America: My Time

Chapter 200 Kuroki Hitomi's Choice
Chapter 200 Kuroki Hitomi's Choice
Although John hasn't been in the entertainment industry for very long, he has some understanding of Wall Street and has heard about the modeling world. He naturally understands the dangers and oppression that people in this industry face without connections.

If he could, John wouldn't want to get involved in the murky world of modeling, nor would he want elite agencies to handle such business. However, for the sake of his own clothing strategy, he had to do it. He couldn't afford to invest heavily in developing talent only to have it poached by others and become a weapon for other brands.

Because behind every top model there is likely a powerful patron, and once that happens, everything is out of his control. John can't afford to make an enemy of the patron behind a model, since the other party could very well be a mentally unstable person.

Only by truly stepping into this circle can one know its darkness and its terror. But knowing this is one thing, John never wanted to break the existence of this darkness, nor did he want to provoke the unspoken rules and regulations of the circle. He didn't need to do such a dangerous thing. As long as those guys didn't cause him trouble, he could turn a blind eye to everything. The foolish act of sacrificing himself for others would not happen to him. He couldn't be such a good-natured person in the capitalist world, otherwise, all that awaited him was death. This is the darkness of capitalism!

John knew perfectly well that anyone who challenged the rules would not have a good ending, and he was also aware of the darkness and terror behind the rules. Most importantly, he himself was a beneficiary of the rules, so how could he possibly challenge or break them and do something so foolish?

Seeing the utterly terrified Kuroki Hitomi, Naoko couldn't help but sigh. She had been in a similar situation before, but she had been lucky to have met a 'kind person' like John, so she hadn't suffered any hardship, inhumane treatment, or excessive horror. The beauty before her, however, was completely different. It was obvious she had been forced into this 'beautiful hostess' job without any preparation, forced to submit to the other party's pressure, and her mind had been subjected to immense stress and shock, hence her pitiful state. This was the darkness of the Japanese entertainment industry, a shadow that many beautiful stars and idols couldn't escape, and also a major 'characteristic' of Japan!
She wanted to speak up and offer some advice, but the words stuck in her throat. The current situation was not suitable for Naoko to speak, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to say anything, because she was on the opposite side of Kuroki Hitomi. To be precise, the two of them were rivals, and it would be difficult for her to gain their approval, or even have the opposite effect.

"Don't be nervous or afraid. Just say what's on your mind. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. I understand your situation. This is indeed a disaster for you!" John sighed softly, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes. But he also understood that this wasn't a problem he could solve. This was a typical public relations practice in Japan, an unspoken rule of the Japanese entertainment industry. As an outsider, he couldn't interfere. Even though he had an agency in Japan, as long as the other party didn't provoke his agency, he couldn't meddle in internal Japanese affairs. That was the rule!
Unspoken rules and regulations exist everywhere, but from Kuroki Hitomi's expression, John realized that he had underestimated the darkness of the Japanese entertainment industry. To elicit such an expression from Kuroki Hitomi, one can imagine how terrifying and insane the darkness hidden within the Japanese entertainment industry is. If one hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, it would be impossible to understand how complex and fearful Kuroki Hitomi's feelings were at that moment.

The changes in Hitomi Kuroki were something he hadn't seen in Naoko. Perhaps this was the difference between the two. Hitomi Kuroki was completely unprepared and was directly dragged in as a beautiful hostess, while Naoko at least had time to adjust and was mentally prepared. Naturally, their reactions were different.

Sympathy is one thing, but letting Kuroki Hitomi leave like this is impossible. There are many calculations behind this, and it is also a hidden confrontation. If I let her go, she will think that I have pity on beautiful women, and will give her the wrong guidance. This will become trouble for me in the future, or even disaster.

If those guys in Japan think that women are their weakness, the consequences would be too serious, and it could even affect Naoko's safety. John would never sacrifice himself to save others, and he would never let Naoko or any other woman who follows him be affected or even harmed!

