HPDBC Chapter 109 An Unexpected Result
Chapter 109 An Unexpected Result
Chapter 109 An Unexpected Result
The box office performance of "Ocean Waves" resembles a slow-starting but extremely strong upward curve.
In this off-season when everyone was pessimistic, this film, with its awkward length and cheap ticket price, managed to climb to second place on the box office charts thanks to its staying power.
Although it can't compare to Hollywood blockbusters like Terminator 2, which were incredibly popular at the same time, it has already managed to take half of their market share.
For a low-budget TV movie, this was practically robbery. Studio Ghibli was grinning from ear to ear, and Toshio Suzuki was even considering giving Tomomichi Mochizuki a big red envelope.
But the entertainment industry is a river that never lets you flow smoothly across.
Just as the box office was steadily rising, the magazine "Weekly Truth," which made its name by digging into people's private lives, suddenly dropped a carefully crafted poison gas bomb on its front page on Friday.
The headline was no longer the vague "mother-daughter rift" of the past, but was instead highlighted in bold black font, taking up half the page:
[Exclusive Testimony: Kicked her own mother out of the house? The true story of "mother abuse" by "National Idol" Rie Miyazawa!]
In the article, the so-called "informed reporter" seemed to have been instructed by someone involved to use a highly inflammatory style to vividly describe how Rie became "arrogant" and "cold-blooded" after becoming famous.
The report not only brought up previous lawsuits, but also fabricated many outrageous details: for example, Rie didn't even leave her mother any living expenses in order to keep all the money for herself; for example, when her mother went to borrow money because she was sick, Rie had her bodyguards kick her out of the house; and it even included a pitiful candid photo of Mitsuko eating a bento on the roadside.
The release of this report instantly reignited the public outcry that had subsided slightly due to the film's release.
If people previously thought Rie was "too heartless," this report now portrays her as a "monster without humanity."
"I knew they were in court, but I didn't expect them to go this far?"
"They even kicked my sick mother out of the house? That's outrageous!"
"So she was just playing herself. How ruthless."
The growth curve for movie ticket pre-sales visibly paused for a moment.
Nippon Television reacted quickly. Instead of suppressing the buzz, they decided to capitalize on the situation and push Rie Miyazawa into the spotlight.
A prime-time talk show called "Tonight's Big Exposure" urgently extended an invitation to Rie and Makoto Kitahara. The show is known for its "sharp" style, and the host is famously sarcastic, often leaving guests speechless.
Backstage lounge.
The air was filled with the smell of hairspray and styling gel.
Kitahara Shin sat in front of the makeup mirror, watching Miyazawa Rie, who was having her makeup touched up by a makeup artist.
Today she wore a simple white shirt with a dark blue long skirt, and her hair wasn't styled in exaggerated idol curls, but rather flowed smoothly over her shoulders.
It looks plain, but it's also very fragile.
"When we go up there later, the host definitely won't follow the script."
Kitahara Shin waved away the makeup artist who wanted to fix his eyebrows and said to Rie in a low voice, "These people live for ratings. They'll deliberately provoke you, make you lose your temper, make you cry. As soon as you cry, tomorrow's headlines will be 'Tears of Guilt.'"
97
Rie Miyazawa looked at herself in the mirror, and paused for a moment while holding the powder puff.
"I know."
"If they ask too many questions, just pretend you didn't hear them, or steer the conversation towards the movie. If all else fails, I'll help you deflect them," Kitahara Shin unusually said a few more words. He knew all too well the tricks of these shows; they were practically traps that would devour you without a trace.
"I believe in you."
Rie Miyazawa suddenly turned her head and looked at him. Those eyes, which used to always carry a hint of timidity and ingratiation, were now surprisingly bright.
"I'm fine."
A slight, steady smile appeared on her lips. "I can't hide behind you and Akina forever. Some things just need to be said."
The studio.
The temperature suddenly rose the moment the spotlight shone down.
The host was a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses, with a shrewd look on his face. At the beginning of the program, he even asked a few questions about interesting anecdotes from filming, pretending to be knowledgeable.
But when the topic of "Rikako's personality" came up, his true intentions were revealed.
"Speaking of which, Rie-san, many viewers feel that your performance in the movie was so realistic, just like you in real life."
The host adjusted his glasses, a glint of shrewdness flashing behind the lenses. He even tossed aside the script he had been holding. "There have been some rumors in the magazines lately, saying that you seem to be—a little too harsh—in handling family relationships? Some reports say you even refused to pay your mother's medical bills and wanted to kick her out of Tokyo? What are your thoughts on these accusations?"
The air at the scene froze instantly.
The audience held their breath, waiting to see the young idol make a fool of herself, or to see her break down on the spot.
Kitahara Shin frowned.
This question is too malicious; it directly presents fabricated negative information as fact.
He was about to pick up the microphone to change the subject with a joke, but Rie Miyazawa had already picked up the microphone.
She didn't flinch, nor did she flash her signature sweet, fake smile. She simply looked quietly at the host, her eyes as clear as a still pond.
