Traveling through the Tokyo bubble era

Chapter 691 Inspiration for New Works
At the party, Huang Yulang left.

The person he came here with anger was Li Zi, but he stayed.

The way Huang Yulang left seemed as if he had already forgotten Li Zi.

Obviously, after finding something real to do, Huang Yulang turned around and ran away from the so-called "love affair".

For this reason, Li Jiaxin pretended to care about Li Zi, acting like a loving sister.

But in Hideki Hanyu's opinion, Li Zi was not that sad.

However, Hideki Hanyu was naturally too lazy to get involved in the little thoughts between these women.

After he fulfilled Li Jiaxin's wish to appear at the party, he left the party on the first floor and returned to the study on the top floor to work.

Having just received a letter from Haruki Murakami, and seeing him publish new books one after another, Hanyu Hideki is more or less itching to try his hand at it.

I'm free now anyway, and since I've already paid for a copy of "Magic Dim Sum Shop 8" this year, should I prepare works for next year in advance?

Thinking of this, the first idea that popped into his mind was not the sequel to "Magic Bakery" or the sequel to "Home Alone" that America had been urging him to make.

Instead, after traveling through time, when he met Kitahara Eri in a bookstore, he vaguely discovered "I Am a Cat" by Natsume Soseki, a book that did not exist in this time and space.

Of course, what Hideki Hanyu wanted to do was not to plagiarize this work.

After all, "I Am a Cat" was created in the early twentieth century. Natsume Soseki used an anthropomorphic cat as the protagonist, observing and commenting on human behavior and psychology from its perspective.

Natsume Soseki also cleverly revolves around the main characters in the book, such as Kusamiya, an English teacher, Midei, who studies aesthetics, Kangetsu, a science scholar, Dongfeng, who loves poetry and drama, Dokusenjunyi, who is obsessed with philosophy and Zen, and the industrialist Kaneda family.

Using humorous and satirical writing style, it exposes and ridicules the Japanese capitalists and rulers of that era, shows the empty spiritual world of intellectuals, criticizes the society where money is omnipotent, and the social habit of blindly worshipping the Western lifestyle.

After this work was serialized and published, it not only shocked the entire Japanese literary world, helping Natsume Soseki win great literary reputation, but also directly established the future status of this Japanese literary giant.

Therefore, if such a work is directly placed in the present era, whether it is the plot, characters, or the social issues that it wants to satirize and expose, it is obviously inappropriate.

But then again, Neon in the early 20th century was an era of unprecedented change.

And the neon lights of this period are also experiencing another era of great change.

The bubble economy was like a raging fire, and all the Japanese were immersed in the dream of getting rich and moving forward.

But soon as the bubble was punctured, the following ten years of disappearance and thirty years of decline were major turning points that Japan had not yet happened but was about to face.

Hideki Hanyu feels that perhaps he can create a "I Am a Cat" exclusive to the bubble era for today's Japan.

Natsume Soseki exposed and satirized the various social conditions in Japan in the early 20th century.

Then he describes this crazy and bizarre bubble economy era.

While the party downstairs was bustling, Hideki Hanyu upstairs was having a burst of inspiration.

He couldn't wait to pick up the pen and slowly spread the words on the manuscript paper.

"I'm a cat, and I don't have a name yet."

"I never figured out where I was born..."

……

With the impulse and inspiration surging in his heart, Hideki Hanyu began his creation with full concentration.

In the original book, the cat's owner, Kusami, is an English teacher, a typical petty-bourgeois intellectual in Japan in the early twentieth century.

Kushami was plain-looking and ordinary.

He seems to be an upright person, hates evil, hates the powerful, hypocrites and snobs, dislikes capitalists, is unwilling to curry favor with the powerful, prides himself on his status as an intellectual, and values ​​his personal dignity.

But when faced with hurt and insults, they only dare to vent their anger with words. When they want to take action, they appear weak and incompetent.

This person was deeply poisoned by feudalism and capitalism, but deep down he was both rebellious and compromising. He was narrow-minded, vain and short-sighted, and he also liked to pretend to be cultured and seek fame.

Even though he is the most self-righteous intellectual, he actually has no real talent or knowledge. As an English teacher, he makes many mistakes when writing in English.

