I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema!

He even thought out the details of the contract.

But he never expected that his perfect rhetoric that was enough to convince the stubborn stone was abruptly cut off by the other party in an almost humiliating way before he even finished his opening remarks.

The hung-up phone still has a cold busy tone.

"Beep...beep...beep..."

It was like an invisible slap in the face, burning with pain.

"Deputy Director..." A bolder section chief approached cautiously and asked tentatively, "Um...are Tokyo TV still refusing to give in?"

"Release?"

Ichiro Yasuo whipped his head around, his bloodshot eyes fixed on him like an enraged lion. "That brat named Nohara Hiroshi hung up the phone before I could even finish my sentence! He doesn't even take Kansai TV seriously!"

These words instantly caused a huge uproar in the small office.

"Nani?!"

"How arrogant! A newly debuted Level 4 director actually dared to hang up on you?"

"Exactly! Do you really think you can fly high just because you make a show with a 20% viewership rating? People from Tokyo TV are all the same, looking down on us local TV stations!"

Curses and accusations were heard one after another.

But these voices not only failed to improve Ichiro's mood, but made him even more irritated.

He knew, of course, that this was not just the young man's personal behavior.

Behind this is Tokyo TV, the behemoth that has been at the top of the Japanese television industry for decades. It is a naked and arrogant silent demonstration against these local tyrants.

"Shut up, everyone!"

He roared and swept a stack of documents on the table to the ground. The snow-white papers were scattered all over the floor like butterflies swept by the wind.

"What's the point of making sarcastic remarks here?! The director's mission for me is to dig up that brat and the gold mine of 'urban legends' in his head and bring them to Osaka! Now, they won't even let us touch the shovel! Tell me, what should we do?!"

The office fell into silence again.

Everyone looked at each other and opened their mouths, but couldn't say a word.

Yes, what should I do?

He is now the hottest and most sought-after person in the entire Neon world, and standing behind him is the giant Buddha, Tokyo TV.

No matter how attractive the conditions offered by these local stations are, they seem so pale and powerless in the face of the absolute platform advantages.

After a long time, Ichiro finally let out a long, slow breath, which was filled with the exhaustion and unwillingness of a trapped beast.

He picked up the phone that had brought him so much humiliation and, with an almost self-abuse intensity, dialed the number he had already memorized.

This time he didn't even bother to think of an opening line.

He just wanted to know how arrogant that young man could be.

However, this time, what came from the other end of the phone was no longer the cold busy tone, but an even colder, emotionless electronic female voice.

"The number you dialed cannot be connected..." (Just treat it as it is, I don't know what's going on in Japan)

Ichiro Goya's body suddenly stiffened.

He subconsciously raised his wrist and took a look at the valuable Rolex gold watch.

2:15 pm.

It’s not time to get off work yet.

That kid, he...he actually unplugged the phone line?!

"what--!"

A roar filled with humiliation and anger came from the office, startling the crows resting on the power lines outside the window, and they flapped their wings and flew away in panic.

……

In fact, he is not the only one who is experiencing the same thing as Ichiro Goya at this moment.

Nagoya, Chukyo TV.

Fukuoka, Kyushu Broadcasting.

Sapporo, Hokkaido Culture Broadcasting Corporation...

Almost all the local tycoons who were ranked high in the Japanese television industry dialed the same number this afternoon with an almost humble attitude.

Then, without exception, they all tasted that ruthless rejection that was full of Tokyo flavor.

This is no longer a simple rejection.

It's a declaration.

A young man named Nohara Hiroshi, in the simplest and crudest way, issued a clear and arrogant declaration to the entire industry.

I'm not going anywhere.

Don't bother me anymore.

……

At seven o'clock in the evening, in Suginami Ward, downstairs of the apartment where Hiroshi Nohara lived.

The summer evening breeze was a bit hot, blowing on the beech trees on the roadside that looked a little listless.

Several black luxury cars with license plates from different regions stopped silently in the apartment complex like a group of sharks that smelled blood. They seemed out of place with the surrounding ordinary cars full of life.

The car door opens.

Several big names who usually could shake the television industry with just a stomp of their feet in their respective territories, now gathered at the entrance of the apartment like ordinary salesmen, with a bit of anxiety and a determination to win.

The leader was Ichiro Gasa, the deputy director of the production department of Kansai TV, who, after a fit of rage in the office, finally decided to come to Tokyo in person.

Next to him stood a middle-aged man wearing a floral shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, who looked a bit like a gentleman but a villain. He was Ken Yamada, the executive vice-president of the production department of Nagoya Chukyo Television.

On the other side was a slightly plump, always smiling man who looked like a neighbor's uncle, but with a shrewd glint in his eyes. He was Shigeru Tanaka, the director of the copyright purchasing department of Fukuoka Kyushu Broadcasting.

