Eiga Geijutsu and Kinema Junpō were the most authoritative film publications in Japan. The latter, especially, held significant prestige. Every year, Kinema Junpō would announce its Top Ten Films of the Year, an honor as coveted as any award. Many directors took great pride in having their work selected.
Getting into Kinema Junpō's annual Top Ten was no easy feat. The editorial board invited a vast number of film critics, including those with even slight name recognition online or offline. With such a wide pool of contributors, and critics known for being especially discerning, the competition was fierce. Director Oozu Etsuji, despite nearly twenty years in the business, had only been selected once.
So when Kinema Junpō arranged an exclusive interview with him, Oozu and his creative team were more than willing to cooperate.
"Director Oozu, how did you push past opposition and choose Chu Zhi—a Chinese celebrity—to play Fuji Tengeki, a character many doubted he could portray?" Editor-in-chief Sakaguchi asked.
Push past opposition? That was an exaggeration.
Although he had also sensed that Chu Zhi was the right fit for Fuji Tengeki after watching the Hokkaido song performance, the proposal had come easily. Shochiku, the film's investor, agreed readily since Chu Zhi's popularity was soaring at the time.
Originally intending to clarify this, Oozu saw Sakaguchi's solemn expression and changed his approach. "Actors are the skin of a film. That is why I insisted on inviting Chu Zhi again and again. I believe that appearance must be flawless."
"Did you consider the consequences of failure? Director Oozu, as far as I know, Chu Zhi had never played a male lead before. If this flopped, you could've fallen into obscurity!" Sakaguchi pressed.
It wouldn't have been that bad. When I Close My Eyes had a modest budget, and a director like Oozu wouldn't be ruined by a single misstep.
But Oozu had already figured out the interview's tone. He responded with a solemn face, "If it makes the work better, I'm willing to bear the consequences. I would make the same choice again."
Sakaguchi's eyes gleamed. This young man knew how to play along. He already had a headline in mind: Oozu Etsuji's Gamble: A Career Spanning Over Two Decades Hinges on One Decision.
If the film succeeded, the story could become industry legend—a legend birthed by Kinema Junpō. Sakaguchi was very satisfied. The interview continued.
"This way, everyone."
"Each of you may receive a signed promotional photo."
"Media friends, please line up at Section A to schedule exclusive interviews. Thank you."
"Sorry, we are not selling merchandise at this time."
...
The interviews were held in the southwest corner of the cinema lobby. The staff tried their best to maintain order, mainly because the media were everywhere.
Chu Zhi and Nakamura Yuriko were giving their interview to Eiga Geijutsu in the northwest corner. Though this magazine had been around for nearly eighty years—even older than the famed Cahiers du Cinéma—its reputation wasn't as wide-reaching as Kinema Junpō's. The questions reflected that difference:
"The first scene in When I Close My Eyes shows a vast snowy landscape, with the heroine Hiroko dressed in stark black and white. It creates a soul-piercing contrast. Nakamura-san, how did you feel filming this scene?"
"Chu-san, do you believe you were the best Fuji Tengeki? Or let me put it differently: every time you appear on screen, it's like a runway walk. Each shot leaves a deep impression—it's not a traditional performance. Was that your own choice?"
The questions were formal, direct.
Time passed, and the cinema began to empty. But Koguchi Yoshihiro remained behind. With the film's major success, he wanted to treat Chu Zhi to dinner.
"Koguchi, I'm heading out. Let's meet up again sometime." Miura Yukihisa said.
"Sure," Koguchi Yoshihiro replied casually.
If not for his flight to Hokkaido, Miura Yukihisa would've stayed for drinks. It had been a while since they last caught up.
Japan's second most handsome cinema guest almost caused a scene before leaving.
"Miki-san, is something wrong?" Miura Yukihisa noticed his manager had stopped at the door.
"This standee..." Miki hesitated.
He followed her gaze. It was the life-sized standee of Chu Zhi as Fuji Tengeki.
