A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 119

Sam Mallakh sent Dohyun a message as soon as he followed him.

It contained an apology for mocking Dohyun and a sincere desire to work with him.

He also wrote that he was not a racist.

“…Even a world-class pop star must be afraid of the power of fans. Judging by how he’s acting now that fans are turning away.”

Dohyun burst into laughter. It was exhilarating. He had criticized and mocked him all he wanted, and now he was apologizing with a private message.

Dohyun considered making this message public to reveal his relationship with Sam Mallakh.

But his 고민 [Korean word meaning ‘worry’ or ‘dilemma’] didn’t last long.

“I shouldn’t become the same kind of person. What good is it to become the same kind of person? I’ll just unfollow him.”

Dohyun swiped the follow notification to dismiss it and finished washing up.

“Hey, Dohyun.”

Kangho, who he thought was resting, opened the front door and called out to Dohyun.

“Hyung [Korean term for ‘older brother,’ used by males], what’s with the boxes?”

Kangho was holding two large boxes in his arms.

“This is… you said you don’t officially accept gifts.”

“Right? Don’t tell me those are gifts secretly prepared by fans, or something?”

“No. It’s just that fan letters have piled up this much. It’s heavy, probably because there are so many.”

Dohyun liked reading fan letters.

It warmed his heart to read the fans’ heartfelt stories and feelings that they couldn’t express in words other than ‘I love you’.

“Hyung, put them in the living room. I’ll read them all and then move them to my room.”

“Okay. Ugh. I was surprised when the company suddenly brought them here. Anyway, I’m going to wash up and get some sleep.”

“Okay, Hyung.”

Dohyun opened the box of letters.

One crumpled letter caught his eye.

‘…What is it? Why am I drawn to this letter?’

Dohyun immediately opened the crumpled letter.

* * *

Hello, Dohyun hyung,

My name is Lee Jinwoo, and I live in a small village in Ganghwa-gun [county in South Korea].

I’m the only child in our village, so I’m the only one who knows about you.

But I like you, hyung.

I want to be a singer like you someday.

I hope you’ll come to our village and perform.

Written by Lee Jinwoo, March 25th

* * *

“Ah, how cute…”

Dohyun’s voice was soft.

Dohyun checked the address on the letter.

And in his mind, he imagined himself visiting the small village and singing.

“That’s nice. Because I’m Na Dohyun, who goes anywhere there are fans. Besides, it wouldn’t be bad to grant the wish of a little fan like this.”

Looking at the date on the letter, he thought the child must have been waiting a long time.

‘He must have been disappointed when he didn’t hear anything. It’s times like these that call for a surprise party.’

Dohyun decided to put his plan into action.

* * *

A village in Ganghwa-gun.

“No, who’s coming here today?”

The village chief just smiled at the people’s questions.

“Well, I heard someone’s coming from Seoul. I don’t know if you’d know them even if I told you.”

The villagers’ curiosity grew at the chief’s words.

“Someone’s coming from Seoul? Is that why they’re installing things here and there? It’s strange that they’re installing something at the only elementary school…”

Jinwoo, who sent the letter, was amazed to see some of the audio equipment he had only seen on YouTube being installed at the school.

He was convinced that Dohyun was coming.

He believed that Dohyun was coming because he had seen his letter.

An elementary school with only one student per grade.

Jinwoo was telling everyone that Dohyun was coming today.

“Believe me. Singer Na Dohyun is coming today, I’m telling you!”

“No, why would Na Dohyun come here? It’s not like he’d get paid to perform in a place like this…”

“Believe me! Dohyun hyung is really coming today! He must have seen my letter!”

“You even sent a letter? Asking him to come to this rural backwater?”

“Of course! I sent him a letter asking him to come! That’s why these people are here installing things.”

Despite Jinwoo’s confident voice, the other students didn’t believe him.

That famous singer from Seoul? That singer who’s doing so well overseas? Here, of all places? Just because of a little boy’s letter?

“Just believe me! Dohyun hyung is really coming today. Trust me, everyone.”

At that moment when Jinwoo was standing tall.

Dohyun’s car was entering the village of Ganghwa-gun.

Dohyun was wearing full makeup.

He believed that he couldn’t be careless, even for a performance in such a small village.

“Dohyun, did you really have to come all the way here to perform after seeing a letter? There are plenty of places that would pay you to come.”

Kangho grumbled, seemingly tired from the trip to Ganghwa-gun.

But Dohyun smiled and soothed Kangho.

“Hyung, I want to go anywhere there are fans. Is that too cheesy?”

“Uh… I almost got goosebumps just now. That line was too much.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah… it was really too much.”

“Anyway… isn’t this kind of surprise event great? Either way, it’s so exciting. The little kid must be watching the audio equipment being installed and waiting, right? Right? Firmly believing that Dohyun hyung is coming. Like waiting for a hero to appear.”

“That might be true… but we still came too far.”

“Hoya hyung. Be honest. You’re just tired, aren’t you?”

“…Yeah. I’m actually tired. I was even thinking it was a miracle I didn’t fall asleep at the wheel. I’m glad we arrived, though. But how many audience members will there be? I heard there are only about 50 people living in this village.”

