I am a literary giant in Japan

Chapter 157: Each of Our Lives: The Shock of the First Half of Paradise Lost

Kitagawa Hide finally left the publishing industry and went to the newspaper industry.

After learning this great news, Noma Sawako, who had just suffered a crushing defeat in the serialization war with Kawaide Shobo, suddenly felt that the air around her became much more open.

She sent a message overnight to her daughter Airi Noma, who was on vacation in France, informing her that she would be able to return to the country soon and start over in a middle or senior management position.

Although Kodansha lost the last battle and lost a large number of readers, it was fortunate that Otaku Yomiuri was a living target outside to take the blame. Many of the criticisms that were originally directed at her were now directed at Otaku Yomiuri.
First, Muramatsu Tomoshi, who died in the joint essay writing project, had to take the blame. Even if it turned out to be a mess, at least there was someone to take the blame and he didn't have to be chased after and held accountable.

Therefore, when she heard that Kitagawa Hide's new book "Paradise Lost" was serialized directly in the "Nikkan Sports News", she happily bought a copy, wanting to see what he had written.

Then, "Muramatsu Tomoshi" and "Matsuhara Rinko" come into view.

Muramatsu Tomoshige believed that the official cause of death of the two was suicide for love, but Noma Sawako knew that the real reason that crushed him was that he was transferred to Kyoeisha.

This rendered all the professional and technical skills he had accumulated throughout his life useless. Under the dual pressures of economy and workplace, he became overwhelmed and chose to commit suicide.

And when Noma Sawako was planning to transfer him to Modern Shobo, she hinted that he should take the blame. Since Muramatsu Tomoshige was unwilling, she hired a private detective to dig up his illicit love affair, and then used this as a threat to send him to the more remote Kyoeisha.

Noma Sawako knew very well that she was the culprit for their deaths.

Therefore, after the two committed suicide for love, she quickly sent someone to express condolences and send funeral money in the capacity of her former employer.

I thought the matter was over.

did not expect!
I really didn’t expect it!

Kitagawa Hide actually wrote the affair between Muramatsu Tomoshi and the two into a novel and even serialized it!

Sawako Noma sat in the room where Noma Airi used to like to stay, holding the wrinkled Nikkan Sports Shimbun in both hands, and finally understood her daughter's crazy mentality at the time.

The newspaper serialized the first two chapters of Paradise Lost, "Sunset" and "Autumn."

Although most of the chapter is about the affair between Muramatsu Tomoshi and his partner, the chapter "Autumn" introduces his workplace, Kodansha, and the slightly unfair treatment he encountered in the company.

She didn't know how much Kitagawa Hide knew about Muramatsu Tomomi's affairs, and what kind of mentality and purpose he had in writing this novel.

Now, she gets a headache just thinking of the name Kitagawa Hide.

My family has run this business for so many years and has even gone through the most difficult times after the war. It won’t really fall into the hands of a young writer, right?
When Paradise Lost triggered a new wave of reading craze, the Dongda University Kitagawa fan group who firmly supported Kitagawa Hide also ushered in their first team-building activity.

Although she is kind-hearted and has never admitted that she is the strategist of this ragtag organization, Yumeko Agatsuma still follows Jabami Rei to Rikugien in Bunkyo Ward.

Chizuru Hui and Kobayashi Tomoyo, who had been waiting under a cherry tree, waved at them from afar.

Jabami Rei took Yumeko's arm and sat down next to the two of them. The huge picnic cloth was filled with all kinds of exquisite pastries. Chizuru Hui enthusiastically unscrewed two bottles of soda and handed one to each of them.

Ramune soda was first introduced to Japan by Scottish immigrants in 1884. It was once popular in Japan due to its unique appearance and refreshing taste.

In 1892, William invented the crown cap. Because this sealing method was more economical and simple, the Cord bottle sealed with glass beads was gradually replaced.

It wasn't until the bubble era in the early 90s that city pop sparked a wave of nostalgia, and marble soda reappeared. In today's economic downturn, it is deeply loved by young people with financial difficulties.

"Yumeko-chan, Rei-chan, come and try it. This is a French dessert I made myself!" Chizuru Hui picked up a macaron with a smile and stuffed it directly into Yumeko's mouth.

