A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 120

After Do-hyun’s ‘Letter’ was released, the video of him singing at an elementary school facing closure quickly surpassed 100 million views.

This unusual phenomenon caught someone’s attention.

“Bring Na Do-hyun over to our side.”

Han Kang-jin, the CEO of Han Kang Entertainment Group, gave this direct instruction to his planning team leader.

“Do you think he’ll come? He’s only been back for a year… and he still has six years left on his standard contract.”

“Offer him a high price. What else can he do? He’ll come if we just ask. Tell him we’ll cover all the penalties. He was a nobody when he first signed, so his initial contract probably wasn’t worth much.”

The planning team leader was cursing Han Kang-jin in his mind, but as an employee, he had no choice but to follow orders.

“Yes… I’ll try to make contact.”

“Not just try, make it happen. Got it? Na Do-hyun is a product with huge potential. He’s already big now, but he’ll be a super-premium catch in the free agent (FA) market! You have to contact and grab fish like that before they even hit the FA market.”

The team leader doubted whether it was worth bringing Na Do-hyun over while paying penalties, but he kept his mouth shut.

Ever since Han Kang-jin, the youngest son of the group chairman, took over Han Kang Entertainment within the Han Kang Entertainment Group, there had been repeated blunders. He had a feeling this would be another one.

“Understood, Director.”

“I like that answer. I’m counting on you, Kim.”

* * *

Do-hyun was busy preparing for his previously planned monthly concert project.

Hue Entertainment agreed to Do-hyun’s proposal to hold monthly concerts. This was because they recognized that Do-hyun was valuable not just as a ‘singer’ but as an ‘artist.’

As soon as the news of the monthly concerts was announced to the fans, the fan community went wild.

[Honeybees, is Do-hyun really doing monthly concerts?]

[Honeybees is the name of Do-hyun’s fan club]

No, seriously, just take my wallet…

Hyun’s concerts are always high quality, and now he’s doing them monthly? What if there’s no room for me? Should I ask them to hang me from the ceiling like dried fish?

└Hanging from the ceiling like dried fish is a brilliant idea! The live hall has so few seats ㅠㅠ We really need ceiling seats ㅠㅠ

└Do-hyun, waaaaah ㅠㅠ Monthly concerts ㅠㅠ Where else can you find such a thoughtful singer ㅠ

└I’ve seen other idol bands do monthly concerts, and I wished Do-hyun would do the same. I didn’t even ask for it, but it came true here

└Do-hyun is the best ㅠㅠ He’s going to be huge!

└Honeybees, let’s be happy ㅠㅠ Let’s make every monthly concert a success!

└Thinking about ticketing every month gives me a headache ㅠㅠ But still, where else would you see this ㅠㅠ

Do-hyun was pleased as he read the fans’ reactions on his private account.

“…Even I think it’s a good idea. Having the opportunity to meet fans every month… It’s not easy… I need to write even better songs through this opportunity.”

Just then.

Bzzzz─

Do-hyun’s phone rang with an unknown number.

He had created a separate phone for work because of stalkers, and that phone was now ringing.

The only people who knew that number were industry contacts, so Do-hyun answered the phone with a puzzled expression.

“Hello, this is Na Do-hyun.”

[Hello, Mr. Na Do-hyun. This is Kim Ho-jin, the team leader from Han Kang Entertainment.]

‘Han Kang Entertainment? Isn’t that the famous Han Kang Entertainment Group, including their production company? Why are they calling me?’

Do-hyun replied with a puzzled tone.

“Yes, Mr. Kim Ho-jin. What can I do for you? And may I ask how you got this number?”

[Ah, it’s to request a meeting with Mr. Na Do-hyun. I happened to find out your phone number.]

“…Ah, I see.”

The word ‘happened’ bothered him, but Do-hyun continued the conversation without paying much attention.

[Yes. Do you have any free days? We’d like to visit you.]

“What is this about?”

In Do-hyun’s mind, Han Kang Entertainment Group was strongly associated with drama and film production, so he couldn’t imagine what kind of offer they would make to him.

[I’ll tell you when we meet.]

“Hmm… Or you can relay the message through my manager.”

[No. It’s not something I can tell your manager.]

“Ah, I see… I’m sorry, but if I don’t know what it’s about, I can’t make an appointment.”

Do-hyun said firmly. If it wasn’t something that could be said over the phone, and it wasn’t something that could be told through his manager, he had a vague feeling that something bad was coming.

[…Well, to put it briefly over the phone, we want to scout Mr. Do-hyun to Han Kang Entertainment.]

“…Pardon?”

Do-hyun thought he had misheard and asked again.

“What do you mean… I still have quite a bit of contract left. I’m not in the FA market either. I have no intention of changing companies.”

He was doing everything he wanted at Hue Entertainment, a well-regarded agency, so he had no complaints about his agency.

[We’ll offer 1.5 billion won, including the contract fee and penalties.]

Do-hyun paused, taking the phone away from his ear, thinking he had misheard, and then asked again.

“Are you talking about 1.5 billion won right now?”

“Do-hyun, what are you doing?”

Kang-ho came out of the room at that moment.

Do-hyun put his finger to his lips and signaled ‘shh.’

[Yes. That’s right, we’re offering 1.5 billion won. We’ve calculated Mr. Do-hyun’s current value to that amount, considering the penalties.]

