26: Chapter 27 Hyomin's Test: Business Trust

In the practice room.

Park Ji-yeon put her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks.

"Boss, are you being biased?"

Qian Xu looked at her and smiled.

"Ji-yeon-xi, your resources are coming later."

Park Ji-yeon was stunned for a moment.

"Later?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu walked to the window.

"In Representative Kim's proposal."

"The second phase mini-album."

"The title track is a duet."

"You and So-yeon-xi."

Park Ji-yeon froze.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"That song is called 'Sisters'."

"It tells the story of the two of you."

"Main vocalist and main dancer."

"Supporting each other."

"Walking together until today."

Park Ji-yeon's eyes turned red.

"Boss..."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Because I wanted to give you a surprise."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Now the surprise is gone."

"But you know now."

"Prepare well."

Park Ji-yeon nodded vigorously.

"I will!"

"I will definitely sing it well!"

The practice room became lively.

Ham Eun-jung clapped her hands.

"Alright, alright, let's get to work!"

"Today we'll practice the new song first."

"The dance version of 'restart'."

"Everyone get ready."

The six of them dispersed.

Jeon Bo-ram put down her water cup.

Park So-yeon cleared her throat.

Park Hyomin stretched her shoulders.

Lee Qri opened her styling case.

Park Ji-yeon was still excited.

Humming a melody.

Qian Xu walked out of the practice room.

Standing in the hallway.

Watching them through the window.

Sunlight shone in.

The figures of the six people.

Moving in the mirror.

He smiled.

Yunmengze.

Finally had some life.

At this moment.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Park Hyomin.

"Mr. Qian, is it convenient to talk?"

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Now?"

"Yes."

"I'm at the cafe downstairs."

"Okay, I'll come down."

The first-floor cafe.

Park Hyomin was sitting in a corner.

An iced Americano sat in front of her.

She was wearing a black T-shirt.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail.

She looked a bit nervous.

Seeing Qian Xu walk over.

She stood up.

"Mr. Qian."

"Sit."

Qian Xu sat down opposite her.

"What's wrong?"

Park Hyomin hesitated for a moment.

"Mr. Qian, I have a question I want to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"Why did you invest in T-ARA?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Because you are worth it."

"Is it that simple?"

"It's that simple."

Park Hyomin shook her head.

"I don't believe it."

"Why?"

"Because you are a businessman."

Park Hyomin stared at him.

"Businessmen don't make losing deals."

"T-ARA was banned in South Korea for six years."

"And has gone out of style in China too."

"You invested in us."

"Can you make your money back?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"What do you think?"

"I don't think so."

Park Hyomin said seriously.

"A 3 billion KRW comeback plan."

"A 2 billion Tencent Music contract."

"And company operating costs."

"At least 5 billion KRW."

"Can T-ARA earn it back?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Hyomin-xi, what are you worried about?"

Park Hyomin lowered her head.

"I'm worried..."

"Worried that you're just doing this on a whim."

"Worried that you invested the money."

"And found out you couldn't make it back."

"And then stopped caring about us."

"Worried that we'll be abandoned again."

The cafe went quiet.

Qian Xu was silent for a few seconds.

"Hyomin-xi, do you know why I bought your original company?"

Park Hyomin shook her head.

"Because I wanted to set you free."

Qian Xu said.

"Your original company's contract."

"Was the most unfair contract in South Korea."

"The company takes 70% of the artist's income."

"The company went bankrupt."

"Your contracts were frozen."

"You couldn't terminate the contracts."

"You couldn't perform."

"You could only wait."

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

"I bought the company."

"Not to make money."

"But to set you free."

Park Hyomin froze.

"Then... then what about the trademark?"

"The trademark, too."

Qian Xu continued.

"Your original company's trademark."

"Was stolen by Kim Seong-ho."

"He wanted to use your trademark."

"To register a new company."

"So that you could never use the name T-ARA again."

"I took back the trademark."

"So that you could continue to be called T-ARA."

"And continue to sing T-ARA's songs."

Park Hyomin's eyes turned red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"What about Tencent Music?"

"Tencent Music is the first step."

Qian Xu said.

"T-ARA has a fan base in China."

"But the Korean market is too small."

"China is your future."

"Tencent Music is the largest music platform in China."

"By signing with them."

"Your songs can be released in China."

"And Chinese fans will be able to hear them."

"And you can become popular again."

Park Hyomin lowered her head.

Twisting her fingers together.

"Mr. Qian, I..."

"Am I being too suspicious?"

"No."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You asked a very good question."

"It shows you care about T-ARA."

"Care about your sisters."

"Care about this opportunity."

Park Hyomin raised her head.

Looking at Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian, I believe you."

"Thank you."

Qian Xu stood up.

"Prepare well."

"'restart' is about to be recorded."

"Practice the dance next week."

"Okay."

Park Hyomin also stood up.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Park Hyomin left.

Qian Xu stood in the cafe.

Watching her back.

He remembered the question from earlier.

"Why did you invest in T-ARA?"

He smiled.

Because they are worth it.

Because they are T-ARA.

Because they shouldn't be forgotten.

His phone vibrated again.

It was a message from Ham Eun-jung.

"Mr. Qian, did Hyomin come to talk to you?"

"Yes."

"What did she ask?"

"Asked if I was reliable."

Ham Eun-jung sent a smiley face.

"That's how she is."

"Suspicious."

"But once she believes in someone."

"She will give her all."

"I know."

Qian Xu replied.

"She believes me."

"That's good."

Ham Eun-jung said.

"The sisters are all waiting for you."

"Waiting for you to take us back onto the stage."

Qian Xu looked at the phone screen.

And smiled.

"I will."

"Definitely."

He walked out of the cafe.

The sun was just right.

The sycamore leaves rustled.

He looked up at the second floor.

In the practice room.

The figures of the six people.

Moving in the mirror.

The singing voice drifted down.

It was the melody of 'restart'.

He smiled.

T-ARA.

They are really going to make a comeback.