Girl idols are meant to be exploited!

First of all, let’s talk about the basic salary. The minimum hourly wage in Shinjuku is around 1300. Based on Xiangzi working 4 hours a day, it is around 5000 yen.

Excluding the workday portion, the base salary is about 10 yen.

This is about the same as what Xiangzi earned from odd jobs, so there is nothing wrong with that.

The key point is the profit sharing and contract period, which is too harsh!

A 10% share is basically the lowest level of share, and it is an extreme share that only occurs when industry rules are not established.

You know, even the "idol hell" in South Korea now has a 20% share!

If she participated in an announcement and earned 100 million yen in appearance fees, she could only get 10 yen based on the profit sharing.

If it was just one or three years, it would be fine and I could just bear with it, but the contract stated it was a super long-term contract of 10 years.

She has lived for so long, but she hasn't even completed two decades of her life.

If she signed this contract, she would be tied to this firm for the next ten years. She would not be able to freely choose any career direction and would lose any chance to turn around.

This is completely exploiting her for profit and treating her like a slave!

How can an idol be exploited like this?

Xiangzi's face became colder and colder, and the anger in her chest could no longer be suppressed. She slammed the contract on the table, stood up and looked down at Hoshikawa Taku with cold eyes.

"If you just show me this kind of contract without any sincerity, then there is nothing left for us to discuss."

After saying that, she turned and strode towards the door, her steps crisp and decisive.

"Wait a minute, don't be so impatient. Don't you want to ask me why I gave you such a black-hearted contract?" Taku Hoshikawa smiled and tried to stop him.

"So you also know that this is a black-hearted contract..." Xiangzi stopped, turned around and looked at him sideways, with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

Xiangzi thought that Taku Hoshikawa deliberately used this contract to humiliate him.

Taku Hoshikawa shook his head with a smile, looking into Xiangzi's eyes, his tone full of meaning.

"Xiangzi, to be honest, it was your father who was expelled from the family, not you, right? As long as you are willing to bow your head, you can always go back and continue to be the daughter of a wealthy family."

"You can continue to happily form a band with your friends from Tsuki no Mori, stand at the center of the stage, and be the focus of everyone's attention, instead of running around for a living like you are now."

Xiangzi frowned slightly and said coldly, "No, I won't go back. Until my father is recognized by the family and returns to the family, I will never bow my head, let alone borrow any resources from the family!"

"You have ambition! That's why you are standing here." Taku Hoshikawa applauded with admiration.

"You don't want to rely on your family, you don't want to owe anyone a favor, and you don't want to accept anyone's kindness. That's why you work hard to make a living and bear all this alone."

Xiangzi remained silent.

In fact, Xiangzi also knew that she was a bit "unbearable". As long as she was willing to abandon her father who was now a disabled person and submit to her grandfather, she could continue to live her comfortable life as a young lady.

But she couldn't, she couldn't just watch her father suffer alone outside.

Especially now that he is in a daze and drinks all day, he needs her care even more.

Hoshikawa Taku's tone suddenly softened.

"Xiangzi, you have taken the initiative to choose a very difficult path. Others may think you are stupid, but I think you are doing the right thing. Only by breaking out of the shadow of your family can you truly live as yourself."

"Xiangzi, there is an opportunity now, a chance to truly take control of your own life. You no longer need to rely on anyone, nor do you need to be controlled by anyone."

"That is to sign this contract with me."

Xingchuan Taku slowly stood up, knocked the contract on the table, and said earnestly and sincerely:

"Xiangzi, do you know why I gave you this shady contract? Because I don't want a simple employment relationship with you, but a 'community of shared destiny'."

"I don't need an artist who only works for the agency. I need a partner who can create miracles with me."

He paused and said bluntly, "You should know that I now owe a billion yen in debt. I need to pay it off within a year, otherwise I will be forced to sell my building."

"You think this 91% split is harsh and you won't make any money, right?"

"That's because in your mind, you'll only be a low-brow idol performing in small live houses with others. Even if you run around the clock with commercial announcements every day, you can only earn a meager income."

"But I tell you, it's too small, the pattern is too small!"

"I want to sign you because I see potential in you. Like you, I don't want to succumb to fate. I want to create a huge national idol within a year and use her to help me repay this debt."

"You think this contract is harsh because you've set a ridiculously low ceiling for your future!"

There was a strong incitement in Hoshikawa Taku's tone.

"Think about it, if I can make 1 billion yen in a year, even if it's a 90% split, you can still get 100 million yen. Isn't that much better than an 80% split and only making a few hundred thousand yen as a small idol?"

"As long as you sign this contract, you will not only be an idol, but also a partner who will grow together with the agency and me. Every bit of effort you put in will be rewarded, and my success will also be your success."

Taku Hoshikawa leaned back slightly, adjusted his tone, and began to describe Shoko Toyokawa's future in a softer but more persuasive tone.

"Imagine that one year from now, you're standing on the center stage of the Nippon Budokan, playing your band's original songs with your bandmates, accompanied by the thrilling piano, and thousands of audiences cheering and applauding you!"

"Your name will appear on prime-time TV programs on major television stations, you will be featured on the covers of fashion magazines, and advertisers will rush to create high-end brand endorsements tailored for you."

"And you...will become an irreplaceable star in the Japanese entertainment industry!"

Hoshikawa Taku paused for a moment, giving Xiangzi time to digest the image, and then incited him further.

"This isn't just for yourself; your success will also make your father proud of you and help him get back on his feet.

Your grandfather will be impressed by you and will set a precedent for your achievements - allowing you and your father to return to the Toyokawa family!"

Hoshikawa Taku gently pushed the contract in front of Xiangzi, but did not force her to sign it immediately. He just continued:

“Although this contract seems harsh and I’m taking all your profits, please believe me, I will provide you with real support—the best vocal teacher, the top publicity team, and a band built specifically for you.

