A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 115

[Five of Wands].

This card can indicate times of internal conflict or external competition.

“Does this card mean people are fighting? Is that right?”

I nodded at Hoya hyung’s question.

“Something interesting might happen, hyung. When this card appears, it can mean competition… or something fun might occur.”

“Ooh… competition, huh.”

“Or you might face a complicated internal struggle.”

“Oh, really? Tarot cards always seem so mysterious. They contain so many meanings.”

“Actually, I’ve been getting mostly positive cards lately. So, I’m thinking of drawing one more.”

I placed my hand over the spread-out cards and chose another one.

What card will come up next?

I have a feeling it’ll be from the Wands suit…

“Hyung, I’ve chosen a card. This one.”

“Let’s flip it over!”

Hoya hyung seemed even more excited than I was.

[The Emperor]

“……Huh?”

“Doesn’t this mean… Emperor?”

“I guess so? The Emperor card came up.”

The Emperor is usually interpreted as a self-made person. It refers to someone who has risen to the position of Emperor through their own efforts. The appearance of the Emperor card means there will be quite a bit of success in work.

It signifies overcoming fierce competition and ultimately rising to the throne, so I couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Wow… looks like you’re going to be lucky! I can look forward to this Glastonbury Festival [a famous music festival in the UK]. Who knows? Maybe you’ll suddenly become a headliner?”

“Hyung… that’s only possible if you’re popular worldwide….”

Hoya hyung burst into laughter.

“I know, I know. I was just joking. Still, how great would it be if my singer was a Glastonbury headliner?”

“The Emperor card came out, though. If I put on an amazing performance this time, I can slowly climb up afterward!”

“That’s true.”

Anyway, considering the combination of the two cards, I was filled with anticipation because I could look forward to the future.

Glastonbury Festival is before Lollapalooza [another famous music festival], so… let’s go for it!

* * *

At that same time.

On the Jimmy Fallon Show, one of the three major talk shows in the United States.

The famous pop singer Sam Malark was invited and was talking.

Jimmy Fallon asked if he watched his show often.

“I watch it often. But you know… recently that K-pop singer who came from Korea, Na Do-hyun? I didn’t like him much.”

Jimmy Fallon’s eyes widened, and he asked what happened.

Sam Malark then began to spew harsh words.

“K-pop is popular all over the world, especially boy groups. Of course, I know there are various niches within K-pop. There are girl groups and so on. I’ve often thought the entire idol industry is bizarre.”

“So, why didn’t you like Na Do-hyun?”

Sam Malark answered that question.

“Honestly, I don’t know why everyone is so enthusiastic about him. Na Do-hyun? He’s just some guy who used to play in small pubs in America. K-pop sucks. They even like guys like that. If it were me, I would have been very happy about his show being canceled. I would have been thrilled!”

“Oh… you know this statement could go out to the whole world, right, Sam?”

Jimmy Fallon double-checked.

Sam Malark nodded.

“Of course, I know. I was forced to watch that guy perform on YouTube. The damn algorithm led me to his performance! YouTube’s system needs to change.”

Sam Malark didn’t stop criticizing Na Do-hyun.

“Watching that guy is like seeing a poor man’s Oasis [a famous British rock band]. Damn it! Everyone knows I’m a huge fan of the Gallaghers [the brothers who formed Oasis], right?”

“Yes, Sam. You’re known to be a huge fan of the Gallaghers. Especially Liam Gallagher, with whom you recently worked.”

At Jimmy Fallon’s words, Sam Malark sneered and said,

“That’s why I can say it even more confidently! There’s a guy in Korea imitating my idol, Oasis? That’s just awful. It’s awful.”

Jimmy Fallon opened his mouth, saying there was something he needed to point out at this point.

“But do you know that singer is performing at Glastonbury on the same day as you?”

“Oh… of course, I know. He’s even on right before me! The production team who put such an unknown singer right before me should go to hell.”

Sam Malark’s hate speech against K-pop continued.

Even when Jimmy Fallon tried to change the subject, the direction of the conversation kept heading toward K-pop.

“Oh, Sam. I’m about to give up.”

“On what? Inviting K-pop singers to this program to show off something awful?”

“They have tremendous power worldwide. You know? In a capitalist society like ours, even that is important. In the midst of all that, Sam, I can’t agree with you making these criticisms.”

Sam Malark gave Jimmy Fallon a mocking answer.

“That damn K-pop, tell them to eat shit. It’ll fail in a few years. K-pop, which the whole world is enthusiastically responding to? I’ll show you it’s nothing.”

* * *

Sam Malark’s remarks naturally hit the Korean media.

The Korean media sensationalized Sam Malark’s remarks with provocative headlines to increase article views.

Do-hyun was also able to check Sam Malark’s remarks in a video.

