"Naoki-san, want to be together?"

"I'd better forget it... I still have a movie this year... As a judge, I might be said to be biased," Naoki Nagayama shook his head, "The best film might be insufficient, but *One Cut of the Dead* pursuing best editing or even best director is possible..."

Shuichi Itou was a bit jealous listening to this:

"Sigh... Naoki-san... sometimes I really want to see what a genius's brain is like, why are there good movies one after another..."

"!"

Hearing this, Naoki Nagayama was startled. According to his genius performance now, won't he get the same treatment as Einstein after he passes away?!

Brain slicing?

Come to think of it, his brain might really be different from others!

The two stayed in the office for a while, chatted about the recent situation, and then went to the editing room downstairs together.

Shuichi Itou came to edit *Squid Game*, and Naoki Nagayama was going to edit *Midnight Diner*. The two naturally had to occupy an editing room separately...

As for Masataka Komori, the preliminary promotional video was edited, and it was time for them to rest for a while... After all, he couldn't compete with these two people!

"*Squid Game* is almost coming to an end." Shuichi Itou brought Naoki Nagayama into the editing room, "This game is a stepping stone... On the high-altitude trestle bridge, one is ordinary glass, and one is safety glass..."

During the time *Squid Game* was broadcast on TBS, while the ratings soared, it also caused heated discussions among the audience.

Some people think this show is too violent, and some people think this show destroys childhood... But it is undeniable that this show has attracted the attention of many viewers and even peers.

This type of TV series with death as the price has a new meaning of opening a vein.

Many screenwriters have received requests to create according to the characteristics of *Squid Game*. It is conceivable that next year, there will be more "game" TV series.

"Naoki-san..." Shuichi Itou's crew began to edit, and also asked for Naoki Nagayama's opinion, "Finally, these manipulators behind the golden animal masks... should we edit them to be more cold-blooded?"

"They were already cold-blooded... taking pleasure in the killing of their own kind..."

The so-called upper-class people wearing golden animal masks bet on the life and death of the players, and even did small actions secretly... It was just like the upper-class nobles who watched gladiators fight in ancient Rome...

"Actually, letting them wear masks is on one hand to make them look more mysterious... On the other hand, it is also to imply to everyone that these people are beasts, and they represent a group..."

Shuichi Itou nodded:

"Indeed, they are all guys without humanity..."

But at this time, he was a bit excited: "Speaking of which... the old man among the game players is actually the manipulator behind the scenes... When this scene is broadcast, it should surprise a large group of people!"

"Haha, yeah... this kind of reversal is very unexpected!"

Naoki Nagayama chatted with Shuichi Itou in his editing room for a long time before returning to his own editing room.

*Midnight Diner*... the show that grabs other people's appetite is about to start again!

"Akina-chan is in this time... should I edit her to the very front?"

Naoki Nagayama looked at the film material and pondered. Akina Nakamori's fame could also bring great help to this show.

Before the concert hall in Kyoto, the surrounding fans were twice as many as in Tsu City. Even if they couldn't enter the venue, everyone wanted to wait for their idol outside the venue.

On one hand, because Kyoto is a big city, there are naturally more fans... On the other hand, it is also because the news of the engagement has excited many fans, and they want to ask their idol clearly.

Akina Nakamori, who was preparing backstage, looked at Norifumi Miki, who knocked on the door and came in in a hurry, with some surprise:

"Miki-san, did something happen?"

"Akina-chan... there are too many fans outside!" Norifumi Miki said, "It far exceeded our previous estimates... The security personnel outside the venue are not enough."

"Eh??" Akina Nakamori worried, "There won't be a stampede, right?"

"It shouldn't... as long as Akina's vehicle is not blocked when it goes out... But for safety, I have already notified the police station... and asked them to send police officers to maintain order."

"That's good!" Akina Nakamori nodded, and relaxed a little.

"Akina-chan, after the performance ends today, you must seize the time and leave quickly while the fans inside are dispersing... Otherwise, you will be blocked in the venue by the fans!"

"Looking at the situation today, they won't leave just like that..."