"My wife, are you sure that little devil lives here?"

Yamada Ken pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up on his nose, his tone carrying a touch of the shrewdness typical of Nagoya residents: "This place is a bit... shabby, isn't it? It doesn't quite match the style he displays on TV."

"Can't be wrong."

Ichiro Goya took out a pack of Seven Stars from his pocket, lit one for himself and took a deep breath. The pungent smoke made his mind, which was dizzy with anger and jealousy, a little clearer.

"I spent a lot of money to buy the information from a private detective in Tokyo. His address, photos, even his home time every day and his favorite ramen, everything is clear."

As he spoke, a barely perceptible ruthlessness flashed in his bloodshot eyes.

Since literary means don’t work, let’s try force.

He just didn't believe that when he slapped the young man in the face a contract that no one could refuse, along with a check that could be filled with any number, he could still maintain that damn arrogance that belonged to Tokyo people.

"Oh my, it seems like everyone thinks alike."

Tanaka Shigeru chuckled, trying to smooth things over. His narrowed eyes flickered back and forth between the two men, "But let's be frank. Today, it's a matter of skill. Whoever can bring that 'Nohara-no-no-kami' back to their temple, the other two families, don't try to get in the way."

"Huh, that's natural."

Just as the three of them were each harboring their own ulterior motives and the atmosphere was tense, a Toyota Crown Majestic, exuding a calm and domineering aura in the afterglow of the sunset, slid out silently from the corner of the street like a ghost, and finally, stopped steadily in the exclusive parking space downstairs of the apartment building.

The car door opened, and a tall and straight young man in a casual suit stepped out from the driver's seat.

It was their target tonight - Hiroshi Nohara.

"coming!"

The three of them were cheered up at the same time, and almost subconsciously adjusted their collars. They immediately put on the most enthusiastic and hypocritical smiles on their faces and quickly walked towards him.

"Teacher Nohara! Hello! I've heard so much about you!"

Ichiro Goya was the first to rush forward. His sullen face had long been replaced by a smile full of the generosity and friendliness of the people of Kansai. He handed over his business card with both hands. His gesture was as humble as a little fan meeting his idol.

"My name is Ichiro Yamaguchi, from the production department of Kansai TV. You can just call me Ichiro!"

"Mr. Nohara, nice to meet you! I'm Ken Yamada from Nagoya Chukyo Television. I've watched every episode of your "Wonderful Stories of the World"! It's a masterpiece! A true masterpiece!"

"Teacher Nohara, nice to meet you. I'm Tanaka Shigeru from Fukuoka. This is a small gift from us in Kyushu. It's not much of a token of respect, but please accept it!"

Tanaka Shigeru was even more direct. He took a beautifully packaged wooden box from the assistant behind him and stuffed it into Nohara Hiroshi's arms without saying anything.

Nohara Hiroshi looked at the three "fans" who suddenly appeared in front of him and were a little too enthusiastic, with helplessness on his face.

He just calmly glanced at the luxury cars parked not far away that looked out of place in the surroundings, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Nohara Hiroshi seemed to have guessed something.

He did not take the business cards, nor did he look at the wooden box. He just gave the three people a just right, somewhat distant and polite smile.

"Three seniors, what can I do for you?"

This lukewarm reaction made the smiles on the faces of Ichiro and the other two freeze for a moment.

They exchanged glances, and finally, it was Ichiro Gaiya, the most shameless one, who cleared his throat and spoke straight to the point:

"Teacher Nohara, to be honest, we are here on behalf of our respective TV stations. We would like to discuss... cooperation with you."

"We at Kansai TV are willing to establish an independent, highly authorized 'Nohara Studio' just for you! Budget, staffing, whatever you choose! We only have one request: that you tailor-make a brand new urban horror series for us, similar to 'Wonderful Stories of the World'!"

"We at Zhongjing TV are willing to pay three times! No! Five times! the salary of Tokyo TV! As long as you agree, tomorrow, you will be the chief producer of horror projects in our production department!"

"We are Kyushu Broadcasting..."

The three of them rushed to throw out the conditions they had prepared long ago, which were enough to drive anyone in the industry crazy.

Their posture was like three hungry wolves that had seen a priceless treasure, and they couldn't wait to swallow the young man in front of them whole, skin and bones.

However, Nohara Hiroshi just listened quietly from beginning to end.

There is no statement.

There was no emotion on that handsome face, as calm as a bottomless lake.

It was not until the three of them were exhausted from talking that a hint of amusement finally flashed in those clear eyes.

"I appreciate the kindness of the three seniors."

He spoke slowly, his voice gentle but with an undeniable determination: "It's just that I personally think that Tokyo TV is an excellent platform. I'm living a very good life here, and for the time being... I have no plans to move."

After saying this, he gave the three of them another polite smile and bowed slightly as a farewell.