Chapter 2 Chapter two

Three days after receiving the letter of introduction from the veteran writer Kimura Heigoro, Miyako Konno went to visit Aonuma Tejiro. Konno Miyako called Tejiro Aonuma's house first.A maid's voice came over the phone: "Sir is in the hotel." When asked which hotel he was in, the maid refused to answer. "I'm from Q Club," Konno said pretending to be a big publishing house, "I have an urgent matter to contact Mr. Aonuma. Excuse me, please tell me which hotel it is." Aonuma's maid believed it and told Miyako.Miyako guessed that it must be that Q agency locked Aonuma Zhenjiro in the hotel to write the manuscript.

Hotel N is a first-class hotel in Tokyo, newly built.When it was completed, it was widely reported in newspapers and weekly magazines. Konno Miyako then went to Akasaka.Walking into the hotel gate, I saw foreigners coming in and out. She went to the main service desk and asked the waiter to answer the switchboard.The waiter handed the microphone to Miyako Kugano and looked at her face and clothes. On this day, Miyako Konno was still wearing the same kimono she wore when visiting Kimura Heigoro.The style and dress of the clothes are extraordinary. Aonuma Shōjiro's own voice came from the microphone at the front desk, an old man's, hoarse voice.

"Are you Mr. Aonuma? It's very presumptuous. I came to visit you suddenly during your busy schedule. I'm from Beidou Publishing House." When she said this, Aonuma asked repeatedly "Huh? Huh?" It seemed that he had never heard of Beidou Publishing House, and felt baffled. "I brought a letter of introduction from Mr. Kimura Heigoro. It doesn't take long, five minutes or ten minutes. Can I see you?" "Is it the letter from Mr. Kimura introducing you to me?" "yes." "Are you the editor of that publishing house called?"

"No, I run the publishing house." Aonuma Tejiro was silent for a while. "Now, I'm writing a manuscript, and I'm very busy." Aonuma muttered on the phone. "I'm so sorry, I'll go as soon as I see you." "Then, that's the way it is. Please come up." The phone hangs up.His tone was bored, as if he was saying that since he had a letter of introduction from Kimura Heigoro, he had no choice but to meet him. Aonuma Zhenjiro is one of the popular writers today, good at writing romance novels, no, it should be said that they are erotic novels.Every month, there are always two or three of his serialized novels in the magazine.His booklets can sell at least 70,000 to 80,000 copies.

From the phone, it can be heard that Aonuma doesn't know Beidou Publishing House.It showed that he hadn't taken Miyako's last visit to heart at all.At that time, Miyako was rejected. On that day, Miyako Konno did hand over the business card of "Miyako Konno, President of Hokuto Publishing House" to the maid who came out to receive her.Aonuma Tejiro probably glanced at the business card and said, "Get her out of here", and maybe even tore up the business card. Thinking of this, Miyako Konno boarded the elevator to the fourth floor.There were four or five foreigners on the elevator, and they were all curiously observing Miyako Konno's face and appearance.

The hotel male attendant led Miyako to Aonuma's room.Miyako was carrying a burden, wearing snow-white Japanese-style cloth socks, and dragging light yellow sandals, walking on the crimson carpet.In the package are four or five books that have been published by their agency so far and a little gift. The waiter knocked on the door. As soon as the door opened, one could see the long side face of Aonuma Tejiro, who was sitting by the window in a single kimono and was writing, with his hair hanging down his forehead. Konno Miyako stood beside Aonuma who was busy writing, bowed, and whispered:

"To bother you." Aonuma glanced at it, then turned to the manuscript paper and continued writing.He is a thin tall man.When Miyako greeted him, he mumbled "ah" and "um" a few times. Miyako moved away from Aonuma's side and sat down on the chair used for receiving guests.This is a set of two rooms, the other could be a bedroom.Miyako shifted her eyes from Aonuma's back leaning over the table to every corner of the room.Probably because foreigners often come to live here, there are reproductions of prints hanging on the wall. After a while, Aonuma Tejiro sighed and put down his pen.About five minutes had passed since she sat down.

