A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 123

Contrary to the production team’s concerns, the recording wrapped up smoothly.

However, after the recording, Grandpa Kim Chun-rye simply told me, “Don’t even think about developing your tarot abilities any further,” and quickly left work.

“Hmm… Dohyun, why shouldn’t you develop your tarot abilities any further?”

Hoya hyung asked, seemingly curious.

I wanted to know the reason as well.

But Grandpa Kim Chun-rye didn’t teach me anything.

He just said he’d been scolded by his grandfather and that was that.

“I don’t know. I want to know the reason too… Both my grandfather and Grandpa Kim Chun-rye are really secretive…”

“Anyway… Oh, and you’ve got another schedule lined up?”

“What is it?”

“Well, it’s…”

* * *

The schedule Dohyun landed was for the Philippine K-Pop Festival.

While most attendees were groups, Dohyun was the only solo artist invited.

Dohyun’s popularity in the Philippines played a significant role in this.

Dohyun recalled the time when Kangho had told him about the concert invitation after his meeting with Grandpa Kim Chun-rye.

“You’ve been invited to perform in the Philippines.”

“Huh? A Philippine performance? What’s happening in the Philippines?”

“They’re holding a K-Pop concert for diplomatic purposes, and you’re the only solo artist who’s been invited. I just got the news from the manager a little while ago.”

‘…That’s right. Thanks to that…

“Wow. I get to ride a private plane thanks to my agency’s celebrity.”

Kangho was busy taking pictures inside the private plane, seemingly amazed.

“Oppa! Take a picture with me too!”

The youngest stylist sat next to Kangho.

Seeing them taking pictures together, they seemed to have gotten closer.

‘…They’re openly showing off their relationship.’

Dohyun briefly considered asking them if they were dating, but you never know what might happen in life.

He decided to just close his eyes and pretend not to notice.

“It’s my first time traveling on a private plane with the performing artists.”

“It seems like it’s because the concert is being held for diplomatic reasons. In other words, we’re being treated like state guests, even if we’re not quite state guests.”

Dohyun nodded at Kangho’s words. He was right. Receiving this level of courtesy also meant a corresponding level of responsibility.

‘I need to have a great sense of responsibility.’

“I heard that the Philippine President and his wife will be attending as VIPs. Dohyun, this is the time to show off your charms to the fullest.”

Dohyun shrugged his shoulders at Kangho’s words.

“It’s a good opportunity.”

“It’s not just a good opportunity. It’s a chance to make your name and face known more globally. Honestly, the company hasn’t told you this, but you’re more popular in Southeast Asia than we thought.”

“Hmm? Really? I thought I was only popular in the Americas and Japan since I only did tours there.”

He checked the fan comments and videos uploaded on social media, but he never imagined he would be so popular in Southeast Asia.

“Yeah. It’s no joke. Famous singers there often upload videos of themselves covering your songs on YouTube. Haven’t you seen them?”

Unfortunately, YouTube’s algorithm hadn’t led Dohyun to those videos.

Dohyun had been monitoring his own videos, but he also watched tarot YouTubers’ videos to practice tarot consistently, so covers of his songs rarely appeared in his algorithm.

“…No, hyung. I didn’t know.”

“You can find out from now on. The reason you’re singing five songs at this concert is all thanks to your popularity in Southeast Asia. To be honest, we were going to decline because of scheduling issues if it was only about three songs, but they asked us to sing five songs…”

“Hyung. Be honest. The pay was pretty high, right? That’s why the company didn’t decline.”

“…Yeah. That’s also true.”

“I knew it. Anyway, I’ll do well on stage. I have to do well. I’ll take on the challenge with that sense of duty.”

* * *

The rehearsal started the day after getting off the plane.

Dohyun was set to be the grand finale.

In other words, he was headliner material.

‘That’s why the company didn’t decline.’

Dohyun concluded that the reason he was attending this concert, surpassing other rookie and established groups, was because he was given the final slot.

‘So I ended up doing the last performance. That means there’s a lot of pressure…’

“Last up, Mr. Na Dohyun! Let’s start the rehearsal!”

Dohyun checked if there were any issues with his in-ear monitors, grabbed the microphone, and went up on stage.

An oversized hoodie, jogger pants, work boots, and a beanie…

Dohyun stood on stage in truly comfortable attire.

As soon as the MR [music recorded] started playing, Dohyun closed his eyes, tapped his foot to the rhythm, and began to sing.

The sound quality of the venue was so well-balanced that it felt like a waste to consider it a one-time thing.

It was a K-Pop concert held for diplomatic purposes, and it was clear that the Korean side had put a lot of effort into it.

The rehearsal was conducted several times. Dohyun only came down from the stage after he was satisfied with the rehearsal.

Then, Dohyun headed to the waiting room as he was guided.

What he saw when he opened the door was…

“…What are you two doing?”

He witnessed the youngest stylist affectionately linking arms with Kangho and being embraced in his arms.

“Ah, no, that’s not it!”

“Oppa, it’s okay to tell him now, right?”

Kangho tried to smooth things over, but the youngest stylist was firm.

“That’s right… Okay, let’s just say it since it’s come to this. I’m dating her. It all worked out thanks to you, Dohyun. It started when you gave up the driving course…”

Dohyun tilted his head and said at Kangho’s honest words.

