Chapter 59: Don't treat me like a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone!
Chapter 59: Don't treat me like a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone! (Please read on, it's so hard for me, my grades are very bad)
Five p.m.
Kitagawa Hide put away the half-written manuscript, paid 800 yen for coffee and snacks, and hurried back to Kodansha with his bag.
Before entering the gate, I saw the bald executive director, his female secretary, and a few Kodansha employees who were bowing and nodding behind them, angrily scolding the security guard.
The security guard was scolded so badly that his face was almost stuck to his leather shoes. He was over 70 years old, but he was scolded like a dog by a young man in his 30s or 40s in public. It was really sad for people to watch.
"Director General Koukamori!" Kitagawa Hide ran over and cleverly interrupted his lecture by saying hello.
Hearing his voice, the bald executive immediately smiled, asked the security guard to roll aside, and walked over with a smile: "Finally found you! Mr. Beichuan, why did you leave without saying a word?"
"Ah, it's still early, so I'm writing a book in the cafe next door." Beichuan Xiu probably knew why the security guard was scolded, so he took the initiative to take the responsibility. "Sorry, I thought the literary salon was held in the evening, so I thought I would come to see you before getting off work."
"Why are you apologizing to me? This is not your fault. It's all the fault of these inconsiderate security guards. They saw you going out but didn't even ask about your destination." The bald managing director still had that kind smile on his face, but the tone of his words became more and more pungent, which made Kitagawa Hide feel sick.
"Alas, the economy is bad now. It's because we have so many useless people that the company can't run smoothly." The bald executive brought people to invite Kitagawa Hide to the parking lot. It seemed that everything was ready. "By the way, you didn't have dinner?"
"Yes." Kitagawa Hide looked back and saw the security guard still bowing and apologizing to others. "By the way, please don't blame that uncle anymore, Mr. Hanamori. This is not his fault."
"Understood! Don't worry, my subordinates will take care of these things." The bald executive said with a smile, "Since Mr. Kitagawa has asked for mercy, I will naturally not hold him accountable."
"Thank you, Executive Director Hanamori." Kitagawa Hide got into an imported Mercedes-Benz with him.
The cars produced in 95 were still the Santana-style rectangular models. There was a small button next to the window. Pressing it would lock the door. Below it was a rotating handle. Turning it clockwise would turn the window up, and turning it counterclockwise would turn the window down.
To be honest, Kitagawa Hide, who has driven various new models of cars in later generations, doesn't think much of this old car. But in Japan at that time, owning a luxury car means that you have a certain social status and identity, and it is a standard feature of successful people.
He decided to buy himself a car after receiving his next payment for his royalties!
The car sped along the way, and the bald executive took advantage of this gap to persuade Kitagawa Hide to accept box office dividends, but when he heard that the partner was Nikkatsu Corporation, Kitagawa Hide became more determined to buy it out!
Nikkatsu Corporation, abbreviated as Nikkatsu, developed from Nippon Photo Studio Co., Ltd. founded in 1912 and is one of the five major film companies in Japan.
Shintaro Ishihara's novel "Season of the Sun" was adapted into a movie by Nikkatsu director Takumi Furukawa, which grossed 2 million yen at the box office.
Of course, the success of this movie ultimately comes down to the fact that the male protagonist Yujiro Ishihara and the female protagonist forced "real sex" and aroused the curiosity of the public.
Just like the movie next door called "Sex and the City".
This movie is a microcosm of Nikkatsu Corporation's attitude and understanding of the film industry.
The biggest feature of Nikkatsu films is that they "borrow" some "scenes" from Hollywood, French, Italian films, etc., and repackage these "scenes" on the Japanese stage with Japan as the background to create brand new Japanese films.
However, in the 90s, Nikkatsu fell into trouble and began to transform itself into a production company specializing in low-cost pornographic films, and it has never risen again since then.
Hidetoshi Kitagawa could already imagine what kind of mess "Hear the Wind Sing" would become after being adapted by Nikkatsu.
This is just like some online novels in later generations, which originally had a good foundation for adaptation, but were messed up by crappy companies and producers, and in the end the original author had to take the blame and kowtow to the audience to admit his mistakes.
Fortunately, this was Japan in the 90s. If "Hear the Wind Sing" was adapted poorly, the first to be criticized would be Nikkatsu, followed by Kodansha, which authorized the work. The original author would also be treated as a victim and receive sympathy from readers.
Who makes the social status of famous Japanese writers so high?
This is also the reason why Kitagawa Hide dares to challenge Kodansha. If you insist on causing trouble by pushing me down, then I will openly fight with you. Do you think the society will support me or you?
Seeing that persuasion was fruitless, the bald managing director had to give up brainwashing Kitagawa Hide and try to find a way to negotiate with Noma Airi and the people in the copyright department to see what the buyout price would be.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the crew to supervise and participate in the script production?" The bald executive was still trying to grasp the last straw, "In fact, if you are willing to go, you can sign your name as the first screenwriter. As for the actresses, 'Pillow Business' is..."
"Sorry, no! I have to focus on my new book recently, so it's better to leave professional matters to professionals." Kitagawa Hide refused decisively. It sounded like a trap.
Although being a romantic writer sounds great, a man who can't control his penis at all will definitely die in a woman's belly.
Kodansha clearly wants to live and die together, but Kitagawa Shusai doesn't want that!
