34: Chapter 35 So-yeon's Gratitude and the Development of Favorable Feelings

At the entrance of the warehouse.

Jeon Bo-ram held a panda doll.

Her face was flushed.

"Mr. Qian, why are you so good to me?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Because you are my neighbor."

"Helping each other is normal between neighbors."

"Just neighbors?"

Jeon Bo-ram asked softly.

Her voice was very faint.

Qian Xu didn't hear clearly.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing!"

Jeon Bo-ram quickly shook her head.

"I'm heading back now!"

"I'll give you the design drafts tomorrow!"

She held the panda doll.

And jogged away.

Qian Xu stood where he was.

Watching her back.

He smiled.

Early the next morning.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

Qian Xu had just arrived at the office.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Park So-yeon.

"Mr. Qian, the Chinese demo is finished recording."

"Can I send it for you to listen to?"

Qian Xu replied.

"Sure, send it over."

A few seconds later.

An audio file was sent over.

Qian Xu put on his headphones.

He clicked play.

The prelude began.

It was the melody of "restart".

But the lyrics were in Chinese.

Park So-yeon's voice came through.

It was very gentle.

Very clear.

Like mountain spring water.

Flowing past his ears.

Qian Xu closed his eyes.

He listened.

"The past dark nights were too long."

"I thought I would never see the light again."

"Until you appeared."

"Telling me I could start over."

"Thank you."

"For making me believe."

"Tomorrow will be better."

The singing stopped.

Qian Xu opened his eyes.

He was stunned.

This was not just a simple demo.

This was Park So-yeon's heart.

She wasn't just singing lyrics.

It was her story.

Her darkness.

Her hope.

Her gratitude.

His phone vibrated again.

Park So-yeon sent a message.

"Mr. Qian, what do you think?"

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

He replied.

"Very good."

"Better than I imagined."

Park So-yeon replied quickly.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Boss, do you understand music?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"I don't."

"But I can tell when something sounds good."

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

Then Park So-yeon sent a voice message.

Qian Xu clicked on it.

Her voice was slightly trembling.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"This is the first time in six years."

"That I've felt."

"That I can still sing."

"That I can still be heard."

Qian Xu listened.

His heart felt a bit sore.

He replied.

"Ms. Soyeon."

"You've always been able to sing."

"It's just that no one gave you a stage."

"Now you have one."

"Yunmengze is your stage."

There was silence for a few more seconds.

Park So-yeon sent a message.

"Mr. Qian."

"Can I treat you to a cup of coffee?"

"Now?"

"Yes."

"I'm at the cafe downstairs."

"Okay, I'm coming down."

Qian Xu went downstairs.

He walked into the cafe.

Park So-yeon was sitting in the corner.

In front of her were two cups of coffee.

One Americano.

One latte.

Seeing Qian Xu walk in.

She stood up.

"Mr. Qian."

"Sit."

Qian Xu sat down opposite her.

Park So-yeon pushed the latte in front of him.

"I didn't know what you liked."

"So I ordered a latte."

"Is that okay?"

"It's fine."

Qian Xu picked up the cup.

He took a sip.

"Thank you."

The two were silent for a while.

Park So-yeon spoke first.

"Mr. Qian."

"Do you know why I wanted to treat you to coffee?"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to thank you in person."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

Her eyes were a bit red.

"It's been six years."

"I was shelved for six years."

"I couldn't sing."

"I couldn't be on stage."

"I couldn't see my fans."

"I thought that was it for my life."

"Until you appeared."

She paused.

Her voice was choked with emotion.

"You gave me a second chance."

"Let me sing again."

"Let me stand on stage again."

"Mr. Qian."

"Thank you."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Ms. Soyeon."

"You don't need to thank me."

"I just did what I had to do."

"T-ARA deserves better."

"You deserve better."

Park So-yeon shook her head.

"No."

"Not everyone would do this."

"You are a businessman."

"But you aren't just doing business."

"You are helping us."

"You are helping T-ARA."

"You are helping the Chinese people in Korea."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I just want Koreans to know."

"That Chinese people aren't here to steal their jobs."

"But to help them."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

"Mr. Qian."

"You are really very special."

"Special?"

"Yes."

Park So-yeon nodded.

"I've been in the Korean entertainment industry for so many years."

"I've met many people."

"Koreans, Japanese, Americans."

"But I've never seen anyone like you."

"Rich."

"But not arrogant."

"Capable."

"But you don't bully people."

"You help people."

"But you don't ask for anything in return."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I do ask for something in return."

"What return?"

"T-ARA singing Chinese songs."

"Becoming popular in the Chinese market."

"That is the return."

Park So-yeon also smiled.

"This return."

"I will definitely give it to you."

The two chatted for a while longer.

Park So-yeon's phone rang.

It was a call from Kim Min-jun.

"Ms. Soyeon, we need to record the Korean version this afternoon."

"You should prepare."

"Okay, I'll be there right away."

Park So-yeon hung up the phone.

She stood up.

"Mr. Qian, I'm going to record now."

"Okay."

"Good luck."

Park So-yeon took two steps.

Then she turned back.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Are you free tonight?"

"Why?"

"I want to treat you to dinner."

"Just the two of us."

