A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 106

The reaction to Hyoseop and Dohyun’s collaboration song was explosive.

└ I listened to a song by Dohyun and Hyoseop, and their chemistry is amazing.

└ I hope they release another song together.

└ I heard they’re preparing a second song. I think they will?

└ No proof, what is it?

└└ No proof, but trust me, something really good will happen.

└ I pray, I pray, please let these two do music show promotions.

* * *

The Hu Entertainment PR team was in chaos.

Interview requests for Dohyun and Hyoseop poured in several times a day.

It was to the point where work was paralyzed.

“Hmm… Doing one-on-one interviews means there are too many media outlets requesting. There are so many places on the list… Should we do round-table interviews? Or should we just rent a hotel and hold a press conference?”

The PR team leader was deep in thought.

“Instead of getting inquiries from reporters multiple times, wouldn’t it be better to hold a press conference, befitting Hu Entertainment, which has the winners of Seasons 1 and 2 [referring to a competition or show]?”

The team member’s words made the PR team leader nod.

“Then let’s schedule it that way, make the calls, and pass it on to the management team! Fighting!”

* * *

On the day of Dohyun and Hyoseop’s press conference.

Hu Entertainment was shocked. The number of reporters who applied to cover the press conference exceeded 60.

“Even just the reporters on the list are over 40, but there are over 60 people here without photographers or videographers? That’s like a top-tier group.”

The PR team leader said, thinking of Hu Entertainment’s representative group, Black Panther.

The representative group, Black Panther, had tremendous influence. They were a group with the power and popularity to dominate the music charts for a year with just one comeback a year.

Every time they made a comeback, about 100 reporters would gather.

The fact that about 60 reporters flocked to Dohyun and Hyoseop’s press conference meant that they had Black Panther-level popularity. It could be seen as the best popularity that two solo artists could achieve.

“Huh? Wait. Reporter?”

A reporter handed over her business card and received her press pass, but something was strange.

It was from Sports Day, but wasn’t she just here a moment ago…

“Reporter Jang Eunhye? I’m sorry, but did two people from the same media outlet come to cover the event?”

Reporter Jang stopped, hesitating.

“No? I’m the only one scheduled to cover it today.”

At Reporter Jang’s answer, the PR team member quickly entered the hotel lounge where the press conference was being held.

“Reporter Oh Hyojin from Sports Day?”

Then Reporter Oh Hyojin raised her hand.

The team member approached Reporter Oh Hyojin.

“Reporter Oh, I’m sorry, but… did two people from Sports Day come to cover the event today?”

“No? I’m the only one in the entertainment department, so there’s only me.”

“There’s a Reporter Jang Eunhye here… Isn’t she here?”

“No. There’s no such person. I’m telling you, I’m the only one in the entertainment team at our company. Should I call the director?”

“Ah, no… I’m sorry. Then, is this the correct company business card?”

The team member showed Reporter Oh the business card.

Then Reporter Oh’s expression soured.

“Our current business card is this, and we changed it because there are so many impersonations. This is it. Do you want to see?”

Reporter Oh took out the current Sports Day business card.

After confirming that, the team member quickly left.

Reporter Jang Eunhye was hesitating at the entrance with a flushed face.

The team member conveyed what he had confirmed with Reporter Oh to the team leader.

The team leader knew this situation very well.

The team leader approached Reporter Jang and confidently said.

“I’m sorry, Reporter Jang. According to the media outlet’s confirmation, there is no one like you at the media outlet. And they said it’s the design from before the change. Are you a fan of someone? You even thought of impersonating someone to get in? And why did you bring a camera when photo coverage isn’t allowed today? We clearly sent an email stating that photos would be provided by the agency.”

“I am a reporter, okay?”

“We can confirm whether you’re a reporter by calling Sports Day, right? I’ll call the director directly.”

As the team leader pretended to make a call, Reporter Jang excused herself to go to the restroom.

And she did not appear even after the press conference started.

Not only her, but about a dozen people were denied entry after trying to enter the venue by impersonating reporters, due to thorough press verification.

The scene was finalized just 3 minutes before Dohyun and Hyoseop’s press conference.

* * *

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], I can do well, right? Huff. Ha. Huff. Ha… I’m nervous.”

“It’s in front of reporters, but… it’s not like we’re standing here because of something bad; we’re standing here after good news, what’s there to worry about? And our song is doing well, so interview requests are pouring in, that’s why we’re doing this. So don’t worry.”

“Yes! I understand! I trust you, Hyung!”

“Let’s go over the expected questions one more time. Quickly. There are only 5 minutes left until it starts.”

“Yes, Hyung.”

While Hyoseop quickly grasped the questions and re-memorized the content, Dohyun pondered how to best express the new news he would reveal at today’s press conference.

‘So… the tarot card I drew before coming to the press conference was the [Nine of Cups] card. The image of a relaxed merchant surrounded by nine cups.’