In Natsume Soseki's era, it was naturally very clever and appropriate for Natsume Soseki to use such a character as the cat's owner.

After all, it was an old feudal society, an era impacted by capitalism, an intellectual who was proud of his status, yearned for vanity, had no real talent, but was unable to humble himself.

It can undoubtedly connect the characteristics of the two eras very well and connect the whole story.

However, in today's Japan, it is obviously inappropriate to write about such a person as a cat owner.

Moreover, apart from the style of exposing, mocking, criticizing and complaining, Hanyu Hideki has no intention of using anything from the original book.

Of course, he didn't think he could really compare to the great writer Natsume Soseki. He just wanted to write a story that he found interesting.

So in his writing, although the cat owner's name is still Kushami, he is no longer an English teacher, but an employee of a big bank.

In the eyes of outsiders, the cat's owner is a senior employee of the bank, holding a position as section chief that is envied by ordinary employees, and on the surface he seems to be in a very glorious position.

But actually?
The cat owner got his position as section chief by accumulating experience and spending money; his own abilities can only be described as mediocre.

But after becoming the class monitor, he found out that this position only looked glamorous on the surface. In reality, it did not have much power, but was full of troubles.

When dealing with his superiors, he has to flatter and curry favor with them, and try his best to complete various tasks assigned by his superiors.

He must work hard to maintain his leadership position towards his subordinates, emphasizing his authority on the surface and not wanting to be looked down upon by them, but he has to rely on them to get the job done.

This person is just like Kushami in another time and space. He is a hypocrite who lives a very twisted life.

Hideki Hanyu chose such a person as the protagonist because he felt that the identity of such a protagonist is very suitable for the current bubble era of Japan.

After all, in the bubble era, banks happened to be the center of all industries.

Being an employee in a big bank is indeed a job that everyone envies.

It just so happens that this industry is full of enormous pressure. While it seems glamorous on the surface, it also contains countless problems within. The complexity of the characters can be easily written about.

The most important thing is that the bank is an economic hub, and the identity of the cat owner can easily introduce other characters in the book, making it easy for Hideki Hanyu to complain from the cat's perspective.

For example, Hanyue, a new bank employee who serves as an assistant to the cat owner, is naive and full of hope for the future.

For example, the Kaneda couple, who made their fortune from consumer lending, are profit-driven and have no conscience.

For example, Suzuki, a small businessman who relied on bank loans and expanded desperately regardless of risks.

For example, the cat owner's extramarital affair partner is a white-collar woman named Youxi, who longs for a wealthy life, keeps shouting about feminism, but works part-time as a public relations woman at night and also dates several "wallet" boyfriends.

……

After quickly forming an idea of ​​the entire book in his mind, Hanyu Hideki began writing with divine intervention.

I don’t know how long it had been, but when Hanyu Hideki stopped writing, he realized that it was completely dark outside.

Looking again, the desk was already covered with written manuscript paper.

After some sorting, he found that the entire book had completed the initial preparation and had more than 30,000 words.

The translated version of "I Am a Cat" that he read in his previous life had a total of 250,000 words.

If he can be as efficient as he is today next time, Hanyu Hideki feels that this book can be completed before the end of the year.

But this is just theoretical progress.

Because in order to complete this book, he actually needs to have a more detailed understanding of the characters' professions.

After all, even if he is using the cat's perspective to complain, he must make his words meaningful.

Just as he was putting away the manuscript, the study door was suddenly knocked from outside.

Hanyu Hideki thought it was Li Jiaxin who knocked on the door, but when he opened the door, he found that it was Li Zi who was wearing a long floral dress standing outside.

"Miss Li Zi, why are you here?"

Li Zi replied in a low voice, "Sir, the bodyguard asked me to tell you that the party is over."

Hideki Hanyu raised his hand to check his watch and found that it was almost midnight.

"Where is Li Jiaxin? Why didn't she come and tell me?" asked Hideki Hanyu.

Li Zi immediately replied, "Ah Xin is drunk. I just sent her to the bedroom on the second floor."

"Okay, I understand. Since the party is over and it's getting late, Miss Li Zi should go back and rest." Hanyu Hideki said as he saw the guest off.