That's a lie.
She spoke softly, her voice carrying throughout the studio through the microphone, her tone as calm as if she were telling someone else's story: "The court has the transfer records for the medical and living expenses. But I don't want to stand here today with those bills to prove my innocence; that would be too embarrassing."
She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the faces below the stage, some curious, some malicious, before finally settling on the dark camera lens.
"I only want to answer questions about being 'strict' or 'decisive.'"
"If being indecisive means watching someone you deeply love walk step by step into the abyss without doing anything, then I think that kind of decisiveness might be a necessity."
The host was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to respond in this way.
"Abyss? Isn't that a bit too strong a word? That's your mother." The host pressed on relentlessly.
"Yes, she is my mother."
Rie Miyazawa nodded. "Precisely because she is my mother, I cannot let her continue down the wrong path. The law is not a weapon to attack relatives, but rather the last line of defense to protect each other from being shattered when family ties lose their rationality."
"People saw Rikako's willfulness in the movie and thought she was a bad child. But people may have forgotten that Rikako was willful because she wanted to get the attention of the father who abandoned her in Kochi. She was crying for help."
"I'm not Rikako anymore. I've grown up."
"I don't need to resort to capriciousness to cry for help. I choose to solve problems in an adult way, even if it seems cold-blooded to others."
"But I believe that true love is not about indulging without limits, but about bringing the other person back on track even when they are misunderstood."
Kitahara Shin turned his head and looked at the girl beside him with some surprise.
She sat ramrod straight, her back as upright as a sword just forged in the furnace. She appeared remarkably calm in the face of these questions.
The host opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to find some loophole to attack. But looking into Rie's open and honest eyes, he suddenly realized that none of the sarcastic remarks he had prepared could be uttered.
What are you saying? That she abused her mother? She dared to bring up the court records in front of a national audience. If you keep harping on the details of those lowbrow literary pieces, it will only make you, as a host, look low-class.
"That's well said."
Finally, the host could only manage to utter this one dry sentence before leading the applause.
The sparse applause from the audience turned into a thunderous roar.
The recording of the program has ended.
Reporters crowded the exit, hoping to dig up more juicy scoops. But Rie Miyazawa handled the situation flawlessly. She smiled politely, answered simply, and then gracefully turned and left, leaving the cameras with an impeccable silhouette.
Until I returned to the lounge and closed the heavy soundproof door.
All the noise was cut off instantly.
-
Kitahara Shinichi noticed that Rie's left hand, which had been behind her back, was now clenched into a fist, her knuckles white from the force and even trembling slightly.
That's a physiological reaction to a surge in adrenaline.
"Well done."
Kitahara Shin handed her a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, and said, "I never expected you to say something so harsh."
Rie took the water, tilted her head back and gulped it down, then let out a long sigh.
"call----"
She slumped onto the sofa without any regard for her image, looked at her still trembling hands, and suddenly laughed.
"My hands are shaking—how pathetic."
She said self-deprecatingly, but a strange light shone in her eyes, "However, it feels really good to see that woman so angry and helpless against me."
This is the Rie Miyazawa who dared to "cut her losses".
After resting for a while, she seemed to remember something, took a small cloth bag out of her bag, and threw it directly into Kitahara Shin's arms.
"Take it."
"What is this?" Kitahara Shin caught the light, flimsy object.
"Amulet".
Rie crossed her legs, rubbing her cheeks which were stiff from laughing, and said casually, "I heard you've been under a lot of pressure lately with your film 'Grand Hotel.' If you collapse from exhaustion or the film flops, won't I, the new 'legend' I just latched onto, be going to lose my footing again?"
Kitahara Shin looked down at the amulet in his hand.
The workmanship is very rough; the stitches at the edges are crooked and there are even a few loose threads. In the very center is embroidered a small, blue gentian flower, which represents "strength".
"You embroidered this yourself?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Those mass-produced goods bought from outside lack sincerity and don't showcase my skills."
Rie snorted, concealing the barely perceptible blush on her ears. "The talismans inside were blessed by a master I asked to do. If you dare lose them, I'll make you pay for them."
She stood up, patted the wrinkles on her skirt, and regained her haughty "national beauty" demeanor.
"Alright, I should go now. I still have enrollment procedures to complete."
As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at Kitahara Shin.
"By the way, Xin-kun."
She called out to her so naturally, as if she had rehearsed this affectionate term of address countless times in her mind.
"This amulet is very effective. It can protect you, just like you protect me."
After saying that, instead of running away shyly as before, she gave Kitahara Shin a playful salute, then pushed open the door and went out.
His silhouette was elegant, and his steps were light and quick.
Kitahara Shin looked at the door that had closed again, then at the poorly stitched amulet in his hand.
"Xinjunyao----"
He smiled and hung the amulet on the keychain he always carried with him.
"This girl is getting more and more skilled at winning people over."
He shook his head, held the amulet in his palm, and was about to take a closer look at the crooked gentian flower.
Suddenly, a purple light flashed before my eyes.
