3: Chapter 3 Business Negotiations and Finalizing Intent

"The fried chicken is not bad."

After Qian Xu finished this sentence, Jeon Bo-ram and Ham Eun-jung were both stunned.

The atmosphere suddenly went quiet.

Qian Xu wiped his hands and looked at Ham Eun-jung.

"Ms. Eun-jung, could I have your contact information?"

Ham Eun-jung looked at him warily.

"Why?"

"I want to talk to you about T-ARA."

"Are you a reporter?"

Ham Eun-jung's tone turned cold.

"No."

Qian Xu shook his head, "I work in investment."

"I just moved into this building today and happened to run into you."

"I think this is fate."

Jeon Bo-ram tugged at Ham Eun-jung's sleeve.

"Unnie, he's not a bad person."

"He even helped me carry my things in the elevator earlier."

Ham Eun-jung glanced at Jeon Bo-ram and sighed.

This little sister was too naive.

But she still took out her phone.

"Go ahead and add it."

Qian Xu scanned the QR code and added her as a friend.

"Let's meet tomorrow at 3 PM at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong."

"Just the two of us?"

"No," Qian Xu thought for a moment, "Bring someone from T-ARA who can make decisions."

Ham Eun-jung frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I have an idea I want to discuss with you all."

"Regarding T-ARA's comeback."

Ham Eun-jung stared at him for five seconds.

"Alright."

The next day at 2:50 PM.

In Cheongdam-dong, at a high-end cafe.

Qian Xu arrived early and chose a seat by the window.

He was wearing a dark gray suit and a white shirt, without a tie.

On the table was a cup of Americano.

At 3:00 sharp, the door opened.

Ham Eun-jung walked in, followed by a woman.

The woman was wearing a mask and a hat, with her head lowered.

Qian Xu stood up.

"Ms. Eun-jung, over here."

Ham Eun-jung brought the woman over and sat down.

The woman took off her mask and hat.

Qian Xu recognized her.

Park So-yeon.

T-ARA's main vocalist.

The one who had been shelved.

"Mr. Qian, this is our T-ARA's So-yeon."

Ham Eun-jung introduced, "So-yeon, this is Mr. Qian Xu."

Park So-yeon nodded slightly.

"Hello."

Her voice was very soft and carried a hint of exhaustion.

Qian Xu noticed that her eyes were a bit red and swollen.

"Ms. Soyeon, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Eunjung said you wanted to talk about T-ARA's comeback?"

Park So-yeon asked directly.

"Yes."

Qian Xu put down his coffee cup.

"I want to acquire your original company's bankruptcy assets."

"Including T-ARA's contracts."

Ham Eun-jung and Park So-yeon exchanged a look.

"Mr. Qian, do you know how much that company owes?"

"18 billion KRW."

"Including company assets, it will be at least 20 billion."

"I know."

Qian Xu's tone was calm.

"I have already checked."

"The company owns a building, a recording studio, and T-ARA's trademark rights and music copyrights."

"Adding these up, the valuation is around 15 billion."

"With the debt, the total cost is around 20 billion."

Ham Eun-jung gasped.

"Are you really planning to pay 20 billion?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Park So-yeon asked suddenly.

"T-ARA is already past its prime."

"Our reputation is also ruined."

"Is it worth spending 20 billion to buy a bankrupt company?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Whether it's worth it or not is for me to decide."

"But I want to hear your conditions first."

Ham Eun-jung took a deep breath.

"Mr. Qian, if we can really make a comeback, we need three conditions."

"Go ahead."

"First, the company must operate completely independently."

"Second, the contracts for the six of us must be re-signed."

"Third, we must have creative autonomy."

Qian Xu nodded.

"That's fine."

"But I also have three conditions."

Ham Eun-jung became nervous.

"Please speak."

"First, after the company is acquired, I will establish a new company."

"Yunmengze Entertainment."

"All six of you will sign into the new company."

"Second, artist revenue will be split 70/30."

"You get 70%, the company gets 30%."

Ham Eun-jung was stunned.

"70%?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu said, "The standard in the K-pop industry is 50/50, or even 20/80 for rookies."

"But I think the artist should take the lion's share of the value they create."

"The company only provides the platform and resources."

Park So-yeon's eyes turned red.

"What about the third?"

"Third, you must sing Chinese songs."

"And hold concert tours in China."

Ham Eun-jung frowned.

"Chinese songs?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu said, "T-ARA has a fan base in China."

"The Chinese market is huge, but you haven't properly developed it."

"I require you to release at least one Chinese single every year."

"And hold at least ten concerts in China every year."

Ham Eun-jung was silent for a few seconds.

"This... we need to discuss it."

"That's fine."

Qian Xu checked his watch, "I'll give you one hour."

"After an hour, I hope to be able to sign a letter of intent."

Ham Eun-jung nodded.

"Alright."

She pulled Park So-yeon to a corner and started making a call.

In the corner of the cafe.

Ham Eun-jung dialed Jeon Bo-ram's number.

"Boram, are you home?"

"Yes, what's up?"

"So-yeon and I are talking to Mr. Qian about a comeback."

"He said he's willing to acquire the company, but has a few conditions."

Jeon Bo-ram's voice became nervous.

