33: Chapter 34 Eun-jung's Trust - Work Partner

In the warehouse, Jeon Bo-ram held the box of da hong pao, looking at the Chinese characters on the packaging.

"Mr. Qian, the packaging design is very good."

"But what about the Korean promotional text?"

Qian Xu paused for a moment.

"What?"

"The Korean promotional text."

Jeon Bo-ram pointed to the box.

"Look."

"There is only Chinese on the packaging."

"Koreans won't understand it."

"They won't know what kind of tea this is."

"They won't know where it's from."

"They won't know what it tastes like."

"They won't know how to brew it."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You know about this?"

"Of course!"

Jeon Bo-ram smiled.

"I used to endorse a Chinese tea brand."

"I've done promotions."

"I know what needs to be written on the packaging."

Qian Xu's eyes lit up.

"Then will you help me design it?"

"Sure!"

Jeon Bo-ram nodded.

"I happen to have studied a bit of design."

"When I had free time in the past."

"I researched Photoshop and Illustrator on my own."

"Although I'm not a professional."

"I can handle basic layout and copywriting."

Qian Xu looked at her.

This soft and cute girl always surprised him.

"Okay."

"Then I'll leave the Korean packaging for this batch of cultural creative products to you."

"Really?"

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"Really."

"We'll settle by project."

"100,000 KRW per packaging design."

"There are about 50 categories here."

"5 million KRW."

Jeon Bo-ram's mouth hung open.

"5 million?"

"Isn't that too much?"

"I... I'm just helping out."

"I'm not a professional designer."

"It's fine."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I believe in you."

"Even though the kimbap you made didn't taste good."

"Your sense of aesthetics is excellent."

Jeon Bo-ram blushed.

"Mr. Qian..."

"You're bringing up the kimbap again!"

Both of them laughed.

Jeon Bo-ram started taking photos, snapping several pictures of each sample.

"I'm going to go back and study these properly."

"I'll give you the first draft tomorrow."

"No rush."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You still have practice."

"Don't overwork yourself."

"I won't!"

Jeon Bo-ram shook her head.

"Doing what I love isn't tiring."

After she finished speaking, she picked up a panda plushie.

"Can I buy one of these?"

"I'll give it to you," Qian Xu said.

"Ah?"

"No, no need!"

Jeon Bo-ram quickly waved her hands.

"I'll just buy it!"

"Take it."

Qian Xu stuffed the plushie into her hands.

"Consider it a deposit for the design fee."

Jeon Bo-ram hugged the panda plushie and smiled.

"Thank you, Mr. Qian!"

The two walked out of the warehouse.

The sky had darkened.

Seoul at dusk had a light purple sky.

Jeon Bo-ram walked beside Qian Xu, hugging the panda plushie.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so good to me?"

Qian Xu paused for a moment.

"Am I?"

"Yes."

Jeon Bo-ram looked down at the plushie in her arms.

"You helped me fix the air conditioner."

"You cooked me porridge."

"Now you're giving me a plushie."

"You're even letting me do the design."

"And giving me 5 million."

She looked up at Qian Xu.

"Aren't you afraid I'll mess it up?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'm not."

"Why?"

"Because you are Jeon Bo-ram."

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

"It means."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Even though you're hopeless in daily life, you are very serious about your work."

"You may be soft and cute, but you have a strong heart."

"You may not understand design, but you have a good sense of aesthetics."

"I believe in you."

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes turned red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Go back now."

"See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Jeon Bo-ram hailed a taxi and got in.

She rolled down the window.

"Mr. Qian!"

"Hmm?"

"I will definitely do a good job!"

She smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

"I'll show you my capabilities!"

The taxi drove away.

Qian Xu stood by the roadside, watching the car disappear around the corner.

He smiled.

Jeon Bo-ram.

This soft and cute girl was more talented than he had imagined.

Early the next morning, at the Yunmengze Building in Apgujeong, Qian Xu walked into the office.

Kim Min-jun was already waiting.

"Mr. Qian, the people at CU are rushing us. When will the product selection plan be submitted?"

"Today."

Qian Xu sat down.

"Boram-xi is helping me with the Korean packaging. We'll submit it together once her first draft is ready."

Kim Min-jun paused.

"Boram-xi?"

