Detective Conan: Knifeman? I'm a good citizen of Beihua

Chapter 255 Reminiscing about old friends

Tokyo, Zhao Zhao Entertainment Co., Ltd.

"Eh? Ah Qiu? You haven't contacted me for a long time!"

Lin Zhaozhao received a call from Baichuan Qiu, feeling half surprised and half complaining.

Baichuan Qiu: "Ahem, sorry, I've been a bit busy lately."

"Really? We're both in Tokyo, yet it's so hard for us to even see each other." Lin Zhaozhao complained, "I heard you and my second brother met on Matsuura Island and even solved a case together! This is too much! You guys went out to play secretly without even taking me with you!"

Baichuanqiu was helpless: "That time, I had something to do, not to have fun! And didn't you hear? Songura Island was almost burned down. The scene was very dangerous at that time. It's better for you not to go."

"Well... then you must come to the company to play with me later."

"Uh—how about, somewhere else?"

Bai Chuanqiu couldn't help but recall the time when he went to Lin Zhaozhao's company and was frantically stuffed with small business cards by their agents. Although Bai Chuanqiu repeatedly told him that he wasn't suitable to be a star, those guys just wouldn't listen, their eyes almost wanting to eat him apart...

Since then, Baichuan Qiu never took the initiative to go to Lin Zhaozhao's company to find her again.

Those people are really... so scary.

"Ah, I've already told them about what happened last time. I promise they won't be like this next time you come." Lin Zhaozhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "It was mainly because the company was just starting out at the time and really needed a storefront. You happened to show up and you perfectly met the needs at the time. So they were delighted to see you and couldn't help but be a little more enthusiastic towards you..."

Shirakawa Akane: "Uh, that's great. How about we meet at a restaurant next time?"

Anyway, as long as I don’t go to the company, anywhere is fine.

Lin Zhaozhao: “…Okay.”

The two chatted casually about their recent situation, and finally Bai Chuanqiu got straight to the point: "Has Zhao Zhao heard about Xingyao Entertainment?"

"Xingyao Entertainment?" Lin Zhaozhao was surprised. "Aqiu actually came to me to talk about things in the entertainment industry? This really surprised me."

In her impression, Shirakawa Qiu is not someone who likes to pay attention to the entertainment industry.

"Well, something happened. I'm investigating Xingyao Entertainment right now," Bai Chuanqiu said. "Do you have any relevant information?"

"Xingyao Entertainment... They're notorious in the industry. For years, they've exploited contracts to deceive naive young men and women, then exploited and exploited them. Then, they used the severance pay to find the next victim. Countless artists in the industry have been harmed by them."

Lin Zhaozhao was obviously very dissatisfied with the company and she kept talking about it.

"Their company relies on their fame, wealth and power to treat artists as nothing. Many people who are tricked into joining are treated as cheap labor, and their treatment and wages are severely deducted. If the artist is talented and capable, it's even worse. Not only are they cheap labor, but they are also free toys, with no freedom at all..."

"Furthermore, in order to better control their artists, they've established harsh contracts and exorbitant liquidated damages. It's practically a death sentence! Low-level artists in their company are forced to either work for them to pay off their debts or obey any arrangements made by their company. Even just for drinking and entertainment, they absolutely cannot disobey in the slightest. Otherwise, these artists will face over a decade of suspension and exorbitant liquidated damages."

Baichuan Qiu listened silently, his brows gradually furrowed.

I didn't expect that Xingyao Entertainment would be in such a situation.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the entertainment industry is a shady business.

After Lin Zhaozhao finished speaking, she noticed that Bai Chuanqiu had remained silent. She coughed awkwardly and explained in a low voice, "There are several people in our company who used to work for Xingyao Entertainment. I only managed to bring them out after paying some of the liquidated damages... We're still in a lawsuit with them recently, so I have a very deep impression of them."

It was more than just profound. If the boss of Xingyao was standing in front of her now, Lin Zhaozhao would definitely beat him up without hesitation.

This black-hearted entertainment company deserves to die! In order to bring those people out, she had to borrow some money from her eldest brother. Otherwise, the sky-high penalty for breach of contract would be something that Lin Zhaozhao's fledgling company couldn't afford.

Baichuanqiu: "Have you heard about the fact that that entertainment company also has several geisha houses under its name?"

"Huh? There is such a thing?" Lin Zhaozhao was shocked.

Hearing Lin Zhaozhao's reaction, Baichuan Qiu knew that the other party definitely didn't know.

"If they don't create a girl group idol, why are they doing this kind of thing?" Lin Zhaozhao asked sincerely.

Idols who debuted in groups are the ones who make the most money now. Lin Zhaozhao really doesn’t know what reason they have to become geishas.

After all, although these two professions seem to have some similarities, there are actually big differences between them.

Geisha mainly serve customers through traditional singing and dancing performances, tea ceremony, flower arrangement and other art forms. Their performances are more traditional and ritualistic.

The work forms of artists are more diverse, including singing, acting, participating in variety shows, etc. The audience they serve is also relatively broad, and the content is mostly down-to-earth and easy for the public to accept.

One is an entertainment product of the old era, and the other is an entertainment product of the new era. It goes without saying which one has a better future.

Lin Zhaozhao really didn't understand why Xingyao Company was still training geishas who would be eliminated sooner or later.

It's a thankless job and has absolutely no value in existence.

"That's why I want to investigate," Bai Chuanqiu said frankly. "So I hope you can go and ask those former Xingyao employees of your company about the situation. It would be best if you could help me find a connection and contact the geisha trained by their company."

"Of course there's no problem." Lin Zhaozhao propped up her head, thinking carefully in her mind, "Coincidentally, the seedling I just dug up was previously from Xingyao, and they're currently in a lawsuit with them. She'll be in my office soon, and I'll ask for you then."

"Okay, thank you."

After hanging up the phone, about a few minutes later, the former Xingyao employee that Lin Zhaozhao mentioned knocked on the door and walked in.

The woman had long straight black hair and was wearing a simple and clean white short-sleeved shirt and jeans. She had a cold look in her eyes and looked like a cold and aloof beauty.

"Hello, President Lin."

Shimizu Hori bowed slightly and saluted the president in front of her.

"Hello, Qingshui, come and sit here."

Lin Zhaozhao's eyes lit up and she called Qingshui Heli to come and sit over here.

"I have something to ask you."

"Please tell me, I will tell you everything I know."

"It's like this—" Lin Zhaozhao thought about the wording in her mind, and finally asked tactfully, "Does Qingshui know that Xingyao has several geisha houses under its name?"

When Shimizu Hori heard Lin Zhaozhao's words, her expression changed instantly.