Chapter 23: Similar Faces in the Mirror
"Xiangzi, congratulations on being able to lead the singing group at Changze Hotel tonight."
"I heard that tonight is the 40th birthday party for the son-in-law of the president of the Nagasawa Hotel."
"Manager Koike will also attend the birthday party tonight, as a personal friend."
Inside the Xingneng office, Fujiwara Kaori sat quietly at her workstation, and faced the congratulations and discussions from those around her with just a faint smile and a few replies.
Her gaze was always on herself in the mirror. She stroked her cheek with her right hand, her eyes obsessed as she admired her current beauty.
Over the past few days, both her skin and facial features have been changing subtly.
Transform towards a prettier, more flawless, more perfect direction.
Like an ordinary ugly duckling, it is transforming into a graceful and noble swan.
As a result, she received many different looks from before, jealous, coveted, shocked, obsessed...
But this is not beautiful enough.
Although she has won the agency's titles of Best Female Artist and Most Beautiful Female Artist this year, her face is still not completely perfect and flawless.
In a few days, in a few days, there will be no flaws on her face.
At that time, she didn't need any makeup or any make-up. She just needed to stand there. She was the most eye-catching focus and no one could ignore her charm.
"Xiangzi, Manager Koike wants you to go to her office."
A female artist came over to pass on a message.
"it is good."
Fujiwara Kaori admired her own beauty again, then stood up and went to Koike Miaki's office.
As soon as she left, she heard whispers behind her.
"Humph, looking at her smug look, someone who doesn't know would think she has become the most beautiful actress in Japan!"
"That's right. You just look in the mirror every day. Haha, do you really think flowers can grow on your face?"
"I heard that Xiangzi became so beautiful because of her..."
When talking about this matter, the voices of discussion suddenly became very quiet.
Fujiwara Kaori, who had already entered Koike Miharu's office, could clearly hear discussions coming from all directions.
That is jealousy of one's own beauty.
It is the source of motivation that makes me want to become beautiful at all costs.
Instead of hiding in the corner and becoming a loser like them, it is better to become the most shining heroine.
Beauty is always a woman’s most powerful weapon.
Jealousy is often the most impotent emotion.
"Manager Xiaochi, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Fujiwara Kaori had a flawless face with a decent smile, and her voice was as gentle as a summer evening breeze, blowing slowly into the hearts of the listeners.
Looking at the most popular female artist under her, Koike Miaki's eyes were distracted for a moment.
Emotions such as amazement, incomparability, jealousy, and envy arise from the bottom of your heart.
So beautiful, so charming.
Fortunately, I am a female agent.
Otherwise, I would definitely not be able to withstand her charm.
During this period of time, the male colleagues around her and even the company's senior executives have all shown their desire for Fujiwara Kaori's beauty, either overtly or covertly.
To be frank, this line of work, where beauty is used to serve men, is just like that.
Although they are called celebrities and artists, they actually belong to the service industry. If they can serve others correctly and well, they will shine.
Passersby, fans, company executives, powerful people... they have too many groups to please.
As for their talents in acting, singing and dancing, they are only to make up for their respective shortcomings, and also to please and serve those who look at them.
Otherwise, there are actors to act, singers to sing, and dancers to dance, so why do we need the profession of celebrity artist?
To please and to serve are their real jobs.
Miho Koike suppressed all the strange feelings in her heart, put on a stern face, and talked to Kaori Fujiwara about the next promotional video for Nagasawa Hotel.
This is the largest advertising order the firm has received this year.
And it was Fujiwara Kaori who fought for it herself.
She just stayed at Nagasawa Hotel for one night and happened to meet the manager of Nagasawa Hotel, Sakata, who strongly recommended her and offered a high price to invite her to shoot several promotional commercials.
Nagasawa Hotel is a chain hotel under the Nagasawa Group and is quite large.
Being able to become a female artist in their advertising campaigns is a great start.
"I believe I can conquer all the eyes that are cast upon my face."
Before leaving, Fujiwara Kaori said something that left a deep impression on Koike Miho. I really don't know where her confidence comes from.
