35: First meeting with the boss (Part 3)

Seoul, Apgujeong.

Qian Xu sat in his office, looking at the message Park So-yeon had sent on his phone screen.

"Mr. Qian, may I invite you for a cup of coffee?"

He was just about to reply.

His phone vibrated again.

It was a message from Park Hyomin.

"Mr. Qian, are you free this evening?"

"Qri Unnie and I would like to treat you to dinner."

Qian Xu paused for a moment.

Hyomin and Qri?

He replied: "Sure, what time?"

"Seven o'clock, at that Korean beef barbecue restaurant in Apgujeong."

"Qri Unnie said she wants to talk to you about styling."

"Okay, see you at seven."

He ended the conversation.

Qian Xu checked the time.

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

Two hours left.

He thought for a moment and sent a message back to Park So-yeon.

"Ms. Soyeon, I have plans tonight."

"How about coffee tomorrow at noon?"

Park So-yeon replied quickly.

"Okay, tomorrow at noon."

"Mr. Qian, goodnight."

Qian Xu smiled.

Goodnight?

It was only five o'clock in the afternoon.

Seven o'clock in the evening.

Apgujeong, Korean beef barbecue restaurant.

Qian Xu walked in.

Park Hyomin and Lee Qri were already there.

The two of them were sitting in a private room in the corner.

Several plates of Korean beef were laid out on the table.

And a bottle of soju.

"Mr. Qian!"

Park Hyomin stood up.

"You're here!"

"Sit."

Qian Xu sat down.

Lee Qri nodded at him.

"Mr. Qian, thank you for coming today."

"It's only right."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Since you're treating, of course I'd come."

Park Hyomin poured three glasses of soju.

"Mr. Qian, let me toast you first."

"Thank you for your trust in T-ARA."

The three of them clinked glasses.

They drank it all in one go.

Qian Xu set down his glass.

"Hyomin-xi, Miss Qri."

"You didn't just ask me here for dinner, did you?"

Park Hyomin and Lee Qri exchanged glances.

"Mr. Qian, we wanted to ask."

"What exactly is your plan for T-ARA's future?"

Qian Xu looked at them.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

Park Hyomin said seriously.

"Eunjung Unnie said you have a big plan."

"But she didn't go into detail about what it is."

"We want to know."

"Just how far do you want to take T-ARA?"

Qian Xu picked up his wine glass.

He took a sip.

"How far do you think T-ARA can go?"

Park Hyomin thought about it.

"To become popular again in Korea."

"To be able to hold small-scale concerts."

"To be able to get a few variety show appearances."

"That would be about it."

Qian Xu shook his head.

"Too small."

Lee Qri was taken aback.

"Too small?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu set down his glass.

"My goal is not just to make you popular again in Korea."

"It is to take you to China to hold concerts."

The private room went quiet.

Park Hyomin's mouth was agape.

Lee Qri's eyes widened.

"Go... go to China to hold concerts?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu looked at them.

"Not small-scale concerts."

"But ten-thousand-person concerts."

"Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou."

"Three cities."

"Ten thousand people per show."

Park Hyomin was stunned for a long while.

"Mr. Qian, are you serious?"

"I'm serious."

"T-ARA has a fan base in China."

"You were very popular in China in 2012."

"Although you've faded from the spotlight in recent years."

"The fans are still there."

"As long as you sing Chinese songs."

"The Chinese market will accept you again."

Lee Qri picked up her glass.

She took a big gulp.

"Mr. Qian, do you know how much that will cost?"

"I know."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Venue, promotion, stage, costumes."

"At least 5 billion Korean won in total."

"But it's worth it."

"Because you are worth it."

Park Hyomin looked at him.

"Boss."

"You have quite the ambition."

Qian Xu smiled.

"If I don't have big ambitions, how can I lead you to a comeback?"

Park Hyomin picked up her glass.

"To your ambition."

The three of them clinked glasses again.

Lee Qri set down her glass.

"Mr. Qian, then regarding the styling."

"Do you have any requirements?"

"What kind of stage styling do Chinese fans like?"

Qian Xu thought about it.

"What do Chinese fans like?"

"Your previous style."

"But it needs to have Chinese elements."

"For example, stage costumes modified from Hanfu."

"For example, the Chinese red color scheme."

"For example, embroidery patterns."

Lee Qri's eyes lit up.

"I can do that."

"I've been researching Chinese-style styling recently."

"I happen to have some inspiration."

"Good."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Go ahead and do it."

"No budget limit."

Park Hyomin poured another glass of wine.

"Mr. Qian, I have one more question."

"Go ahead."

"Why did you choose T-ARA?"

"There are so many girl groups in Korea."

"Girls' Generation, APink, Red Velvet."

"They are all more popular than us."

"Why did you choose us?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Because you were let down."

"T-ARA was so popular in 2012."

"You were boycotted for six years because of a fake news story."

"This is unfair."

"I want to give you justice."

Park Hyomin's eyes turned red.