"I want to thank you properly."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Okay."

"What time?"

"Seven o'clock."

"I'll book the place and send it to you."

"Okay."

Park So-yeon left.

Qian Xu sat in the cafe.

He watched her back.

He remembered the demo from earlier.

That song.

It was Park So-yeon singing to him.

He smiled.

In the afternoon.

Qian Xu was in his office processing documents.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

"Mr. Qian, the design drafts are done!"

"Sending them for you to see!"

Then, a few pictures were sent over.

Qian Xu clicked on them.

The first one.

It was the Korean packaging for the da hong pao gift box.

Deep red background.

Gold font.

It said "Chinese Famous Tea · Wuyi Mountain da hong pao".

Below was the Korean introduction.

"Origin: Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, China."

"Taste: Mellow and sweet aftertaste, with an orchid fragrance."

"Brewing method: 95-degree hot water, brew for 3-5 minutes."

The layout was simple.

The font was elegant.

Qian Xu nodded.

"Good."

"This is good."

The second one.

It was the label for the panda doll.

Pink background.

White font.

It said "Chinese National Treasure · Panda Doll".

Below was the Korean introduction.

"Material: Eco-friendly short plush."

"Size: 30cm."

"Origin: Sichuan, China."

There was also a small panda pattern drawn.

It was very cute.

Qian Xu smiled.

"This is also good."

The third one.

It was the packaging for the Chinese-style stationery.

Blue and white porcelain pattern.

White font.

It said "Chinese Style · Blue and White Porcelain Fountain Pen".

Below was the Korean introduction.

"Nib: Stainless steel."

"Ink: Black / Blue."

"Packaging: Antique porcelain bottle."

Qian Xu zoomed in on the picture.

He looked at the details.

The blue and white porcelain pattern on the packaging.

It was drawn very delicately.

He replied to Jeon Bo-ram.

"Designed very well."

"Better than I expected."

Jeon Bo-ram replied instantly.

"Really!"

"That's great!"

"I was worried you wouldn't be satisfied!"

"Satisfied."

Qian Xu replied.

"Very satisfied."

"Ask Representative Kim to arrange production tomorrow."

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram sent a smiley face.

"Mr. Qian!"

"Hmm?"

"Are you free tonight?"

"Why?"

"I want to treat you to dinner!"

"To celebrate the design drafts being approved!"

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

Dinner again?

Today is the second person to invite him to dinner.

He replied.

"Not tonight."

"I already have plans."

"Ah..."

Jeon Bo-ram sent a disappointed emoji.

"Then what about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is fine."

"Okay!"

"Then it's tomorrow!"

"I'll treat you to something delicious!"

"Okay."

Qian Xu put down his phone.

He smiled.

Jeon Bo-ram invited him to dinner.

Park So-yeon also invited him to dinner.

What kind of day is it today?

Seven o'clock in the evening.

Seoul, Gangnam District.

A high-end Korean restaurant.

Qian Xu walked into the private room.

Park So-yeon had already arrived.

She was wearing a white dress.

Her hair was draped over her shoulders.

She had light makeup on.

She looked very beautiful.

"Mr. Qian, you're here."

She stood up.

"Sit."

Qian Xu sat down opposite her.

"This restaurant is not bad."

"The environment is very good."

"Yes."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"I booked it in advance."

"This shop's Korean beef is very famous."

"You should try it."

The food was served.

Grilled Korean beef.

Kimchi soup.

Bibimbap.

It was delicate.

But Park So-yeon didn't eat much.

She kept looking at Qian Xu.

"Ms. Soyeon, why aren't you eating?"

"I'm not hungry."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"I want to watch you eat."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Watch me eat?"

"Yes."

Park So-yeon picked up her wine glass.

"Mr. Qian."

"I toast you."

"Thank you."

"For letting me sing again."

Qian Xu also picked up his wine glass.

"You're welcome."

The two clinked glasses.

They drank it all in one gulp.

After several rounds of drinks.

Park So-yeon's face was a bit red.

She looked at Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Why did you choose T-ARA?"

"Why not Girls' Generation?"

"Not A Pink?"

"Not Red Velvet?"

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Because you are worth it."

"Is it that simple?"

"It is that simple."

Park So-yeon shook her head.

"I don't believe it."

"Why?"

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

"It's also out of fashion in China."

"You invested in us."

"The risk is huge."

Qian Xu smiled.

"High risk."

"Means high return."

"Besides."

"I believe in you."

"I believe you can become popular again."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

Her eyes were a bit red.

"Mr. Qian."

"You really are very special."

"You've already said that today."

"But I still have to say it."

Park So-yeon picked up her wine glass.

"Another toast to you."

"This time it's for T-ARA."

"For our future."

The two clinked glasses again.

After finishing the meal.

Qian Xu sent Park So-yeon home.

She lived in an apartment in Gangnam District.

It wasn't big.

But it was clean.

"Mr. Qian, do you want to come up for a bit?"

"It's too late."

"Maybe another day."

"Okay."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"Then see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Qian Xu turned around to leave.

Park So-yeon called out to him.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Today's demo."

"It was sung for you."

After she finished speaking.

She turned and ran into the building.

Qian Xu stood where he was.

Watching her back.

He smiled.