99: Chapter 100 System Data Update

The night in Seoul was deep.

Qian Xu sat in his office, looking at the data on his computer screen.

Yunmengze Life Plaza had been open for a week.

Daily sales had exceeded 1.2 billion KRW.

The recording of T-ARA's Korean album was nearing its end.

The view count for the Chinese version of "a little happiness" had surpassed 5 million.

Everything was moving in a good direction.

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

Qian Xu tapped on it.

[System Data Update]

[Chinese in Korea: +70,000]

[Current Total: 1.07 million]

He was stunned.

Seventy thousand?

How long had it been?

He continued reading.

[South Korea's favorability toward China]

[27.3% → 28.1%]

[An increase of 0.8 percentage points]

Qian Xu leaned back in his chair and smiled.

The favorability was rising.

Although slow, it was indeed rising.

His phone vibrated again.

[System Notification]

[Number of Chinese in Korea]

[Approaching Level 1 Milestone]

[Current Progress: 1.07 million / 1.2 million]

[Achievement Reward: To be unlocked]

Qian Xu sat up straight.

A Level 1 milestone?

He quickly read on.

[Conditions for Level 1 Milestone]

[Number of Chinese in Korea reaches 1.2 million]

[Current Progress: 1.07 million / 1.2 million]

[Estimated time to reach: about 30 days]

[Reward content: Unlocking]

Qian Xu stared at the screen, his heart beating a little faster.

1.2 million Chinese in Korea would unlock the Level 1 milestone.

The reward content was yet to be unlocked, but the system had never disappointed him.

He took a deep breath and put his phone away.

A knock sounded at the office door.

"Mr. Qian?"

It was Ham Eun-jung's voice.

"Come in."

The door pushed open, and Ham Eun-jung walked in, holding a document.

"You haven't left yet?"

"Yeah."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I was looking at some data."

Ham Eun-jung walked over and sat opposite him.

"What data?"

"System data."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"The number of Chinese in Korea has increased by 70,000."

"South Korea's favorability toward China has risen by 0.8 percentage points."

Ham Eun-jung was stunned.

"So fast?"

"Yeah."

Qian Xu nodded.

"And the system notified me."

"We are approaching a Level 1 milestone."

"A milestone?"

Ham Eun-jung frowned.

"What kind of milestone?"

"The number of Chinese in Korea reaching 1.2 million," Qian Xu said.

"That will unlock it."

"The current progress is 1.07 million."

"We are still short by 130,000."

Ham Eun-jung looked at him.

"130,000..."

"How do we increase it?"

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"The system didn't say."

"But based on previous patterns."

"It should be through cultural output."

"And business expansion."

"Attracting more Chinese people to come to South Korea."

"Or enabling the Chinese in Korea."

"To live better."

Ham Eun-jung nodded.

"Then the expansion of Yunmengze."

"Is the key."

"Correct."

Qian Xu smiled.

"So the Gangnam Station branch."

"And the Yeouido branch."

"Must be opened as soon as possible."

Ham Eun-jung opened the document.

"I have organized it."

"The renovation budget for the Gangnam Station branch."

"And the construction schedule."

Qian Xu took it and looked carefully.

Budget: 2.5 billion KRW.

Construction period: 45 days.

Area: 500 square meters.

Daily service capacity: 10,000 people.

"Can the construction period be compressed?"

"It can."

Ham Eun-jung said.

"If we add night shifts."

"It can be done in 30 days."

"But the cost will increase by 20%."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Add night shifts."

"It doesn't matter if we spend a bit more money."

"The sooner, the better."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung made a mark on the document.

She closed the document and looked at Qian Xu.

"Mr. Qian, there is one more thing."

"Go ahead."

"The site selection for the Yeouido branch," Ham Eun-jung said.

"I have looked at three places."

"But none of them are very ideal."

"Either the rent is too high."

"Or the location is too remote."

Qian Xu leaned back in his chair.

"No rush."

"Take your time to find one."

"Get the Gangnam Station branch open first."

"The Yeouido branch can wait."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung nodded.

The two were silent for a few seconds.

Ham Eun-jung looked at him.

