sinovels Chapter 273 The insurance company was sweating profusely.
Chapter 273 The insurance company was sweating profusely.
Chapter 273 The insurance company was sweating profusely.
This day's shopping spree ended with Kitahara Nobu spending billions of yen to acquire six top-of-the-line luxury cars in one go.
To maximize his tax avoidance allowance while also considering practicality and prestige, Kitahara Shin's car purchase list was very straightforward:
A sophisticated and luxurious Mercedes-Benz S-Class was gifted to the gentle and elegant Akina Nakamori.
A silver Porsche 911, as a toy for "veteran driver" Izumi Sakai to go for a drive on the mountain road;
A red Ferrari F355 was assigned to Rie Miyazawa, who has an outgoing personality and likes to show off.
A BMW 8 Series coupe with elegant lines was given to Nanako Matsushima, who usually needs to drive herself to the film set.
As for the remaining two, one is an Aston Martin DB7, which will be kept as Kitahara Shin's personal car; the other is a Toyota Century custom edition, which will be registered under the company name as a status symbol for future formal business occasions.
In this round of luxury car allocation, only Matsu Takako, who had come along to join the fun, arrived empty-handed. After all, she was only nineteen years old and hadn't even gotten her driver's license yet. Kitahara Shin smiled and ruffled her hair, promising to personally take her to choose a car when she got her license, which finally soothed the girl's envious heart.
After arranging the asset allocation in Tokyo, Kitahara Shin took some time to travel south again with Matsushima Nanako to inspect the progress of post-disaster reconstruction in the Kansai region.
As the car drove through the streets of Kobe, the view outside the window was completely different from the devastated ruins of just a few months ago.
Japan has extremely strict labor contract laws, strictly prohibiting construction workers from working overtime. But Kitahara Shin was well-versed in the rules of capital operation. Since he couldn't have one person work thirteen hours a day, he would spend three times the amount of money to recruit three batches of workers! Backed by the massive cash flow of Kitahara's office, the reconstruction site implemented a seamless 24-hour, three-shift system. The ceaseless roar of machinery, in this country that values rigid processes, forged the astonishing "Kitahara Speed."
The two men, wearing safety helmets, walked on a plot of land in a soon-to-be-completed commercial area.
Instead of buying the land outright, Kitahara Shin cleverly secured a multi-decade long-term lease. This was a shrewd economic decision: buying the land outright would tie up a large amount of capital, while a long-term lease would not only revitalize the commercial district at a very low cost but also allow him to invest the huge cash flow saved in the upcoming internet boom and the Asian financial crisis. Decades later, when the lease expires, the residual value of the land will be negligible for him.
"To compress a project that would normally take one or two years to this extent, I guess only you, teacher, could do that in the world," Nanako said sincerely, looking at the building framework that had risen from the ground before her.
Kitahara Shin turned his head, looking at her pretty face that was a little dusty, and gently pinched her cheek: "This wasn't something I did alone. All the money you donated from your acting career, and the sweat of these workers working day and night, it's all in there. Without everyone, I couldn't have built these buildings by myself."
Nanako, listening to his impeccably worded speech, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh: "Teacher, you're starting to sound more and more official. I must say, no wonder you've been the president of such a large company for so long!"
"Well, you've gotten bolder. Now you even dare to tease me, haven't you?" Kitahara Shin laughed and pretended to tap her forehead. Nanako laughed and dodged, her clear laughter echoing in the busy construction site.
In the afternoon, the two stopped by a charity foundation in Kansai that specifically supports children affected by disasters. As a key figure in Ultraman Tiga, Kitahara Shin's appearance caused a sensation among the children present. Amidst cheers of "Team Leader Daigo," Kitahara Shin patiently distributed stationery and Sparkler toys to the children, concluding his daytime activities successfully.
In the evening, Kitahara Shin took Nanako to a top-notch Kobe beef teppanyaki restaurant in downtown Kobe.
