113: Chapter 114 Yoona's First Encounter

2:00 PM.

Gangnam District, Slow Time Cafe.

Qian Xu pushed the door and entered.

There were not many people in the shop.

In the corner by the window,

Kim Taeyeon was already there.

She was wearing a white knitted sweater.

Her hair was loose.

She was wearing headphones.

She was looking at her phone.

"Taeyeon-xi."

Qian Xu walked over.

Kim Taeyeon looked up.

She took off her headphones.

"Mr. Qian, you're here."

"Please, sit."

Qian Xu sat down.

A waiter walked over.

"One Americano."

"Very well."

---

Kim Taeyeon looked at him.

"You drink Americano?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'm used to it."

"Do all Chinese people who drink coffee like Americanos?"

Kim Taeyeon asked curiously.

"Not necessarily."

Qian Xu shook his head.

"Some people drink lattes."

"Or cappuccinos."

"But I think Americanos best bring out the flavor of the coffee beans themselves."

Kim Taeyeon's eyes lit up.

"I think so too!"

"That's why I only drink Americanos."

"Iced."

Qian Xu smiled.

"What a coincidence."

"Me too."

---

The coffee was served.

The two chatted for a while.

They talked from coffee to music.

They talked from music to Chinese culture.

"I've been learning Chinese lately," Kim Taeyeon suddenly said.

"Really?"

Qian Xu was a bit surprised.

"Yes."

Kim Taeyeon nodded.

"Because I want to sing Chinese songs."

"I've heard that song 'a little happiness' you wrote for T-ARA."

"It's very good."

"I want to try it too."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You singing a Chinese song?"

"It would definitely be very popular."

"Why?"

Kim Taeyeon asked.

"Because of your voice," Qian Xu said earnestly.

"It's very recognizable."

"And Chinese songs are all about emotion."

"There's a story in your voice."

Kim Taeyeon was stunned.

Her face flushed slightly.

"Thank you for saying that."

---

The two chatted for another half hour.

Kim Taeyeon glanced at her phone.

"I have to go."

"I have a recording session this afternoon."

"Okay."

Qian Xu stood up.

"I'll drive you."

"No need," Kim Taeyeon shook her head.

"I drove myself."

"Let's meet again next time."

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Next time, I'll treat you."

"To Chinese food."

"Really?"

Kim Taeyeon's eyes lit up.

"I've never had authentic Chinese food."

"Then I'll take you," Qian Xu said.

"I know a place."

"It's very authentic."

"Okay," Kim Taeyeon smiled.

"It's a deal."

---

After Kim Taeyeon left,

Qian Xu sat in the cafe.

He looked out the window.

His phone buzzed.

It was a message from Kim Min-jun.

"Mr. Qian, there's a cast dinner tonight."

"For the 'our blues' production team."

"Would you like to come?"

Qian Xu paused.

'our blues'?

That drama invested in by MBC?

He typed,

"Okay."

"What time?"

"7:00 PM."

Kim Min-jun replied.

"Hongdae BBQ Restaurant."

"The same one as last time."

"Okay," Qian Xu replied.

"I'll be there on time."

---

7:00 PM.

Hongdae BBQ Restaurant.

The private room was already full of people.

Kim Min-jun, Ham Eun-jung, Park So-yeon.

And several MBC executives.

The director and screenwriter of the production team.

As well as the main cast members.

Qian Xu walked in.

Kim Min-jun stood up.

"Mr. Qian, you're here."

"Please, sit."

Qian Xu sat down.

He scanned the people at the table.

The director was a man in his fifties.

He wore glasses.

He looked very gentle.

The screenwriter was a woman in her forties.

She was dressed professionally.

Several actors were sitting nearby.

One girl caught Qian Xu's attention.

She was sitting in the corner.

She was wearing a white hoodie.

Her hair was in a ponytail.

Her features were delicate.

Her temperament was clean.

It was Im Yoona.

---

Qian Xu was stunned.

Im Yoona?

She was here too?

"Hello, Chairman Qian," Im Yoona greeted him proactively.

Her voice was very gentle.

"I am Im Yoona."

"I play the female lead."

"Hello."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I am Qian Xu."

"Chairman of Yunmengze."

"I know," Im Yoona smiled.

"Representative Kim has mentioned you to me."

"He said you are very young."

"And have great drive."

"You flatter me," Qian Xu smiled.

"I just have good luck."

---

The dinner began.

The atmosphere was very lively.

The director and screenwriter were talking about the script.

The MBC executives were discussing investments.

Kim Min-jun was chatting with the actors.

Qian Xu sat next to Im Yoona.

The two chatted casually.

"Is Chairman Qian Chinese?" Im Yoona asked.

"Yes," Qian Xu nodded.

"From Yanbian."

"Ethnic Korean."

"Wow."

Im Yoona's eyes lit up.

"Then you can speak Korean."

"It's normal."

