mesbooks Chapter 311 All beings suffer, I offer you a glimmer of light
Chapter 311 All beings suffer, I offer you a glimmer of light
Chapter 311 All beings suffer, I offer you a glimmer of light
Top floor conference room at the headquarters of the Kitahara Group.
A huge circular conference table was filled with core executives from the variety show production department, public relations department, legal department, and security dispatch center. In front of each person was a freshly printed proposal, still warm from the ink—"Creating Dreams for You: Fulfilling Fans' Wishes."
Kitahara Shin sat in the main seat, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"I know many of you are still viewing this project through the lens of traditional variety show thinking." Kitahara Shin's voice was calm and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. "Let me reiterate: this program has no script, no lines, and absolutely no artificial emotional conflicts created for the sake of the show. What we want to do is genuinely step into the lives of these ordinary people and help them realize their most basic and simple wishes."
The head of the variety show department swallowed hard, speaking with some difficulty, "President, we understand your initial intentions. However, without a script, there are too many uncontrollable factors during filming. Furthermore, selecting suitable candidates from millions of fan letters across Asia requires detailed background checks and international travel arrangements—"
This requires an enormous amount of manpower and resources, even more complex than making a big-budget movie. The budget—"
There is no upper limit to the funding.
Kitahara Shin's casual remark effectively shut down the variety show department head's remaining words.
The executives in the room gasped. Unlimited funding for a completely amateur documentary-style variety show that didn't even plan to attract investment? Globally, only an entertainment empire with terrifying cash flow like the Kitahara Group would dare to play such a ruthless game.
"You need to understand that Kitahara Productions has come this far not only because of capital and talent, but also because of the countless viewers who have silently supported us behind the scenes." Kitahara Shin's eyes became exceptionally deep. "We now possess a scale and resources that are unimaginable to ordinary people. Instead of wasting money on those pointless hype events, let's use it to do something truly meaningful. Mobilize the intelligence network of our overseas branches, and contact local governments and medical institutions. I want you to do the pre-production work to perfection, and then, during filming, step back behind the camera and present the most authentic record."
Under Kitahara Shin's iron-fisted command, the Kitahara Group, a massive and sophisticated national machine, began to operate at full speed to fulfill the wishes of a few ordinary fans.
For the recording of the first episode, Kitahara Shin personally selected three letters.
First stop, Taipei, Taiwan.
A light drizzle enveloped this city brimming with local life. In an old alleyway in Taipei's Wanhua District, there stood an unassuming little flower shop. The shop owner, Lin Ya-ting, was the owner of the letter sent to Tokyo.
On this old street filled with the roar of motorcycles, the aroma of braised pork rice, and neighborhood gossip, Lin Yating's life was like the continuous drizzle—peaceful, yet tinged with an inescapable sense of gloom. In her thirties, fine lines had already appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her hands, which were used to pruning flowers year-round, were covered with tiny scars and calluses.
Kitahara Shin, dressed in a low-key khaki trench coat and carrying a black umbrella, quietly entered the alley with two accomplices who had hidden cameras.
Before arriving, Kitahara Shin had his Taiwan branch thoroughly investigate Lin Ya-ting's background through her mailing address and secretly contacted her parents. Lin Ya-ting had endured a seven-year-long, despairing marriage filled with emotional abuse and psychological violence. During those dark days, her ex-husband's belittling nearly destroyed all her self-confidence. It was Kitahara Shin's "Tokyo Love Story" that gave her the courage to cut ties with the past. After the divorce, she used her remaining savings to open this flower shop. Although life was difficult, she finally regained her freedom.
During his secret conversations with her parents, Kitahara Shin learned that Lin Yating harbored a deep regret. When she got married, her ex-husband's family found it too troublesome and didn't even hold a simple wedding ceremony, let alone allow her to wear a wedding dress. She had cried to her mother, feeling that she hadn't even had a single photo to prove she had ever been beautiful during the best years of her youth.
"Mr. Kitahara, thank you so much! We never dreamed you would come in person—when we received your call, we thought we'd encountered a scam." In an old-fashioned café at the alley entrance, Lin Yating's elderly parents held Kitahara Shin's hands tightly, tears streaming down their faces. The two old men had gray hair, and their eyes were full of guilt and heartache for their daughter.
"Uncle and Aunt, the hardships of the past are over. Today, please rest assured and entrust Yating to me." Kitahara Shin smiled gently and handed a tissue to the two elderly people.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the rain stopped. A sliver of long-awaited sunlight peeked through the hazy sky and shone on the wet bluestone slabs in front of the flower shop.
