40: Chapter 41 Eun-jung's Report: Comeback Progress

Inside the hot pot restaurant.

Jeon Bo-ram picked up a slice of beef.

She dipped it into the spicy hot pot to cook.

"Mr. Qian, you worked hard today."

"Running around to CU Convenience Store all day."

"It was okay."

Qian Xu also picked up a slice of beef.

"How about you?"

"How was practice today?"

"It was great!"

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"The choreography for the new song 'restart'."

"I've already learned half of it."

"That fast?"

"Of course!"

Jeon Bo-ram smiled proudly.

"I am T-ARA's lead dancer, after all."

"Even though I'm the oldest."

"But my dancing isn't any worse than theirs."

Qian Xu smiled.

"That's good."

"Filming for the MV starts next week."

"Are you ready?"

"I'm ready!"

Jeon Bo-ram nodded.

"Eunjung Unnie said."

"The MV script is already written."

"Filming starts next week."

"Good."

Qian Xu raised his glass.

"I wish you a smooth MV shoot."

"Thank you, Mr. Qian!"

Jeon Bo-ram also raised her glass.

The two clinked glasses.

Halfway through the meal.

Qian Xu's phone rang.

It was a call from Ham Eun-jung.

He answered it.

"Ms. Eun-jung."

"Mr. Qian, sorry to bother you."

Ham Eun-jung's voice sounded a bit excited.

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

"Is now a good time?"

"It is."

Qian Xu glanced at Jeon Bo-ram.

"Go ahead."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung took a deep breath.

"The first thing."

"The Chinese single recording is finished."

Qian Xu's eyes lit up.

"Is it all recorded?"

"Yes."

Ham Eun-jung's tone was filled with excitement.

"So-yeon and Ji-yeon's lead vocal parts."

"Were finished yesterday."

"This afternoon."

"The harmonies for Hyomin and me were also finished."

"Boram and Qri's rap parts."

"Were also re-recorded."

"The whole song is complete now."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Good progress."

"What about the second thing?"

"The second thing."

Ham Eun-jung continued.

"The MV filming plan has started."

"Representative Kim has contacted a director."

"It's Director Kim, who previously filmed MVs for BTS."

"He watched the demo for 'restart'."

"He is very interested."

"He is willing to take on this project."

"The filming date is set for next Monday."

"The filming location is in Paju."

"There's an abandoned factory."

"It fits the atmosphere of the MV very well."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"What's the budget?"

"Representative Kim reported 300 million won."

"Including the venue, equipment, and post-production."

"300 million?"

Qian Xu frowned.

"That's too little."

"Find a better director."

"Increase the budget to 1 billion."

Ham Eun-jung was stunned.

"1 billion?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu's tone was firm.

"The first MV for T-ARA's comeback."

"Must be the best."

"We cannot cut costs."

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

Then Ham Eun-jung's voice sounded choked up.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"What about the third thing?"

"The third thing."

Ham Eun-jung composed herself.

"The venues for the China tour are starting to be negotiated."

"Representative Kim has contacted a Chinese concert promoter."

"They are very interested."

"They said they are willing to cooperate."

"But they need us to provide."

"The data for the comeback single."

"Including music chart performance and MV view counts."

"And fan reactions."

Qian Xu nodded.

"That's normal."

"Over in China, for K-pop group comebacks."

"The requirements are very strict."

"Yes."

Ham Eun-jung said.

"Representative Kim said."

"After the MV is released."

"We will look at the data before discussing specific venues."

"Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou."

"Three cities."

"About 5,000 people per show."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"5,000 people is too small."

"At least 10,000 people."

Ham Eun-jung was stunned again.

"10,000 people?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu said.

"T-ARA in China."

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

"A 10,000-person venue."

"Will definitely be filled."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung's voice was trembling a little.

"I will tell Representative Kim."

"To negotiate for 10,000-person venues."

"Good."

Qian Xu checked the time.

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

Ham Eun-jung said.

"That's all for today."

"Mr. Qian, good night."

"Good night."

Qian Xu hung up the phone.

