When Michiya Gōshin revealed that he could speak Chinese, the conference room was instantly filled with astonishment.
The first person to speak was Director Aoyama Akihiro. His body involuntarily leaned forward, almost leaving the back of his chair. His face was written with pure shock, and his voice pitched slightly higher due to the surprise.
"Michiya-kun? You... what did you just say? You can speak Chinese?"
"Yes, Director Aoyama."
Facing the director's incredulous gaze, Michiya Gōshin nodded calmly. His attitude remained humble, yet the certainty in his words allowed for no doubt.
"I have been studying Chinese privately for some time. I should be competent enough for daily conversation or handling some not-too-complex interview questions from the media."
"Eh—?!!!"
The representative from the Nenshi agency, whose eyes had appeared slightly weary and cloudy from scrutinizing data for so long, suddenly burst with a sharp light at this moment. He sat up straight instantly.
He stared tightly at Michiya Gōshin, as if re-evaluating the true value of this young actor.
However, the one with the most intense reaction was Michiya Gōshin's manager, Nakahara Kazuya. His hand slipped and knocked over the mineral water bottle at his side. The bottle fell onto the tabletop with a muffled thud, and the water stain quickly spread.
Flustered, Nakahara Kazuya scrambled to set the bottle upright, his face a mixture of shock and immense confusion. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat somewhat dry.
Nakahara Kazuya handled all of Michiya Gōshin's work schedules. He believed he knew his artist's itinerary and energy allocation like the back of his hand, yet at this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of losing control.
Good heavens, besides his amazing acting skills and literary talent, he actually knows a foreign language too?
Just what kind of time management master is this person?
Beside Michiya Gōshin, Kato Megumi's expression remained as flat and gentle as ever.
Wearing a simple white knitted sweater and light blue jeans, she seemed to be deliberately lowering her own presence. She merely turned her head slightly, her gaze falling calmly on Michiya Gōshin's face. Within those eyes, which resembled a quiet lake surface, one could not see much emotional turbulence.
"Truly unbelievable..." Director Aoyama muttered to himself, the surprise on his face gradually being replaced by a look of extreme interest and excitement.
"Michiya-kun, this isn't a joke! If your Chinese ability is truly as you say, this will completely change our promotional strategy in Xia Country!"
He abruptly turned to the assistant beside him, his tone carrying an unquestionable decisiveness. "Please contact Kimura-sensei immediately. Ask him to come to the conference room right away!"
Kimura-sensei, whose full name was Kimura Hiroki, was the Chinese consultant specially hired by the Nenshi agency.
He was Japanese, but due to family business and personal interest, he had lived in Shanghai, Beijing, and other places in Xia Country for over a decade. He had even graduated from a top university in Xia Country. His Mandarin was fluent enough to be near-native, and he possessed an extremely deep understanding of Xia Country's social culture, media ecology, and fan psychology. He was an indispensable core member of Nenshi's layout for the Xia Country market.
The next moment, the assistant trotted out of the conference room.
During the few minutes of waiting, the atmosphere inside the room became subtle and restless.
Everyone stopped focusing on the previous promotional draft. Whispers were incessant, and gazes glanced occasionally at Michiya Gōshin, who sat quietly, as if trying to decipher some hidden code from him.
Nakahara Kazuya finally couldn't hold it back. He leaned close to Michiya Gōshin and asked in an extremely low voice, "Michiya-kun, are you serious? What is going on? Don't tell me you're talking nonsense just to fight for more promotional weight!"
Michiya Gōshin turned his head, meeting his manager's worried and urgent gaze. He gave him a soothing, extremely faint smile and replied in an equally low voice, "Nakahara-san, rest assured. I know what I'm doing."
His calmness only made Nakahara Kazuya even more confused, but the manager could only forcefully suppress the thousands of questions in his heart and wait anxiously for the moment of verification.
Soon, the door to the conference room was pushed open again, and Kimura Hiroki walked in.
He was about forty years old, wearing rimless glasses and a well-fitted dark blue suit. His temperament was refined and steady, his steps unhurried. After listening to Director Aoyama's brief explanation, a look of appropriate surprise and curiosity appeared on his face. He pushed up his glasses, and his gaze fell upon Michiya Gōshin.
