r18novel Chapter 78 Another Chance Encounter
Chapter 78 Another Chance Encounter
After exchanging experiences about filming videos in the old days with Meiqing, Liren, who still had things to do, decided to leave the villa. Just as he reached the entrance hall and hadn't even changed his shoes, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps behind him.
"Brother Li Ren!"
Aiki Taniguchi ran over from the direction of the living room, waving her arms from side to side, looking just like a little penguin. Rito couldn't help but laugh, took a step back, and turned to look at her.
"What's wrong?"
Aiji weighed the half-eaten orange in her hand, took a segment and handed it to him, smiling as she said, "It's nothing serious, just that Riko asked me to pass on a message: please take good care of yourself."
Upon hearing this, Rito's smile faltered, his sudden halt appearing somewhat comical. After a brief moment, he sighed, looked at Aiki who was raising her eyebrows and winking at him, and said helplessly:
"The Riko I know isn't this mischievous. Are you sure she said that?"
Aiji smiled and stopped teasing him, admitting that she had asked Odakura after noticing that Riko was acting strangely before coming over to tease him.
"Thank you so much."
Rito rolled his eyes, said that, then opened the door and stepped into the gradually setting sunlight.
Behind her, Aiji stood in the entrance hall, watching his figure disappear around the corner of the courtyard gate. Suddenly, she sighed, lowered her head, and stuffed half an orange into her mouth. The strong sourness flowed down her throat and rushed straight into her brain, forcing her to squint. The delicate features on her small face scrunched up, making her both cute and showing signs of growing up.
Autumn is deepening in the blink of an eye. The sky in Tokyo is high and clear, and the ginkgo trees along the streets are beginning to turn a gorgeous light gold. Before we know it, it's that time of year again when the lineup for the Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle) is decided.
In his office, Rito, who was planning to lobby NHK on behalf of his group, frowned when he unexpectedly received a call from the other party first. The friend he'd met at the scriptwriting workshop was once again in an apologetic tone, explaining to him:
"Rito, I know you want to send both groups to this year's Kohaku Uta Gassen, but idol culture has been in decline for a long time, and there are still many people who don't know much about Kohaku Uta Gassen who want to watch it, so..."
"What do you mean? We got it last year, are you not going to deny us this year?"
Rito clicked his tongue in displeasure. Although Nogizaka46 made it last year, they were only given two minutes in total, and they couldn't even finish singing a song. He thought that with the improvement in all aspects this year, they would be able to finish singing a song, but unexpectedly, there were still changes.
"It's not that bad, your sales figures speak for themselves." The other party quickly explained, "It's just that launching two groups at the same time would be too conspicuous. After discussion, the higher-ups decided to give you more time, but you can only launch one group. As for which one to launch, you can choose yourself, I still have that kind of authority."
"I see. So what were you originally thinking?" Rito raised an eyebrow and tapped the rim of the cup on the table twice with her fingers.
"Actually, we initially wanted to invite Keyakizaka, since they are the most popular idols this year, almost becoming a cultural phenomenon. However, Nogizaka is also good; their image as a group of young ladies fits the theme of Kohaku Uta Gassen. It just depends on which side you prefer, Rihito."
"Damn it, don't ask such malicious questions!" Rito pretended to be angry, complaining that he was always making things difficult for her. The two exchanged a few more jokes before the call ended.
He put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and looked over the top of the bookshelf, his gaze landing on the distant autumn sky outside the window. His expression was somewhat melancholy: Nogizaka46 was his well-behaved and sensible eldest daughter, who had been with him since the group's formation. They had steadily built their careers and were already taking the shape of a national girl group, so it was only natural for them to continue performing on Kohaku Uta Gassen. Keyakizaka46 was his beloved youngest daughter, who was sharp and talented. She debuted at her peak and followed the rebellious style that he loved most. Even NHK was moved by them and considered Keyakizaka46 first. Moreover, they were able to perform on Kohaku Uta Gassen only half a year after their debut, which would further enhance their legendary status.
"Sigh, I can't choose at all~"
Rito scratched his hair in frustration, feeling a surge of irritation.