"What about it?" he asked.
The next second, Miki snatched it up with lightning speed. Before Miura Yukihisa could react, all that remained was a fallen green trash bin.
"?"
What was going on? Was this the same Miki who always taught him to be polite with fans? Stealing a promotional standee in broad daylight—how inappropriate!
And how could someone run that fast in five-centimeter heels without twisting an ankle...
Noticing the security camera near the entrance, Miura Yukihisa decided to just pay for it at the front desk. After all that fuss, he ended up needing the restroom.
On his way to the bathroom, he passed more When I Close My Eyes posters. One depicted Fuji Tengeki pranking Nao Fuji on his bike.
"Still looked like my old self back then," Miura Yukihisa mused, staring at the poster as if mourning his own faded youth.
Then he saw a female staffer pull a small folding knife from her coat and cleanly cut down a poster. There were no cameras in the hallway.
"What girl wouldn't want a Fuji Tengeki in her heart?" he muttered. Miki hadn't been exaggerating after all.
Stealing celebrity posters was nothing new in Japan or any parallel world. For some reason, people even tried to take giant posters from subway stations—completely impossible.
On April 1, the film opened across Asia. Japan's cinemas began screening it around 1 PM, while in China it launched between 5 and 6 PM. Other countries followed a similar schedule.
For a flop, a few hours wouldn't matter. But When I Close My Eyes hit like a tsunami across Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
Japanese internet exploded first:
"It must be fate—Fuji Tengeki meeting Fuji Tengeki. I love school romances."
"If only Fuji Tengeki-san had been smarter... If only Fuji Tengeki-kun had shown his love better... Could everything have turned out differently?"
"Every frame is poster-worthy, especially when Chu Zhi appears. Each one could be a photobook shot."
"Someone secretly loved you through their entire youth. Chu Zhi, our ragdoll, is trying so hard to prove he's human, not a spirit."
"I don't think I'll ever forget the boy named Fuji Tengeki."
As the saying goes, a thousand readers create a thousand Hamlets. Everyone had a different takeaway.
Some thought it was average, others didn't get the message, some preferred the grandfather's storyline, some thought the male lead was a jerk. But without exception, everyone agreed—Chu Zhi was unbelievably good-looking.
The number of Ragdoll fans skyrocketed. Films were clearly better at converting fans than songs. In just one day, the "Chu Zhi Discussion Group" on Japan's mixi social network grew from 130,000 to over 500,000 members.
Hashtags trending:
#WhatOtherMoviesHasChuZhiBeenIn
#HowOldIsTheActorPlayingFujiTengeki
#HowDidChuZhiPlayAHighSchoolerSoWell
#IsChuZhiASingerOrAnActor
Japanese fans grew deeply curious about Chu Zhi, who played Fuji Tengeki. Every detail sparked their interest.
And what do fans love to do most? Promote their idol. Even celebrities are subject to this rule. After all, stars are people too... except when they're not. Some idols are just walking disasters.
Suzuki Kano was a loyal ragdoll fan and often recommended Chu Zhi to her industry friends. Sometimes she succeeded in converting them, sometimes not.
This time, Nagasawa Masami—a friend who never bought in—called her. She had refused even a gifted EP before.
As Suzuki Kano picked up, planning to invite her to see When I Close My Eyes, Nagasawa's voice exploded like rapid gunfire:
"Fuji Tengeki is the most beautiful boy on earth. My heart is buried with him in the snow."
"How can someone so gorgeous exist?"
"He might not be human! I saw a Russian site where a psychic said the Ragdoll is actually a vampire count hiding among humans!"
"Obviously fake. But it proves one thing—Chu Zhi is as seductive as Dracula himself."
Suzuki Kano finally got a word in: "I told you. Chu Zhi is way better looking than any local idol."
The pride in her voice was clear: "I told you so."
"Kano, didn't you have a signed EP and collector card of Chu Zhi? We should—"
Sensing danger, Suzuki Kano cut her off, "Wait, my manager is calling. Urgent. Talk later!"