Kang-ho made a fuss as if something big had happened, saying that Sam Malark was arrogant, but Do-hyun didn’t budge at all.

“Hey, Do-hyun. How can you not react at all?”

“Hyung, there’s no need to react, is there? Am I an American singer? I’m a Korean singer. What. He’s just jealous of me. Wouldn’t it be enough to just complete the Glastonbury stage as if to show him? And I’m on right before Sam Malark. If I show my stage with the best skills, won’t people forget all about Sam Malark’s words?”

“That’s true. By the way… the stage in Aewol, Jeju [a popular island in South Korea] is all set up. People are already lining up, they say?”

Before the Glastonbury Festival, following the busking at Yeouido Hangang Park [a park in Seoul], busking in Aewol-eup, Jeju was scheduled.

Since Do-hyun had already done a surprise busking, there was news that as soon as the stage was set up in Aewol, many people were predicting his arrival and waiting.

“I guess everyone knows I’m coming.”

“I think I would have noticed too. Like the other day. This is when Jeju is the prettiest. How about we go for a drive along the coastal road later?”

“How about the *maknae* [youngest member of the team] joins us?”

“……The, the *maknae*?”

Do-hyun thought he should connect the *maknae* stylist and Kang-ho a little more on this occasion.

Seeing Kang-ho’s flustered appearance now, it seemed okay for the *maknae* to join the group.

“Yes, the *maknae*. The *maknae* was saying they wanted to come to Jeju. Or it wouldn’t look bad if just the two of you went?”

“Hehe… isn’t it a bit much to go just the two of us?”

Do-hyun shook his head.

“What’s wrong with it? You’re just going with someone you work with.”

At Do-hyun’s nonchalant words, Kang-ho hesitated for a moment and said.

“Hmm… I’ll talk to the *maknae* first. Just the *maknae* and me… that’s a combination I never thought of.”

“That’s how it usually starts… right?”

Kang-ho showed a clear sign of embarrassment at those words.

“What? What starts like that?”

“No, it’s nothing. You can ignore what I said. Anyway, have a good time. I want to go too, but if I go around, it seems like too much of a spoiler….”

“You were already caught by reporters taking a flight to Jeju from Gimpo Airport [an airport in Seoul]. There was even an article with the title ‘Sam Malark Jealous.’”

“……Those reporters are so mischievous. I feel like they’ll do anything to increase views. Anyway… I’ll be a spoiler, so you two go. I’ll rest and practice a bit.”

“O, okay… I understand.”

And so, Kang-ho went out for a drive with the *maknae* stylist….

Do-hyun sat down and checked the setlist for tomorrow’s performance.

Jeju had many tourists as it was the season when canola flowers and cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

He was filled with the thought of wanting to give those people good memories as they would come to Aewol, where there are many cafes.

“No matter how I look at it, I think I’ve made a good setlist. Hmm. I like it.”

While thinking about the small-scale performance, Do-hyun came up with an idea.

He immediately called PD [Producer] Lee Jun-hyuk.

“PD-nim, this is Na Do-hyun. Is it a good time to talk?”

[Yes, it’s fine. Aren’t you in Jeju now? What’s going on in Jeju? Do you urgently need my help….]

“Actually, there’s something I’m curious about PD-nim’s opinion on.”

[What is it?]

Do-hyun carefully brought up the idea that was dominating his mind.

“Actually… how about performing every month to coincide with the release of Monthly Do-hyun? Performing every month at the live hall near Gwangnaru Station [a subway station in Seoul]. What do you think?”

[Ah, you want to perform every month?]

“Yes. That’s what I mean. If I continue to do small-scale performances, the fans will react well, and since it will be a long-term performance, I think many people who like my songs will come. Of course, the profitability is a problem to consider.”

Do-hyun knew very well that the company wouldn’t be happy about the news.

Moreover, Do-hyun, who had been performing in quite large stadiums, would be performing every month in a much smaller live hall.

PD Lee Jun-hyuk had no choice but to worry about the physical strain as well.

[When I consider it as just a company employee, leaving aside being a producer, it would be good for marketing in the long term. But you also need to know that it’s something that won’t be profitable and can consume physical and emotional energy.]

“I’m aware of that. But after meeting audiences in various ways, from the US tour to this busking, I started to think about what this method would be like. I also judged that it would be good for marketing in the long term.”

[Okay, then. I’ll tell the company first. Of course, I can’t guarantee what the result will be.]

Do-hyun said he understood at PD Lee Jun-hyuk’s words.

[Don’t forget that my position is as the A&R [Artists and Repertoire] team leader and as a producer of Hu Entertainment.]

“Yes! I understand.”

[Then, I hope you finish the Jeju performance well.]

After ending the call with PD Lee, Do-hyun was once again lost in thought.

However, no matter how many times he thought about it, the answer was the same.

‘A performance held once a month at a live hall, a year-round project, that’s great.’