When it comes to appearance, Li Ziruo is undoubtedly a beauty.

When she was young, her oval face was full of collagen and was round and smooth, and the two dimples when she smiled made her look more cute and pure.

In his previous life, he played the role of "Little Stutterer" in "Young and Dangerous", which is also one of the many film and television roles that Hideki Hanyu is reluctant to let go of.

But unfortunately, the scumbag who had just finished his creative work and was still immersed in his literary role had no intention of hooking up with women for the time being.

What's more, they were now in the house he had given to Li Jiaxin.

Unless the owner wants, Hanyu Hideki respects his canary and will not mess around in the owner's house.

Hearing Hanyu Hideki's words of seeing him off, Li Zi's expression changed.

After all, she has been beautiful since she was a child, and there is no shortage of men pursuing her wherever she goes. She was somewhat uncomfortable with being treated so "politely" suddenly.

Quickly adjusting his mood, Li Zi continued.

"Sir, I was picked up by Ah Xin this afternoon. Now she is drunk and can't take me home. The other cars have no space because they are taking other people. So the bodyguard asked me to either wait or ask you to take me home."

After hearing what Li Zi said, Hanyu Hideki's first reaction was that Marco was causing trouble again.

But even so, the scumbag did not agree immediately.

Instead, he said, "I'll go down and take a look first."

It was impossible for him to believe everything Li Zi said.

Next, he left the study and went to the second floor, where he saw Li Jiaxin, who was drunk, in the bedroom.

The girl was probably too proud of herself and was drunk by her "good sisters".

After leaving the bedroom, he went to the first floor and saw that the lively party scene before had completely disappeared.

The first floor had been cleaned inside and out by the service company. The scene was deserted and there was not a single person in sight.

Seeing that Li Zi was not lying, Hanyu Hideki said to Li Zi.

"It's too late. I'd better take you home first."

"Yes." The girl said yes obediently.

Then Hanyu Hideki brought Li Zi to the garage and found that the luxury cars that were driven in at noon were indeed gone, with only the last Ferrari left.

Hideki Hanyu got in the car, asked Li Zi to sit in the passenger seat, then started the car and rushed out of the mansion. The red Ferrari sped away and disappeared into the night.

……

Following Li Zi's guidance, the car drove on the road at night.

Inside the car, apart from Li Zi's occasional voice giving directions, Hanyu Hideki remained silent.

Seeing this, Li Zi, after giving directions again, pretended to ask Hanyu Hideki casually, "Mr.'s car is so beautiful, is it a gift for Axin?"

"No, this is my car." Hideki Hanyu's answer was quite concise.

Hearing this, Li Zi thought that she had believed Li Jiaxin's words before, saying that whatever belonged to Hanyu Hideki was hers, but now it seemed that she was just bragging.

But just after Li Zi had this thought, Hanyu Hideki Xia followed up with another sentence.

"It's just a car. If she likes it, it's fine to give it to her."

For ordinary people, the Ferrari F40 is certainly expensive.

But for Hideki Hanyu, hundreds of thousands of dollars are nothing. Previously in America, Naomi Watts said she wanted one, so Hideki Hanyu ordered one for her.

Hearing Hanyu Hideki's words, Li Zi felt envious and couldn't help but say, "Mr. is so good to Axin."

But the scumbag said without hesitation, "I treat all the women around me equally."

After Hanyu Hideki said this, Li Zi didn't say anything else except giving directions.

Until the vehicle arrived at the downstairs of her low-rent apartment.

Although this is called a low-rent apartment, it is actually considered a very good house in Hong Kong.

Compared to those old tenement buildings and cramped pigeon houses, this is at least a decent apartment. Li Zi made some money after entering the circle and was able to move his family in here.

When the Ferrari stopped downstairs, Hanyu Hideki said to Li Zi, "Miss Li Zi, we're here."

"Ah."

Li Zi responded softly, then went to unbuckle his seat belt.

But for some reason, the girl tried several times to unfasten the seat belt, but it didn't budge at all.

Then she said to Hanyu Hideki, "There seems to be something wrong with the seat belt."