Just because of her face?
Koike Miho shook her head and sighed. Young girls always think that beauty is their greatest weapon, but they don’t know that wisdom is it.
Only a woman who has both beauty and wisdom will not become a plaything in the hands of others. There are too many examples of disasters caused by beauty.
Especially in their line of work.
As it was almost time to get off work, Koike Miho sent a message to her daughter, saying that she would be back late in the evening and asked her to go to bed early.
Originally, Miyuki Koike also wanted to bring her daughter with her, but she clearly refused.
At around 6:, Miaki Koike drove to the Nagasawa Hotel in Shinjuku District.
She went there as a private friend of Horii Yuji, so she did not travel with the company's vehicle.
When Koike Miho arrived at Nagasawa Hotel, the birthday party had not officially started yet, so she went backstage to see how the female artists under her were preparing.
She didn't go in, but just stood at the door and looked around. The agent in charge of the team tonight was not her.
When it comes to makeup, female artists except Fujiwara Kaori try to enhance their beauty as much as possible in order to attract more attention.
After watching for a while, Koike Miho noticed that Fujiwara Kaori got up and left her seat, apparently going to the bathroom.
Could she...
Miho Koike suddenly remembered the speculations and discussions about Fujiwara Kaori by other female artists during this period of time.
There was also a glimpse of myself in the underground garage.
As if possessed by a ghost, he followed Fujiwara Kaori not too far away, went to the bathroom together, and entered the bathroom next to hers.
Next door, everything was quiet. There was no whispering, and no one was praying for divine protection.
About 10 minutes later, Fujiwara Kaori left the bathroom.
Koike Miaki just came out of the bathroom, washed her hands, looked at herself in the mirror, laughed and shook her head.
I actually believed such unfounded speculation and followed him.
I am really too suspicious.
Even if Fujiwara Kaori really raised a little ghost, she would not bring it here. She would only enshrine it at home or in other secret places.
As soon as Koike Miahiro left the bathroom, the lights in the empty bathroom flickered.
A dark figure slowly emerged in the mirror, as if she was embedded in the mirror.
It also seemed like a ball of dark mist swimming in the mirror.
She stood sideways, her red eyes fixed on Koike Miaki's back.
Her face is 90% similar to Fujiwara Kaori's.
Her long black hair fell freely, reaching her ankles and almost touching the ground.
The figure in the mirror withdrew his gaze from Koike Mikan, and gently stroked his face with his right hand, with an infatuated look in his eyes, as if he was very satisfied with his appearance.
"Let me tell you, there will be a wonderful song and dance performance before the birthday party tonight. I heard that the most popular female artist under Xingneng Agency, Fujiwara Kaori, has been invited."
"It's her! I love her looks so much! She's so beautiful!"
"That's right, Xiangzi was named the most beautiful female artist of the year by Xingneng Agency."
Outside the bathroom, three women came together.
The bathroom light returned to normal and the dark shadow in the mirror disappeared.
The birthday party was held on the third floor of Nagasawa Hotel.
As the birthday party was about to begin, Horii Suzune spotted Chiya Hiramiya in the crowd.
He did not come wearing a monk's robe, but a light white casual suit.
His young and handsome face stood out among the guests who were mostly in their thirties or forties.
"I have to leave first."
Horii Suzune left the small group, walked through the crowd, and came behind Hiramiya Chiye. She wanted to stand on tiptoe and quietly pat his shoulder.
But just as she raised her right hand, Pinggong Qianye turned around and faced her.
Horii Suzune raised her right hand and turned it over, with the palm facing upwards. She gently hooked her slender fingers and said with a smile: "Hiramiya-san, the Vajra Mandala I need should be completed, right?"
"Give."
Hiramiya Chiya handed a small light yellow cloth bag to Horii Suzune.
The front of the cloth bag is engraved with a small temple and the beautiful natural scenery around it.
Horii Suzune recognized that this was the temple inherited by Hiramiya Chiya's family, Weilian Ancient Temple.
(End of this chapter)
