Yuan Chuanyou's tone was natural and sincere, instantly easing most of Shen Yuexia's embarrassment and stiffness like a warm current.

"Yes...yes."

Shen Yuexia finally found her voice again. Although it was still trembling, she mustered the greatest courage she had ever had, raised her head, and bravely met Yuan Chuanyou's eyes.

"I...I didn't really know much about you before. My best friend dragged me here today...but, but seeing you with my own eyes and hearing you speak with my own ears..."

She took a deep breath. "Your Chinese is amazing, and your acting is incredible. I want to become a fan like a friend!"

Upon hearing this, Genkawa Yu was visibly taken aback for a moment, and then a more genuine smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you for your recognition. It makes me very happy and is my motivation to continue working hard."

He solemnly handed two still-fresh posters of the lead actors to Liu Meiyun and Shen Yuexia respectively, and gently shook hands with them one by one.

When Yuan Chuan You's long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles gently touched Shen Yuexia's palm, which was sweaty from nervousness, she felt as if a faint but clear electric current instantly surged from the point of contact throughout her entire body, bringing a tingling, numbing sensation that made her freeze in place.

Feeling dizzy and as if she were walking on clouds, Shen Yuexia walked off the stage and returned to her seat, still feeling like she was in a bizarre and wonderful dream.

She looked down at the poster in her hand, which still bore Yu Genkawa's autograph. The poster featured Yu Genkawa as Ryohei Arisu, gazing ahead with complex eyes that conveyed a mixture of confusion and determination.

Liu Meiyun was still excitedly chattering away beside her, speaking at a rapid pace like a machine gun, repeatedly reliving those brief few dozen seconds on stage, but Shen Yuexia was no longer listening.

Her entire being was occupied by the man on stage who had started interacting with other lucky fans again and seemed to radiate endless light.

Shen Yuexia gripped the poster tightly in her hand, as if making a vow.

"From today onwards, I am a true 'Ayumi fan'! When I get back, I'm going to catch up on all of his dramas and all his interviews!"

"Rainbow Dash, are you still hiring for your subtitle group? I want to learn Japanese, and I want to join you!"

"Then let's go!"

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 46 Mai Sakurajima: I Was the One Who Fell in Love with You First (2-in-1 6k)

Inside the hotel, the staff of the Burning series and the crew of "Alice in the Land of the Dying" began to analyze the feedback and effects of the first event in Xia Country.

"director!"

A young analyst jumped to his feet, staring at the translated text on the screen, his voice trembling with excitement.

"We've really had a great start this time! We've got three of the top ten trending topics on Xia Country's social media platform, [Blog]!"

Director Aoyama practically jogged to the screen, his face beaming with uncontrollable elation as he looked at the entries followed by the bright red word "Explosive."

"Quick! Click on these trending topics and take a look."

The representative of the combustion system spoke in a somewhat urgent tone, carrying an unquestionable command.

The screen switched and was instantly flooded with a massive amount of blog posts. At the top was a short video taken by a fan at the scene with their phone. Although the video quality was a bit shaky, Genkawa Yu's extremely fluent Chinese was clearly audible.

The number of shares, comments, and likes on the video jumped wildly at a visible speed.

[Wow, this fluent Mandarin, you're telling me this person is Japanese?!]

[That voice is so soothing!]

[I've become a fan! He respects the Chinese market and diligently learns Chinese; he deserves to be popular!]

The girls at the scene are so lucky! Genkawa Yu's eyes are so gentle!

Where is the 'Aiyouren' army? Bump it up! Let everyone see it!

Similar exclamations and praises swept in like a tsunami, interspersed with a large number of new fans expressing their strong curiosity about "Alice in the Land of the Dying".

The major entertainment media outlets and film and television public accounts in Xia Kingdom seemed to have noticed this surge in traffic and began reporting on today's promotional event, causing the buzz to rise steadily.

Director Aoyama, overwhelmed by the overwhelming positive public opinion, clenched his fists and swung them forcefully in the air.

"See that? This is the value of Genkawa-kun! This is the huge success of our publicity strategy! With this start, the viewership ratings in Xia Country will definitely be good when the drama officially premieres!"

