63: The gentle encouragement

Hongdae, STAGE 28 Livehouse.

The sunset shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

On stage, six people stood in a row.

Qian Xu sat in the first row offstage.

Kim Min-jun stood nearby.

"Mr. Qian, the sound system is tuned."

"The lighting is OK too."

"We can start."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Let them run through it."

"The Chinese version of 'a little happiness'."

Kim Min-jun gestured to the stage.

Eunjung nodded.

"Okay, everyone get ready."

"The Chinese version of 'a little happiness'."

"First rehearsal."

The six of them took their positions.

Boram stood on the left.

She winked at Qian Xu.

Qian Xu smiled.

Park So-yeon stood in the middle.

She held the microphone in her hand.

She took a deep breath.

The intro played.

A familiar melody.

But the lyrics were in Chinese.

The first line was Eunjung.

"I hear the raindrops falling on the green grass."

The pronunciation was very standard.

Qian Xu nodded.

The second line was Boram.

"I hear the school bell ringing in the distance."

Her voice was soft.

Like she was acting spoiled.

The third line was Hyomin.

"But I didn't hear your voice."

A little nervous.

But it was okay.

The fourth line.

Park So-yeon began.

"Calling my name earnestly."

Her voice was gentle.

Clear.

Like mountain spring water.

Qian Xu closed his eyes.

Listening.

The fifth line was Lee Qri.

"I didn't understand love when I fell for you."

The pronunciation was a bit stiff.

But the emotion was spot on.

The sixth line was Park Ji-yeon.

"Only after parting did I realize it was etched in my heart."

Her voice was loud.

Very powerful.

The first section ended.

Interlude.

The six of them looked at each other.

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

Eunjung gave Qian Xu a thumbs-up.

Qian Xu nodded.

Continue.

The second section began.

Still Eunjung.

"Why didn't I discover that meeting you."

"Was the best thing in life."

Boram followed.

"Maybe I was busy smiling and crying then."

"Busy chasing the shooting stars in the sky."

Hyomin followed.

"People naturally forget."

"Who was guarding the spot silently in the wind and rain."

Then.

Park So-yeon began.

The high note part.

"Turns out you are the happiness I most want to keep."

Her voice went up.

Suddenly.

It cracked.

She went off-key.

A sharp, piercing sound.

Echoed in the Livehouse.

Park So-yeon froze.

The microphone dropped.

It hit the floor.

Making a "thud" sound.

Everyone on stage went quiet.

Boram had her mouth open.

Eunjung frowned.

Park Ji-yeon was at a loss.

Lee Qri and Hyomin looked at each other.

Park So-yeon stood where she was.

Her hands were trembling.

Her eyes were red.

"I'm sorry..."

Her voice choked.

"I..."

"I sang it wrong..."

"I..."

She lowered her head.

Her shoulders trembled.

"I haven't sung live for six years..."

"I..."

"I..."

Offstage.

Mr. Qian stood up.

He did not frown.

He did not sigh.

He did not say "it's okay."

He just walked onto the stage.

He walked up to Park So-yeon.

"Ms. Soyeon."

His voice was very soft.

Very gentle.

"Look up."

Park So-yeon looked up.

Her eyes were full of tears.

"Qian Xu..."

"I..."

"I messed up..."

"I haven't sung live for six years..."

"I..."

"I can't even hit the high notes anymore..."

"I..."

She cried out.

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Ms. Soyeon."

"Do you know why I chose this song?"

Park So-yeon paused.

"What?"

"'a little happiness'."

Qian Xu smiled.

"The Chinese version."

"There is a line in the lyrics."

"'Youth is a stumbling journey'."

"Your T-ARA's youth."

"Was a stumbling one."

"But if you fall."

"You can get back up."

Park So-yeon froze.

"But..."

"I went off-key..."

"I can't sing it..."

"I..."

"Do it again."

Qian Xu interrupted her.

"What?"

"Do it again."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You went off-key."

"So do it again."

"You sang it wrong."

"So do it again."

