Itinerary

Click. Click.

Shinji Matou has already gained a certain level of fame in China thanks to Fate and Super Eight. The reporters who had been waiting for a long time frantically pressed the shutter button when they saw him.

Fortunately, these reporters were kept at the perimeter by security personnel and did not manage to push their way up; otherwise, Shinji would definitely not have remained so calm.

After greeting his girlfriend, Kariya then introduced the two representatives from the Celestial Empire to Shinji.

"Shinji, this is Mr. Niu Yuming, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Film Festival Organizing Committee. This is Mr. Zhang Liangping, the Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee."

"Mr. Li, Mr. Ma, this is my nephew, Director Shinji Matou, and this is Ms. Udagawa Nao, the president of Type-Moon Company."

Shinji lazy to use a translator, Shinji said directly in Chinese, "Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Because he hadn't spoken Chinese for a long time, Shinji's accent was a bit heavy, with a slight rapping tone, but even so, it still startled the two big shots.

Fortunately, these two were experienced and quickly regained their composure, shaking hands with Shinji and Udagawa Nao one by one.

Throughout the entire process, Sakura stood far behind and made no attempt to approach or speak to anyone.

Although she came to China on behalf of Type-Moon Company, neither her status as an actress nor her position within the company is high enough for her to participate in this level of talks.

After a brief introduction, Shinji did not stay for an interview. After all, he wasn't an actor and didn't need personal popularity, so there was no need to cause trouble for others.

Escorted by several security personnel, Shinji and his group left the airport, got into three cars, and drove towards the city.

With a driver present, Shinji sat in the right rear seat, followed by Kariya, who was second in rank, in the left rear seat. His male assistant sat in the front passenger seat, a very standard seating arrangement.

By the way, if someone you're traveling with is driving, then the front passenger seat is the most important seat.

After getting into the car, Shinji glanced with a hint of curiosity at the young man sitting in the front passenger seat, who was sighing softly.

You seem quite disappointed.

Upon hearing Shinji's words, the assistant immediately straightened his back.

"No, no... I'm just a little disappointed." The young man stroked his cheek, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "The head office came to promote the movie, and I thought I'd see some of the main Lead Actor..."

"The movie's Lead Actor... Look, isn't that him?"

Shinji pointed to his second uncle.

"What kind of Lead Actor am I?" Kariya glared at Shinji. "I remember the phrase I heard most often on set was 'Don't steal Hiroshi Nagano!'"

Shinji shrugged. "Boma's status is higher than yours, what can I do?"

Is this how a nephew speaks to his uncle?

Kariya smacked her lips in displeasure.

Haha~

The young assistant let out a good-natured laugh, trying to ease the tension.

"My Li Ri'ang, and I'm Boss Kariya's intern assistant. By the way, I just finished my training."

Li Ri'ang's last sentence was disjointed, but Shinji knew that the other party was talking about basic training in Magecraft.

As a modern (Magecraft) film and television company, it's impossible for Type-Moon not to have some connection with Magecraft.

In order to ensure that matters related to Magecraft could proceed smoothly, Kariya, under Shinji's instructions, recruited a group of people in China who had Magecraft talent but had never been exposed to Magecraft.

Of course, in the local Chinese terminology, Magecraft should be called "Fangshu).

Type-Moon's recruitment method in China is also very simple. Shinji drew inspiration from the way the Shuazige once made people swoon with his handsomeness and placed a link composed of Magecraft formulas in an inconspicuous corner of his company's official website.

Only those with a talent for Magecraft can find this link; once inside, they will see relevant job postings.

Some people will inevitably click on the links by accident, and those people will be screened during the interview.

If you don't have a talent for Magecraft, you'll be screened out or transferred to a regular job.

Li Ri'ang was such a lucky guy. He didn't have any background with Mysterious forces in the Celestial Empire, but he had decent talent.

After a brief training, he became Kariya's temporary secretary.

