41: Chapter 42 So-yeon's Invitation - Private Dinner

Inside the hot pot restaurant.

Jeon Bo-ram picked up a piece of tripe.

She swished it in the spicy hot pot broth seven times.

"Mr. Qian, what did Eunjung Unnie say?"

"About the MV."

Qian Xu put down his phone.

"Filming starts next Monday."

"The budget has been increased to 1 billion won."

Jeon Bo-ram gasped with her mouth open.

"1 billion?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"It's the first MV for T-ARA's comeback."

"It has to be the best."

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes turned red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"You are so good to us."

"It's only right."

Qian Xu picked up his glass.

"Come on, cheers."

"To a smooth MV shoot."

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram also picked up her glass.

The two clinked glasses.

After finishing the hot pot.

They walked out of the restaurant.

The night in Seoul.

The wind was a bit chilly.

Jeon Bo-ram pulled her neck in.

"Are you cold?"

Qian Xu asked.

"A little."

Jeon Bo-ram rubbed her hands together.

Qian Xu took off his jacket.

And draped it over her shoulders.

"Put it on."

"Huh?"

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned.

"No, no need!"

"You wear it!"

"I'm fine."

Qian Xu had already started walking ahead.

Jeon Bo-ram stood where she was.

Watching his back.

The jacket still held his body heat.

She blushed.

She trotted to catch up.

The two walked back to Cheongdam-dong.

In the elevator.

Jeon Bo-ram was wearing Qian Xu's jacket.

Her head bowed.

Not saying a word.

The elevator arrived.

They walked out.

Standing in the hallway.

Jeon Bo-ram took off the jacket.

And handed it to Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"Here is your jacket back."

"Get some rest early."

Qian Xu took the jacket.

"Good night."

"Good night."

Jeon Bo-ram opened her door.

Walked inside.

And poked her head out again.

"Mr. Qian!"

"Hmm?"

"I had a great time today!"

"Thank you for treating me to hot pot!"

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Get some rest early."

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram closed the door.

Qian Xu stood in the hallway.

Looking at the closed door.

He smiled.

He walked back to his own place.

Opened the door.

Changed into slippers.

Sat on the sofa.

His phone buzzed.

It was a message from Ham Eun-jung.

"Mr. Qian, thank you for today."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu replied.

"The progress is good."

"Keep it up."

Ham Eun-jung replied quickly.

"Okay."

"I will work hard."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Qian Xu put down his phone.

Looking at the night view of Seoul outside the window.

He smiled.

Today.

20 CU Convenience Stores.

The Chinese cultural and creative section.

Officially launched.

In the evening.

Had hot pot with Jeon Bo-ram.

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

Ham Eun-jung reported on the comeback progress.

The Chinese single recording is complete.

The MV filming plan has been initiated.

Started contacting venues for the China tour.

Everything is going according to plan.

He smiled.

This soft and cute neighbor.

Is becoming more and more dependent on him.

This feeling.

Is very good.

The next morning.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

Qian Xu just arrived at the office.

His phone buzzed.

It was a message from Park So-yeon.

"Mr. Qian, are you free at noon today?"

"I want to treat you to a meal."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

They had agreed to have coffee at noon yesterday.

Now it turned into a meal?

He replied.

"Okay."

"What time?"

"Twelve o'clock."

"That samgyetang restaurant in Apgujeong."

"I'll wait for you."

"Okay."

Qian Xu checked the time.

Ten-thirty in the morning.

Still one and a half hours left.

He opened his computer.

Handled some documents.

Kim Min-jun knocked and entered.

"Mr. Qian, the data from CU is out."

"How is it?"

"Very good."

Kim Min-jun had a smile on his face.

"The 20 pilot stores."

"Yesterday's sales for the day."

"120 million won."

Qian Xu raised an eyebrow.

"120 million?"

"Yes."

Kim Min-jun opened his phone.

"Twice as high as expected."

"The Palace Museum cultural and creative series sold the best."

"The panda dolls also sold very well."

"Many Koreans bought them as gifts."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Continue to restock."

"Okay."

Kim Min-jun said.

"I have already contacted the domestic supplier."

"The second batch of goods is already on the way."

"Good."

Qian Xu stood up.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Twelve o'clock at noon.

Apgujeong, samgyetang restaurant.

Qian Xu walked in.

Park So-yeon had already arrived.

Sitting in a private room in the corner.

She was wearing a white dress.

Her hair was let down.

She was wearing light makeup.

Looking very gentle.

"Mr. Qian!"

She stood up.

"You're here!"

"Sit."

