On the plane, in first class.
After a warm conversation, Luo Zheng and Nojima Shinji were like friends who had known each other for years.
They didn't even hesitate to talk about the once-sensational rumors regarding their love lives.
"Luo Zheng-kun, you've misunderstood. Kyoko and I are just good friends. At the time, the media used some photos of us meeting to create hype for the sake of popularity."
Although Luo Zheng was skeptical after hearing this, he didn't delve any deeper.
After all, he was just satisfying his curiosity; he didn't plan on giving his all for a goddess from his past life.
Moreover, the goddess of his past life could now be a target for The Hunt.
Nojima Shinji, standing before him, was a perfect springboard.
"I believe you, Nojima-kun. These media outlets really will fabricate anything for the sake of popularity."
Luo Zheng nodded in agreement. Clearly, he didn't have any relationship beyond friendship with Wang Fei and the other two women, yet he had been slandered by the media.
It was truly detestable.
It made him feel like he was the one being taken advantage of.
After a few more bits of small talk, the two got down to business.
"Is Luo Zheng-kun here for the Tokyo International Film Festival?"
"That's right!"
"Then I must fulfill my duties as a host."
Nojima Shinji was well aware of Luo Zheng's background and international standing, and his desire to build a connection was exceptionally strong.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Nojima-kun."
Luo Zheng didn't stand on ceremony; he happened to want to experience Japanese culture.
He had heard that the 'Sakura girls' here were all 'butterfly monsters.'
The plane landed, and Luo Zheng stepped off the shuttle bus.
In front of the VIP channel, a long banner was stretched out:
[Welcome Director Luo Zheng to Japan]
Turning his head, he saw four more Chinese characters at the end—'to provide guidance.'
After arranging a meeting time with Nojima Shinji, the two parted ways at the airport.
Luo Zheng took a car arranged by the film festival organizing committee to the hotel to drop off his luggage.
Actually, he didn't have much to put away, and he didn't need to adjust to the time difference.
However, seeing Nojima Shinji's exhausted face, he didn't impose on him further.
When the appointed time in the evening arrived.
Luo Zheng followed the address to an Izakaya.
A waiter with a 'pillow' on his back led him deep inside.
To Luo Zheng's disappointment, the private Rooms here were all independent compartments separated by wooden boards and shielded by cloth curtains, providing a full sense of security.
It was quite different from the sliding screen type often seen in plots involving a boss and an employee's wife.
This left him feeling a bit regretful.
Before he even reached the private Room, someone had already bowed and come forward to greet him.
"Is this Luo Zheng-kun? I am Nishikawa Miho. I am here to welcome you on behalf of Nojima-kun and Kore-eda-kun!"
Looking at the excited, bowing woman in front of him, Luo Zheng couldn't find her name in his memory.
He nodded in response and followed her into the Room.
"Ah! Luo Zheng-kun has arrived."
Hearing the sound of the sliding door, Nojima Shinji stood up, and two other men in the Room rose with him.
After the introductions, Luo Zheng found out who they were.
One was Nishikawa Miho's boss, Kore-eda Hirokazu, a director.
He was very famous in the international art film circle.
To put it bluntly, he knew how to make award-winning films but hadn't achieved much in commercial cinema.
Luo Zheng recognized the other one; he had known his great name in his past life—the animation master, Kon Satoshi.
'Perfect Blue' and 'Millennium Actress' were both his works.
Although his fame didn't match Miyazaki Hayao's, he could still be called an international master of his generation.
Even in 2002, in the hearts of core film fans, critics, and industry professionals worldwide, he was already a shining, irreplaceable star.
After shaking hands, the four sat down and began a warm exchange of pleasantries.
In the private Room, although not everyone was a top mogul in the entertainment industry, they all enjoyed a certain degree of international prestige.
Even Nishikawa Miho, a graduate of Waseda University and an assistant director, could only 'beautifully' fade into the background, kneeling to the side to pour wine for everyone.
Repressing her excitement, she listened to Luo Zheng and the others talk at length about artistic creation and entertainment industry scandals.
Regrettably, Kyoko Fukada was not in Tokyo and couldn't make it today; Nojima Shinji expressed his sincere apologies.
"Don't blame yourself, Nojima-kun."
Luo Zheng put down his wine glass and comforted him with a smile, "If you really feel bad about it, just help me find a tour guide. I want to explore Tokyo properly during the film festival."
Nojima Shinji quickly leaned forward and agreed, "No problem, Luo Zheng-kun. It would be my duty."
The usually quiet Kore-eda Hirokazu suddenly spoke up, "I actually know quite a few editors-in-chief of travel weeklies. They would be more professional at finding a guide."
"Oh?" Luo Zheng glanced at Nojima Shinji, finding it hard to refuse the other's kindness.
He handed over his address and contact information, nodding, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Kore-eda-kun."
After finishing their business, the four drank quite a bit more.
Kon Satoshi, in particular, was practically a drunkard.
Luo Zheng gave him some kind advice, hoping he would take care of his health and focus on his artistic creations.
He knew that in his past life, this animation master, Kon Satoshi, had died of pancreatic cancer due to excessive drinking.
But Kon Satoshi stated that while he could give up women, giving up alcohol was out of the question.
It was his source of inspiration.
Seeing his determination, Luo Zheng simply stopped trying to persuade him.
His own level of lust was not at all inferior to Kon Satoshi's love for alcohol.
But then again, who told him he had a cheat!
He could be as willful as he wanted!
They drank until they couldn't drink anymore. In the end, only Luo Zheng and Nishikawa Miho were still sitting upright at the table.
The other three were already sprawled out on the tatami mats, fast asleep.
"This... Luo Zheng-kun, let me arrange a car to take you back to the hotel first!"
Nishikawa Miho had seen many such scenes and didn't panic, asking Luo Zheng in a poised and natural manner.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Miho-san."
Luo Zheng knew that Nojima Shinji and the other two all had their own assistants, so even if they were drunk, he didn't need to worry about them.
He followed Nishikawa Miho out of the Izakaya.
Before getting into the car, as expected, a small slip of paper appeared in Luo Zheng's palm.
No matter where one went, looks, wealth, and status were always the best weapons for attracting the opposite sex.
If all three were combined in one person, they would be invincible.
Nishikawa Miho's behavior proved exactly that.
Despite being Kore-eda Hirokazu's assistant director, she still wanted to 'make progress' through Luo Zheng.
Getting into the car, he opened the note.
It was a phone number, with a small line of English underneath:
If Luo Zheng-kun doesn't mind, Miho is willing to be your tour guide.
Luo Zheng smiled and threw the note out the window.
He loved beauty, but the prerequisite was that they had to be beautiful.
Clearly, although the thirty-year-old Nishikawa Miho had a certain charm, she didn't meet Luo Zheng's standards.
Since sleeping with Gong Li, his standards for women in this age group had increased significantly.
Returning to the hotel, Luo Zheng took a shower and sat on the sofa, chatting on the phone with Liu Yifei.
Then, the doorbell rang.
Through the peephole, he could see a young girl standing outside.
She was wearing an ultra-short skirt and a diagonal-collared plaid shirt similar to a school uniform, revealing a large portion of her fragrant shoulders.
Luo Zheng found an excuse to hang up and decisively opened the door.
Now, he could see her even more clearly.
The girl in front of him wore exquisite makeup, had neat short hair, and a bit of baby fat on her face. Her eyes were large and clear, with a gaze as pure as water.
"Hello, sir! My name is Nagase Masami. Mr. Nojima Shinji sent me."
But when she spoke, it was all in Japanese, leaving Luo Zheng a bit confused.
He asked in return:
"What... are you doing?"