A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 212

The theme for today’s commercial shoot was chicken. More specifically, green onion chicken.

Do-hyun, who already had experience with chicken commercials, was approached by this brand to promote their new green onion chicken menu.

The new menu featured green onions and onions added to their signature sauce, prompting the new commercial request for Do-hyun.

Do-hyun often indulged in this brand’s green onion chicken, even when he wasn’t advertising it. However, he felt it lacked a unique edge compared to other brands.

He seized the opportunity to meet with the advertiser and suggested ways to differentiate their green onion chicken from the competition.

His feedback was taken to heart, leading to the creation of a new commercial.

Before getting his makeup done, Do-hyun reviewed the commercial storyboard.

‘Hmm… If the last one was green onion mixed with soy sauce, this time they’re releasing a new menu based on a sauce mixed with mustard and soy sauce. I’m really looking forward to the taste.’

Tasting the product is an inevitable part of filming a food commercial. Do-hyun hoped this new flavor would be delicious.

Looking at the commercial storyboard, his mouth watered. He was glad he’d come to the set hungry.

“Do-hyun, we actively incorporated your ideas into this new green onion chicken. Our development team poured their heart and soul into the sauce. It might seem like a simple mustard and soy sauce blend on the surface… but it’s much more complex than that. I hope you can convey that in the commercial. The storyboard has lines, but please emphasize this point through your expressions and tone!”

The advertiser approached him with this request. Do-hyun asked if he could try the chicken first.

“Of course, you can. Our youngest staff member will bring it right away.”

Shortly after, the youngest staff member arrived with the green onion and onion chicken.

The aroma was incredibly appetizing, as if it had just been freshly fried.

“Is this boneless?”

“Yes. We’re planning to sell the onion chicken exclusively as boneless. We took the development team’s feedback to heart; they felt it would be inconvenient to eat with onions and green onions if it had bones.”

“Oh! Good. It was always a bit of a hassle to debone chicken while eating green onion chicken.”

“It seems we’re on the same wavelength as Do-hyun. Please, have a taste and give us your honest feedback!”

Listening to the staff member’s enthusiastic voice, Do-hyun put a piece of the boneless chicken, coated in the sauce and mixed with onions and green onions, into his mouth.

The staff exclaimed as they watched Do-hyun eat with gusto.

He looked so genuinely delighted, even before the cameras started rolling.

“Do-hyun, what do you think of the taste? Can you feel the soul of our development team?”

Do-hyun nodded vigorously as he chewed.

They had said the sauce was a labor of love. It was more than just a simple combination of mustard and soy sauce.

The flavors were perfectly balanced. The batter was lightly seasoned, not too salty, and not too thick – just right. If they sold it as is, it was sure to be a hit with consumers.

“Wow… This is some of the best chicken I’ve had in a long time. It’s really delicious. I’m genuinely impressed.”

“Oh…! That’s quite the compliment. Would you mind if we used this footage as a behind-the-scenes clip for the commercial?”

“Of course! In fact, now that you mention it, I should probably eat even more, right? So that onion chicken sales skyrocket after the behind-the-scenes video is released.”

A member of the commercial production staff grabbed a camcorder and began filming Do-hyun.

Seeing this, Do-hyun ate the onion chicken with even more enthusiasm.

It could have been too heavy for breakfast, but the sweet and savory combination was perfect, making it incredibly enjoyable.

After a short interview with Do-hyun, the camcorder was finally turned off.

Do-hyun declared that he was full, but also expressed concern about the actual filming.

“I was just going to have a taste… but it was so much better than I expected. I ended up eating way too much. It’s exactly the taste I imagined. It’s ideal… I even feel like writing a CM [commercial music] song.”

“Oh! Do-hyun, that’s a great idea! Could you come up with a simple song and sing it on the spot? A catchy tune would be much more effective in the commercial than just a taste evaluation. We’d be thrilled if you could do that for us!”

“Then I’ll do it! If it’s for the advertiser’s satisfaction, I, as a model, must step up!”

Everyone was delighted by Do-hyun’s enthusiasm.

His manager thought to himself.

‘He’s been so much more energetic since he started dating.’

It was obvious that his personality had become brighter.

He used to be a bit more reserved, but not anymore.

‘Well, he’s only human. It’s natural to feel good when you’re in a relationship.’

* * *

After the commercial shoot, Do-hyun wondered what to do with Hana that day.

Hana had been complaining to Do-hyun about having to manage two concerts.

Originally, there were four teams scheduled to perform that day, but after delegating two to her juniors, she still had to attend the press conferences for the remaining two, one of which was Icarus.

Do-hyun was a little disappointed because Hyun-ho had invited him to go tomorrow.

He wished he could have seen it with Hana on the same day.

Hana also expressed her disappointment, but she comforted Do-hyun, saying that it wouldn’t be good if they were seen together too often.

[Honey, is there anything you want to eat?]

Do-hyun asked Hana what she wanted to eat because he wanted to cook for her.