Lin Yating was sitting in the flower shop, head down, intently trimming the thorns of a bunch of red roses with scissors.
Suddenly, the shop door was pushed open, and the wind chimes on the door made a crisp sound.
"Welcome, what would you like to order?" Lin Yating habitually raised her head, but the words caught in her throat halfway through.
When she saw the tall, handsome man with striking features who looked like he stepped out of a movie poster, she was instantly struck dumb. The scissors in her hand clattered to the ground, the sharp blade grazing her apron, but she didn't even notice.
"Lord Kitahara?!" Lin Yating covered her mouth tightly, her eyes wide open, her body trembling slightly uncontrollably. She even pinched the back of her hand hard, trying to confirm whether she was hallucinating from exhaustion.
Kitahara Shin smiled and stepped forward, stepping over the fallen leaves and petals, and took out the yellowed letter from his trench coat pocket: "Miss Lin, I received your letter. Thank you for your continued support across the ocean."
Without giving Lin Yating much time to react or bewilderment, Kitahara Shin snapped his fingers lightly.
Outside the alley, three black vans, which had been waiting for some time, quickly drove into the narrow street. The doors opened, and out stepped Kitahara Shin's top-tier celebrity makeup and styling team and wedding photography team, brought from Tokyo. They filed in, carrying large and small makeup cases and haute couture garments protected by dust covers.
"I heard you've always regretted not having a white wedding dress in your youth." Kitahara Shin looked at the woman before him, her eyes already red-rimmed, her hands trembling as if unsure where to put them. His tone was gentle yet carried an undeniable force. "Today, this florist is closed. All these top stylists and photographers outside belong to you today. Go, go and reclaim the beauty that's seven years overdue."
Lin Yating was half-pushed and half-pulled into the makeshift makeup cart by several professional makeup artists.
Two full hours passed. When the door of the makeup cart opened again, everyone present was so amazed that they held their breath.
She changed into a pure white V-neck lace wedding dress, handcrafted by a top Parisian designer and worth millions of yen. The dullness left by years of hard work was perfectly covered by exquisite and clear makeup, and her hair was styled in a high updo, adorned with delicate pearls. She was naturally beautiful, but the hardships of life had always overshadowed her radiance. Now, having shed the dust of the past, the gentleness and resilience unique to mature women shone with dazzling brilliance.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Lin Yating burst into tears, wetting the eyeliner she had just drawn.
Kitahara Shin personally stepped forward and presented her with a bouquet of the most beautiful white roses. Under the stunning twilight light on the streets of Taipei, amidst the red brick walls and old signs brimming with local charm, the photographer's shutter clicked wildly.
There is no groom in the photo. But standing beside her is Kitahara Shin, who flew across the ocean to give her the courage to start a new life.
When the photoshoot ended, Lin Yating looked at the stunning Polaroid photos the photographer handed her, and she could no longer control herself. Ignoring the fact that her expensive wedding dress was dragging on the slightly muddy ground, she squatted down, buried her face in her knees, and sobbed uncontrollably. Those were tears that released seven years of pent-up frustration, tears that marked a complete farewell to her past, bleak life.
Kitahara Shin didn't speak, but stood quietly to the side, gently patting her shoulder, letting her vent her emotions. Neighbors and passersby watched this scene from afar, many secretly wiping away tears.
The second recording took place back in Japan.
The target is the University of Tokyo.
This is Japan's top university, a sacred place that countless students dream of attending. The students here often possess an air of superiority, as if they are the chosen ones.
When Kitahara Shin's black Maybach stopped in front of the Akamon Gate of Tokyo University, and he stepped out of the car wearing sunglasses and a high-quality dark casual suit, the entire Tokyo University campus was plunged into an unprecedented commotion within just ten minutes!
"That's... Kitahara Shin?! It really is him!"
"Oh my god! What's he doing at Tokyo University? Is he filming a movie?!"
Countless top students, who usually pride themselves on being calm and composed, put down their books and coffee and surged towards the tree-lined avenue, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the "Godfather of Asian Film and Television." However, Kitahara Shin's security team was highly professional, keeping the crowd at a safe distance and preventing any stampedes or chaos.
Kitahara Shin went straight to the quiet corner study room of the Literature Club.
In a window seat, a boy wearing thick-rimmed black glasses, a slightly dowdy plaid shirt, and somewhat disheveled hair stared dumbfounded at Kitahara Shin as he walked towards him. His name was Shimabukuro, the boy in the letter who said he had worked his way up from a poor school in a remote fishing village in Okinawa to get into the University of Tokyo after watching "Dragon Zakura."