Aonuma Tejiro pushed back the chair with a "bang", and stood up abruptly.Perhaps still uneasy, he stood up and read the manuscript he had written again, then covered the single kimono tightly, turned his head to look at Miyako, and said: "Sorry for the waitting." Aonuma's slender eyes showed a tired look.Seijiro Seinuma should be forty-five years old, and he looks younger than the photos he usually sees in newspapers and magazines, but perhaps due to fatigue, he is a bit old.Wide forehead, high nose bridge, thin lips, the face shape is a bit flat.When she stood up, she was a head taller than Miyako.

"I'm sorry you're so busy." Miyako bowed respectfully. "You said, you brought Mr. Kimura's letter of introduction?" Aonuma Tejiro had double eyelids, and he cast his shadowy eyes on Miyako. "Yes. This is the one. Also, here is my business card." Miyako handed him two business cards.Aonuma sat down exhaustedly, crossed his legs, and slowly compared the two business cards. "Ah, I see." Aonuma put the business card on the table together, opened the can of American cigarettes, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Miyako took out a lighter from her belt and lit it, then handed it to Aonuma's cigarette butt.A look of surprise flashed across Aonuma's heels.

"thanks." Aonuma exhaled blue smoke.His eyes peered at Miyako through the smoke. "Mr. Kimura," Aonuma said after the smoke dissipated, "Have any books been published by you?" "No, we haven't been given the manuscript yet," Miyako replied in a low voice. "Yeah, then, why did Mr. Kimura give you a letter of introduction? Have we known each other for a long time?" "No, I don't know him. I recently visited him for the first time and asked him to write a letter of introduction." "Is this the first time?" Aonuma Tejiro looked at Miyako's face unceremoniously.