Old Li was very satisfied with his new job, not only because he could cultivate mysterious powers and had the illusion of a loser transforming into a superhero, but also because Type-Moon Company was a film and television company, and also the current parent company of Tsuburaya Productions.

Li Ri'ang didn't care that Tsuburaya Productions and Type-Moon had no direct relationship; it was just that the owners of both companies happened to be Shinji.

For him, a tokusatsu enthusiast, Type-Moon Company was heaven!!

"Director Matou! It's really nice to meet you!"

As he spoke, Li Ri'ang held out a signed copy to Shinji.

"Could you give me your autograph?"

"Of course, this is a benefit the company owner provides to its employees."

Shinji smiled as he accepted the signed copy and wrote his name on it in a flamboyant style.

Thank you so much.

Li Ri'ang nodded excitedly and carefully put away the signed copy.

Kariya, speaking with the air of someone who'd been there before, said, "Xiao Li, you don't need to fawn over this guy. He'll think you're easy to bully and then exploit you, just like I did."

"Second Uncle, you're wrong about that." Shinji gave Kariya a thumbs up. "Leaving aside others, whether you're easy to bully or not, I'll exploit you!"

"Shinji ~ You'd better die!"

Kariya's eyes blazed with fury as he reached out his hands, intending to strangle his nephew to cleanse the family.

"You idiot second uncle, how could you possibly be a match for me!"

Shinji laughed and used both hands to block Kariya's attacks. The two of them continued to exchange blows in the car.

"..."

Watching the uncle and nephew playfully bickering, Li Ri'ang felt utterly superfluous.

This kind of playful, teasing relationship between uncle and nephew feels so familiar. Could it be my future?

Li Ri'ang felt a little worried. He always felt that he might end up like his boss, lacking any authority in front of his nephew.

Chapter 280 Itinerary

In the end, Shinji prevailed in this "battle" between Kariya and Shinji, using Magecraft to pin Kariya to his seat.

"Amazing!"

Looking at the Magecraft aura surrounding Kariya, Li Ri'ang said enviously, "I wonder when I'll reach this level."

Every teenager dreams of possessing extraordinary abilities and fighting for justice in the world.

Whether it's the martial arts or fantasy genres native to the East, the technological or mutant genres of the West, or even the ninjutsu or stand-up comedy genres of Japanese anime, they are just different paths of power. The essence of dreams is still about showing off and being cool in front of others.

"You're too early to say that."

Shinji smiled and shook his finger.

No matter how talented Li Ri'ang is, it's impossible for him to become a master Magecraft in such a short time. Even someone as gifted as Shinji Matou would have gone through at least two or three years of basic Magecraft training.

The training Lao Li received before only taught him the most basic content; he's still a long way from becoming a real Magecraft.

"Magecraft training takes time. For now, you should focus on mastering the stable use of magic."

"Yes, I understand."

Seeing how cooperative Assistant Li was, Shinji taught him some techniques he had learned during his Magecraft training.

Although Shinji's Magecraft theory is incredibly weak, it's still no problem for him to teach Li Ri'ang, a complete newbie.

After chatting for a while, the conversation eventually turned to the promotional activities for the screening of "Super Eight" in China.

"Oh, it's such a shame that Mr. Hiroshi Nagano and the others couldn't come to Japan this time," Li Ri'ang said regretfully. "I thought I'd be able to see him."

"There's no other way. Johnny & Associates's has almost no business or promotion in mainland China. It would be too much of a loss to make Boma give up her activities in Japan and make a special trip there."

Johnny & Associates's activities in China are really few. The only one Shinji remembers is the concert held in Beijing in 2011 by SMAP, the group that includes Takuya Kimura, to thank China for its aid to Japan after the earthquake.

The premise of this concert was that in May of that year, when the Chinese Premier visited Japan, he met with SMAP at the hotel where he was staying and extended an invitation to them to hold a concert in China.

It can only be said that SMAP is undoubtedly Japan's number one boy band, and the members are worthy of being called the top male entertainers in Japan.