"Well then, Michiya-san, pardon the intrusion."
Kimura Hiroki smiled, and without any warning, he switched directly to Chinese. His speaking speed was normal, his enunciation clear—it was standard Xia Country Mandarin.
"I heard you taught yourself Chinese? This really surprises me, and it's a pleasant surprise at that. I wonder, what methods did you mainly use to learn?"
At this moment, the hearts of everyone in the conference room felt as if they were gripped by an invisible hand. None of them understood what Kimura said, but they instantly realized the verification had begun.
Countless gazes locked onto Michiya Gōshin like searchlights, awaiting his reaction.
Could he only understand scattered vocabulary?
Or would he need time to think and organize sentences? Would he show the stuttering common to beginners?
However, Michiya Gōshin's performance once again shattered all doubts and presuppositions with a near-elegant composure.
Without a hint of hesitation or nervousness on his face, he responded in equally fluent Mandarin.
"Hello, Kimura-sensei. I mainly taught myself through online courses, audiovisual materials, and reading some simple literary works. I hope I don't embarrass myself."
His pronunciation was perfectly rounded, his tones accurate without error. There was not a trace of the flatness or tonal distortion common to Japanese native speakers. Whether it was the choice of vocabulary or the natural flow of his tone, it was as fluent as a native speaker engaging in daily pleasantries.
In that instant, a flash of unconcealable astonishment passed through Kimura Hiroki's eyes. He immediately realized that the Chinese level of the young actor before him could definitely not be summarized by "self-study" and "simple communication."
He quickly adjusted his strategy. He no longer conducted basic tests but guided the conversation into deeper territory.
For instance, he asked about Michiya Gōshin's understanding of the core themes of the series Alice in Borderland, especially regarding concepts like "The Games," "Survival," and "The Apocalypse."
Michiya Gōshin continued to respond with ease. He spoke about the emotions generated by the characters when facing sudden trials, as well as character growth and adventure.
No matter from what angle one looked at it, these were standard Chinese answers—they could even serve as professional interview responses.
By this time, the conference room had fallen into a prolonged silence.
Aside from Kimura-sensei, the others couldn't understand this Chinese dialogue at all, but the barrier-free rhythm of communication and the calmness on Michiya Gōshin's face were visible to everyone.
All of this was like a silent declaration, clearly telling everyone present that Michiya Gōshin's Chinese level had long surpassed his humble description of "daily communication" and reached an inconceivably high level.
On the other side, Sakurajima Mai stared blankly at Michiya Gōshin.
Although she couldn't fully understand the specific content of the dialogue, she could still capture the rise and fall of the intonations.
The girl could clearly feel the fluency of Michiya Gōshin's Chinese usage. This was definitely not a level that could be achieved by rote memorization of a few lines or short-term intensive training; it required years of accumulation.
But isn't he only in his twenties?
Why would he have so much time to learn a foreign language?
Sakurajima Mai's heart stirred slightly. She discovered that her perception of Michiya Gōshin seemed to always be separated by a layer of mist. Every time she thought she had gotten close to the core, he would always reveal a new domain.
The conversation between Kimura Hiroki and Michiya Gōshin lasted for nearly five minutes.
During this time, they chatted from the plot of Alice in Borderland to the similarities and differences between Xia Country literature and Japanese light novels, and even touched upon some internet culture phenomena currently popular on Xia Country's social media.
This dialogue had far exceeded the scope of a "language proficiency test"; it was more like an exchange of ideas between two researchers.
When Kimura Hiroki finally took the initiative to end this conversation, still wanting more, he turned to face the crowd in the conference room who had long been waiting eagerly with exploding curiosity. He took a deep breath, his face still carrying the flushing excitement that hadn't faded, along with a marvel as if he had discovered a rare treasure.
"Everyone."
He switched back to Japanese. His voice was slightly higher pitched than usual due to agitation, and his tone was decisive as never before.
"I must say, Michiya-san's Chinese level can no longer be described as 'very good.' This is completely 'native level'!"
