36: Chapter 37 Jiyeon's Curiosity: Chinese Culture

In the BBQ restaurant.

Park Hyomin and Lee Qri were both stunned.

"Go to China for a concert?"

Park Hyomin repeated.

"Yes."

Qian Xu put down his wine glass.

"Not a small one."

"It's a ten-thousand-person venue."

"Seoul, Busan, Daejeon."

"Then go to China."

"Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou."

"Tokyo is also under consideration."

The private room went quiet.

Park Hyomin had her mouth open.

Lee Qri widened her eyes.

"Mr. Qian..."

Park Hyomin's voice trembled slightly.

"Are... are you kidding?"

"I never joke."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Tencent Music has already signed."

"2 billion KRW."

"Exclusive rights for three years."

"The Chinese songs are already being recorded."

"In Representative Kim's proposal."

"The third phase is the China tour."

Park Hyomin and Lee Qri looked at each other.

Both of their eyes turned red.

"Mr. Qian..."

Lee Qri's voice choked.

"We thought..."

"We thought it was just a small thing."

"We didn't expect..."

"We didn't expect you to be serious."

"I have always been serious."

Qian Xu smiled.

"T-ARA shouldn't be forgotten."

"You deserve a bigger stage."

Park Hyomin picked up her wine glass.

She drank it all in one gulp.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu also drank a glass.

"However, you need to be prepared."

"Chinese songs are hard to sing."

"The pronunciation must be standard."

"The lyrics must be memorized."

"Otherwise, Chinese fans will laugh."

Park Hyomin smiled.

"I will work hard."

"My Chinese is not bad."

"I learned a little before."

Lee Qri also nodded.

"I will also study hard."

"For the Chinese fans."

"It's worth it."

The three of them drank a few more glasses.

Park Hyomin suddenly asked.

"Mr. Qian, do Chinese fans really still remember us?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Of course they remember."

"You are legends in China."

Park Hyomin was stunned for a moment.

"Legends?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu put down his chopsticks.

"T-ARA in China."

"Is the representative of the second-generation girl groups."

"'Roly-Poly' in China."

"Has over 1 billion views."

"'Bo Peep Bo Peep'."

"Is a must-sing song at KTV."

"After you were banned."

"Chinese fans have been waiting for you."

"Waited for six years."

Park Hyomin's eyes turned red.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu took out his phone.

Opened Weibo.

Searched for the T-ARA super topic.

"Look."

He handed the phone to Park Hyomin.

Park Hyomin took it.

Saw in the super topic.

There were over 2 million fans.

Posting every day.

"When will T-ARA return?"

"I really want to see a concert again."

"Six people, not one less."

"Waiting for your return."

Park Hyomin looked at these posts.

Tears fell.

"I thought..."

"Thought Chinese fans had long forgotten us."

"No."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"They have been waiting."

"Waiting for you to stand on stage again."

"Waiting for you to sing Chinese songs."

Lee Qri also leaned over to look.

Seeing the fans' messages.

She cried too.

"How are we worthy..."

"To make fans wait so long."

"Because you are worth it."

Qian Xu said seriously.

"T-ARA's music."

"T-ARA's stage."

"T-ARA's persistence."

"Are all unique."

"Chinese fans understand you."

"So they are willing to wait."

Park Hyomin wiped away her tears.

"Then I must sing Chinese songs well."

"Cannot let the fans down."

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Chinese songs must be sung well."

"Pronunciation must be standard."

"Emotions must be in place."

"Let Chinese fans hear."

"Your sincerity."

Park Hyomin nodded vigorously.

"I will."

"I will definitely do it."

Lee Qri also nodded.

"I will also learn Chinese well."

"Go to China to perform in the future."

"Can communicate with fans in Chinese."

"Good."

Qian Xu picked up his wine glass.

"Then it's settled."

"T-ARA China tour."

"Must be successful."

"Cheers!"

The three clinked glasses.

Drank it all.

Full of food and drink.

Park Hyomin and Lee Qri had both drunk a bit too much.

Qian Xu called a designated driver.

First sent the two back to the dormitory.

Then returned to Cheongdam-dong himself.

On the way.

The phone vibrated.

It was a message from Park Ji-yeon.

"Boss, I heard you had dinner with Hyomin unnie and Qri unnie tonight?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Weren't you practicing singing?"

"Finished practicing!"

"I want to eat Hanwoo too!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'll treat you tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then I want to eat two plates!"

"Okay."

"Boss, you're the best!"

Qian Xu looked at the phone screen.

Smiled.

Returned to Cheongdam-dong.

Qian Xu parked the car.

Took the elevator upstairs.

The corridor was very quiet.

He walked to his door.

Just about to open the door.

The neighbor's door opened.

Jeon Bo-ram poked her head out.

"Mr. Qian!"