The matter should have ended there. Regardless of who was chosen, it was a matter for NHK and Sakamichi's management to discuss behind closed doors. However, the news somehow leaked out, and the news that this year's Kouhaku Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka46 would be a choice between the two, and that the management would make the decision, suddenly spread like wildfire and became widely known.
It started as an anonymous comment posted on the 2ch discussion board, and then a bunch of so-called insiders emerged. As the matter gradually escalated, traditional media couldn't bear to give up the hype and reported on it indirectly. When neither party involved came out to clarify, they became even more audacious, even inviting so-called idol experts to discuss it seriously.
Rito was furious when he heard about this, but it wasn't that he didn't want to respond. It was because it was clearly Bunshun's doing. If they dared to do this, they probably already had evidence, like meeting recordings or something. If he dared to fabricate anything, they would definitely come out and destroy him. This was a common tactic of Bunshun. It was just some gossip, not a scandal that could shake the team, so he could ignore it. The only thing that bothered Rito was the reaction of the girls from the two groups.
"I understand. Let's put that expert in a sack and beat him up while it's dark."
He rubbed his temples with his fingers and said to his gloating friend on the other end of the phone, "As the other party in this incident, this kind of thing doesn't damage NHK's image, so naturally they won't come out to cover for him. At most, they'll just remind other TV stations to control their standards and not to say anything reckless for the sake of program effects."
"What are you saying, Rito? This is a society governed by the rule of law." The other person chuckled and then advised Rito to decide which group to let perform as soon as possible, not only to quell public opinion, but also because NHK needed to prepare the program list.
"Sigh, I don't even dare to go into either of their territories anymore. As soon as I go there, they look at me like I'm a scumbag. Isn't it your responsibility to choose the right person? Why are you pushing it onto me?"
Li Ren kept complaining, wishing he had just passed this problem back to them in the first place. Now, no matter who they chose in the end, the other side would definitely vent their anger on him. What had he done to deserve this?
He chuckled, and the other person, knowing he was in a difficult position, didn't press the matter further to avoid getting involved. Instead, they cleverly changed the subject, talking about the morning drama they were currently filming.
"Oh, by the way, where is the crew filming now?" Riren suddenly remembered that she hadn't seen the only actress in the company for a long time. She had been getting bullied by both sides these days, so it was time to find a place to hide. Visiting the set seemed like a good excuse.
"Kuji City in Iwate Prefecture, right by the sea, it's easy to find."
"I understand. Let's have dinner together next time. I'll hang up now." Rito nodded thoughtfully and wrote down the name of the unfamiliar small city in her notebook.
Two days later, avoiding the media, staff, and members who were bothering him, Rito drove alone onto the highway to the Sanriku coast.
The car drove out of Tokyo, through Saitama, and into Tochigi. The scenery along the highway gradually changed from gray buildings to yellow-green farmland, and then to rolling hills. Rito turned up the volume on the car stereo, playing "Sand Dust," one of Keyakizaka One's hit singles, and sped along, occasionally humming along. His mood was much better than before he set off.
It was already 2 p.m. when he arrived in Kuji. He parked his car in a public parking lot not far from the filming location, put on sunglasses and a mask—although there was nothing shameful about the trip, it was always better to be cautious—and then walked towards the beach.
The autumn sea breeze along the Sanriku coast is strong, carrying a heavy, briny scent. In the distance, the film crew's convoy could be seen parked beside the breakwater, a group of staff busy setting up reflectors and sound equipment. Behind the monitor sat the director and script supervisor, while several actors in thick coats squatted around them, waiting their turn. He scanned the crowd but couldn't find Kasumi Arimura.
He wasn't in a hurry and strolled over leisurely, seeing Hashimoto Ai, Koizumi Kyoko, and others along the way, as well as the director and screenwriter. Many people recognized him, and he greeted them one by one. Finally, he casually stopped in front of a staff member and asked, "Do you know where Arimura Kasumi is?"
"Kubo-san, didn't you know? Most of Arimura-san's scenes were filmed in Tokyo, so he won't be here until very late."
The staff member paused for a moment after hearing his question, then their eyes unconsciously turned strange. If it weren't for the difference in their status, they probably would have already started to tease him—it's one thing for the president not to know the work arrangements of his subordinates, but at least he should have asked before setting off. Was he trying to give her a surprise?
