44: Chapter 45 Jiyeon's Aegyo and Budget Management

Inside the practice room.

Lee Qri was adjusting Park Ji-yeon's hairstyle.

Pigtails.

But one side was tied with a red ribbon.

And the other side was tied with a blue ribbon.

"Boss, does it look good?"

Park Ji-yeon turned around.

She blinked at Qian Xu.

"It looks good."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Miss Qri's design is very good."

Lee Qri smiled.

"Park Ji-yeon suits a lively style."

"Pigtails make her look young."

"The ribbons add a sense of cuteness."

Park Ji-yeon touched her hair with satisfaction.

"Of course!"

"I am, after all, the visual of T-ARA!"

"Maknae!"

Jeon Bo-ram called out from the side.

"How do you expect the unnies to feel when you say that?"

"The unnies are also very pretty!"

Park Ji-yeon quickly changed her words.

"But I am the youngest!"

"So I am the prettiest!"

Everyone laughed.

Qian Xu walked to the window.

He looked at the styling of the six people.

White T-shirts.

Black shorts.

Everyone's hairstyle was different.

But the overall style was unified.

Very professional.

"Miss Qri, how much does this styling cost?"

He asked.

"Clothes and accessories."

"Altogether, it's about 500,000 KRW."

Lee Qri replied.

"Per person?"

"Yes."

"That's 3 million for six people."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Is the budget enough?"

"Yes."

Lee Qri smiled.

"I found a wholesaler."

"The price is 30% lower than the market rate."

"And the quality is very good."

Qian Xu nodded with satisfaction.

"Good."

"From now on, for the styling department."

"You are in full charge."

"You don't need to ask me about the budget."

"Just go directly to Representative Kim for approval."

Lee Qri was stunned for a moment.

"Go directly to Representative Kim?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You are the styling director."

"You should have at least this much authority."

Lee Qri's eyes turned red.

"Thank you, Mr. Qian."

"I will definitely work hard."

Park Ji-yeon suddenly leaned over.

"Boss!"

"I have something to tell you!"

"What is it?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

Park Ji-yeon put her hands on her hips.

"Boss, I want to buy new clothes!"

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Buy new clothes?"

"Yes!"

Park Ji-yeon nodded.

"Look at this outfit I'm wearing."

"I've been wearing it for two years."

"After T-ARA went bankrupt."

"I haven't bought any new clothes."

"Now that I've signed the contract."

"I want to buy new clothes!"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Get it reimbursed by Qri."

"Huh?"

Park Ji-yeon froze.

"Get it reimbursed by Qri Unnie?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu pointed at Lee Qri.

"She is the styling director."

"You buy the clothes and get reimbursed by her."

"It comes out of the company budget."

Park Ji-yeon opened her mouth.

"Boss, you are too stingy!"

"I have to get reimbursed by Unnie just to buy a piece of clothing?"

"This is called budget management."

Qian Xu smiled.

"The company has its own procedures."

"You buy the clothes is a work requirement."

"It goes through the styling budget."

"It's reasonable and compliant."

Park Ji-yeon puffed out her cheeks.

"Boss!"

"You are just being stingy!"

"I don't care!"

"I want you to buy it for me personally!"

Ham Eun-jung laughed from the side.

"Ji-yeon, stop making a fuss."

"Mr. Qian is right."

"The company has procedures."

"Just get your clothes reimbursed by Qri."

"But..."

Park Ji-yeon wanted to say something else.

"But what?"

Ham Eun-jung looked at her.

"It's not like you don't have pocket money."

"Didn't you receive the signing bonus?"

Park Ji-yeon lowered her head.

"The signing bonus... I saved it up."

"You saved it up?"

Ham Eun-jung was stunned for a moment.

"Why are you saving money?"

"I want to buy a house."

Park Ji-yeon said in a low voice.

"After T-ARA went bankrupt."

"The house I rented expired."

"Now I live in a goshiwon."

"I want to buy a small house."

"So I don't have to move again."

The practice room went quiet.

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You live in a goshiwon now?"

"Yes."

Park Ji-yeon nodded.

"Near Apgujeong."

"300,000 KRW a month."

"It's very small."

"But it's enough to live in."

Qian Xu frowned.

"The conditions in a goshiwon aren't good."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I..."

Park Ji-yeon lowered her head.

"I didn't want to trouble you."

"The company was just established."

"Funds are tight."

"I didn't want to spend more money."

Qian Xu looked at her.

This 31-year-old girl.

T-ARA's maknae.

Vibrant on stage.

But living in a goshiwon in private.

"Ji-yeon."

"Hm?"

"The company will arrange a dormitory for you."

"Huh?"

Park Ji-yeon raised her head.

"A dormitory?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"That small building in Apgujeong."

"The third floor and above are empty."

"It will be renovated into a dormitory."

"All six of you will move in."

"Save on rent."

"And it's convenient for practice."

Park Ji-yeon was stunned.

"Boss..."

"Is it true?"

"It's true."

Qian Xu smiled.

"This way you don't have to save money to buy a house."

"Stay in the company dormitory."

"It's free."

"Utilities are all covered."

Park Ji-yeon's eyes turned red.

