9: Reunion in Seoul

2:50 PM the next day.

In Cheongdam-dong, at a high-end café.

Qian Xu arrived early.

He chose the private room in the back.

With floor-to-ceiling windows, he could see the street view.

A pot of Americano was on the table.

Six cups.

He checked the time.

2:55 PM.

The door pushed open.

Ham Eun-jung walked in first.

Four people followed behind her.

Jeon Bo-ram, Park So-yeon, Lee Qri, and Park Ji-yeon.

All members of T-ARA were present, except for Park Hyomin, who was busy.

Qian Xu stood up.

"Hello, everyone."

Ham Eun-jung took a deep breath.

"Mr. Qian, everyone is here."

She stepped aside to let them in.

The five of them sat down one by one.

Jeon Bo-ram sat opposite Qian Xu and blinked at him.

Park So-yeon sat next to Boram and nodded slightly.

Lee Qri was wearing a mask, her eyes darting around.

Park Ji-yeon's eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just been crying.

The atmosphere was somewhat silent.

Ham Eun-jung broke the silence.

"Mr. Qian, let me formally introduce them."

"Jeon Bo-ram, you know her."

"Park So-yeon, you have met her too."

"Lee Qri, lead vocalist."

"Park Ji-yeon, lead vocalist and main dancer."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I know them all."

"T-ARA, the representatives of South Korea's second-generation girl groups."

"In 2012, 'Roly-Poly' swept the music charts."

"The 2013 Tokyo Dome concert."

"Entering the Chinese market in 2014."

"Cumulative fan base exceeding 5 million."

"YouTube views surpassing 1 billion."

He spoke very calmly.

But each number caused the five of them to tremble.

Park Ji-yeon raised her head.

"Mr. Qian, are you really going to invest in our comeback?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you are worth it."

Qian Xu looked at them.

"I know everything about T-ARA's ordeal."

"Contract disputes, being blacklisted, disbandment."

"You were wronged."

"I want to help you stand on stage again."

Park So-yeon raised her head.

"Mr. Qian, do you know our current situation?"

"I do."

"We no longer have a market in South Korea."

"I know."

"We have been blacklisted for six years."

"I know."

Qian Xu said calmly.

"But I know even better that you still have fans in China."

"T-ARA's fans have been waiting for you to return."

"They have been waiting for six years."

The private room fell silent.

Park Ji-yeon lowered her head.

Her shoulders were trembling.

Ham Eun-jung's eyes turned red.

She cleared her throat.

"Mr. Qian, please state your terms."

"Alright."

Qian Xu took a document out of his bag.

"This is the contract."

"A contract between Yunmengze Entertainment and all members of T-ARA."

"The contract term is three years."

"The signing bonus is 2 billion KRW per person."

The private room went silent instantly.

All six of them were stunned.

Jeon Bo-ram's mouth hung open.

"2 billion?"

"Yes."

"Each?"

"Yes."

"A signing bonus?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu pushed the contract over.

"The total signing bonus is 12 billion KRW."

"It will be transferred on the day of signing."

"Within the three-year term, the company will cover all your operating costs."

"Including album production, music show promotions, marketing, and concerts."

"You only need to do one thing."

"Sing well and dance well."

No one in the private room spoke.

Park So-yeon's tears fell.

She quickly wiped them away.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"It's okay."

Qian Xu handed her a tissue.

"Cry if you want to."

"You've been holding it in for six years."

Park So-yeon took the tissue.

She cried even harder.

Lee Qri took off her mask.

Her eyes were also red.

"Mr. Qian, why are you so good to us?"

"Because you are worth it."

Qian Xu looked at them.

"T-ARA is a legend among second-generation girl groups."

"I was listening to your songs back in college."

"'Roly-Poly', 'Lovey-Dovey', 'Day By Day'."

"Every single one is a classic."

"Such a group should not be buried."

Park So-yeon looked at him.

"Mr. Qian, you are Chinese."

"Why invest in a Korean girl group?"

"Because culture has no borders."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Besides, I want to do something interesting."

"To make Chinese capital successful in the Korean cultural sector."

"To let Koreans see that Chinese people don't just work for others."

"We can also be bosses."

Park So-yeon smiled.

"I like that reason."

