I really just want to grind for entries related to crossover anime/manga.

Genkawa Yu didn't say anything, calmly sat down in his seat, and the plane took off, passed through the clouds, and entered a stable flight phase.

The roar of the engine was effectively blocked by the bulkhead, leaving only the faint sound of air movement and the occasional footsteps inside.

Then, Genkawa Yu took out a brown leather-covered notebook and a fountain pen from his backpack.

He turned to a page, which did not contain text, but rather a map of some locations drawn with simple lines, with Chinese names and brief comments next to them, the handwriting upright and strong.

Yuan Chuanyou was lost in his thoughts, lightly underlining the words "Yu Garden", "City God Temple" and "Tianzifang" with his pen, as if he was weighing and planning something.

Just then, a familiar, delicate fragrance drifted in, almost imperceptibly.

Genkawa Yuu seemed to sense something, turned his head slightly, and found that Sakurajima Mai had leaned slightly forward at some point, curiously looking at the contents of his notebook.

The distance between them was shortened by her action, and he could even clearly see her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and the almost invisible fine hairs on her fair skin.

"This is...?"

Mai Sakurajima asked softly, her voice carrying a soft magnetism due to her deliberate lowering, her gaze fixed on the Chinese place names with a look of inquiry.

Yuan Chuanyu didn't close the notebook. Instead, he moved it slightly towards her, a gentle smile on his face, and whispered.

"It's kind of a plan that I made myself."

"plan?"

The girl blinked, looking somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected that Yuan Chuan You would have the time and energy to do this amidst the intense promotional work. These place names probably had nothing to do with the promotion; they were most likely for tourism purposes.

"Ah."

Genkawa Yu nodded and explained.

“I’ve looked at the promotional schedule. Although it’s packed, there are still some free time in between. We can’t just stay cooped up in the hotel the whole time, can we?”

He paused, his gaze falling on Mai Sakurajima's slightly surprised face, and his tone naturally softened.

"Mai-san, have you forgotten? Didn't I say last time that I could act as your translator and we could do a little sightseeing in Shanghai together?"

These words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, created subtle ripples in the girl's heart.

This trip to Xia Kingdom was no longer just a cold list of work tasks, nor was it about the sense of alienation she felt facing an unfamiliar environment alone.

Although their relationship remains complicated and the knot in their hearts is far from being untied, it is undeniable that Yuan Chuan You will always be a unique presence in her heart.

Perhaps this opportunity, on the streets of a foreign country, in an atmosphere different from Tokyo, could ease the stalemate between the two?

"What...what plans do you have?" she couldn't help but ask, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity and anticipation that she herself didn't realize.

Seeing that Mai Sakurajima showed interest, Yu Genkawa took the opportunity to recount the research he had done in advance.

He pointed to the markings in the notebook and introduced them in a deep, clear voice.

"I did some research and found that besides the famous landmarks, Shanghai actually has many places full of everyday life."

"There are some renovated art districts with many unique shops and cafes, perfect for leisurely strolls. Also, if you have time, you can visit Sinan Road or Wukang Road, where there are many well-preserved old villas, quiet streets, and a lot of character..."

Mai Sakurajima listened quietly, her gaze following his fingertips as they moved across the notebook. In her mind, she seemed to be sketching out street scenes and flavors different from those of Tokyo, following his descriptions.

"...and,"

As Yuan Chuanyu finished speaking, he seemed to remember something, took out another ordinary-looking smartphone from the inside pocket of his suit, waved it in front of the girl, and a well-prepared smile appeared on his lips.

“I even asked Zhongyuan Sang to help me prepare this... a mobile phone with the most commonly used payment software in Xia Kingdom, ‘Qufubao’, installed and with money in the account. This way, if we want to buy some snacks or small gifts, we won’t have to worry about cash or credit cards, which will be much more convenient.”

"I see..."

This thoughtful attention to detail surprised Mai Sakurajima once again.

Since the other party has even considered this payment issue, it is evident that this plan was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather something that has been carefully considered and prepared for.