Qian Xu sat down.

Park So-yeon poured a glass of water.

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

"It's only right."

Qian Xu smiled.

"If you are treating, of course I'll come."

A waiter walked over.

"Would you like to order, you two?"

Park So-yeon took the menu.

"Mr. Qian, what would you like to eat?"

"You order whatever."

"Okay."

Park So-yeon ordered two servings of samgyetang.

And a few side dishes.

The waiter left.

The private room quieted down.

Park So-yeon lowered her head.

Her fingers rubbing against the rim of the cup.

"Mr. Qian..."

"Hmm?"

"I..."

She looked up.

Her eyes were a bit red.

"I want to thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Thank you for giving me a second chance."

Park So-yeon's voice was a bit choked up.

"It's been six years."

"I thought my life would just be like this."

"Being shelved."

"Being forgotten."

"Never being able to sing again."

"Until you appeared."

She took a deep breath.

"Mr. Qian, you don't know."

"That day you told me."

"Yunmengze is your stage."

"I cried all night."

"Not because I was sad."

"But because I was happy."

"Because I was moved."

"Because I felt..."

"Finally, someone saw me."

Qian Xu looked at her.

Feeling a bit sour in his heart.

"Ms. Soyeon."

"This is what you deserve."

Park So-yeon was stunned.

"Deserve?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu picked up his water glass.

"You sing very well."

"That is talent."

"You were shelved for six years."

"But you didn't give up."

"That is perseverance."

"Talent plus perseverance."

"You deserve a better stage."

"I just gave you a chance."

"But the one who seized the opportunity."

"Was yourself."

Park So-yeon's eyes turned red.

Tears fell down.

She quickly wiped them away.

"Mr. Qian..."

"Thank you."

"Really, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Just sing well in the future."

"I will!"

Park So-yeon nodded vigorously.

"I will definitely sing well."

"I won't let you down."

The waiter served the samgyetang.

Steaming hot.

Park So-yeon picked up her spoon.

"Mr. Qian, eat while it's hot."

"Okay."

Qian Xu also picked up his spoon.

The two ate quietly.

After a while.

Park So-yeon put down her spoon.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"If you have anything in the future."

"You can come to me."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Come to you?"

"Yes."

Park So-yeon looked at him seriously.

"I know."

"I am just a singer."

"I can't help you with any big things."

"But if there is a need."

"As long as I can do it."

"I will definitely do it."

"No matter what it is."

Qian Xu looked at her.

Her gaze was very sincere.

No probing.

No calculation.

Only pure gratitude.

"Okay."

He smiled.

"I'll remember that."

Park So-yeon also smiled.

"That's good."

The two finished lunch.

Walked out of the samgyetang restaurant.

The sun was just right.

The paulownia leaves rustled.

Park So-yeon stood at the entrance.

"Mr. Qian, do you have anything else to do this afternoon?"

"I need to go to the CU headquarters."

"To talk about the second batch of goods."

"Then I won't take up your time."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"Thank you for today."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Ms. Soyeon."

"Hmm?"

"Prepare well."

"MV filming is next week."

"I will!"

Park So-yeon nodded.

"I will definitely do my best."

Qian Xu left.

Park So-yeon stood where she was.

Watching his back.

She smiled.

She took out her phone.

Sent a message to Ham Eun-jung.

"Eunjung Unnie."

"I treated Mr. Qian to a meal today."

Ham Eun-jung replied quickly.

"And then?"

"Then I said."

"If you have anything in the future, you can come to me."

"He said okay."

Ham Eun-jung sent a smiley face.

"So-yeon."

"You have finally come out of it."

Park So-yeon looked at the phone screen.

Her eyes turned red again.

"Yeah."

"Finally came out of it."

Qian Xu walked on the streets of Apgujeong.

His phone buzzed.

It was a message from Park So-yeon.

"Mr. Qian, thank you for today."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu replied.

"Prepare well."

"See you next week."

"Okay."

"See you next week."

Qian Xu put away his phone.

Looking at the sky of Seoul.

The sun was dazzling.

He smiled.

The six members of T-ARA.

Each has their own story.

Jeon Bo-ram's soft and cute dependence.

Ham Eun-jung's trust and reliability.

Park So-yeon's gratitude and rebirth.

Park Hyomin's hesitant probing.

Lee Qri's styling dreams.

Park Ji-yeon's lively aegyo.

They all deserve better.

He took a deep breath.

Next.

There are still many things to do.

The second batch of CU goods.

T-ARA MV filming.

Preparation for the China tour.

Every step.

Must be taken steadily.