All of this will require me to consume a huge amount of resources. Ninety percent of the profits will be spent on this, and I might even have to put in my own money."

"We are a community with a shared future. We share risks and reap the fruits of victory together. This contract is not a constraint, but a bridge of trust between us."

Taku Hoshikawa felt that he had already painted enough of a pie in the sky, and if he continued to paint, it would make Xiangzi feel unreal.

He paused, then slowly leaned forward, placed his hands on the table, and began tapping the table rhythmically with his fingers.

His tone suddenly became serious and he began to "put pressure" on Xiangzi.

"Xiangzi, this opportunity belongs to you now, but if you don't want to become famous and make money, and don't want yourself and your father to return to the Toyokawa family, I also have a financial contract with an ordinary idol."

"It's just that... by then, the person standing in the spotlight at the center of the band won't be you."

Do you want to be a little idol in obscurity, or become the only legend in the agency and become famous?

This is the choice that Taku Hoshikawa gives to Xiangzi.

Chapter 10 Xiangzi, he is "PUA"ing you!

Taku Hoshikawa's words have completely trapped Xiangzi.

The pie in the sky was too tempting, and the picture of the future made her see heights that she had never dared to hope for.

She admitted that Hoshikawa Taku's words touched her.

His "sincerity" made her begin to believe that perhaps this contract was not really exploiting her, but a manifestation of trust.

After all, the problem could obviously be solved with an ordinary economic contract, but he came up with this "coexistence and common prosperity" model, which clearly showed his strong confidence in her potential.

Since the other party trusts me so much, shouldn’t I return the same trust?

Although his heart was beating so hard that it almost burst out of his chest, Xiangzi still tried his best to stay awake.

"...Can I go back and think about it again?" she asked tentatively, her tone hesitant.

After all, this wasn't a simple agreement, but a decision that would affect the next ten years. She needed time to digest it.

Hearing this, Hoshikawa Taku raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Of course I can consider it."

He nodded, and then continued in a gentler but still persuasive tone:

"Xiangzi, I know you have concerns and think this contract is too long. But have you ever considered that this contract is binding on the firm, not me?

If I cannot pay off the 1 billion yen debt within a year, the firm will go bankrupt and this contract will be void.”

He paused for a moment, giving Xiangzi some time to digest the information, and then continued:

"In other words, you only have one year at risk. And this year might be the crucial year that takes you from obscurity to standing on the Budokan stage."

"Why don't we make a bet? I'll bet you can become famous, and you'll bet I'll go bankrupt. How about that?"

At this time, Xiangzi was almost persuaded.

These words from Taku Hoshikawa were like a catalyst, pushing the balance in her heart in a clear direction.

A year...really just a year.

Xiangzi was thinking silently in his heart.

If she fails, she will only lose a year.

But if she succeeds... she will not only become a true idol, but may even change her own and her father's fate and return to the family.

"I...I..." Xiangzi started to speak, but he couldn't form a complete sentence.

She was still hesitant, afraid to make this important decision.

Hoshikawa Taku noticed her struggle and his face suddenly darkened.

He sighed deeply, disappointment evident in his tone.

"Xiangzi, I have staked everything on you. If you are unwilling to take a gamble with me, it only means that I have made a mistake in choosing you.

You are not the stubborn, confident Toyokawa Shoko I imagined, who never backs down in the face of any difficulties."

"You're just a young lady playing house. This experience of yours is just a brief taste of your journey through the human world. When you can't bear it anymore, you will choose to return to the protection of your family in disgrace, and then use this experience as a topic of conversation..."

"If that's what you really think, I'm so disappointed."

Hoshikawa Taku said as he waved his hand at Xiangzi, with a hint of boredom in his tone.

"Okay, you can go now. If you don't want to sign the contract, just pretend I never said anything. I'll find someone else."

He sat back in his office chair, as if ignoring Xiangzi, and began to look through the documents on his own.

Hoshikawa Taku's words were very stimulating, like a sharp thorn that pierced Xiangzi's self-esteem.

Xiangzi clenched his fists slightly, his nails digging into his palms, causing a dull pain.

After her father was expelled from the Fengchuan family, she resolutely chose to leave her life as a young lady and became a customer service representative Xiaoxiang, who was looked down upon and had to depend on other people's faces.

She didn't want others to know about her predicament and didn't want to show her weakness in front of others.

In her imagination of the future, there had never been the option of returning home in disgrace and becoming a pampered young lady.

The three words "playing house" seemed to explode in her ears, and every syllable carried a biting humiliation.

If it was true as Taku Hoshikawa said, and she gave up the opportunity to prove herself, then wouldn't she be the young lady who played "house" as Taku Hoshikawa mentioned?

For a moment, Shoko Toyokawa's blood rushed to her head, and her brain could no longer think normally.

Her mind is now completely filled with the idea of ​​"proving herself".

"I agree to sign the contract!"

When Toyokawa Shoko said this, she was a little shocked, even with a hint of uncertainty and panic.

Am I really going to sign this kind of shady contract willingly?

But when I think about it carefully, there seems to be no reason to refuse.

As long as she signs the contract, she can get everything she desires.

Although some elements in the contract made her feel a little uneasy, compared with the bright future she would have, this little bit of uneasiness could be thrown into the trash.

"Yes, I have decided to sign the contract!" Xiangzi repeated.

Finally... took the bait!

Hoshikawa Taku tried hard to suppress his smile and not let the corners of his mouth rise too much.

All of what Hoshikawa Taku said was planned in advance.

He performed a series of "PUA" on Xiangzi.

He first emphasized Xiangzi's current predicament, making her feel that this opportunity was very important to her and that she would not miss it again.