This thoughtfulness seemed to loosen the tension in Mai Sakurajima's heart, which had been taut due to her inner turmoil, a little bit.

"That sounds like it should be very interesting."

She spoke softly, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving upwards into a tiny arc, without her even realizing it.

The several hours of flight passed quietly amidst the occasional whispers and individual rests of the two.

As the plane began its descent, a landing announcement came over the loudspeaker. Genkawa Yu and Sakurajima Mai put their masks and hats back on, ready to face the unknown crowds waiting to greet them.

The plane landed smoothly on the runway of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

Through the porthole, a cityscape completely different from Tokyo unfolds before your eyes.

However, as they followed the crew through the jet bridge to the arrival passage, something unexpected happened.

Among the crowd welcoming the guests, there were dozens of young men and women holding up banners with the names of Yu Minakawa and Mai Sakurajima, as well as the original Japanese title and Chinese translation of "Alice in the Land of Dying".

They had clearly learned about the flight information through some means and were waiting there early on.

When the crew members came out, especially when they recognized Yuu Genkawa and Mai Sakurajima, who were tall and had outstanding presence even though they were heavily disguised, the crowd immediately erupted in excited but orderly cheers and screams.

"Yu-kun! Yu-kun!"

"Mai-chan! Look here!"

Welcome to Shanghai!

Among them, several female fans standing in the front row, who looked particularly excited, shouted loudly in Japanese with obvious accents but trying to be clear.

"Mr. Genkawa, welcome to Shanghai!"

The welcome message, shouted in Japanese, rang out in the foreign airport, carrying the unique enthusiasm and sincerity of the fans.

Director Aoyama and the representative of the "Burning Series" exchanged a surprised and delighted look. They hadn't expected that there would be fans welcoming them at the airport in Xia Country, and that it seemed to be quite well organized.

This is undoubtedly a good omen.

Genkawa Yu, who was directly summoned, paused slightly.

He glanced at the girls waving excitedly at him, their faces full of anticipation, and then, under the watchful eyes of countless people around him, he made a move that caught everyone off guard.

He raised his hand, gently pulled down his mask slightly, revealing a beautifully shaped jawline and lips with a gentle smile, and then responded clearly and amicably in his standard Mandarin.

"Thank you everyone for coming to pick me up at the airport. You've all worked hard. The weather in Shanghai is great today. I look forward to seeing you at the event later."

"..."

Quiet.

A deathly silence spread around the few female fans who were calling his name.

The excited smiles on their faces froze instantly, their eyes widened, and their mouths opened slightly, as if they had heard some incredible sound from outer space.

A few seconds later, everyone realized what was happening, and the atmosphere immediately became even more lively.

"Aaaaaah! What did he just say?!"

"It's Chinese, it's Mandarin!"

"My God! Genkawa Yu can speak Chinese?! And he speaks it so well?!"

It wasn't just those few female fans; the entire Chinese fan group in the airport arrival area was completely abuzz with excitement because of this sudden response.

Originally, I might have just come to greet the Japanese actor out of curiosity and fondness, but I received such a huge surprise: a Japanese actor who not only has great looks and acting skills, but also speaks fluent Mandarin like a native speaker. It's like breaking down the barriers between dimensions!

Flashes went off everywhere as people raised their phones to capture this historic moment.

Standing next to Genkawa Yu, Sakurajima Mai wore a mask, but a strange glint was clearly visible in her beautiful eyes.

Director Aoyama witnessed the entire scene. He watched as Yu Genkawa was surrounded by enthusiastic fans and flashing lights, and as he calmly and simply communicated with them in Chinese. A genuine smile, the one he hadn't seen in days, appeared on his face.

He looked at the representative of the "Burning" group next to him and exclaimed confidently in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Sato-san, it seems that with Genkawa-kun as our trump card, it's hard for our promotional campaign to go wrong. I'm already looking forward to seeing what kind of surprises he will bring to the Chinese audience on official occasions."