"Mr. Aonuma," Miyako said, "I'm giving you my business card. This is the second time. I visited your house once, but I couldn't see you." A smile formed on Miyako's lips. "Yeah, that's too rude." "No, you are a big celebrity, so of course you wouldn't pay attention to a small publishing house like ours. But, we wanted to publish your book very much. So, we went to Mr. Kimura with the cheek." "Aren't you going to publish Mr. Kimura's book?" "Of course, I asked him to write a manuscript. He said he would give it to us slowly, so he gave us a letter of introduction first." "Mr. Kimura is too cunning," Aonuma Tejiro smiled wryly, and said, "With a business card, he pushed the work that he should do to me." In fact, judging from Aonuma's face, he was not completely dissatisfied. Compared with incomprehensible books like Kimura Heigoro, the publishing house certainly prefers wonderful works like Aonuma.This woman's words are true. She went to ask Kimura to write a manuscript, but it was just a means. Konno Miyako is not at all like a female staff member of a publishing house.Aonuma Tejiro sized this woman up carefully.Long face, beautiful hairline, a pair of watery eyes, high nose bridge, tightly closed mouth, slightly long and pointed chin, generally speaking, the outline is sharp, giving people a delicate impression.What's more, the style of the clothes she chooses and her outfit are extraordinary.If this is a famous geisha, people will not doubt it.She is about twenty-seven or eight years old, and her delicate face shows that she is rich in life experience. Aonuma Zhenjiro just got tired of writing manuscripts. Therefore, he decided to postpone the manuscript that was scheduled to be handed in this evening, and temporarily talk to this woman whose business card says "President of Beidou Publishing House Miyako Amano". "I know that this sudden visit has caused you a lot of trouble. We really need your manuscript." There was a flattering smile in her big eyes. "No, people from all walks of life often make such requests to me. In fact, my work has been decided to be published long before the magazine is published." "I know this very well. Our agency is not as big as others, and we don't publish magazines, so we can't compete with them." Recently, publishing houses have a tendency: after the author's manuscript is first published in the magazine of his own agency, the book must be published.Therefore, it is very difficult for a publishing house with a relatively large scale to collect manuscripts if it does not publish a magazine. "So, I boldly make a request, please write us a work that will be directly published in a book without being published in a magazine, okay?" "what?" Aonuma Tejiro was not surprised. Of course, some people once asked him to write novels directly into books.However, most of them are big publishing houses, and these publishing houses have close contacts with Aonuma.Still, he kept refusing. Now, a nameless Beidou Publishing House has made such a request out of its own means.At first, Aonuma was taken aback, then he expressed contempt.Apparently, this woman doesn't know much about the publishing world. "Exactly, what books have been published in your club?" Konno Miyako nodded, opened the bundle in her hand, took out four or five books, and put them on the table.Those were the books that Kimura had read. "Are all these books?" Aonuma picked up each book and read it.Pull out the ones that are in the book cover, and flip through them casually. "It's not badly bound." It's not exactly flattery.The binding is indeed very good, even if it is marked with the name of a major publishing house, it is also suitable. There are two novels, and three books that are neither like reading materials nor essays.These fiction writers are relatively simple.Although the essay writers are somewhat famous, it is estimated that these works will not sell well. "How is it, is it selling well?" Holding the book in his hand, Aonuma asked, looking at Miyako Konno who was sitting across from her with her head down. "No," Miyako said with a slight smile, "I'm sorry for these gentlemen. Among these books, the largest sales volume is only 7,000 copies." "That would be a loss." "yes." Konno Miyako sat on the chair and leaned out unconsciously.A pair of big eyes with very distinct eyeballs stared at Aonuma.It's bright eyes. "So please do me a favor. I know you're busy without telling me. I'm willing to accept anything." "That troubled me too much." Aonuma tried to avoid her gaze and looked away. "You said you were the president, but how many employees do you have?" What Aonuma Tejiro was concerned about was whether this woman named Konno Miyako was single or not.Since she is the president, maybe she doesn't have a husband.However, is there a background boss?Of course, there must be.Even a widow should be supported. "Besides me, there are only two employees. One is in touch with the printing factory, the bookbinding factory, etc., and the other is doing chores. The one doing chores is still a teenager." "So you have experience in publishing?" "No." Konno Miyako shook her head and said "no" in an innocent tone. Aonuma Tejiro understood in his heart.No wonder she spoke in layman's terms. What kind of person is this woman?It seems that she has worked in the hospitality industry, but why is she hooked up with publishing work?After being redeemed by the master, geisha-born people can't stay idle. If they want to do business, they usually choose industries related to the reception business, such as bars, restaurants, tea houses, and simple restaurants.How did she plan to ask the master to fund the publishing business? Aonuma Zhenjiro thought, this woman might be a big careerist.It doesn't mean that she is ambitious just because she has a publishing business. If she is a geisha and gets involved in a job that has nothing to