"That's it." The bald executive had no choice but to give up, and then asked, "By the way, your new book is also a pure youth romance novel, right?"
"No, it's tentatively classified as a semi-biographical novel, but it can't be said to be completely serious. It may also have some absurdist elements."
Kitagawa Hide knew that this could be summarized as "rogue school", but the problem was that there was no such school now, so he could only give a brief introduction in such a vague way. "Isn't it pure youth romance literature?!" The bald executive director exclaimed, how could this young man suddenly make a 180-degree turn and go all out for serious literature?
At the moment, his reputation in the literary world is very bad!
No one thinks he has anything to do with serious literature, and everyone wants to quickly cut ties with Kitagawa Hide's "Kitagawa Hide style" to avoid getting tainted by the fish.
He has been regarded by the mainstream of the industry as a "dirty writer" who only wants to make money.
Kodansha doesn't care about this.
If there is no award, just spend money and it’s done. If there are no good reviews, why not just control the reviews?
The key is to be able to make money!
The bald managing director's face suddenly turned ugly. Managing Director Noma spent so much money and effort on Kitagawa Hide because he valued the money-making ability of his so-called "pure literature of youth romance".
Kitagawa Hide's sudden change in attitude reminded him of some newcomers who, after winning the Newcomer Award, rushed to pursue mainstream awards, but ended up overestimating their own abilities and being defeated.
If it was just an ordinary winner of the Newcomer Award, it would be fine, one a year, like a consumable, it doesn’t matter.
But Kitagawa Hide is different.
"No, because there are reasons why I have to write this book." Kitagawa Hide sensed something strange from the other party's change in attitude. Although Kodansha treated him well and seemed to attach great importance to him, and even the managing director personally participated in the battle, he always felt that it was not as easy to communicate with Saito Rena. "I will discuss this matter carefully with Deputy Editor-in-Chief Saito, you don't have to worry."
"Saito? She has been transferred to the haiku column, right?" The bald executive was stunned.
"Yes, but she is still my editor. Could it be that the deputy editor-in-chief is so busy that he can't take care of me?" Kitagawa Hide looked at him in confusion. To be honest, after her promotion, Rena Saito seemed to be nowhere to be found.
Also, he has always been confused. Shouldn't these things be coordinated between Saito Rena and himself?
A company executive who came in person to contact us did seem sincere, but after several contacts, the weird smell became stronger and stronger.
"Ah, yes, yes, we have to talk to Saito about this as well." The bald managing director said a few confusing words and didn't seem to want to continue talking about the new book, so he turned the topic to tonight's literary salon.
He mentioned a lot of names, but Kitagawa Hide didn't know any of them, so he just regarded it as completing the task assigned by the company and thanking General Manager Noma Airi in person.
After chatting for a while, the car slowly stopped, but not at the venue of the literary salon, but at a large shopping mall.
Kitagawa Hide was even more confused.
"Mami-chan will take you, Mr. Kitagawa, to take care of your image in a while. Don't worry, the company will reimburse you for all the things you buy." The bald executive manager put on a cheerful smile and led him out of the car.
The female secretary named Sakurai Asami waited for a long time, and then respectfully led the confused Kitagawa Hide into this high-end shopping mall.
Kitagawa Hide was unable to react for a while as he was dragged to have his hair cut, his eyebrows and beard trimmed, and then he was bought an expensive full body suit, including many fancy men's yukatas and kimonos.
During this period, Sakurai Asami secretly hinted to him that they could study the upper and lower structures of the word "Kun" together in the locker room, but Kitagawa Hide decisively refused.
He really had no interest in buses.
After carrying a bunch of stuff out of the high-end shopping mall, Kitagawa Hide couldn't help asking, "What's up with these yukatas and kimonos? Aren't they too fancy? I don't usually dress this way."
"Mr. Kitagawa, this is a personal design made for you by General Manager Noma." Sakurai Asami bowed and smiled, "You are now the founder of the 'Kitagawa Hide' school. You have had various unrequited love affairs with many women in your life. This style will make the public remember you more deeply. I hope you can wear this at future book signings and public speeches."
"Wait." Beichuan Xiu looked at the bags, "Who are you talking about?"
No, how can you apply the experiences and personality of the characters in the book to me?
"It's you. To be more precise, it's the image that the company wants you to present to the outside world. This will help you leave a deep impression on the public, and future book sales will be even better. Don't worry, all costs will be borne by the company."
Asami Sakurai is very envious of Kitagawa Hide. The company is willing to tailor a personal image for him and undertake all the expenses for his activities. Even the former mainstay Oshima Hikaru did not have such treatment!
"Is this what General Manager Airi Noma meant? But she didn't tell me." Kitagawa Hide frowned. He didn't object to the company doing appropriate marketing for the books, such as the previous "Kitagawa Hide VS Oshima Hikaru". The popularity of this topic did bring positive benefits to his books.
But you can't do whatever you want and do it without my consent.
Don't treat me like a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone!
He finally understood what the strange smell he had been feeling these past few days was.
It's a feeling of seeming to be valued but actually being completely disrespected.
I've heard the name Noma Airi many times these days, but what about the person?
So where are the people?!
Asami Sakurai didn't know how to respond, she was just following orders.
"Forget it. I'll just talk to Noma directly at the salon later." Kitagawa Hide waved his hand, not wanting to embarrass the bus. "All these things are returned. I don't like them."
(End of this chapter)