"Yes," Qian Xu smiled.

"My Korean is at a native level."

"But Chinese is also my native language."

"Then your Chinese must be very good," Im Yoona said.

"I've been learning Chinese lately."

"But it's so hard."

"The pronunciation is too difficult."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Chinese is indeed difficult."

"But if you're interested,"

"I can teach you."

"Really?"

Im Yoona's eyes lit up.

"That would be great."

---

As the two chatted, the topic turned to Chinese food.

"Have you eaten Chinese food?" Qian Xu asked.

"Yes," Im Yoona nodded.

"But it's all Korean-style Chinese food."

"Jajangmyeon, sweet and sour pork, that kind of thing."

"Not authentic Chinese food."

"Then do you want to eat authentic food?" Qian Xu asked.

"Yes!" Im Yoona nodded.

"I heard that China has eight major cuisines."

"Sichuan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, Hunan cuisine..."

"I want to try them all."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Then I'll take you another day."

"I know a place."

"A very authentic Sichuan restaurant."

"In Myeong-dong."

"Really?"

Im Yoona's eyes lit up.

"It's a deal then."

"No backing out."

"No backing out," Qian Xu smiled.

"I keep my word."

---

Im Yoona looked at him.

"Chairman Qian."

"You don't look like a businessman."

"Then what do I look like?" Qian Xu asked.

"Like..." Im Yoona thought for a moment.

"Like a teacher."

"Or a professor."

"You speak very gently."

"But with strength."

Qian Xu was stunned.

"You're the first person to tell me that."

"Is that so?" Im Yoona smiled.

"Then I might be the first one."

"To see through you."

---

The dinner lasted until 9:00 PM.

Everyone left one by one.

Qian Xu stood up.

"Yoona-xi, let me drive you."

"Where do you live?"

"Cheongdam-dong," Im Yoona said.

"What a coincidence," Qian Xu smiled.

"I also live in Cheongdam-dong."

"It's on the way."

"Then I'll trouble you," Im Yoona smiled.

---

The two walked out of the BBQ restaurant.

The night breeze blew.

Im Yoona shivered.

"Are you cold?" Qian Xu asked.

"A little," Im Yoona nodded.

Qian Xu took off his jacket.

He draped it over her.

"Put it on."

"Don't catch a cold."

Im Yoona was stunned.

"Chairman Qian..."

"No need..."

"Wear it," Qian Xu interrupted her.

"You are the female lead."

"If you catch a cold, it will affect filming."

Im Yoona looked at him.

Her eyes were somewhat complex.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Qian Xu smiled.

"Let's go."

"The car is over there."

---

In the car.

Im Yoona sat in the passenger seat.

She looked out the window.

The night in Seoul.

It was brightly lit.

"Chairman Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Why did you come to the dinner today?"

"Representative Kim asked me to come," Qian Xu said.

"He said it was a cast dinner."

"He asked me to come and get to know everyone."

"So I came."

"Just that simple?" Im Yoona asked.

"Just that simple," Qian Xu smiled.

"What else?"

"I thought..." Im Yoona paused.

"You came for me."

Qian Xu was stunned.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because..." Im Yoona looked at him.

"Recently, many people have wanted to get close to me."

"By investing in film crews."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I am not that kind of person."

"I came only because MBC invested in this drama."

"I wanted to see if my money was worth it."

Im Yoona was stunned.

Then she smiled.

"You really are different."

"How am I different?" Qian Xu asked.

"Others are eager to please me," Im Yoona said.

"But you, you just say it directly."

"You came to see if the money was worth it."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'm telling the truth."

"I like telling the truth."

---

Arriving in Cheongdam-dong.

Im Yoona lived in a high-end apartment building.

The car stopped downstairs.

"We're here," Qian Xu said.

"Thank you."

Im Yoona unbuckled her seatbelt.

She took off the jacket.

She returned it to Qian Xu.

"Your jacket."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Qian Xu took the jacket.

"Get some rest early."

"You have to film tomorrow."

"Okay."

Im Yoona got out of the car.

She walked a few steps.

Then she turned back.

"Chairman Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

"I have a scene."

"Filming in Hongdae."

"If you have time."

"You can come and watch."

Qian Xu was stunned.

"Okay."

"If I'm free, I'll go."

"Hmm."

Im Yoona smiled.

"Good night."

"Good night."

---

Qian Xu watched her walk into the apartment building.

Before starting the engine.

He drove home.

On the way.

His phone buzzed.

It was a message from Im Yoona.

"Chairman Qian, I had a great time tonight."

"Thank you for driving me."

Qian Xu smiled.

He replied.

"Me too."

"Get some rest."

Im Yoona replied quickly.

"Okay."

"See you tomorrow."

Qian Xu put away his phone.

He looked ahead.

The night in Seoul.

It was very quiet.

He thought to himself.

Im Yoona.

This girl.

Is very interesting.