"Sorry, I've kept you waiting for a long time."

When Mai Shiraishi returned to the nanny car, the capable female agent sitting in the driver's seat was lowering her head, typing on the screen with one hand and one cell phone.

"It's okay. But why did it take so long?"

As soon as he sat down in the back row, Mai Shiraishi felt a sudden heart, and said naturally on the surface: "When I came out just now, I was pulled by Nian Ling Nasan for a while... Sorry."

"so."

The agent put down his cell phone, started the car, and his eyes fell on the signs in the parking lot.

"This is a good thing. Making friends more often in the actor circle will not only be beneficial to Nogisaka, but also be very helpful to your own development, especially popular actors like Nonian Reinani Nasan. However, the other party's character should also be considered. I will go back and sort out a piece of information. You can take a look carefully and don't spread it..."

Unexpectedly smooth pass.

Mai Shiraishi nodded to the agent's request, pressing her heart-beating chest, "Okay."

“By the way…”

The sudden attack after relaxation made Mai Shiraishi subconsciously shrink her body.

"In the future, you must tell me in advance, otherwise I will think something happened to you."

"no problem."

While talking, the nanny car had already driven out of the parking lot and merged into the endless traffic.

Confirm that the calmness had come, Mai Shiraishi finally leaned on the seat with confidence, and just breathed a sigh of relief, but after glanced out of the window, she stood up and looked in front of her.

"Wait, Yamada Sang, this...is not the way to my residence, right?"

During this period, Mai Shiraishi was already familiar with the scenery outside the window.

The front-row agent's answer was still calm: "President Imano said there was something important to come to you, so go to the company first, and I will send you back after the conversation."

"Did you say something?"

"It's probably something about your personal development. Don't worry, I'll be there too."

"That's how..."

"By the way, I just sent you tomorrow's itinerary. It's probably a handshake meeting during the day, a variety show recording at night, and a magazine interview..."

Suddenly, Mai Shiraishi swallowed her saliva and wanted to make up an excuse to escape the conversation. However, as soon as she opened her mouth, she had no time to speak, a rule that was ironic for a female idol blocked her words back.

That is a rule that is far more important than the so-called "Love Prohibited Regulations", that is, "total obey operational decisions."

Idols are a profession that sells "dreams". How many people can see and then get support depends largely on the resources in the hands of the operator. The position of single selection, the opportunity to be on TV, and even the outside world's understanding of the idol's image are all in the hands of the operator.

Therefore, for personal development, it is best not to have any conflicts with operations.

Moreover, under the command of the operation, Nogizaka has gone from being unknown at the beginning to being famous now. He also likes Nogizaka's environment very much and is treated well in the team.

From this point of view, it seems that I do not have the need to oppose the operation arrangements.

What's more, finding excuses to escape may mean greater trouble if the operation of Nogizaka has controlled the group.

Outside the window, Christmas decorations are already covered on the street, and the warm yellow lights in the window look more gorgeous than before.

Looking at this scene, Mai Shiraishi kept persuading herself in her heart. But there was always a trace of uneasiness like clouds, which was difficult to grasp, but could not dissipate.

-----

Minato, the fifth floor of Nogizaka Building.

Mai Shiraishi carefully controlled her expression in the corridor before following her agent and walked into the office with the president's sign hanging.

"President Imano, I'm sorry for disturbing me."

"Oh, Yamada and Shiraishi, wait for me, you guys will sit first."

Sitting down on the sofa where guests were waiting for guests, Mai Shiraishi held her knees, tightened her legs, and secretly looked at the office from the corner of her eyes, trying to find clues related to today.

Nogizaka single on the shelf, promotional posters posted on the wall, and Yoshio Imano who wrote and painted on paper with a chicken coop hairstyle, looked nothing particularly strange.

Just as I was thinking about asking the agent again, Yoshio Imano, behind the table, had already stood up, came to the sofa opposite the two, and started the conversation.

"You all came from here, right? How about it, Shiraishi, how does it feel to be on the Red and White Song Club?"

"It's very fresh... However, thanks to the support of Imano Sang and the firm, I can have the opportunity to appear in the red and white market." Ordinary responses could not be found.

"No need to say that, Enokizaka's current influence is honestly not as strong as we have. We have the opportunity because Shiraishi, you were selected for the crew of "Sea Girl"," Imano Yoshio paused, as if he suddenly remembered something, "By the way, you were able to get the role in "Sea Girl" at that time, because you were taken care of by Shimizu Tetsu, right?"

Mai Shiraishi suddenly burst into her heart, but the gaze that came from the opposite side made her realize that it was not the time to be nervous, so she could only speak carefully.

"This... it should be that Sang Kikumizu thinks I look very similar to a character in the play..."

"Although that's what I said, that character doesn't have to do with you, right?"

"Then... I don't know what Qumisama Sang thinks..."

"Don't be so nervous, just chat casually," Yoshio Imano smiled, as if he was really chatting casually, and suddenly came to another topic, "To put it, Shiraishi, what do you think of Nogizaka?"