“You’ve been dating for a while, and you’re only telling me now? You’ve been dating since the driving course, right? You didn’t think I wouldn’t notice?”

Kangho and the youngest stylist looked taken aback.

“Well, we thought it would be a bit awkward to reveal it since it’s an in-house relationship…”

“Honestly, you could have told your *담당 연예인* [personal celebrity in charge], right? And you too, *막내* [youngest]… I’m a little disappointed?”

Both Kangho and the youngest stylist apologized to Dohyun, looking flustered as Dohyun pretended to be upset.

“It’s not like we were trying to do it on purpose, *오빠* [older brother/term of endearment for an older male]…”

“It’s okay. Both Hoya hyung and you two, it’s okay. Openly flaunting your love in front of a lonely single person.”

“No, that’s not it…”

Kangho waved his hand, trying to continue, but Dohyun laughed and joked.

“I wonder where my partner is… Aigo, I’m so jealous.”

“What? You weren’t really angry?”

“Did you think I was the kind of person to get angry about something like this, hyung?”

“I thought you were really angry, and I was surprised…”

“I’m just kidding. Anyway, have a good relationship since you two are dating. Who knows? The person you’ve been around might be your real soulmate.”

He had already seen the tarot reading for the youngest stylist, so he had somewhat predicted the outcome, but they would be a surprisingly good match.

And the thought that they might go through the process of dating and getting married flashed through his mind.

“Anyway, I’m done with the rehearsal, so I’m going to the hotel. I want to rest a little earlier today. Hoya hyung and *막내*, you should go on a date since you’re in the Philippines.”

“Thank you, *오빠*! For being so considerate…”

“What consideration? I’m just telling you to get lost because I don’t want to see couples?”

The youngest stylist chuckled at those words.

“*오빠* is so *은근히* [subtly caring], pretending not to be but secretly taking care of us, right?”

“Whatever. Let’s just move. If the hotel lounge is still open, have a drink and come in. I don’t know what time the swimming pool closes, but enjoy swimming too. Anyway, let’s go.”

* * *

The next day.

The K-Pop concert venue was overflowing with people.

There were people selling unofficial merchandise and cover dance teams. As it was a Korean-Philippine diplomatic event, there were also booths to promote each country.

At that time.

Dohyun was on the final rehearsal stage, checking the sound.

After checking the sound, Dohyun came down from the stage and started his makeup and styling.

As he was the last performer, there was pressure to deliver a powerful performance.

The stage directions were all set, and he had decided which songs to sing, but he wanted to put on a solid performance for the Southeast Asian fans who had been waiting for him.

“Hyung, what do you think of today’s setlist?”

“It’s good. It’s like a complete rock festival atmosphere. It would have been nice to sing the song you recently collaborated with a rapper on… But it feels a bit lacking to have Icarus’s rapper, who’s also performing, do it.”

Dohyun had recently collaborated with rapper Millionside for his monthly Dohyun release.

The song was titled ‘Eclipse.’ It was one of the works Dohyun would be releasing as a series about space, as he had recently become interested in space.

He wanted to perform on stage with Millionside in the Philippines, but he couldn’t come with him because the hip-hop festival schedule overlapped.

The company suggested having Icarus’s rap member, Leejun, perform with him.

However, Dohyun rejected this proposal. Millionside’s voice was husky and his diction was clear, which went well with Dohyun’s soulful voice, but Leejun’s rap tone didn’t suit Dohyun well. He might do another song with Leejun, but Dohyun decided to postpone the collaboration song ‘Eclipse’ with Millionside because he didn’t want to disappoint the Philippine fans who had been waiting for a long time.

“…Well, whatever, the performance with junior Leejun has been canceled. Aside from that, is it a bit too hardcore? I hope so. I want to sweat, and I want to see the audience jumping with excitement.”

“Yeah. If that’s what you’re thinking, I think you can create a satisfying stage…?”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m so excited to see what kind of events the Philippine fans have prepared and what kind of response they’ll show. It’s my first time performing here, so I’m even more excited.”

While Dohyun was filled with anticipation.

A performance staff came and told him to wait below the stage.

Before going on stage, Dohyun checked his in-ear monitors again.

After making sure nothing was missing, Dohyun’s stage, the last performance, began.

The tropical climate of the Philippines. Among them, the venue was even hotter with the heat of the K-Pop performance.

When Dohyun went on stage, there were fans everywhere holding slogans with his name on them.

‘Wow… Now I realize that there are many Southeast Asian fans.’

With his heart full, Dohyun roamed around the stage from the beginning. It was different from the final rehearsal.

Accordingly, the camera staff’s movements also became busy.

─Hello, everyone. It’s an honor to be able to meet you like this. Thank you for waiting to meet me. Let’s have fun jumping around today!

After greeting the audience after the first song, Dohyun ran non-stop until the last song.

In the end, he was drenched in sweat and came down from the stage.

“*오빠*, towel.”

Dohyun received the towel handed by the youngest stylist, wiped his sweat, and drank water.

“Dohyun, um… you have a visitor.”

“…Hmm?”

Usually, this kind of thing would be handled by the manager.

But who was it that made Kangho’s expression so dark?

Kangho’s expression was unusual.

“Who is it?”

“Well, that’s…”

Kangho whispered who the person was in Dohyun’s ear.

“…What did you say?”