novelslam Chapters 1344 and 1353, the Christmas chapter, are almost here!
Chapters 1344 and 1353, the Christmas chapter, are almost here!
Chapter 1344-1353, Christmas is almost here!
Another cold front has arrived, and you already need to wear a down jacket when going out in Tokyo. However, the custom of wearing stockings in the dead of winter is not yet widespread, so you won't see the distinctive neon-futuristic features on the streets.
Near the exits of various schools in Tokyo, numerous movie posters have begun to be put up, all promoting a particular film.
"My Neighbor Totoro?"
The students on their way home from school glanced at it, somewhat puzzled, but the chubby, endearing Totoro was undeniably lovable.
"Looks like an animated film? It looks very interesting."
"It'll be released on Christmas Day."
Let's go check it out together sometime!
"."
Many students made this pact, since there were no online games or anything like that in this day and age, they needed something to do during the holidays. After watching the movie, they might even go to KFC or something.
Meanwhile, Tsuruko, who was on the Waseda University campus, also saw the poster. Why was it there on a university campus? Perhaps university students are still like children.
"Oh? My Neighbor Totoro?" Tsuruko looked at the poster on the bulletin board with surprise. "Is that Nee-chan's idea?"
Tsuruko, who frequently visited Yamazaki-in, naturally knew the origins of Totoro.
"It was produced by Tree Friends Pictures."
Junsui Ishii looked at the production company in the corner and said...
"It's a movie produced by Naoki's family!"
"Yeah. They made a big fuss about entering the animation industry before, but they only produced one animation."
Tsuruko tapped her chin and sighed.
"Looks like the second installment is finally out."
"Shall we go see it?" Junsui Ishii said. "It's Christmas! We can go with our boyfriends."
"Huh? A date for four?"
"Ok!"
The boyfriends of these two best friends also happen to be friends, so if the four of them go on a date together, it will be much more lively.
The two of them finalized their plans for a week later in just a few words, without even considering the possible objections from their boyfriends. In this day and age, women are in a dominant position in romantic relationships!
As they talked, the two returned to their apartment in Waseda, a small house they had lived in for four years.
"We have winter break this year, and graduation is early next year."
Ishii Junsui sighed,
"Then, it's time to enter the workforce!"
In Japan, universities typically hold graduation ceremonies in March. Senior students then have the first two months of the year to focus on job hunting and preparing for their final thesis defense.
In short, my days at the academy are numbered.
Looking for a job?
Tsuruko doesn't actually have this need; she already owns a milk tea shop, which has expanded rapidly in the past two years.
Despite having many competitors, Nayuki has almost established itself as a brand in major cities, with many tourists coming specifically to drink Nayuki milk tea.
In short, we're not short of money anymore!
She doesn't need to find a job to support herself, but Junsui Ishii still needs to. Although most universities in Japan are geared towards the same social class, there is still a difference between the truly wealthy and the middle class.
Junsui Ishii nodded:
"Tsuruko, you don't need to look anymore, but I still need to find a job!"
"Huh?" Tsuruko asked in surprise, "Weren't you going to be a housewife?"
"I still want to be a career woman!"
Junsui Ishii shook his head.
"Look, everyone's saying now that women can have their own careers, and even participate in politics! So we can't limit ourselves to the home."
During economic booms, women can easily earn high salaries in the workplace, so they don't need to rely on their partners. Women also had high aspirations during the bubble economy.
Urban woman, career elite, leading lady – these are the ideals of young women in this era!
"What about Taiyo Iwai?"
Crane asked,
"Isn't he very keen to get married?"
"Then let him wait a little longer!"
Junsui Ishii spoke with great conviction.
"I also want to realize my own value in life!"
"."
Tsuruko looked at her best friend, feeling that she seemed to have been brainwashed by the recent feminist movements. The influence of related clubs at Waseda University had indeed been growing significantly lately!
However, when the whole society thinks this way, Tsuruko can only secretly agree.
I just hope Taiyo Iwai can persevere.
After discussing work, Junsui Ishii and Tsuruko's conversation turned to New Year's convenience.
"Hezi is going back to her hometown for the New Year, right?"
"Hi!" As an unmarried daughter, it's natural for her to go back to her hometown for the New Year. "This year, Jintian will come along too."
Kaneda Tairiku has already met Tsuruko's parents, so he's considered a prospective son-in-law. This trip to celebrate the New Year is essentially a confirmation of their future marriage.
"Sigh, looks like Tsuruko will be getting married soon after graduation~"
Junsui Ishii shook his head.
"So, will your brother Naoki-san go back?"
"He probably won't be home until the next day," Tsuruko said. "After all, Nii-chan already has his own little family in Tokyo!"
