68: Chapter 69 So-yeon Takes the Initiative to Invite Me to Dinner

Seoul at night.

It was late.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

The light in the second-floor office was still on.

Ham Eun-jung sat in front of the computer.

Eating the ginseng chicken soup that Mr. Qian had bought.

Her eyes felt a little warm.

"Qian Xu, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu sat opposite her.

"Finish it and go back to rest early."

"There's still a rehearsal tomorrow."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung nodded.

She put down her spoon.

Looking at Qian Xu.

"Qian Xu, I have a question I want to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"What do you think of So-yeon..."

Ham Eun-jung paused.

"When she went off-key today..."

"You went up to comfort her."

"What do you think of her..."

"Is it..."

She didn't finish.

But the meaning was already very clear.

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Ms. Eun-jung, you misunderstood."

"My feelings for Ms. Soyeon..."

"Are just a boss's concern for an artist."

"She waited for six years."

"Finally able to sing again."

"I can't let her lose confidence because of one mistake."

Ham Eun-jung looked at him.

Her expression was a bit complex.

"Just a boss's concern for an artist?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"At least for now."

"Yes."

Ham Eun-jung lowered her head.

"As for the future..."

"Who knows."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Ms. Eun-jung, you should go back."

"There's still a rehearsal tomorrow."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung stood up.

"Then you should rest early too."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

---

After sending Ham Eun-jung off.

Qian Xu returned to the office.

He glanced at his phone.

One in the morning.

He was just about to turn off the lights.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Park So-yeon.

"Mr. Qian, are you asleep?"

Mr. Qian replied.

"Not yet."

"Still at the company."

Park So-yeon replied quickly.

"I'm not asleep either."

"I'm thinking about what happened today."

"Thank you for comforting me."

Qian Xu smiled.

"It's what I should do."

"Don't think too much."

"Get some rest."

Park So-yeon replied.

"Mm."

"Goodnight."

---

The next morning.

Hongdae, STAGE 28.

When Qian Xu arrived.

The six of them were already rehearsing.

Park So-yeon stood in the center of the stage.

Her voice was very steady.

Even the high notes were hit perfectly.

No cracking.

Qian Xu sat offstage.

Watching her.

He smiled.

---

During the rehearsal break.

Park So-yeon walked over.

"Qian Xu, are you free today?"

Mr. Qian was stunned for a moment.

"What's wrong?"

"I want to invite you to dinner."

Park So-yeon lowered her head.

"To thank you for helping me terminate my contract."

"And for what happened yesterday."

"I want to thank you in person."

Qian Xu looked at her.

She was wearing a white T-shirt.

Her hair was tied in a low ponytail.

Her face still had a flush from the rehearsal.

Her eyes looked a bit nervous.

"Okay."

Qian Xu nodded.

"What time?"

"Seven in the evening."

Park So-yeon's eyes lit up.

"I've already booked a restaurant."

"It's over in Cheongdam-dong."

"A Chinese restaurant."

"Okay."

Qian Xu smiled.

"See you tonight."

---

In the afternoon, the rehearsal ended.

The six of them packed up their things.

Jeon Bo-ram walked over.

"Mr. Qian, are you eating with us tonight?"

"I bought pork belly."

"Let's have a barbecue at your place tonight."

Qian Xu shook his head.

"I can't tonight."

"I have plans."

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned for a moment.

"You have plans?"

"With whom?"

"Ms. Soyeon."

Qian Xu answered truthfully.

"She's treating me to dinner."

"To thank me for the contract termination."

Jeon Bo-ram's expression stiffened for a moment.

But she quickly resumed her smile.

"Oh, I see."

"Then have a good meal."

"I'll ask you another day."

She turned and left.

Qian Xu watched her back.

Always feeling that something was wrong.

But he didn't think much of it.

---

Seven in the evening.

Cheongdam-dong, a Chinese restaurant.

Qian Xu walked in.

The restaurant wasn't big.

The decor was exquisite.

Warm yellow lighting.

Traditional Chinese landscape paintings hung on the walls.

Park So-yeon was already there.

Sitting by the window.

She was wearing a beige dress.

Her hair was loose.

She had light makeup on.

Looking gentle and beautiful.

"Qian Xu!"

She stood up.

Smiled.

"You're here."

"Mm."

Qian Xu sat down.

"This restaurant is nice."

"I looked for a long time."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"I wanted to find an authentic Chinese restaurant."

"And I didn't want it to be too far away."

"This one is in Cheongdam-dong."

"It's close to your place too."

Mr. Qian nodded.

"You put a lot of thought into it."

