PDLP Chapter 287 Authority
Chapter 287 Authority
Chapter 287 Authority
Yuko Takeuchi took a deep breath and pressed the business card to her chest. She gritted her teeth, patted her stiff cheeks, forced herself to give a signature, energetic smile, and then, with slightly weak legs, resolutely walked towards the magnificent entrance of the firm.
The bright and spacious lobby was bustling with people, all of them well-dressed entertainment industry figures and busy business elites.
Yuko Takeuchi walked to the front desk, rubbed her hands nervously, and whispered to the elegant receptionist, "Hello, I am—"
"Hello, do you have an appointment?" The receptionist politely interrupted her with a professional and impeccable smile.
"A...reservation?" Takeuchi Yuko froze, her initial courage instantly vanishing. She shook her head frantically, "No reservation, I just—"
"I'm very sorry, but if you don't have an appointment, or if you're here for a regular trainee interview, please check our official website for the open recruitment times." The receptionist was still smiling, but her tone already carried a hint of businesslike dismissal.
Yuko Takeuchi suddenly felt her cheeks burning, and a strong sense of embarrassment welled up inside her. Yes, how could a top-tier, giant company like this be something a newcomer with no background could easily enter?
She lowered her head and turned to leave, but the moment she turned, her fingers touched the warm business card in her pocket. She bit her lip, turned back abruptly, and gently placed the black, gold-embossed business card on the marble countertop at the front desk.
"That—President Kitahara asked me to bring this to him."
The receptionist glanced at the business card casually, but when her eyes fell on the unique gold foil pattern and exclusive mark, her pupils suddenly contracted, her professional smile froze, and was replaced by an undisguised shock and awe.
Within Kitahara's office, everyone understood the significance of this business card. Kitahara Shin never handed out his personal business card lightly; once he did, it signified absolute privilege and the highest level of respect. To the employees, this small card was practically equivalent to a royal decree "appointed by the president."
"Please, please wait a moment! I will contact the top floor for you right away!" The receptionist's attitude made a complete 180-degree turn. Not only did her tone become extremely respectful, but she even came out from behind the counter herself and guided Yuko Takeuchi to the most upscale VIP lounge, serving her a steaming cup of hand-drip coffee.
Holding her coffee cup, Yuko Takeuchi was completely stunned, feeling increasingly uneasy.
A few minutes later, the crisp sound of high heels came from the direction of the private elevator.
Secretary Aida, dressed in a well-tailored and professional business suit, approached with a smile. Aida was no longer the lowly assistant who used to run errands for Kitahara Shin. With Kitahara Shin's rising status, Aida, as the chief secretary at the level of a general manager, held an incredibly high position in the Japanese entertainment industry; most entertainment company owners had to queue for at least two weeks to even see her.
But today, after receiving a call from the front desk, Aida put down the pile of documents he was working on and came downstairs to greet him personally.
Because she knew Kitahara Shin too well. Aside from the president's close female confidantes, the person who understood Kitahara Shin's style best in this world was Aida. The fact that the president had given her his business card meant that this young woman definitely possessed some amazing quality.
"Hello, you must be Ms. Yuko Takeuchi, right? I'm Aida, the president's chief secretary." Aida stepped forward, smiling gently.
Startled by the imposing presence, Takeuchi Yuko jumped to her feet, nearly spilling her coffee. Looking at the powerful woman before her, she stammered, "Hello, Ms. Aida! I—I actually accidentally bumped into President Kitahara's car last night while riding my bicycle. I've come today to formally apologize for what happened last night!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yuko Takeuchi felt guilty. Faced with such a high level of attention, she really couldn't bring herself to say that she had come with a business card to "apply" for a job as a big star; that would be far too presumptuous.
Aida, a seasoned veteran of the world of fame and fortune, saw right through the girl's awkwardness and ulterior motives. She didn't expose her, but instead gently took Takeuchi Yuko's arm, her smile becoming even more amiable: "The president has already given instructions about apologizing, so it's nothing. Since you're here, why don't you come upstairs with me?"