Mengzi swallowed it in one gulp, and then her eyes sparkled with stars as she praised, "It's delicious. Li-chan, why don't you try it too? I think it tastes similar to the ones in the store."

"Yeah, huh? I told you I'm talented at making desserts! My parents insisted that I go to the newspaper office for an internship. Can't I inherit the family business and open a dessert shop after graduating from the University of Tokyo?"

Chizuru Hui was recognized by Mengzi and smiled happily. She picked up a pile of desserts and started feeding her.

Chizuru's family runs a famous Western dessert production company in the Tokyo area. If it was just a small pastry shop, her close friends, Yumeko and others would definitely not approve of her, who graduated from the Faculty of Literature of the University of Tokyo, becoming a store manager.

But that is the most famous Chizuru Western Dessert Co., Ltd. in Tokyo!

A large company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange!
This made several people very envious.

Speaking of this, because graduation is approaching, their small group of four can no longer spend every day together eating, drinking and having fun like before.

Everyone had their own ideals and career plans. After the last spring break in April, the four of them went their separate ways and all went for internships.

The always energetic Chizuru Hui was arranged to intern at the Yomiuri Shimbun. She said distressedly that her ambition was not here, she wanted to be a pastry chef and inherit the family business.

It was then that she inadvertently revealed that she was the eldest daughter of the Chizuru family, which immediately shocked Mengzi and others.

After all, she usually looks silly, and her younger sister Chizuru Sadako also attends an ordinary kindergarten, and she, the unreliable sister, is responsible for picking her up and dropping her off every day.

Everyone thought she was from a commoner family!
"Yumeko-chan, I'll just eat this one piece for the last time. I can't eat any more today!" Jabami Rei had just eaten several pieces of cake in a row. The long-lost sweetness and softness made her almost cry with happiness.

She clenched her hands, opened her mouth, and waited for Mengzi's final feeding.

Mengzi picked out the most exquisite pastry and stuffed it into her best friend's mouth.

After eating this piece, Jaburi Rei indeed stopped wanting to continue eating—it was not that she didn't want to eat, but that she really couldn't eat any more.

In early April, she was still hesitating about her future career plan. Professor Takeuchi Osamu wanted her to stay in school and pursue a doctorate, and then see if she could start as a lecturer, preferably taking over his class as a professor in the Faculty of Literature.

Friends are all happy for Jabami Rei for such a good opportunity.

Originally, she planned to continue studying like this. After all, she had a big boss protecting her, so she didn't have to worry about failing the thesis defense.

Unexpectedly, in mid-April, Toei Company extended an olive branch to her, hoping that Jabami Rei could enter the entertainment industry and become a film and television star after graduation.

In the Japanese entertainment industry, the general process for artists to be promoted is to first be used as cheap labor to shoot some photo albums. If you are brave enough, you can take some large-scale photos, which will help you get through the novice period faster.

After shooting photo albums for a year or so, you can occasionally participate in small variety shows arranged by the company, usually playing the role of a passerby with a shocked face. During this period, you may also make cameo appearances in some TV dramas and movies.

After about a year, you may have a few good opportunities, usually playing the leading role or an important supporting role in a low-budget movie, or a small supporting role with lines in a big-budget movie.

This is the most important node in the career of a newcomer in the entertainment industry.

If you soar here, you will have the possibility of developing to a higher platform, but most people still remain unknown, wasting their time year after year, looking forward to more such opportunities to prove themselves.

A newcomer like Jabami Rei, who was invited by top companies in the industry at the beginning and can work directly after graduation, is equivalent to the gold watch group in the police force who graduated from the University of Tokyo and went to work in the Metropolitan Police Department.

Your starting point may be the destination that many people will never reach in their lifetime.

Toei even arranged an agent for Jabami Rei in advance, as well as the film and television projects she was going to take on later.

The reason why they attach so much importance to Jabami Rei is that "Akudashi" created a box office record for literary niche films that were not released in theaters, and Jabami Rei, who played the literary girl in the film, won the Newcomer Award and inexplicably gained a good reputation among the audience.

This is simply a classic example of God's gift to one's family!
There are countless actors who have been up and down in the entertainment industry. They have tried their best and used all their skills, but they still cannot leave a memorable impression on the audience.

Even if I see you and can just say “Oh, it looks like you’re so-and-so,” that’s fine too.

