Chapter 255: Gossip (Revised)
After Masayoshi Kishimoto had eaten breakfast, it was before he left the house and drove to work. The reason why he didn’t need to drive Sakai Rie to work was that he had already bought her a red Ferrari supercar.
However, Sakai Rie never drove to her classes at Tokyo University of the Arts in a flashy manner. She didn’t like to show off, but she remained the same kind of ordinary college student she was in the beginning.
When you see her on a regular basis, you can’t tell that she is a rich person at all. The only thing that makes her stand out and impresses people is that she is pretty and has a good demeanor.
The only time she would drive a car was when she participated in the activities of the Rosebud Club or when she went out farther. Other than that, she didn’t take many cabs, and her usual means of transportation were the subway and buses among public transportation.
Masayoshi Kishimoto was on his way to the office when his cell phone suddenly rang. He intentionally slowed down the speed of the car and picked up the phone.
“Chairman, there are a number of reporters at the company. One by one, they are clamoring for a special interview with you.” Yamada Mirai as the head of the chairman’s secretary’s office was duty-bound to need to inform the road in advance.
Kishimoto Masayoshi understood what was going on as soon as he heard it. It was all because of the ripple effect caused by the intimate photo of himself and Kyoko Fukada together on the cover of Weekly Bunshun.
“I know. Today, I won’t go to the office. If there’s anything more important, call me again. You tell Publicity Minister Natsume Ryousuke for me to take care of it.” Masayoshi Kishimoto made an immediate decision.
Yamada Mirai responded with an “Understood” and waited for the other party to hang up. Holding the cell phone in the top of her right hand, she went straight to see Natsume Ryousuke and relayed exactly what the chairman wanted her to say to him.
Natsume Ryousuke didn’t say anything, after all, as the Minister of Publicity, that was his job. After a little preparation, he took the initiative and went to meet the journalists outside the group’s gates.
Natsume Ryosuke said without being overbearing, “Hello, I’m the publicity minister of the Hard Gold Group. If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask me.”
As soon as these words came out, the reporters’ “long guns and short cannons” were neatly aimed at him. Although he was not one of the parties involved, there was finally someone to give a positive answer.
Moreover, they have been through a lot of battles and know that when it comes to this kind of thing, the person in question is unlikely to personally face their interviews, but to let others to carry out a response and voice.
Natsume Ryosuke was originally a press officer. When he faced the reporters and their microphones, cameras, and cameramen’s lenses, he wouldn’t be the slightest bit balked in his heart, after all, he had long been used to it.
“May I ask, are popular actress Kyoko Fukada and your company’s Chairman Masayoshi Kishimoto in a romantic relationship?” A female reporter who rushed to the front was the first to ask.
“What can you tell with just some photos and words from Weekly Bunshun? A woman holding a man’s arm with both hands is not just a so-called intimate gesture for lovers.
It is also practiced by men and women who are close friends. The biased and inaccurate report in the Weekly Bunshun has caused a great deal of distress to the Hard Gold Group and to the chairman himself.
The Hard Gold Group reserves the right to take legal action against the Weekly Bunshun for the time being. Chairman Kishimoto and Ms. Kyoko Fukada are just ordinary boyfriend and girlfriend who are on good terms.”
Natsume Ryosuke knew his position since he had to defend not only the company’s interests but also the chairman’s public image said.
“However, Ms. Kyoko Fukada’s manager has already publicly admitted her romantic relationship with your company’s chairman. Her manager said that the two met more than two years ago.
At that time, Ms. Fukada Kyouko had only just made her official debut as a newcomer, and didn’t have much of a reputation. As for President Kishimoto, he had only just started his business a short while ago.
The two of them met romantically by accident while riding in an elevator. Then, they became lovers. For that, what explanation do you have?” A male reporter asked in a voice.
“Regarding this one thing you said, I have neither heard nor seen it for the time being. Whether it is a fact or not, I won’t make any comments for now.
Our Hard Gold Group has always been a law-abiding company. This does not exclude the purpose of someone who wants to use the opportunity to hype up the news.
Taking it a step further, they are one unmarried, the other unmarried, the most normal socializing between male and female friends.
If a woman holds a man’s hand for a moment is the existence of an extraordinary intimate relationship, and will not make people laugh their asses off?” Natsume Ryousuke said in response.
A female reporter who wore glasses managed to catch the opportunity to see the needle and asked hurriedly, “Ms. Fukada Kyoko is a popular actress, so there is absolutely no need to hype up the news and topic. The scandal this has caused will only cause her to receive a bad ripple effect.”
“You tell me, who would be tired of getting more and more popular? There’s a famous saying in the entertainment industry that you’re not afraid of being scolded, but you’re afraid of being ignored.
As far as I know, Miss Kyoko Fukada will be releasing her first solo CD album, The Last Fruit, in May. I have nothing against Ms. Kyoko Fukada herself.
For that reason, it’s not guaranteed to be a handful of elaborate plans by her manager or agency to build up momentum and advance publicity. Our chairman is the biggest victim.” Natsume Ryosuke said nonchalantly.
“Ms. Kyoko Fukada is the corporate spokesperson of your Hard Gold Group. This is an indisputable objective fact that exists.
The reason why Chairman Kishimoto chose to have her serve as the spokesperson, could it be that one of the reasons for this is because of the existence of their relationship, which was originally that of lovers? It’s called “Fertilizer flows in the field of outsiders.” A tall female reporter was asking aggressively.
“Ms. Kyoko Fukada is indeed the corporate spokesperson of our Hard Gold Group. The reason why she was activated was the result of a discussion in our company’s internal high-level meeting.
Is it hard to believe that it is because of this one coincidence that things that are not related to each other have been artificially fabricated and linked together out of nothing?
If we, the Hard Gold Group, use other female celebrities to act as the company’s spokesperson, does that mean that our chairman is romantically involved with her as well?” Natsume Ryosuke argued.
“Ms. Kyoko Fukada was the one who served as your company’s spokesperson when she and Chairman Kishimoto sparked their love for each other.
According to the word of mouth of those in the know, they dated in private from time to time, and even traveled together to Seoul, South Korea on vacation. During this period, the two were very intimate.”
The first female reporter to ask a question threw out the relevant information she had obtained, and then wanted to see how the other party would respond, saying.
“A person in the know? Who is the last name, it can’t be something you made up! Even if you say that there is such a person in the know, it doesn’t mean that what he said is absolutely true.
At least the Weekly Wenchun has photos when it fabricates facts. Nowadays, they don’t even need photos! It’s just a random mouthful of nonsense.” Natsume Ryosuke was not polite at all.
“Hard Gold Media, a subsidiary of the Hard Gold Group, owns 10% of the outstanding shares of HORIPRO Corporation, and HORIPRO’s popular artists include Ms. Kyoko Fukada. This can’t be a coincidence! How do you explain that?” The tall female reporter asked again.
“This is a simple investment and business.” Natsume Ryosuke said in a neutral tone.