"Shimabukuro-kun, did I disturb your civil law review?" Kitahara Shin took off his sunglasses, glanced at the books on his desk, and sat down opposite him with a smile.
"Kitahara-sensei!" Shimabukuro jumped to his feet, his movement so exaggerated he nearly overturned the pen holder on the table. He stammered, bowing repeatedly, "You—you're here? Am I dreaming?!"
"Come and see what my students have accomplished," Kitahara Shin joked.
Kitahara Shin's arrival caused Shimabukuro's fame at the entire University of Tokyo to skyrocket! Those University of Tokyo students who were usually somewhat xenophobic and carried a sense of Tokyo superiority now looked at this country boy from Okinawa with immense envy and astonishment. Kitahara Shin's personal visit—what incredible prestige!
The two bought two cans of hot coffee from the vending machine and sat side by side under the cherry blossom tree next to the campus lawn.
"The letter said you got into Tokyo University, but between the lines, it still seemed like you couldn't breathe?" Kitahara Shin pulled the tab out of his coffee and asked casually like an older brother.
Under Kitahara Shin's approachable and unpretentious aura, Shimabukuro gradually relaxed. He lowered his head, looking at his slightly faded canvas shoes, and gave a bitter smile. "Professor," he said, "Tokyo University really is a place for geniuses. Coming from Okinawa, I always feel out of place. My classmates discuss classical music and plans for studying abroad, while all I can think about is how to get a scholarship. I—I've had a crush on a girl from Tokyo in my major for a long time, but I'm too awkward; I don't even have the courage to say 'good morning' to her face-to-face."
Hearing this extremely pure, twenty-year-old's worry, Kitahara Shin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Let's go." Kitahara Shin stood up and grabbed Shimabukuro's arm. "The knowledge from the book 'Dragon Sakura' has taught you."
Today, I'll teach you how to regain your lost confidence.
For the next three hours, Kitahara Shin transformed into a "top-notch makeover artist." Instead of taking Shimabukuro to buy luxury goods with exaggerated logos, he took him to a high-end bespoke menswear store in Omotesando.
"Your shoulders are actually very broad and upright because you've been swimming at the beach since you were little. Don't always habitually hunch your back." Kitahara Shin personally selected a navy blue casual suit for him that was extremely well-tailored, understated yet tasteful, and paired it with a high-quality white shirt.
Then, he pushed the island into the barber chair of a top-notch salon, where the barber cut off his thick, messy hair, revealing his originally smooth forehead and delicate features. He was even given a new pair of lighter, gold-rimmed glasses.
When Shimabukuro stood in front of the full-length mirror looking completely refreshed, even he himself couldn't recognize who that bright-eyed, scholarly young man was.
"Remember, confidence isn't something you can fake with your clothes. Clothes are just your armor." Kitahara Shin patted him on the shoulder, imparting the most practical communication skills. "You fought your way from a fishing village in Okinawa to the University of Tokyo. That perseverance, which most people can't match, is the source of your inner confidence. When you see her later, stand up straight, don't try to flatter her, look her in the eye when you speak. Even if you're talking about sweet potatoes in Okinawa, talk about them with pride!"
Encouraged and secretly arranged by Kitahara Shin, Shimabukuro "bumped into" the girl on his usual route to the library.
At first, Shimabukuro stammered a bit when he started speaking. But when he remembered Kitahara Shin's words, he took a deep breath and straightened his back abruptly. He continued the conversation, and in a tone that was both self-deprecating and dignified, he told a funny story about catching crabs in his hometown of Okinawa.
His unique life experience and fresh, capable image successfully made the girl laugh. The two chatted for a full fifteen minutes under the setting sun, and Shimabukuro naturally obtained her contact information.
Kitahara Shin, who was watching this scene from the shade of a tree in the distance, smiled and lit a cigarette. He didn't smoke it, but quietly turned and left, keeping his merits and fame hidden.
The last stop of this episode was also the most stressful yet most miraculous stop in the entire recording process.
The floor of the intensive care isolation ward in the hematology department of Tokyo National General Hospital.
The air was thick with the oppressive smell of disinfectant. The corridor was quiet, save for the occasional cold ticking of medical equipment.
Kitahara Shin changed into a sterile isolation gown and, after undergoing strict full-body disinfection, pushed open the heavy isolation door.