---

The waiter brought the menu.

Park So-yeon took it.

"Qian Xu, you order."

"I'm not very good at ordering Chinese food."

"Okay."

Qian Xu took the menu and scanned it.

"Boiled fish, Kung Pao chicken, Mapo tofu."

"And an order of egg fried rice."

"Is that enough?"

"That's enough, that's enough."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"Everything you ordered is what I like to eat."

"Really?"

"Really."

Park So-yeon nodded.

"When I was active in China."

"I liked eating boiled fish the most."

"But here in Korea."

"There aren't many authentic ones."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Then today, I'll let you eat an authentic one."

---

The dishes were served quickly.

The boiled fish was steaming.

The red chili oil fragrant.

Park So-yeon picked up a piece of fish.

Put it in her mouth.

Her eyes lit up.

"Delicious!"

"It's really authentic!"

"If you like it, eat more."

Qian Xu also picked up a piece.

It was indeed good.

The spiciness was just right.

The fish was tender and fresh.

---

Halfway through the meal.

Park So-yeon put down her chopsticks.

Looking at Qian Xu.

"Qian Xu, I want to thank you sincerely."

"About the contract termination."

"You helped me a lot."

"I waited for you for six years."

"Finally, I'm free."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"It's what I should do."

"You are the main vocalist of T-ARA."

"And an artist of Yunmengze."

"The company naturally has to help you."

Park So-yeon shook her head.

"It's not just a company issue."

"You helped me."

"It was personal."

"Right?"

Qian Xu was stunned.

"Ms. Soyeon..."

"I know."

Park So-yeon interrupted him.

"You are very good to Eunjung and Boram."

"But to me."

"It's different."

Qian Xu's heart rate accelerated.

"How is it different?"

"You accompanied me to terminate the contract."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

Her eyes were very gentle.

"That day at the law firm."

"You sat next to me."

"When I was signing."

"My hands were shaking."

"You held my hand."

Qian Xu remembered.

That day at the law firm, when Park So-yeon was signing, her hands were indeed shaking.

He subconsciously held her hand.

"That was just..."

"It wasn't."

Park So-yeon shook her head.

"You held my hand."

"It wasn't a boss to an artist."

"It was a friend to a friend."

"Right?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

Her gaze was very earnest.

Very gentle.

Filled with anticipation.

His heart beat even faster.

"Ms. Soyeon..."

"Call me So-yeon."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"Don't call me -xi."

"Call me So-yeon."

Qian Xu took a deep breath.

"So-yeon."

"Mm."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"Thank you."

"This meal today."

"It's not just to thank you for the contract termination."

"It's also to thank you."

"For letting me believe again."

"That in this world."

"There are still good people."

Qian Xu looked at her.

A warm current surging in his heart.

"So-yeon."

"If you have any trouble in the future."

"You can come to me."

"Okay."

Park So-yeon nodded.

"I'll remember that."

---

After the meal.

The two walked out of the restaurant.

The night in Seoul.

The wind was a bit chilly.

Park So-yeon shivered slightly.

"Are you cold?"

Qian Xu asked.

"A little."

Park So-yeon rubbed her hands.

Qian Xu took off his jacket.

Draped it over her shoulders.

"Put it on."

"Ah?"

Park So-yeon was stunned.

"No, no!"

"You wear it!"

"I'm fine."

Qian Xu was already walking ahead.

Park So-yeon stood in place.

Looking at his back.

His body heat was still on the jacket.

She blushed.

She trotted to catch up.

---

The two walked back to Cheongdam-dong.

In the elevator.

Park So-yeon was wearing Qian Xu's jacket.

Her head lowered.

Her face very red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"I'll return the jacket to you tomorrow."

"No rush."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Keep wearing it."

"Don't catch a cold."

"There's still rehearsal tomorrow."

"Mm."

Park So-yeon nodded.

The elevator reached her floor.

She walked out.

Looked back at Qian Xu.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Qian Xu smiled.

The elevator doors closed.

---

Park So-yeon stood in the hallway.

Her heart beating very fast.

She touched her face.

It was hot.

She smiled.

Qian Xu.

This man.

He was truly different.

She took out her phone.

Sent a message to Qian Xu.

"Qian Xu, I had a great time tonight."

"Goodnight."

The phone vibrated quickly.

Qian Xu replied.

"Goodnight."

"Sweet dreams."

Park So-yeon looked at the screen and smiled.

She walked into her home.

Lay on the bed.

Her mind filled with Qian Xu's image.

She closed her eyes and smiled.

Tomorrow.

It would be a new day.