Hanyu Hideki did not suspect anything, unbuckled his seat belt, leaned over to check Li Zi's seat belt.

In the dimly lit carriage, Li Zi looked at Hanyu Hideki, whose face, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, had a gentle and elegant temperament and was handsome beyond mortal standards, getting closer and closer to her, and her whole mood began to become strange.

In an instant, an inexplicable impulse surged in his heart. Li Zi suddenly lowered his head towards Hanyu Hideki and quickly pecked Hanyu Hideki on the mouth.

Hanyu Hideki, who was helping Li Zi unfasten his seat belt, had no idea that one day he would be attacked by a girl.

After unbuckling his seat belt, he looked at Li Zi in surprise.

"Miss Li Zi, what are you doing?"

Li Zi, whose face was already red with shame because of his impulsiveness just now, immediately responded in a mosquito-like voice after hearing Hanyu Hideki's question.

"I also want to be treated equally by the gentleman."

But when Hanyu Hideki heard Li Zi's words, he just pointed at the apartment building outside.

"Miss Li Zi, you should go home and rest."

Obviously, this was Hideki Hanyu's tactful refusal.

This was indeed something Li Zi had never expected.

In the past, even wealthy men like Huang Yulang pursued her in every way, but she refused.

But today, she was so proactive towards Hanyu Hideki, but Hanyu Hideki was so indifferent.

This made her unable to help but stare at Hanyu Hideki with her beautiful eyes, and asked aggrievedly, "Why?"

"No reason."

This is Hideki Hanyu’s answer.

Hideki Hanyu couldn't say that he was really not in the mood.

After saying that, he continued to help Li Zi unfasten his seat belt.

The problem with the seat belt was not something Li Zi pretended to have.

Ferrari's earliest batch of F40s used a special way of fastening the seat belts. It was very troublesome, and people who were not familiar with it were prone to making mistakes whether fastening or unfastening them.

But what the scumbag didn't expect was that even though he had politely rejected Li Zi, when he approached Li Zi again to fasten his seat belt, Li Zi suddenly attacked him again.

Another kiss like a chick pecking at rice.

After it was over, Li Zi looked at the scumbag with great pride.

The continuous attacks, coupled with this expression, really pissed off the scumbag.

He was not in the mood just now, but he could not stand being provoked by a woman.

His attitude towards girls has always been to not miss the good girls and not let the bad girls go.

No matter which type of person Li Zi is, he must pay the price tonight.

So the next moment, the scumbag put his arms around the girl's head and went forward.

As Li Zi moaned, the temperature in the small space of the Ferrari immediately became scorching hot.

After a moment, Hanyu Hideki, who was completely pulled out of his literary state because of the girl's provocation, looked at the low-rent apartment outside, and then looked at Li Ziwen in the car.

"Do you want to go back?"

Li Zi lowered her head shyly and said, "I will listen to you."

The next moment, the Ferrari roared into the night.
-
Causeway Bay.

The luxury apartment originally provided to Li Jiaxin has returned to its original role as Hanyu Hideki's rabbit hole because Li Jiaxin and her mother and sister moved out.

October 5th, morning.

Hideki Hanyu stood in front of the living room window overlooking Victoria Harbour and answered an expected call.

The person who made the call was not someone else, but Huang Yulang, whom he had just met yesterday.

"Mr. Hanyu, I agree to cooperate and am willing to sell you 25% of Yulang International shares at the current share price."

Hanyu Hideki emphasized, "Mr. Huang, you didn't sell it to me, you sold it to Elf Publishing House."

Huang Yulang hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, it was sold to the Elf Publishing House."

Hanyu Hideki smiled and said, "Selling shares is just a method. The goal is to strengthen our cooperation and make the market believe in our determination to cooperate."

"Sir, you are right, but I hope our cooperation can be concluded as soon as possible to boost confidence in the stock market sooner."

The impatience in Huang Yulang's tone could be heard even by Hanyu Hideki through the phone.

It is obvious that Yulang International is having a hard time now, but this is exactly what he wants to see.

"Don't worry, Mr. Huang. I will arrange the cooperation today, and my people will contact Yulang International within two days."

Hearing Hanyu Hideki's words, Huang Yulang hurriedly said, "That's good, that's good, then I will wait for good news from you, sir."

"Let's stop here. If there is anything else, I will ask my assistant to notify Mr. Huang."

After saying that, Hanyu Hideki ended the call with Huang Yulang.

But then he called the Elf Publishing House in Tokyo.

Instruct them to arrange someone to handle the investment matters of Yulang International.

But at the end, Hanyu Hideki emphasized another thing.

"When auditing finances, if you find problems, don't make them public, but you must keep the evidence."

Since the stock market crash last year, Yulang International has been threatened by the Paramount Group and the Sing Tao Group. It is estimated that it has made a lot of false accounts in order to protect itself.

There is no need for Hanyu Hideki to guess that these problems exist.

But the reason why he asked Elf Publishing House not to make it public was naturally to make good use of this matter.

He invested in Yulang International not because he really wanted to help Huang Yulang solve the crisis.

But some mines explode louder the deeper they are buried.

He didn't mind waiting a little longer for this.

Having made this plan, he couldn't help but smile as he hung up the phone.

Yulang International is a good thing.

Not only does he hold the copyrights to many popular comics, he also owns numerous Hong Kong media newspapers and periodicals, and he also has a group of talented people who have been exploited by Huang Yulang.

For example, in another time and space, after Yulang International collapsed, Ma Rongcheng, the author of "Chinese Hero", founded Tianxia Publishing House and created the famous "Fengyun" series.

At this time and space, if he took over Yulang International, he would definitely not let a talent like Ma Rongcheng leave.

"What makes you so happy, sir?"

At this moment, a female voice came from behind.

Hanyu Hideki turned his head and saw Li Zi, who was only wearing a white shirt, walking towards him barefoot on the carpet.

The girl's dressing reminded Hanyu Hideki of a movie called "Prison Dragon" that Li Zi filmed with Andy Lau in another time and space after his second comeback.

There is a scene in the movie where Li Zi is standing in the sea wearing a white shirt.

At that time, the sea water wet his clothes, and Hanyu Hideki saw for the first time that Li Zi, who looked cute and pure on the surface, actually had such strong capital.

Of course, in this time and space, he didn't need to watch it in the movies.

He had seen it up close last night in the bedroom.

In the end, he was sure that Li Zi was indeed a girl with great "capabilities".

When Hanyu Hideki was thinking, Li Zi had already approached Hanyu Hideki. The girl lowered her head and dived into the scumbag's arms, hugging his waist tightly.

"Sir, you haven't told me yet what you are laughing about so happily."

Hanyu Hideki replied, "I just reached a business cooperation, so I'm happy, and it's someone you know."

"Who?"

After Li Zi asked, he seemed to have guessed something and said, "Could it be Mr. Huang Yulang?"

"Yes, that's really smart."

Hanyu Hideki scratched the girl's neck and then deliberately asked, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy that I'm working with him? He seems to be pursuing you."

"He was pursuing me, but I didn't agree. Besides, now I am Mr.'s woman, so there is no need to mention him anymore."

As Li Zi spoke, he deliberately twisted his body in the scumbag's arms, as if he was acting coquettishly, or as if he was expressing his dissatisfaction.

"Okay, let's not talk about it, but your family will definitely be worried if you don't go home for a night, so I'd better take you home first."

After saying this, Hanyu Hideki took Li Zi in his arms and went to change clothes.

Even if the scumbag wanted to settle Li Zi, he would not choose here. After all, he always has to leave a rabbit nest for convenient movement.

……

More than twenty minutes later, we were at the same low-rent apartment building as last night.

Li Zi got off the car and received a file bag handed to him by Hanyu Hideki.

"I prepared this for you. Go back and take a look. Take good care of your family and focus on your studies. I'll help you with the rest."

Li Zi, who had just given herself to the scumbag, did not take the bag upon hearing this. Instead, she held the scumbag's hand with reluctance and said, "I don't want to leave you."

"But my schedule is already arranged. I'm leaving for South Korea this afternoon, and then I have to go to America."

Hideki Hanyu told the truth.

Li Zi still didn't let go after hearing that, and said with a pleading look on his face.

"Can I follow you?"

(End of this chapter)