Ten-year-old Minami, the little girl with leukemia who wrote in her letter in crooked handwriting that she "might not live to see the cherry blossoms bloom next year," was lying weakly in her hospital bed. Several rounds of chemotherapy had turned her once chubby face sallow and made her skin thin and bony.
When she heard the door open, she turned her head with difficulty and saw Kitahara Shin walk in. Instantly, an incredible light shone in his eyes, which had been dull and filled with fear of illness.
"Kitahara-nii ...
Outside the ward, Minami's parents, separated by the thick visiting glass, were already sobbing uncontrollably. The weathered father tightly covered his mouth, afraid his cries would carry. They had assumed the television station's program was just a formality, a perfunctory printed letter of condolence. They never imagined this important figure would actually come to this ward, a place filled with the shadow of death.
Kitahara Shin walked to the bedside and looked at the girl who had been tormented by illness and lost her childlike appearance. He felt an indescribable pity and sorrow in his heart.
He didn't bring any fancy gifts, but instead reached out and gently grasped Minami's small hand, which was covered in IV lines, cold and bruised from the long hours of dripping.
"Minami, your brother has come to see you." Kitahara Shin's voice was extremely gentle, without a trace of celebrity aura, just like an ordinary elder.
The moment he grasped Minami's small hand, Kitahara Shin closed his eyes and issued an extremely clear and firm command to the system in his mind.
"System, activate the special gold equipment [Ring of Life]."
"The healing effects and life-giving energy of the [Ring of Life] will be temporarily and fully bound to this girl until her hematopoietic stem cells are fully revitalized and she is completely out of danger!"
[Ding! Command received. The legendary golden equipment "Ring of Life" is beginning to establish temporary soul and body anchor points.]
]
[Infused with vitality —]
In an instant, a warm and dazzling golden light, visible only to Kitahara Shin, flowed from his hand holding Minami's, like the warm sun melting ice and snow in spring, continuously and surging into the little girl's rapidly decaying body.
This [Ring of Life] is Kitahara Shin's greatest trump card, and also his heaven-defying cheat code that allows him to transcend the physiological limits of mortals. It contains a terrifying life force that can almost bring the dead back to life. Kitahara Shin is not going to give this equipment to Minami, as that would break the existing laws of the world: he is simply using the highest authority of the system to temporarily transfer the core "halo healing effect" of this artifact to Minami.
He wasn't putting on a show, nor was he trying to create any touching variety show material. He genuinely and earnestly wanted to snatch this little girl back from the clutches of death who had laughed at the sight of him being beaten!
As the golden light powerfully flowed in, a miracle beyond modern medical understanding was quietly unfolding in this quiet ward.
Minami's previously pale, ashen face began to glow with a visibly gradual, healthy blush, like that of a child. Her previously shallow, rapid breathing became steady and deep, a blush that had been tormenting her...
The excruciating pain that penetrated to the bone quickly dissipated and dissipated in a warm, amniotic fluid-like embrace.
"Kitahara-nii ...
"That's because you're a strong girl like Shan Cai, so God gave you an early reward." Kitahara Shin smiled and gently pinched her cheek, which had finally regained some color, with his other hand. "I made a pinky promise with you that when you get better, I'll treat you to the biggest parfait ice cream in all of Tokyo. You can't go back on your word."
Kitahara Shin spent the entire afternoon chatting with Minami in the hospital room, telling her about the funny bloopers on set, until the little girl's tense nerves completely relaxed and she fell into a deep sleep with a sweet smile. Only then did Kitahara Shin quietly get up and leave the hospital room.
The moment he stepped out of the isolation ward and took off his mask.
Minami's parents immediately knelt heavily on the cold floor with a "thud," sobbing uncontrollably as they frantically kowtowed to Kitahara Shin, their foreheads hitting the ground with a dull thud.
"President Kitahara—thank you! Thank you so much!" Minami's father cried, his body trembling, his words incoherent. "Just now, while you were inside, the attending physician checked the monitor. Minami's vital signs—her blood oxygen and heart rate—miraculously stabilized! The doctor said it's incredible; if she can maintain this condition and get through this stage, the success rate of the bone marrow transplant will double from less than 30%! You brought her a miracle!"
In their naive understanding, Kitahara Shin's arrival provided Minami with immense spiritual comfort and a strong will to live, thus triggering a medical miracle. They had no idea that what Kitahara Shin left behind was a golden source of life capable of defying fate.
Kitahara Shin quickly bent down and gently helped the couple, who were on the verge of collapse, to their feet. His voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable firmness: "Uncle and Aunt, please get up. Minami is a good child; she will definitely live a long and healthy life. As for the subsequent medical expenses and the search for a bone marrow match, the Kitahara Foundation's charitable foundation will take full responsibility. You just need to take good care of yourselves and stay by her side."