"What conditions?"

"First, sign with a new company."

"Second, 70% of the revenue for the artists."

"Third, sing Chinese songs, tour in China."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

"70% revenue?"

"Yes."

"Is he crazy?"

Jeon Bo-ram's voice trembled, "Where in the K-pop industry do you see such terms?"

"He said he's willing."

Ham Eun-jung said, "What do you think?"

"I... I don't know."

Jeon Bo-ram said, "But I don't think he's a bad person."

"Yesterday in the elevator, he helped me carry my things."

"He even treated us to fried chicken."

Ham Eun-jung sighed.

"So-yeon, what do you think?"

Park So-yeon lowered her head.

"Eunjung Unnie, I want to make a comeback."

"I've been shelved for three years."

"For three years, I've done nothing."

"Waiting at home every day, waiting for the company to terminate the contract."

"I don't want to wait anymore."

Ham Eun-jung looked at her.

"What about Hyomin and the others?"

"Hyomin is filming, Qri is doing livestreams, Jiyeon is doing a solo."

Park So-yeon said, "They all have their own things."

"But T-ARA is our home."

"If this home can be rebuilt, they will definitely come back."

Ham Eun-jung took a deep breath.

"Alright, I've decided."

She walked back to the seat.

"Mr. Qian, we agree."

"We accept all three conditions."

Qian Xu nodded.

He took a document out of his briefcase.

"This is the letter of intent."

"Take a look, and if there are no problems, sign it."

Ham Eun-jung took the document and read it carefully.

Park So-yeon also leaned in to look.

The terms were very simple.

Qian Xu funds the acquisition of the original company's bankruptcy assets.

Establish Yunmengze Entertainment.

All six members of T-ARA sign.

70/30 revenue split.

One Chinese single per year.

Ten concerts in China per year.

Five-year contract term.

Ham Eun-jung picked up a pen and signed her name.

Park So-yeon signed too.

Qian Xu signed, then put away the document.

"Alright, happy to work together."

"Next, I will entrust a lawyer to handle the acquisition matters."

"You just wait for the news."

Ham Eun-jung nodded.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu stood up, "I am a businessman."

"I'm investing in T-ARA because I think you are worth it."

Park So-yeon spoke up suddenly.

"Mr. Qian, why do you believe in us?"

"We have been ruined for six years."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Because I know the truth."

"The Liu Hwayoung incident is fake."

"You were framed."

Park So-yeon's tears fell.

"You... how do you know?"

"I checked."

Qian Xu said, "The 2012 judgment, the 2017 retrial record."

"All evidence proves that you were framed."

"The Korean media owes you an apology."

"But that's okay."

"I will help you take back what belongs to you."

Ham Eun-jung and Park So-yeon both cried.

5:00 PM.

Jeon Bo-ram was waiting at home.

The doorbell rang.

She ran to open the door.

Ham Eun-jung and Park So-yeon were standing at the door.

"How did it go?"

Jeon Bo-ram asked nervously.

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"It's done."

"Really?"

"Really."

Park So-yeon hugged Jeon Bo-ram.

"Boram Unnie, we are going to make a comeback."

The three women hugged and cried together.

Jeon Bo-ram wiped her tears.

"That Mr. Qian, who exactly is he?"

"I don't know."

Ham Eun-jung said, "But he's not an ordinary person."

"Someone who can come up with 20 billion must have a background that isn't simple."

Park So-yeon said suddenly.

"I think he is very good."

"He said he knew the truth."

"He said we were framed."

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned.

"He knows?"

"Yes."

Ham Eun-jung said, "He said he checked."

"The 2012 judgment, the 2017 retrial record."

"He has seen them all."

Jeon Bo-ram was silent for a few seconds.

"Then... are we really going to sing Chinese songs?"

"Yes."

Ham Eun-jung said, "And go on tour in China."

"Do you think that's okay?"

Jeon Bo-ram thought about it.

"I don't mind."

"As long as we can make a comeback, I'll sing anything."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"We became famous because of Chinese songs in the first place."

"《Little Apple》, 《The Most Dazzling Folk Style》, we can all sing them."

Ham Eun-jung also smiled.

"That's good."

"Once Mr. Qian handles things on his side, we'll start preparing."

"T-ARA is back."

The three women smiled at each other.

Outside the window, the sunset in Seoul was beautiful.

Qian Xu stood on his balcony, looking at Gangnam District in the distance.

His phone rang.

It was a message from his lawyer.

"Mr. Qian, the bankruptcy acquisition procedure has been initiated."

"It is expected that the auction will be completed within three days."

Qian Xu replied.

"Alright, as soon as possible."

He put down his phone and looked out the window.

T-ARA.

Six people.

Five-year contract.

70% revenue.

Chinese songs.

China tour.

Is this investment worth it?

Qian Xu smiled.

It is.

Because he knows.

T-ARA has 30 million fans in China.

Their songs have been played over 5 billion times in China.

As long as it's handled properly.

This investment can increase tenfold.

And.

He still has the system.

10 billion KRW every day.

Can only be spent in Korea.

Then spend it in the most valuable place.

For example.

Make T-ARA famous again.

Let Chinese people live prosperously in Korea as well.