do with her, it will make people feel that she has some ambitions. "How did you come up with the idea of ​​a publishing job?" Aonuma Tejiro asked a very natural question. "Then, let me tell you the truth. Mr. Kimura couldn't help but confess. So, it would be unfair if I don't tell you the truth." Miyako Konno may have relieved her nervousness, and said in a joking tone.She said "I'm sorry", and took out a fancy silver cigarette case from the sleeve pocket of the kimono, pulled out a cigarette with her soft fingers, and took out the lighter that Aonuma had just ignited, and flicked it. She held a cigarette between her lovely lips, and exhaled blue smoke from her pretty nose.From her gesture of holding a cigarette, it can be generally seen that she is someone with experience in the pick-up industry.People who also smoke, if they are laymen, will not make such a coquettish gesture. Aonuma Tejiro gradually became interested.He has also accumulated various love experiences.His novels are popular because their erotic descriptions come from his personal experience. It turned out that Aonuma Zhenjiro was born in "pure" writing.At first, he wrote narrative private novels.Because he is handsome, he has had relationships with various women.Works written based on these experiences have gradually been welcomed by readers.Today, in that regard, he is second to none. "To be honest, I started the publishing house for my husband." Konno Miyako lowered her head slightly and said. "Yeah, sir?" Aonuma Tejiro was puzzled and kept probing, until the truth came to light. "You have a husband?" Aonuma couldn't help saying. "Well, it's no wonder I'm not married at this age." Miyako Kugano continued to smoke with a beautiful posture. "That's true." Of course, Aonuma didn't dare to say that he thought Miyako had a backstage boss. "Then, is your husband also running this publishing house with you?" "No, my husband isn't fit for the job. I did it all by myself." "Well, then, where does your husband work?" "No, he hangs out at home every day." "So, ill health?" "No, although the body is not very strong, there is nothing serious about it." Konno Miyako still had a smile on her face. "It's weird." This woman's husband might not be capable - Aonuma could only speculate like this.Maybe it was because the husband was too disappointing and the wife couldn't see it, that's why I started the publishing house.Knowing that this husband lacks the ability to live, Aonuma developed a new interest.He is quite interested in this kind of man's wife from another angle. "Honestly, my husband is writing poetry." "Is it a poet?" Aonuma Tejiro couldn't help being surprised. Konno Miyako told Aonuma what she had said to Kimura Heigoro. Aonuma Zhenjiro knew that he had guessed completely wrong, and he had to admit that the imagination of novel writers is limited. "You are considerate of your husband." After Aonuma finished listening, he started smoking a cigarette.Unlike Kimura Heigoro, Aonuma felt a little disappointed. "However, Mr. Aonuma." Konno Miyako seemed to be aware of Aonuma's mood, and her big eyes showed a flattering look. "Although he is writing poetry, he doesn't know anything about society. Maybe all poets are like this, but my husband is very good. If I live with him, I will starve to death. So, I am desperately trying to publish society." "It's amazing that you can satisfy your husband's wishes and find a way to make a living." Speaking of this, Aonuma Tejiro couldn't help but have a question: To set up a publishing house, you must have a large sum of money.This woman has shown me just now that Beidou Publishing House has published so many books.Where did the money come from? Even though her husband is incapable of living, this woman wears first-class clothes.And on her soft fingers she wore a diamond ring.Handbags are the first-class products of snakeskin, and straw shoes are also expensive products.Moreover, high-priced items are also worn in places that do not attract attention.You can't do this by dressing up temporarily when you go out.Just like her appearance, from this attire, one can see the unique hobbies of women in the flower and willow world. "Mr. Aonuma, how about writing a novel and let us publish it directly, okay?" Miyako pushed forward. "yes." Aonuma suddenly had the idea of ​​writing an article for her.Because he wanted to keep in touch with this interesting woman. Miyako may have sensed the other party's mental activity, and her eyes were shining brightly. "Please, please. If you can publish Mr.'s book, we can lay a solid foundation, and our small publishing house will have credibility. I don't know how to thank you. I will never forget your kindness." "But, you say that, I also..." "I am fully aware that this is an unreasonable request. The big publishers are rushing to get your manuscript, and of course we can't get it. But it is really unreasonable for me to ask for it. I know that very well. However, if If you can’t get your manuscript, this publishing house, which was established with great difficulty, may go bankrupt.” "But, that's not mine either..." "Yes, that's not your responsibility," Miyako said with a beautiful smile on her face, "Mr. Aonuma, I risked my life... No, this is not an exaggeration... I really came with this feeling Please. I'm willing to accept any conditions." When Konno Miyako said "any conditions", Aonuma Tejiro couldn't help but his heart thumped, and he thought to himself: Does it include conditions other than the publishing house.When she said that, Miyako's watery eyes seemed to moisten instantly.However, Aonuma Tejiro rested his elbows and pressed his fingers to his forehead. "Of course, I know that other publishing houses give you the highest manuscript fee. Compared with the conditions I proposed, I feel very sorry." What does it mean?Qingzhao listened quietly. At this time, Miyako