Chapter 116 Watching the Mad Dog Aspire to Wear the Crown of Glory, He Must Bear the Weight of It…
After the hit NHK morning drama "Back to 17", Risa's popularity soared, and she became a national goddess.
With numerous accolades, scandals also followed.
In late April, her personal assistant introduced her to a highly anticipated new variety show called "Improv Theater," which features actors performing without a script and showcasing their professional skills.
During the initial communication with the production team, Risa presented a novel concept and demonstrated professionalism, making every effort to invite her as a key guest.
However, when Risa received the detailed script before the first recording, she found that it was quite different from the promised "no script, improvisation".
The script not only specified each guest's lines and reactions in detail, but also required her to deliberately play the role of a "naive and innocent" person to highlight another more experienced male guest. There were also some ambiguous interaction designs that could easily cause misunderstandings, with the intention of creating a romantic pairing.
Risa immediately noticed something amiss and instructed her assistant, Ms. Morikawa, to urgently communicate with the production team. However, the team refused to fulfill their original promises, citing reasons such as "it's necessary for the variety show effect" and "it makes it more interesting."
After several rounds of unsuccessful negotiations, Risa took a firm stance and directly rejected the variety show.
I thought that was the end of it.
Unexpectedly, after the variety show "Improv Theater" aired recently, a well-known entertainment gossip weekly suddenly published an anonymous "industry insider's" revelation on its front page, pointing the finger directly at the newly popular national goddess, Ms. R.
The comments subtly implied that she was "proud and arrogant," "arrogant because of the popularity of her morning dramas," and "canceled from a top variety show at the last minute because she thought her co-stars weren't famous enough and the script wasn't 'high-class' enough." They even suggested that she was "deeply in love, had no interest in work, and put her boyfriend at the center of everything, with a shockingly poor work attitude."
The article was highly provocative and included a blurry photo of Risa in the French Open stands, firmly attaching the labels of "diva" and "love-obsessed."
The online trolls sprang into action, instantly flooding Risa's social media comment sections.
"Getting arrogant as soon as you become famous?"
"I feel sorry for the production team; they're really unlucky to have encountered such an artist."
"So you're really in a relationship? You're even neglecting your work for your boyfriend?"
"I'm disappointed and I'm no longer a fan. It turns out that being resilient and hardworking was just a persona."
Negative reviews flooded in.
Despite the fans' best efforts to control the comments and clarify the situation, negative public opinion continued to swirl around them like a venomous snake.
Risa sat in her apartment, staring at the screen full of glaring words, baseless slander and deliberate distortion, her eyes cold.
So... honor and trouble are always sold as a package deal?
Just then, the phone screen next to me suddenly lit up.
It was a call from Yukimura.
"Risa".
His voice was a little deeper than usual.
"I saw it trending on social media. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Yukimura's question was direct and straightforward. There was no doubt whatsoever, only complete trust and support.
Risa opened her mouth, her heart warmed by his unwavering trust.
"No need, don't worry, Ms. Morikawa and the studio will handle it," Risa reassured him. "Just focus on the match and win!"
The Ms. Morikawa she mentioned was her personal assistant, Toshie Morikawa.
This story begins two years ago.
After temporarily acting as Risa's "manager" to coordinate her work once again, Akira Kurosawa finally couldn't help but complain, "If you keep pushing yourself like this, you'll ruin your acting career and your studies sooner or later."
Risa was already tired of his "lecturing," so she went along with his words and replied, "I just can't find the right person, can I? If there really was someone, I would have set up my own studio long ago. Why would I dare to bother Director Kurosawa every time?"
Unexpectedly, Akito Kurosawa took those words to heart.
Before long, he took the initiative to introduce Risa to Morikawa Toshie, a retired veteran agent. Morikawa not only had a wide network of connections, but was also decisive, efficient, and experienced.
Therefore, Rie Morikawa officially became Risa's personal assistant, and brought along the core members of the original team: a meticulous legal advisor, as well as a stylist and makeup artist with whom she had a long-standing and tacit understanding.
The team collaborates on a project-based basis and settles accounts based on commission, forming a highly efficient and professional small team.
On the other end of the phone, Yukimura remained silent for a moment.
"I see."
Then, he changed the subject, "But Risa, remember, whatever you need me to do, anytime."
Risa's heart softened, and she softly replied, "I understand."
After hanging up the phone, she took a deep breath, and the heavy pressure on her chest seemed to be lifted a little, making her feel more relaxed.
She opened social media, stopped looking at the profanities, and simply forwarded the studio's official statement—a strongly worded statement that clearly pointed out the other party's breach of contract and alteration of the program's nature, and that they would pursue legal action against the entertainment gossip weekly.
She didn't offer much explanation, only adding a simple line of text:
"Stick to what you should stick to, and refuse what you should refuse. As long as you have a clear conscience, that's enough."
-
Toho Cinema Building.
The assistant rushed in and handed a tablet to Akito Kurosawa: "Sir, something has happened to Miss Risa."
Akira Kurosawa glanced sideways at the offensive headlines and comments on the screen, and scoffed, "Clowns."
Six months ago, an international director friend of his was looking for a female lead for "Meridian Mist," a multinational blockbuster invested in by Netflix. After hearing the plot outline, Akira Kurosawa recommended Risa without hesitation.
The audition was kept strictly confidential. The outside world only vaguely knew that all the top actresses received offers, making the competition extremely fierce. However, the final selection was not announced for a long time, gradually becoming an unresolved mystery in the industry.