"Mr. Qian, are you nervous?"

"Nervous about what?"

"The Level 1 milestone," Ham Eun-jung said.

"The system reward."

"I don't know what it is."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Being nervous is useless."

"What is meant to come will come."

"And I believe."

"The system won't treat me unfairly."

Ham Eun-jung also smiled.

"You are always so calm."

"It's not being calm," Qian Xu shook his head.

"It's that I've figured things out."

"Worrying doesn't solve problems."

"It's better to do the things right in front of me well."

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Park So-yeon.

"Mr. Qian, are you asleep?"

Qian Xu replied.

"Not yet."

"I'm at the company."

Park So-yeon replied quickly.

"Still busy so late?"

"Do you want me to cook you a midnight snack?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"No need."

"You should rest soon."

"You have to record songs tomorrow."

Park So-yeon replied.

"Okay."

"You should rest early too."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Ham Eun-jung looked at him.

"So-yeon?"

"Yeah."

Qian Xu nodded.

"She asked if I had slept."

Ham Eun-jung smiled.

"She is really good to you."

"Yeah."

Qian Xu put away his phone.

"She is a good girl."

Ham Eun-jung looked at him.

Her expression was somewhat complex.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever thought."

"What if the system reward."

"Is to make you return to your country?"

Qian Xu was stunned.

Return to his country?

He had never thought about this question.

"The system wouldn't, right?"

"I don't know," Ham Eun-jung shook her head.

"But since the system can give you money."

"It can also take it back."

"If it makes you return to your country."

"Will you leave?"

Qian Xu was silent for a few seconds.

"I don't know."

"But I will arrange things here well."

"Before leaving."

Ham Eun-jung looked at him.

Her eyes looked a bit disappointed.

"Then what about T-ARA?"

"What about Yunmengze?"

"What about us?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Ms. Eun-jung, don't worry."

"I won't abandon you."

"Even if I have to leave."

"I will make sure everything is arranged."

Ham Eun-jung lowered her head.

She was silent for a few seconds.

Then she looked up and smiled.

"Okay."

"I believe you."

She stood up.

"Then I will go back first."

"I have to go to Gangnam Station tomorrow."

"To see the renovation team start working."

"Okay."

Qian Xu also stood up.

"I'll see you out."

"No need," Ham Eun-jung shook her head.

"I drove here."

"You should rest early."

She walked to the door.

She looked back at him.

"Mr. Qian."

"Good night."

"Good night."

The office door closed.

Qian Xu stood in place, looking at the door.

He was still thinking in his mind.

If the system really made him return to his country, what would he do?

He walked to the window and looked at the night view of Seoul.

It was brightly lit.

He had already gotten used to this city.

T-ARA was here.

Yunmengze was here.

Ham Eun-jung was here.

Jeon Bo-ram was here.

Park So-yeon was here.

There were too many people he couldn't let go of.

His phone vibrated again.

It was a system notification.

Qian Xu tapped on it.

[Level 1 Milestone Countdown]

[Current Progress: 1.07 million / 1.2 million]

[Estimated Achievement: 30 days]

[Please continue to work hard]

[Cultural output is the key to increasing the number of Chinese in Korea]

He smiled and put his phone away.

Cultural output.

This was the system's logic.

Let more people understand China.

Like China.

Be willing to come to China.

Or in South Korea.

Create a better environment for the Chinese.

He took a deep breath and turned to walk out of the office.

The hallway was very quiet.

He walked to the elevator and waited.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

"Mr. Qian, are you back?"

Qian Xu replied.

"Just left the company."

"What's wrong?"

Jeon Bo-ram replied quickly.

"I cooked some instant noodles."

"Do you want to eat?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Okay."

"I'll be there soon."

The elevator arrived.

He walked in and watched the floor numbers change.

Jeon Bo-ram's face appeared in his mind.

Soft and cute.

Loves to act spoiled.

A klutz in daily life.

But also warm.

He smiled.

This girl.

She always used food to care for him.

The elevator reached the seventeenth floor.

He walked out.

The hallway was very quiet.

The door to Jeon Bo-ram's apartment was ajar, letting out a warm yellow light.