"You're back?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"It's so late, not asleep yet?"

"Waiting for you."

Jeon Bo-ram blushed.

"No..."

"The design draft is done."

"Wanted to show you."

She took out her phone.

Opened the album.

"Look."

"Korean packaging for the da hong pao gift box."

"I made three versions."

Qian Xu took the phone.

Looking at the design on the screen.

The first version.

Minimalist style.

White background.

Red font.

Wrote "Chinese da hong pao".

Below had Korean explanation.

"Fujian Wuyi Mountain specialty."

"Mellow taste."

"Long-lasting aftertaste."

The second version.

Traditional style.

Chinese red background.

Gold font.

Painted with tea mountains and clouds.

Korean explanation was more detailed.

"Tea garden at an altitude of over 800 meters."

"Hand-picked."

"Made with traditional craftsmanship."

The third version.

Cute style.

Pink background.

Cartoon teapot and teacup.

Korean explanation was very lively.

"Drink a cup of da hong pao."

"Mood gets better!"

Qian Xu finished reading.

Smiled.

"All very good."

"Bring it to the company tomorrow."

"Everyone will choose together."

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then... then I'll bring it tomorrow."

"Good."

Qian Xu returned the phone to her.

"Sleep early."

"Good night."

"Good night!"

Jeon Bo-ram smiled and closed the door.

Qian Xu walked into the house.

Changed into slippers.

Sat on the sofa.

Thought about tonight's conversation.

Park Hyomin asked him.

"Do Chinese fans really still remember us?"

He answered.

"You are legends in China."

This was the truth.

T-ARA in China.

Is indeed a legend.

Among second-generation girl groups.

The only one to have held a concert at the Tokyo Dome.

The only one that, after being banned in Korea.

Could still become popular in China.

Their music.

Their stage.

Their persistence.

All deserve to be remembered.

The phone vibrated again.

It was a system notification.

[China-Korea Cultural Exchange and Consumption Fund System]

[Detected host cultural output behavior]

[T-ARA China tour plan in progress]

[Korea's favorability towards China: 27.4%]

Qian Xu looked at that number.

27.4%.

It went up by 0.1% again.

He smiled.

The system was also recognizing his choice.

Taking T-ARA to China for a concert.

This path.

Was the right one.

He stood up.

Walked to the window.

Looked at the night view of Seoul.

Brightly lit.

He thought of Park Ji-yeon's message.

"Boss, you're the best!"

He smiled.

This maknae.

Is always so cute.

Treat her to Hanwoo tomorrow.

Ask her by the way.

How the Chinese song practice is going.

The next day at noon.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

Qian Xu just arrived at the office.

Park Ji-yeon knocked and came in.

"Boss!"

"Good morning!"

"It's noon now."

Qian Xu smiled.

"What time did you practice singing until?"

"Three in the morning!"

Park Ji-yeon yawned.

"But I'm in high spirits!"

"I listened to the Chinese demo all night."

"Memorized the lyrics."

"Really?"

Qian Xu raised an eyebrow.

"Then sing two lines for me to hear."

Park Ji-yeon cleared her throat.

Sang two lines.

"The darkness of the past was too long."

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

The pronunciation was very standard.

The emotion was also very appropriate.

Qian Xu nodded.

"Not bad."

"Better than I imagined."

"Of course!"

Park Ji-yeon smiled proudly.

"I am T-ARA's main vocalist!"

"This little thing can't stump me."

She sat down.

Looked at Qian Xu.

"Boss, let me ask you a question."

"Speak."

"Do Chinese fans really still remember us?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Of course they remember."

"You are legends in China."

Park Ji-yeon's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then what do they like about us?"

"They like your songs."

"They like your stage."

"They like your persistence."

Qian Xu said seriously.

"Chinese fans are very loyal."

"Once they like someone."

"They will like them forever."

"No matter how long it has been."

"They will wait for your return."

Park Ji-yeon's eyes turned red.

"Then I must sing Chinese songs well."

"Cannot let the fans down."

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Chinese songs must be sung well."

"Pronunciation must be standard."

"Emotions must be in place."

"Let Chinese fans hear."

"Your sincerity."

Park Ji-yeon nodded vigorously.

"I will!"

"I will definitely do it!"

She stood up.

"I'm going to practice singing now!"

"Boss, don't forget to treat me to Hanwoo tonight!"

"Won't forget."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Seven o'clock tonight."

"The usual place."

"Okay!"

Park Ji-yeon ran out smiling.

Qian Xu watched her back as she left.

Smiled.

T-ARA's maknae.

Is always so energetic.

With her around.

T-ARA will never be dull.

He opened his phone.

Looked at the system data.

[Korea's favorability towards China: 27.4%]

He smiled.

This is just the beginning.

In the future.

There will be more.