Chapter 88: A Dangerous Idea

Facing Tadahisa Okazaki’s question, Ye Zhao nodded. “At present, Miss Kawamoto’s contract is under my agency. There’s only one condition on our side: I will serve as her producer and have full control over her musical style.” If the authority over Kawamoto Kazuyo wasn’t in his hands but instead handed completely to Sony, then history would repeat itself. Kawamoto Kazuyo, this rising star, would still fall at her brightest, and his plans would be impossible to carry out. If so, everything would lose its meaning.

“I wonder if Mr. Ye Zhao understands that composing and being a producer are quite different roles.”

The producer’s position stands above songwriting, composing, arranging—all aspects of music production. A producer holds absolute authority over a singer’s fate, and their sensitivity to the market and control over the singer’s style directly determine the singer’s career. Entrusting such power to Ye Zhao, who has no experience in this area, is a considerable risk.

Ye Zhao replied, “I’m well aware of that. In fact, it’s precisely because I understand this distinction that I insist on being Miss Kawamoto’s producer. It may be presumptuous, but I do believe I know her better than anyone else. I signed her to my company, personally prepared songs for her, and recorded performance videos. My dedication is clear, so our desire for her success is absolutely the same.”

Tadahisa Okazaki hesitated before speaking slowly, “Personally, I don’t oppose Mr. Ye Zhao taking on the producer role. At the very least, your compositional talent is beyond doubt, and your sensitivity to the market is evident from the singles you released this past year. However, introducing a producer is quite different from signing a singer. If possible, could we have a meeting to discuss this? Before then, I’d also like to ask Mr. Ye Zhao to provide a more concrete plan for Miss Kawamoto’s career, so we can assess its content.”

“No problem,” Ye Zhao agreed readily. “I already have a rough template in mind, and I’ll fax you a detailed plan through the agency.” He then half-joked, “Please remember to check for my fax, Mr. Okazaki.”

Tadahisa Okazaki laughed as well. “Don’t worry—if anyone’s message might be missed, it certainly won’t be yours, Mr. Ye Zhao.”

…

Opening the car door, Yukie Nakama smiled a little shyly. “It’s been a while, Brother Ye Zhao.” Just out of school, she was still wearing the uniform of Nichiryo Girls’ Academy, the butterfly bow on her shirt a little askew to the right. This slight disorder lent her a certain youthful energy.

“School must be busy on Mondays, isn’t it?” Ye Zhao took the black school bag from her hand and asked casually.

Fastening her seatbelt, Yukie Nakama looked up at him. “Not really. It’s about the same as usual.”

Having only started school in Tokyo about two weeks ago, Yukie Nakama was still adjusting to city life. Though she spoke standard Japanese, as someone born and raised in Okinawa, her pronunciation sometimes differed—her “La” tended to sound more like the “Le” of French.

Since he’d promised her mother to look after her, Ye Zhao naturally stepped into the role of a responsible adult. He couldn’t become her legal guardian in Tokyo, of course, but taking her out for a meal when free, listening to her talk about life in the city, and fulfilling the duties of an older brother—these were things he could easily do.

Yuuki Uemura, who had been tasked with picking up Yukie Nakama from school, was already seated in the driver’s seat. Once the car started, they headed for a restaurant in Yurakucho.

“Last time we chatted, you said you really liked Yusaka-san,” Ye Zhao said, pulling out an autograph book from his bag. “So when I ran into her at the film crew’s meeting the other day, I got her autograph for you.”

“Eh?” Yukie Nakama took the autograph book in disbelief. “She even wrote my name! This is so precious—thank you, Brother Ye Zhao!”

Smiling as he watched her carefully tuck the autograph into her bag, Ye Zhao said, “I’m glad you like it.”

“By the way, you mentioned a crew meeting. Are you working with Yusaka-san again?”

“That’s right. It’s still ‘The Kindaichi Case Files.’ But this time, it’s going to be a regular drama series, and Yusaka-san will continue to play Miyuki Nanase.”

“How wonderful.” Yukie Nakama nodded. “Will you be doing the music again, Brother Ye Zhao?”

“Not just the music—I’ll be acting, too.”

“Really? Which role will you play?” she asked, already guessing, “But there doesn’t seem to be a particularly fitting character in Kindaichi for you. If you played Inspector Akechi… though his personality is nothing like yours, and the age doesn’t match, your appearance would fit…”

“Don’t let your imagination run wild. Inspector Akechi doesn’t appear in the cases being adapted this time,” Ye Zhao laughed, interrupting her. “And I’m not playing a ‘good guy’—I’ll be the culprit.”

