A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 158

As I was wrapping up the tour and essay work, huge news reached Hugh Entertainment.

The FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) wanted to invite Do-hyun to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony.

“Wait, are you saying our Do-hyun has been officially invited to the World Cup opening ceremony, of all things?”

Do-hyun was already making history with Billboard and the Grammys, but Hugh Entertainment couldn’t believe it. Wasn’t this incredible news? Except for the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, it was hard to believe a Korean singer could achieve such a feat.

This news was soon relayed to Do-hyun, who was staying in the United States.

”
…Hyung [older brother or close male friend], you’re not kidding, are you?”

Do-hyun asked Kang-ho with a surprised expression. Kang-ho, who had received the news from Korea, also felt dazed as he spoke.

“Why would I joke about something like this? It’s real. Want me to show you the email?”

Kang-ho showed him an email sent by another team at Hugh Entertainment.

Do-hyun’s expression changed as he read the English email from FIFA.

He couldn’t believe it.

He thought performing with Adion at the Super Bowl was a miracle, but now the World Cup stage, held every four years?

It was a stage only singers with global popularity, beyond just North American fame, could reach, so Do-hyun was taken aback. Moreover, Do-hyun loved soccer.

He hadn’t been able to go to games in recent years due to his busy schedule, but in his unknown days, he often went to K-League [Korean professional soccer league] games. He would pay a premium to watch friendly matches.

“Wow… Hyung. I feel like I’m achieving everything I’m meant to in this life. I’m about to publish a book, and now I get to perform at the World Cup. Isn’t this unbelievable?”

Do-hyun was so flustered he couldn’t speak properly. He really couldn’t believe it. That he had become a giant with such immense stature.

“Do-hyun. You’re hitting the jackpot. Seriously… how is a Korean singer performing at the World Cup? Just thinking about it…”

“I’m confident I’ll do well. I guess that’s why I performed in front of tens of thousands of people in stadiums. Bigger things are coming, so I need to have a strong heart.”

“I guess that’s why. SoFi Stadium was huge, but this performance is going to be amazing… I support you. While we’re at it, I hope Korean soccer does well too.”

“I hope the song I sing will play during Korea’s victory moments. I’d be incredibly moved.”

Do-hyun imagined it. Just imagining it was thrilling. Imagining his song playing after South Korea wins a group stage match. It made endorphins rush.

“I’ll do my best, Hyung.”

“There will probably be official ambassador schedules… you’ll be very busy for a while. Going back and forth between countries, adjusting to time differences.”

“It’s good to be busy like this. Hyung, you need to take care of yourself too.”

Come to think of it, Kang-ho and the youngest stylist had a strange vibe lately. Before, it was a light, sweet romantic atmosphere, but recently their vibe had become more serious. At first, I thought they were going to break up.

But that wasn’t it. Do-hyun remembered overhearing something as he was about to enter the waiting room a while ago. It seemed like they were talking about marriage.

“Oppa [term used by females to address older brother or close male friend/boyfriend], when are we setting the date for the meeting between our families?”

“Oh, you’re already having a meeting between the families?”

“We’re sure of each other.”

Kang-ho’s voice was full of conviction. Hearing that voice, Do-hyun knew. It wasn’t that things were bad between them, but that they were planning to take responsibility for each other’s future and be together, and he could bless them for that. To do so, it was good that he was busy, but he also knew that Kang-ho needed to take care of his health.

“Me? What’s there to take care of?”

“Hyung. You need to take care of yourself. It seems like something good is about to happen with the youngest stylist, right?”

Kang-ho looked flustered.

“Oh, how did you know? Did you notice? I didn’t want to bother you at work, so I didn’t say anything.”

“Hyung. You were going to keep this good news from me? I’ve been busy, and you both seem out of it. I think I heard you talking about a meeting between the families?”

“Oh… yeah. We’ve been talking about it… Sorry for not telling you sooner.”

“What’s there to be sorry about? Instead, let me sing at your wedding. You two got together while working as my staff, so I have to sing for you.”

Kang-ho smiled brightly at Do-hyun’s words.

“Really? No lie? No take-backs?”

“Of course. I owe you so much, Hyung. In gratitude, let me sing at your wedding.”

Kang-ho held out his pinky finger. Do-hyun felt happy seeing Kang-ho acting like a child. He hooked his pinky with Kang-ho’s and promised to sing at the wedding.

* * *

After finishing the North American tour, I briefly returned to Korea.

The North American tour was truly a battle with homesickness, but it was also a happy time.