She hung up instantly and patted her chest. Giving away an EP was fine, but a signed one? She only got it through a special event. No way she was giving that up.
Romance films already had a solid market in Japan. Earth had Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World, with over 8 billion yen in box office sales. In the parallel world, there was The Invisible Wedding, earning 7.3 billion yen (around 360 million RMB).
But Crying Out Love was based on a bestselling novel. The Invisible Wedding was based on a real-life love story that captivated Japan in the 1990s.
In other words, those films had built-in audiences. When I Close My Eyes had neither. Yet, shockingly, it pulled in 1.4 billion yen (around 60 million RMB) on opening day alone.
It shook the nation.
Since the 2000s, Japanese live-action films had struggled while anime films grew stronger. A live-action film breaking 1 billion yen on day one hadn't happened in years.
"I didn't expect to land a goldmine," Ōzono Etsuji said after seeing the box office numbers. Even he was surprised.
Real, solid revenue. Once again, Japan's entertainment industry was left stunned. The next day, headlines lit up:
"Chu Zhi: The Face That Crushed Male Actors Everywhere" — Shūkan Bunshun
"What Made It a Hit? Oozu Etsuji and Chu Zhi, Who Created the Myth?" — JUY Entertainment
"Warning: Beauty Cultivated Over Five Thousand Years Ahead" — Tokyo Entertainment News
Eiga Geijutsu conducted a special survey. Most of the ticket sales came from women aged 15 to 35.
And Japan? It was just one part of Asia. When I Close My Eyes had begun sweeping the entire continent.
===
Hi everyone ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ
Just a small update from me: You might notice that uploads on this series may slow down a little bit in the coming days.
Lately, I've been experiencing a sudden wave of exhaustion and body aches, especially in my lower back, shoulders, and legs. My energy has been drained, and even my mind feels foggy and slower than usual. It's a weird mix of feeling super tired and yet struggling to sleep properly (;￣Д￣)
After reflecting on it, I believe this shift is tied to something more than just fatigue.
Right now, we're in a time called "Sura", the first and most spiritually intense month in the Javanese calendar. Many people here believe that Sura brings deep emotional or energetic changes, and for those who are more sensitive (like me, apparently lol), it can cause fatigue, body aches, restlessness, or emotional heaviness. Some people describe it like the world is "quieter but heavier."
On top of that, there's also an upcoming lunar eclipse in just a few days. Across many cultures, eclipses are believed to stir up natural energy in both the environment and the body, often leading to disrupted sleep, emotional waves, and a sense of heaviness. Whether you believe in the spiritual side or not — Personally, I've been feeling that impact quite strongly, even before the eclipse arrives.
In Chinese metaphysics, the moon is linked to Yin energy—the calm, quiet, emotional, and inward flow. I was born carrying strong Yin essence, described as:
"You carry a strong and quiet Yin energy, but within your heart lies a gentle spark of fire."
But during a lunar eclipse, the moon (and thus, Yin energy) becomes hidden or obstructed. For those with Yin-aligned constitutions like mine, this can feel disorienting. Almost like our inner compass gets jammed. (×_×;）
So yes, I guess I'm being extra affected by this cosmic combo.
Even though I usually work ahead and try to keep a consistent pace, the drafts for this particular series are still quite "thin"—only about less than 30 chapters ready—so it's difficult to maintain that upload speed while I'm in this condition.
So, I'm slowing things down just a bit to take care of myself and let my mind and body catch up. I promise I'm not abandoning the novel! I just need to refill my energy bar (๑•́‧̫•̀๑)
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. I'll still keep updates going as best I can, especially for the series that have more chapters in stock. For those with "thin" drafts, please bear with me for a few days 🙇♀️💕
Sending hugs and moonlight from my corner of the world~
With love and sleepy fox energy,
— Reiya ꒰｡•ᴗ•｡꒱