Rito was immediately taken aback. Only then did he recall that Arimura had played the younger version of Nounen's mother. He couldn't help but shake his head and smile wryly, feeling somewhat embarrassed. However, since he was already there, he didn't want to go back looking so dejected. So he coughed and forced an explanation:
"Of course I know that. I asked the wrong question. What I meant was, where is the female lead, Rena Nounen? I have a collaboration I'd like to discuss with her."
The staff member shrugged, their expression indifferent, revealing neither belief nor doubt. They pointed behind Rito, who turned around and indeed saw the little female diver.
Rena Nounen, the young actress from Lespros who plays the lead role in Ama, is currently strolling along the shore with her hands in her pockets, her eyes slightly red, her lips chapped, and her long hair disheveled by the sea breeze. She looks completely different from the energetic girl with bright eyes she usually appears in promotional photos.
Rito frowned, thinking that her condition was much worse than the last time he saw her. Just as he was about to walk over, he saw the manager he had seen before appear next to the girl again. The two started arguing after exchanging only a few words, but they were both very restrained. From Rito's perspective, all he could hear were some broken syllables mixed with the sound of the wind.
It seems now is not the right time to speak.
He gestured with his lips, turned his gaze away, and was about to leave when he walked past the two of them.
"Snapped!"
A crisp sound tore through the sea breeze. Just as Rito was about to approach, the conflict between the two sides finally escalated from words to physicality. Rito opened his mouth in surprise. He never expected that in this day and age, he could still see such a fundamentalist scene of corporal punishment. If it were in his time, one slap would be enough to bankrupt any large agency.
Rena Nounen, covered her face after being hit, stumbled back two steps, tripped over a pebble on the side of the road, and fell backward. Her back slammed heavily into Rito's chest. Rito was stunned for a moment, then instinctively reached out and supported her thin shoulder.
"Don't cause trouble for others!" The manager roared and came up to pull Neng Nian away, but Rito, who had previously not wanted to get involved, couldn't hold back anymore and slapped his hand away, protecting Neng Nian behind her.
"Long time no see, Manager-san. Didn't you promise to make me lose my job? I've waited so long, and it seems you're going to break your promise?"
Kubo Rito took a step forward. He was half a head taller than the other man, and that one step was enough for him to look down at him. The manager's eyes widened, and after a few seconds of recalling, he finally recognized him. His legs went weak, and he remembered his boss's stern reprimand for not provoking the other man again. A thin layer of goosebumps quickly rose on his neck and then spread throughout his body.
"She was late, so I... acted impulsively—" He tried to explain, but Rito didn't want to listen anymore and simply told him to "get lost."
The agent's face turned pale. He took a few steps back, then turned and strode away without thinking, his leather shoes making a disheveled sound on the stone pavement.
Once his figure disappeared around the street corner, Li released his hand from Neng Nian's shoulder and asked, "Are you alright?"
Rena Nounen did not answer. She simply raised her eyes and glanced through her disheveled hair at the person blocking her way. She could no longer remember who he was. Their brief encounter was too fleeting, like a grain of sand in the wind, long since vanished into the annals of time.
"Thank you," she said, her voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.
Rihito glanced at her, his voice softening slightly: "It's alright. No matter what, violence is unacceptable, especially against a young girl who has just come of age."
Rena Nounen nodded, though it was unclear whether she'd taken it to heart. She hastily wiped her face with the back of her hand, picked up her canvas bag from the ground, and hurried away with her head down. But after less than ten steps, she turned back. The sunlight fell directly on her still slightly swollen cheek, and a glimmer of light finally appeared in her puppy-dog eyes. She bowed deeply to Rito, then ran into the distance, clutching her bag.
Li Ren watched her leave, then sighed. He couldn't help her much after all. He'd heard from Xiao Baihe that she would be blacklisted by the company for nearly ten years, without any acting opportunities, until 2024 or 2025 when she slowly started to pick up her acting career again. He wondered if she'd be luckier this time.
"I hope it won't affect filming. Arimura is counting on this drama to take off."
He muttered something, straightened his wrinkled shirt, and walked away.