The conversation went very smoothly. George Martin also agreed to be the "Literary Consultant" for Pokémon, mainly to help build the entire world's worldview, character settings, and most importantly, to help them with the story outline and chronology.
In fact, being able to do this, even if Martin didn't fill in the specific content, was pretty much enough.
Aoki Haruhi was also very generous, directly offering Martin a 5-year contract with an annual remuneration of 300,000 US dollars.
He originally wanted to use money to secure "a song of ice and fire" as well, but unfortunately, Mr. Martin politely declined, citing that he was "unsure whether he could finish this series of books, and the current 'a song of ice and fire' has not yet been published."
Although it was a polite refusal, it doesn't mean there's no possibility in the future.
What Martin himself said was also true, after all, he had no idea how this novel would turn out in the future.
He had done a lot of settings and a lot of homework, but so far, only part of the first volume had been completed, which was up to the point where Eddard Stark was beheaded.
As for how the story would develop later, in Martin's mind, it was still just a faint glimmer of light in the mist.
You can only follow this light forward, but the range you can see is very limited, and you don't even know what lies ahead.
This is also a common problem for many legendary Authors.
According to Martin himself, he is also a reader and doesn't want readers to guess what he wants to write. If he himself doesn't know what to write, then all the events that happen in this book in the future will have great suspense.
What he needs is precisely that kind of suspense.
…
After this matter was resolved, Aoki Haruhi left the rest to Brevik to handle himself.
After returning to Japan, Aoki Haruhi began to work on the next step—
Starting a company with Nao Tsuda.
Aoki Haruhi and Nao Tsuda are both workaholics with strong execution skills.
Since they had decided to co-found a new company as a couple, they immediately put the matter on the agenda.
The company registration process was also quite fast, mainly thanks to Nao Tsuda's strong connections in the film and television industry and relevant departments.
After registration, the company was established in a commercial building not far from DUN.
The company's name is—
Moon & River, directly translated as Moon and River Company, and in Chinese characters, it's written as Moon River Co., Ltd.
Abbreviated as MNR Company.
After the company was established, its first project was not the previously discussed "Eternal Ashes," but rather a TV series adaptation of the galgame "proposal daisakusen," which Pokémon was about to release.
The galgame was developed very quickly and would be completed by around March of this year.
Although it's only January now, Aoki Haruhi still hoped to shoot the TV series earlier so that when the game is released, they could do another movie-game linkage.
Nao Tsuda was fully aware of the game "proposal daisakusen" and the future plan to adapt it into a TV series.
The marriage proposal was successful, and Aoki Haruhi really had no psychological pressure at all.
Except for not letting Tsuda see the script, he basically confessed everything else.
"I'll arrange the male and female protagonists for this TV series," Aoki Haruhi said, "you just need to find a good team for me."
In an open-air milk tea shop, the two sat outside on white chairs, drinking milk tea, and passers-by occasionally turned to glance at them.
Mainly because this young couple had such high Appearance that people couldn't help but want to take another look.
Nao Tsuda was stunned for a moment, looking at Aoki Haruhi with surprise and amusement.
Good gracious, I'm supposed to figure out all the teams, staff, and even future TV station broadcasts, but I haven't even seen the script.
Is this reasonable?
And Aoki Haruhi didn't want her to interfere with the actual TV series production process.
Is this reasonable?
Aoki Haruhi quickly explained, "If you've seen the script, there won't be any emotion."
Hmm…
That sounds somewhat reasonable too.
"So you already have candidates for the male and female protagonists in mind?" Nao Tsuda asked curiously.
"Yes." Aoki Haruhi nodded.
"Kimura Takuya?"
Tsuda's first thought was Kimura.
He has been quite popular recently, and with the big success of Pokémon 3D again last year, Kimura Takuya is now a hot commodity in the advertising industry.
Kanebo even invited him to endorse lipstick advertisements.
He became incredibly popular, and the scene of Kimura applying lipstick became a classic in the hearts of countless advertisers.
Posters displayed on the street would even be torn down and cherished by people.
Kimura's lipstick ad was truly both charming and masculine. Tsuda recalled it and found it incredible that a man could endorse lipstick to such an extent.