"Nogizaka's words... have been developing very well, single sales have been rising, job opportunities have increased, and members can get along... Personally, I like Nogizaka very much!"

This sentence is what Shiraishi Mai’s true thoughts.

"That's good," Yoshio Imano still looked relaxed, "But from our operational perspective, nothing is going smoothly, such as the recent Aoyama Academy incident, you should be clear about it?"

After hesitating for a moment, Mai Shiraishi nodded.

Not long ago, four members of Nogizaka were suspected of having a relationship with the students of Aoyama College University that exceeded the boundaries of friends, which caused a wave of storm on the Internet.

The Nogizaka Operation also investigated the matter. Although the investigation results were not announced, two members finally left Nogizaka, and the other two members also suffered internal punishments for "inappropriateness". This way of handling it still explains some problems.

Because of this, the atmosphere inside Nogizaka suddenly turned cold like a cold wave. Even though he could still smile on the stage, he was left with only walking on thin ice after returning to the lounge. The idea of ​​escaping from this atmosphere is also one of the important reasons why Mai Shiraishi actively participated in the rehearsal of the crew of "Sea Girl" recently.

"Tell you frankly, Shiraishi," Imano Yoshio sat upright. "In this investigation, we also found that other members had some dangerous actions and planned to talk to them separately in the next step. Of course, I won't say who it is."

Always feeling that he had something else in his words, Mai Shiraishi moved her body guiltily and said perfunctorily: "Is it just a conversation?"

"After all, it's the first time, just talk. I personally think that if they really like Nogizaka and regard their idol as a 'dream'...even if they can't be called a 'dream', even if they just regard Nogizaka as a job and a springboard to other goals, they should have the awareness of being an idol."

Speaking of this, Imano Yoshio paused again and his speech slowed down deliberately.

"Shirashi, what do you think?"

“…You are right.”

At this time, there seems to be no way to answer other than affirmation.

"That's great, Shiraishi," Imano grinned, with a famously satisfied smile on his face. "I was worried that this was my wishful thinking, but now it seems that's not the case."

"At the end, if a marginal member breaks out with a scandal, just like this time, our operations are fully capable of dealing with it and will not have much impact on Nogizaka's image..."

"But if you are a core member, it's completely different. Shiraishi, although your performance has always made the operation feel at ease, I still want to remind you that you are the core of our Nogizaka. The four words "Shiraishi Mai" are equivalent to Nogizaka. So, don't do anything that disappoints fans and regrets, can you do it?"

"…I see."

After approaching step by step, she had no choice.

"very good!"

Imano Yoshio nodded, looking very relaxed.

"By the way, I'm asking you to come today to talk about your personal development. You performed well in "Sea Girl", and the crew and audience responded well. With this, we found a role for you in a TV series called ". Although it's 11 o'clock in the evening, the ranking is not high, but there are many scenes and there is room for play. It is planned to start filming in March next year and broadcast on Fuji TV in April..."

"etc!"

"Shiraishi, is there any problem?" Imano Yoshio frowned slightly.

"That... next March is the shooting time of "Haijie Diary"..."

"Yes, but we received a notice that the project of "Haijie Diary" has been suspended."

Imano Yoshio's expression made Mai Shiraishi realize that she might have exposed something, but now that things have come to this, she can't take care of those things, "It's just a pause, there's still a possibility of recovery, right?"

Without a direct reply, Imano turned to the beginning and said to the agent beside him, "Yamada, haven't you told her yet?"

"Sorry, I just received the news and it wasn't too late."

"It's okay, it's not too late now," Imano Yoshio looked at Mai Shiraishi again. "After the operation discussion, we have sent a fax to Toho, declaring that you have given up participating in the audition for "Haijie Diary".

"…Why?"

"Isn't this very obvious? That project is far away. We can't wait for you to star in a TV series as soon as possible. It's the main thing to make you famous in the film and television industry. What's more,..."

"What's more?"

"Now that Shimizu Toru," Imano Yoshio pressed his brows, "He was involved in the Fukushima accident, and was at the forefront of the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties. He couldn't even publish it. He was almost disgraced. When we do entertainment, the most taboo is to do politics. When we encounter such a thing, we will naturally hide as far as we can. I was optimistic about him, thinking of taking his line, maybe we could bring some resources to Nogisaka, but who would have thought that he suddenly had no idea and actually destroyed himself..."

"But, Imano…"

"Shirashi!"

In desperation, he was interrupted by the whispering reminder from the agent next to him as soon as he left.

As if he was poured with cold water, Shiraishi Mai forced herself to calm down, and then she saw the gradual cold look of Yoshio Imano on the opposite side.

"Shiraishi, didn't you say before...you already understand? Your position in Nogisaka and your responsibility as an idol, do you need me to repeat it again!"

His stern shouting was like an introduction, fishing out certain scenes that were deposited in the depths of memory, and then overlapping them, making Mai Shiraishi couldn't help but tremble.

-----
To be continued...