The representative of the Burning faction was beaming. He immediately took out his phone, walked to a corner, and reported the results to the Tokyo headquarters in a resolute tone. He also strongly demanded an increase in the publicity budget in Xia Country, his tone full of confidence.

That evening, the team behind "Alice in the Land of the Dying" booked a high-end restaurant for a celebratory banquet, and the atmosphere at the event was extremely lively.

The long table was laden with exquisite food and bubbling, expensive champagne. The crew and members of the "Burning" group beamed with victory, raising their glasses to offer their warmest congratulations to the absolute stars of the day, Yuu Genkawa and the equally radiant Mai Sakurajima.

"Genkawa-kun! I must offer you another toast!"

Director Aoyama, beaming, walked up to Genkawa Yu with a wine glass in hand. "Today you not only completed a commercial event, but you also led us to a resounding victory! You deserve all the credit!"

"Aoyama-san, you flatter me. I'm just doing my best to fulfill my duties."

Yuan Chuanyou stood up, still calm and composed. He stood tall and had a noble air about him, making him stand out from the crowd.

His gaze occasionally swept over Mai Sakurajima sitting opposite him. She was smiling and talking to the producer beside her. Her fair skin was accentuated by a royal blue dress, and the diamond necklace around her neck shone brilliantly under the lights. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

In a fleeting moment when their eyes met, he raised his teacup to her across the noisy crowd, his gaze gentle and profound, carrying a silent question and reassurance.

Mai Sakurajima's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously raised her glass in greeting, then quickly lowered her head, her thick, long eyelashes drooping down to conceal the complex emotions churning in her eyes.

The celebration banquet ended at 8 p.m., as there was a second event the next afternoon, and everyone needed to rest and recharge.

When Genkawa Yu returned to his suite, Kato Megumi had already prepared all the clothes and materials needed for tomorrow's event and was standing quietly in a corner of the living room. When she saw him return, she immediately stepped forward, bowed slightly, and spoke in a calm and even voice.

“Mr. Genkawa, you’re back. Three more media outlets have been added for tomorrow’s interviews. Here is the final confirmed schedule and list of questions.”

"Thank you for your hard work, Kato."

Genkawa Yu took the neatly printed stack of documents and casually placed them on the cabinet in the entryway. "Everything's fine here. Go and rest."

Kato Megumi nodded, said nothing more, and left the room quietly, just as she had come in, gently closing the door behind her.

Genkawa Yu loosened his tie, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and strolled to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window, the Oriental Pearl Tower shines like a dazzling lighthouse.

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned around, picked up his phone, found that familiar number, and typed a short message.

"Mai-san, let's go for a walk. I'll come find you later?"

After sending the message, he put down his phone, went straight to the dressing room, changed into a black hooded sweatshirt without any logo and a pair of dark gray sweatpants, and put on a pair of soft canvas shoes.

One minute later, the phone screen lit up, and Sakurajima Mai's reply was a simple one-word message.

"it is good."

Around 8 p.m., Genkawa Yu stood outside Sakurajima Mai's suite. He raised his hand and knocked three crisp sounds on the heavy solid wood door with his knuckles.

The door opened almost instantly, and the girl had changed out of her glamorous evening gown and was now wearing a light apricot cashmere knit cardigan that accentuated her slender figure.

She wore a long, off-white trench coat over her clothes, the belt loosely tied at the waist, giving her a casual and relaxed look. She only wore a simple black face mask, and her long, smooth hair cascaded over her shoulders, emitting a faint fragrance.

"Let's go." Her voice came through the mask, carrying a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible, as if afraid of breaking the tranquility of the night.

Genkawa Yu nodded, and the two walked towards the elevator lobby one after the other in tacit agreement.

Unlike in Japan, where one needs to be fully armed with sunglasses, hats, and masks when going out, in Shanghai, a foreign land, although the daytime activities caused a huge sensation, the visibility on the streets at night was greatly reduced.

A simple mask is enough for them to enjoy a kind of almost "invisible" freedom.

Instead of using the hotel's luxury limousine, Genkawa Yu casually flagged down a common taxi at the hotel entrance. He skillfully opened the car door, shielded the top of the door frame with his hand, and let Sakurajima Mai get in first before walking around to the other side to get in himself.