Of course, this also shows how difficult it is for Johnny & Associates's to expand its activities in China.

In any case, Shinji believes that Johnny & Associates's will not spend much effort on the Chinese market in the next 30 years.

"But there's one thing you can rest assured about Li Ri'ang." Shinji held up one finger and smiled, "Hiroshi Nagano is still alive and well; he wasn't in a car accident."

"Hello, hello..."

Does this big shot even know about these kinds of online rumors?!

Li Ri'ang was shocked; he realized he had truly underestimated Director Shinji Matou.

He was already quite surprised that the Japan Director could communicate fluently with him in Chinese, but he didn't expect the other party to know even more than he thought.

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The Shanghai Film Festival is the most important cultural event in Shanghai this year, and the organizing committee will naturally spare no expense in its preparation.

Shinji naturally stayed in a five-star luxury hotel, and in single rooms at that.

Since it's just a flight from Japan to Shanghai, there's no need to adjust to the time difference.

So after checking into the hotel, Shinji threw his luggage into his room and then swaggered out for a stroll.

In his previous life, Shinji had visited Shanghai several times for various reasons, so he was quite familiar with the city.

However, he didn't go to the Confucius Temple (a shopping street for otaku) that he always visited when he came to Shanghai—after all, it's more convenient to buy these things in Japan —but instead went to the Bund to eat and stroll around.

Although Shinji is not picky about food and doesn't mind the various modified Chinese dishes in Japan, he still thinks that food from China is more authentic and suits Shinji taste better.

Li Ri'ang, who was following behind Shinji, was stunned. He realized that this Japan Director knew Shanghai better than he did.

He realized that his so-called guide was completely useless; Shinji, a guest, had actually recommended many of the best restaurants to him.

"Even though I'm not a local of Shanghai, it's disheartening that I know less about this city than foreigners do..."

If it weren't for Matou Sakura repeatedly stating that her brother had never been to Shanghai, Li Ri'ang would have suspected that she was just making fun of him.

However, this period of eating and drinking did not last. The next day, Shinji took the initiative to approach the film festival organizing committee to confirm the itinerary for the next few days.

Having finally made it to China, Shinji wasn't planning to just make a brief appearance at the film festival and leave.

Although it's still far from the box office boom in China, it will be too late to start promoting the film before the market takes off. We need to get our name recognized by moviegoers before the market takes off.

That's right, Shinji's purpose for this trip is not the present, but the future.

"The itinerary is confirmed."

Udagawa Nao handed Shinji a proposal, saying, "First and foremost, you must attend the film festival's opening ceremony as a member of the jury."

"Real?"

Shinji raised his eyebrows in surprise.

There's nothing wrong with being invited to the opening ceremony; that's their primary reason for inviting you.

Shinji was surprised that the official organization invited him to be a member of the jury, considering that the mainstream view in the Chinese film industry is still that film is art.

I'm a businessman, and I'm not even part of their circle, so why would they invite me?

Is this a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken?

However, after a moment's thought, Shinji roughly guessed the reason; it was probably a decision made by the film festival's organizing committee itself.

It is now 2006. The focus of China is on development and the economy. Its own films are very popular in the country and have a lot of box office revenue, so they naturally receive attention from the authorities.

After all, box office revenue is part of political achievements, so it can't be ignored.

This kind of double standard environment is a unique characteristic of the current state of China's film and television industry.

Seeing that Shinji did not question the schedule, Udagawa Nao continued, "Besides the premiere, you will also attend an international film forum and an official dinner."

"Is there anything else?"

Udagawa Nao replied, "Besides these mandatory items, there are a few other applications and optional activities, which are basically invitations for television interviews and university lectures."

"Um..."

Shinji thought for a moment, then said, "Forget about the TV interview, please decline it for me. The university lecture can be arranged, but I'll choose the venue."

As he spoke, Shinji told Udagawa Nao the names of two universities.