My era, 1979!

Chapter 189 Auspicious Omens and Divine Beauty (Continuing with 10,000-word updates, please vote!)

The contract has been signed, and the recording of the program is scheduled for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow.

With everything settled, Xu Chengjun was about to return to the hotel where the delegation was staying when Baba Kimihiko waved his hand and warmly put his arm around his shoulder: "Mr. Xu, the signing went smoothly, which is a great thing! It's rare for you to come to Tokyo, so how can we at Iwanami Shoten not do our best to be your hosts and make sure you have a great time?"

Upon hearing this, Kenzaburo Oe, who was standing next to him, gave a knowing yet slightly teasing smile and said to Xu Chengjun, "Mr. Baba is going to take you to experience the true 'elegance' of our famous Japanese literary editors."

Baba looked at Oe and casually invited, "Would you like to come along, Mr. Oe?"

Oe readily nodded: "Of course. Perfect timing, Iwanami Library still owes me several meals."

He said this half-jokingly and half-seriously; such personal exchanges are an important part of maintaining relationships between top writers and top publishers.

Xu Chengjun then looked at Wu Lei, who was standing to the side, with a hint of inquiry, after all, Wu Lei was also an official member of the entourage.

Wu Lei helplessly shrugged and said in a low voice with a smile, "Don't worry, this is a normal cultural exchange and private friendship within the framework of Sino-Japanese friendly exchanges. As long as it doesn't involve matters of principle, the authorities are happy to see it happen and won't interfere. It's a good thing to be able to establish personal relationships with people like Editor-in-Chief Iwanami and Mr. Oe."

This is the hidden benefit of making friends with people and entering the inner circle.

Is the nickname "Brother Lei" just for show?

Baba had clearly made arrangements beforehand. He smiled and said to Xu Chengjun, "Considering your age and status, I won't take you to the Roppongi Disco, where young people gather, to join the fun."

"Hey, hey, hey, whose age are we considering?"

"Hahahaha, we're getting old! Xu Sang~"

Against the backdrop of the economic bubble of the 80s, Roppongi was Tokyo's trendiest and most cosmopolitan nightlife hub. Discos such as "CINDERELLA" or "MUGEN," with their psychedelic lights and loud music (pop disco and early electronic music), were places where young men and women, fashionistas, and entertainers could release stress and chase trends.

Meanwhile, the modern bars scattered throughout Roppongi offer cocktails and an international atmosphere, attracting young white-collar workers and cultural enthusiasts who yearn for a Western lifestyle.

He changed the subject, revealing a smile that carried a hint of mystery and a tacit understanding between men: "Let's go to a good place—there's a ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) over in Kyobashi. I'm a regular there, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied with the ambiance and… 'service'."

hey~
Haven't been there yet? Haven't you seen the movie?
Baba refers to a ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) that, in addition to top-notch cuisine, usually has well-trained geisha or female proprietresses who are good at creating a pleasant atmosphere and may provide some elegant but not overly intimate ambiguity.

After leaving Iwanami Bookstore, Baba led them to a black Toyota Century parked on the side of the road.

This car boasts dignified and elegant lines, a spacious interior, and exquisite materials, earning it the reputation of "Japan's Rolls-Royce." It is a popular choice for top figures in the political, business, and cultural circles.

This is very much in line with Baba's identity and status as the editor-in-chief of Iwanami Shoten.

The car drove smoothly toward Jingqiao.

Finally, they stopped in front of a shop with an extremely unassuming appearance, decorated only with a warm-colored lantern and a wooden sign that read "Good Fortune".

Kitcho is a highly prestigious restaurant in Tokyo and throughout Japan, especially renowned for its artful kaiseki cuisine and impeccable service. It is a key venue for the elite and celebrities to hold banquets.

A woman dressed in a kimono was already waiting at the door. After bowing deeply, she led everyone into the store.

Passing through the tranquil dry landscape garden and stepping into the tatami-floored private room, one feels instantly isolated from the outside hustle and bustle. The room is softly lit, adorned with perfectly placed flower arrangements and wall hangings of calligraphy and paintings, and filled with the subtle aroma of sandalwood and fresh ingredients. The overall ambiance is exquisitely elegant, with every detail revealing understated luxury and traditional aesthetics.

After everyone was seated, the elegant geishas, ​​dressed in exquisite kimonos, quietly entered to pour sake and serve food.