In the private elevator, Aida looked at the somewhat nervous Takeuchi Yuko and began to introduce the current situation of Kitahara Office to her in a casual tone.
"Our company is quite different from those traditional entertainment companies." Aida's voice was calm and confident. "Traditional agencies often treat artists as money-making machines. They use cold data and experience to plan a fixed path for you, and if you can't follow it or don't perform well, you'll be immediately sidelined and abandoned."
"But at Kitahara Agency, the president's philosophy is absolutely people-oriented. The company not only provides the highest standards of salary and benefits in the industry, but more importantly, we allow our artists to try and fail."
As the elevator ascended, Aida explained in detail this generous yet humane training model: "As long as you discover a field you like and are willing to work hard for it, the company will allocate a fixed amount of trial and error funding for you. Even if your work is initially well-received but not commercially successful, or doesn't gain much popularity, the company won't immediately give up on you. The president has said that the foundation of art needs to be constantly expanded outwards, and as long as you have a spark, the company has enough confidence to grow with you."
Yuko Takeuchi was completely stunned. In her previous small agency, she would be scolded even for taking an extra lunchbox, but here, not only was failure tolerated, but the agency also actively funded artists to pursue their dreams? This was like a new world that only existed in a fairy tale.
"bite-"
The elevator stopped on the company's exclusive floor for high-level artists.
Aida led Yuko Takeuchi into a spacious and bright dressing room. At that moment, several popular celebrities who had just finished their promotional appearances were sitting in the dressing room.
When Yuko Takeuchi looked up, her legs almost went weak. On the sofa not far away sat Takeru Satoh, who had been gaining momentum recently, next to the gentle and elegant Takako Matsu, and several other familiar faces who frequently appeared on television.
Hearing the commotion at the door, these celebrities all turned around and cast curious glances at Yuko Takeuchi.
Everyone on this floor knew that a newcomer personally brought up by Secretary Aida was definitely no ordinary person. Moreover, Aida was holding that gold-embossed business card that represented the president's will. There was no disdain or rejection in any of their gazes, only benign curiosity—everyone was observing what kind of magic this girl, personally chosen by the president, possessed.
"Don't be nervous, Ms. Yuko. You can sit in the private office here for a while. We'll discuss your contract in detail later," Aida reassured her.
Half an hour later, in the signing room.
Yuko Takeuchi stared blankly at the newcomer contract laid out before her. The contract listed included a base salary, profit-sharing percentages, and...
The resources and dedicated team she was given were ridiculously generous. She even began to seriously doubt herself, feeling that she didn't deserve such incredible treatment.
Seeing the girl's bewildered expression, Aida smiled candidly: "From my perspective as an operator, offering such a contract to a complete newcomer is indeed unreasonable. But—"
Aida paused, his eyes revealing a hint of fervent admiration and absolute trust: "Since the president personally handed you his business card and invited you here, then we unconditionally believe that you absolutely possess the amazing potential to deserve this contract."
At that moment, Yuko Takeuchi finally felt the core soul of this company.
Whether it was Secretary Aida or those big stars outside, their kindness and attention towards him ultimately stemmed from their blind trust in Kitahara Shin, a trust akin to that of a deity. In their eyes, Kitahara Shin's vision was absolute truth.
After gradually understanding this meaning, Yuko Takeuchi gripped the pen tightly in her hand, overwhelmed with emotion. At the same time, her admiration for that high-ranking man was deeply ingrained in her bones.
At this time, Kitahara Shin was unaware of these minor incidents within the company and didn't care much about them. Everything was handled by a well-established system.
Time flew by and deep winter arrived.
With his major project coming to a close, Kitahara Shin decided to take a short break and have a long-awaited private get-together with a few close female friends. They went skiing and soaked in hot springs to relax.
To everyone's delight, they all surprisingly cooperated this time, canceling their schedules and clearing five full days. Even more remarkably, Matsu Takako, who had previously been unable to participate in these core gatherings for various reasons, finally mustered the courage to join in. Although she was a little nervous, unsure what would happen during those five days, everyone knew that there wouldn't be any drama in this harmonious atmosphere. Deep down, Matsu Takako felt a strange sense of anticipation.