"You fell once."

"So get back up once."

"Until you sing it correctly."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

Tears were still flowing.

But her gaze had changed.

"Qian Xu..."

"Can I do it?"

"You can."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You are T-ARA's lead vocalist."

"You are Park So-yeon."

"You waited six years."

"Just for today."

"Going off-key once."

"What does it matter?"

Park So-yeon took a deep breath.

She wiped her tears.

"Okay."

"Do it again."

She picked up the microphone.

She looked at Mr. Qian.

"Mr. Qian."

"You go sit back down."

"I'll sing it for you."

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

He walked off the stage.

He sat back in the first row.

On stage.

Eunjung looked at Park So-yeon.

"So-yeon, are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

Park So-yeon nodded.

"From the beginning."

"Okay."

Eunjung gestured to the sound engineer.

The intro played again.

This time.

Park So-yeon's eyes were different.

She looked offstage.

She looked at Qian Xu.

The first line.

Eunjung finished singing.

The second line.

Boram finished singing.

The third line.

Hyomin finished singing.

The fourth line.

Park So-yeon began.

"Calling my name earnestly."

Her voice was steady.

Clear.

Gentle.

Like mountain spring water.

The fifth line.

Lee Qri finished singing.

The sixth line.

Park Ji-yeon finished singing.

Interlude.

Park So-yeon took a deep breath.

The high note part was coming.

"Turns out you are the happiness I most want to keep."

Her voice went up.

Steady.

No off-key.

No voice crack.

Clear.

Bright.

Echoing in the Livehouse.

Boram was stunned.

Eunjung's eyes were red.

Park Ji-yeon had her mouth open.

Lee Qri and Hyomin looked at each other.

They both smiled.

Offstage.

Qian Xu smiled.

The song finished.

The last note fell.

The Livehouse was quiet.

Then.

Boram was the first to clap.

"Awesome!"

"So-yeon-unnie is awesome!"

Eunjung also clapped.

"Well sung!"

Park Ji-yeon jumped up.

"Unnie is too amazing!"

Lee Qri and Hyomin also clapped.

Park So-yeon stood on stage.

She held the microphone in her hand.

She looked offstage.

She looked at Qian Xu.

"Qian Xu..."

"I sang it right."

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You sang it right."

Park So-yeon lowered her head.

Tears flowed down again.

But this time.

It was happy tears.

She walked off the stage.

She walked up to Qian Xu.

"Qian Xu."

"Thank you."

"Thank you for what?"

"Thank you for letting me do it again."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

"If you had said 'it's okay' a moment ago."

"I might have given up."

"But you said 'do it again'."

"And I knew I could still do it."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Of course you can."

"You are Park So-yeon."

"T-ARA's lead vocalist."

"No one can replace you."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

Her eyes were bright.

"Qian Xu."

"Can I hug you?"

Mr. Qian paused for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Okay."

Park So-yeon stepped forward.

She hugged him gently.

Very light.

Very brief.

Like a dragonfly touching water.

Then she let go.

She took a step back.

Her face was red.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Continue the rehearsal."

"There are three more songs to practice."

"Okay."

Park So-yeon nodded.

She turned and walked back to the stage.

Her steps were much lighter.

On stage.

Boram watched this scene.

Her heart felt a bit sour.

But she didn't say anything.

"So-yeon-unnie!"

She called out.

"You sang really well just now!"

"Do it again!"

"Teach me!"

"Okay!"

Park So-yeon smiled.

"I'll teach you."

The rehearsal continued.

The sun went down.

In the Livehouse.

The lights came on.

The singing of the six people.

Echoed in the space.

Qian Xu sat offstage.

He watched them.

And smiled.

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

[Cultural Export Event: T-ARA Chinese Song Rehearsal]

[Influence: +0.1%]

[Korea's favorability towards China: 27.9%]

He put his phone away.

He looked at the stage.

Park So-yeon was teaching Boram Chinese pronunciation.

Very seriously.

Very gently.

He smiled.

Tomorrow.

Would be a new day.