Chapter 17 Section 4

When we arrived in Ginza, the crowds on the streets did not increase.Hayata got out of the taxi and sighed, "Japan will collapse if it continues like this." "When it comes to Ginza at the end of the year, it used to be overcrowded." Zhe Lang said, "I heard that even after the shops closed, they couldn't get a taxi, and people wandered the streets with nowhere to go." "The road has become a parking lot for taxis and chartered cars called by the phone. The guests are all generous, spending money like water, and go home under the watchful eye of the female publicist, and tip the driver without hesitation. That's really wonderful. era."

"Have you ever been to Ginza at that time?" "Not long after I joined the company, my seniors took me here several times. At that time, I often expected myself to enjoy this luxury with my own strength, but by the time I could do that, the temple fair was over. The bustling scene has become a cloud of the past." "Sugai also said something similar." "He works in an insurance company. At that time, all the industries were in high spirits, as if the world was under their control." When Zhelang University graduated, it was the era when the economy of Japan was booming.Everyone can join the company they want, and they can change jobs anytime they want.No one expected that this era would later be described as a "bubble", and everyone was full of ambitions.Even Zhe Lang tried to look back at the past. If it wasn't for that prosperous era, maybe he wouldn't want to be a reporter.

Zhelang suddenly thought of Akio Tokura.Relying on his relatives, he became the executive director of the iron factory. Although he was secretly teased as a waste director, he still often went to Ginza.For him, that might be the bubble era that came one step later.Like everyone else in those days, he indulged in an illusion; an illusion that it was commonplace to do so.Even after waking up from the dream, the illusion is still inseparable.Xiaoxiang, the female publicist, is a symbol of illusion to him, so he insists on not letting go... "Here, it's here." Hayata said, looking up at the building in front of him.A whole row of signboards is the fifth from the bottom, with the word "Cat's Eye" written on it.

The store is on the third floor, with a cat embossed on the black door.As soon as Zhe Lang and the others entered the store, a slender woman in a black suit immediately showed them a seat.This store is about 20 pings, and two tables of guests have already come. As soon as you enter the store, there is a bar on the left, and a man is sitting on the high chair closest to the door.Zhe Lang and the others could only see his back. There was a young lady in an orange suit sitting in Zhe Lang's seat.She has phoenix eyes and painted part of her false eyelashes pink. After the waiter delivered the towels, a bottle of Wild Turkey whiskey was delivered along with an ice bucket.The female publicist asked Zhe Lang if it was good to drink whiskey and water, and Zhe Lang said yes, so she opened the bottle of wine and made it as a matter of course.She seems to know Hayata.

Zhe Lang picked up the sign hanging on the wine bottle, which said "Anxi". "I came here yesterday." Hayata whispered to Zhe Lang, picking up a cigarette.The female publicist immediately used the lighter in the store to light the fire for him. "Did you intend to bring me here from the beginning?" "yes." "You know that the murder victim was a regular customer of this store." "That kind of trivial matter can be found out at once." Hayata smiled wickedly. "Why did you ask me to come? If you came here yesterday, wouldn't it be enough to come here by yourself today?"

"It's not convenient to come in alone for two consecutive days. Besides, it's not bad to drink together once in a while? Don't think too much, just drink tonight." Hayata raised his glass and touched Zhe Lang's. Definitely right.For some reason, Hayata knew that Zhe Lang was involved in the murder case, so he asked him to interview together, hoping to wait for him to show his feet. Hayata asked Zhe Lang to drink without hesitation, but Zhe Lang was not in the mood to drink at all.Having said that, Zhe Lang didn't want to come to this store for nothing, so he secretly observed the surroundings.

The bartender at the bar was a woman.Her short hair is combed back casually, she doesn't seem to have any makeup, and she feels like an actress playing the leading role in the movie. The white shirt and reddish-brown vest suit her very well.However, even though they are both disguised as men, she and Mizuki are different types.If Mizuki stood in that dim place, probably no one would be able to detect that she was a woman. As soon as Zhe Lang and the others calmed down, the female publicist started chatting with them, such as the weather, food, or the latest popular topics, etc. After talking moderately, she asked Zhe Lang and the others about their work.Hayata seemed to say that she was engaged in publishing-related work, and Zhe Lang followed her words.

A woman in a kimono who appeared to be forty-five or six came over to say hello.She seemed to be Mama-san, and Makiko Nosue was written on the business card she handed out. "Is this gentleman visiting our store for the first time?" She looked at Zhe Lang and said to Hayata.She treated Hayata, who just arrived yesterday, as a regular customer, probably to make him feel valued. "His surname is Nishiwaki, he is a sports reporter." Hayata introduced Zhelang.Zhe Lang was still hesitating whether to use a pseudonym, and felt at a loss for a while. "Yeah, has that ever published a book?" Makiko opened her eyes wide.

"No, only writing for magazines." They booed for business cards, and he had to hand them each one.Makiko Nosue said: "You may become famous in the future." She carefully put the business card in her arms. Even though she wanted to know more about Zhe Lang, she didn't want to get to the bottom of her personal privacy. She just said "please take it easy" and got up to leave.Perhaps the unpretentious hospitality is her way of doing business. After she left, a female publicist in a black suit came to sit on the stage.After everyone chatted endlessly for a while, Hayata whispered something in her ear, and the woman in black suit nodded slightly.