This time, the location was not chosen in Karuizawa, but in Hokkaido, which is further north.
It wasn't just for skiing; it was also because the wild bear population in Hokkaido had recently overpopulated, leading to frequent sightings and attacks on people. The local government had opened up legal hunting permits in some areas. Kitahara Shin thought it sounded interesting and decided to take everyone to experience a hardcore hunting activity.
After several hours of flight, the private plane landed smoothly.
As soon as they stepped out of the airport, looking at the vast, pure white world of ice and snow before them, the women couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Wearing a thick down jacket and fluffy earmuffs, Rie Miyazawa leaned close to Shin Kitahara, her big eyes darting around, and couldn't help but tease him: "Shin-kun, looking at this snowy scene, does it remind you of the days when you and Miho Nakayama filmed 'Love Letter' together? You two were so romantic in the snow in Hokkaido back then."
Kitahara Shin was amused by this sudden display of jealousy and casually corrected him, "Love Letter was filmed in Otaru, we're in Sapporo now, they're completely different places."
Rie Miyazawa blinked and pouted, "Hmph, you do remember the filming locations with her pretty well."
At this moment, Nanako Matsushima, who was standing to the side, adjusted her scarf and retorted without hesitation, "Rie, how old are you? Why are you acting like a little girl, deliberately making things difficult for the teacher?"
Hearing Nanako's complaint, Rie Miyazawa immediately felt embarrassed and retorted, "How old are you? Why do you still call him 'teacher' all the time? Do you secretly enjoy this role-playing of addressing him like that?"
I thought Nanako would be embarrassed by such blatant teasing, but to my surprise, she raised her chin quite frankly and generously admitted, "Yes, I enjoyed it. Is there a problem?"
Seeing Nanako's self-righteous attitude, Rie was speechless for a moment.
Unbeknownst to many, Nanako had also undergone a significant change. After so many years in the entertainment industry, a veritable melting pot, she was no longer the naive, unknown girl she once was. She gradually stopped pretending and was able to reveal her true, even slightly cunning, nature to everyone. Of course, she reserved the purest and most beautiful part of her heart, forever and exclusively, for Kitahara Shin.
Watching the women bickering as usual, Kitahara Shin smiled and shook his head. He stepped forward and naturally took the arm of the ever-smiling Nakamori Akina with one hand and the serene Sakai Izumi with the other.
"Alright, stop fooling around," Kitahara Shin said, trying to smooth things over. He then proceeded to plan the rest of the itinerary. "Let's go to the hotel to drop off our luggage first, and then have some authentic Genghis Khan barbecue later to warm ourselves up. We'll go skiing tomorrow morning, and as for the afternoon—anyone want to try hunting?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Nanako excitedly raised her hand.
To everyone's surprise, the spring, which usually seemed the quietest and most reserved, actually smiled slightly and raised its hand.
Matsu Takako, who had been following behind the group and was feeling a little shy watching everyone interact closely, quickly blushed and raised her hand, quietly indicating that she also wanted to see it.
Kitahara Shin looked at the group of enthusiastic women and couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, it seems tomorrow's festival will be quite eventful. Let's get ready to go!"
After settling in, the group headed straight to Sapporo's most renowned high-class restaurant. A trip to Hokkaido wouldn't be complete without a sumptuous seafood feast. The translucent botan shrimp, the sweet and plump sea urchin, and the melt-in-your-mouth premium tuna belly, paired with local sake, left everyone thoroughly satisfied after several days of non-stop travel.
As night fell, everyone returned to their ultra-luxurious penthouse suite.
The suite was surprisingly spacious, boasting a large living room with a view, an open kitchen, and five separate bedrooms. As a junior colleague, Matsu Takako very considerately chose a slightly smaller but cozy second bedroom.
卧。
The seafood dinner was delicious, but as the night deepened in this icy northern landscape, a hearty late-night snack was naturally in order. Kitahara Shin personally cooked, using the premium Wagyu beef and fresh ingredients provided in the suite, to prepare a fragrant indoor teppanyaki feast for everyone. Several women sat around the bar, eating with abandon and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
However, after finishing their late-night snack and preparing to rest, a very real problem arose in front of everyone.