They weren't heavily made up, but rather possessed a classical, intellectual beauty. Their speech was refined, and they could engage in discussions about traditional culture such as haiku and Noh, while also skillfully responding to the men's slightly witty banter, maintaining an elegant yet relaxed and comfortable atmosphere throughout the banquet.

This is exactly what Baba meant by "elegance," a style belonging to the circle of famous Japanese writers and editors, carrying a specific cultural flair and subtle sentiment.

After a few cups of sake, the characteristics of Japanese working men in the Showa era begin to emerge.

Loud voice, chauvinistic, dissolute
As the host and the person in charge, Baba's voice gradually grew louder as he repeatedly raised his glass to urge others to drink, saying, "Mr. Xu, this is a rare and fine wine, you must drink a few more cups!"

"Teacher Dajiang, you too, let's drink until we drop tonight!" This displayed a slightly forceful "hospitality."

As a junior and subordinate, Fujii Shozo maintained a respectful attitude throughout, pouring drinks for his seniors at appropriate times, and frequently nodding in agreement with Baba and Oe's words. He only answered cautiously and seriously when asked about the details of the translation, fully demonstrating the strict seniority system and hierarchical relationship in the Japanese workplace.

Kenzaburo Oe remained relatively detached, but he also relaxed in this atmosphere and chatted with Chengjun Xu about literature.

When Xu Chengjun mentioned "The Box of Hope" and the "Black Key" he was conceiving, he thoughtfully put down his wine glass: "Mr. Xu, while 'Red Silk' is certainly profound and weighty, in my opinion, the kind of time and space conception that transcends reality in 'Hope' and the more abstract and universal dark side of human nature that 'Black Key' may touch upon are more likely to resonate widely and generate heated discussions among Japanese readers than the specific historical background of 'Red Silk'."

Fujii Shozo's eyes lit up instantly. He immediately seized the opportunity and said to Xu Chengjun, almost pleadingly, "Mr. Xu! If there are any plans to publish Japanese versions of these two works in the future, please, please let me try to translate them! I already have a certain understanding of your work's style and core ideas, and I am very confident!"

Looking at Fujii's energetic yet dark-circled appearance, Xu Chengjun smiled and raised his glass to clink with his: "Okay, if the time is right, I will give Fujii-kun my priority."

Although Masahiko Baba was also socializing, his eyes were always on Xu Chengjun.

He noticed that, despite the high-end and luxurious environment and the well-trained geisha service, Xu Chengjun remained composed and at ease, but his eyes were always clear, without the slightest hint of unease or infatuation. It was as if all of this was just another kind of "scenery" for him to observe and experience.

It is indeed a beautiful sight.

He couldn't appreciate geisha, but he'd seen all sorts of other things in later generations.
Maba was amazed. How could a young man from a relatively closed country that emphasized hard work and frugality have such composure and insight? This made him even more determined to invest in Xu Chengjun.

After several rounds of drinks, the air in the private room seemed to become thick and ambiguous due to the evaporation of alcohol.

Baba Kimihiko was clearly seven or eight parts drunk. His usual composure and dignity as editor-in-chief were now diluted by alcohol, revealing a somewhat frivolous and unrestrained demeanor common among middle-aged men in the Showa era at workplace drinking parties.

His once neat tie was now loosened, his face was flushed, and his voice grew even louder.

His gaze would occasionally linger on the young geisha beside him who was pouring sake.

The geisha was named "Chiyokiku," and she was beautiful and graceful.

“Chiyokiku-san,” Baba’s voice was slurred with alcohol. He reached out, not to take the wine glass, but to try and grasp Chiyokiku’s slender, pale wrist that held the sake bottle. “Your hands are so nimble, like…like a butterfly in flight…Come, have a drink with me, just one…”

Chiyogiku, experienced as ever, remained perfectly composed in the face of this sudden physical contact, her professional, almost Noh mask-like smile remaining unchanged, as if it were commonplace. Just as Baba's fingers were about to touch her, her body, as if rehearsed a thousand times, gracefully and effortlessly leaned back slightly, her wrist deftly twisting so that the spout of the wine bottle precisely aligned with the empty glass in front of Baba.

"Lord Baba, really..."

Her voice remained gentle and alluring, like a warm spring breeze, coyly inviting, "Drunkenness is bad for your health, and you are our important guest. Look, this cup of 'Kiku Masamune' is waiting to soothe your spirits; please savor its lingering aftertaste..."

