29: Chapter 30 System Update - Favorability Increase

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

After the welcome party ended, the 12 international students went to familiarize themselves with their work.

Qian Xu stood by the window, looking at the plane trees on the street.

His phone vibrated. He looked down and saw a system notification.

[ China-Korea Cultural Exchange and Consumption Fund System ] [ Data Update ]

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment. The system usually only updated at midnight. It was only three in the afternoon now. Why did it update suddenly?

He opened the details. Lines of data popped up on the screen.

[ Korea's favorability toward China: 27.3% ]

Qian Xu stared at this number. 27.3%. It had increased by 0.2% compared to last month. Although it wasn't much, it had indeed increased.

He continued to look down. [ Daily quota: 11.4 billion KRW ]

Qian Xu raised an eyebrow. It increased? It was 11.37 billion before. Now it had 30 million more. Although not much, it showed that the system was changing.

He continued scrolling down. [ Chinese in Korea: + 5,000 ]

Qian Xu was stunned. The number of Chinese in Korea increased by 5,000? He frowned. How did this data come about? The system didn't explain. But he vaguely felt it was related to Yunmengze, related to T-ARA, and related to those international students.

He continued looking down. The last line. [ System Notification ] [ Current stage: Early stage of cultural output ] [ Cultural output platform: Yunmengze Entertainment ] [ Influence: Weak ] [ Next stage goal: Korea's favorability toward China 30% ]

Qian Xu looked at these data points and suddenly understood. The core of the system was not spending money; it was cultural output. It was about making Koreans have a favorable impression of China and making the Chinese in Korea live better.

He recalled the previous data. Korea's favorability toward China was 27.1%. Now it was 27.3%. It had risen by 0.2%. Although not much, the direction was correct.

He thought of those international students, Wang Lei and Li Xue. Because of Yunmengze, they had jobs and dignity. He thought of T-ARA. Because of Yunmengze, they had a chance to make a comeback and had hope. He thought of Jeon Bo-ram, that soft and cute neighbor. Because of his porridge, her cold was gone. Qian Xu smiled. So that was it. The system's rules were not just simply spending money. It was cultural output. It was letting Koreans see the good in China, and letting Chinese in Korea live with dignity.

He opened his phone and looked at his bank account balance. 48.73 billion KRW. 11.4 billion per day. That was 342 billion a month. This money couldn't just be used for enjoyment; it had to be used where it mattered most.

He thought of Representative Kim's proposal. T-ARA's comeback, China tour, Chinese songs. These were all doing cultural output. He thought of those international students. They worked in Korea and did things in the Chinese way. This was also cultural output. He thought of the Pang Dong Lai model. If he could open one in Korea and let Koreans see the service of a Chinese supermarket, that would also be cultural output.

Qian Xu put away his phone, walked out of the office, and came to the second-floor practice room. He pushed the door open. Six people were practicing dancing. The music was the melody of "restart". Jeon Bo-ram stood in the center position. Her movements were a bit stiff, but she was very serious. Park So-yeon was practicing high notes in the corner. Park Hyomin was teaching Ji-yeon dance moves. Ham Eun-jung was adjusting the formation. Lee Qri was tidying up her clothes.

Seeing Qian Xu come in, Jeon Bo-ram stopped her movements. "Mr. Qian!" "Why are you here?" "Just to see you all." Qian Xu smiled. "How is the practice going?" "It's okay!" Jeon Bo-ram wiped her sweat. "It's just that some movements aren't familiar yet." "Take your time." Qian Xu looked at her. "No rush. There is still time."

Ham Eun-jung walked over. "Mr. Qian, you came just in time. We have something we want to discuss with you." "What is it?" "About the comeback stage." Ham Eun-jung opened her phone. "Representative Kim suggested doing the comeback show in Hongdae. But I think Hongdae is too small. T-ARA's comeback should be on a bigger stage."

Qian Xu thought for a moment. "Where do you want to be?" "Jamsil." Ham Eun-jung said calmly. "Jamsil Indoor Stadium. It can accommodate 10,000 people." Qian Xu looked at her. "Jamsil?" "Yes." Ham Eun-jung nodded. "T-ARA held a concert at Jamsil before. That was our most glorious time. For the comeback, we should return there."

Qian Xu thought for a moment. "What does Representative Kim say?" "He says the budget is not enough." Ham Eun-jung smiled bitterly. "The Jamsil venue rental is 300 million KRW. Plus stage decoration, sound, lighting. It will cost at least 1 billion. Representative Kim says it's too expensive."

Qian Xu looked at her. "What do you think?" "I think it's worth it." Ham Eun-jung's tone was firm. "T-ARA's comeback cannot just be in any random place. It must be on the best stage. Let everyone see that T-ARA is back."

Qian Xu was silent for a while. "Okay. Jamsil it is." Ham Eun-jung was stunned. "Really?" "Really." Qian Xu smiled. "1 billion is 1 billion. T-ARA deserves the best stage."

Ham Eun-jung's eyes turned red. "Mr. Qian..." "Don't cry." Qian Xu patted her shoulder. "Prepare well. Let everyone see that T-ARA is back." "Mm!" Ham Eun-jung nodded vigorously.

Other members also gathered around. Jeon Bo-ram's eyes were bright. "Mr. Qian, can we really perform at Jamsil?" "Really." "That's great!" Jeon Bo-ram jumped up. "I haven't performed at Jamsil for a long time!" Park So-yeon also smiled. "The last time at Jamsil was 2014. At that time, we held a concert. The audience was full of pink light sticks." Park Hyomin nodded. "That was such a good time. Now, we are going back again." Lee Qri wiped the corner of her eyes. "Mr. Qian, thank you." "You're welcome." Qian Xu looked at them. "You deserve it."

Walking out of the practice room, Qian Xu stood in the hallway, looking at them through the window. Six people were gathered together, discussing the comeback. Their faces were full of smiles. He smiled. Isn't this what the system called cultural output? Let Koreans see the good in China. Let the Chinese in Korea live with dignity. Let T-ARA stand on the stage again. Let them sing Chinese songs. Let Chinese fans cheer for them. This is cultural output.

He opened his phone and looked at the system data. [ Korea's favorability toward China: 27.3% ] [ Daily quota: 11.4 billion KRW ] [ Chinese in Korea: + 5,000 ] He smiled. This was just the beginning. In the future, it would be even better.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram. "Mr. Qian, are you free tonight?" "What's up?" "I want to treat you to dinner. Thank you for agreeing to the Jamsil matter today." Qian Xu smiled. "Okay. What time?" "Seven o'clock. My place. I'll cook." Qian Xu thought of the kimbap from last time and smiled. "Okay. See you at seven."