Chapter 130: Youth Has Long Since Departed From Me

"So, does that mean you're going to take the lead yourself, Ye-kun?"

In a cafe near the recording studio, Izumi Sakai gently stirred her coffee and asked with a look of genuine interest.

"That's right. It was originally intended to be released as a commemorative photo book for the film, but now it's destined to be a private collection," Ye Zhao replied nonchalantly, resting his chin in one hand.

Inviting Kishin Shinoyama to photograph the young actresses had been nothing more than a fleeting thought, one he had no intention of acting upon. Ye Zhao had no desire to burden a production team that was already fragile and barely cobbled together with any extra trouble. It was better to cut corners wherever he could.

Of course, not being able to bring in Kishin Shinoyama or other professional photographers didn't mean the photos couldn't be taken at all. After obtaining consent from the actresses and their agents, and confirming that there would be no commercial release, Ye Zhao simply picked up his own camera during the breaks in their training camp, wandering into every corner of the school grounds.

Whether it was Mai Hosho and Kotomi Kyono drenched in sweat, Miho Kanno furrowing her brow at a saxophone in the wind instrument club, or the group of four chatting in the classroom, all of them were captured by Ye Zhao’s lens.

...

"So now, you are a screenwriter, producer, actor, and photographer all rolled into one?"

"When you list those titles together, it does sound quite impressive. However, there is another identity that you haven't mentioned, Izumi-san."

"Oh?"

"A general errand boy. Any odd jobs on set or tasks no one else wants to do fall to me," Ye Zhao said with a straight face. "If you add that title to the list, it doesn't sound impressive at all—it sounds a bit pathetic."

...

Ye Zhao’s new single, *A Singer’s Love Song*, is scheduled for release on August 22nd. Along with the disc information, he also announced that his new album will be released on October 10th, followed by a concert tour on October 28th, November 10th and 11th, and November 25th.

Although announcing the release date of a new album too early, right alongside a single release, might negatively impact the single's sales, there was no way around it. There was so much preparation required for the concerts that he needed to build anticipation early to ensure ticket sales. In an era where information doesn't spread as easily, it would be detrimental if the announcement came too late and hampered ticket sales.

Regarding the venue arrangements, he would perform two shows in one day at Nakano Sunplaza on October 28th, two days at the Osaka Festival Hall on November 10th and 11th, and the final show on November 25th at the Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall.

As for why he was performing two shows in one day at Nakano Sunplaza, it was because the venue rental was exceptionally high. If he only held one show per day, even with a sell-out crowd, there would be little profit left after deducting various expenses and labor costs. Performing twice in one day was actually quite modest for an artist like Ye Zhao—after all, some people held as many as four shows a day there.

What is the point of a concert? To reward fans and treat the audience? Of course not; those are just nice things to say.

To put it bluntly, the true meaning is to make money. No matter how washed-up a singer might be, as long as they can fill a small 2,000-seat venue, they can make a fortune from touring every year. For many faded veteran singers, the only reason to release an album is to justify going on tour; whether it sells 3,000 or 5,000 copies doesn't matter.

Izumi Sakai’s new single, *Goodbye is Still in My Heart*, is set to follow on August 28th. Since they are signed to the same label, Being, there is no malicious intent to cannibalize each other’s sales, so their release schedules have been slightly staggered. Interestingly, for a singer with such deep national popularity as Izumi Sakai, her single sales are actually less impressive than her album sales.

Ye Zhao believes the reason for this is that listeners have absolute confidence in her music. They believe that anything produced by ZARD is a masterpiece, so there is no need to go out of their way to buy individual singles as collectibles. They simply wait for the album release and buy it without hesitation. Consumers are conservative, so they hesitate when spending more money on an album, but once they have confidence in an artist, that hesitation turns into decisive action.

...

"Speaking of which, when I wander around Yoyogi lately and see the young girls passing by, I suddenly feel as though my youth has become something very distant." Having said this, Izumi Sakai added playfully, "Though, for you, Ye-kun, youth is still right before your eyes."

Ye Zhao shook his head. "I actually think my youth faded away the moment I realized that vinegared kelp and fried natto started to taste good."

"You’re definitely saying that on purpose, aren't you?"

"It’s the honest truth." Ye Zhao raised an eyebrow and pointed at the chiffon cake in front of her. "By comparison, I think the one who seems more youthful is you, Izumi-san, unable to resist that cake."

Izumi Sakai couldn't help but laugh. "That’s a very clumsy way to change the subject, Ye-kun."

Clumsy or not, as long as it works, it’s fine, Ye Zhao thought to himself.

...

As for *A Singer’s Love Song*, everything is ready except for the single cover and the MV.

As for the MV, Ye Zhao is currently so busy that he hasn't been causing any trouble; he decided early on to just rent a studio or a club stage and shoot a straightforward promotional video.

However, regarding the choice of the single cover, he had initially intended to ask Izumi Sakai to paint the oil painting of the bitten apple they had joked about earlier.

But that thought only lasted for a moment before he dismissed it.

It wasn't because he doubted her artistic skill, nor was it because of a lack of time. It was simply that he felt Izumi Sakai was not a professional painter. Although she loved to paint, she had never publicly displayed her work, and for her, painting should remain a private hobby.

If she were painting the cover for her own single, that would be one thing, but asking a shy and reserved person to put their private work on public display—the mere thought of it felt rude to Ye Zhao.

...

Before paying the bill, Izumi Sakai took out her wallet and placed her share in front of Ye Zhao. He accepted it naturally. This wasn't the first time.

Being around Izumi Sakai, Ye Zhao often felt her independence and thoughtfulness. Through these small, daily details, her character was evident.

Leaving the cafe—the two of them having snuck out for a late-night snack before the formal recording session—they headed back in the direction of the studio.

A slender crescent moon hung in the sky, and the streetlights silently elongated their shadows.