Two weeks later, the first episode of "Making Dreams for You: Fulfilling Fans' Wishes" premiered on Fuji TV's Friday night primetime slot.
Before its broadcast, the show was not well-received by many industry insiders and business owners because it lacked any large-scale commercial hype, and because it did not feature any popular celebrities playing games in the studio or comedians making exaggerated pranks. They felt that this kind of bland documentary-style show could not cater to the current impatient television audience.
However, once the program officially aired, and millions of viewers in front of their televisions watched this 90-minute documentary footage without any deliberate editing or sentimental background music,
Social networks, BBS forums, and TV audience feedback hotlines across Japan—no, across Asia—were completely ignited overnight!
The viewership ratings soared from a modest 15% at the start of the show, like a Saturn V rocket. It surpassed 30% when Lin Yating donned her wedding dress and wept, and approached 38% when Shimabukuro straightened his back and walked towards the girl. And when the final scene aired—Kitahara Shin holding Minami's hand tightly in the sterile ward, the little girl's smile blossoming despite her pain—was broadcast.
The real-time viewership ratings have soared to a staggering 45.8%!
This number completely shattered the all-time high record in Japanese variety show history, even surpassing the annual Kohaku Uta Gassen!
There was no scripted, contrived sentimentality, no loud shouting from the host. All that existed was Kitahara Shin holding an umbrella for the Taiwanese woman in the rain, his gentle gaze watching her regain her life; his hearty laughter as he taught the awkward college student how to regain his dignity under the cherry blossom tree; and his tender promise of an ice cream treat in a hospital ward filled with the threat of death.
Viewers across Asia wept uncontrollably in front of their televisions. Countless living rooms were filled with the sounds of sobbing and wiping away tears.
"Oh my god—I always thought Kitahara Shin was a cold-blooded tyrant, but it turns out he's actually this gentle and considerate in private!"
"When that Taiwanese woman squatted on the ground and cried, I also cried loudly in front of the TV. He really put his heart into healing every wounded soul and making up for the regrets in ordinary people's lives."
"The moment I saw Minami smile, I really felt that Kitahara Shin was like an angel sent down by God to save everyone!"
In his gaze towards ordinary people, there was not a trace of the arrogance of someone in a position of power, only equal respect, empathy, and goodwill!
The next morning, the front pages of all major newspapers in Japan and Asia were filled with screenshots of a video showing Kitahara Shin holding Minami's small hand in the hospital room.
In a weekend special column, the chief commentator of the Yomiuri Shimbun wrote a moving long article: "In this bubble economy era of capitalism and indifference, Kitahara Shin has shown us the most incredible and greatest side of a vast entertainment empire. He didn't use his terrifying wealth to crush the world or flaunt his extravagance. Instead, he used his immense influence to carefully nurture the smallest dreams of ordinary people. This program is not only a miracle in the history of Asian variety shows, but also a great awakening of the inherent goodness of all humanity. From today onwards, Kitahara Shin is no longer just an emperor of the film and television industry; he has become the undisputed spiritual mentor of this era!"
This heartfelt variety show, brimming with sincerity and warmth, has propelled Kitahara Shin's personal reputation and social standing to an unprecedented and unparalleled level.
Countless ordinary people, demanding middle-aged people, and even conservative elderly people who initially looked down on the entertainment industry were completely won over by Kitahara Shin's profound love. What he represents has transcended the realm of mere entertainment consumption, becoming a social totem that evokes warmth, trust, and faith in everyone from the bottom of their hearts.
At this very moment, sitting in his office at the Chiyoda Ward headquarters, looking at the viewership ratings report that was worthy of being recorded in history, Kitahara Shin simply picked up his coffee and smiled faintly.
Through the system's deep feedback connection, he could clearly feel that Minami, far away in the hospital's intensive care unit, was experiencing an astonishing surge of vitality in every cell of her body, nurtured by the continuous warmth of the [Ring of Life]. In no more than six months, the little girl would be fully recovered, running in the sunlight like a normal child. At that time, he would naturally and quietly unbind himself and retrieve the equipment.
Since we enjoy the glory of being the center of attention, let us occasionally act as "gods" in the eyes of mortals, to dispel some of the suffering in the world, and to ignite a few tiny hopes.
This profound sense of spiritual fulfillment is indeed far more pleasurable than simply watching the numbers in your bank account fluctuate.
>