After a while, she stood up.Zhe Lang stared at her figure, watching her move to another seat and say something to the lady in the dark brown shirt.The young lady got up from her seat after apologizing to the guest. The lady in the shirt went to the bar first, and then came to Zhe Lang's seat.She is a petite lady with a small face and big eyes.She said, "Excuse me." Then she sat next to Zhe Lang. "What's your name?" Hayata asked. "Xiangli." Hearing the lady's answer, Zhe Lang couldn't help staring at her.The young lady met his eyes and smiled slightly.

"Can I have my business card?" he tried. Her business card has Saeki Kari printed on it.Of course, there is no personal information such as any phone number on it. Zhe Lang thought about the reason why Hayata hired this lady. It should not be a coincidence. He knew that Akio Tokura liked her. Kaori looks to be about twenty-five or six years old, maybe approaching thirty.Her facial features are considered gorgeous, but she does not give people the impression of vulgarity. She has an incredible charm and seems to be able to get along well with any man.Hayata kept talking to her, and while she would follow the customer's lead so she wouldn't get into trouble, she would also volunteer to keep the conversation going.Her voice was pleasant to the ear. "This is the second time I've come here. Your store feels really good. Which type of customers have more customers?" Hayata asked in a very flirtatious tone. Kaori tilted her head slightly.On her white ears are gold earrings, and the sparkling tip of the earrings should be real diamonds. "There are all kinds of guests, and I don't particularly think that there are more of them." She answered in the most inoffensive way possible.In this kind of store, it should not be allowed to mention other customers. Hayata took out a cigarette.Kari quickly took out a lighter and lit it for him. When the cigarette butt was close to the flame, he asked, "Do you know a company called Kamensong Iron Works?" The lighter in Xiangli's hand suddenly went out, and she frantically lit it up again. "Kasong... I don't know." "I don't know? That's it. It's nothing. To be honest, it was the president of that company who introduced me to this store. Because our newspaper office publishes professional magazines related to steel, we are very familiar with the president of that company. I I asked him if he knew any good shops in Ginza, and he said that 'Cat's Eye' is very good." "I see. Then he has been to our shop before? I think it was probably received by other ladies." Zhe Lang carefully observed Xiangli's expression.When Hayata mentioned the name of the company Kadomatsu Iron Works, she could feel a look of panic flashing across her face.In any case, it was impossible for her not to think of Akio Tokura. "Nishi Waki, don't be silent, just say something!" Hayata tested Zhe Lang's reaction.He must have been trying to see how Zhelang would react to the woman Akio Tokura was obsessed with. If he wasn't around, Zhe Lang would have a bunch of questions he wanted to ask her.How much do you know about the murder?Did the police find you?If you were approached, what did you say and what didn't you say?What do police think about missing bartenders?But now I can't ask a single question. Zhe Lang praised the store's decoration and the quality of the music, and Xiang Li sincerely thanked him.After that, he picked only sports and popular topics.He knew very well that Hayata was looking around and listening to their conversation with his ears pricked up. After drinking for about an hour, Zhe Lang and the others got up from their seats.The lady in the store took out the coats they left, and Hayata put on the coats by the gate.At this time, his right hand hit the back of a male customer who was drinking at the bar. "Ah, sorry." Hayata apologized immediately. The man just looked back a little, then turned back immediately.Zhe Lang caught sight of his face, which had a broad chin, a large mouth and nose, only small but sharp eyes. Under the watchful eyes of the girls, Zhe Lang and Zao Tian walked away from the front of the building.The time is ten forty. "How is it? Do you want another drink?" Hayata asked Zhe Lang. "No, let's stop here." "That's it." Hayata's expression was exactly as I expected. Zhe Lang was thinking, is there a way to see what this man is thinking in his heart?But if you take the initiative to make a move, if you don't get it right, you may dig your own grave. Hayata suddenly reached out his hand from the side and stopped.Zhe Lang was blocked and stopped in his tracks. "what?" Hayata didn't say a word, and pointed behind with his thumb. There was a man a few meters behind, with his hands in the pockets of his beige coat, staring at Zhe Lang and the others.The man was the customer sitting at the "Cat's Eye" bar just now. Hayata scratched her nose and walked towards the man. "Tracking us isn't going to help." The man showed a disappointed expression, looking at the faces of Hayata and Zhelang alternately. "That's for me to decide. Anyway, let me ask you a few questions." "It has nothing to do with him," Hayata pointed at Zhe Lang with his chin. "He's a freelance journalist. We just haven't seen each other in a long time, just have a drink together." "That's not important, I said I have something I want to ask you." "That's it." Hayata shrugged and turned his head to Zhe Lang. "Sorry, can you accompany me?" "I don't care." Zhe Lang replied, but he felt inexplicable in his heart. The man walked into a coffee shop on the side, Zhe Lang and the others followed suit. -------------------------------- Note: