A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 161

When Do-hyun’s tarot reading came out positive, the Lily members looked at him with eyes full of anticipation.

“We have to trust Do-hyun’s words and go for it, right?”

“That’s right! We’re going with what Do-hyun says…”

“Hehe….”

Do-hyun knew that his tarot reading would come true, but he was hesitant to simply agree because he thought there might be unexpected variables along the way.

Do-hyun considered the following scenarios:

Not reaching number one upon debut, but gradually climbing to the top step by step.

Another scenario was debuting at number one with their single.

Do-hyun didn’t voice these two possibilities.

He just thought it would be better if the latter happened.

“Well, the results are good, so seniors, shall we start recording?”

“Okay!”

Do-hyun started recording with the Lily members, who had all gathered by now.

* * *

The final version of Lily’s song was completed about a week before Do-hyun’s European tour.

Its quality was recognized by producer Lee Jun-hyuk, and even without the approval of the A&R [Artists and Repertoire, the division of a record label responsible for talent scouting and artistic development] team leader, the Lily members were satisfied with the result.

Do-hyun decided to leave the rest to the company and stepped back. From writing and composing to producing, he had done everything he could. He decided there was nothing more he could contribute.

In the meantime, he also received a call from the publisher. Tempo Publishing had read Do-hyun’s manuscript and expressed their eagerness to start the correction and revision process, as well as provide feedback on the manuscript.

Do-hyun felt good at the enthusiastic words of the person in charge. As a creator, he couldn’t help but feel good when his work was well-received.

Do-hyun made an appointment to meet with Tempo Publishing at their office. The publisher wanted to hold the first meeting since the first draft of the manuscript was completed, so they scheduled a time. Tempo Publishing was located in the Paju Book City.

“Do-hyun, how do you feel on the way to the publisher? Aren’t you excited?”

Kang-ho, who was driving, said.

Do-hyun responded with a playful remark.

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], more than that, I’m curious about why you and the youngest didn’t show up that day? What happened?”

That day when Do-hyun was recording with the Lily members.

Kang-ho, who had promised to wake Do-hyun up, never showed up. And when he returned home, Kang-ho was drinking whiskey alone. He figured something bad must have happened.

Moreover, it was known that the youngest member had also expressed his intention to quit to the company, and Do-hyun sensed that there was a rift between the two.

“…Let’s talk about that later, Do-hyun.”

“Weren’t you talking about marriage?”

“…We were. We even had the meeting between the families.”

“Then what happened?”

“Can you give me a tarot reading later? Actually… I’ve broken up with the youngest. I think the youngest felt uneasy about the marriage and wanted to break up. I just want to hold on.”

“…Ah. If that’s the case… I should do it.”

He would look at ‘reunion luck’. Do-hyun promised to do that.

“I really want to hold on to the youngest. When I was having a hard time after breaking up with my ex-girlfriend, I think I would have had a harder time if it weren’t for the youngest… When the youngest said let’s break up, I felt like my insides were turning upside down. I can’t even eat properly.”

Do-hyun didn’t add to that. Even if he couldn’t fully understand the pain Kang-ho was going through, he knew what the feeling of separation was like.

That’s why he didn’t tell him to cheer up. He knew that saying cheer up could be poison.

“Hyung, how about eating something good and spending time in a good place? It’s good to hold on to the youngest, but more than that, it’s better to regain peace of mind and talk to the youngest again. If you ask me to help, I can help you meet them.”

At those words, Kang-ho smiled bitterly and replied.

“Thanks for the thought. But I don’t think she’ll come back once she says she’s leaving.”

“Hyung, you never know what will happen. You know that when you look at me. Hyung, you’ve been watching from the side all the things that happened from Namu-myeong becoming Na Do-hyun. Who would have thought that a so-so singer from Korea would go to the Grammy Awards and receive the New Artist Award, enter the Billboard charts… and stand on the Super Bowl and World Cup stages?”

Kang-ho, who had been listening to Do-hyun’s words calmly, let out a low laugh, saying, “You’re right.”

“What you said is right. That’s the truth. You never know what will happen. I thought I had found someone to marry… but the youngest suddenly said let’s break up, so it’s hard to know her true feelings.”

“Hyung, it’ll work out. There’s also the term ‘marriage blue’ [pre-wedding jitters]. Let’s think of it that way.”

Instead of telling him to cheer up, Do-hyun told him what he could say. As he listened to Kang-ho’s complaints, they arrived at the Paju Book City.

Do-hyun put on his hood and wore a mask. He didn’t want to spread rumors by coming here. Huentertainment also told Do-hyun to be careful when visiting Tempo Publishing.

Now that he was a superstar, if every move Do-hyun made was known, reporters would flood him with questions, and the embargo period wouldn’t be observed and it would be reported.

“Hyung, let’s go.”

* * *

Tempo Publishing was in an uproar.

It was inevitable since Na Do-hyun was visiting in person for a meeting.

