Chapter 40 Section IX

Kazuko Takimura hung up the phone to Ichizawa Yusuke who was in the industrial club. "I'm sorry, could you please come here at five o'clock in the afternoon?" Ichizawa's deep voice came from the receiver, "Ah, then I want to invite you to dinner, please get ready, okay?" But Shouzi waited anxiously for the arrival of five o'clock, such a mood had not appeared for a long time.If he gets close to Ichizawa, he must break up with Shenjing Liubei. Recently, Shen Jing seemed to be aware of Ke Juzi's mood, and asked to meet her more actively than before. This was not the case before.But when Shouzi felt a little cold, the other party became furious and furious.This may be due to Shen Jing's impatience caused by the cold reception of society recently.At first, Ke Shouzi took advantage of Shen Jing's influence to profit from it, but now Shen Jing turned to her for help.

Xinxing Ikebana, like other art fields, seems to be inconspicuous, but in fact the alternation of old and new is also very intense. But Shouzi seems to think that if he continues to associate with Shenjing in the future, it will only cause trouble. Originally, her character was not interested in declining men. Moreover, she was not very satisfied with some of Shen Jing's characters.He is fond of vanity, playing tricks on mysteries, and only knows how to use the news and propaganda circles skillfully.Once my name is not mentioned, I will be brooding.She thinks the society's evaluation of him is a little too much.All he has is a little wit and a unique flair for being fashionable.

Ke Shouzi felt that the sky in front of him was infinitely broad, and his competitor Jiujing Fumiko was seriously injured due to private life problems. Although Ke Shouzi didn't know the details, it can be expected that Jiujing Fumiko would never recover from the fall. Whenever a reporter talked about Wenzi, she always tried her best to pretend not to listen, but she secretly hoped that the matter would be published in the newspaper. If Ichizawa Yusuke, who fully supported Wenzi in the past, becomes his backup in the future, his status will continue to rise and gain a firm foothold.Even Wenzi, who lacks skills and talents, has achieved such a status under the support of Shi Ze.It was Shi Ze's biggest mistake to help Wenzi in the past.

It's five o'clock. But when Kotoshiko arrived at the industrial club in Marunouchi, the waiter with a black bow tie seemed to have been taken care of by Ichizawa, and said: "Come this way, please." Walk ahead and lead her the way. Ke Shouzi had walked past this building many times in the past, but it was the first time to enter it.The Industrial Club is a meeting place for the biggest names in Japanese business, and its name is often featured in newspapers.It has a long history and strict regulations on membership, only a few people can participate. Compared with the quaint exterior of this building, the interior decoration is delicate and gorgeous, which makes people feel very elegant.

No matter which room is decorated magnificently, it even makes people feel like entering a foreign palace. Whether it's the large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the gold-clad stair railings, or the dynasty-style decorations on the walls, they all embody classic beauty and elegant artistic charm. Most of the people walking slowly here are old people, which is daunting.All of them are managers or important figures of first-class companies.They put their hands in their pockets and walked up and down with dignity. Ke Shouzi can be regarded as someone who has experienced big scenes, but at this moment he is also a little nervous.

"Ah. Welcome, welcome!" Ichisawa stood up from the spring chair in the hall.He was wearing a dark kimono as usual. Dozens of spring chairs line the red carpet.Sitting there were some silver-haired, bright-eyed people from the financial industry, some were talking softly, and some were playing Go. But when Shouko came in wearing a bright kimono, they just raised their eyelids, and then returned to their original posture without interest.This seems to be very restrained, which is gratifying. Ichizawa Yusuke is a figure who often appears in various gatherings, and now he is among these people, and he looks even more majestic.

"It's hard to turn down the kindness, so I came here unceremoniously." Saying that, Ke Shouko sat on the soft chair opposite Ishizawa. The waiter with a bow tie tiptoed forward and gently put down the teacup. Ichizawa crossed his legs leisurely, and the skirt of his kimono rustled.White tabi socks and kimono slippers were exposed under the skirt. "Where, there is no other suitable place, so I decided here temporarily. I am sorry to invite you to this place full of men." Ichizawa said kindly. "Where...it's the first time I come to such a luxurious place, I'm really nervous."

