Girl idols are meant to be exploited!

Some old audience members said to Yidizhi Xingge when they passed by her, "Sister Xingge, the lighting for this show is really good. Did you hire a lighting technician? Will it be the same tomorrow?"

"No, I'm just a temporary tester today. We didn't hire a lighting technician..."

Yidizhi Xingge and many old customers said this, and she felt helpless.

The effect of this performance was so good, but then it became dull and the audience was dissatisfied. What should we do?

Should we just keep Hoshikawa Taku as the lighting technician?

-----

ps: Do many people think that I will be on the shelves today?

Although the word count has been met, I actually still have a week's recommendation period.

There are only 4,000 collections now, and the monthly votes and recommendation votes are not satisfactory. Even if it is put on the shelves, the results will not meet expectations.

So I asked the editor to move my release date back a week.

Considering that I will write one more week of free chapters... I ask you to move your fingers and cast some monthly votes and recommendation votes!

Chapter 52: Sumimi's guest performer

At the celebration party in the evening, the director held up a glass of wine and praised Taku Hoshikawa highly.

"Good, really good, I've decided, it's you!"

"The official concert time is 7 o'clock on Saturday night, but we have booked the venue for the whole day and will use the morning time for rehearsal. You must be there in the morning, don't be late."

The director handed Hoshikawa Taku a piece of printed paper.

"Here's the playlist for Sumimi's concert. You need to research the lighting effects over the next few days. We'll discuss the specific details with Sumimi during rehearsal that day."

Taku Hoshikawa took it and glanced at it. There were more than 20 songs on it, including original songs and covers by Sumimi.

Temporary arrangements definitely won’t work, he still needs to make some preparations in advance.

Seeing Hoshikawa Taku put away the song list, the director said again: "Let me tell you about the compensation. Generally speaking, the lighting technicians who work with me get 15 yen per scene, but because you are here to save the day, I can give you 20 yen."

This director is really generous, paying 20 yen per performance.

You know, generally speaking, for a behind-the-scenes position like a lighting technician, it is already very good to earn 10 yen per show.

The director was willing to offer Hoshikawa Taku a high price because he saw his ability and wanted to work with him for a long time.

Taku Hoshikawa didn't care much about the amount of the reward. After all, he didn't agree to it for this reason.

What he cares about is sumimi.

"Director." Hoshikawa Taku said, a hint of tentativeness in his tone, "Can you bring a friend to the concert that day? I have a friend who also likes Sumimi."

The friend that Taku Hoshikawa mentioned is naturally Shoko Toyokawa.

"Of course no problem, you can call as many friends as you want!"

The director readily agreed. He took out a few Sumimi's concert tickets from his wallet, handed them to Hoshikawa Taku, and distributed a few more to Xingge and the PA.

"Are these tickets enough? If not, I'll bring you a few more next time I come!"

"Enough, enough." Taku Hoshikawa waved his hands repeatedly.

He gave five tickets to Taku Hoshikawa alone.

These tickets are more than enough for Taku Hoshikawa.

"Director, why do you still have so many tickets? Isn't the concert only one week away?" The Ijichixing singer asked curiously, holding a few tickets.

Sumimi is considered a popular idol group at the moment, so selling 5000 tickets should be easy for them. How come the director still has tickets at this time?

Speaking of this, the director's smile suddenly froze.

He had also drunk quite a bit of wine. After a long silence, he sighed and, under the influence of the alcohol, said, "Actually, one of the guest singers at Sumimi's concert went viral."

Although it is a solo concert, it does not mean that only the singer himself will be there. There will also be some guests attending the concert.

Some of them are not famous enough and need guests to help them, while others need guests to help them sing because they have to perform more than 20 songs in a concert and cannot sing all the time without stopping.

For a concert, guest performers are very important. Good guests can add luster to the concert, while inviting inappropriate guests may even lead to the cancellation of the concert.

"How did the other party suddenly burst out?" asked Taku Hoshikawa.