The suite has five bedrooms in total. Matsu Takako has one for herself, while the remaining four bedrooms are to be occupied by Kitahara Nobu.
The five people are Akina Nakamori, Izumi Sakai, Rie Miyazawa, and Nanako Matsushima.
This means that tonight, someone is destined to sleep in the same room as Kitahara Shin.
The atmosphere in the living room suddenly became awkward. The four stunningly beautiful women exchanged glances, none of them taking the initiative to back down.
To be fair, they actually broke up a deck of cards on the coffee table and decided to use the oldest and most exciting way to draw cards and compare their values to determine who would get tonight.
Normally, Akina Nakamori, who always presents herself as a gentle and understanding older sister, rarely reveals her possessive and selfish side when faced with this situation, gripping the cards quite tightly. Rie Miyazawa and Nanako are even more fiercely competitive, their eyes seemingly sparking. Even Izumi Sakai, usually peaceful and unassuming, though forcibly dragged into the fray, shows a serious competitive spirit in her clear eyes the moment she touches the cards.
Matsu Takako sat on a single sofa not far away, hugging a cushion. She watched as these four senior figures, who held high positions in the entertainment and music industries, were now playing cards like little girls over a man, having a great time. She found it both funny and a little enviable.
She glanced at the bustling living room, turned around, and tiptoed toward the kitchen.
In front of the large kitchen counter, Kitahara Shin was facing away from the outside, holding a sharp little carving knife, and was processing the leftover plates of fruit from the meal.
Matsu Takako took a closer look and couldn't help but let out a small gasp of surprise.
Kitahara Shin seemed completely immersed in his artistic creation. Ordinary apples, melons, and strawberries were transformed under his knife as if by magic into lifelike white swans, exquisite carvings, and artfully arranged plates.
Hearing the noise behind him, Kitahara Shin stopped what he was doing, turned around and looked at Matsu Takako, who was looking surprised. He smiled, picked up a toothpick, stuck a piece of sliced melon on it, and handed it to her: "Want to try some?"
Matsu Takako blinked her large, watery eyes, glanced at the four seniors outside still fiercely fighting for ownership, then looked at the man in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she whispered, "Me—can I? Can I take the first bite?"
Kitahara Shin was amused by her cautious demeanor and said gently, "Why not?"
With a blush, Matsu Takako leaned forward and bit into the melon, the sweet juice instantly spreading throughout her mouth.
Watching her chew like a little hamster, Kitahara Shin casually put down his carving knife, wiping his hands as he said, "By the way, we're going to the ski resort tomorrow morning. The other girls' skills are probably still at the beginner level. I'll have to trouble you to help me guide them and be a temporary instructor."
Matsu Takako nodded quickly.
Kitahara Shin continued, "As for the hunting this afternoon, I just checked the local guide reservations. We probably won't be able to go into the mountains immediately tomorrow, since facing wild animals is still dangerous. We need to go to the hunting grounds first to check out the environment and get some professional safety training. But before that—"
He looked at Matsu Takako and extended an invitation: "I'd like to browse the outdoor gear stores in Sapporo and pick out some suitable cold-weather gear and hunting equipment. Would you like to come with me?"
Upon hearing Kitahara Shin's invitation to go out alone, Matsu Takako quickly swallowed the fruit in her mouth, her eyes shining brightly. She nodded repeatedly, her voice filled with undisguised excitement and joy: "I'll go! I definitely will!"
Looking at her adorable and charming appearance, Kitahara Shin couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her head, his eyes full of doting smiles.
Meanwhile, not far away, next to the coffee table in the living room.
Akina, Izumi, Rie, and Nanako, who were originally arguing about drawing cards, had stopped what they were doing at some point.
The four women turned their heads in unison, watching the heartwarming scene in the kitchen, a scene brimming with pink bubbles. None of them showed any jealousy or anger. They simply exchanged glances and then smiled knowingly at each other.
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