He gave the driver an address in fluent, flawless Chinese: an area near the Bund where one could enjoy river views and was immersed in the charm and atmosphere of old Shanghai.

The driver responded, skillfully turned on the meter, and with a turn of the steering wheel, they merged into the dazzling river of cars at night.

The taxi cruised smoothly through the neon-lit streets.

The night in Shanghai and Tokyo offer two completely different aesthetic experiences.

Although Tokyo's nights are dazzling with neon lights, they still exude a sense of distance and separation between people, while the nights in Xia Country are more inclusive, full of the warmth and vitality of everyday life.

Ancient buildings coexist in a wonderful way with modern glass curtain wall skyscrapers. Beneath huge luxury billboards are steaming pan-fried bun shops and elderly people fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans. Various dialects, Mandarin, and foreign languages ​​intertwine to create a chaotic yet vibrant urban symphony.

Mai Sakurajima leaned quietly against the car window, watching the bizarre yet vibrant scene outside and feeling the pulse of the city, so different from that of Japan.

She completely surrendered herself to Yuu Minakawa, listening to him chat naturally with the driver in Chinese, from traffic jams to urban changes, and from Shanghai snacks to the recent weather.

The other person's ease and sense of belonging, as if they were born and raised here, gave her a strange sense of security and dependence in this unfamiliar environment.

In this country where we don't speak the language, having him by my side makes everything seem simple and something to look forward to.

The taxi stopped at a relatively quiet intersection. Yuu Genkawa paid the fare with his phone and got out of the car with Mai.

The damp evening breeze immediately enveloped them, gently lifting the hem of the girl's trench coat and a few strands of hair on her forehead. When she looked up and saw the scene before her, her breath hitched slightly, as if her heart skipped a beat.

What comes into view is a magnificent and dreamlike night view of the Bund.

On the river, sightseeing boats decorated with strings of colorful lights, like moving water palaces, slowly sail by, leaving shimmering ripples on the water.

The viewing platforms along the coast were packed with tourists from all over the world, their camera flashes going off like fireflies on a summer night.

Exclamations of surprise and laughter in various languages, along with the faint, melodious saxophone tunes from street performers, intertwine to create a vibrant urban nocturne.

The air is filled with a unique blend of the faint fishy smell of the river, the rich aroma wafting from roadside cafes, the fresh fragrance of flower stalls, and the scents of various perfumes worn by passersby, creating a distinctive aroma that belongs to this place.

"So beautiful..."

Mai Sakurajima couldn't help but gasp in a low voice. Her clear eyes, visible above her mask, reflected the boundless lights on the opposite shore, shimmering with a breathtaking brilliance.

This wasn't her first time in Shanghai, but in the past, her schedule had always been packed with work—publicity, interviews, photo shoots, rushing between events—like a spinning top driven by an invisible whip.

Never before have I truly stopped and immersed myself in this world-renowned landscape, feeling the breath and heartbeat of this city with my heart.

"Yes, it feels completely different from the daytime."

Yuan Chuanyu stood beside her, also gazing at the opposite bank, his voice deep and magnetic in the evening breeze.

The two walked slowly along the riverside path, mingling with the bustling crowd.

Without the blinding flashes of the cameras, the frenzied shouts of fans, or the watchful eyes of their managers, they were freed from the spotlight of celebrity life and became two ordinary travelers, enjoying this rare tranquility and freedom.

Genkawa Yu seemed quite familiar with the area. Instead of following the main road with the densest traffic, he led Sakurajima Mai onto some relatively quiet but charming side streets that ran parallel to the riverbank.

"You seem very familiar with this place? Have you been to Xia Kingdom before?"

The girl couldn't help but ask again. Her curiosity was like ripples in the wind. The other person's knowledge of this place was definitely not that of a first-time visitor.

"This is my first time working here."

Genkawa Yu turned his head to look at her. The streetlight cast dappled light and shadow on his deep eyes, making his handsome face appear even more three-dimensional.

"I did a lot of research before coming, so I'm naturally familiar with it."

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