30: Chapter 31 CU Convenience Store Cooperation Negotiation

Qian Xu looked at the system data on his phone screen.

[ South Korea's Favorability Towards China: 27.3% ]

[ Daily Limit: 11.4 Billion KRW ]

He smiled.

This was only the beginning.

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."

"At my place."

"I'll cook."

Qian Xu remembered the gimbap from last time.

He smiled.

"Okay."

"See you at seven."

He put his phone away.

Qian Xu checked the time.

Four in the afternoon.

Three more hours to go.

He was just preparing to go downstairs.

Kim Min-jun knocked and entered.

"Mr. Qian, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Go ahead."

Kim Min-jun sat down.

He opened his phone.

"I've been scouting a project recently."

"CU Convenience Store."

Qian Xu raised an eyebrow.

"CU?"

"Yes."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"The largest chain convenience store in South Korea."

"They have 15,000 stores nationwide."

"I want to partner with them."

"Partner on what?"

"A Chinese cultural and creative section."

Kim Min-jun opened a few photos.

"Take a look."

"This is the existing merchandise section at CU."

"Korean instant noodles, rice balls, and drinks."

"They are all local Korean products."

"I want to have, inside CU..."

"...a dedicated Chinese cultural and creative section."

"Selling Chinese goods."

Qian Xu straightened his posture.

"Continue."

"What will you sell?"

"Cultural and creative products."

Kim Min-jun pulled up another set of photos.

"Chinese-style stationery, notebooks, and bookmarks."

"The Palace Museum merchandise, panda plushies."

"Chinese tea, Chinese-style snacks."

"And also Hanfu hair accessories, Chinese knots."

"These are very popular among young people in South Korea."

Qian Xu looked at the photos.

"Have you done market research?"

"Yes."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"I had my team conduct two weeks of market research."

"Among South Korean youth aged 20-30."

"The percentage of those interested in Chinese cultural and creative products..."

"...is as high as 67%."

"But they can't buy them."

"They can only buy them through online proxy services."

"The price is three times higher."

Qian Xu's eyes lit up.

"What does CU say about it?"

"I haven't contacted them yet."

Kim Min-jun smiled.

"I wanted to hear your opinion first."

"I think it's feasible."

Qian Xu stood up.

He walked to the window.

Looking at the street view of Apgujeong.

"CU Convenience Store."

"The largest chain convenience store in South Korea."

"They have over ten million customers daily."

"If we can set up a Chinese cultural and creative section inside CU..."

"...then the effect of cultural exportation..."

"...will be better than any advertisement."

He turned to look at Kim Min-jun.

"Contact CU headquarters."

"Now."

Kim Min-jun was stunned for a moment.

"Now?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu took out his phone.

"Do you have CU's contact information?"

"Yes."

Kim Min-jun opened his contacts.

"CU Headquarters Marketing Department."

"I know a manager."

"His surname is Park."

"We worked together back at SM."

"Call him."

Qian Xu said.

"Put it on speaker."

Kim Min-jun dialed the number.

It rang three times.

"Hello, this is the CU Marketing Department."

"Is Manager Park there?"

"This is Kim Min-jun."

"CEO of Yunmengze Entertainment."

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

"Representative Kim?"

"Long time no see."

"Hello, Manager Park."

Kim Min-jun got straight to the point.

"I have a partnership I'd like to discuss with you."

"What kind of partnership?"

"A Chinese cultural and creative section."

"Setting up a section inside CU Convenience Store."

"Selling Chinese cultural and creative products."

There was silence on the other end of the line.

After a few seconds.

Manager Park's voice came through.

"A Chinese cultural and creative section?"

"Yes."

Kim Min-jun explained.

"The Palace Museum merchandise, panda plushies."

"Chinese-style stationery, Hanfu hair accessories."

"Chinese-style snacks, Chinese tea."

"These are very popular among young people in South Korea."

"But they can't buy them."

Manager Park fell silent again.

"Representative Kim."

"This idea is very interesting."

"But CU hasn't done this before."

"And as for Chinese goods..."

"...can the quality be guaranteed?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu spoke up.

"Who are you?"

Manager Park was stunned for a moment.

"I am the legal representative of Yunmengze Entertainment."

"Qian Xu."

"I am Chinese."

There was silence on the other end of the line again.

"Mr. Qian."

"Do you have supply channels?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu said.

"I have a supply chain in China."

"All products are authentic."

"The quality is guaranteed."

"What about the price?"

"20% lower than the Korean market price."

Manager Park laughed.

"Mr. Qian."

"You've piqued my interest."

"But CU is the largest convenience store in South Korea."

"We can't just try things randomly."

"If they don't sell..."

"...it will affect our brand image."

"I understand."

Qian Xu said.

"That's why we can try it out first."

"How many stores?"

"20 stores."

Qian Xu said.

"Select 20 stores first."

"Trial operation for one month."

"If sales meet the target..."

"...we will expand."

"If they don't meet the target..."

"...we will withdraw the display."

"All losses..."

"...will be borne by Yunmengze."

