47: Chapter 48 Sapphire Blue Celebration: Neighborhood Gathering

At the entrance of the CU Convenience Store, Qian Xu looked at the sales data on his phone.

The first-day sales reached 76 million won.

He smiled.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

"Mr. Qian, are you free tonight?"

Qian Xu replied.

"Yes, what's up?"

"I want to celebrate!"

"The CU cultural and creative zone has successfully launched!"

"Come to my place for Korean BBQ!"

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Your place?"

"Yes!"

"I bought a lot of pork belly!"

"And kimchi!"

"Call Eunjung Unnie and the others!"

"The six of us together!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Okay."

"What time?"

"Seven in the evening!"

"I'll let you know when I'm ready!"

Six in the afternoon.

Cheongdam-dong, at Qian Xu's place.

Qian Xu had just finished changing his clothes.

The doorbell rang.

He opened the door.

Jeon Bo-ram stood at the door.

Wearing a pink apron.

She was holding two plates in her hands.

"Mr. Qian!"

"I've come to borrow your kitchen!"

"My kitchen is too small!"

"The BBQ will make it full of smoke!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Come in."

Jeon Bo-ram walked in.

She placed the plates on the dining table.

"Wow, your place is so clean!"

"Living alone is great."

She looked around.

The living room was large.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the night view of Seoul.

"Where is the grill?"

Qian Xu asked.

"At my place!"

Jeon Bo-ram ran out.

She quickly returned.

Holding a small electric grill in her hands.

"I bought this online!"

"It's specifically for BBQ!"

"Using it for the first time today!"

She squatted on the floor.

She plugged it in.

Flipped the switch.

The grill began to heat up.

"Done!"

"We can start grilling!"

The doorbell rang again.

Qian Xu went to open the door.

Ham Eun-jung stood at the door.

Carrying a bag of things.

"Mr. Qian, good evening."

"Boram said there's a gathering at your place."

"I brought some fruit."

"Come in."

Qian Xu stepped aside to let her in.

Ham Eun-jung walked in.

Seeing Jeon Bo-ram squatting on the floor fiddling with the grill.

She smiled.

"Boram, when did you buy the grill?"

"Last week!"

Jeon Bo-ram looked up.

"I bought it specifically for today!"

"Come in and sit down!"

The doorbell rang again.

Park So-yeon stood at the door.

Wearing a white dress.

Holding a bottle of red wine.

"Mr. Qian, good evening."

"Ms. Soyeon, come in."

Park So-yeon walked in.

Seeing the grill in the living room.

She smiled.

"Wow, are we really having BBQ?"

"Yes!"

Jeon Bo-ram stood up.

"I bought three jin of pork belly!"

"And beef ribs!"

"And kimchi!"

"And lettuce!"

"And..."

"Alright, alright!"

Ham Eun-jung interrupted her.

"Sit down first."

The doorbell rang again.

Park Hyomin and Lee Qri stood at the door together.

Park Hyomin was carrying a case of beer.

Lee Qri was holding a box of cake.

"Mr. Qian, good evening!"

Park Hyomin smiled.

"Boram said there's a gathering today."

"We brought some drinks."

"And a cake."

"Come in."

Qian Xu stepped aside.

The two walked in.

Seeing the living room already full of people.

"Wow, everyone's here!"

Park Hyomin put down the beer.

"Only Ji-yeon is missing!"

The doorbell rang again.

Park Ji-yeon stood at the door.

Wearing a loose hoodie.

Her hair was tied in a ponytail.

"Boss!"

"I'm here!"

She was carrying a bag of snacks.

"I brought some chips and chocolate!"

"I was afraid the BBQ wouldn't be enough!"

"Come in."

Qian Xu smiled.

Park Ji-yeon walked in.

Seeing everyone there.

"Wow, so lively!"

"What day is it today?"

"Celebrating the successful launch of the CU cultural and creative zone!"

Jeon Bo-ram answered.

"And celebrating our T-ARA comeback!"

All six were there.

The living room became lively.

Jeon Bo-ram was cutting pork belly in the kitchen.

Ham Eun-jung was helping wash lettuce nearby.

Park So-yeon was setting out bowls and chopsticks.

Park Hyomin was opening beer.

Lee Qri was unwrapping the cake box.

Park Ji-yeon sat on the sofa.

Opening a bag of chips.

"Boss, your place is so big!"

"Don't you feel lonely living alone?"

"I'm used to it."

Qian Xu smiled.

"How about you?"

"How is where you live?"

"I live in a monthly rental."

Park Ji-yeon bit into a chip.

"500,000 won a month."

"It's very small."

"But it's enough."

"Once the comeback is successful."

"I'll move to a bigger house."

"You definitely will."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"I'll give each of you a dormitory unit then."

"Really?"

Park Ji-yeon's eyes lit up.

"Really."

"A large flat in Cheongdam-dong."

"One for each of you."

"Long live the Boss!"

Park Ji-yeon jumped up.

"I want the biggest one!"

In the kitchen.

Jeon Bo-ram finished cutting the pork belly.

Carried it to the living room.

