MMB Chapter 116 The Two-Year Agreement
Chapter 116 The Two-Year Agreement
Chapter 116 The Two-Year Agreement
The celebration party for "The Grand Hotel Lies" was held in the Kin'un Hall of the Akasaka Royal Palace Hotel.
Juzo Itami hadn't originally planned to hold this event, but winning such a big prize has changed the meaning of the gathering. Perhaps a lot of new business will be finalized here tonight.
A huge crystal chandelier cast a warm yellow glow, making the meticulously polished champagne glasses sparkle. The air was filled with the scents of expensive perfumes, the tobacco fumes of cigars, and the cloying aroma of "success."
Kitahara Shin stood in the center of the crowd, holding a glass of champagne that he had only taken a sip of.
Even if he just stands there casually, the crowd around him will automatically form a tight vortex with him as the center.
"Kitahara-san, the executives at Toei were just lamenting to me that the judges at Venice this year were completely blind."
A producer in a dark blue suit approached, his smile practically overflowing. "That Volpi Cup (Best Actor Award) should clearly have your name engraved on it. What was River Phoenix acting like? Compared to your eyes in 'Grand Hotel,' it was like children playing house."
"Yes, yes," a renowned film critic nearby immediately chimed in, notebook in hand, "Especially that last scene, your laugh tinged with despair and a hint of madness, it gave me goosebumps in the theater. That was textbook acting!"
"They're still too young, and the judging panel is biased."
"If it were a different year, he would definitely be a shoo-in for Best Actor."
Compliments flowed like free tap water.
Kitahara Shin wore a polite smile, nodding occasionally and saying standard platitudes such as "You flatter me," "It's all thanks to the director's excellent guidance," and "I still have a long way to go."
My heart, however, was as calm as a stagnant pool.
Just listen to these words and leave it at that.
Not long ago, most of these people were mocking him in private gatherings as an "arrogant idol actor," betting that he would fall flat on his face in the art film genre.
"Alright, everyone."
Kitahara Shin raised his glass and said, "I'm going over there for some fresh air. Excuse me for a moment."
Before the next round of flattery could arrive, he slipped through the gaps in the crowd and casually placed the warm glass of champagne on a passing waiter's tray.
I had just walked to the sofa in the rest area and hadn't even had a chance to sit down when a deep, resonant voice came from behind me.
"What's wrong? Is our 'uncrowned king' already tired?"
Kitahara Shin turned back.
There sat Rentaro Mikuni in a corner armchair, holding a glass of whiskey on the rocks, smiling at him.
The veteran actor who played the bankrupt company president driven to the brink of despair in the movie was dressed in a well-tailored black stand-up collar Zhongshan suit, his full head of silver hair neatly combed. Although his face was covered with wrinkles, his eyes were surprisingly bright, revealing a worldly wisdom that had seen through the ways of the world.
"The predecessors of the Three Kingdoms."
Kitahara Shin straightened his clothes, walked over and bowed slightly. "Please don't make fun of me. What 'uncrowned king'? That's just media nonsense."
"Nonsense?"
Rentaro Mikuni swirled the ice in his glass, the ice clinking against the side. "I think it's rare for them to tell the truth. If those Italians had seen how you did on set, they'd probably regret giving the trophy to that American kid."
He pointed to the sofa opposite him and said, "Sit."
Kitahara Shin didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"It's much quieter here with you."
"That's because nobody dares to bother this old man."
Rentaro Mikuni chuckled, then suddenly pulled a pen from his pocket, twirled it in his hand a couple of times, and said, "Speaking of which, have you been playing Sudoku lately? Last time on set, that puzzle of yours stumped me for ages."
Kitahara Shin was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.
"Of course I remember."
Kitahara Shin leaned back on the sofa. "If you're itching for a game, senpai, I can play with you right now. But you can't renege on your bet if you lose this time."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Rentaro Mikuni burst into a hearty laugh, drawing the attention of guests in the distance.
He patted Kitahara Shin's shoulder hard, with surprising force. "You're still the same as ever. I like that about you. No matter what others say, you never put on an act in front of me."
After laughing, he composed himself and took something out of the inside pocket of his Zhongshan suit.
It was a pure black envelope.
There were no gold foil patterns, no elaborate decorations, not even any words. The black paper had a heavy texture and a delicate, matte feel, like a thinly sliced piece of obsidian.
"Take it."
