A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 160

“Hehe. I can’t just tell you. Buy me a cake, and I’ll think about it.”

Reporter Yoo joked. Reporter Yoon gained confidence from those words.

And then she promptly bought a cake. Not just a slice, but a whole cake!

“What is this? Are we eating a whole cake?”

“Senior, this is how we eat when there’s something to celebrate.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Daebak [Korean slang for ‘jackpot’ or ‘amazing’]! Senior, is it true that our Do-hyun…! Do-hyun! Has succeeded?”

“Yeah. You could say that. I thought it was amazing when our Do-hyun was selected for the Super Bowl, but now he’s really become a global top star. I don’t know how much I trembled after confirming the facts. I even struggled with whether to tell you or not, and I couldn’t sleep at night. My mouth was itching to tell someone.”

“Senior, how could you stand it? Seriously… I would have published an article right away.”

“Actually, Huent asked me to keep it under embargo until they release the article. So, I suffered trying to keep the embargo.”

Reporter Yoo Hana thoroughly kept the embargo for the sake of her future relationship with Huent. Because of that, she didn’t even reveal the truth to her close friend, Reporter Yoon Min-hye. In her heart, she wanted to brag that our Do-hyun was the best in the world, but she didn’t.

“Anyway… that’s how it is.”

Reporter Yoo said, finally regaining her composure.

“Isn’t our Do-hyun a real growth-type character? It seems like things are going even better for him in his 30s. I wonder how far this Na Do-hyun *deokjil* [obsessive fandom] will go… Na Do-hyun is more than enough to fill the Jamsil Main Stadium, but now I don’t think I’ll be able to go to concerts without a press ticket.”

“I’m scared of ticketing too. I really don’t think I’ll even see the *podokal* [literally ‘grape seeds,’ referring to available tickets that disappear quickly] anymore… I think we should consider that we barely caught the last train when we grabbed tickets at the PC cafe last time.”

“I agree, Senior. Ugh.”

“Anyway… I’m really looking forward to Do-hyun taking on Lily’s producing, since it’s official. I’m excited because I think Do-hyun can create a great song.”

“Me too.”

And so, the two reporters’ Na Do-hyun *deokjil* story continued.

* * *

Do-hyun completed the first draft of his essay. He had expected it to take a year.

However, he wrote whenever he had time during his stay in the United States, so it took less time than he thought to complete the first draft of the essay.

He hadn’t expected to complete the first draft with the European tour just around the corner.

“Hmm… Should I revise the manuscript and send it? Or should I revise it after hearing the editor’s opinion?”

Do-hyun took out glasses he didn’t usually wear, put them on askew, and was re-reading the manuscript he had printed out.

When awkward expressions appeared here and there, he immediately started revising them. In addition, as it was an essay he wanted to write calmly, he underlined and revised any parts where the emotions were excessive.

In the end, he stayed up all night.

Today was the day for recording all of Lily’s members. Until now, they had been recording by member part according to their schedules, but this time, it was the day to record parts that needed to be coordinated, such as chorus and refrain.

“Ugh… I’m a little tired. Should I sleep a little?”

Knock knock.

Kang-ho knocked on Do-hyun’s door.

“Do-hyun, you need to wake up? Huh. You didn’t sleep? Your eyes are bloodshot.”

“…Ah. I finished the manuscript earlier than I thought. So, I was checking the manuscript to see if there was anything awkward or any excessive emotions, and it turned out like this, *hyung* [older brother or close male friend].”

“Hmm… You know we have a recording schedule today, right? Do you want to sleep a little and wake up? You’ll collapse if you go to Lily’s recording in that state.”

“*Hyung*, then can you wake me up in an hour or two after I sleep a little? Is it okay to sleep that much?”

“Of course! It’s okay to sleep that much… Don’t worry. I’ll go meet the youngest for a while.”

“Okay, *hyung*.”

Do-hyun trusted only Kang-ho and quickly fell asleep. He set 10 alarms just in case Kang-ho forgot.

After sleeping for about two hours, Do-hyun confirmed that Kang-ho had not yet returned home. He said he was going on a date from the morning, so something must have happened.

Do-hyun didn’t want to disturb the date, so he changed his clothes and prepared to go to the company.

When he arrived in front of the company, he was able to meet many overseas fans who were waiting for Do-hyun.

They came to the company with the hope of meeting Do-hyun, despite Huent’s notice not to come to the company. Do-hyun just gave them a light wave.

If Kang-ho had been there, he would have been able to greet them more freely, but since Kang-ho was away, that was the most he could do. He couldn’t just coldly ignore the fans.

Do-hyun swiped his access card and entered the company. Soon, he arrived at the 3rd floor studio. Some of Lily’s members were already waiting for Do-hyun in the lounge area in front of the 3rd floor studio.

“Do-hyun *oppa* [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends], aren’t you too late?”

Lily’s members were younger than Do-hyun, but they were *sunbae* [senior] because they debuted earlier. Do-hyun politely called them ‘*sunbaenim*’ [honorific form of senior], but Lily’s members naturally used the title ‘*oppa*’.