Even her secretary, Miss Eiko, was completely captivated by Kimura Takuya.
"No." Aoki Haruhi shook his head.
However, Nao Tsuda did remind him.
If there's a chance in the future, he could actually allocate resources to Kimura and let him make movies and TV series.
After all, he could be considered Kimura's sugar Daddy.
What a pity, what a pity, compared to Kimura, Aoki Haruhi had a better candidate for "proposal daisakusen" in his mind.
Aoki Haruhi stood up and whispered into Nao Tsuda's ear:
"I'm looking for Kashiwabara Takashi."
Kashiwabara Takashi was hailed as the "beautiful boy of the century's end."
He just rose to fame last year with the movie "love letter."
It is said that when Director Iwai Shunji was resting, he gave him a book. Kashiwabara Takashi took it and naturally leaned by the window to read.
And it was this scene that forever imprinted Kashiwabara Takashi's beautiful and pure image of a young boy in the hearts of the audience.
In just 7 seconds, it became a classic of the film and a highlight of Kashiwabara Takashi's life.
With this film, he won the Golden Horse Award for "Best Newcomer" and officially began his acting career.
"Oh? Kashiwabara Takashi, a pretty new actor."
"Why not find your favorite Kimura Takuya?" Nao Tsuda laughed.
"Kashiwabara Takashi is also a favorite." Aoki Haruhi replied shamelessly.
Pfft…
Nao Tsuda almost choked on her own saliva.
…
More than a month later, February 23, 1996.
After seeing him in person, Nao Tsuda couldn't help but marvel at her husband's sharp eye.
Kashiwabara Takashi is only 19 years old now, still full of collagen.
He has clear features and a strong sense of youth.
And Uchida Yuki, the female protagonist designated by Aoki Haruhi, sitting next to him, complemented him even more.
Uchida Yuki is two years older than Kashiwabara Takashi, with short, shoulder-length hair and bright, sparkling eyes, both playful and cute.
Originally, Aoki Haruhi was a little worried about not being able to bring these two together, but fortunately, they were both newly debuted actors, so their schedules were relatively flexible.
Moreover, ever since Kimura Takuya became popular by endorsing Pokémon for Pokeni, many young artists actually wanted to cling to Aoki Haruhi, this big tree.
Besides film and television works, endorsing Pokeni is truly a shortcut to fame.
The two arrived at Moon River for costume fitting.
The moment Kashiwabara Takashi and Uchida Yuki stood in front of the camera, wearing a wedding dress and a suit respectively, Nao Tsuda was completely stunned.
It was as if time had stopped at that moment.
Kashiwabara Takashi wore a classic white suit, well-tailored, showcasing his muscular physique.
His tie was elegantly tied around his neck, complementing his suit. His face was beaming with a confident smile, radiating endless charm.
It seemed as if the light in the entire studio brightened with him.
And Uchida Yuki wore a magnificent wedding dress, its skirt flowing as lightly as a fairy.
Her short hair cascaded over her shoulders, adorned with shimmering pearl necklaces and earrings, further enhancing her beauty.
Her eyes expressed anticipation for the future.
Pure and captivating.
While beautiful, you could see a very natural girlishness in her expression.
At this moment, they both became the focal point of the camera, attracting everyone's attention.
"Hmm. What a nice couple." Director Iwai Shunji, the general director beside her, sighed into Nao Tsuda's ear.
Director Iwai Shunji was found by Nao Tsuda through connections.
He was also the director of last year's hit "love letter."
He was quite familiar with Kashiwabara Takashi, so this combination should be relatively easy to handle.
Moon River Co., Ltd. was truly wealthy and influential, making it difficult to refuse.
…
This filming was probably the best resource Director Iwai Shunji could get.
Although Moon River Company was newly established, it was backed by two big trees, Pokémon and DUN, so it was not short of money at all.
Aoki Haruhi even told him directly that for this drama, besides the script and the male and female leads, he could freely allocate all other resources, and the company would do everything possible to meet his needs, no matter who he wanted to cast.
Director Iwai Shunji thought—
Such generous conditions, it's a pity to shoot a youth romance TV series.
