books44 Chapter 131 Love Remains
Chapter 131 Love Remains
The whipped, smooth meringue is piled onto the cake filling, its casual edges key to creating the rugged contours of a snow-capped mountain. After shaping, a blowtorch is used to lightly sear the surface, creating a caramel-colored, fiery effect. This is the classic French dessert, Baked Alaska.
Depending on the style of different pastry chefs, the scenery adorning the snow-capped mountains varies.
Because Kuromon Haruya had specifically instructed that the food should be suitable for children, while the snow-capped mountains on other tables were indulging in the decadent luxury of gold leaf and glitter, Sharon was secretly poking at the icing on the edge of his plate and popping it into his mouth to taste it.
Kuromon Haruya watched her adorable little gesture, smiling and resting his cheeks on his hand with a look of doting affection.
He doesn't actually like children, but unfortunately...
'Ah, I died, and an angel smiled at me! It felt like holding a warm, precious treasure of the world in my hands; it filled every crevice of my heart. So blissful—'
A waiter approached carrying a bowl of liquid with a faint flame: "What we are about to pour over is a syrup mixed with alcohol. Most of the alcohol will evaporate before it is lit, so please enjoy it without worry."
The orange flames flowed downstream, gently meandering along the milky white mountain canyon. Under the high temperature, the aroma of the sponge cake hidden at the bottom of the frost was released, sweet with a hint of alcohol, a sacred mountain burning in the heart of every child.
The crackling flames flickered in Sharon's eyes. She lay on the table like a Persian cat spotting its prey, tilting her head to ask the waiter:
"What kind of alcohol is added to this syrup?"
"It's dark rum."
"Oh, it has to be rum—"
Upon receiving the answer, Sharon's interest vanished almost instantly. She picked up her knife and fork, turning her admiration into appetite: "Why isn't a rigid, serious, and particularly domineering old man a vermouth?"
Kuromon Haruya couldn't help but chuckle, somewhat regretting that he hadn't recorded this famous quote in his voice recorder:
"Dark rum can add depth and complexity to dessert flavors. It has a unique aroma with rich vanilla, caramel, and fruit notes, making it suitable as an ingredient in desserts. Vermouth, on the other hand, is a bitter liqueur that usually contains complex herbal and spice flavors. Its strong flavor can interfere with the taste of desserts."
"I see. Then Vermouth has more personality!"
Corinne munched on her steak, letting the juicy meat moisten her tongue, listening to the two men's cryptic conversation with a bewildered expression.
Seeing his neglected expression, Kuromon Haruya immediately explained, "Rum is the nickname of our family's old butler. Sharon was startled by that serious old face before his interview today, and they're having a fight now!"
Rum, who is only in his early 30s: ? ? ?
"Using code names to represent specific people is a style that suits us filmmakers!"
With his initial doubts resolved, Corinne suddenly felt enlightened, recalling the details from the past:
Then, when he spoke with Mr. Lucius, the instruction he heard on the phone—"Give that cellar to Rum and get rid of all the bacteria"—wasn't that...!?
“I’m sure your uncle will be very happy to hear that.” Having finished the pointless small talk, Kuromon Haruya gradually got down to business. “How’s the matter of the origin of Romanian vampires that I asked you to inquire about going? Mr. Lucius said he hasn’t received a letter from you for almost five months.”
British magicians, Egyptian pyramids, and the origins of Romanian vampires—over the years, Heimon Yōya has never stopped searching for mysterious forces, but unfortunately, all his efforts have been in vain.
If he hadn't met this director three years ago, who seemed to be plagued by supernatural events and always encountered them while researching, he would have almost given up. Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, it was the first time Kuromon Haruya had ever seen a ghost that screamed and ran away!
Corinne put down her knife, rubbed her palms ingratiatingly, and shook her head as she complained:
"I had already contacted a reclusive scholar based in Romania, intending to fly there to learn from him, but recently one of the investors in my film crew suddenly withdrew his funding, and I'm simply too busy with things here. Mr. Lucius may have to wait a few more months..."
It would be best to simply decide that he's unreliable, forget about him, or replace him!
To everyone's surprise, Kuromon Haruya nodded in agreement as if he had expected it: "You're still as unlucky as ever, that's what my uncle said."
These sincere and heartfelt words made Corinne choke on a mouthful of meat, almost unable to get it into her lungs: "Cough cough cough cough cough!"
What does it mean to be unlucky? It means being affected by the death curse that befell your uncle.
He took the wine from Kuromon Haruya and gulped it down. Only after catching his breath did he hear his second sentence, which was enough to infuriate anyone: "This is just the right coincidence!"
"you..."
"Our company is planning to invest in you. We were worried you wouldn't be interested. How about adding 170% to the estimated total budget for the film?"
