Chapter Thirty-Nine: Trial Singing

  Apart from people I originally knew, there is also a person who is relatively more concerned about me among those who are not very familiar with each other. His name is Gori Shoji.

  This guy... Hifumi Tōgo was the main song provider when Yasushi Akimoto first formed Onyanko Club, and of course he also collaborated with Akimoto during the AKB era. Many songs performed in concerts such as "Tsuki no Namida", "Takeuchi Senpai", "Tengoku Yarou" were provided by him, even Watarirōka Hashiritai's debut song "Gyakutenryoku ~Kaiten Tokubetsu Hen~" was composed by him. However, the difference is that in the past, Togo and Akimoto's relationship was roughly equal partners, but during the AKB era, it had become just a normal songwriter.

  As for the reason, some gossip magazines speculated that it was likely that Akimoto Yasushi and Gotō's ideas diverged from the beginning on the management policy of AKB48, which led to a deterioration in their relationship. Of course, subsequent facts also proved that Gotō Tsugutoshi is still better off writing songs honestly...

  When Zhou Xiao was introduced to the middle-aged man in front of him, who was Sakaue Izumi's acquaintance, Higashino Jirō, his first reaction was that he wanted to turn away, because from a fan's point of view, this guy was simply the most dangerous and despicable existence.

  As for the reason, at first, the top 3 of the kitten club were Hidetoshi Tanaka, Takashi Okamura, and Yuko Nakajima. Among them, Yuko Nakajima eventually married this guy! If that was all, then it would be okay, but Akimoto Yasushi also married Takako Okamura. The key point is, this guy had already been married and divorced twice before marrying Yuko Nakajima! He used the excuse of "experiencing songwriting" to make moves on multiple idol girls, eventually getting married three times, earning him the nickname "Idol Killer"!

  However, Zhou Xiao's contempt only lasted for an instant before undergoing a subtle change again, because he thought to himself, "I've risked my life to establish AKB and make a name for myself in the Japanese entertainment industry. My intentions are probably even more despicable than this guy's..."

  "It seems that not only should I not be hostile towards him, but also learn from his experience..." Zhou Xiao thought to herself.

  "Ah, he's here! Let's hear the little brother sing!" The person with the highest status in the room was probably Tetsuro Oda. With his passion for music, it's said that if there's a good song, just hearing Sakai Izumi sing it isn't enough to satisfy him. When he met Zhou Xiao, he skipped the small talk and asked him to record a song right away.

  "Huh? Sing directly?" Zhou Xiao was also surprised.

  "You'll get used to it, Inoue-senpai is a huge music freak, but not tone deaf, just obsessed with music. Although the songs he composes are sometimes rock and sometimes sentimental, in reality he's much colder." said Sakai Izumi.

  "Hey, you two, bring me a guitar!" Tetsurou Oda pointed to the two smallest people in the room aside from Zhou Xiao. Poor Domoto brothers, who debuted in '97 and were currently at the height of their popularity, having acted in hits like "Unqualified Person" and "Homeless Kids", and released several million-selling singles as superstars, could only serve as errand boys in this room. However, they didn't seem to mind, being able to be ordered around by these few people was an honor that others couldn't even get, although Tetsurou Oda seemed to not even know their names.

  He handed over the guitar with a flourish, and the two of them immediately ran off to squat down at the side. Zhou Xiao took over the guitar and let out a mouthful of stale air from his chest.

  "Well, listen then, a little love song." Zhou Xiao said, plucking the strings of his instrument.

  When she was halfway through the song, another woman quietly walked into the room. However, this middle-aged woman had an ordinary appearance and he didn't recognize her at all, so Zhou Xiao didn't stop his singing and continued to finish the whole song.

  When a song ended, the whole recording studio fell silent. Tsutomu Oda was silent, and because of his silence, no one else dared to say anything first.

  Finally, Tsutomu Oda raised his hand and gave Zhou Xiao a round of applause.

