A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 114

Click, click, click—

The dazzling flashbulbs burst, and Do-hyun appeared, beaming.

Kyaaaaaaaah—

The cheers echoed through Yeouido Hangang Park!

Do-hyun’s heart pounded with excitement. It had been a long time since his last busking performance.

The enthusiastic welcome from the audience amplified his excitement.

“Hello, everyone! I’m Na Do-hyun! It’s great to see you all!”

“Do-hyun, I love you!”

“Wow! Na Do-hyun is so handsome!”

The audience erupted in laughter at the man’s booming voice.

“Thank you! For the compliment. The reason I’m doing this surprise busking today is… well, the cherry blossoms are stunning, aren’t they?”

“Yes! They’re so pretty! Even prettier because Do-hyun *oppa* [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend] is here!”

“Haha… Thank you. I wanted to sing near Yunjung-ro [a famous cherry blossom street in Seoul] on a day like this, with cherry blossoms falling. I’ve prepared some upbeat music to make your hearts flutter! Sing along if you know the songs!”

Do-hyun, clutching a hot pack to ward off the chill, set it down and strummed his guitar.

Even before the performance officially began, the crowd was buzzing with excitement.

It seemed his fans, already in the vicinity, had arrived early to support him.

“Shall we start with the first song? Turn to the person next to you and whisper, ‘You are my one and only.'”

* * *

Do-hyun’s busking at Yeouido Hangang Park was a resounding success.

“*Senior* [term for someone more experienced], you have to tell me. Are you a Na Do-hyun fan?”

A junior photographer asked Yoo Ha-na, a reporter.

Reporter Yoo and her junior colleague had retreated to a cafe near their office after Do-hyun’s performance to retouch photos.

Reporter Yoo was, of course, retouching photos for her social media, while the photographer prepped images for the company database.

Yoo Ha-na thought she’d concealed her fandom well, but now she was being “outed.”

‘Surely… they won’t start rumors.’

After a moment of contemplation, Reporter Yoo spoke.

“I am a Na Do-hyun fan. But you know how small this industry is. Rumors aren’t good.”

“True. There’s a saying, a bit vulgar, that a ‘fangirl’ became a reporter to see her celebrity crush. How have you hidden it all this time, *senior*? It must have been stressful.”

“Of course, I’ve been disguising myself! Today was unexpected… it just happened because our paths crossed! Anyway, don’t tell anyone at the company. I don’t want things to get complicated.”

The junior reporter nodded in understanding.

“Don’t just say you understand! I’m serious. I’m about to be a team leader… it would be embarrassing if rumors spread that the team leader is a Na Do-hyun fan.”

“Right. I really won’t say anything! Don’t worry, *senior*. Buy me a meal, then.”

Reporter Yoo laughed, relieved by the junior reporter’s joke.

“As your *senior*, I’ll buy you as many meals as you want, just keep it a secret. Got it?”

“Yes, *senior*! But you take amazing pictures… why not become a photographer and take pictures of Na Do-hyun? Wouldn’t that be easier?”

Reporter Yoo had considered the same thing.

But…

She was on the verge of becoming a team leader as a reporter, and she didn’t want to change career paths.

And she’d learned something important in this industry.

No matter how much you like someone, you have to maintain a distance.

The closer you get, the more you hear about their flaws, and she wanted to avoid that.

That’s why Reporter Yoo Ha-na hadn’t become a photographer.

“…Well, it wouldn’t be bad. But you know, I’m about to be a team leader, so I can’t give that up. Right? No matter how much I like Na Do-hyun, he won’t be responsible for my future. And I prefer a moderate distance. You know how dirty this industry can be. It’s easy for rumors to spread and tear someone down.”

The photographer nodded.

He’d been in the industry for four years and had seen enough on countless assignments.

The relationship between celebrities and entertainment reporters wasn’t like crocodiles and crocodile birds [a symbiotic relationship].

It wasn’t always beneficial; they could stab each other in the back at any moment.

In short, trust was at an all-time low.

Still, he was curious about why his *senior* had become a fan of Na Do-hyun.

“How did you become a Na Do-hyun fan? I remember you writing articles during ‘You Are My First Singer’ Season 1.”

“I noticed him back then. I thought, ‘There’s a singer like that.’ Before that, even if I heard the name Na Do-hyun, I ignored it. I fell for him after seeing him on ‘You Are My First Singer.’ I don’t usually talk about this, except with my fan friends.”

“It’s okay, *senior*, but you’ll have to disguise yourself even more in the future. Honestly, it was so obvious today that I recognized you.”

“I thought so. Anyway, thanks for the advice. I have a really good picture of Na Do-hyun. Should I upload it to the company database? There should be a picture that looks amazing in the DB.”

“I’d appreciate it if you sent it to me!”

The junior reporter was impressed by the photo.

Na Do-hyun was already handsome, but the affectionate touch made him look particularly captivating.

