23: Chapter 24 So-yeon's Heart-to-Heart Talk: Stepping Out of the Shadows

Apgujeong.

In front of a beige building.

Qian Xu stood under a parasol tree.

He looked at the five-story structure.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves.

Mottled light and shadows fell on the exterior wall.

The scent of flowers from the florist's shop drifted over.

He smiled.

Yunmengze finally had a home of its own.

His phone rang.

It was a message from Kim Min-jun.

"Mr. Qian, So-yeon-xi would like to see you."

"She says she has something to discuss."

Qian Xu paused for a moment.

Park So-yeon?

That gentle, sensitive lead vocalist.

"Alright, I'm downstairs at the company."

"Tell her to come over."

Ten minutes later.

A taxi pulled up to the curb.

Park So-yeon stepped out.

She was wearing a white shirt.

Light blue jeans.

Her hair was draped over her shoulders.

She was wearing no makeup.

But her skin looked great.

It was just that her eyes were a bit swollen.

As if she had been crying.

"Mr. Qian."

"So-yeon-xi, let's go upstairs."

Qian Xu stepped aside to let her pass.

The two walked into the building.

In the first-floor lobby.

Sunlight streamed in.

The wooden floor glistened.

"This building is really nice," Park So-yeon said softly.

"I just rented it," Qian Xu smiled.

"From now on, it will be the headquarters of Yunmengze."

"Five floors."

"One floor will be for T-ARA as a practice room."

Park So-yeon's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Representative Kim is already making the arrangements."

"Recording studio, dance practice room, lounge."

"We have everything."

Park So-yeon lowered her head.

"Thank you, Mr. Qian."

"You're welcome."

The two went up to the second floor.

In the temporary office.

Qian Xu poured a glass of water for Park So-yeon.

"So-yeon-xi, what did you want to see me about?"

Park So-yeon took the glass.

Her fingers were trembling slightly.

"Mr. Qian, I…"

"I want to talk to you."

"Alright."

Qian Xu sat down opposite her.

"Go ahead."

Park So-yeon was silent for a long time.

She turned the glass in her hands several times.

Finally, she spoke.

"Mr. Qian, I was frozen out for three years."

Qian Xu didn't speak.

He waited for her to continue.

"In 2019, T-ARA's contract was transferred to a new company."

"I thought we could start over."

"But the company went bankrupt."

"My contract was frozen."

"I couldn't go on stage."

"I couldn't sing."

"I couldn't participate in any activities."

Park So-yeon's voice trembled slightly.

"Three years."

"A full three years."

"I watched the other members go to commercial events."

"Go film dramas."

"Go on variety shows."

"Only me."

"I could only stay at home."

"Waiting."

"Waiting for an opportunity that I didn't even know would ever come."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"How did you get through those three years?"

Park So-yeon gave a bitter smile.

"At first, I practiced singing every day."

"Thinking that one day I could make a comeback."

"But a year passed."

"Two years passed."

"Nothing changed."

"I started to doubt myself."

"Is it because I don't sing well enough?"

"Is it because I'm not pretty enough?"

"Is it because I'm not worth investing in?"

Her eyes turned red.

"I almost fell into depression."

"For a while."

"I lay in bed every day."

"I didn't want to eat."

"I didn't want to see anyone."

"I didn't want to talk."

"I just stared at the ceiling."

"Thinking."

"Is this just how my life is going to be?"

Qian Xu handed her a tissue.

Park So-yeon took it.

She wiped the corners of her eyes.

"Thank you."

"And then?"

"Later, Eunjung Unnie came to see me."

"She scolded me."

"She said, 'T-ARA isn't dead yet.'"

"'What right do you have to give up first?'"

"She said, 'As long as we are still alive.'"

"'There is still a chance.'"

Park So-yeon took a deep breath.

"Since then."

"I started practicing singing again."

"Six hours a day."

"I kept in shape."

"I learned Chinese."

"Waiting for an opportunity."

"Waiting for someone who could let us stand on the stage again."

She looked at Qian Xu.

"And then, you appeared."

Qian Xu was silent for a few seconds.

"So-yeon-xi, do you know why I invested in T-ARA?"

Park So-yeon shook her head.

"Because you are worth it," Qian Xu said calmly.

"T-ARA is the representative of the second-generation girl groups."

"You have had your most glorious moments."

"And you have also experienced the darkest of times."

"But you didn't give up."

"That is more important than anything else."

"I can't sing."

"I can't write songs."

"I can't choreograph."

"But I will give you the best resources."

"The best producers."

"The best stages."

"The best promotion."

Park So-yeon's eyes reddened again.

"Mr. Qian…"

"So-yeon-xi, remember this," Qian Xu looked at her.

"From today on."

"You are no longer that frozen-out Park So-yeon."

"You are the lead vocalist of T-ARA."

"You are an artist under Yunmengze."

"You are a singer about to stand on the stage again."

"I will have you sing the best songs."

"Get on the biggest stages."

"Let everyone know."

"Park So-yeon is back."

Park So-yeon's tears fell.

She lowered her head.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

"Thank you, Boss."

Her voice was choked with emotion.

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu handed her an entire box of tissues.

"Cry it out."

"Once you're done crying, you can start over."

Park So-yeon took the tissues.

She wiped her tears.

She smiled.

"Boss, you really know how to talk."

"It's not just knowing how to talk," Qian Xu smiled as well.

"It's telling the truth."

"T-ARA deserves better."

"You deserve better."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

There was a light in her eyes.

"Boss, I will work hard."

"I will sing every song well."

"I won't let you down."

"I know."

Qian Xu stood up.

"Let's go."

"Let's go see your practice room."

The two went downstairs.

They reached the third floor.

Kim Min-jun was already inside.

He was directing workers to move equipment.

"Mr. Qian, So-yeon-xi."

"You're here."

Kim Min-jun pointed inside.

"This floor is T-ARA's exclusive area."

"On the left is the vocal practice room."

"On the right is the dance practice room."

"In the back is the lounge."

"All the equipment will be in place by next week."

Park So-yeon walked in.

She looked at the empty rooms, but her eyes were bright.

"Is this going to be ours from now on?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu stood at the doorway.

"For the six of you."

"You can practice as late as you want."

"You can sing whatever songs you want."

"No one can ever ban you again."

Park So-yeon turned around.

She looked at Qian Xu.

"Boss, can I give you a hug?"

Qian Xu paused for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Sure."

Park So-yeon walked over.

She gave him a light hug.

She pulled away quickly.

"Thank you, Boss."

"You're welcome."

Park So-yeon left.

She went to notify the other members that the practice room was ready.

Qian Xu stood by the window.

He looked at the streetscape of Apgujeong.

His phone rang.

It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

"Mr. Qian, the tangerines from Jeju Island are so delicious!"

"I brought you a box!"

"I'm coming back tomorrow!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Alright, travel safely."

"Thank you, Mr. Qian!"

"By the way, did you receive the package?"

"I did."

"It was left at my door."

"Thank you, Mr. Qian!"

"I'll treat you to tangerines when I get back!"

"Alright."

Qian Xu put away his phone.

He looked at the sunlight outside the window.

Park So-yeon had stepped out of the shadows.

T-ARA's comeback was one step closer.

He smiled.

A Chinese person could live a thriving life in South Korea.