Kimura looked around the room, ensuring everyone's attention was focused on him, then articulated his judgment word by word, incomparably clear.
"Michiya-san's Chinese pronunciation is extremely standard, his tones are precise and on point. There is absolutely no residual accent that is difficult for us Japanese, or even Japanese people who have lived in Xia Country for a long time, to avoid."
"Moreover, his vocabulary reserve is extremely rich. He can skillfully and accurately use a large amount of written language, idioms, and even some highly literary rhetorical devices."
Finally, he looked at Director Aoyama and the Nenshi representative, making his final conclusion with an extremely affirmative tone.
"In summary, Michiya-san's previous statement that 'basic communication is no problem' was truly too humble. Guaranteed by my experience of living and working in Xia Country for a long time, his Chinese level is completely sufficient for him to live and work independently in any city in Xia Country!"
"My God..."
"This... how is this possible?!"
"Michiya-san is truly a genius!"
After experiencing a brief moment of extreme silence, the conference room instantly erupted into an even more enthusiastic uproar than before.
Although they had prepared themselves mentally, Kimura-sensei's evaluation being so high still surprised everyone. After all, this had completely exceeded the scope of an "artist's specialty" or "personal skill"; this was simply a professional ability that could be listed on a résumé!
Subsequently, the representative from Nenshi abruptly stood up from his seat. His face was flushed red with extreme excitement. He looked at Director Aoyama and the still-dazed Manager Nakahara Kazuya with burning eyes, his voice trembling slightly from agitation.
"Wonderful! This is simply an excellent promotional weapon dropped from the heavens! We must adjust the promotional plan!"
Director Aoyama also recognized this point. After all, Alice in Borderland was a work released globally. If it could achieve good results in Xia Country, that would be a qualification worth being proud of.
"That's right! Michiya-kun is the absolute lead protagonist. This ability of his must become the core explosive point of our promotion in Xia Country this time."
"We can reduce or even cancel the translation process, letting Michiya-kun interact deeply with Xia Country media and fans directly!"
"This will not only demonstrate the sincerity of our Alice in Borderland crew but also maximize Michiya-kun's personal charm. A foreign actor who possesses looks, acting skills, and talent, and can also chat freely with the audience in extremely fluent Chinese... The topic potential is simply unimaginable!"
The conference room instantly fell into a crazy and enthusiastic brainstorming session. Everyone's face was overflowing with the excitement and agitation of discovering a new continent.
A new promotional strategy quickly sketched out a clear and bold outline in this boiling atmosphere. As the manager, Nakahara Kazuya also realized the massive commercial value and career boost contained within this. After all, Michiya Gōshin's company, [Star Engine], had just started up, and this time they had to achieve a dazzling result.
He began to actively discuss specific feasibility plans with Nenshi's publicity staff.
Michiya Gōshin, however, did not have much of a reaction to everyone's discussion. he simply said, "I'll go out for some fresh air first," and then walked straight out of the conference room, which resembled a boiling furnace.
In the hallway, the thick carpet absorbed the sound of footsteps. Michiya Gōshin stood there quietly, his gaze somewhat unfocused, as if gazing into the distance, or perhaps just staring at his own blurred reflection in the glass.
About two or three minutes later, very light footsteps came from behind him, accompanied by a trace of elegant and familiar perfume scent, slowly approaching.
"Michiya-kun."
It was Sakurajima Mai's voice.
Michiya Gōshin did not seem surprised. He slowly turned around and saw the girl standing a few steps away behind him. Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a soft halo on her perfect side profile.
"Mai-san." Michiya Gōshin nodded slightly in greeting.
Sakurajima Mai walked to his side, looking out at that forest of reinforced concrete alongside him. She was silent for a moment, seeming to organize her words.
"Your Chinese... why are you able to speak it to that degree?"
She turned her head, those soul-stirring eyes looking directly at Michiya Gōshin. "I went to Xia Country for movie promotion a few years ago too. For better publicity, I put in a lot of hard work. I asked teachers for advice and practiced recordings repeatedly, but in the end, I could barely manage to introduce my name clearly and say a few phrases like 'Thank you everyone' and 'I am very happy to be here'."