Ham Eun-jung picked up the contract.

She flipped to the last page.

"Signing bonus of 2 billion KRW, transferred on the day of signing."

"Three-year term, company covers all operating costs."

"Revenue sharing..."

She froze.

"70% of revenue goes to the artists?"

"Yes."

"The company only takes 30%?"

"Yes."

"This..."

Ham Eun-jung looked at Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian, this revenue sharing ratio..."

"Is it too low?"

"It's too high."

Ham Eun-jung shook her head.

"The standard revenue sharing in Korean entertainment companies."

"For rookies, it's 9:1, with the company taking 90%."

"For A-list artists, it's 7:3, with the company taking 70%."

"Even for top-tier artists, it's usually a 50/50 split."

"You're giving us 70%?"

"And the company only takes 30%?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu said calmly.

"Because you are worth it."

"T-ARA no longer needs to be trained by a company."

"You have the talent and the fan base."

"The company is just providing a platform."

"You should be the ones making the money."

Park So-yeon raised her head.

"Mr. Qian, do you know what this contract implies?"

"I do."

"It means you'll barely make any money."

"In the short term, yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"But in the long term, if T-ARA's comeback is successful."

"Brand value will rise, and commercial endorsements will increase."

"The company will make money too."

"Besides..."

He paused.

"I didn't start this company to make money."

"Then what is it for?"

"To prove something."

Qian Xu looked at them.

"That Chinese people can also do culture well in Korea."

"To let Koreans see."

"That Chinese capital isn't here to plunder."

"It's here for a win-win."

The private room fell silent.

The six of them looked at each other.

Ham Eun-jung stood up first.

"I'll sign."

She picked up the pen and signed her name on the contract.

"Ham Eun-jung."

The second one was Park So-yeon.

"I'll sign too."

"Park So-yeon."

The third one was Jeon Bo-ram.

"I'll sign too."

"Jeon Bo-ram."

The fourth one was Lee Qri.

She took a deep breath.

"I'll sign too."

"Lee Qri."

The last one was Park Ji-yeon.

She stood up.

She looked at Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"Thank you for being willing to help us."

"Thank you for still remembering T-ARA."

She signed her name.

"Park Ji-yeon."

Five contracts were signed; only Hyomin's was missing.

They were all signed.

Qian Xu collected the contracts.

"Welcome to Yunmengze Entertainment."

He stood up.

He extended his hand.

Ham Eun-jung was the first to shake his hand.

"Thank you."

Park So-yeon was the second.

"Thank you."

Jeon Bo-ram was the third.

"Thank you."

Lee Qri was the fourth.

"Thank you."

Park Ji-yeon was the last.

She held his hand.

Her eyes were red.

"Mr. Qian, we will work hard."

"We will make T-ARA shine again."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I believe in you."

He checked the time.

"The signing bonus will be transferred this afternoon."

"2 billion KRW each."

"You can spend it however you like."

"Buy a house if you want."

"Invest if you want."

"Give it to your family if you want."

"This is what you deserve."

The six of them were stunned.

Jeon Bo-ram asked in a low voice.

"Will it really arrive today?"

"Yes."

"2 billion KRW?"

"Yes."

"Into our personal accounts?"

"Yes."

Jeon Bo-ram covered her face.

"Oh my god."

"I've lived for thirty years."

"This is the first time I've seen so much money."

The others laughed.

Ham Eun-jung wiped her tears.

"Mr. Qian, what do we do next?"

"Next..."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"You should rest for a week first."

"Get your personal affairs in order."

"A week later, the company will officially begin operations."

"We will start preparing for the comeback album."

"Goal: Release a new song within three months."

"Within six months, hold a comeback concert."

"Within a year, start a China tour."

The six of them nodded.

"Okay."

Qian Xu stood up.

"That's all for today."

"Contact me anytime if you need anything."

He turned to leave.

Park Ji-yeon called out to him.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Why did you choose us?"

"Why T-ARA?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Because you are T-ARA."

"Because..."

He smiled.

"I want to see you standing on stage again."

"Shining brightly."

Park Ji-yeon's tears fell again.

But she smiled.

"Thank you."

"We will do it."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I believe in you."

He walked out of the private room.

Behind him, the six of them hugged each other.

Crying in a huddle.