"Where, where. It is absolutely impossible for a person like you." Ichizawa Yusuke stared at Kejuko and couldn't help smiling.His eyes were scorching, and he had the potential to suck Ke Shouzi in. At this time, it was already dusk outside.The large chandeliers in the room were lit up in unison.In an instant, the interior decoration shines brilliantly. "I also found someone to come." Ichizawa said, "If you agree, I would like to count you in and have a meal together. The location is in Akasaka." "But, I, to a place like that." "Are you in trouble?"

"No, it's not embarrassment. But I'm a woman." "It doesn't matter. Recently, some women still go to the teahouse in a dignified manner. This is rather new. This is how I arranged it tonight. Please come with me." "The person I am looking for is a trustworthy person, and I hand over the company I worked for to him." During the conversation, the man came to the side respectfully. "President!" he said in a low voice. "Here, that's him." Ichizawa smiled openly while speaking, "Hey, this is Takimura-kun." This is a man who is nearly sixty years old. After bowing down to Ke Shouzi courteously, he said:

"I've heard about it for a long time." "Oh, I don't dare to take it." Ke Shouzi put her slender fingers on her face and said, "I don't know what kind of publicity Ichizawa-kun made for me, I just smeared it randomly. My name is Takimura." She took the business card, which had the title of manager of a well-known company printed on it. Kotoshiko was taken to a restaurant in Akasaka whose name she had heard before. Ichizawa Yongliang leaned against a pillar in the alcove, the manager sat opposite him, and Ke Shouko sat next to Ichizawa.There is a clear difference between Shi Ze and the manager's conversation.Shi Ze spoke very rudely to him, but he treated him respectfully like a minister or section chief.They still maintain the previous level of difference.