Because of Kitahara's office's tireless efforts in the Kansai reconstruction over the past few months, almost everyone in the area knows the celebrity couple who were volunteering on the ruins. The restaurant owner, seeing them enter, was so excited that he personally cooked, bringing out the restaurant's best A5-sized dish.
The Wagyu beef was served, and when it came time to pay the bill, they absolutely refused to accept any money, insisting on giving them a free meal as a token of their gratitude.
Kitahara Shin, of course, wouldn't take advantage of such a situation. He smiled and thanked the owner, but before leaving, he still placed a thick wad of yen under his plate.
Although they paid, the feeling of being genuinely warmly welcomed by the locals truly made the two of them feel exceptionally warm on this slightly chilly spring night.
The night was dark.
Instead of rushing back to Tokyo that night, the two stayed at a luxury hotel near Kobe Port.
After showering, Kitahara Shin and Nanako sat side-by-side at the rooftop bar of the hotel. Each held a glass of whiskey, quietly admiring the view outside the window. Kobe's night view, while not as dazzling and bustling as Tokyo's, was beautiful, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with lights illuminating the landscape—
The view of the winding coastline has a unique and tranquil charm.
Nanako wore a silk slip dress with a loose cardigan over it. She gently swirled the ice cubes in her glass, making a crisp clinking sound.
"Teacher—" Nanako took a sip of her drink, then suddenly turned her head, her watery eyes fixed on Kitahara Shin, and asked with a half-smile, "I heard that you and Akina-nee—have reached some kind of 'agreement'?"
Kitahara Nobumasa suddenly stopped in his tracks as he was about to drink.
He gripped his wine glass, blinked, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment. He thought he'd been very discreet about delivering the ring in the underground parking lot a few days ago; where did this girl find out?
Seeing the man's reaction, Nanako grinned, revealing two cute little fangs, her tone tinged with smugness: "Teacher, how could we possibly be kept in the dark about something like this? Rie saw the diamond ring on Akina's hand a long time ago."
Kitahara Shin coughed lightly, touched his nose somewhat awkwardly, and didn't know how to respond for a moment. On this issue, any answer seemed like a death sentence.
Just as Kitahara Shin was frantically trying to find the right words, Nanako suddenly stopped smiling and put on an extremely serious expression.
"So—" she looked into Kitahara Shin's eyes and said, enunciating each word clearly, "I want a daughter."
"Pfft—cough cough cough!"
Kitahara Shin nearly spat out the mouthful of whiskey he had just taken a sip. He coughed violently a few times, staring in shock at the astonishing woman beside him.
Isn't that a bit too big of a leap?
Seeing Kitahara Shin's disheveled and alarmed appearance, Nanako blinked innocently, her serious expression instantly breaking down as she burst out laughing.
"Teacher, why are you so nervous?" She leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against Kitahara Shin's ear, and smiled like a triumphant little fox. "What I mean is, I want to be the godmother of your and Akina-nee's future daughter! What naughty thing were you thinking about just now?"
Kitahara Shin looked into her mischievous, smiling eyes and sighed helplessly.
Back when he was on set, he often heard the director and crew members complaining in private that Nanako Matsushima was actually quite cunning. He always thought that she was just a naive and innocent girl in front of him, but now it seems that the rumors were true!
However, considering her age, Nanako, born in 1973, is now twenty-three years old. She is no longer the timid new model she once was, but a rising star who has been working her way up in the entertainment industry and is beginning to show the charm of a mature woman with a touch of cunning.
"You dare to make fun of me? Looks like you've gotten too bold since I haven't taught you a lesson lately."
Kitahara Shin put down his wine glass, reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, lifting her up in his arms. Amidst Nanako's half-surprised and half-coquettish resistance, he strode towards the suite's bedroom.
The Kobe port outside the window remained tranquil, but inside the suite, things were just beginning.
In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.
Early summer in Tokyo welcomed the massive crew of "Shinjuku Incident." When Jackie Chan, along with dozens of stuntmen from his stunt team and the core filming crew, stepped out of Narita Airport, he was immediately stunned by the sight before him.
