Chapter 105
Hearing Mineo's words, Mai-senpai's mother felt her gaze turn cold as a cynical smirk played on her lips.
"Young man, do you even realize what you're saying?"
"Are you trying to tell me that you can do a better job than I can in this industry?"
"I am aware that you have enough money to pull off a confession display on that scale. That alone is proof enough that you possess admirable financial and material strength."
"However, the entertainment industry cannot be run on capital alone."
"Having money doesn't mean you understand everything..."
"And I still maintain that—"
Before Yuriko could finish her sentence, Mineo cut her off.
"Auntie, may I interrupt you for a moment?"
"What is it you want to say?"
"I want to tell you this: if I am willing to pour a massive amount of funds into making Mai-senpai popular, would you stop standing in the way of our relationship?"
"Pouring massive funds into making Mai popular?"
Yuriko's expression froze for a second before she asked in a dismissive tone, "I don't know what kind of 'massive' amount you're talking about. Fifty million Yen? A hundred million? Do you even know how much Mai was paid for her previous advertising contracts?"
"I don't know the exact figures, but as long as Senpai is willing to keep growing in this industry, I don't care how much has to be spent!"
"I still believe that a truly influential artist must prove themselves through their own talent. Of course, that developmental process requires a certain level of financial backing!"
"If 100 million Yen isn't enough, I'll invest 1 billion. If 1 billion isn't enough, I'll invest 10 billion!"
"And if 10 billion still isn't enough, I'll just keep adding to it!"
Mineo didn't actually intend to flaunt his wealth in front of Mai's mother, but sometimes, money really was the most direct way to solve a problem.
Mai's mother likely thought Mineo just had a decent amount of assets, but she never would have guessed that her daughter's boyfriend was a man who possessed a 'cheat' (gold finger).
Having struggled in the entertainment world for many years, Yuriko understood all too well the principle that money could grease any wheel.
If a truly gargantuan amount of capital was thrown at someone, even the most ordinary girl could be turned into a superstar.
Besides, did someone as incredible as Mai-senpai even need low-tier methods like buying fame?
Gazing at Yuriko, Mineo said calmly:
"To be honest, as long as Senpai needs it, I am willing to spend any amount."
"However, personally, I feel that doing something like that would be an insult to Mai-senpai!"
"I've studied the path you set for her previously—you wanted her to go into acting, didn't you?"
"Mai-senpai's acting skills are superb, but aside from her acting, have you ever truly listened to her voice? Have you ever properly guided her piano skills?"
"When I was on a date with Mai-senpai before, I heard her sing at KTV!"
"It was beautiful and deeply moving! Aside from acting, there are actually many precious, hidden talents within her."
"I'm not just Mai-senpai's boyfriend; I'm also her fan."
"Her acting and her voice can touch me, so I'm certain they can touch others as well..."
As Mineo spoke those words, the feelings inside Mai-senpai's heart could only be described as a chaotic swirl of emotions.
She had always felt that Mineo understood her deeply—otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to maintain such a long friendship over the years.
And now, what Mineo was doing proved to Mai that he truly did understand her better than anyone.
There was an old saying that finding a soulmate in one's life was enough to make a death feel peaceful.
Because of that, in Mai-senpai's heart, Mineo wasn't just a best friend or a lover—he was that rare, precious soulmate.
Yuriko listened intently to every sentence Mineo uttered.
It was at this very moment that a great wave of shock surged within her heart.
From Mineo's tone, she could feel that this young man was being completely sincere.
This meant that his financial and material power might be far more staggering than she had ever imagined.
On the surface, however, Yuriko's face remained composed.
One of her slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest of her chair as she asked in a flat voice:
"May I ask, if Mai's management were given to you, what would you do?"
"If I were Senpai's manager, I would strive to help her secure all kinds of resources, and then let her choose from among them. Whatever she wants to do, I would let her do it!"
"You are Mai's boyfriend, so I don't mind you spoiling her. But do you know the saying in the entertainment world—'once you're in the industry, you're no longer your own master'? Do you really think everyone has the right to choose their own direction?"
"I can't and don't want to look after anyone else, but as long as it is Mai-senpai's wish, I will give it to her."
While speaking, Mineo pulled a business card from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table.
Yuriko glanced at the card out of the corner of her eye, but in the next second, her entire body went rigid!
Her frame stiffened, and her pupils suddenly constricted!
After seeing the text printed on that card, Yuriko was stunned for a moment before she subconsciously stood up in shock.
"BURNING!?"
"Why do you have this business card!"
"It's quite simple, really. Because I hold the ownership of this company—one hundred percent of it!"
"One hundred percent of the shares of BURNING!?"
Hearing Mineo's words, Yuriko was completely shell-shocked.
At this moment, she could hardly believe her own ears.
"Do you have any idea what you're saying? You're telling me that the BURNING company belongs to you?"
As a manager who had fought for years in the industry, how could Sakurajima Yuriko not know that BURNING was the leading powerhouse of the Japanese entertainment world?
Whether it was in the field of music recording or investment in films and television dramas, BURNING's influence was massive and difficult to overstate.
In short, with BURNING as a backer, anyone they wanted to make famous would undoubtedly become a star!
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