There was silence on the other end of the line.

After a long time.

Manager Park's voice came through.

"Mr. Qian."

"You are very sincere."

"How about this."

"Tomorrow at 10:00 AM."

"Come to CU headquarters."

"We will talk in person."

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

"See you tomorrow."

He hung up the phone.

Kim Min-jun looked at Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian."

"You are amazing."

"You convinced Manager Park with just a few words."

"It's not that I'm amazing."

Qian Xu smiled.

"It's the market that's amazing."

"Young Koreans like Chinese cultural and creative products."

"That is a fact."

"CU doesn't want to miss this opportunity."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"I'll accompany you tomorrow."

"Okay."

Qian Xu checked the time.

"Let's get off work now."

"Tomorrow at 9:00 AM."

"Meet at the company."

"Okay."

Kim Min-jun stood up.

"Mr. Qian, good evening."

Kim Min-jun left.

The office quieted down.

Qian Xu stood by the window.

Watching the sunset.

He smiled.

CU Convenience Store.

Chinese cultural and creative section.

If it succeeds.

Then the effect of cultural exportation...

...will be even greater than T-ARA's comeback.

15,000 stores every day.

Over ten million customers.

Koreans walk into CU.

See the Chinese cultural and creative products.

Buy them and take them home.

And use them.

This is cultural exportation.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

"Mr. Qian, are you off work?"

"Just got off work."

"Okay, I'm ready on my end too."

"You can come straight up."

"It's a passcode lock."

"The code is 1234."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Okay."

"Coming right now."

He walked out of the office.

Locked the door.

Took the elevator upstairs.

18th floor.

Arrived.

He walked to Jeon Bo-ram's door.

Entered the code.

"Beep—"

The door opened.

A fragrant smell wafted out.

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

It was the smell of kimchi stew.

He walked in.

In the living room.

Jeon Bo-ram was wearing an apron.

Standing in the kitchen.

Holding a soup ladle in her hand.

Seeing Qian Xu come in.

She smiled.

"Mr. Qian!"

"You're here!"

"Sit down quickly!"

"It'll be ready soon!"

Qian Xu looked at the kitchen.

There were three pots on the stove.

One for kimchi stew.

One for fried fish.

One for japchae.

Rice and side dishes were also laid out on the table.

"You made this?"

"Yeah!"

Jeon Bo-ram smiled proudly.

"I spent the whole afternoon learning!"

"I learned it from the internet!"

"Try it!"

Qian Xu sat down.

Picked up his chopsticks.

Picked up a piece of fried fish.

Put it in his mouth.

It tasted good.

"Delicious."

"Really?"

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"Really!"

"It's a hundred times better than the gimbap from last time!"

Jeon Bo-ram blushed.

"The gimbap last time..."

"...really wasn't good."

"But this time is different!"

"I learned it carefully!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Sit down and let's eat together."

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram took off her apron.

Sat opposite Qian Xu.

The two ate face-to-face.

Jeon Bo-ram picked up a piece of kimchi.

Put it into Qian Xu's bowl.

"Mr. Qian."

"Thank you for today."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for agreeing to the Jamsil matter."

Jeon Bo-ram lowered her head.

"I know."

"You invested in T-ARA's comeback."

"It was to help us."

"Not to make money."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"How did you know?"

"Because you are a good person."

Jeon Bo-ram looked up.

"From the day you helped me carry my things."

"I knew you were a good person."

"Later, you helped me fix the air conditioner."

"Helped me cook porridge."

"Helped me collect my packages."

"I remember it all."

Qian Xu smiled.

"It was just a small favor."

"It wasn't just a small favor."

Jeon Bo-ram shook her head.

"In South Korea."

"No one would help me like that."

"Except for you."

Qian Xu looked at her.

In Jeon Bo-ram's eyes.

There was a light.

He smiled.

"Hurry up and eat."

"The food is getting cold."

"Okay."

Jeon Bo-ram also smiled.

The two continued to eat.

After the meal.

Jeon Bo-ram cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks.

Qian Xu sat on the sofa.

Looking at the night view outside the window.

Seoul's night.

Bright with lights.

Jeon Bo-ram finished washing the dishes.

Walked over.

Sat next to Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow's meeting with CU."

"Can I go?"

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Why do you want to go?"

"I want to see."

Jeon Bo-ram said softly.

"I want to see how you work."

"I'm curious."

Qian Xu looked at her.

In Jeon Bo-ram's eyes.

There was anticipation.

He smiled.

"Okay."

"Tomorrow at 9:00 AM."

"Meet at the company."

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram nodded happily.

They chatted for a while longer.

Qian Xu checked the time.

It was almost nine o'clock.

"I should go back."

"I have to get up early tomorrow."

"Okay."

Jeon Bo-ram stood up.

Saw him to the door.

"Mr. Qian."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Qian Xu walked out the door.

Returned to his own home.

Opened the door.

Changed into slippers.

Sat on the sofa.

He smiled.

CU Convenience Store.

Chinese cultural and creative section.

Tomorrow.

It will be another new beginning.