Rentaro Mikuni handed it to Shin Kitahara.
"This is?"
Kitahara Shin took the envelope; it felt slightly heavy in his hand.
"One ticket."
Rentaro Mikuni took a sip of whiskey, his tone becoming somewhat meaningful. "It was kind of an internal gathering for actors and directors. The kind of gathering only those who have truly entered the field can attend."
Those who have truly entered the gate?
Kitahara Shin raised an eyebrow.
Within this industry, there are many so-called "circles." There are circles of idols, circles of variety show personalities, and circles of commercial film directors.
But the "circle" that Rentaro Mikuni is talking about is clearly different.
He is a living fossil of the Japanese film industry, the kind of big shot who can wield immense influence in this field.
The fact that he called it an "internal gathering" speaks volumes about its prestige.
"and."
Rentaro Mikuni put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice, "This invitation isn't just my idea."
An old friend over there saw your movie and became very interested in you. He specifically asked me to bring you along.
"Who?" Kitahara Shin asked.
You'll see when you get there.
Rentaro Mikuni paused for a moment, then stood up and straightened his clothes. "Alright, this old man won't get in the way. It's too noisy here; I'm not used to it. Remember the time and address, and don't be late."
After saying that, he turned and walked steadily out of the banquet hall.
Watching the veteran actor's departing figure, Kitahara Shin lowered his head and opened the black envelope.
There was only one hard card inside.
A line of text was handwritten on it in silver ink:
【Akasaka, Kikunoi. Tomorrow is the right time, I'll cook some wine and wait for you. 】
"Youzheng————"
Kitahara Shin gently traced the words with his fingertips.
That is, 6 PM tomorrow night.
Akasaka Kikunoi.
It was a top-tier restaurant with a membership system, reportedly catering to political and business elites, and even ordinary members of parliament had to wait in line to make a reservation.
"interesting."
As the banquet progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.
The champagne tower had been torn down and rebuilt, and several drunken investors were dancing with young actresses while a band played soft jazz music.
Kitahara Shin couldn't take it anymore. Holding a glass of soda, he pushed open the glass door leading to the terrace.
The night wind, carrying the chill of early winter in Tokyo, swept over me, instantly dispelling the smell of alcohol and perfume.
He let out a long sigh, leaned against the cold stone railing, and looked down at the bustling streets of Akasaka.
"It's definitely much more comfortable here than inside, isn't it?"
A crisp sound suddenly emerged from the shadows beside them.
Kitahara Shin turned his head.
A small head popped out from behind the huge floor-standing potted plant.
Rie Miyazawa.
She wore a light pink dress today, with a skirt that cascaded like flower petals. Her hair was styled in an updo, which was unusual for her, revealing her slender neck and delicate collarbones.
Why are you hiding here?
Kitahara Shin looked at her. "Ota was just looking for you. He said some GG merchants wanted to meet you."
"Let them look for it."
Rie pouted and stepped out of the shadows, holding a wine glass in her hand.
She walked to the railing, leaning against it like Kitahara Shin, her tone carrying a sense of relief: "I'm free now. Since that greedy former manager can't control me anymore, let those bald old men keep their company; I'm not putting up with them."
Kitahara Shin smiled.
It seems that the "stop-loss" battle was very successful.
The timid and submissive air she once possessed has vanished, replaced by a vibrant energy with a sharp edge.
His gaze fell on the glass in her hand. It was filled with amber liquid.
"What is that?"
Kitahara Shin frowned and reached for her cup. "You've only just broken free from control and you're already going astray? Minors are prohibited from drinking alcohol."
"oops!"
Rie nimbly withdrew her hand, dodging his sneak attack, and rolled her eyes at him speechlessly, "Are you my dad?"
Xin Jun. He always speaks in such an old-fashioned way.
As she spoke, she took a sip in front of Kitahara Shin and then deliberately exhaled.
"It's ginger ale! You idiot!"
She swirled the glass, a sly glint in her eyes. "To survive in this industry, you always have to have a glass in your hand to maintain appearances, otherwise the waiters will keep bothering you. That's the survival wisdom of 'spoiled goods,' isn't it?"
Kitahara Shin leaned closer and smelled it; it did indeed smell of ginger and saccharin.
"Okay, you're learning pretty fast."
He shrugged. "What do you want? Don't tell me you came here just to find some peace and quiet."
Rie Miyazawa did not answer immediately.
