America: My Time

Chapter 1359 Unexpected Situation

Chapter 1349 Unexpected Situation
John knew it was impossible to bring those greedy people to their senses; they would only tear him apart relentlessly. Since he wasn't one of them, it was best to part ways cleanly and go their separate ways. Why did these guys even entertain such inappropriate thoughts? Frankly, it was because he had been too kind, giving the family assets they shouldn't have!

Even a small share is worth hundreds of millions, which naturally drives those guys crazy. John is well aware that human greed is endless. Seeing that he gave his younger brother and sister such a huge fortune, these guys naturally had inappropriate thoughts. Even his grandfather had the same idea and felt that he should give some support to the family!
Such is human nature, such is the human heart! Faced with this situation, John naturally wouldn't compromise. His relationship with his family wasn't exactly good, and he couldn't possibly abandon such a large fortune! John didn't continue his conversation with Old Martin but turned and left, worried that continuing would cause him to lose control of his anger. His grandfather was no longer the person he knew; he had changed!

People are fickle, even family members are no exception. Faced with interests and family, even his grandfather changed, which made John feel helpless. This is due to the difference in values. In old Martin's heart, family is the most important thing, but John does not think so. After all, he does not have a very good relationship with his family!
Watching John's departing figure, old Martin sighed deeply. He understood that this time, a huge rift had formed between him and John, and their family ties were crumbling. It wasn't John's fault, but rather that he had placed too much importance on the family's voice and insisted on sacrificing John's interests, which led to this situation.

Make amends? That's impossible. For someone like John, once a rift forms in their heart, things can never go back to the way they were before, even with family. When interests become intertwined, even kinship changes.

"That's life. I never thought even family ties couldn't withstand the test and would change like this. Luckily, my parents don't have this problem. Oh well, since it's come to this, it's time to cut off all the thoughts that shouldn't exist!" This time, Old Martin's words completely broke John's heart. Originally, he had always kept a faint hope in his heart, not only for family ties but also for his children. But now it seems that no matter how much benefit he gives those people, it won't satisfy their greed. Human greed has no end.

The repeated changes had completely worn down John's patience. Even though his family had helped him before, he had already repaid everything, far exceeding what his family had given him. But people's hearts are never satisfied, and his family members were incredibly greedy, always wanting to gain without working. This made John unwilling to have anything to do with them anymore!
This wedding would be his last interaction with his family; he wouldn't attend again. John silently made this decision. He no longer needed his family's approval or their power. The favors from the past couldn't be used up indefinitely; he owed those people nothing.

After a moment, John's eyes returned to normal, and a hint of doubt flashed through his mind: "The changes in the family, the changes in Japan, and the scheming of those old guys, could all of this be related to the oil capital, or rather, to the Federal Reserve? Are those guys trying to influence me and control me in this way? They want to keep me in the United States and prevent me from continuing to focus on Asia?"

It's not that John is so sure he thinks the worst; those guys are just that treacherous and cunning. He can't afford to be careless when dealing with them, or he'll pay a heavy price! Could his family abandon him for their own benefit? That's a possibility, since in their eyes, he's a selfish person unwilling to sacrifice for the family.

"Forget it, why think so much? Everything will come to a conclusion eventually. Right now, I need to get through the wedding. This will be my last collaboration with the family!" John had already made a decision about his relationship with his family. If it weren't for Old Martin's words, John might have still harbored some thoughts of continuing ties with the family. After all, he had children, and the best way to integrate into high society was to have Old Martin guide them—it was the safest approach. But after those words, John no longer had such thoughts. He worried that his children would be brainwashed!

The grander the wedding, the more mentally exhausted John became. He had to deal with far too many people, a situation he had never encountered before. However, he had no choice in this situation, as he could not back down, and many of these people were there specifically for him.

After dealing with a group of people, John finally found a moment to rest. He was utterly exhausted from all the back-and-forth. However, the effort had its rewards. At the wedding, he had gained the approval of many people. At least John's behavior wasn't as the upper class had described. Many people accused John of being too arrogant, unwilling to participate in their parties, and unsociable. In reality, things weren't as serious as those guys made them out to be.

Why did the rumors spread like this? Actually, there are quite a few reasons. On one hand, it was driven by the oil and gas industry; on the other hand, it was the work of some people who were dissatisfied with John. In their view, John's unwillingness to marry was a rejection of their upper class, so they secretly tarnished his reputation.

"What's wrong over there?" When John saw Kuroki Hitomi appear in front of him, he couldn't help but frown slightly. He couldn't even get a break, which made him a little dissatisfied!
"There is indeed a small problem. Although the Japanese haven't taken any action, some people are behaving unfriendly, which leaves me unsure of what to do," Hitomi Kuroki explained to John, her head bowed. This was the last thing she wanted to see, but it still happened!

"Is it someone from Disney or Columbia?" John immediately realized the key. Only people from those two companies would have the ability and the courage to act so 'impulsively' in this situation. With the development of the Hollywood situation, he had already placed himself on the opposite side of everyone; the three major entertainment groups had become public enemy number one in Hollywood.