"Just because of this?"

"Just because of this."

Qian Xu smiled.

"And."

"Your songs are very good."

"Your stages are very fiery."

"You deserve a bigger stage."

Lee Qri picked up her glass.

"Mr. Qian, let me toast you again."

"For T-ARA's Chinese concert."

"For your ambition."

The three of them clinked glasses.

They drank it all in one go.

Park Hyomin wiped the corner of her mouth.

"Boss, when do you plan to take us to China?"

"Next year."

Qian Xu said.

"The first half of next year."

"First, release a Chinese single."

"Then a mini-album."

"Start the China tour in the second half of the year."

"So fast?"

Lee Qri was stunned.

"Is it fast?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"I think it's slow."

"T-ARA has already waited for six years."

"Can't wait any longer."

Park Hyomin looked at him.

"Boss, are you really not afraid of losing money?"

"Not afraid."

Qian Xu picked up a piece of Korean beef.

"If money is gone, it can be earned back."

"But T-ARA's youth."

"Only happens once."

"I don't want you to have any regrets."

Lee Qri lowered her head.

Her voice was a bit choked up.

"Mr. Qian."

"You are much better than those bosses in Korea."

"So much better."

"They only treat us as money-making tools."

"Only you."

"Treat us like human beings."

Qian Xu set down his chopsticks.

"Because I am Chinese."

"Chinese people value loyalty and friendship."

"You trust me."

"I cannot let you down."

Park Hyomin picked up her glass.

"Boss."

"This glass, I toast you."

"For your loyalty."

The three of them clinked glasses again.

The soju bottle was empty.

Park Hyomin opened another bottle.

"Tonight, we won't stop until we're drunk."

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

"But before we drink until we're drunk."

"I have one more thing to say."

"What is it?"

"T-ARA's Chinese concert."

"Is not the end."

"It is the beginning."

"In the future."

"I will also take you to Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and America."

"Let the whole world know."

"T-ARA is back."

Park Hyomin was stunned.

Lee Qri was also stunned.

After a while.

Park Hyomin finally spoke.

"Boss."

"This isn't ambition."

"It's madness."

Qian Xu smiled.

"What's wrong with being crazy?"

"If you aren't crazy."

"How can you create miracles?"

Park Hyomin picked up her glass.

"Okay."

"Then I'll go crazy with you."

The three of them clinked glasses.

Laughter echoed in the private room.

Ten o'clock in the evening.

At the entrance of the barbecue restaurant.

Park Hyomin and Lee Qri were both a bit drunk.

Qian Xu called a designated driver.

"I'll send you back."

"No need."

Park Hyomin waved her hand.

"We'll take a taxi ourselves."

"No."

Qian Xu shook his head.

"It's so late, it's not safe."

"I'll take you."

He helped the two of them into the car.

First, he took Lee Qri home.

She lived in an apartment in Gangnam District.

It wasn't big.

But it was very clean.

"Mr. Qian, thank you for the barbecue tonight."

"And for your ambition."

Before Lee Qri got out of the car.

She turned back to look at him.

"I will do a good job with the styling."

"I won't let you down."

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I believe in you."

After dropping off Lee Qri.

The car drove to Park Hyomin's residence.

She lived near Hongdae.

A studio apartment.

"Boss."

"The things you said just now."

"Are they true?"

"True."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Every word is true."

Park Hyomin lowered her head.

"Do you know?"

"It's been a long time."

"Since I've trusted anyone."

"But tonight."

"I believe in you."

The car stopped downstairs from Park Hyomin's place.

Before she got out of the car.

She turned back to look at Qian Xu.

"Boss."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Qian Xu smiled.

"See you tomorrow."

Park Hyomin turned around.

And walked into the building.

Qian Xu sat in the car.

Looking at her back.

He smiled.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

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

"Should I send them to you to see now?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Send it."

A few seconds later.

An image was sent over.

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

Jeon Bo-ram had made three versions.

The first was a minimalist style.

The second was a traditional style.

The third was a cute style.

Each one looked very good.

Qian Xu replied.

"They are all very good."

"Bring them to the company tomorrow."

"We'll all choose together."

Jeon Bo-ram replied quickly.

"Okay!"

"Goodnight, Mr. Qian!"

"Goodnight."

Qian Xu put away his phone.

Looking out the window.

Seoul's night scene.

Brightly lit.

He thought about tonight's conversation.

Hyomin said he had ambition.

He smiled.

Ambition?

This is just the beginning.

T-ARA's Chinese concert.

Is just the first step.

In the future.

There will be more.

His phone vibrated again.

It was a system notification.

[China-Korea Cultural Exchange and Consumption Fund System]

[Detected host's cultural output behavior]

[T-ARA comeback project in progress]

[South Korean favorability towards China: 27.4%]

Qian Xu looked at that number.

27.4%.

It went up by another 0.1%.

He smiled.

The system was also acknowledging his choice.

Taking T-ARA to China to hold concerts.

This path.

Was the right one.