[Ding! Special gift detected.]
【Item Name: Gentian Flower Amulet Stained with Blood and Tears】
[Quality: Purple (Epic)]
[Level: Lv.3 (60% of the effect has been unlocked due to the bond depth between the giver and the holder reaching "Trust"]]
[Source: A young girl who was reborn from despair sewed all her gratitude and prayers into this piece. It not only carries blessings, but also a powerful sense of "rebounding from rock bottom."]
[Equipment Effect:]
【Mirror Flower Water Moon (Passive)】: The holder's physical condition will be forcibly locked at "optimal on-camera condition". No matter how tired you are, you will never have dark circles, puffiness, or unfocused eyes in front of the camera. Even if you stay up for three nights in a row, as long as you shout "Action", you will be the most energetic one.
[Attraction with the Opposite Sex (Passive)]: When interacting with female characters or negotiating with them in real life, the speed at which you gain their base favorability increases by 30%. (Note: This effect stems from the producer's complete trust in you.)
[Desperate Situation Reversal (Core Active)]: This effect can be actively triggered when the host encounters a major public opinion crisis, box office failure, or career slump. After triggering, the next public response or work release will receive a "Public Opinion Reversal" rating. All negative comments have a very high probability of being converted into positive traffic such as "sympathy," "admiration," or "even negative fame is still fame."
[One must be strong to forge iron]:
Limitation: This skill cannot change the quality of the work itself.
Requirements: The work (movie/song/performance) that the host relies on must have an internal system rating of S level (classic) or higher.
Consequences: If the work itself is a bad film (below Grade A), activating the skill will not only be ineffective, but will also cause serious backlash due to the forced exposure, leading to the host's disgrace.
[Spring Effect]:
Restriction: The skill icon will only light up when negative public opinion or the despair index exceeds 80% (i.e., being universally condemned and blacklisted online).
Note: Ordinary negative reviews or minor disputes will not trigger this. The harder you suppress it, the higher it bounces back.
[Opportunity Guidance]:
Mechanism: This skill does not have brainwashing capabilities.
It merely forces the creation of an "opportunity for fair scrutiny" (for example, forcing the jury chairman to patiently watch the film to the end).
Whether you praise or criticize after reading it depends entirely on the quality of the host's work.
Cooldown period: once a year.
Kitahara Shin gasped as he looked at the words.
Purple equipment.
This is my second purple-tier item after Akina's Zippo lighter. And the [Desperate Situation Reversal] effect—it's practically a lifesaver in the entertainment industry! Although it has a few limitations, it's incredibly useful if used properly.
This is practically a "get-out-of-jail-free card".
Perhaps this time it will come in handy?
the next day.
The wind direction has completely changed.
Before that weekly magazine, *Shikan Jitsuwa*, could even go into reprint, it was bombarded with a deluge of reader letters, hurling insults at the audience. Meanwhile, Rie Miyazawa on television—calm, rational, yet tinged with a sense of vulnerability—completely captivated viewers.
She is no longer the "unfilial daughter" who sued her mother for money, but has become a strong girl who "has to cut off the cancer with tears in her eyes in order to save herself and prevent the family relationship from deteriorating."
This is practically a real-life version of "Ocean Waves." In the film, Rikako seeks to escape her intellectual roots; in reality, Rie seeks to escape her dysfunctional family. This perfect blend of film and reality elevates the audience's affection for her to a fever pitch.
-
The magazine quickly backed down. The editor-in-chief personally published an apology, stating that the reporter had "laxed the review process," and to avoid being sued, privately paid a considerable sum in damages for defamation.
Rie accepted the money. But she immediately deposited it into a trust fund, with a special note stating that no relative other than herself could withdraw it.
In Adachi Ward, in an old apartment building that is a 20-minute walk from the station.
Mitsuko Miyazawa held a cigarette between her fingers, oblivious to the ash falling onto the greasy coffee table. She stared intently at the television screen.
On television, her daughter was wearing that white shirt, receiving applause from the entire audience. GG Entertainment's phone lines were reportedly ringing off the hook with calls to the agency's landline; everyone wanted to hire this representative of the "new era independent woman" as their spokesperson.
money.
That's all money!
With trembling hands, Guangzi picked up the phone, wanting to call a reporter, wanting to ride the wave of popularity, wanting to cry out that he had been wronged.
But as soon as she dialed a number, she heard an impatient voice from the reporter on the other end:
-
"Ms. Miyazawa? Please stop hitting me. Anyone who posts your news now will get yelled at. Besides, your daughter said that if you keep talking nonsense, the previous alimony agreement will be void. You'd better figure it out yourself."
"Dudu 1"
The phone hangs up.
Mitsuko Miyazawa slumped on the sofa, watching her radiant daughter on television.
She knew that the one who had once been at her mercy and was her biggest cash cow was now truly gone.
Now, she can only watch the rain of banknotes fall from the sky, but because of that damned legal wall, she can't touch a single penny.
This pain of "seeing but not being able to have" is a hundred times worse than killing her.
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