After a while, Mrs. Yi delivered the food.One by one they brought Lai up.In Ke Shouzi's view, it's like a court lady serving food in a play.Apparently, Ichizawa likes this approach. There are not many young geishas, ​​and almost all of them are elder sisters, but they are very particular about makeup and clothing. After a while, the wine came. Between the three of them are inserted two geisha each.A round-faced woman sitting next to Ichizawa looked at Ke Juzi and asked: "President, who is this?" Even if she didn't ask, the geisha's interest had already focused on Kazuko.Her kimono is more advanced than that of a geisha, and her sharp face is radiant in the light.As a result, it is difficult to tell who is a geisha. "Don't you know her? Maybe you've seen her somewhere?" Speaking of which, the geisha said at the same time that they had seen it in magazines and newspapers.The youngest of them blurted out: "Is it the avant-garde ink painter Takimura Kazuko?" "You're right after all." The geishas chattered.Some said it was amazing, and some said they saw it just now.Then they praised Kejuko's beauty and elegance of dress.Originally, on such occasions, if a guest brings a female guest, the geisha have the habit of complimenting the female guest first.What's more, today is Ke Shouzi, an avant-garde ink painter, a beauty and a topical figure, so everyone's noise is much higher than before. Started to drink, the interest of the geisha still did not leave Kejuzi. "President, I'm going to make a kimono without flowers recently, can Mr. Kiyotakimura draw something for you?" One started, and the other two or three followed suit. "Really? But I can't make the decision. You should ask Mr. Takimura directly!... If you like my handwriting, I can write as much as you want." Ichizawa said quite satisfied. "Oh, President, that word is too ugly, it ruined the kimono." "Hey, sister, let the president buy you another suit." said a young geisha. "Really. If that's the case, please ask the president to buy more sets." "Oh, I want to too." "Please buy it for sure! It would be great to catch up with the spring preview." All of a sudden, there was a chaotic noise. "Stop talking silly." Ichizawa glared at the geishas. "However, if you think that you can paint for nothing, you are too greedy for cheap. If you want to ask Mr. Takimura to paint, you must pay a considerable amount of dyeing pen fee. Well, you must be prepared to spend two months income." The banquet finally became active. The manager seemed a little restrained from the very beginning, and when the dishes were served halfway, he stood up quietly and walked out.A geisha hurried after her.People thought he went to the toilet, but after a while, the geisha came back and whispered to Ichizawa for a while.Ichizawa nodded. Ke Shouzi caught a glimpse of this situation and knew that the manager went back knowingly.It seems that Shi Ze planned this way from the beginning, as if to use this manager. During the banquet, Shi Ze spoke in a fluent manner, open-minded and casual, and said some wisecracks and witty jokes from time to time, which made the geisha laugh.But he kept paying attention to Ke Shouzi, and she knew it herself.And the geisha always pay attention to highlighting Kejuzi. "Here, president, it's almost time, it's time to perform your best show, how about it?" said a geisha.The other geishas clapped together. "No, it's free today!" Ichizawa smiled wryly. "Oh, how can I say this. Don't be arrogant, okay? Even though Mr. Takimura is here, there is no need to be embarrassed." "Where, I'm not sorry." "Sorry, sorry!" The other geisha booed together. "There is really no other way. Then, I will make a fool of myself in front of Mr. Takimura!" Ke Shouzi applauded. Ichizawa Yusuke sat upright again, and his posture changed.Since he is dressed in a kimono, he is indistinguishable from an entertainer.He co-sang the ballads sung by Sanxian, but Shouzi didn't sound like an outsider.She had already heard that Shi Ze was fond of ballads, and after hearing it with her own ears today, she realized that he has profound skills and extraordinary skills. The geisha present already knew that he was keen on this way, but they still applauded in unison at this moment. Next, at the suggestion of Kojuko, the geishas began to dance. On the way, the female owner of the restaurant also joined in, chatting to Ichizawa and complimenting Kotoko. There were three dances.When the second dance was over, the maid crept up and whispered something to the landlady. "President!" The female boss conveyed the maid's words to Ichizawa, "Mr. Nagamura is at the door and wants to see you, what should I do?" "What, Changcun?" Shi Zeyongliang was taken aback, and stared straight ahead.Seeing that he couldn't remember the person's name, the female boss said, "His name is Heitaro Nagamura, and he said that he must talk to you about Fumiko Kui." It really doesn't make sense.He has long heard that the prisoner who injured Fumiko Hisai was Nagamura Heitaro.What is he doing now?No, more suspiciously, how did he know he was here? It may have been a threat.According to the rumors Ichizawa heard, the man of Fumiko Hisai was a pachinko shop owner who had always been infatuated with Fumiko and had been providing her with living expenses for a long time. After Ichizawa learned of Heitaro's identity, he suddenly became disgusted with Fumiko, because he is a wealthy person with a noble background and has always been prejudiced against occupations like pachinko parlors. "Get him away!" Shi Ze whispered in a low voice that Ke Shouzi, who was sitting beside him, couldn't hear, "I don't know him, and there's no need to meet him. He came here unexpectedly. It's so ignorant." The female boss nodded frequently, and then asked the maid who had been waiting to quit. The geishas are doing their last dance.Shi Ze suddenly became restless, as if a basin of cold water was poured on his head