"Boss..."

"You are too good to me."

"It's only right."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You are a member of T-ARA."

"And an artist of Yunmengze."

"The company has an obligation to take good care of you."

Jeon Bo-ram raised her hand from the side.

"Mr. Qian, I want to live in the dormitory too!"

"You live next door."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You don't need to."

"But..."

Jeon Bo-ram puffed out her cheeks.

"I also want to live with my sisters!"

"It's more convenient for you to live next door."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You can still help me receive packages every day."

Jeon Bo-ram blushed.

"Then... alright then."

Everyone laughed.

Park So-yeon walked over.

"Mr. Qian, when can we move into the dormitory?"

"Next week."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Representative Kim is already renovating it."

"The third floor is the dormitory."

"The fourth floor is the lounge area."

"The fifth floor is the gym."

"We can move in next week."

Park So-yeon's eyes lit up.

"That's great!"

"I'm currently living in a goshiwon too."

"The conditions are very poor."

"It would be great to be able to move over."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You live in a goshiwon too?"

"Yes."

Park So-yeon nodded.

"After T-ARA went bankrupt."

"The house I rented also expired."

"So I moved to a goshiwon."

"250,000 KRW a month."

"Even cheaper than Ji-yeon's."

Qian Xu frowned.

"All six of you."

"Living in goshiwons?"

"Yes."

Park So-yeon nodded.

"Eunjung Unnie lives in a semi-basement."

"Hyomin Unnie lives in a monthly rental."

"Qri Unnie lives at her parents' house."

"Boram Unnie lives in Cheongdam-dong."

"She's the only one with good conditions."

Jeon Bo-ram scratched her head.

"My house was left by my parents."

"I don't have to pay rent."

"But it's also very old."

"The air conditioner often breaks."

Qian Xu looked at them.

T-ARA.

Once a top girl group.

But now living in goshiwons.

Semi-basements.

Monthly rentals.

He felt a bitter taste in his heart.

"Everyone move over."

He said.

"The third-floor dormitory is enough for everyone."

"One room for each of the six people."

"There are still empty rooms."

"Newcomers can also live there in the future."

Ham Eun-jung walked over.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You guys just prepare well for the comeback."

"That's the best reward for the company."

"Okay!"

The six of them answered in unison.

Park Ji-yeon leaned over again.

"Boss!"

"What about my new clothes?"

"Get it reimbursed by Qri."

Qian Xu said the same thing again.

"Boss!"

Park Ji-yeon stomped her feet.

"You are too stingy!"

"You won't even buy me a single piece of clothing!"

"This is called budget management."

Qian Xu smiled.

"The company has its own procedures."

"You buy the clothes is a work requirement."

"It goes through the styling budget."

"It's reasonable and compliant."

"But..."

Park Ji-yeon wanted to say something else.

"Ji-yeon."

Lee Qri walked over.

"I'll take you to buy them."

"It will come out of the company budget."

"You can buy whatever you want."

Park Ji-yeon's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Lee Qri nodded.

"I am the styling director."

"I have at least this much authority."

"Yay!"

Park Ji-yeon jumped up.

"Unnie is the best!"

"Ten thousand times better than the boss!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Go ahead."

"Don't buy too much."

"I know!"

Park Ji-yeon pulled Lee Qri and ran out.

"Unnie, I want to buy skirts!"

"And I want to buy high heels!"

"And I want to buy bags!"

"Okay, okay, okay."

Lee Qri was pulled away by her.

"We'll buy them all."

"We'll buy them all."

The two ran out of the practice room.

The remaining four people stood in place.

Ham Eun-jung laughed.

"Ji-yeon is just like that."

"Like a child."

"But very cute."

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"She is T-ARA's source of vitality."

"With her around."

"The team will never be dull."

Jeon Bo-ram said from the side.

"Mr. Qian, you are really good to Ji-yeon."

"It's only right."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You are all the same."

"I treat you all equally well."

Jeon Bo-ram blushed.

"Then... what about me?"

"You are too."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You are a neighbor."

"And also a member of T-ARA."

"Of course I have to treat you well."

Jeon Bo-ram lowered her head.

Her face turned even redder.

Park So-yeon was watching from the side.

She smiled.

"Mr. Qian, are you free today?"

"What's wrong?"

"I want to treat you to coffee."

"We agreed last time."

"Today at noon."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Okay."

"Noon at 12 o'clock."

"The coffee shop downstairs."

"Okay."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"I'll wait for you."

Ham Eun-jung coughed from the side.

"So-yeon, you're asking Mr. Qian for coffee?"

"Yes."

Park So-yeon nodded.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"I just feel like you've been..."

"Getting very close to Mr. Qian lately."

Park So-yeon blushed.

"We are just friends."

"Chatting about music."

"Is that so?"

Ham Eun-jung looked at her.

"Then I'll ask Mr. Qian for coffee too."

"Is that okay?"

"Of course."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Whoever asks is fine."

"I'm free for both."

Jeon Bo-ram raised her hand from the side.

"I want to too!"

"I also want to ask Mr. Qian for coffee!"

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Line up."

"One by one."

Everyone laughed.