Jeon Bo-ram looked at him.

"What did Eunjung Unnie say?"

"The Chinese single is finished."

Qian Xu picked up a slice of tripe.

"The MV starts filming next week."

"The China tour is also being negotiated."

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Good progress."

"Faster than I imagined."

Jeon Bo-ram put down her chopsticks.

She put her hands together.

"That's great!"

"I can finally stand on stage again!"

As she said that.

Her eyes suddenly turned red.

Qian Xu looked at her.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Jeon Bo-ram wiped the corner of her eyes.

"I'm just too happy."

"I've waited for this day."

"Waited for six years."

Qian Xu felt a pang in his heart.

"Things will get better and better from now on."

"Yeah!"

Jeon Bo-ram nodded vigorously.

"I believe in you!"

The two continued eating hot pot.

Jeon Bo-ram suddenly asked.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so good to us?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Because you deserve it."

"Is that all?"

Jeon Bo-ram asked in a low voice.

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"T-ARA shouldn't be forgotten."

"You deserve a bigger stage."

Jeon Bo-ram lowered her head.

"But..."

"We were banned for six years."

"Many fans have forgotten us."

"That won't happen."

Qian Xu said.

"The Chinese fans have been waiting for you."

"Waited for six years."

Jeon Bo-ram raised her head.

Her eyes turned red again.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu took out his phone.

Opened Weibo.

Searched for the T-ARA hashtag.

"Look."

He handed the phone to Jeon Bo-ram.

Jeon Bo-ram took it.

Saw that in the hashtag.

There were over 2 million fans.

Posting every day.

"When will T-ARA return?"

"I miss them so much."

"It's been six years."

"We are still here."

Jeon Bo-ram looked at these posts.

Tears fell.

"They... they really are still here."

"Yes."

Qian Xu said.

"They have been waiting for you all this time."

Jeon Bo-ram wiped her tears.

"Then I must sing the Chinese song well."

"I cannot disappoint the fans."

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You must sing the Chinese song well."

"The pronunciation must be standard."

"The emotion must be on point."

"Let the Chinese fans hear."

"Your sincerity."

Jeon Bo-ram nodded vigorously.

"I will!"

"I will definitely do it!"

The two finished the hot pot.

Walked out of the restaurant.

Seoul at night.

The wind was a bit cold.

Jeon Bo-ram shrank her neck.

Qian Xu took off his jacket.

Draped it over her.

"Put it on."

"Thank you, Mr. Qian."

Jeon Bo-ram wrapped the jacket tight.

"You are so kind."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Let's go, let's go home."

"Okay."

The two walked back to the Cheongdam-dong apartment.

Took the elevator upstairs.

Arrived at the 18th floor.

Jeon Bo-ram stood at the door.

Took off the jacket.

Returned it to Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian, good night."

"Good night."

Qian Xu took the jacket.

"See you tomorrow."

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram smiled.

"See you tomorrow!"

She opened the door.

Went inside.

Stuck her head out again.

"Mr. Qian!"

"Hmm?"

"I'm so happy today!"

"Thank you for treating me to hot pot!"

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Rest early."

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram closed the door.

Qian Xu stood in the hallway.

Looked at the closed door.

Smiled.

He walked back to his own home.

Opened the door.

Changed into slippers.

Sat on the sofa.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Ham Eun-jung.

"Mr. Qian, thank you for today."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu replied.

"Good progress."

"Keep it up."

Ham Eun-jung replied quickly.

"Okay."

"I will work hard."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Qian Xu put down his phone.

Looked at the Seoul night view outside the window.

Smiled.

Today.

20 CU Convenience Store locations.

Chinese cultural and creative sections.

Officially launched.

In the evening.

Had hot pot with Jeon Bo-ram.

She said "You're so kind" several times.

Ham Eun-jung reported the comeback progress.

Chinese single recording finished.

MV filming plan started.

China tour venue negotiations started.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

He smiled.

This soft and cute neighbor.

Is becoming more and more dependent on him.

This feeling.

Is very good.