54: Chapter 55 Hongdae Scouting and Private Event Comeback

In the conference room.

Three PDs sat opposite him.

Their expressions were cold.

Qian Xu looked at them.

"What is the real reason?"

Park Jung-soo pushed up his glasses.

"Mr. Qian, we have already said it."

"Insufficient market appeal."

"Fine."

Qian Xu stood up.

"Since the three major broadcasting stations won't provide a stage."

"Then we will build our own."

The three PDs were stunned.

"Build your own?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Korea has livehouses."

"Seoul has hundreds of them."

"We don't need a music show stage."

"We can still hold a performance."

Park Jung-soo frowned.

"Livehouse?"

"That kind of small venue?"

"What kind of influence could that have?"

"Whether it has influence or not."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Just wait and see."

The three PDs left.

The conference room became quiet.

Ham Eun-jung sat in her chair.

Her eyes were red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"They went too far."

"Insufficient market appeal?"

"We, T-ARA, have so many fans in China."

"The Chinese songs are already recorded."

"They didn't even bother to look."

Qian Xu walked over.

"Don't be sad."

"If they won't give us a stage."

"We'll build our own."

Ham Eun-jung looked up at him.

"Livehouse?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Over in Hongdae."

"There are many livehouses."

"I've visited a few."

"The venues aren't big."

"But the sound equipment is very good."

"It's suitable for a private performance."

Ham Eun-jung's eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'll go to Hongdae to take a look tomorrow."

"You come with me."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung nodded.

"I'll go with you."

The next morning.

Seoul, Hongdae.

Qian Xu was driving.

Ham Eun-jung sat in the passenger seat.

The two passed through the Hongdae district.

The roadside was full of cafes.

Clothing stores.

And various small performance venues.

"This area, Hongdae."

"Is the headquarters of Korean indie music."

Ham Eun-jung looked out the window.

"Many bands."

"All started from here."

"I know."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I've checked the information."

"There are over 50 livehouses near Hongdae."

"Ranging in size from 100 to 500 people."

"We'll look at three today."

The first one.

Near the entrance of Hongdae.

"CLUB FF".

A small gray building.

Performance posters were pasted on the door.

Qian Xu walked in.

It wasn't big inside.

About 200 square meters.

The stage was directly in front.

The sound equipment was not bad.

But the lighting was a bit old.

"How about this one?"

Ham Eun-jung asked.

"The venue is okay."

Qian Xu looked around.

"But the equipment is too old."

"The lighting isn't good either."

"It's not suitable for a comeback show."

He turned and walked out.

Ham Eun-jung followed behind.

The second one.

Deep in the main street of Hongdae.

"VELVET".

The storefront wasn't big.

But walking inside.

It was a different world.

About 300 square meters.

The stage was very large.

The sound system was a top-tier brand.

The lighting system was also very new.

"This one is nice."

Qian Xu stood in front of the stage.

"The venue is big enough."

"The equipment is good too."

"How many people can it accommodate?"

The manager walked over.

A man in his thirties.

Wearing a black T-shirt.

"Hello, I am the manager here."

"The venue can accommodate a maximum of 400 people."

"The sound system is JBL."

"The lighting system was just replaced last year."

Qian Xu nodded.

"How much is the rent?"

"If you book the whole venue."

"From 6 PM to 12 AM."

"3 million won."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Can we see the backstage?"

"Of course."

The manager led them to the backstage.

The dressing room wasn't big.

But it was sufficient.

There was also a lounge area.

"This is nice."

Ham Eun-jung looked around.

"It's no problem for six people to do makeup."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Okay, let's keep this one in mind."

"Let's look at one more."

The third one.

Hongdae back street.

"STAGE 28".

A three-story small building.

The outer wall was painted black.

A neon sign hung at the entrance.

"28 STAGE".

Qian Xu pushed the door and went in.

It was very spacious inside.

About 400 square meters.

The stage was in the center.

Surrounded by tiered seating.

"Wow..."

Ham Eun-jung was stunned.

"This one is so big."

"Yes."

Qian Xu looked around.

"How many people can it accommodate?"

The manager walked over.

A woman in her forties.

Wearing a white shirt.

"Hello, I am the person in charge here."

"The venue can accommodate a maximum of 600 people."

"The sound system is Meyer Sound."

"The lighting system was newly installed this year."

Qian Xu stepped onto the stage.

He stomped on the floor.

It was very solid.

He stood in the center of the stage.

Looking at the empty audience seats.

Imagining it.

Six people standing here.

Lights turning on.

Music playing.

The audience below filled with fans.

He smiled.

"How much for this one?"

"If you book the whole venue."

"From 6 PM to 12 AM."

"5 million won."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Can we see the backstage?"

"Of course."

The backstage was large.

About 100 square meters.

There were three dressing rooms.

There was also a separate lounge.

And a shower room.

"This is very suitable."

Ham Eun-jung stood in the dressing room.

"Six people can do makeup at the same time."

