45: 4th milestone achieved

In the practice room.

Park Ji-yeon stood with her hands on her hips.

"Boss, you're too stingy!"

"I have to ask Unnie for reimbursement just to buy a piece of clothing?"

"This is called budget management."

Qian Xu smiled.

"The company has its rules."

"You can't just spend money recklessly."

Park Ji-yeon puffed out her cheeks.

"Alright then..."

"I'll ask Qri Unnie for reimbursement."

Lee Qri laughed from the side.

"Fine, I'll approve it for you."

"But don't buy anything too expensive."

"Got it!"

Park Ji-yeon smiled.

Qian Xu glanced at his phone.

Three in the afternoon.

He remembered the system notification.

[Chinese in South Korea: 1.079 million]

[Distance to milestone: 1,000 people]

Almost there.

Just 1,000 people left.

He walked out of the practice room.

He stood in the hallway.

He opened the system interface.

The data was still jumping.

[Chinese in South Korea: 1.0795 million]

[Distance to milestone: 500 people]

Qian Xu stared at the screen.

His heart beat a little faster.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

It was the system notification sound.

[China-Korea Cultural Exchange and Consumption Fund System]

[Milestone Reached]

Qian Xu was stunned.

He tapped on the details.

A line of large golden characters popped up on the screen.

[Chinese in South Korea surpassed 1.08 million]

[Milestone Reward Unlocked]

[Daily Quota Updated]

Qian Xu took a deep breath.

He continued reading down.

[Current Daily Quota: 11.5 billion KRW]

[Increase from before: 100 million KRW]

He smiled.

11.5 billion.

11.5 billion KRW every day.

He continued scrolling down.

[South Korea's favorability towards China: 27.3%]

Qian Xu looked at this number.

27.3%.

It had increased by 0.2% compared to before.

Although it wasn't much.

But the trend was good.

He continued reading down.

[Cultural Export Platform: Yunmengze]

[Status: Stable Operation]

[Influence: Primary]

Qian Xu nodded.

Yunmengze was already running stably.

T-ARA's comeback was imminent.

The CU Convenience Store cultural creative section had launched.

These were all part of the cultural export.

He continued scrolling down.

The last line.

[System Notification]

[Current Stage: Early Stage of Cultural Export]

[Next Stage Goal: South Korea's favorability towards China 30%]

[Milestone Reward: To be unlocked]

Qian Xu looked at the screen.

30% favorability.

There was still 2.7% left.

It would take time.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

The system was changing.

Everything was getting better.

He put away his phone.

He walked back to the practice room.

The six of them were still practicing.

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

Ham Eun-jung was doing leg stretches.

Park So-yeon was warming up her voice.

Park Hyomin was stretching.

Jeon Bo-ram was sitting in the corner.

Holding a water cup in her hand.

Seeing Qian Xu come in.

She smiled.

"Mr. Qian, what's wrong?"

"You look very happy."

"Is there good news?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Great news."

Jeon Bo-ram stood up.

"What good news?"

"Tell me about it."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Today."

"The number of Chinese in South Korea surpassed 1.08 million."

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned for a moment.

"1.08 million?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"It's 10,000 more than last month."

"This is a good thing."

"It means more and more Chinese are coming to South Korea."

Jeon Bo-ram looked at him.

"Why do you care about this?"

"Because I am Chinese."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Of course, I have to pay attention to the number of my compatriots."

Jeon Bo-ram nodded thoughtfully.

"That's true."

"With more people, the power is greater."

"Yes."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You understand me."

Park So-yeon walked over.

"Mr. Qian, what are you two talking about?"

"The number of Chinese in South Korea surpassed 1.08 million."

Jeon Bo-ram answered first.

"Mr. Qian is very happy."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"That's definitely worth being happy about."

"The more Chinese who come to South Korea,"

"the more frequent Sino-Korean exchanges will be."

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Ms. Soyeon, you understand well too."

Park So-yeon blushed.

"I was just saying."

Ham Eun-jung also walked over.

"Mr. Qian, 1.08 million Chinese?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"It's 10,000 more than last month."

Ham Eun-jung thought for a moment.

"Then our Chinese songs,"

"will have more listeners."

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Ms. Eun-jung, you understand well too."

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"I am the leader."

"Of course I have to understand the market."

Park Hyomin walked over.

"Mr. Qian, 1.08 million?"

"Yes."

"Then our Chinese tour,"

"will have more audience members."

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Hyomin-xi, you understand well too."

Park Hyomin smiled.

"I am a member of T-ARA."

"Of course I have to understand the fans."

Lee Qri walked over.

"Mr. Qian, 1.08 million Chinese?"

"Yes."

"Then our Chinese cultural creative products,"

"will sell better."

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Miss Qri, you understand well too."

Lee Qri smiled.

"I am the styling director."

"Of course I have to understand the market."

Park Ji-yeon was the last to walk over.

"Boss, 1.08 million?"

"Yes."

"Then our Chinese songs,"

"will be heard by more people."

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Park Ji-yeon, you understand well too."

Park Ji-yeon smiled.

"I am T-ARA's maknae."

"Of course I have to understand the fans' hearts."

Everyone laughed.

Qian Xu looked at the six of them.

His heart felt warm.

T-ARA's members.

Were all working hard for the comeback.

Were all preparing for the Chinese market.

He glanced at his phone.

The system data was still jumping.

[Daily Quota: 11.5 billion KRW]

[South Korea's favorability towards China: 27.3%]

[Chinese in South Korea: 1.08 million]

He smiled.

Today.

Milestone reached.

System upgraded.

Quota increased.

Cultural export platform running stably.

Everything was getting better.

He looked up.

Looking at Seoul outside the window.

The sunlight was just right.

The leaves of the plane trees were rustling.

He remembered when he first came to South Korea.

Alone.

No money.

No friends.

Only a 996 job.

Now.

He had Yunmengze.

Had T-ARA.

Had the CU Convenience Store partnership.

Had a daily quota of 11.5 billion KRW.

He smiled.

"Mr. Qian, what are you thinking about?"

Jeon Bo-ram walked over.

"Thinking about the past."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"The past was very bitter."

"The present is very sweet."

Jeon Bo-ram smiled.

"That's good."

"It will be even sweeter in the future."

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"It will be sweeter in the future."

He glanced at the time.

Four in the afternoon.

"Alright, you all continue practicing."

"I'll head back first."

"Okay."

Jeon Bo-ram nodded.

"Mr. Qian, are you free tonight?"

"What's wrong?"

"I want to treat you to dinner."

"To celebrate your milestone being reached."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Okay."

"What time?"

"Seven o'clock."

"At my place."

"I'll cook."

"Okay."

Qian Xu nodded.

"See you at seven."

He walked out of the practice room.

Standing in the hallway.

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

[Daily Quota: 11.5 billion KRW]

[Used today: 0 KRW]

[Accumulated unused: 50 billion KRW]

Qian Xu looked at that number.

50 billion KRW.

This was the money he hadn't finished spending in over a month.

He smiled.

Tomorrow.

Another new day.

Another 11.5 billion KRW will arrive.

He walked out of the small building.

Standing on the streets of Apgujeong.

Sunlight sprinkled on him.

Warm.

He smiled.

Today.

Milestone reached.

Tomorrow.

Keep working hard.