After Cao Zhiqiang signed and stamped the contract, he was just about to hand it to Kodansha editor Watanabe Xiongye when the doorbell suddenly rang again.
Cao Zhiqiang paused and was about to get up to answer it, but Akina Nakamori spoke first. "No need. I'll get it."
With that, Akina Nakamori hurried to the door with quick, short steps, then gently opened it a crack.
When she opened the door, she discovered that the visitor was someone she knew.
"Section Chief Tomioka, what brings you here?"
Indeed, the man ringing the doorbell was Nobuo Tomioka, head of the publicity section at Warner-Pioneer Records and the man overseeing Cao Zhiqiang's project.
Nobuo Tomioka showed no surprise at finding Akina Nakamori answering the door. He simply laughed. "What, am I not allowed to visit?"
"No, not at all." Akina Nakamori quickly smiled and shook her head. "I'm just a little surprised to see you at this hour."
Nobuo Tomioka chuckled. "That's understandable. I came specifically to see Cao-san. Speaking of which, is he home?"
"Oh, yes." Akina Nakamori nodded. "Please come in, Section Chief Tomioka."
Only then did Nobuo Tomioka smile and nod. "Sorry for the intrusion."
Once Nobuo Tomioka entered the apartment with familiar ease, he found Cao Zhiqiang sitting on the sofa entertaining a guest.
"Oh, you have company." Nobuo Tomioka gave Cao Zhiqiang a polite smile. "I'll wait, then."
By then, Cao Zhiqiang had also spotted Nobuo Tomioka. Knowing that the man must have business with him, he nodded to Watanabe Xiongye. "Mr. Watanabe, please look over the contract and see if there are any problems. I'll step away for a moment."
"Of course. Please go ahead." Watanabe Xiongye politely stood and nodded to Cao Zhiqiang.
After nodding to Cao Zhiqiang and exchanging a slight bow of greeting