Before he finished speaking, the clear, cool liquor was poured into the glass, filling it perfectly, not a drop more.

The act of pouring the wine naturally deflected Baba's outstretched hand, drawing his attention back to the wine itself. She then gently covered her mouth with her sleeve, letting out a soft, endearing chuckle, as if Baba's earlier action was merely a harmless joke.

Fujii Shozo, standing nearby, blushed slightly. He felt his senior's behavior was somewhat impolite, but dared not speak up to dissuade him. He could only awkwardly smile and avoid eye contact. Oe Kenzaburo, on the other hand, shook his head slightly and took a sip of his drink.

Seeing this, another slightly older geisha immediately picked up a shamisen, plucked it with her fingertips, and played a slightly lively tune, trying to distract Baba with music. She said softly with a smile, "Since Lord Baba is so generous, why not listen to a little tune to enhance the drinking experience?"

As the banquet drew to a close, a waiter respectfully brought the bill.

Baba signed the bill with a wave of his hand, and Xu Chengjun inadvertently glanced at the amount on it—150,000 yen.

At the exchange rate at the time, this was equivalent to nearly two thousand yuan. In China at that time, an average worker's annual salary was only five or six hundred yuan. This meal almost consumed three or four years' worth of a Chinese worker's income.

This gives a glimpse into the purchasing power of Japan during the peak of its economic bubble.

Stepping out of "Ji Zhao," a night breeze blew by. Ma Chang, slightly drunk, leaned close to Xu Chengjun with an ambiguous expression and whispered, "Mr. Xu, the night is still long. I know a great 'Turkish bath' (i.e., bubble bath) nearby, with top-notch techniques. How about we go... to relax?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Chengjun's smile vanished instantly. He waved his hand, his tone calm yet undeniable: "Mr. Bachang, thank you for your kindness. But I am here representing my country. I know what I should and shouldn't do. Farewell."

His words left no room for negotiation.

Maba paused for a moment, and his drunkenness subsided somewhat. Looking at Xu Chengjun's clear and determined eyes, he could only smile awkwardly and give up.

Back at the hotel that evening, Xu Chengjun briefly reported to the delegation's foreign affairs discipline official about the "working dinner" with Iwanami Shoten, omitting the details.

The next morning, as arranged by Baba, he headed to Watanabe Photography Studio in Ginza. This is a top commercial photography studio in Tokyo, specializing in taking portraits for celebrities, magazines, and advertisements.

The photographer and makeup artist team had been waiting for a long time.

The lead makeup artist was a young woman named Suzuki Yumi, with exquisite makeup and wearing a well-tailored, slightly sexy office lady suit.

Upon seeing Xu Chengjun, she couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hand and let out a soft exclamation: "Oh!...I'm sorry. Although I thought he was very handsome when I saw him in the newspaper, Mr. Xu, your face is just...so three-dimensional! The bone structure, the facial contours, it's simply a gift from the Creator!"

She heard that Xu Chengjun was a famous writer from China, and his service was even more attentive.

She stepped forward with her tools, carefully examining Xu Chengjun's face, and said in a professional tone, "Mr. Xu, you have such a great foundation. Your facial bone structure is strong, and your brow bone and bridge of your nose form a perfect T-zone with light and shadow. I only need to use a little contouring and highlighting to slightly enhance the depth of your features, and then style your eyebrows and hair, and that will be enough to show your most authentic and charming self."

Xu Chengjun looked at her close-up, meticulously made-up face, and suddenly curled the corners of his mouth into a slightly unruly and playful smile. He replied in a low voice in Japanese, "Oh? Then your face looks quite 'authoritative,' Ms. Suzuki. Especially the color of your lipstick, it suits you very well."

Yes, Japanese. Xu Chengjun's greatest strength is actually his talent for languages.

I've been exchanging ideas with Japanese people frequently lately.

I have already mastered some basic usage.

Yumi Suzuki hadn't expected his response. She was holding a powder brush, preparing to set his makeup, when his sudden close proximity to her handsome face and his flirtatious words made her heart skip a beat. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she subconsciously brought her legs together. After calming herself down, she said coquettishly, "Mr. Xu, really... please close your eyes, I'm going to apply loose powder."

Xu Chengjun smiled, stopped, and obediently closed his eyes.

During the subsequent photoshoot, the photographer directed him to pose in some typical Showa-era styles, such as turning to the side in contemplation, leaning against a bookshelf, and lightly touching his forehead with his fingers.