Do-hyun wasn’t a skilled cook, but he wanted to use the skills he had picked up from his self-sufficient living experience to make something delicious for his hardworking girlfriend.

[Um… You said you were filming a chicken commercial today. I just want to eat green onion chicken.]

[Oh! I actually brought a box of untouched chicken from the set. Should I heat it up for you when you get here?]

[Yeah. You don’t have to cook.]

Relieved by Hana’s words, Do-hyun began to brag about the chicken.

He explained how his idea would benefit the brand and that his photo card would be released as a promotional item after the onion chicken launched.

[I brought a Polaroid camera today. Just in case. To take pictures of you. I wanted to capture you in a different frame this time.]

Do-hyun felt a surge of happiness just hearing her words.

He appreciated being in the frames of many fans, but he was especially touched by Hana’s special affection for him.

He loved that she treated him specially while maintaining an air of indifference. It was as if she was acknowledging him as Na Do-hyun, the person, not just Do-hyun, the superstar. If dating was this wonderful, he should have started sooner. Do-hyun thought he should have persuaded, coaxed, and appeased Yoo Hana and started dating her earlier.

* * *

The happy weekend passed, and Monday arrived.

From today, the schedule was packed.

More specifically, Lee-rae, the label’s number one singer, had a busy schedule.

As the representative of the label, Do-hyun planned to be involved in all of Lee-rae’s activities.

Lee-rae’s concept was “a bird that broke out of its shell and faced a new world.”

Today was the day to film the promotional video.

Lee-rae’s hair had been bleached five times to achieve a white color, with mint-colored highlights added to give her a bird-like appearance.

Do-hyun was pleased with Lee-rae’s look, as he had been heavily involved in developing the concept.

However, he had one concern.

“Lee-rae, didn’t your scalp hurt from all that bleaching?”

“I have to endure it. But it was okay because we spaced out the bleaching sessions, CEO. Don’t you think the new hair color is pretty? I’ve been taking a lot of selfies lately. I’m going to release a lot of photos after I debut!”

“Oh… good? We’re planning a Polaroid event, so let’s take Polaroids whenever you have time.”

The plan was to include a random Polaroid photo in each album purchased.

It was another strategy to boost album sales.

An event designed to entice fans with the prospect of owning a unique, one-of-a-kind photo.

Hana had casually suggested a Polaroid event, and it was immediately adopted as a promotional tactic for Lee-rae’s first full-length debut album.

Do-hyun photographed Lee-rae with a Polaroid camera whenever he had the chance.

He also had her write a short message on each one.

Lee-rae decorated the Polaroids like short letters, showing her enthusiasm for the event.

“Okay, let’s start filming now. With your short hair and mint color, you really look like a fairy. You also look like a nightingale.”

“Isn’t a nightingale brown?”

Do-hyun smiled awkwardly at Lee-rae’s question.

“Let’s just say that for now. Anyway, did you review and understand today’s concept storyboard?”

“Yes! I practiced my facial expressions a lot at home. I practiced a lot with my manager! I’m ready to show you!”

With that, Lee-rae went to get ready for filming.

Having been in the industry for over ten years, Do-hyun meticulously advised on the best angles and techniques to film Lee-rae.

The camera director appreciated the input.

“As expected, a superstar’s eye is different. She looks much better when you shoot from this angle. Should I call the CEO’s eye a prescient eye…?”

“This is a promotional video for our label’s number one singer’s debut, so I have to pay attention to every detail. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The director and camera director laughed at Do-hyun’s words.

“Oh, and please adjust the direction of that light slightly. It seems to be shining too directly… It would be better to angle it a bit.”

“Oh… that’s right. That would be better. Lee-rae, just a moment. Let’s adjust the lighting and then we’ll continue. Have a seat for a moment.”

Lee-rae’s filming was being done while she was lying down.

However, upon hearing the instruction to sit down, Lee-rae got up and observed the scene on the set.

Lee-rae was amazed as she watched the scene transform according to Do-hyun’s instructions.

“…Wow. It’s amazing to see how much goes into debuting as a professional.”

Do-hyun, hearing Lee-rae’s muttering, approached her and said.

“Lee-rae, you’ve officially entered this world now. You’ll have to get used to it. Okay? It might seem unfamiliar now, but this scene, and all the scenes you’ll experience in the future, will become your history, one by one. So remember that. Okay?”

“CEO, what you just said was like a quote-making machine. ‘It will become your history one by one.’ Can I remember that and use it in an interview? Because I’m sure they’ll ask me questions about the CEO during my debut.”

“Of course. But it would be nice if you could phrase it a little more eloquently. Anyway… Lee-rae, let’s do our best. Fighting!”

Do-hyun stepped back.

At the announcement that filming would resume, Lee-rae’s eyes, which had been relaxed, changed.

A bird that broke out of its shell and faced a new world.

Lee-rae perfectly captured the feeling of both fear and curiosity in an unfamiliar space.

‘…I knew I had an eye for talent. She’s a natural entertainer.’

Do-hyun was newly impressed.