when he was in high spirits.The person who threw sulfuric acid on Wenzi's face must be a vengeful guy, because I seduced Wenzi, maybe he came to settle accounts with me. Although Ichizawa turned his face towards the dancing geisha with a happy expression, his heart was extremely disturbed.I was in the midst of being excited, but he ruined everything, there was really nothing I could do about him! Shi Ze regretted his relationship with Wen Zi even more. If he had known today, it would have been nice to have hooked up with Ke Shouzi who is now sitting next to him. But Shouzi concentrated on watching the dance as if he didn't know anything.Whether her profile is good or her posture is good, they are both tall and straight amidst the coquettishness.Ichizawa glanced at her dignified, almost indifferent face out of the corner of his eye, and said in his heart, she was different from other geisha. Nagamura Heitaro was waiting at the corner of the restaurant gate.This gate is very elegant and exquisite, and there is a forest of fine bamboos nearby, and the pebbles that have been sprinkled with water are shining brightly under the light of the lamp.A dynasty-style candlestick is placed on the tatami at the entrance, and the candlelight illuminates the golden screen on the front. Obviously, this is not the place for people like Heitaro Nagamura to come.He himself was aware of this, and he wondered whether Shi Ze could come out to see him. He came here now not to vent his resentment to Shi Ze, but to satisfy Wen Zi's wish on the hospital bed.After Heitaro hurt Fumiko, he fell into deep regret.On the spur of the moment, he made the face of the woman he once loved ugly. Wenzi will soon inevitably disappear from the ranks of painters and beauties.She was eagerly looking forward to Shi Ze coming to the hospital bed, and almost went crazy looking forward to it.Seeing such a scene, Heitaro thought: No matter what, let her meet Ichizawa. Needless to say, Shi Zeyongliang has already avoided Wenzi far away.In this regard, Wenzi also felt vaguely. However, it is really pitiful for Wenzi to be dumped by Shi Ze like this. Heitaro knew very well that Fumiko's bandaged face was covered with keloids and was extremely ugly.It is impossible for Shi Ze to continue to communicate with Wen Zi, so he does not have to worry about this point.Soon, Wenzi will be monopolized by him.This feeling prompted him to fulfill Wenzi's wish.In fact, this is to fulfill Wenzi's last wish. I don't know if Shize can come to Wenzi's bedside.However, Ichizawa is obliged to visit the hospital. If he just ran away like this, it would be too irresponsible to Wenzi. The maid who went in to report came back. "I'm really sorry, Mr. Ichizawa has already gone back." Heitaro nodded slightly, not entirely unexpected. "Understood. To trouble you." He bowed his head to salute, and then left the brightly lit restaurant gate.The maid stared blankly at his back. Heitaro was walking down the street.There are restaurants on both sides of the road. Rows of luxury cars are parked in front of every restaurant.Rickshaws with curtains running around. Heitaro thought about the maid's reply as he walked.In his mind, he imagined the scene of Ichizawa surrounded by geisha under the coquettish lights. In order to find out where Ichizawa is, Heitaro suddenly thought of the Industrial Club during the day.A man who looked like a clerk finally remembered the name of this restaurant and told him.If he hadn't said that he was from Ichizawa's family and wanted to contact him on an urgent matter, he would not have succeeded. Heitaro came to the tramway.Suddenly, he stopped. ——I can’t just go back like this! Considering Wenzi's disappointment, it is inconvenient for him to convey Ichizawa's reply to her truthfully.When he left the hospital, he once said to Wenzi, "I will definitely bring Shize!" Fumiko opened her eyes protruding from the bandages, and looked at Heitaro gratefully. "Please forgive me for being capricious for the last time..." Heitaro is very clear about the meaning of the last waywardness that Wenzi said, and he can understand it. These words contained Wenzi's regret, and also revealed her nostalgia for Shi Ze. Since Wenzi used the word "last", it shows that she has given up on painting.A few days ago, she practiced painting on the quilt with her fingers.In desperation she still did not want to give up painting.However, for her, seeing is as important as life, not only ink painting, but also her beauty.Without her beauty, the press wouldn't be able to hype her up. Now, with half of her handsome face burned by acid, she had to give up her ambitions. Wenzi's mood aroused deep sympathy for Heitaro.He is the murderer who destroys Wenzi's beauty, so he can't just stand by and do nothing. Heitaro stood dumbfounded on the tramway.Since I can't go back like this, I have to go back to the restaurant again.However, he couldn't get close to Ichizawa.They said again that Shi Ze had already gone back, what else could I do? He stood there so preoccupied, with the torrent of cars in front of him.A young man in a taxi.Seeing the dumbfounded Heitaro, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face. —Riichi Ichishimamura is going to Ueno Station to pick up Yuriko Morisawa who is returning to Tokyo.Because it was still early, he planned to go to Yurakucho to meet someone he couldn't see before that. Shimamura felt an inexplicable worry about the little old man standing dazedly on Diannian Road.Of course, this person has never been seen before, but he always feels like he has an impression and met him before, so there is an incredible sense of intimacy. However, as soon as this little old man was out of his sight, he disappeared from his heart at the same time. He intends to train Yuriko, who is about to be picked up from the station, into a unique avant-garde ink painter through his painstaking guidance.This is Shimamura's only wish.