Xu Chengjun felt that some of the poses were too deliberate and artificial, and he did not appreciate all of Showa-era aesthetics.

So, during the breaks when the photographer was changing film, he adjusted his posture, casually leaning against the backdrop, his hands in his suit trouser pockets, his eyes looking at the distance of the camera with a slightly detached gaze; or sitting on a high stool, leaning slightly forward, his elbows supporting his knees, forming a triangular composition full of tension, his eyes sharp and direct.

These natural, modern, and even slightly aggressive poses caught the photographer's eye, prompting him to repeatedly press the shutter and exclaim, "Fantastic! Mr. Xu, your expressiveness is amazing! You should really come to Japan as a model or actor; you'd be much more popular than writing books! This sense of the camera is innate!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Chengjun burst into laughter.

After the shoot, the photographer couldn't wait to show everyone a few Polaroid sample photos that could be developed and viewed immediately.

In the photograph, Xu Chengjun possesses both the refined and serene demeanor befitting the Showa era's ideal of sensualism, and a sharp, unrestrained quality that transcends his time, a quality born from his own creative expression. The interplay of light and shadow accentuates his already striking features, revealing a unique charm that blends literary temperament with near-model-like expressiveness, all vividly captured on film.

Looking at the finished photos, Suzuki Yumi felt her heart beating even faster than when she was doing his makeup.

The man in the photo possessed both Eastern charm and an elusive Western flair, so handsome that she was somewhat mesmerized.

Taking advantage of the brief moment when Xu Chengjun was exchanging pleasantries with the photographer, she quietly slipped into the dressing room, quickly touched up her makeup, and carefully tidied her hair and clothes.

As Xu Chengjun prepared to leave and thanked the staff one by one, Suzuki Yumi seized the opportunity, gracefully walked to his side, and whispered in his ear in a sweet and shy voice that only the two of them could hear, "Mr. Xu, it was a very pleasant day... My home is in Yoyogi-Uehara, 3-chome 17 no Mansho, room 503..."

After saying that, she quickly stuffed a small note with a faint perfume scent into Xu Chengjun's suit jacket pocket, then blushed and walked away quickly like a startled deer, leaving behind a lingering, ambiguous fragrance.

Xu Chengjun was slightly taken aback, then a knowing yet slightly amused smile appeared on his face.

He raised his hand and made a cool "OK" sign in the direction Suzuki Yumi had left, the movement fluid and natural, as if it were just an ordinary farewell.

However, when he stepped out of the photography studio and onto the bustling streets of Ginza, feeling the chilly air outside, the smile on his face faded.

He casually pulled the note, still warm from his body and smelling of perfume, from his pocket, glanced at it, and let it drift into the public trash can by the roadside.

After doing this, he straightened his collar, and his expression returned to its usual calm and aloofness.

He felt little emotional; on the contrary, he found it somewhat amusing.

This straightforward and bold encounter with a foreign land, this restlessness and desire that permeated the air during the height of the economic bubble, was, for him, a soul that was essentially from the 21st century, more like a landscape of the times that could be observed from afar, tasted briefly, but never deeply immersed in.

He took a deep breath of Tokyo air, a complex mixture of car exhaust, perfume, and food smells.

“It’s nice to come to Japan once in a while,” he told himself. “It allows the soul of the 21st century to wander more boldly and safely on this land that belongs to the Showa era, a land that is both ambiguous and passionate.”

The horse farm was very satisfied with the photos.
That afternoon, a set of sample photos, supposedly of the "new book cover," was "leaked" to Weekly Bunshun by someone claiming to be a "studio staff member."

This magazine, known for its breaking news and entertainment stories, was overjoyed and immediately rushed to publish an article titled "A Literary Gentleman from China, His Stunning Looks!"

Upon its release, the magazine's sales surged, fueled by Xu Chengjun's established reputation as a "young nobleman" and the upcoming publication of "Red Silk."

Countless young otaku and office ladies rushed to buy it, just to catch a glimpse of the "Chinese Goddess's Beauty".

With the help of Kimihiko Baba, these photos and the heated discussions they sparked even made it onto Nippon Television's (NTV) evening entertainment news.

The host, holding a magazine and showing Xu Chengjun's photo to the television camera, joked, "It seems this talented writer from China has not only conquered Iwanami Shoten with his words, but now he also seems to be conquering our readers with his good looks!"

(End of this chapter)