"That's true."
At this moment, Yama-oka-in.
Akina was unpacking a package, next to a large stack of gift bags, and there were various greeting cards on the table.
As Naoki Nagayama's legal wife, she needs to help manage her husband's social obligations.
The package contains gifts that I had already discussed with Naoki. Now I need to personally repackage them and give them to different friends and family members. It would be embarrassing to make a mistake even with just one item.
"Is this a Pu'er tea cake from China Tea?"
Akina took out several dark-colored tea cakes from the box and smelled them; they only had a faint aroma of fermented plants.
This is a Red Label Round Tea that I specially bought from a certain major country in the East, and it was specially intended to be given to Naoki Nagayama's father!
"It looks like hay."
Akina doesn't have any particular knowledge about Pu'er tea. Like her husband, she enjoys Ramune soda, and if she drinks tea, it's usually green tea.
Xia Hua, who was standing nearby, saw the tea cake in her mother's hand and curiously leaned over, asking with wide eyes:
"What."
“This is tea,” Akina replied, “dried, tightly compressed tea.”
Then he handed the tea cake to the little guy: "Hua Jiang, smell it, doesn't it smell like tea?"
Xia Hua took the tea cake with some difficulty, leaned in and sniffed it hard, but couldn't smell anything. After frowning and thinking for a while, she actually opened her mouth and took a bite.
Kids like to bite everything; it's in their nature, there's nothing you can do about it.
"Eh eh eh?"
Akina was startled and quickly pinched her daughter's mouth from under her chin.
"You can't bite this, it's not meant to be eaten directly!"
"Flower Jam, let go!"
Feeling it was too tough to chew, Xiaoxia obediently let go of the tea cake, but now there was already a small ring of saliva on it~
"."
Akina took back the tea cake and sighed.
"Luckily I bought a few extra, otherwise you would have eaten the gift for Grandpa with the flower jam!"
"?? Eat it?" Xiaoxia looked up at Akina, her eyes filled with incomprehension. "Grandpa?"
"Haha~"
Looking at her adorable daughter, Akina pinched her little cheek.
"Yes, we'll tell Grandpa, who didn't receive a gift, that he ate the flower jam!"
"."
After playing with her daughter for a while, Akina put the tea cake away, intending to give it to Naoki-san later! He certainly wouldn't mind his daughter's saliva anyway!
"Next, there's Uncle's gift," she began sorting through the gifts again. "What's this? Ah... it's a fishing rod!"
It's important to know that for anglers, their fishing gear is constantly evolving. This carbon fiber fishing rod bought from the United States is a perfect combination of technology and fishing culture!
One by one, the gifts were unpacked, and after Akina rearranged them, greeting cards for their respective owners were affixed to them, ready to be delivered during the New Year.
After placing the gifts in the storage room, looking at the gifts on the shelf, Akina even felt a sense of satisfaction. These were gifts that she had to handle carefully, representing the connections of the Nagayama family!
"By the way, Yuan Tai-san and Suzumi-san, should we send them to the US or to a Tokyo address?"
Akina thought of these two people, then shook her head.
"Fine. Let Naoki-san decide!"
Meanwhile, in New York, USA.
Suzumi Nakai has been here for over a week. Shota, who was initially somewhat estranged from his father, is now playing the latest video game with Genta Nakai in the apartment.
During this time, Nakai Yuantai could be said to be very satisfied. His wife came directly from Japan, and she brought their son with her. What a wonderful thing!
Aside from occasionally discussing litigation matters with lawyers at law firms, he took his wife and son on a tour of New York City.
And they went on a shopping spree in Times Square, New York, buying a whole bunch of gifts.
"Yuanta."
Nakai Suzumi, who had finished preparing dinner, looked at the snowflakes outside the window and said...
Christmas is almost here.
"Ah, yes!"
Yuanta Nakai nodded. The holiday decorations outside had already begun. Almost every household had colorful flags and lights in their yards, as well as snowmen, pumpkins, and other Christmas-themed decorations.
Inside the room, there's always a Christmas tree covered in gifts and topped with stars.
Major stores and department stores have launched special offers, further enhancing the festive atmosphere.
In the West, Christmas is even more important than New Year's Day!
"Shota and I are going back after Christmas!"
Suzumi's words jolted Nakai Genta, and a wave of disappointment washed over him.
"After Christmas?!"
"Um"
Actually, the delegation she was with was supposed to return to their respective countries before Christmas, as everyone needed to reunite with their families. However, she stayed in New York because of Yuan Tai.
However, after Christmas, the New Year is not far away. In Japan, the New Year is even more important.