"And there's a place to change clothes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Okay."

"This is the one."

He turned to the manager.

"I want to book the venue."

"Today, one month from now."

"From 6 PM to 12 AM."

The manager was stunned for a moment.

"One month from now?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"T-ARA's comeback debut."

"Right here."

The manager's mouth hung open.

"T-ARA?"

"That T-ARA?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"That very T-ARA."

The manager's eyes brightened.

"Oh my god..."

"I am their fan!"

"《Roly-Poly》!"

"《Lovey-Dovey》!"

"I've heard them all!"

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"Thank you."

"Then we must prepare well."

"To give the fans the best performance."

The manager nodded vigorously.

"Okay!"

"I will definitely cooperate!"

"I'll give you a discount on the venue fee!"

"4 million won!"

"Equipment included!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Deal."

Walking out of STAGE 28.

Ham Eun-jung stood at the entrance.

Looking at that black building.

Her eyes were red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"One month from now."

"Are we really going to perform here?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"It's not just a performance."

"It's a comeback."

Ham Eun-jung's tears fell.

"I thought..."

"I thought I would never be able to return to the stage in this lifetime."

"Mr. Qian..."

"Thank you."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Don't cry."

"You won't be pretty if you cry."

Ham Eun-jung wiped away her tears.

"Okay."

"I won't cry."

"I want to stand on the stage smiling."

The two were just getting ready to get in the car.

Qian Xu's phone vibrated.

It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

"Mr. Qian, where are you?"

"I'm in Hongdae."

"Looking at livehouses."

Jeon Bo-ram replied quickly.

"Livehouse?"

"I want to go too!"

"Where are you?"

"I'm coming to find you!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"STAGE 28."

"Hongdae back street."

"Okay!"

"I'll be there in ten minutes!"

Ham Eun-jung looked at Qian Xu.

"Boram is coming?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"She said she wanted to come and see."

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"That's just how she is."

"Likes to join the fun."

"That's good too."

"Let her see the future stage."

Ten minutes later.

A taxi stopped on the side of the road.

Jeon Bo-ram got out.

Wearing a white T-shirt.

Denim shorts.

Canvas shoes.

Her hair tied in a bun.

Wearing a mask.

"Mr. Qian! Eunjung Unnie!"

She jogged over.

"This is the livehouse?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu pointed to the black building behind him.

"STAGE 28."

"One month from now."

"T-ARA's comeback debut."

"Right here."

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned.

"Comeback debut?"

"Here?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"The three major stations won't provide a music show stage."

"Then we'll build our own."

"A Hongdae livehouse."

"Is freer than a music show stage."

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Want to go in and see?"

"Okay!"

Jeon Bo-ram grabbed Ham Eun-jung's hand.

"Unnie, let's go in and see!"

The three of them walked into STAGE 28.

Jeon Bo-ram stood in front of the stage.

Looking at the empty audience seats.

"Wow..."

"So big."

"How many people can it seat?"

"600 people."

Qian Xu said.

"600 people..."

Jeon Bo-ram stepped onto the stage.

Stood in the center.

The lights shone on her.

She closed her eyes.

"I can imagine it."

"One month from now."

"Here filled with fans."

"Lights turning on."

"Music playing."

"The six of us standing here."

She opened her eyes.

Her eyes were red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"Thank you."

"For giving us such a stage."

Qian Xu smiled.

"It's only right."

"T-ARA deserves it."

"You all deserve it."

Jeon Bo-ram walked off the stage.

Ran to the backstage.

"Wow, the dressing room is so big!"

"And a lounge!"

"A shower room!"

"This is even more comfortable than the music show backstage!"

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"Yes."

"This is better than a music show stage."

"No PDs giving us cold looks."

"No television station rules."

"Only us."

"And the fans."

Jeon Bo-ram nodded.

"Yes."

"Only us."

"And the fans."

The three of them walked out of STAGE 28.

Stood on the back street of Hongdae.

The sun was nice.

People were coming and going on the street.

Students.

Tourists.

Street performers.

"This place is really nice."

Jeon Bo-ram looked at the street.

"Hongdae."

"A place for young people."

"Our comeback debut."

"Right here."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Yes."

"Right here."

"One month from now."

"T-ARA is back."

Ham Eun-jung and Jeon Bo-ram looked at each other.

Both of their eyes were red.

But they both smiled.

The phone vibrated.

Qian Xu looked down.

It was a system notification.

[Cultural Export Event: T-ARA Comeback Debut Venue Confirmed]

[Influence: +0.1%]

[South Korea's Favorability Towards China: 27.6%]

He smiled.

It went up again.

From 27.5% to 27.6%.

Although it wasn't much.

But the trend was good.

He put away his phone.

Looking at the two people beside him.

Ham Eun-jung and Jeon Bo-ram.

Standing in the Hongdae sunshine.

Smiling brightly.

He smiled.

One month from now.

Here.

T-ARA is back.