"Yes. Jeon Bo-ram. A member of T-ARA."

"She knows design?"

"She does."

Qian Xu smiled.

"She's more capable than we imagined."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"Okay. Then I'll wait for her design."

At that moment, the door pushed open.

Ham Eun-jung walked in.

"Mr. Qian, Representative Kim. Good morning."

"Ms. Eun-jung, morning."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Isn't today for practice?"

"Yes."

Ham Eun-jung sat down.

"But I have something I want to report to you."

"Go ahead."

Ham Eun-jung opened her phone.

"I've organized the status of the members. Everyone is on standby, ready to start work at any time."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Tell me in detail."

Ham Eun-jung looked at her phone.

"Jeon Bo-ram. Her cold is gone. She practiced vocals for 2 hours this morning. She's in good condition."

"Park So-yeon. She recorded the demo for 'restart' yesterday. The result was very good. Representative Kim has already heard it."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"Yes. So-yeon-xi's vocal skills are even better than before. During these years of being shelved, she hasn't let herself go."

Ham Eun-jung continued.

"Park Hyomin. She practiced dancing for 4 hours yesterday. She said she wants to get back into form."

"Lee Qri. The styling plan has been finalized. We start purchasing costumes today."

"Park Ji-yeon. Her web drama has wrapped up. She started practicing singing yesterday. She said she wants to sing 'Sisters' well."

Ham Eun-jung put away her phone.

"Six people. All on standby. Ready to start work at any time."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Good. Then for the comeback single, we'll record the Chinese version first."

Ham Eun-jung paused.

"The Chinese version?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu stood up and walked to the window.

"T-ARA has been banned in Korea for six years. Even if you release a new song, you might not be able to get on music shows. But the Chinese market is different. Tencent Music has already signed on. The Chinese version can be released online directly."

"Moreover," he turned to look at Ham Eun-jung, "you have fans in China. You have memories. You have nostalgia. The Chinese version will allow Chinese fans to hear it immediately. It can spark discussion. It can open up the Chinese market."

Ham Eun-jung looked at him.

"Mr. Qian. You're right. But we haven't practiced the Chinese version well yet."

"That's fine," Qian Xu smiled. "Representative Kim has already arranged for a Chinese teacher. You can learn while you record. There's still time."

Ham Eun-jung thought for a moment.

"Okay. Then we'll record the Chinese version first. But we also need to prepare the Korean version. Once the Korean market unblocks, we can release it at any time."

"Correct."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Record the Korean version simultaneously, but release the Chinese version first as the first shot of the comeback."

Ham Eun-jung stood up.

"No problem."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"How is your Chinese practice going?"

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"Everyone has practiced Chinese. We learned quite a bit when we were active in China before. Although it's not standard, the basic pronunciation is fine."

"And," she paused, "So-yeon's Chinese is the best. She studied it specifically in the past, to sing Chinese songs."

Qian Xu nodded.

"That's good. Have So-yeon-xi help everyone else."

"Okay," Ham Eun-jung said. "I'll go back and arrange it."

She walked to the door, then turned back.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for letting us make a comeback. Thank you for giving us a second chance."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You're welcome. You deserve it."

Ham Eun-jung's eyes turned red, but she didn't cry. She just smiled, turned, and left.

The office went quiet.

Kim Min-jun looked at Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian. You are really amazing."

"Amazing how?"

"You moved Ms. Eun-jung with just a few words. She really trusts you."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'm just telling the truth. T-ARA deserves better. They shouldn't have been banned. They shouldn't be forgotten."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"I will do my best to let them stand on the stage again."

"Good."

Qian Xu looked out the window.

"Representative Kim."

"Hmm?"

"What do you think is the biggest difficulty for T-ARA's comeback?"

Kim Min-jun thought for a moment.

"The market. T-ARA has been banned in Korea for six years. Many people have already forgotten them. Even if they release a new song, it might not become a hit."

Qian Xu nodded.

"That's why we are targeting the Chinese market."

"Right."

Kim Min-jun opened a file.

"I've already contacted music platforms in China. Tencent Music, NetEase Cloud, QQ Music. They are all willing to cooperate. As soon as the new song is out, it will be uploaded immediately."

"Good."

Qian Xu looked out the window.

"Then let's begin. T-ARA's comeback starts with the Chinese version."