In particular, Jung-ah, the youngest, showed friendliness to Do-hyun.

Do-hyun grew up as an only child, but he treated Jung-ah well because she felt like a younger sister.

“I’m sorry. I stayed up all night and fell asleep, and it’s this time now. I came quickly.”

“Come to think of it, I don’t see the manager *oppa*?”

“Um… he’s busy right now. It seems like he has something to do because of personal matters.”

“Ah, I see. We should record quickly. I didn’t like the part I recorded last time, so I want to re-record it. Is that okay?”

Jung-ah was the main vocalist. As such, she had a great desire for her part.

“Our Jung-ah, your last recording was good too… That’s strange. Is there really a need to re-record?”

Ah-reum, Lily’s lead vocalist, said. Ah-reum is a member who is 5 years older than Jung-ah, and she is also actively promoting her own solo album. The media even forms a rivalry between Jung-ah and Ah-reum.

“*Unnie* [term used by younger women to address older sisters or female friends] is good at everything! I still feel lacking…”

“No. You did well! Really, what are you going to do if you become more perfect here? Our youngest, huh?”

Ah-reum said, soothing Jung-ah gently. Jung-ah had a harsh side to herself. Ah-reum, who knew that well, spoke as if to soothe Jung-ah. If she didn’t soothe her, Jung-ah would treat herself harshly.

“*Unnie* always says I’m okay.”

Do-hyun listened to that grumbling and added a word.

“It’s a fact that *sunbaenim* is good. I think you’re one of the top female solo artists in Korea?”

Even with Do-hyun’s serious words, Jung-ah shook her head, saying no.

“Ah-reum *unnie* and Do-hyun *oppa* both say I’m good… I’ve been debuting for over 10 years, but I still feel lacking? I’m very lacking.”

“It’s really not. I think Jung-ah *sunbaenim* needs to look at herself more flexibly.”

Do-hyun said with a serious expression.

At those words, Jung-ah looked at Do-hyun intently, as if she couldn’t say no anymore, and said.

“But Do-hyun *oppa* seems to be quite a perfectionist too… How do you deal with this?”

“Hmm…”

Do-hyun was lost in thought. He thought he was a perfectionist. Do-hyun always thought and wanted to become a perfect and flawless person.

“Actually, I don’t know either. I think the standards are more demanding now than before. Um… I’m just trying hard and working a lot because I want to be a better person and I don’t want to disappoint the fans… but I don’t think it meets my standards yet.”

“Ah… *Oppa* hasn’t found the answer either. Ah! Come to think of it, *oppa* is good at tarot reading!”

Jung-ah’s story suddenly jumped to tarot reading. Do-hyun nodded, embarrassed, but it wasn’t wrong.

“Then how high will our new single go on the Billboard charts? Can you tell me that with tarot cards?”

There were tarot cards in Do-hyun’s studio at that moment. Do-hyun said he would look at it because he was curious about what the results would be.

Lily’s members were amazed and gathered in the lounge.

“Wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen tarot cards like this! I’ve seen it through *oppa*’s broadcast… but it’s amazing that I’m seeing *oppa*’s tarot directly!”

Jung-ah said in an excited voice. Do-hyun smiled and shuffled the tarot cards.

The sound of shuffling was heard, and Do-hyun spread out the cards.

“Please pick a card that catches your eye, regardless of your right or left hand, *sunbaenim*.”

“You don’t have to call me *sunbaenim*… You’re really polite, *oppa*. You can call me by my name now…”

“*Sunbaenim* is *sunbaenim*. Anyway, can you pick just 3 cards?”

“Hmm… which one should I pick? I hope it comes out well.”

Jung-ah hesitated and picked 3 cards.

Do-hyun flipped the first card in order.

[The Star]

“Oh… you’re lucky from the start? The Star card says that if you have a high goal, you can follow that goal and it can be achieved. It’s really good?”

At Do-hyun’s words, Jung-ah shook her shoulders and asked him to quickly flip the next card.

Do-hyun flipped the remaining cards as well.

[Six of Cups]

“What does this card mean?”

“Good news will be heard. It has the meaning that positive news will be delivered. To explain it simply, an older person than me may deliver good news, and it can be interpreted in this way.”

“Oh! Then look at the last card quickly!”

Do-hyun held the last card in his hand without flipping it over and looked at it alone first.

At this, Lily’s members protested, saying, “Why are you looking at the card alone?”

“Wouldn’t it be more fun that way? I think *sunbaenim*’s luck will follow…”

“What card came out?”

“Tell me quickly!”

As Lily’s members urged, Do-hyun smiled brightly and flipped the card over and placed it down.

[Ten of Cups]

A rainbow floating in the sky, and 10 full cups embroidered on the rainbow. The image of people dancing under the rainbow. It was truly a card full of joy.

“This album… I think the results will be very good? Everyone is happy. It seems that you can interpret it as achieving the desired goal.”

At those words, Jung-ah looked at Do-hyun and asked.

“Then… are we going to Billboard #1?”

Do-hyun opened his mouth.

“Um, maybe… achieving the goal of Billboard Hot 100 #1, I think you’ll achieve it, *sunbaenim*!”