He walked over and knocked on the door.

"Boram-xi?"

The door was pulled open.

Jeon Bo-ram stood at the doorway.

She was wearing pink pajamas, her hair tied in a bun, and she still had a facial mask on her face.

"Mr. Qian!"

She smiled.

"You're back!"

"Come in quickly!"

"The instant noodles are just cooked!"

Qian Xu walked in.

In the living room, a bowl of instant noodles sat on the table, steaming hot.

There was also a dish of kimchi next to it.

"You made this?"

"Yeah!"

Jeon Bo-ram nodded.

"It's very simple."

"Just boiled instant noodles."

"Added an egg."

"And kimchi."

Qian Xu sat down and picked up his chopsticks.

"Then I won't be polite."

"Don't be polite!"

Jeon Bo-ram sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hands, watching him eat.

Qian Xu picked up a mouthful of noodles and put it in his mouth.

The noodles were cooked just right.

The broth was rich.

The egg was soft-boiled.

"Delicious."

He nodded.

"Really?"

Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up.

"Better than the ones from the convenience store, right?"

"Of course."

Qian Xu smiled.

"The ones from the convenience store taste like industrial food."

"What you cooked has the taste of human warmth."

Jeon Bo-ram blushed.

"You only know how to say nice things."

Qian Xu continued eating.

Jeon Bo-ram watched him.

"Mr. Qian, what did you do today?"

"Many things," Qian Xu said while eating.

"The system data updated."

"The number of Chinese in Korea increased by 70,000."

"South Korea's favorability toward China rose by 0.8%."

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned.

"That much?"

"Yeah."

Qian Xu nodded.

"And the system notified me."

"We are approaching a Level 1 milestone."

"A milestone?"

Jeon Bo-ram looked at him curiously.

"What kind of milestone?"

"The number of Chinese in Korea reaching 1.2 million," Qian Xu said.

"That will unlock the reward."

"The current progress is 1.07 million."

"We are still short by 130,000."

Jeon Bo-ram thought for a moment.

"130,000 people..."

"How do we increase it?"

"Cultural output," Qian Xu said.

"Let more people understand China."

"Like China."

"Be willing to come to China."

"Or in South Korea."

"Create a better environment for the Chinese."

Jeon Bo-ram nodded.

"Then the expansion of Yunmengze."

"Is the key."

"Correct."

Qian Xu smiled.

"So the Gangnam Station branch."

"Must be opened as soon as possible."

He finished the last mouthful of noodles and put down his chopsticks.

"Thank you for the midnight snack."

"It was delicious."

Jeon Bo-ram smiled.

"As long as you like it."

"I will cook for you every day from now on."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

Every day?

"Boram-xi, you don't have to..."

"I want to," Jeon Bo-ram interrupted him.

"Cooking midnight snacks for you."

"I am very happy."

"Don't refuse me."

She lowered her head.

"Just consider it..."

"As a neighbor benefit."

She smiled.

Qian Xu also smiled.

"Okay."

"Then I won't be polite."

"Don't be polite."

Jeon Bo-ram stood up.

"You should rest early."

"You have to be busy tomorrow."

"Okay."

Qian Xu stood up.

"You should sleep early too."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Qian Xu walked out of Jeon Bo-ram's home and returned to his own.

He closed the door and stood in the entryway, looking at the empty living room, and smiled.

Too many things had happened today.

The system data update.

Approaching the Level 1 milestone.

Ham Eun-jung's probing.

Jeon Bo-ram's midnight snack.

And Park So-yeon's concern.

He walked to the window and looked at the night view of Seoul.

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

He tapped on it.

[Daily quota received]

[Remaining today: 8.73 billion KRW]

[Accumulated balance: 31.26 billion KRW]

He smiled, put his phone away, and lay on the bed.

He closed his eyes, and the scenes of the day appeared in his mind.

Ham Eun-jung said, "If the system makes you return to your country, will you leave?"

He turned over.

He didn't know the answer.

But at least for now, he was still in Seoul.

There was still T-ARA.

There was still Yunmengze.

And there was them.

That was enough.