“As expected… fans take the best pictures. I’ve never taken pictures from this angle before. The angle where the left side of the face is slightly revealed.”

“I know because I’m a fan. I know which side to photograph to make Na Do-hyun look his best. Anyway, thanks for lending me the equipment today. I’ve only uploaded about 10 cuts, so I’m going to upload them now.”

“*Senior*! You’ve worked so hard. I’ll collect the equipment! Your shoulders must be strong.”

“Sorry. Anyway, thanks for lending me the equipment. Again, it’s a secret from the company, okay?”

Reporter Yoo stood up and emphasized the point again.

The junior reporter nodded and told her to go inside quickly because it was chilly.

* * *

“Wow… Do-hyun. Looks like a lot of reporters came today?”

Hoya *hyung* [term for an older brother or male friend] said, monitoring the situation in real time.

I was still freezing, so I was holding a hot pack and warming myself with the boiler on.

The hour-long performance was enjoyable, but it was terribly cold.

“Were a lot of pictures uploaded?”

“Yeah… especially this media outlet. The pictures are amazing.”

I recognized the media outlet Hoya *hyung* showed me.

“Wait a minute, this angle…”

I had a secret social media account that my fans didn’t know about.

It was created to save fan-uploaded pictures of me and gauge public opinion.

“Isn’t the photo angle the same as here?”

Hoya *hyung* checked the social media account and the article photos alternately.

“What? It’s exactly the same? The photographer at this company has a man’s name… is he a male fan?”

“That could be… wow. A male fan who’s a photographer. That’s amazing and makes me feel good?”

I shrugged, checked that the bathtub was full, and went for a half bath.

My body relaxed as it soaked in the warm water.

I thought back to the Yeouido Hangang Park busking.

The people shouting Kyaaaaah. The people nodding their heads to the rhythm. The people holding hands and enjoying the happiness on a cold day. Me, singing surrounded by them.

The cherry blossoms fluttering in the distance were perfect.

“…Will I get another opportunity like this… well, there’s the Jeju Island busking. I’m doing it in Aewol [a coastal village] in Jeju Island… a lot of people will come.”

I started to feel good again, thinking about performing in Jeju, where the flowers were in full bloom.

“Performing is always fun.”

I thought that and got out of the bath.

When I came out, Hoya *hyung* was on the phone, looking serious.

Who would call this late? What’s going on?

“…Yes. I’ll make sure to tell Do-hyun!”

It wasn’t a serious voice, but I was curious.

Hoya *hyung*, after hanging up, looked at me and smiled brightly.

What’s going on?

“Hoya *hyung*, what’s wrong?”

“Hey, you… Do-hyun. You’re set, you’re set!”

“Yes? What? What’s set?”

“You… wow, the singer I’m in charge of… this kind of thing!”

Hoya *hyung* was incredibly excited.

Seeing him so speechless, I wondered if something amazing had happened.

“You… do you know the Glastonbury Festival?”

Of course, I knew the Glastonbury Festival!

It’s a world-renowned festival held every year in England!

“*Hyung*, don’t tell me… no way?”

I asked, unable to believe it.

“That’s right. The Glastonbury Festival wants to invite you!”

“Hey, me? Over so many other singers?”

“They said they were impressed by your US tour performance and watched it on YouTube. That’s what the email said. They want to add you to the lineup… they suggested, ‘How about coming and performing?’ What do you say?”

“*Hyung*… isn’t the answer obvious? Of course, I’d go on stage! Lollapalooza is great, but Glastonbury has that history… wow… and I love British rock, right? When will I ever get this opportunity?”

I poured out my words in excitement.

Hoya *hyung* found it funny and suggested filming a video to show the fans.

I filmed a short but intense video of me hearing the Glastonbury Festival news for the first time.

The video was uploaded to my social media…

└헐 OMG, Na Do-hyun is going to be on the Glastonbury stage?

└Na Do-hyun is the best, seriously

└My Honey pride is no joke

└Honestly, I don’t regret stanning Na Do-hyun

└Honestly, it’s hard to go to Glastonbury, but Na Do-hyun is doing it

└He’s going through HU Entertainment

└Have you ever seen HU Entertainment get involved in such festivals? And I told you not to mention unconfirmed rumors, I’m taking a PDF [collecting evidence of malicious comments]

└Oh, take a PDF, what’s a bad comment?

└The singer is going to the festival with his own skills, so it’s annoying to talk about the influence of the agency

└Oh, yeah, your *oppa* is great, okay?

└Don’t fight on a day when good news comes~ Silently take PDFs of bad comments~

“Do-hyun, you’re going to the Glastonbury Festival. I’m curious what the tarot will say. Why don’t you draw one?”

“Oh… okay, *hyung*. I’ll draw one.”

I immediately took out the tarot cards from my bag. Then I carefully shuffled and chose.

Soon my hand reached for one card.

“…!”

The moment I turned the card over, I was surprised.

This card… is coming out?