Only he knew that after receiving the script entirely in English, Risa secluded herself for months, not only practicing the language diligently but also delving into the history and culture behind the character.
When she finally stood before the director and Netflix executives, she won over the Netflix executives and the judging panel with just a ten-minute monologue with few lines, relying entirely on her eyes and body language, and secured this highly significant international role.
From that moment on, she became a thorn in the side of many people.
"Should we contact them and get the trending topic removed for her?" the assistant asked.
In the past, the boss had dealt with similar troubles for Miss Risa many times. If he didn't know Risa's character well and that she had a stable relationship, he would almost secretly be shipping this senior-junior-sister couple.
Kurosawa Akito waved his hand, his gaze sharp as torches: "No need to retreat."
He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his tone calm and experienced: "Go and arrange it now, release the news that she is the lead actress in 'Meridian Mist.' There's no need for a big fuss, just find two reliable film critics and let it slip 'casually'."
He paused, a hint of superior composure playing on his lips: "True weight will suppress all the noise. Let those people see what real 'big news' is worth paying attention to."
-
Within half an hour of the news being released, public opinion had quietly shifted.
The real catalyst came from the official social media account of Meridian Mist. It went live quietly and posted its first update, with no text, just a simple emoji: [clapping] @Risa_Risa.
Subsequently, the project's international director quickly reposted the message, writing, "Looking forward to embarking on this cinematic journey with you."
Netizens were instantly in an uproar.
"Top-tier Netflix production? Starring international film stars? Am I seeing things?"
"Whoever just swore, come out and walk around? With your resources and talent, do you really need to ride the coattails of those variety shows to gain popularity?"
"So you turned down variety shows because there were better international opportunities? That's such a wise choice!"
"Are the haters being proven wrong? They're quietly accomplishing great things, directly entering the international arena!"
The comment section, which had been flooded with fake comments, was quickly filled with cheers of "Congratulations," "Looking forward to it," and "A powerful rebuttal." Risa's repost also instantly received an explosive amount of support and likes.
The best counterattack is never to prove yourself or make excuses, but to silence them by reaching a level they cannot reach.
-
The wind of late summer and early autumn has shed its heat and brings a clear coolness.
While Yukimura Seiichi traveled to New York to compete in the Open, Risa was on the other side of the world, experiencing her peak moment.
During the filming of her morning drama, she starred in the crime film "Winter Silence," which earned her both the Best Actress award at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Golden Bear, making her the youngest actress in history to win two A-list awards.
This honor came a full five years earlier than in my previous life.
Riding on this momentum, the Netflix team also made an official announcement that "Meridian Mist" was about to start filming, which earned Risa a lot of attention and prestige in the industry.
The higher you climb, the colder it gets. Reaching the pinnacle of popularity also means standing at the center of a storm. Glory attracts countless eyes, but it also reveals the covetousness and malice lurking in the shadows.
It's like flying a kite; when she reaches the pinnacle of her career, those with ulterior motives quietly tighten the string in their hands, seizing her lifeline.
Risa has finally taken a short break after months of intensive overseas filming for "Meridian Mist".
When she dragged herself home exhausted and was still jet-lagged, her assistant, Morikawa, called.
"Risa, rumors about your plastic surgery during high school have suddenly appeared online and are spreading very quickly. Should we deal with them?"
"A plastic surgery rumor?" Risa nestled on the sofa, turned on speakerphone, and casually clicked on the link sent by Morikawa.
Blurry old photos, deliberately cropped and color-corrected, are being wildly spread across various social media platforms with sensational headlines such as "Deep Dive into the Head-Swapping History of the Newly Crowned Best Actress" and "Ugly Duckling's Transformation in High School."
Fans quickly came to her defense, presenting her high school modeling photos and stills as evidence, but the other party was well-prepared, and their online trolls flooded in like a torrent.
For a time, the two sides argued endlessly, and public opinion intensified.
Risa glanced at the most popular posts, which were again associated with the team from that entertainment gossip weekly magazine from a while ago.
"It really is like a persistent ghost..." she muttered, frowning.
Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. Risa curled up on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, but couldn't stop shivering.
Her head was spinning, and her eyelids felt incredibly heavy. She reached up and touched her forehead, and the burning heat startled even herself.
"Could it be... a fever?"
Working long hours and overworking can deplete your body's reserves, leading to a weakened immune system and making you more susceptible to colds and fevers.
On the other end of the phone, after a long silence, Morikawa's voice was tinged with worry: "Risa?"
"Same as always: issue a statement, contact a legal team and a detective agency, find out who's behind it, and file a lawsuit directly." Risa gave the brief instructions and hung up the phone.
My vision grew increasingly blurry, and even the light from my phone screen felt blinding. Illness strikes like a landslide; this time, I was truly careless.
Risa forced herself to go find fever reducers. She stood up in a hurry, then felt dizzy and lost her weight. She floated down and fell onto the carpet.
In the last moment before her consciousness faded, she seemed to see a ray of light shining through the crack in the door, and a tall figure standing still for a moment against the light and shadow, followed by hurried footsteps rushing towards her.
In her dazed state, she seemed to be picked up by someone.
......
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Author's Note: Unfortunately, I've also caught a cold. I have a fever, chills, and my eyelids are so hot I could fry an egg on them. I'm currently calling a delivery person for medicine. ≧﹏≦
Long-term sleep deprivation can really lower your immunity, especially during seasonal changes. Those of you in the real world, please take good care of your health! [hugs]
If I can't update tomorrow, I'll post a leave notice, sorry <( _ _ )>
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