“The culprit?!” Yukie Nakama was startled.

Ye Zhao repeated what he’d told Masaki Fukazawa. “Because, instead of being the protagonist’s sidekick, I’d rather play someone who gives the main character a real challenge.”

“That sounds so sinister coming from you, Brother Ye Zhao.”

“This is where you’re supposed to flatter me and say, ‘Brother Ye Zhao, you’re so cool!’”

Yukie Nakama stifled a laugh. “You just want me to praise you, right?”

“You see right through me, but you don’t say it out loud!”

…

The restaurant Ye Zhao took Yukie Nakama to specialized in hot pot and pork cutlets made with black pork shipped directly from Kagoshima. The meat of Kagoshima black pigs is famous for its tenderness and is considered the best in the country.

Before getting out of the car, Yuuki Uemura handed over the backpack from the front seat. “Mr. Ye Zhao, perhaps you’d like to change your appearance?”

The bag contained a hat, sunglasses, a mask, and even a chestnut-colored wig. Ye Zhao looked through the items and sighed. “Are you trying to make me a secret agent or prank someone?”

“No choice. If you’re recognized, it’ll be troublesome. If it’s just you, that’s one thing, but if Miss Nakama gets caught up in it, it’ll be hard to explain to her agency.”

“In broad daylight, it’s disguises like these that attract attention.” Though Ye Zhao mocked him, he picked up the wig, which reached down to his neck. “Only you would think to bring this.” He tried it on, then asked Yukie Nakama, “What do you think?”

She struggled not to laugh. “Surprisingly dashing!”

“Really?” Ye Zhao’s interest was piqued. “Maybe I should grow my hair out for real one day.”

“What about now?” Yuuki Uemura asked.

“Absolutely not.” Ye Zhao took off the wig and stuffed it back into the bag. After a moment’s thought, he pulled out a brown newsboy cap and put it on. “As long as I don’t draw attention to myself, no one will care who I am.”

…

The restaurant wasn’t particularly busy. The three sat at a four-person table in a corner. Ye Zhao picked up the menu and asked, “Are you used to pork dishes, Koyuki?” Although the signature dishes were made with Kagoshima black pork, other options were available.

“Not a problem—people in Okinawa eat pork all the time.”

“I forgot—Okinawan black pork is just as famous as Kagoshima’s,” Ye Zhao said with a smile. In fact, Kagoshima’s black pigs are said to have descended from those in Okinawa.

They ordered the signature hot pot, potato croquettes, and hand-pulled udon. The hot pot included not only standard vegetables and mushrooms but also scallions shipped from Satsuma alongside the black pork. The dipping sauce was a house-made yuzu chili paste. Of course, alcohol was off-limits, so Ye Zhao and Yukie Nakama had oolong tea, while Yuuki Uemura ordered a ginger soda.

“By the way, Brother Ye Zhao, your appearance on HEY! HEY! HEY! is tonight, isn’t it?”

Ye Zhao paused with his chopsticks. “You knew about that?” He certainly hadn’t told her.

“I’m following this season’s Monday night drama, and I always switch the channel early to avoid missing anything. Last week, right after HEY! HEY! HEY! ended, I saw the preview for your performance.”

“You follow the Monday dramas too?”

She nodded. “This season, Eguchi Yosuke stars in ‘Please Give Me Love.’ The story is great! Tonight, I’ll watch you on HEY! HEY! HEY! and then catch the drama right after—perfect.”

“Actually, you don’t have to watch my episode. I’m just talking and singing; nothing special.”

“That sounds suspicious.”

“I’m just looking out for you. The Downtown hosts discussed some adult topics with us. I’m worried you’ll be influenced.”

“I’m sixteen. I’m not a child anymore,” she declared proudly. “And because you said that, I want to watch it even more. Not only do I want to see it myself, I want to watch it with you. If you say anything weird, I’ll laugh at you mercilessly.”

Ye Zhao shivered. “That’s a dangerous idea, Koyuki.”

…

Even though he joked about it being dangerous and told her not to watch, when there were three minutes left until eight o’clock and the phone rang in the apartment, Ye Zhao still dragged the phone over to the sofa and turned on the TV. “Here, it’s already on Fuji TV.”

Naturally, Ye Zhao couldn’t go to Yukie Nakama’s place late at night to watch TV with her or bring her to his own home; if he did, there’d be no way to explain himself.