“What does it matter? Is the number of audience members important? It’s not important. He said he’s nurturing his dream of becoming a singer while watching me. Giving a friend like that a dream and hope. I’ve wanted to do this ever since I had the chance.”

Kangho, hearing Dohyun’s words, glanced at him in the rearview mirror.

With an expression that said, ‘I can’t stop him.’

“I really… can’t stop you. My celebrity is too kind-hearted. Sometimes he seems like a Taoist who has attained enlightenment.”

“It’s been 11 years since I debuted in the entertainment industry. I should be able to become a Taoist by now. Don’t you think, hyung?”

“That’s true. Anyway… whatever the case, let’s do our best today. Oh, I think that’s the school up ahead. Get ready to get out.”

“Yes, hyung.”

Dohyun grabbed his instrument and checked his face in the hand mirror.

Looking at his condition, Dohyun smiled contentedly.

“I think I look especially handsome today…”

“Ugh. It’s creepy when a handsome guy actually says that.”

“Hyung. You’re getting goosebumps a lot today.”

“Yeah… you just feel especially cheesy today. It’s like you’ve become cheesy after eating fish and chips in England.”

“You ate it with me, but you’re still joking. Anyway, let’s do our best today, hyung! Please take good videos of my performance. I’m sure the company staff will do a good job, but still.”

Dohyun urged him once again.

“Okay. I will. I have to do my part since I came all the way here.”

“Thank you, hyung.”

* * *

[Honeybees [term for Na Dohyun’s fans], emergency, emergency, have you seen this video? It’s on YouTube now!]

[Video Link]

└헐 [Korean slang for ‘OMG’] What is this? Dohyun is at some rural elementary school?

└I know, right

└Dohyun is in some village in Ganghwa-gun right now?

└The manager tagged it and uploaded it

└Amazing

└How did Dohyun get here?

└I went to the video link and saw that a little kid wrote a letter asking him to come ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ [Korean slang expressing surprise] He actually went, seriously

└Wow, if I write a letter asking him to come to our company, will Na Dohyun come?

└Another post just went up, there’s also a video of Dohyun saying he’ll go anywhere there are fans

└Wow, Na Dohyun is crazy, I’m not even a fan but I’m so jealous

└Na Dohyun fans, honeybees, the third video is up, go to the manager’s 별스타그램 [Korean slang combining ‘star’ and ‘Instagram’] and watch it! It’s amazing, Na Dohyun is playing an old piano and singing, wow, his honey voice is melting my ears

└It’s really amazing, I love you Na Dohyun ㅠㅠ [Korean emoticon for crying] I’m so happy to be your fan

└Me too ㅠㅜㅠ [Korean emoticon for crying] I’m so proud to be a fan of such a singer

* * *

“Wow. Team leader. My phone keeps vibrating? Should I not answer the calls from reporters?”

A member of the PR team asked the team leader.

As the video of Dohyun singing in a village in Ganghwa-gun was released, interview requests from reporters were pouring in.

Even though they had said they would hold a press conference after the Glastonbury Festival, the press conference had been postponed as Dohyun took a break.

The reporters, thinking this was their chance, were asking about everything from how Dohyun ended up in a village in Ganghwa-gun to the smallest details.

“Ugh… I’m already suffering from the reporters. They’re clamoring for a press conference. Or they’re asking to visit each media outlet individually. What should we do? Anyone have any ideas?”

Then one team member raised their hand and said.

“To be blunt, Dohyun is the best-selling ‘product’ right now. We should go all in at times like this. Let’s go with a press conference. I think we did enough one-on-one media visits last time. From Glastonbury to the relationship with Sam Mallakh, to performing at an elementary school in Ganghwa-gun. There are a lot of things the reporters are curious about, right? So I think it’s right to go with a press conference.”

“Okay. Let’s go with a press conference. But first, someone has to write a press release. Dohyun’s performance video has exceeded 10 million views. It’s doing much better than the music video views.”

“I know, right. I’ll write it!”

“Thank you. I’ll contact the reporters and receive press conference applications. We’re all busy thanks to Dohyun working hard. Hehe.”

“That’s how we make a living, though.”

“That’s true.”

The PR team was overwhelmed with work, but they were screaming with joy.

“We have to be busy, it’s not a PR team if we’re not working. Everyone, if you have close reporters, set up meetings. Use the corporate card generously at times like this! By the way, is the planning team preparing to produce additional videos of Dohyun’s video?”

Another team member answered energetically.

“Yes! Team leader! I asked the planning team and they said they filmed a lot of Dohyun’s video that day and they’re going to release a lot of bait. It would be good if that content was included in the press release!”

“Great. Let’s go with that!”

At that moment when everyone was happy.

Dohyun was immersed in his work in the studio.

Dohyun was humming a song and smiling.

Dohyun’s hands, writing the lyrics, were busy.

“Great. This is it. The lyrics are coming out well?”

Dohyun’s face, humming one song after another, was full of happiness.

It was the moment a new song was about to be born.