All the employees dressed up and came to work. They weren’t wearing their usual sloppy clothes.

“Team leader, don’t I look a little cool today?”

Hyung-joon, a fan of Do-hyun and the one who planned this essay, asked the team leader.

“Oh… Hyung-joon. You’re quite dressed up?”

“The person I like is coming, so of course I have to dress up like this. I think that’s what’s polite.”

“That’s true. By the way, Na Do-hyun is said to have arrived at the publishing complex and is walking over.”

Hyung-joon’s eyes sparkled at those words.

“Really? Ah, I’m so excited. I was excited as soon as I received the manuscript… I’m even more excited to think that I’m going to see him in person.”

It was then.

The office bell rang.

Do-hyun and his manager, Kang-ho, had arrived.

Hyung-joon was worried, saying, “What should I do? Where should I get his autograph?” The team leader, who was watching this, smiled and told him to do his best as usual.

Do-hyun and Kang-ho came in and stood at the entrance.

“Hello!”

Hyung-joon greeted Do-hyun and Kang-ho in a loud voice.

“Hello. Are you the editor in charge?”

“Yes, I’m the editor in charge. The person standing next to me is our team leader.”

Unlike his nervous appearance, Hyung-joon introduced himself and the team leader in a relaxed manner. Behind them, the employees were glancing at Do-hyun.

‘I should take pictures with everyone when I leave.’

Do-hyun thought.

“The conference room is this way. I’ll take you there.”

Hyung-joon spoke in a friendly manner. Do-hyun and Kang-ho moved as Hyung-joon guided them.

As they entered the conference room, the first thing that caught Do-hyun’s eye was the large balloons and garlands that welcomed him.

“Wow… aren’t you welcoming me too much?”

Do-hyun said, impressed.

At those words, Hyung-joon boasted that everything was his idea and that he had even decorated it himself.

“Thank you. I feel good seeing this. I think today’s meeting will be successful.”

“Do-hyun is coming in person, so we have to do this much!”

“Thank you! By the way, to get to the point, what did you think of my essay?”

Do-hyun asked the team leader and the editor in charge, Hyung-joon, in a polite voice.

Hyung-joon had a printed copy of the manuscript. In particular, the first page was not Do-hyun’s manuscript, but a summary of the team meeting results written as feedback.

“First of all, I would like to thank you for completing the manuscript much faster than we expected.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you. Thanks to you, we might be able to move up the publication schedule. What do you think? Or would it be better to publish it later as planned?”

At this, Kang-ho intervened.

“First of all, Do-hyun will be on a European tour for the next two months. After that, he plans to go on an Asian tour. There will be breaks in between… but still, it can be said that it will take about half a year. The manuscript was completed in three months, but the company said it would be good to coincide with events such as author lectures and autograph sessions about half a year later.”

“Yes, I think similarly. I don’t think I can focus on the book if it comes out during the tour. I want to handle book-related schedules after finishing the Asian tour.”

Do-hyun had already planned in his head what kind of schedule he wanted to handle after his essay was published.

Hyung-joon and the team leader of Tempo Publishing were surprised by this. In fact, in the case of author autograph sessions that are held when you buy a book, they thought it would be nice to have one and tentatively asked about his intentions, but they didn’t know he would speak so firmly.

They thought it would be difficult to schedule since Do-hyun was a superstar. But Do-hyun was very active. Since he expressed this intention, Tempo Publishing brought up the idea of whether there were any more innovative events.

“Then we’ll adjust the schedule as you said. In addition to the author’s autograph session… what do you think about holding a book talk with the author?”

Hyung-joon asked in a very polite manner. Do-hyun nodded, saying that would be good too.

“Good! I think I’ll have plenty of time after finishing the Asian tour. I would really like my first book to get attention.”

“Right? We’re doing our best to focus on the work as it’s the first book we’re publishing by Na Do-hyun!”

“Thank you! Thank you for thinking that way. To be honest, I don’t know if I wrote well. I’m not unfamiliar with the process of writing down my thoughts, but when I read it again, I felt like my emotions were too excessive, so I revised it a lot.”

Hyung-joon and the team leader waved their hands and replied to Do-hyun’s words.

“No. The person who originally wrote the lyrics so well is now writing essays, so I even thought that writing is sometimes a talent that you are born with.”

Hyung-joon added to the team leader’s words.

“That’s right. When you work, you see a lot of manuscripts… and there are really writings with a sense that you were born with. But I’m convinced that Do-hyun was born with that sense!”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

The meeting continued in a friendly atmosphere.

As the meeting was coming to an end, Hyung-joon took the lead and asked for one thing.

He cautiously asked if he could not only leave an autograph, but also take pictures with the employees.

He had already expected it, so he agreed.

“Um… then can I ask you for one more thing?”

Hyung-joon opened his mouth, watching his expression.

“What is it?”

“Um… I want to check the tarot cards to see if this book will be successful. Do-hyun, you’re really good at reading tarot cards.”

“……!”