Not only did Jabami Rei achieve this, she also made the audience remember her name.

After that, Jabami Rei took on some advertising modeling jobs and became a big name in the newcomer circle of print models. She made full use of her good looks, coolness, and long legs, and became more and more popular in the small circle.

Just like that, a rising professor of the Faculty of Literature at the University of Tokyo was abducted by the entertainment industry.

Jabami Rei herself loves acting. The drama "No Longer Human" completely inspired her acting soul, and she has been unstoppable since then.

Professor Takeuchi Osamu felt depressed, but he respected his beloved student's choice and promised that she could come back at any time to pursue graduate and doctoral studies. As long as he was in the Department of Literature, the door would always be open to her.

Because she was determined to work in the entertainment industry, Jabami Rei, who had never been picky about food, began to seriously control her diet. If it weren't for Yumeko's continuous feeding her today, she wouldn't have eaten so much!
By the way, Jabami Rei’s first job during her internship was to act in the movie version of “No Longer Human” produced by Toei and directed by Kawaide Shobo. In it, she continued to play the familiar tavern proprietress Yoshiko, and her opposite star was the popular Kimura Takuya!

Among the four, the most unexpected one is Tomoyo Kobayashi, who has always regarded himself as a new-style haiku poet.

Everyone thought that she would go to a publishing house for an internship as soon as possible. After all, her father, Ken Kobayashi, was paralyzed at home and the family's financial situation was not very good. Her study experience at the University of Tokyo was enough for her to get a decent and high-paying job.

However, Tomoyo Kobayashi quietly took the entrance exam for the graduate school of the Faculty of Literature at the University of Tokyo, preparing to continue her studies at the school, as if she was following the path that Jabami Rei originally wanted to take.

As for his family, thanks to Kitagawa Hide's strong support, Kobayashi Tailor Shop is now doing a booming business, with orders placed by customers who come here to try out the suit until the year after next - everyone wants to wear the suit that Mr. Kitagawa is wearing.

In short, seeing that her friends were all doing very well, Mengzi was happy for them from the bottom of her heart.

The four of them ate and chatted, forming a beautiful scenery under the cherry tree.

After eating and drinking, Chizuru Hui immediately took out four copies of the "Nikkan Sports News" and distributed them to her friends. They all enjoyed the beautiful scenery under the cherry tree while reading the latest chapter of "Paradise Lost".

Ken Matsuyama was smart enough to know that a large number of readers who were diverted wanted to read Kitagawa Hide's new book rather than other news in their newspapers.

Because there was no issue of Paradise Lost serialized on Tuesday, sales suddenly dropped from 242.5 million copies on Monday to 121.1 million copies, a cut of more than half!

Therefore, after the first issue of the serialization, the second issue of the "Nikkan Sports News" increased the serialization section of "Paradise Lost", which occupied a full one-third of the newspaper.

The industry was scolding him for being shameless and a profit-seeking businessman, but Matsuyama Ken enjoyed it and tried his best to give all the publicity and promotion resources to Kitagawa Hidekazu's "Paradise Lost".

His daring actions were richly rewarded.

The sales of the second issue of the morning edition of the Daily Sports News on Wednesday reached a new high, breaking the 250 million mark and approaching the highest record of 280 million copies in the history of sports news newspapers.

What Qian Hehui was distributing to everyone now was the newspaper containing the third issue, because the plot had reached the end of the first half of the novel, and the sales in the morning alone were said to have exceeded 200 million copies. By now, it should have broken the record of 280 million copies.

Of course, the four of them don't care about these records, sales and so on.

They wanted to read the story of Deputy Editor-in-Chief Muramatsu and Teacher Matsubara in the novel more.

Spreading out the newspaper, Jabami Reixen began to read it with great interest.

Since she started working, she has to practice body movements every day, and even learn singing and dancing. She has less and less time to appreciate literary works. Taking an hour every night to read Kitagawa Hide's books is her biggest pastime of the day.

Today, I can read the novel during the day. Jabami Rei crosses her legs and sits next to Yumeko. She feels extremely relaxed.

"After their secret meeting at the wake, what will their future be like?" Jabami Rei couldn't imagine how this forbidden love would end. She became nervous before she even started reading.

(End of this chapter)