Chapter 98: What about the infighting, the cover-ups, and the messy relationships?

The routine interview-style introduction ended quickly.

The free questioning from the media was the main event.

The Japanese media at the end of this year had no integrity, especially since people from *Shukan Bunshun* had actually been invited this time.

Kadokawa Pictures' energy was indeed great enough.

"Naoki-san, the three female leads in this film are all members of the Wild Cat Group. May I ask what the relationship is between Naoki-san and the Wild Cat Group?"

Sure enough, they went straight for the most attention-grabbing male-female relationship as soon as they started.

Regardless of whether he affirmed or denied it, he would eventually fall into the reporter's trap and become a story about a new handsome star and three has-been female idols...

At least *Shukan Bunshun* must have done their homework before coming. They had already reported on the Wild Cat Group once.

And as a public figure, you couldn't afford to offend the media of this era.

Even if he avoided answering, it would be interpreted by them as tacit consent.

But Naoki Nagayama wasn't afraid. There was truly no private relationship between him and the three members of the Wild Cat Group; at most, it was employment.

So he could speak his mind: "The Wild Cat Group is a brand created by our GG Agency. Currently, all three members are artists under the GG Agency."

"You *Shukan Bunshun* should know this, right? When the Wild Cat Group first came out, didn't you write a report about the past and present of the Wild Cat Group?"

The reporter from *Shukan Bunshun* was a bit stunned. How could an interviewed artist ask a counter-question? Shouldn't they be obediently standing there waiting for his favor?

"Ano, we did write it, but we still want to know if there are any latest changes. Wasn't there news before that the Wild Cat Group was acquired by the Burning Agency? Why did it return to the GG Agency? And where did the other two members go? What happened?"

Naoki Nagayama: "That did happen. After the Burning Agency acquired it, they found that the Wild Cat Group didn't seem to be operating well, so they gave it up. But we at the GG Agency believed that the artists still had commercial value, so we re-signed them to the agency."

"As for the other two members, because of their advantages in singing and image, they were favored by the planning department of the Burning Agency and plan to develop in the direction of mainstream idols."

The reporter from *Shukan Bunshun* felt a bit disappointed at this moment. Naoki Nagayama's answer was very straightforward, and the content was clear and reasonable. One could tell it was real information.

But this wasn't what the reporter wanted!!! What about the infighting? The cover-ups? The messy male-female relationships?

Even if Naoki Nagayama didn't answer, *Shukan Bunshun* had a hundred ways to speculate from the side, but this guy answered so decisively, how could they improvise?

"I heard that the dissolution of the Wild Cat Group was related to the internal struggle of the Burning system. Can Naoki-san reveal something about this?"

Naoki Nagayama looked at this greenhorn reporter. You're very brave, I'll give you a like.

"As far as I know, the dissolution of the Wild Cat Group was due to poor promotional effects and was a normal commercial behavior. As for internal struggles, I suggest you consult relevant sources in the Burning system."

But whether you'll get beaten up after consulting them, that depends on your luck...

However, this reporter from *Shukan Bunshun* seemed determined to find Naoki Nagayama's dirt.

"Then Naoki-san, there was a romance report with Kanako Higuchi-san before, and you later collaborated on *Tales of the Unusual*. May I ask if you are still in a romantic state? Or have you broken up?"

So you've been eyeing me~

Naoki Nagayama felt that this greenhorn wasn't simple, as he had even dug up articles from small magazines that weren't famous before.

Shinnosuke Matsuzawa looked at Naoki Nagayama in front of the microphone and thought to himself: "Heh heh, didn't expect this, Naoki Nagayama! We meet again~"

Yes, this guy was the paparazzi who photographed the two of them shopping. Now he had actually jumped ship to *Shukan Bunshun*. His career development was very rapid.

Although that report was published, neither party nor their companies responded, which made the paparazzi, who had been ambitious and thought he had written a blockbuster, very disappointed.

He had even specifically given a preview notice before publishing it... That feeling of not being taken seriously had always been stuck in Shinnosuke Matsuzawa's heart, motivating him to grow rapidly in the paparazzi industry.

"How will you answer this event? Expose the romance? Or admit the breakup? A playboy or a scumbag?" Shinnosuke Matsuzawa had already labeled Naoki Nagayama in his heart. No matter how he answered, he would fall into his trap.

Naoki Nagayama decided to pull the rug out from under him: "About this matter, in fact, that report was fabricated. At that time, we were shooting a beverage commercial about love and wanted to use the scandal to increase the hype."

???

The reporters present were stunned. Was this something that could be said out loud?

Wasn't this an unspoken rule?

How are we supposed to follow up?

Shinnosuke Matsuzawa was also shocked.

The article I wrote was a fabricated promotional draft?

How come I didn't know? Who's going to pay me the fifty-cent internet water army fee?

Looking at Naoki Nagayama, who was talking eloquently and without changing his expression in front of him,

Shinnosuke Matsuzawa once again realized the thick skin and scheming of the entertainment industry.

He suppressed the urge to refute Naoki Nagayama,

because he knew that saying he was the author of the article wouldn't change the nature of the article.

It was indeed just a scandal expose, and it did indeed increase the popularity of the two protagonists.

As for whether it was fabricated, who would care?

However, Shinnosuke Matsuzawa made a secret resolution in his heart: this person would be his lifelong enemy from now on!

He must expose Naoki Nagayama's true face!

The host also hurriedly began to guide the reporters to interview the next person.

"Next is a senior director in the industry, Shuichi Ito, who is responsible for the visual effects and final editing of this film.

Dear reporter friends, if you have any questions, you can ask..."

"Hahahahaha..."

Among the people who came to watch the preview, an old man couldn't help but laugh.

He said to Masahiro Shinoda beside him, "Shinoda-san, how about it? I said this is a very interesting young man..."

"Haha, Masaki-san, it's very interesting. The media present must be having a headache, hahaha~"

The two were the director duo from Shochiku Films who had come to watch the preview together.

Kadokawa naturally sent invitations to people in the circle, but whether they would come actually depended on the director's mood.

And Masaki Kobayashi and Masahiro Shinoda, who had heard of the film *Paranormal Activity* before, naturally came to take a look first.

"However, this film really has something to it~" Masaki Kobayashi sighed. "Using a documentary to create a sense of reality is indeed very suitable for a horror film."

"It will be seen in various types of films in the future; there are many applicable scenes." Masahiro Shinoda continued, "The lead actors seem to be amateurs; their acting is average."

"Haha, Shinoda-san, isn't that just right for this film~"

"Also true, very 'realistic'~" ===== CHAPTER 99 =====