"My parents-in-law and my own parents are also at home, and I need to take care of the holiday preparations!"
Both of them are only children, so the young couple needs to prepare things for the New Year for the four elderly people mentioned above.
Now that Nakai Genta has a certain status, she needs to maintain family relationships and social connections. This is exactly what a housewife in a high-class family needs to do!
Those chores like cleaning, washing, and cooking can be done by hiring a helper!
"."
After a moment of silence, Nakai Genta had no choice but to nod.
"Yes, there are still many things to take care of back home! My parents are getting old too."
As he spoke, he looked down and patted his son, who was engrossed in playing video games:
"Shota...he probably wants to go back and spend New Year's in Japan too, right?"
Shota doesn't speak English, and he's been lonely in New York all this time, only able to talk to his parents in their apartment.
"Yes!" Shota nodded, "With my grandparents and maternal grandparents."
Seeing his son's carefree attitude, Nakai Genta's expression froze:
"What about Dad?"
"Huh?" Shota finally realized, "Isn't Daddy coming back with us?"
"."
Unable to answer, Nakai Genta, seeing this, Suzumi came over and carried her son to the dining table:
"Your father will be staying here for a while longer."
"why?"
"It's about work!" Suzumi said. "Alright, alright, let's eat dinner!"
Although Shota hadn't received a real explanation yet, children don't really understand the concept of parting, so he obediently ate his dinner.
However, Nakai Genta sighed during the meal:
"The lawyer said that exchanging evidence is very complicated and the judge is under a lot of pressure. Perhaps in the end, a settlement will really be reached!"
"Did they say when it would be available?" Suzumi asked expectantly.
"Christmas holidays, then New Year's holidays, anyway, it'll be next year!"
Nakai Genta shook his head.
"It's very likely that, as Naoki-san predicts, everything will only settle down when Japan has a new prime minister or when the US midterm elections are over!"
"Wouldn't that mean we have to wait until spring?"
"Very likely"
In that case, including his previous trip to New York to manage the business, Nakai Genta will be spending more than half a year in a foreign country!
However, earning over a billion US dollars in just over half a year is still a very worthwhile deal, even though most of it goes to Naoki Nagayama.
"."
Nakai Suzumi ate her dinner in silence, and the table fell silent.
Shota, who was standing nearby, sensed the atmosphere, looked up and around, then lowered his head again and silently ate his food.
Nakai Genta, being a man after all, quickly adjusted his mindset:
"It's good for you and Shota to go back. You're more familiar with Tokyo. And with your father, mother, and Naoki-san taking care of you, nothing will happen!"
"As for me, I'm a grown man, it's fine if I endure a few more days in New York. Once we get back to Tokyo, my family will be rich!"
Once you bring the profits back and receive your investment dividends, that's true wealth that transcends social classes!
"Ok!"
Lingmei nodded, then noticed her husband's face turn cold.
"Yuanta! Don't do anything reckless while you're all alone in New York!! Otherwise, when we get back to Tokyo, I'll never forgive you!"
Although I know it's highly unlikely I can stop it, as a wife, it's necessary to make a statement!
"."
Nakai Genta ate his dinner with his head down, making a vague promise.
"Of course!! I'm not that kind of person!!"
This lie was told with absolutely no sincerity! But I had no choice but to tell it.
On the other side, Nakai Suzumi gave a soft hum. That's all just for show.
One of them clearly knew the other was lying, and the other clearly knew the other also knew he was lying, but both chose to maintain this peaceful balance without breaking it!
How many couples endure a lifetime of compromise and deception?
At this moment, Nakai Genta, who was eating heartily, silently muttered to himself:
"Naoki-san, you've really put me through a lot!"
"Achoo!!!"
On Jurassic Island, Naoki Nagayama sneezed through a megaphone, silencing the crew for a moment.
"Private Marseille. Everyone, please continue."
After realizing what had happened, Naoki Nagayama quickly apologized and told everyone to continue preparing for filming.
Meanwhile, Masataka Komori, standing nearby, expressed his concern:
"Naoki-san, the weather's getting cooler, take care of yourself!"
"Well, I'm perfectly fine physically, but I think it's more likely that someone is insulting me!"
"Haha, Naoki-san, you're joking. Who would scold you?"
"Hehe, it's impossible for someone to be without enemies once they reach a certain level!"
Naoki Nagayama waved his hand, deciding not to worry about it anymore.
"Alright, let's hurry up and film, and try to wrap it up before Christmas!"
"Hi!"
Looking into the arena, a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex stood there, shaking its head and wagging its tail, looking incredibly lifelike. This was the last time the Tyrannosaurus Rex would appear!
(End of this chapter)