"Done!"

"We can start grilling!"

She placed the meat slices on the grill.

It made a sizzling sound.

The aroma wafted out.

"Wow, it smells so good!"

Park Ji-yeon leaned in.

"I want the first piece!"

"Don't be impatient!"

Jeon Bo-ram used tongs to flip the meat.

"It has to be grilled until both sides are golden brown to be delicious."

She picked up a piece of lettuce.

Placed a piece of grilled pork belly on it.

Added a little kimchi.

Wrapped it up.

Handed it to Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian, the first piece is for you."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Thank you."

He took it.

Took a bite.

The meat juices exploded in his mouth.

The sour and spicy kimchi neutralized the greasiness.

"Delicious!"

"Really?"

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"Then I'll have some too!"

She wrapped one for herself.

Took a bite.

"Wow, it's really delicious!"

"My skills are not bad, right?"

"Not bad at all."

Ham Eun-jung also wrapped one.

"Boram's BBQ skills."

"Are the best in T-ARA."

Everyone sat around the grill.

Chatting while grilling.

Park Hyomin raised her beer.

"Come on, cheers!"

"Celebrating the successful launch of the CU cultural and creative zone!"

"Cheers!"

The six of them raised their glasses together.

The beer foam shimmered under the lights.

Qian Xu looked at them.

Six people.

Six personalities.

But at this moment, they were all laughing so happily.

"Boss, what else will you do in the future?"

Park Ji-yeon asked.

"What?"

"I mean, besides the CU Convenience Store."

"What other projects?"

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Many."

"The Pang Dong Lai model."

"Chinese supermarkets."

"The first one in Korea."

"And a Chinese food court."

"And a Hanfu experience hall."

"And..."

"Wow!"

Park Ji-yeon interrupted him.

"So many?"

"We're going to be worked to death!"

"You are responsible for singing and dancing."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Leave the rest to me."

Jeon Bo-ram grilled another plate of meat.

"Mr. Qian, you've worked hard today."

"Running around the convenience store all day."

"It's fine."

Qian Xu took the BBQ she handed him.

"How was your practice today?"

"It was great!"

Jeon Bo-ram smiled.

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

"I've learned it all."

"We're shooting the MV next week."

"I'm ready."

"That's good."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Have you contacted the MV director?"

"Yes, we have."

Ham Eun-jung replied.

"Director Kim."

"He has directed MVs for BTS before."

"He watched our demo."

"He's very interested."

"The budget is 1 billion won."

"Enough to shoot a high-quality MV."

"Good."

Qian Xu raised his beer.

"I wish you a smooth MV shoot."

"Cheers!"

Halfway through.

Park So-yeon suddenly asked.

"Mr. Qian, why are you helping us?"

The living room went quiet.

Everyone looked at Qian Xu.

Qian Xu put down his glass.

"Because you deserve it."

"T-ARA should not be forgotten."

"You are legends of K-pop."

"You were just treated unfairly."

"I want to help you get back on stage."

Park So-yeon's eyes turned red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Come on, let's keep eating."

"It won't taste good if the meat gets cold."

Everyone became lively again.

Park Ji-yeon picked up a piece of beef rib.

Placed it on the grill.

"Boss, do you have confidence in the Chinese market?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"The Chinese market is very large."

"T-ARA has many fans in China."

"As long as you sing Chinese songs."

"There will definitely be a market."

"That's good."

Park Ji-yeon smiled.

"I must learn Chinese well."

"To sing for the Chinese fans."

"Go for it."

Qian Xu raised his glass.

"I'm waiting to see you hold a concert in China."

"We definitely will!"

The six of them answered in unison.

Ten at night.

The gathering was coming to an end.

Only empty plates and empty bottles remained on the table.

Jeon Bo-ram stood up.

"I'll wash the dishes!"

"No need."

Qian Xu stopped her.

"You guys go back and rest first."

"You still have practice tomorrow."

"I'll wash the dishes."

"No!"

Jeon Bo-ram shook her head.

"I was the one who suggested the gathering today."

"I must wash the dishes!"

"Then we'll wash them together."

Qian Xu smiled.

In the kitchen.

Qian Xu was washing the dishes.

Jeon Bo-ram was drying them on the side.

"Mr. Qian, were you happy today?"

"Happy."

Qian Xu nodded.

"How about you?"

"I'm happy too."

Jeon Bo-ram smiled.

"It's been a long time since I've been this happy."

"After T-ARA went bankrupt."

"Everyone hasn't gathered together for a long time."

"We finally gathered again today."

"We will gather often in the future."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Once a week."

"At my place."

"Really?"

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"Really."

"Then I'll come over to cook every week!"

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

Seeing the six of them off.

Qian Xu stood at the door.

Watching the elevator doors close.

He walked back to the living room.

There were still uncleaned cups on the table.

He smiled.

Today.

The CU cultural and creative zone successfully launched.

Tonight.

The six of them had their first gathering at his place.

He picked up his phone.

Opened the system.

[Korea's favorability towards China: 27.5%]

He smiled.

Tomorrow.

Another new day.