"You said you learned it before, but this is definitely not a level that can be reached by just a little talent and study. Just how much energy did you invest?"
Michiya Gōshin met her probing gaze and clearly saw the persistent confusion deep in her eyes. Then, he smiled faintly.
"The specific reason is indeed hard to explain clearly, but I did spend quite a lot of time learning Chinese. I suppose it can only be counted as talent. Is Mai-san very interested in Chinese?"
"After all, Xia Country is a considerably massive and powerful nation. If our works can be popular in Xia Country, that is naturally a good thing."
Sakurajima Mai nodded. Although she had been deliberately keeping a distance from Michiya Gōshin recently, the inclination in her heart had never changed. Whenever she chatted with Michiya Gōshin, she would subconsciously get closer.
"Yes. Anyway, there are several days of promotion in Xia Country this time, and the itinerary is mainly concentrated in Shanghai."
Michiya Gōshin seemed to look forward to this promotional event very much. "Aside from the scheduled work, if time permits, maybe there will be a chance to walk on the streets of Shanghai and taste authentic local dishes. Just treat it as a short trip in the gaps of busy work."
In the next moment, Sakurajima Mai looked at Michiya Gōshin's side profile, the emotions in her heart very complex.
The other party was indeed a man who could always bring her surprises.
Even though she was so attracted to him, that conversation about "greed" last time still remained like a slender yet incomparably tough thorn, deeply pierced in her heart.
Sakurajima Mai didn't know what to do either. She could only continue to think of ways to keep her emotions taut, wanting to find a better solution.
She lowered her eyelids slightly, her thick, long lashes casting a small shadow under her eyes. She nodded, her voice lighter than before.
"That sounds quite nice. Since Michiya-kun's Chinese is so good, then when we go to Shanghai, I'll let you be my translator."
"It would be my honor, Mai-san."
Michiya Gōshin could feel her complex, tangled emotions, so a trace of subtle pity rose in his heart, but his face revealed an even gentler expression.
"No need to put too much pressure on yourself."
He didn't stare at Sakurajima Mai's face but turned his head to look out the window, speaking as if to himself.
"Let everything take its natural course. I will wait patiently, wait until you slowly think it through, slowly digest it, and slowly become able to accept that point."
"And as for this trip to Xia Country, I personally will hold the greatest expectations."
"After all... this counts as the first overseas trip for Mai-san and me."
"...Hmph."
Sakurajima Mai gave a light "hmph." This time, there was a little less reluctance in her heart and a trace more warmth, like the melting of ice and snow in early spring.
The two stood quietly by the sun-drenched window for a while longer, neither speaking again.
Meanwhile, inside the conference room, the intense discussion finally came to a temporary pause. The promotional plan with Michiya Gōshin as the core explosive point had a preliminary framework.
Kato Megumi still sat quietly in her inconspicuous corner seat, as if all the clamor around her caused by Michiya Gōshin had nothing to do with her.
As Michiya Gōshin's artist assistant, she naturally had to go on this trip to Xia Country as well.
The girl lowered her head slightly, making her expression unclear. Her attention was completely focused on the screen of the pure white smartphone in her hand.
On the screen, the launch interface of a newly downloaded Chinese learning APP was displayed. Her fingertips tapped lightly and steadily on the screen, entering the first lesson of the introductory course.
The interface design was fresh and intuitive. A soft and standard female Mandarin voice came from the left Bluetooth earphone she was wearing.
"Ni hao."
Kato Megumi stared at the screen and repeated that strange syllable in a very small voice.
"...Ni hao."
Her expression remained calm and rippleless, like an ancient well of a thousand years, revealing no intense emotional fluctuations.
Kato Megumi simply listened silently to the pronunciation of the next word. In those eyes that were always indifferent, the faint light of the phone screen was reflected at this moment, flickering with a trace of determined and focused light.
"Xie xie."
The mechanical yet standard female voice continued to read.
"Xie xie."
Kato Megumi moved her lips gently, soundlessly repeating it over and over again.
No one noticed her behavior.
________________________________________
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