Sharon and Corinne's eyes widened simultaneously: How much?!
A small hand tightly gripped his clothes under the table, tugging and tugging, trying to stop their boss from scattering money everywhere.
Corinne's gloomy and depressed face instantly lit up with a smile. With money in hand, this director, who had the air of a potential mental patient, became much more cheerful: "Of course, no problem!"
Kuromon Haruya pulled up his coat, which was about to slip off, and handed it to Sharon, casually tilting his head to ask, "What about the casting?"
"Miss Sharon's portrayal and understanding of the character is something even I, the director, am ashamed of. Perhaps this role was made for her! She is the heroine in my mind. Without her, this movie wouldn't be worth making!"
The girl sitting next to him, her cheeks puffed out, turned her head away shyly, a slight smile playing on her lips, before puffing out again as she realized what was happening.
Sharon: I'm happy to be praised, but I'm angry because the boss spent a lot of money. I'm happy to be praised though!
One party received funding, one party received the script, and one party received dessert. The lawyer drafted the cooperation agreement, and the rest of the meal ended in a pleasant atmosphere.
Walking through the glittering streets of Hollywood, Haruya Kuromon called out to the director at a street corner just before they were about to part ways.
"I'm so sorry, we've been so focused on business during this meal that we've forgotten our original intention of mutual understanding."
With a slightly apologetic smile, Kuromon Haruya removed the glove from his right hand and took a step closer. His gaze was clear and gentle, unlike anyone else immersed in this world of fame and fortune, yet perfectly suited to his demeanor.
A cold night wind blew by, and the neon lights hanging in the streets and alleys began to sway and flicker. Corinne, with his many years of directing experience, guaranteed that the light and shadow that fell on them that night was absolutely perfect and dreamlike.
“I’ve done background research on your previous work, and if I remember correctly, your dream is to ‘create real horror that instinctively sends chills down your spine,’ right?”
As a director who had just secured new investors, he should have given some touching speeches to entice more investment. But slightly tipsy, Cory suddenly felt tired and didn't want to say anything nice.
He chuckled sheepishly, then glanced at the little Sharon beside Kuromon Haruya, forcing himself not to show a bitter smile:
"I'm already over thirty, maybe even halfway through my life. I've long lost that youthful drive! Talking about dreams at this age is unrealistic. But thank you, at least someone still remembers me."
"Please don't say that about yourself." Kuromon Haruya looked at Corin with an accepting gaze. "If something can become your ideal, it must have taken deep root in your heart from a certain day onwards, becoming the goal you think about and understand throughout your life."
"Humans are ultimately animals driven by emotions within a rational framework. I have reviewed all your works, and although commercial elements are inevitably mixed in, the love contained in each work continues. Life is short, but human potential is limitless. Dreams are the guide of destiny and will surely be realized one day."
Before he knew it, Corinne had already grasped the hand that was outstretched to him.
"At least personally, please don't let me down!"
'I wonder... is there still anyone who has expectations for me now?'
When I came to my senses, the hands were already gone, and only a lit cigar was emitting a gentle warmth.
Corin shook his head, gazing at the two figures, one tall and one short, in the distance, and chuckled with dissatisfaction, "Honestly, this young man is trying to teach me how to do things! But considering this cigar is quite expensive, I'll let it go."
Holding Kurokawa Haruyo's fingers tightly, Sharon Vineyard, stepping on the brilliant reflection of the golden bricks, looked up and asked:
"Boss, did you say those things to make him focus more on making the movie?"
"Half and half, that statement could be true or false."
Heimon Haruya gazed into the distance, met Sharon's eyes, and said ambiguously, "That's the same for you. Speaking of which, I haven't asked you yet, Sharon, do you like becoming an actress in Hollywood?"
"I'd say I like it half and half, not that much. Especially the plot of this movie. If I had a younger brother, I would cherish him and wouldn't risk my parents' lives out of jealousy..."
However, since it's something I can do for the boss, I won't give up easily, so I don't dislike it!
“Great! I’m not a nasty dad like Sharon.”
"...Boss, what are you saying?!"
......
A year later, at an internal screening of the film.
The scene is currently showing the female lead's true nature being revealed as she plots to murder her brother. Sharon is frantically stabbing the actor playing her "brother," each stab more vicious than the last, revealing her jealousy and madness.
However, what is suspicious is that a closer look reveals that with each stab, she would grit her teeth and call out a name, though the movement of her lips was so subtle that almost no one could detect it.
In the audience, Kurosawa Jin, who was seven years old at the time and already had the codename "GIN," watched the screen in silence.
—If he wasn't mistaken, the woman was shouting "Gin" with every stab.