The other party nodded heavily, his eyes flashing with the sharp glint of a businessman seeing a huge return on investment.

"Without a doubt, Director Aoyama, the Xia Kingdom market will surely create a frenzy for 'Alice in the Land of the Dying'!"

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 45 Gaining Fans is as Easy as Breathing! (2-in-1 6k)

The black fleet of commercial vehicles, like a well-trained school of fish, calmly navigated the traffic flow in Shanghai.

The scenery outside the car window flashed by, the glass curtain walls of skyscrapers reflecting the dazzling sunlight, forming a strange symbiosis with the buildings full of the marks of time, together weaving a vibrant yet unfamiliar picture of an oriental city.

Genkawa Yu leaned back in the comfortable back seat, his deep gaze calmly sweeping over the slightly familiar street scene outside the window.

The unexpected scene at the airport cheered the entire promotional team for "Alice in the Land of the Dying." In the front passenger seat, manager Kazuya Nakahara was on the phone, his tone excited yet relieved. Meanwhile, as the artist's assistant, Megumi Kato sat in the back seat with Yu Minakawa, checking her schedule on her phone.

The convoy eventually glided into a rather upscale hotel in Puxi. The hotel lobby was magnificent, with a high ceiling and dazzling crystal chandeliers hanging from it. Under the guidance of uniformed staff, the team members' check-in process was completed very efficiently.

As Yu Genkawa's artist assistant, Megumi Kato's room was specially arranged next to Yu Genkawa's executive suite, separated by only one door, to ensure that she could respond to and handle various matters at any time.

Her room was an exquisite and comfortable single room. Although it was not as spacious as a suite, it was fully equipped and had a wide view.

After entering the room, the girl glanced at the furnishings and then left with her tablet, returning to Genkawa Yu's room, since they still needed to discuss the specific procedures for tomorrow's promotional event that evening.

Mai Sakurajima's room was arranged at the other end of the corridor on the same floor, about five or six rooms away from Yu Genkawa's room.

Accompanied by her mother, Mai Sakurajima entered her luxurious suite. Her gaze inadvertently swept across the empty and quiet corridor outside the door, at the end of which was the room where Yu Genkawa was staying.

A fleeting, complex emotion flashed across her beautiful eyes, but she quickly regained her usual elegant yet slightly aloof calm and began packing her luggage.

At noon, the core members of the production team and the "Burning" team held a simple welcome and pre-battle mobilization lunch at an elegant Chinese restaurant in the hotel.

Inside the private room, a huge round turntable was filled with exquisitely presented and delicious classic Shanghainese dishes and Cantonese dim sum.

Director Aoyama seemed to have been injected with new energy, all the fatigue of the past few days was swept away, and his face was filled with an excited glow.

He was the first to raise his glass, his voice loud and infectious.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived in Shanghai smoothly today. You have all witnessed the situation at the airport. It is an impeccable and perfect start, especially for our Genkawa-kun," he said, casting a look full of praise and expectation at Genkawa Yu, who was sitting a little further away.

"I believe your Chinese will definitely be a secret weapon. Come, let's raise a glass together to this successful start, and to the brilliance of 'Alice in the Land of the Dying' in the Xia Kingdom market! Cheers!"

"cheers!"

The representative of the "burning" group also raised his glass in response with a beaming smile, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Genkawa Yu was equally appreciative.

"Genkawa-kun, tomorrow's stage will undoubtedly be your domain! We have adjusted our promotional strategy, and we are determined to have you showcase your most outstanding personal charm!"

The atmosphere at the banquet was lively, with toasts flowing freely and an air of boundless anticipation for the future.

Genkawa Yu responded calmly and gracefully to the toasts and praises from the crowd, maintaining his usual humble attitude. Sakurajima Mai sat opposite him, their eyes occasionally meeting briefly in the air, but she would only elegantly raise her glass slightly in acknowledgment, maintaining a tacitly understood safe distance between them in public.

Night fell like a giant velvet curtain, slowly enveloping both banks of the Huangpu River.