  "Clap...clap...clap..." The applause in the entire recording studio finally erupted.

  "Although there are many flaws, the guitar is also very clearly audible as Yajima Road, but that's genius, I think I saw my 18-year-old self!" Tetsuro Oda commented.

  "Stop boasting about yourself, I think you're more like me, as long as he can produce songs of the same standard!" Only Inoue-san could talk to Tsutomu Oda like that.

  "This time I've finally seen a treasure!" said Sakai Izumi.

  While Zhou Xiao saw that the Tang brothers were also very appreciative, among the various combinations of J's family members, the Tang brothers were a rare combination with great musicality. The guitar skills of the two were much higher than Zhou Xiao's, but no matter how high they were, it was impossible for them to write a song like "Little Love".

  "Is this little brother the person that Sen Water Sister said she would bring today?" At this time, the woman who had just entered and was now standing beside the two Tanaka brothers spoke up.

  "Is it? The level is quite good, isn't it?" said Sakai Izumi with a proud tone.

  "I don't know how to appreciate music, I'm just a pure businessman. But since you all say it's good, then it must be good. Little brother, are you interested in joining Johnny's? I can arrange for you to debut separately." The woman walked up to Zhou Xiao and asked him while shaking his hand.

  J... Jenis? Zhou Xiao was startled. The same is true for the Tang brothers, who were established around 1993 but didn't debut until 1997. During that time, they had already starred in many dramas. Another example is Shigeru Ikuta, a Johnny's signed artist who couldn't debut for years and eventually became an actor-focused talent.

  "This sister is called Meshimori Sanji, she's a director of Johnny's, and AP was brought by Meshimori-san, an absolute capable person. However, sister, Zhou Xiao has already prepared to sign with us Being, you're too late." said Sakai Izumi.

  "Rice Island is really a sight to behold, I'd sign one as soon as I see it. Luckily my family's Nanase is a girl, otherwise who knows, maybe she would have been signed away by you guys too." said Oda Tetsuro.

  "I'm also delighted to see this, you're all so serious about the kid, he's definitely going to be a big shot in the future," said Inishima.

  "Who is this Ine Iijima...?" asked Zhou Xiao, pulling Sakai Izumi aside.

  Sakai Izumi was tickled by the whisper in her ear, and suppressing the urge to rub her ears, she said: "You know Johnny's Office? The most famous management office for male idols."

  This week's Xiaozhou still knows that, like AP, Lan, and now Kinki Kids in front of us are all famous idols under Johnny's.

  "The founder of Johnny's is Kitagawa Osamu, and the second-in-command is his sister. After these two people, there are mainly two others who take care of the artists, one is Kitagawa's niece, Fujishima Keiko, and the other is this Iijima Michi. Kinkikids originally belonged to another director, but today they were brought here by Iijima-san to introduce to everyone. Iijima and Fujishima are now the most direct controllers of Johnny's, so try not to offend them, their power is great, even I have to show respect." said Sakai Izumi

  Zhou Xiao nodded, unaware that Fujiwara Keiko and Inoue Michi were very famous among the female fans of Johnny's in later generations. The artists under their management were also divided into "Inoue faction" and "Fujiwara faction", with Arashi being the biggest name in the Inoue faction, an absolutely strongest idol cultivated by Johnny's. Fujiwara faction had more people under her management, including NEWS, Kanjani8 and KAT-TUN, apart from Arashi.

  "What are you two whispering about again? You've only just met, and yet you're already like siblings?" Wada Tetsurou called out to Shuusuke Amagai and Izumi Konata after finishing his conversation with Inoue Mitsuharu.

  "Oda-san, you're talking nonsense again. Now that Zhou Xiao has finished singing, I can take the kid away, anyway you can't be his producer now. If we wait any longer, even if Rina-chan doesn't pull him to Johnny's, I'm afraid someone else will snatch him away." Outside, Sakai Izumi was a mature woman and a calm superstar, but in front of familiar people, she had a somewhat capricious and free-spirited personality.