The director took a sip of his wine and sighed, "That guy was exposed by Weekly Bunshun a few days ago for bullying other employees on the set and acting like a big shot.

Although it wasn't a major incident, it did damage her reputation, and there was even a wave of boycotts against her. Tickets had sold out early on, but because of that person's reputation, many people had their tickets refunded..."

"Weekly Bunshun" is Japan's most notorious gossip magazine. In order to sell well, it often exposes scandals of celebrities.

From voice actors to top actresses, famous actors to comedians, most of the scandals in the entertainment industry are exposed by this magazine.

Being targeted by Wenchun paparazzi, this artist is probably going to have a hard time in the future.

Hoshikawa Taku observed a second of silence for her, expressing his sympathy, and then asked the director: "Have they found the guest performers yet?"

"Not yet. How can it be that easy? That person is quite famous. Finding a guest of suitable status who agrees to perform on stage in such a short time is harder than climbing to the sky."

The director waved his hand, unwilling to talk about such a bad thing anymore, "Forget it, let's not talk about it. I am only responsible for the effect of the performance. Let Sumimi's agent worry about these off-stage matters."

Suddenly, an idea came to Hoshikawa Taku.

Maybe... this is a good opportunity.

Hoshikawa Taku quietly opened the system page and asked the system, "System, my special resource [Advanced Piano Instructor] allows Toyokawa Shoko to collaborate with that instructor, right? Can I have him as a guest performer at the concert?"

[Yes, which piano instructor would you like to choose for cooperation? ]

The system lists a series of names, and all Japanese pianists who enjoy international reputation are on the list.

Taku Hoshikawa even saw a world-renowned top pianist on it.

When he saw this name, Taku Hoshikawa was ecstatic.

That’s great, the other person is still alive in this world...!

"Hey, director, if we can invite pianist Maestro Sakamoto, wouldn't that offset the negative impact of this actor?"

The director thought Hoshikawa Taku was drunk and couldn't help laughing.

"What are you talking about? Master Sakamoto is so high-ranking. How can we possibly invite him as a guest? Even if we could, we can't afford his appearance fee."

"What if I could get it at a friendly price?"

"Then forget about the negative impact. Sumimi's concert tickets will be sold at sky-high prices." The director looked at Hoshikawa Taku in disbelief, his eyes clearing a little. "Could it be that... you have a solution?"

"I have some personal connections with the other party, and I can ask him to come forward at a friendly price, but..." Hoshikawa Taku paused and did not continue.

The director is also very good.

"I'll call Sumimi's agent right away and have her talk to you in detail!"

He staggered out and made a phone call. I don't know what he said, but when he came back he was smiling.

"Brother Xingchuan, the agent has already agreed to meet you tomorrow! What's your phone number? I'll give it to her."

After Hoshikawa Taku gave his phone number, the director did not take out his phone to send a message to the other party. Instead, he rubbed his hands embarrassedly and said to Hoshikawa Taku:

"Um... brother, you've already promised to be my lighting engineer. Does that mean it doesn't count?"

Hoshikawa Takuya understood what the director was worried about and said with a smile: "No, even if this cooperation doesn't go smoothly, I will definitely be there."

"That's good, that's good..." The director breathed a sigh of relief.

The guest's sudden outburst was something the agent should be concerned about, and it had nothing to do with him as a director in charge of the scene.

If Taku Hoshikawa no longer wanted to be a lighting technician after inviting that master, he would be the one in trouble.

------

ps: This master has passed away. Out of respect for his name, I will not write his full name, but everyone should know who I am referring to.

Chapter 53 Is Rupa an illegal immigrant?

The next morning, Taku Hoshikawa stood in the lobby of the office, looking at Satoshi Ebizuka and Rupa standing in front of him, feeling a little surprised.

"Have you two completed the handover procedures?"

"Well, the store manager guessed during our interview that we might resign, so she temporarily transferred two employees from other stores and is also recruiting new employees. She encouraged us to work hard and paid us on the spot."

Satoshi Ebizuka was very grateful to the store manager for hiring a 16-year-old girl like her and taking such good care of them.

She will always remember this favor in her heart, and when she becomes famous in the future, she will definitely promote the store to the owner.

"Now that the handover is complete, from today on, you will all be employees of our Xingchuan Idol Agency."

"Come on, I'll show you around."

It had been less than a week since Taku Hoshikawa traveled here, and this was already the third time he had shown someone around the office. He skillfully took them through the rooms they were most likely to use.

After passing through the recording studio, dance studio, conference room, and a series of office areas, Hoshikawa Taku led them to his office and asked like a tour guide who had completed his mission:

"Do you have any more questions?"

The two looked at each other, and finally Rupa couldn't help but ask the question that everyone was concerned about.

"Manager, why are there so few official employees in the company? Is there only the lady at the front desk?"

How could such a big building be empty?

Hoshikawa Taku smiled and said casually, "Wait a few days, and then other firms will move in. Now is just a transition period."

This answer did not completely dispel the two people's doubts, but Taku Hoshikawa did not explain any further. He directly began to assign tasks to the two people.

"Xiaozhi, your future workplace will be the recording studio. Meet Toyokawa Shoko this afternoon after school. You'll be her assistant."

"After school? Is he still a student?" Ebizuka Satoshi was obviously a little surprised, his eyes widened.

"Yes, he's a freshman in high school, the same age as you. You two should get along well."

...Will they get along well? Xiaozhi looked conflicted.

She is actually a bit introverted and not used to dealing with strangers, but now that she has a new job, she has to gradually get used to it.

I hope this Toyokawa Shoko is someone who is easy to get along with.

Hoshikawa Taku then looked at Rupa, hesitated for a moment and asked: "Rupa, I have a question, you... are not an illegal immigrant, right?"

Rupa is a girl with a slightly brown complexion and an exotic East Asian look. She does not have a Japanese name, Rupa is her English name.

In the original work, there is no description of this problem. Taku Hoshikawa is afraid that she is an illegal immigrant.

Nowadays, illegal immigrants have a hard time no matter where they are. Even the most "free and democratic" country, the United States, is having to expel illegal immigrants at the request of the president, leaving them with no big houses to live in.

Taku Hoshikawa does not want the artists he signs in the future to be deported due to identity issues.

Rupa was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "I am not an illegal immigrant. My father is South Asian and my mother is Japanese. After my mother passed away, my father didn't want me to live a hard life in South Asia, so he brought me to Japan.

I became a Japanese citizen because of my mother, but my father was forcibly deported after his visa expired, and I have lived alone in Japan since then."

Rupa did not mention the news of her father's death, and simply omitted how she managed to live alone in an unfamiliar environment. Hoshikawa Taku did not ask.

Hoshikawa Taku nodded and said, "I'm glad you're not an illegal immigrant. From now on, you'll be my assistant. You'll follow me wherever I go."

"Um...amn't I an intern in planning and operations?" Lupa tilted his head in confusion.

“Do you know what planning and operations is?”

"Planning the idol's future development blueprint, planning various activities, and managing the idol's social media accounts..."

"Yes, that's what my assistant does." Hoshikawa Taku snapped his fingers, "Rupa... No, Lupa, I'll call you that from now on."

Hoshikawa Taku actually wanted to call her "Palu", but there is no such game in this world, and there is no point in playing a meme that no one understands.

"Well, you can call me whatever you want, manager." There was no difference in the name, and Rupa could accept it.

"Come and take a look. I have an account here. Think about how to operate it."

Taku Hoshikawa turned on the computer in front of him and logged into Pochi's account on the video website.

Rupa came over and was surprised to see the name of the account [Guitar Hero].

"Guitar Hero..." She looked at Hoshikawa Taku in astonishment, "Does that mean Guitar Hero is you, the manager?!"