suddenly asked a question: "Do you like this hotel?" "No, I don't like it very much... being locked up by them to write manuscripts, there is nothing I can do about it." Aonuma smiled wryly. "Such a hotel, the service is not thoughtful, right?" "Yeah, everything is done in a foreign way. If you don't call, they won't come. If you do something good, go away immediately. The male waiter is always sullen. And, after twelve o'clock, they don't talk to me anymore." .” "It's so pitiful," Miyako stared at Aonuma's face with wide eyes, "Mr. Aonuma, then, is there a Japanese hotel better?" "There's a problem with places like that. The hostesses are overly attentive and get in the way of work." "I can understand your feelings," Miyako nodded, "I really want to lock you up in a hotel for ten or eight days. You write all night, and I will stay with you and take care of you." This night, around half past nine.Aonuma Tejiro is writing the manuscript.The room was empty.The rooms and corridors on the left and right were quiet.From time to time there was the sound of car horns outside.This is the lonely job of writing on manuscript paper. The phone rang.Hearing the ringing of the bell, Aonuma's heart often went cold.The manuscript that must be handed in tonight has not yet been settled. Although he was timid, he grabbed the receiver with a big face.If they pressed too hard, he was ready to turn his back. "Is that Mr. Aonuma?" It was a woman's voice, like a silver bell. "It's me." "I visited you during the day today, Konno from Beidou Publishing House." "what." Aonuma Shōjiro couldn't feel his heart pounding. "Isn't the work over yet?" The woman's voice was a little mysterious. "Yes, it's still early." "Are you tired?" "Yeah, tired." "It will hurt your body. You work so hard. Come out for a walk and let your brain rest, okay?" Miyako Konno laughed a little. "Speak out..." Aonuma immediately pondered how to escape from this room, "Where are you now?" "I'm in Shinjuku, and there's a small hotel here, which is interesting. It's a very casual place. You usually go to high-end restaurants. Sometimes you can come and see such a place, and it can also be used as a reference for creation." "Yes," he said, hesitating for a moment because of the responsibility of having to deliver the manuscript tonight, "you can't go out now." "So, when can the draft be finished?" "Yes, about eleven o'clock." "I'm waiting for you. I'll spend my time anywhere." "But then it will be too late for you to go home." Although Aonuma was a little excited, he did not forget that Miyako Konno was married. "It doesn't matter. I don't care. I often come home late." "can you drink alcohol?" "Yes, I can drink a little." The woman giggled during the electric work. "Okay, I'll go." Aonuma made up his mind. "Yeah...I'm so happy. Well, at eleven o'clock sharp...where do we meet?" "Well, I don't know much about..." Aonuma remembered that people often met in front of "Takano", so he designated it there. "Well, it's like a tryst." Konno Miyako giggled again and hung up the phone. Aonuma wanted to finish writing the difficult paragraph first, but after receiving a call from Miyako, he couldn't continue writing.He regretted why he didn't make an appointment with her earlier in this case. He barely managed to write two manuscripts, when the phone rang again.This time, it really was the editor's call.He rejected the other party's stubborn request and forced the other party to agree to submit the rest of the manuscript tomorrow morning. It was twenty minutes to eleven.He shaved quickly, took off the hotel's single kimono, and put on a suit. Aonuma went to Shinjuku, and his heart was full of joy along the way.During the day, Miyako asked him to promise to write a new novel in one go before leaving the hotel. The reason why he agreed was because once it was published in a magazine, he could not give it to the publishing house, and at the same time he became interested in Miyako.The decisive factor was that Miyako Konno asked him to write in a Japanese hotel and accompany him overnight. At that time, Aonuma was also a little embarrassed, so she didn't put forward other conditions, but her words completely captured Aonuma's heart. Although it is a coherent work, of course it cannot be completed in one or two months, so let's write four or five days behind closed doors every month.In this way, it takes half a year to write a novel.Four or five days a month, this will last for about half a year.Thinking of the adventures of the past six months, Aonuma Tejiro's heart is not at peace. Is what she said true?Can a married woman accompany a writer to take care of her all night long? When talking with Miyako, this question kept lingering in Aonuma's mind.So, Aonuma tactfully raised this question. "No problem, my husband trusts me completely," said Miyako, narrowing her characteristic watery eyes, "no matter how late I got home, he never complained. I was there at two or three o'clock in the middle of the night once I just came home, but he didn't even ask me where I was." "What are you doing out there so late?" "Playing with some good friends. As a woman, I may have a bad temper. Sometimes I can't stand it if I don't do it." Aonuma Tejiro took a taxi to Shinjuku Station.Get off the car at the square and walk in the direction of "Takano".I saw a group of people standing in front of the window with the lights turned off, and a figure stepped out of the crowd and walked towards him. "gentlemen!" Aonuma was stunned.A woman in flared trousers blocked his way.The one wearing a fancy scarf and looking at him with a smile was Miyako Konno. "Yeah, is that you?" Aonuma Tejiro stared at Miyako, who was completely different from when she came to the hotel during the day, dressed in a fashionable dress, and was in a daze for a long time.

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