How great it would be if it were used to produce large-scale science fiction works.
Aoki Haruhi watched from the side, his heart filled with endless emotion.
There was a strange illusion of time travel.
In his previous life, Kashiwabara Takashi and Uchida Yuki also went through emotional ups and downs before getting back together and becoming husband and wife.
This costume fitting photo was like bringing the future into the present.
Except this time, the two people in the photo were exceptionally young.
19-year-old Kashiwabara Takashi and 21-year-old Uchida Yuki, sparkling and radiant.
Aoki Haruhi and Nao Tsuda stood opposite them, as if seeing themselves.
31-year-old Aoki Haruhi and 35-year-old Nao Tsuda held hands tightly, with smiles on their lips.
If life could start over, and we were 10 years younger, would we also look like this?
…
After the costume fitting photos were taken, Uchida Yuki and Kashiwabara Takashi stood in front of the mirror, silently looking at the couple inside, their eyes a little distant.
Uchida Yuki looked at herself in the mirror, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. She thought of her experiences from childhood to adulthood.
It's strange to say, even though she in the mirror was so quiet, and time stopped at this moment, it seemed to extend from the past to the future.
If one day, I really get married.
What would I look like then?
Kashiwabara Takashi stared blankly at himself and the girl next to him in the mirror, his heart also filled with endless emotion.
He hadn't expected his first "wedding photo" to be taken with Uchida.
"Please guide me more during this period." Uchida Yuki turned around and bowed slightly to Kashiwabara Takashi.
"Oh no, I should be the one asking you for guidance." Kashiwabara Takashi quickly replied.
Their exchange made everyone present laugh.
It was then that they realized.
They had said something strange.
As if the two of them were really getting married.
And so, Kashiwabara Takashi and Uchida Yuki's faces instantly turned red.
…
Not only did Nao Tsuda find Aoki Haruhi's eye sharp, but Director Iwai Shunji also admired Aoki Haruhi.
How did he think of bringing these two people together?
Even more terrifying, after Director Iwai Shunji himself read the script, he found that they were truly just as depicted in the script.
As if they had walked out of the text.
As soon as he saw them in person, Director Iwai Shunji immediately knew how to shoot.
He didn't need to write down the shot breakdown anymore; it had almost all played out in Director Iwai Shunji's mind.
Truly amazing.
Upon hearing that the script was from Aoki Haruhi, Director Iwai Shunji's inner shock was even more immense.
President Aoki is not only handsome but also very knowledgeable about film and television.
The script is truly heartwarming.
Just by reading the script, Director Iwai Shunji could feel the small beauties between the male and female protagonists, and also the sweet taste of first love.
It's incredible.
Looking back at Nao Tsuda, Director Iwai Shunji really had the urge to replace the male and female protagonists with these two.
From their appearance alone, Aoki Haruhi and Nao Tsuda did not lose to Kashiwabara Takashi and Uchida Yuki at all.
What's more, after years, Aoki Haruhi and Nao Tsuda exuded even more composure and calmness in their every gesture.
They were like fine wine fermented by time, and you could smell a rich fragrance from them.
Even smelling it for a little longer would make one's mind intoxicated.
…
"Um, President Aoki, President Tsuda, have you ever considered becoming actors yourselves?"
"Eh?"
Nao Tsuda and Aoki Haruhi both looked bewildered.
"Your appearances are truly excellent."
Director Iwai Shunji said with a smile, "Just by looking at you, I feel that it would be a pity for the audience if such two faces couldn't appear on the big screen."
"If you ever want to make a movie or TV series in the future, please be sure to let me be the director."
Nao Tsuda and Aoki Haruhi looked at each other, then smiled at each other.
"You flatter us." Nao Tsuda laughed heartily, "We don't have any acting talent."
"However, if that day truly comes, I guarantee, Iwai-san, you will definitely be the general director." Aoki Haruhi added with a smile from the side.
Nao Tsuda rolled her eyes at Aoki Haruhi with amusement.
Aoki Haruhi thought—
When we have our wedding, maybe we can really ask Director Iwai Shunji to help film a documentary.
That would also be very meaningful, wouldn't it?
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