"I understand~"

"There is one more thing!" Norifumi Miki said, "The hotel we are staying at... I specially bribed a waiter to help pay attention to the situation around at all times..."

"??" Akina Nakamori and Ueda Maki both looked over.

"When I contacted him before, he said that a call was made to the front desk, asking if Akina Nakamori was staying here..."

Ueda Maki exclaimed: "Eh? Shouldn't the hotel keep it confidential?!"

"Of course it should be confidential, but there are policies above and countermeasures below..." Norifumi Miki said, "Actually, larger media have long been like me, bribing informants in major high-end hotels! As long as there is information about celebrity artists, they will notify them at the first time!"

"Otherwise, Maki-chan, why do you think there are so many artists being photographed?"

"..." Ueda Maki actually knew it, but she was just stunned for a moment.

Akina Nakamori asked at this time: "Does Miki-san mean that the hotel is no longer safe?"

"Not just that... every high-end hotel in Kyoto might not be safe... Maybe you will be blocked at the door by reporters." Norifumi Miki hesitated. These few days are the hottest time. Reporters can do anything for exposure!

"But the conditions of small hotels might be worse, and privacy might be even worse..."

High-end hotels at least have security guards, and reporters can't rush in to interview directly, but small hotels might not... Maybe the hotel owner even helps take pictures!!

Akina Nakamori's forehead wrinkled, and then she suddenly thought of something,

"By the way, Maki-chan, bring my phone book over..."

"Ah, hai!"

Ueda Maki brought the small phone book, and Akina Nakamori flipped through it... Ah, this is it!

She gave the phone to Norifumi Miki:

"This is the phone number of the manager of Naoki-san's Red Fish House. Naoki-san said before that those who want to stay there can call him directly. If it's today, we can stay at the Red Fish House..."

"That place is very big and has walls..."

Norifumi Miki nodded. He had also been to the Red Fish House. Although it was a bit far, it was indeed safer and the conditions were very good.

"Hai, I'll contact them right away..."

"Mm~"

After communicating, Akina Nakamori continued to prepare for the performance.

When it officially started, when Akina Nakamori walked onto the stage wearing the ring, this performance entered absolute enthusiasm from the beginning.

"Akina-sama!" "Akina-chan!" "Akina! Akina!" "AKINA~AKINA~"

The rhythmic shouting made the ceiling of the venue vibrate.

"Minna-san... good afternoon..."

"Thank you so much for being able to come here to watch my concert in such hot weather!"

After the opening *Girl A*, Akina Nakamori waved her arms and interacted with the fans, the sapphire ring on her finger shining brightly...

Even though it caused heated discussion, Akina Nakamori never thought about taking this ring off.

"Akina-chan, is that your engagement ring?!"

A male fan in the front row couldn't help it and asked loudly with all his might, as if if it were true, his youth would die~

"Eh... this..."

Akina Nakamori showed the ring on her hand, still unable to hide her happiness,

"Yes~"

A certain fan made a heartbroken sound.

The fans at the scene also confirmed the authenticity of the engagement ring again...

"Eh eh? Daijoubu?" Akina Nakamori looked at the fans in the front row in a panic, a bit afraid that he would have an accident.

Perhaps it was the idol's attention that made this guy excited again. Although he was sad, he still shouted very firmly:

"Daijoubu!!! It's just that Akina-chan is engaged to someone else, and I can't accept it!"

"Hehe, that's good~"

Akina Nakamori nodded, relieved for the fan's safety, but still said very seriously next,

"However... regarding this engagement... I have thought about it deeply... moving forward together in the direction of happiness... I hope to get everyone's blessing..."

(We are a talented couple, a match made in heaven, is it your turn, a monster, to oppose it?!)

"..."

That male fan turned his head stubbornly. No matter what, I will continue to oppose it!

If it were at the wedding, I would rush out and say I don't agree to this marriage!

But Akina Nakamori didn't dwell too much on this point, but introduced the songs for today to everyone and prepared to start singing the next song...

And it just so happened that the next song was—*Meuamoré (My Lover)*...

That male fan's eyes were moist... Naoki Nagayama, you hateful guy, you stole my Akina, I will never forgive you in my life!!! ===== CHAPTER 885 =====