Kitahara Shin not only booked a VIP fast track, but also arranged a top-of-the-line convoy of all-black Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars as a welcome vehicle outside the airport. The security personnel responsible for the reception were all dressed in sharp suits and white gloves, respectfully opening the car doors for everyone.
Moreover, Kitahara Shin arranged for the crew to stay at one of Tokyo's most luxurious five-star hotels. The almost obsessive "Japanese hospitality" of the Japanese service industry allowed these Hong Kong stuntmen, who were used to the hardships of film crews, to experience what true royal treatment was like, even more extravagant than their previous stay at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.
After settling the main force, Kitahara Shin didn't let Jackie Chan sit idle.
Filming in Japan, especially in Shinjuku, one of Asia's most bustling commercial districts, is incredibly difficult. Even Hollywood directors are typically refused entry by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department without hesitation.
But Kitahara Shin not only did it, he also personally led Jackie Chan through the process.
Over the next few days, Kitahara Shin led Jackie Chan on intensive visits to Representative Kobayakawa, high-ranking officials of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and...
The heads of conglomerates in several major shopping districts in Shinjuku. Because it involves closing off streets on weekdays and even filming action and explosion scenes inside shopping malls, extremely complicated lease agreements and liability waivers need to be signed.
Watching Kitahara Shin effortlessly navigate the political and business world, giving all the green lights with ease, Jackie Chan was secretly shocked, fully witnessing the terrifying power and influence this young president wielded in Japan.
After going through these complicated official procedures, that evening, Kitahara Shin booked a secluded Michelin three-star Japanese restaurant and treated Jackie Chan to an extremely authentic and top-notch omakase (chef's banquet). The fresh, top-quality ingredients and mellow sake left Jackie Chan extremely satisfied, and he happily returned to his hotel, slightly tipsy.
About two weeks later, all the venue coordination, extras recruitment and safety approvals were finalized, and filming of the Japanese scenes for "Shinjuku Incident" officially began.
The reason why Jackie Chan's movies were able to become popular all over the world in an era without CG special effects was never because of any mind-bending suspense or complicated ethics, but because of two words: authenticity.
Realistic, bone-crunching action; real extreme sports; real visual impact.
In this film, Jackie Chan plays a low-ranking, unpopular Hong Kong police officer. Because a Japanese yakuza boss, played by Shin Kitahara, cruelly harmed his family while expanding his influence in Hong Kong, this police officer illegally immigrates to Shinjuku, Japan, embarking on a path of revenge and investigation from which there is no return.
The first two weeks after filming began mainly focused on shooting Jackie Chan's personal infiltration and chase scenes.
Jackie Chan showcased his signature parkour and acrobatic fighting style on the streets of Shinjuku. Because he didn't understand Japanese, he caused quite a few laughs during his undercover work. This combination of "everyday comedy + high-intensity chases" is the soul of Jackie Chan's movies.
Kitahara Shin didn't have any scenes to film during this period, but he often visited the set. Standing behind the monitor, watching Jackie Chan repeatedly fall more than ten times for a shot of jumping from the second floor and landing on a sunshade, and even almost spraining his ankle once when he landed incorrectly, Kitahara Shin was deeply shocked.
This globally renowned actor is truly fearless when it comes to filming; his passionate love for movies and his dedication are truly admirable.
In contrast, the yakuza boss played by Shin Kitahara appears extremely mysterious and arrogant in the first half of the story. While Jackie Chan is beaten bloody and fleeing in the underworld of Shinjuku, Kitahara simply sits in a luxurious Japanese garden, drinking tea and looking at the surveillance photos handed to him by his subordinates. Like a cat playing with a mouse, he sends out wave after wave of thugs to wear down Jackie Chan's stamina, pushing the villain's arrogance to the extreme.
Filming progressed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the crew faced the most important and dangerous climax scene of the entire film.
A life-or-death showdown on a skyscraper rooftop.
According to the script, Jackie Chan finally breaks through numerous obstacles and corners Kitahara Shin on the rooftop of a high-rise office building under construction in Shinjuku. The two will then engage in an extremely dangerous close-quarters fight, ultimately tumbling off the edge of the building.