Seeing tens of thousands of fans cheering for me made me happy, but sometimes I missed my parents and friends in Korea so much that I teared up.

At those times, I would write in my essay to soothe my heart. I also diligently worked on songs.

There was still about a month and a half before the European tour. The most important thing to do during this time was to release an album. I was planning to slightly change the setlist for the European tour.

The fans who came to the North American tour might be a little disappointed, but I thought it would be okay to change one or two encore songs.

PD [Production Director] Lee Joon-hyuk, whom I met after a long time, had lost a lot of weight compared to before. He looked gaunt… I even wondered if he wasn’t feeling well.

“PD-nim [term of respect], are you not feeling well? You’ve changed so much.”

“Ah… I’m not particularly unwell. I just haven’t been taking care of myself, so I went on a drastic diet, and this is what I’ve become. Do-hyun, you look like you’ve suffered too much in America. Your face looks haggard.”

“No, I actually traveled around America, Canada, Mexico, and other regions, ate local food, and lived well. I’m worried I’ve gained weight.”

At my words, PD Lee examined me. Then he chuckled and shook his head.

“You’re exaggerating. You haven’t gained any weight. It’s always funny to hear celebrities who manage themselves so strictly say things like that.”

“Haha. Still. Oh, how did you like the songs I sent you?”

I had been steadily working on songs while staying in North America, and I exchanged the results with PD Lee via email. PD Lee had only given very slight feedback on most of the songs. As such, I was curious about his honest opinion.

“Do-hyun. Should I be honest?”

“Yes. Please tell me.”

“I think you’ve made it now.”

“…Pardon?”

I didn’t understand what the PD was saying and asked again. “You’ve made it now.”

“I mean… I felt like Do-hyun is on a certain trajectory. The flower of Do-hyun’s talent is in full bloom, and I didn’t want to give too much feedback and break the flower.”

“Ah…?”

It was high praise.

I had never heard PD Lee give such high praise in such a calm voice while working with him. Before, he had spoken in a slightly more rational manner, but now his voice was full of conviction. I also felt like I was really on track.

“I hope you don’t touch the songs any further. It’s enough as it is. Let’s release the album with that and schedule the music video and concept photo shoots.”

“Wow… Thank you, PD-nim!”

“There’s nothing for you to thank me for. It’s all because Do-hyun is doing well.”

That’s how the schedule for my next mini-album was set.

I had to release the mini-album before the European tour, so the schedule was very tight.

Nevertheless, Hugh Entertainment was preparing to release my album in advance. Therefore, there were no problems with things like hiring a photographer.

I filmed the music video on the day the concept photos were first released.

When the schedule is packed for a year, music video shoots can take place a week in advance like this. I stayed up all night for two days filming the music video. The filmed music video then went through two days of editing and was submitted to the censorship committee.

The process of printing the album was also not easy. There are only a few factories in Korea that make albums. That’s why I heard that they plan the album in advance and send it to the factory.

But a problem arose in this process.

A very big problem.

“Do-hyun, should I call this good news or bad news?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Well, it’s not that…”

The PR team leader’s face was beaming. It didn’t seem like bad news. What were they going to say? That question crossed my mind.

“Well, it’s not that… Do-hyun’s album pre-order quantity has exceeded 1 million copies.”

“Yes?”

It was an unbelievable story. Pre-order quantity exceeding 1 million copies. I was truly writing a new history in the male solo artist scene.

“So, the album factory said they might not be able to handle all the volume. It might not be properly reflected in the first week sales. We’re going to release a press release about this… I’m telling you in case Do-hyun doesn’t know this news and misunderstands in the middle.”

“Oh… Th, thank you. For letting me know. I feel like something amazing is happening.”

“Oh, and you know you’re going to record the World Cup theme song during the European tour, right? This news will be in the articles soon. For now, the rumors are steadily circulating in the stock market, so reporters are asking our company a lot…”

“Yes, I understand! I’ll work really hard!”

“It’s happening because Do-hyun is doing well. We’re just helping with that. I always like that Do-hyun doesn’t forget to be careful. How can you be so passionate? Don’t you get burnout?”

At the PR team leader’s question, I pondered for a moment. It wasn’t that I hadn’t experienced burnout. I just thought there was a difference in how I coped with it.

“Burnout… I’ve had it. I’m human too. But I think it depends on how you deal with it. In my case, I think I 풀어냈던 [poo-reo-naet-deon; resolved] it through writing or singing.”

Vibration.

The PR team leader’s phone vibrated. My gaze suddenly turned to it.

[Reporter Yoo Hana]

A familiar name was on the phone screen.