[Nine of Cups] signifies a relaxed state. Dohyun’s mind was actually like that, and he had the same thoughts about the events that would unfold in the future.

‘I just need to do well. Just me. Let’s keep going as we are now, without wavering.’

“Please wait. The venue is noisy, so we’re taking a moment to organize it.”

Even though it was 10 minutes before the promised time, a PR team employee quickly came and delivered the announcement.

Hyoseop seemed curious about what was happening.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah… whenever these kinds of events are held, singers with a lot of fans always have people impersonating reporters. Right now, about a dozen people impersonating reporters have been caught, so the venue is noisy. It’ll be sorted out soon.”

“…Ah. I see.”

Dohyun suddenly recalled the memory of going to the Idol Star Athletics Championships hosted by MBS [a broadcasting station] sometime in the past.

Back then, the fans who had entered as fans of his group turned out to be fans of another popular group.

Not knowing that, he even spent his own money to provide lunch boxes and fan service…

‘There are days when those memories are reversed.’

Dohyun thought so.

“Wow… fans impersonate reporters to get in?”

Hyoseop was amazed by the first-time experience.

“Of course. What wouldn’t they do to see their celebrity? We just happened to catch a lot today, but we can’t filter them out during schedules with photo reporters. There are cases where photo reporters sell their press passes to let fans in.”

“…Wow. I see! That’s amazing!”

“Anyway, that’s how it is. Oh, it seems like it’s been sorted out, so let’s go in now. You know there’s no photo time today since there are no photo or video reporters, right?”

Dohyun and Hyoseop nodded.

“Then let’s enter.”

As Dohyun and Hyoseop entered, some of the reporters took videos of the two with their phones.

Perhaps it was to leave them as on-site photos. Or to send them to acquaintances who were fans of one of them.

“Hello, I’m Na Dohyun.”

“Hello! I’m Shin Hyoseop!”

The MC was Kim Hoseok, a freelancer who used to be an announcer.

“Hello! I’m MC Kim Hoseok. We’re starting the press conference with the two of you. Reporters, I heard you’ve been asking for a lot of interviews! Now it’s time to resolve those questions. If you have any questions, please raise your hand. A staff member will hand you the microphone.”

As soon as those words were finished, the reporters raised their hands.

Not just one or two, but a dozen people raised their hands at the same time, surprising Dohyun and Hyoseop.

So many reporters were prepared to ask questions?

They were worried that the press conference would be quiet because there would be no questions, but it exceeded expectations.

“Hello, I’m Oh Hyojin, a reporter from Sports Day. The two of you are so popular that a fan tried to enter by impersonating our media outlet today. You’re both from the same program. What’s your relationship like usually? During Season 1, Hyoseop raised an objection to Dohyun.”

Dohyun glanced at Hyoseop.

The tips of Hyoseop’s ears were slightly red, as if he was embarrassed by the past.

Then he had no choice but to answer.

“I’ll answer. First of all, Hyoseop and I resolved things well after the program ended. Otherwise, this song wouldn’t have been released, even if we’re in the same agency. We’ve often received questions about whether we released such a song due to a business relationship. Of course, we do the song work as a business, because we have to be serious. If you’re asking about our personal relationship… we’re good. We cherish each other. The grudges from Season 1 have all been resolved.”

As Dohyun spoke clearly, the PR team members applauded quietly from behind the reporters.

Hyoseop also grabbed the microphone, having suppressed his momentary embarrassment.

“Working with Dohyun Hyung is really fun, and I want to keep doing it in the future. If Hyung wants to, that is.”

“I’m grateful that you say that. Let’s take the next question.”

The reporters’ questions continued non-stop.

From personal wishes that they would come out as a unit to questions about who they thought was more popular.

“We don’t talk about that kind of thing between us. Who’s more popular, that kind of thing. In a way, popularity can swell up and then fade away, so we don’t think about that. We wanted to make good music and sing, so we went on the ‘I Want to Be Your First Singer’ program. It would be great if we became the first singer in the hearts of our fans.”

Ooh─

An exclamation erupted from the venue.

He wasn’t a 10-year singer Na Dohyun for nothing.

Hyoseop even applauded after listening to Dohyun’s words.

Before they knew it, the given hour had passed.

The reporters were busy typing with their heads bowed.

Kim Hoseok said he would take the last question.

At those words, several reporters raised their hands, but the microphone was passed to the reporter who raised their hand first.

“Hello, I’m Reporter Yoo Hana. There’s a rumor online that another collaboration song between the two of you will be released. Is it true?”

Dohyun was familiar with Reporter Yoo’s face.

‘Where did I see her… Ah! My concert! And I think I’ve seen her elsewhere too?’

He seemed to have seen a face similar to Reporter Yoo at every event he had attended, but was it a mistake?

Dohyun stared intently at Reporter Yoo’s face and said.

“Thank you for the good question. The message I want to give you in this place can be summarized simply in one line. We are releasing our second digital single!”