She turned around, her back to the dazzling lights of the banquet hall, and looked at the red glow of the Tokyo Tower in the distance.
The night wind ruffled the stray hairs at her temples, and her eyes, which always held a smile, now held a rare seriousness.
"I'm going to start school."
She suddenly said.
"Huh?" Kitahara Shin paused for a moment.
I said, "I want to go back to school."
Rie turned to look at him, her face radiating a proud sense of control over her life. "I've already paid the tuition, using my own savings, without touching that secret account. I've also discussed with the agency that I'll only be taking weekend jobs from now on."
She paused slightly, lowered her head, and unconsciously stroked the inside of the wine glass with her fingers.
"Going to school means less media exposure. And you'll be busier in the future, making movies and running a company—"
We might not see each other for a very, very long time.
Kitahara Shin nodded.
This is true. Rie chose to return to school to reflect, while he fought his way up in the world of fame and fortune; their life trajectories were destined to diverge temporarily.
"Yeah, that's probably how it will be."
Kitahara Shin replied truthfully, "But since we're both in Tokyo, there's always a chance to meet."
"Tch, just going through the motions."
Rie muttered something in dissatisfaction.
She turned around and looked through the glass door at the bizarre and dazzling world inside. The men were flattering each other, and the women were competing in their outfits.
"I believe in you."
She suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, "Thank you for teaching me how to act, how to wear a mask. Now I think, none of the adults in it acted as well as I did."
She turned around abruptly.
Her skirt traced a beautiful arc with her movements. Leaning against the railing, she looked at Kitahara Shin, her eyes as clear as a spring.
"Because I can now distinguish between what is acting and what is real."
She took a step forward, shortening the distance between them.
As Kitahara Shin got closer, he could smell the faint citrus scent of her perfume and see his own reflection in her pupils.
"So, I have something to say to you."
"What?" Kitahara Shin asked instinctively.
Rie took a deep breath, as if she were inhaling all her courage into her lungs.
Then, looking into his eyes, she said, slowly and deliberately, "I like you."
The world seemed to have been paused for a second.
The noise in the banquet hall, the traffic downstairs, and the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves all disappeared.
Kitahara Shin was stunned.
He was genuinely stunned. He had always treated her as a precocious younger sister who needed care, but he never expected her to say something like this.
Seeing his unusually dazed expression, Rie Miyazawa suddenly burst out laughing.
That smile was bright and radiant, like a little fox who had just pulled off a prank.
"Look at you, you silly thing!"
She stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Kitahara Shin's eyes, laughing heartily. "Scared you, huh? Has my acting improved remarkably fast?"
Kitahara Shin snapped out of his daze, looked at her smug expression, and rubbed his temples in exasperation.
I've been tricked.
"You little rascal—"
He breathed a sigh of relief and resumed his lazy demeanor. "Alright, alright, you're amazing. That momentary emotional display you displayed just now definitely has the potential to be an award-winning actress; you almost fooled me."
"Right? I also think I acted superbly!"
Rie, with her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly and moved closer to him.
"However—"
She blinked, held up two fingers, and waved them in front of him. Her playful laughter vanished, replaced by an unusually clear and determined look in her eyes: "I'm not good enough right now. Acting skills and clever tricks alone aren't enough to keep me by your side."
Her voice softened, yet carried an undeniable strength: "Two years. Wait for me for two years."
"Two years from now, I'll say this to you again. Then—"
She gave him a deep look, a meaningful smile playing on her lips: "Then it's not acting anymore."
Before Kitahara Shin could react, she turned and ran into the crowd in the banquet hall like a midnight sprite, lifting her skirt.
Only a faint citrus scent remains, lingering in the night breeze on the terrace.
Kitahara Shin stood there, watching the pink figure disappear behind the door.
Isn't this just acting?
He shook his head, took a mint out of his pocket, and popped it into his mouth.
This girl has really given us a tough problem.
A system notification sounded in my mind.
[Emotional fluctuations detected in a character with a significant bond.]
[Special Item: Maiden's Prayer Amulet (Increases Bond Level)]
Current compatibility: 80%
[Unlock the second stage effect: Telepathy]
Kitahara Shin took out the somewhat old amulet from his equipment inventory and examined it by the moonlight.
"Two years—"
He carefully put the amulet away and turned to look at the bustling Tokyo night view.
"Let's see what you look like in two years."
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