"Yes, those are the people, and some Hollywood staff!"

"This is the human heart. It seems those guys are already starting to worry and fear. But using such methods, and under these circumstances, is far too presumptuous. If those guys were to directly cause trouble, it wouldn't be a big deal, but using such petty tricks is rather low-class. Behind this, I'm afraid it's not so simple. Among those guys, many are probably from Taiwan. Only these guys dare to be so arrogant."

John suddenly understood everything and the current situation. He knew what Kuroki Hitomi didn't, but he did. Who else in Hollywood would do something like this? Only these guys, and they were a self-contained group, unafraid of his suppression and blacklisting! Of course, it wasn't entirely due to Japanese capital; it was also largely due to the cooperation of Sony and their ilk. Without their cooperation, this situation wouldn't have occurred. At this moment, John also understood the schemes of the Japanese, their purpose in sending these women here. It wasn't just a test, but a small warning. Unfortunately, John didn't take them seriously at all. A group of people who only knew how to use such underhanded methods weren't worth targeting, at least not now.

"They want my stance. I had shown some consideration for them before because of our past relationship, but now it has become a means for these guys to target and test me. It's time to make a clean break. Dragging things out will only make them more dangerous. It's better to make a choice sooner rather than later."

At this point, John couldn't help but sigh. To save face and maintain good relations, he had made many concessions, but these Japanese guys were becoming more and more insidious and audacious. He needed to make them understand his stance and that doing these things was useless!

John took a deep breath and continued, "Give Norika Fujiwara $100,000 to sever all ties. I believe she will understand, and those guys will understand too! Ask Yasuko Sawaguchi and the others to let them into the elite agency and have someone take care of them. We still have to consider our past relationship. Among these people, the most innocent one is Shinobu."

At this moment, John thought of that unforgettable character and the words, "I'll be waiting for you in Kyoto." Shinobu Nakayama's choice could only be described as forced; after all, she couldn't betray her sister. Knowing it was a trap, she had no choice but to jump in, and without complaint. Not everyone could do what she did. Even facing such immense hardship, she never complained and always faced everything with a positive attitude.

“Yes, Shinobu has suffered the most. If it weren’t for Miho’s stupidity, she wouldn’t be under such pressure. We all know her personality.” At this moment, Hitomi Kuroki chimed in. In fact, she was also very clear about the situation of the Nakayama sisters and knew how many people were after them. After all, Japan is a crazy society with a lot of crazy people.

"Ask her opinion. If I do nothing, I won't be able to get over it in my own heart. After all, no one is without feelings. One option is to ask her to give up everything she has now and help Kikuchi Momoko. Compared to Kikuchi Momoko, she is in a much better situation. The other option is for her to continue what she has now and be with Nanako. Whichever option is chosen, I believe those guys will understand my intentions!"

John shook his head. He couldn't just kill off those guys from Japan, nor could he let them think he was cold-blooded. He needed to find a middle ground and balance everything. He had to consider many things.

After thinking for a moment, Hitomi Kuroki nodded and said, "Perhaps this is the best choice, but some people will probably feel disappointed and uneasy!"

"There's no other way. You have to bear the consequences of making the wrong choice. There's no going back in this world. Let's arrange it this way. Don't drag it out any longer. If we drag it out any longer, things will become more and more dangerous, even more and more insane. People's hearts are unpredictable. When those guys become more and more unscrupulous, the situation will become crazy, and they will fall into an even greater crisis. You know the Japanese character better than I do!"

Kuroki Hitomi knew all too well that the madness that came from the very core of their being, and that foolish yet insane mentality, were terrifying. The more she knew, the more terrified she became of Japan. The more she understood, the more she realized how dedicated Riko had been to their teachings back then, only that not everyone had heeded her advice.

Of course, Kuroki Hitomi could only see the surface of John's arrangements; the deeper, more 'well-intentioned' reminders were beyond her comprehension. Such arrangements would be seen differently by people at different levels. To her, it was simply a matter of different treatment of the individuals, but to the Japanese, it was a completely different story.

However, John didn't explain any of this. He understood it; if he didn't, no amount of explanation would help. Such things required personal understanding and comprehension; relying solely on others' guidance was useless. Nevertheless, the apparent situation reflected John's true thoughts, and couldn't be considered wrong!

If we consider the initial timing of John's contact with Hitomi Kuroki, given her intelligence, it's impossible that Hitomi wouldn't have noticed the hidden information behind John's arrangement. Unfortunately, as time passed, and with changes in her status and environment, she gradually lost that sensitivity and her necessary vigilance. The comfortable environment also altered her personality; perhaps this is her truest self!

"Then I'll go arrange everything right away. It's better to deal with this matter as soon as possible. The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for us, and the more pressure I'll feel. I don't want to be affected by this pressure all the time, because it will make me feel heavy-hearted and uncomfortable!" As she spoke, Kuroki Hitomi couldn't help but sigh, a faint change flashing in her eyes. This comfortable life had cost her a lot, making her less aggressive!
(End of this chapter)