John had no intention of inquiring about how the Sanwa members communicated, or rather, made a 'deal' with Kuroki Hitomi. His priority was resolving the immediate problem and avoiding any future troubles. No matter how much he sympathized with Kuroki Hitomi, that wasn't a reason to let her go. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; this was Japan, and he had to accept its unique culture. He couldn't let a moment of weakness put his woman in danger. After all, if word got back to those old guys in the US, the problem would be much bigger!
Having met with Akio Morita, who presented Naoko, which John accepted, and now Miwa has also made her move, directly offering Hitomi Kuroki, which John cannot refuse. However, the choice now rests with Hitomi Kuroki; it depends on whether she is willing to 'genuinely' stay and become his woman. Since this woman was forced into this situation, John must treat her with caution.

"I want to stay, to be your woman!" These words, uttered by Kuroki Hitomi, placed immense pressure on her. But she had no choice; it was her best and wisest option. Only by following John could she escape the pressure and avoid falling into that abyss of despair. There is no absolute freedom in this world, nor are there absolutely good people. So-called freedom comes at a price, a price Kuroki Hitomi could not afford. She didn't want to become a pawn in the darkness, a puppet of capital, a plaything for countless people. The only way was to become the woman of the man before her, to give her all. This was her destiny.
As an intelligent woman, and one with some understanding of the Japanese entertainment industry, Hitomi Kuroki knew what was best for her. Therefore, at this moment, she didn't hesitate and quickly made her decision. This not only expressed her wishes but also showed John her determination—that's the choice of a smart woman!

John was slightly taken aback by Kuroki Hitomi's answer. He had initially thought she would choose 'freedom,' but Kuroki Hitomi's reaction showed that she wasn't there willingly, but rather had been forced into it. John quickly grasped the crux of the matter; with his intelligence, he understood the underlying reasons and the bitterness and darkness behind it all.

A beauty like Hitomi Kuroki, once targeted by a conglomerate, will be forced and exploited until her value is completely exhausted, until she loses her usefulness. He might kindly grant her 'freedom,' but the people of Sanhe would not. Once trapped in this circle, escaping is almost impossible unless she grows old, loses her beauty, and is no longer sought after. Of course, this isn't absolute; after all, there are all sorts of crazy people in Japan, perhaps even more insane and dangerous ones. So, once fallen into darkness, it's difficult to see the light again.

Japan is never short of beautiful women, but beauties with good backgrounds are rare, let alone beauties like Hitomi Kuroki who have been carefully cultivated. Once trapped in this circle, it is difficult to get out. At least she herself does not have the ability to do so. Her Takarazuka background is her pride, but also her disaster!

If you can't use your innocence as an opportunity to break free from oppression, you'll only sink into the darkness of capitalism forever, becoming nothing more than a pawn of capital. Reality is this dark, this crazy. This is the madness of Japan, and this is also the characteristic of Japan.

"Stay?" John frowned slightly. Unlike Naoko, Kuroki Hitomi was practically offered herself up to him, to become his woman. The main reason for this was coercion, not her own willingness, which was fundamentally different from Naoko's situation! Although he sympathized with her plight, that was not a reason for him to accept her!

John didn't know much about Hitomi Kuroki. He only knew a few reports and had read some interviews. He knew that she was an extremely self-disciplined woman, a woman whose self-discipline was astonishing, a woman who could break the Takarazuka tradition to debut, and a woman who could achieve great success later in life. This inevitably made John a little cautious.

"Are you sure you want to stay? That way you'll only be my woman, and you'll never be able to leave again. You won't even have a proper status with me. Can you accept that? Think it through before you answer me. You only have one chance!" John felt that such a proud and self-disciplined woman was very likely to refuse.

Even if they are trapped under the control of conglomerates, it doesn't mean there's no chance of escape. The Japanese don't place too much importance on relationships between men and women. In terms of the chaos surrounding relationships, they are even more rampant than in Europe and America. While there are conservative groups, there's a greater degree of chaos and madness. The root of all this lies in their deep-seated obsession with Western culture, or more accurately, their pursuit of the powerful, which has led to the current situation!
Without the slightest hesitation, Kuroki Hitomi said firmly, "I'm sure!"

(End of this chapter)