“I’m sorry. I must reiterate that I have no intention of changing companies.”

Do-hyun once again firmly expressed his refusal.

Then, Team Leader Kim Ho-jin pulled out a wild card.

[2 billion won. 2 billion won considering the contract fee and penalties. How about it? That’s a 500 million won increase. If Na Do-hyun accepts this offer, an even higher amount might be possible…]

Do-hyun was tempted when he heard the amount.

However…

Hue Entertainment had been watching him since he was an unknown singer until he rose to his current popularity.

Even if he had to terminate the contract, he wanted to keep the standard 7-year contract with Hue Entertainment.

“I’m sorry to repeat myself. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline the offer.”

Kang-ho was listening to Do-hyun’s words from the side and realized what kind of call Do-hyun was receiving.

He was itching to speak, but he held back until Do-hyun hung up the phone.

Do-hyun was able to end the call with Kim Ho-jin after refusing about five more times.

“Hoo….”

Do-hyun let out a deep sigh.

“Who was it? Where did the offer come from, and what conditions did they offer that made you sigh so deeply?”

“Han Kang Entertainment Group. They offered 2 billion won.”

“…Heok!”

Kang-ho didn’t know the details of Do-hyun’s contract at the time.

However, he could easily guess that the contract was made for a much lower amount than now.

“You still have a contract with Hue Entertainment, right? It’s been a while now, so is it about five and a half years left?”

“It’s a bit more than that. But hearing the 2 billion won so easily makes me feel dazed… On the one hand, I’m tempted. I shouldn’t be swayed by money, but I almost was.”

“I would be too. 2 billion won is enough to buy a house. Having your own house in Seoul is a big deal.”

“It would be nice to provide a house for my parents, but… I don’t want to force myself to change companies to fulfill the contract. Especially, I felt like this person was seeing me as a product, not as a person. That made me feel a little sick, hyung [older brother or close male friend].”

Kang-ho, who hadn’t been in Do-hyun’s position, clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

“Tsk… Isn’t that a good opportunity gone? Aren’t you disappointed?”

“Not at all. I don’t mind if opportunities like this fly away several times. Ah, I’ll change my words. If such an offer comes at the time of contract renewal, I’ll consider it. Of course, I have a studio now, I like the work environment, and I like the performance environment. I have no intention of leaving Hue Entertainment. Honestly, Hue Entertainment has helped me a lot from being an unknown singer to enjoying my current popularity, right?”

Kang-ho nodded. Do-hyun, seeing his face, said he needed to see a tarot reading and took out the tarot cards placed on the table.

Soon, Do-hyun began to read the tarot cards.

“Hmm… I’m looking forward to seeing what cards will come out. What if I move to this company? I’m looking at the cards with that premise in mind.”

“Hoo… I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’ll only pick two cards.”

Do-hyun closed his eyes and moved his hand over the cards.

Then, he chose two cards that he liked.

[The Tower]

[Five of Pentacles]

“Wow… Even I, who don’t know the cards, can tell that something doesn’t look good?”

“Right? You get a strong feeling, right?”

The Tower card, which signifies a sudden change or upheaval, and the Five of Pentacles card, which represents lack or hardship. Do-hyun, interpreting that the company might go bankrupt, was convinced that his choice was correct.

“I don’t know how that company is doing in the drama and movie business… But anyway, it’s certain that it won’t be good.”

“It looks like that to me too. Should I learn tarot cards too….”

Do-hyun smiled at Kang-ho’s muttering.

“Anyway, Ho-ya hyung. I’m going to prove that this choice of mine is not wrong. As always.”

* * *

“Tell Kim to come in.”

Director Han Kang-jin had a very impatient personality.

That’s why he had ruined things more than once by trying to get ahead of the game.

People should learn and realize after experiencing things, but he was not one of them.

“Yes, Director. I’m here.”

“Kim, did you contact Na Do-hyun? How much money did you offer?”

‘Ugh. A guy who thinks everything can be solved with money. I’m so tired of it. That’s why you shouldn’t run a family business… I really need to move companies. There’s a reason why you have professional managers.’

“I offered 2 billion won.”

“Only 2 billion won? You should have offered more.”

Team Leader Kim maintained a stiff smile at Director Han Kang-jin’s scolding.

“Anything more than that would be a loss for the company. In fact, I don’t even know if Na Do-hyun is worth 2 billion won.”

“Na Do-hyun is a big catch! My eye for talent is accurate! If he released an album at Glastonbury [a famous music festival in the UK] or Lollapalooza [a famous music festival in the US], he’d be in the top 10 of the charts. Where else can you find a singer like that?”

“Still… That amount is too much.”

“So what did Na Do-hyun say?”

“I told him that I could offer a higher amount, but he refused.”

“What? He refused? Even though I said I’d give him more than 2 billion won?”

“Yes. That’s right. He refused the offer several times. His loyalty is truly strong….”

“Is that what you call strong loyalty? No, a nobody singer who succeeded in life by luck is now….”

Director Han Kang-jin was furious and made a call somewhere.

“Hey, it’s me. Spread a rumor right now. Who’s the target? You know Na Do-hyun? That bastard. Spread the word that he’s arrogant and has caught celebrity disease! What happened? He’s refusing an offer of more than 2 billion won. He’s so cocky….”