Standing on the edge of a rooftop dozens of stories high, the wind whipped everyone's clothes through the air. Looking down, the cars on the street looked like matchboxes, and the intense feeling of weightlessness was enough to make an ordinary person's legs go weak.
In this scene, Kitahara Shin truly witnessed Jackie Chan's madness.
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When filming the scene where Jackie Chan is knocked back by Shin Kitahara and half his body is hanging in mid-air outside a building, Jackie Chan refused to use a stunt double. He was only strapped to a thin wire and personally performed that extremely dangerous struggle at a height of several hundred meters.
After Jackie Chan finished filming his close-up, he was pulled up by the crew. He was panting heavily and turned to look at Kitahara Shin, who was about to film the "extreme jump" scene.
This scene required Kitahara Shin to perform a difficult backflip kick on scaffolding at the edge of the rooftop, and then fall off.
Jackie Chan looked at Kitahara Shin, suddenly grinned, and said half-jokingly and half-provokingly, "Brother Kitahara, it's windy up here, I get dizzy just standing there. If you don't think it's okay, just let my stunt double from the Jackie Chan Stunt Team wear a wig and go up there. Sometimes there's no need to make things too difficult for yourself. We're all here to make money, there's no need to risk our lives."
How could Kitahara Shin not detect the hint of friendly provocation in Jackie Chan's tone? This older brother clearly wanted to see just how daring Kitahara Shin, who was so fierce in indoor fights in Hong Kong, really was at this height of several hundred meters in the air.
Kitahara Shin took a deep breath. The strong winds high in the sky did indeed make his heart beat faster, and his breathing became slightly rapid.
However, thanks to the abnormal psychological qualities and physical control granted by the [Ring of Life], this fear was quickly suppressed.
"Brother, making money is one thing, but I've never liked to fake things in front of the camera."
Kitahara Shin smiled slightly, casually took off his suit jacket and tossed it to his assistant. He walked to the narrow scaffolding at the edge of the rooftop and gave the director an "OK" sign.
Action!
'
The camera zooms in. Kitahara Shin's eyes instantly turn icy cold. Facing the charging stuntman, he executes a perfectly executed backflip downward kick with incredible fluidity and sharpness on the steel frame, which is less than half a meter wide!
The moment he landed, as the script had instructed, his foot slipped, his entire body lost its balance, and he plummeted straight down hundreds of meters into the air!
The entire movement was fluid and seamless, without the slightest hesitation or fear. Even the coldness and resentment in the face of death during the fall were perfectly portrayed through close-up facial expressions.
"Cut! That's perfect! Quickly bring President Kitahara up! Hurry, hurry, hurry!" The director's voice cracked with excitement behind the monitor.
However, the most excited people on set were not the director and Jackie Chan, but several insurance company assessors and a private medical rescue team waiting outside the film set.
When they saw Kitahara Shin perform that extreme maneuver, which could have cost them their lives at any moment, hundreds of meters in the air, and then fall to their deaths, several insurance company executives in suits were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen.
My goodness! This is a super-capital tycoon who controls tens of billions of yen in assets and whose slightest stomp can shake the Japanese economy!
If his wire breaks and he falls and gets seriously injured, it will cause a major earthquake not only for this movie, but for the entire Japanese financial and entertainment industries!
When Kitahara Shin was safely pulled back to the rooftop and the wires were removed, the insurance company employees practically scrambled over to him, tears welling in their eyes. They were just short of kneeling down and kowtowing to Kitahara Shin.
"President Kitahara! My ancestor! My living ancestor! Please, please stop filming!" the leading executive pleaded, his voice trembling with tears. "If anything were to happen to you, our entire company would be bankrupt, but we couldn't possibly compensate for your life!"
Seeing this group of financial elites who were terrified, Jackie Chan and his stuntmen were stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter that echoed across the rooftop.
Kitahara Shin dusted himself off with a sigh, looked at the group of insurance executives, and reassured them with a smile, "Don't worry, my life is very valuable. How could I risk dying without absolute certainty?"
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