A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 215

Seokwon signed the contract.

Dohyun told him to look it over more carefully, but Seokwon declined, saying he had already read all the important details.

“I also confirmed that you didn’t include any toxic clauses, and since I’m officially joining The Dreamer Label during my FA [Free Agent] period… it won’t be a breach of my promise with my previous agency. There’s no reason to be more careful, Hyung [older brother or close male friend]. It gives me goosebumps to call you CEO all of a sudden…”

“You only need to call me CEO in official settings. To be honest, I still can’t get used to being called CEO either.”

Dohyun confessed honestly. He was indeed the CEO, but he couldn’t help but feel shy every time he heard the title.

“Then I’ll call you Hyung in private. No, what should I call you when we go on air together? I’m already worried about that.”

“Calling me Hyung then… No, is CEO better?”

They were already worrying about what might happen in the future.

“But… instead of worrying about this now, shouldn’t we think about how to work together, what kind of concept would suit you best?”

Dohyun pointed out the most important fact.

He thought it would be better to focus on how they would work together and what kind of concept they should use for the album, rather than worrying about titles.

“You’re right… Hmm. Well, fans often described me as a hidden gem.”

“Yeah. I know that too. I often looked up the reactions when you did ‘Monthly Dohyun.’ That’s why I brought you into my label—to bring that gem out into the world.”

“Oh! Hyung, I’m so touched… Hearing you say that makes me feel like a really precious person…”

“It’s not wrong. As the CEO of the label, I had one resolution: to nurture junior artists who haven’t been able to shine like me. That was it. You fit that perfectly. To be honest, it might sting a little.”

Seokwon agreed that it wasn’t wrong and continued.

“It’s true. Honestly, who would really know me well when I was in the group? Unless you’re a K-pop fan, you probably wouldn’t know what my vocals are like. So I was also impatient. I fulfilled the standard 7-year contract, but where should I go to be recognized? I thought about that a lot. I was afraid I’d end up being neither here nor there and get buried.”

Dohyun had also thought about that during his long years of obscurity.

Listening to Seokwon’s words, Dohyun suddenly wanted to see their compatibility with a tarot reading.

“Should we do a tarot reading for the first time in a while? Our label and your compatibility. I’m excited to see how good it will be.”

“Oh…! Great. Let’s do it!”

Dohyun crossed the living room and took out the tarot cards from his bag.

He laid out a soft blanket and shuffled the cards on top of it before spreading them out.

“Okay, pick one. One for you, one for me.”

Seokwon carefully chose a card.

Then Dohyun also chose a card that caught his eye and placed it next to Seokwon’s card.

“Let’s look at your card first.”

[The Lovers]

“Wow… The Lovers card came out right away. It says our compatibility will be very good.”

“I picked a good card, right?”

“Yeah. You picked well. Now, I’ll flip over my card.”

[Four of Wands]

“Wow. What is this card? It looks like a banner is hung up.”

“Oh, this card means good things like marriage in terms of romance. In terms of work, it’s a card that contains the meaning that a good contract will be concluded.”

“Wow! Then we both picked good cards? Just thinking about it makes me happy!”

Seokwon looked very excited. Dohyun chuckled at this.

“You’re that happy?”

“Of course.”

Bzzzz?

Bzzzz?

Just then, Seokwon’s phone started ringing.

[Icarus Hyunho]

Seokwon checked the name saved honestly.

He answered the phone.

[What. Why did you take so long to answer the phone?]

“Hey, hey. Hyunho! I finally signed with The Dreamer Label. I’m at Dohyun Hyung’s penthouse right now. Do you want to come over? Your dorm is nearby.”

Dohyun gestured from the side for him to invite Hyunho if he could come.

Seeing that, Seokwon actively told Hyunho to come over.

“You recently had a concert, and aren’t you still in Korea? I’m calling because you’re in Korea… You must be bored, so why don’t you come hang out?”

[Dohyun Hyung allowed it?]

“Yeah. He says to come quickly if you have time right now?”

[Okay. I’ll be there soon.]

The call ended.

“Hyung, Hyunho is coming soon too. Icarus’s dorm is nearby, so he’ll be here soon.”

“Then shall we have a drink for the first time in a while? Beer, whiskey, wine. What kind of alcohol do you want?”

“Hmm, wine is the best for a celebration! I also want to drink beer, but I think wine is better to commemorate the celebration.”

Dohyun went to the wine refrigerator and took out two bottles of wine he had been saving.

He set out the wine glasses, and not long after, the bell rang.

“Oh. I think Hyunho is here… Can you open the door?”

“Yes, Hyung!”

Seokwon approached the intercom and pressed the button to open the door.

Soon after, Hyunho entered the hallway.

“Wow. Hyunho, it’s been a while. You’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t seen your face in a while. Is this the first time in months?”

Hyunho laughed at Seokwon’s words.

“That’s an exaggeration. We saw each other last week.”

“I was just joking, you brat.”

“Where’s Dohyun Hyung?”

At that, Dohyun appeared, holding wine and wine glasses.

“I’m here. Can someone take the wine glasses? I feel like I’m going to drop them.”

Hyunho quickly went to Dohyun and took the wine glasses. He tried to take out the wine glasses 끼워진 [wedged] between his fingers without dropping them.

But….

Clang!

His efforts were in vain, and he ended up breaking one of the glasses.

“Everyone be careful, so you don’t get hurt. Our precious singers, please stay still. I’m the homeowner, so I’ll clean it up.”

“Hyung, I’m sorry… It looked like an expensive glass….”

“No. It’s a cheap glass. More importantly, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes. I’m not hurt anywhere. I guess I should be glad I didn’t break the wine bottle….”

Dohyun reassured Seokwon and Hyunho at Hyunho’s muttering and began to clean up the glass shards.

It was a relief that no one was hurt.

Only after all the glass shards were cleaned up could the drinking party begin.

“Hyuuung… Can’t I join The Dreamer Label too? Can’t we change Icarus to be exclusively under The Dreamer… Can’t you suggest it to the company?”

With a little alcohol in him, Hyunho whined with aegyo [acting cute/childlike].

“Icarus is doing well, why do you suddenly want to join The Dreamer Label?”

“All of our members want to come to The Dreamer. They say it would be reassuring to have you, Hyung.”

“You’re joking. You’re a group that’s still rising. If you suddenly change the label to The Dreamer, wouldn’t there be a flood of protests from fans?”

Then Hyunho nodded, saying, “That’s also true.”

Seokwon told Hyunho to see him at The Dreamer Label after his standard contract was over, like him.

“On that note… Seokwon, I just had an idea. It’s a new start. It would be good to promote with your real name, Seokwon, but what do you think about creating a new stage name?”

At Dohyun’s suggestion, Seokwon made a hmm sound and pondered.

“Hyung, I’m in favor of that opinion! I should say that when you say Seokwon, it doesn’t feel like it comes in at a glance [isn’t immediately catchy].”

Hyunho actively expressed his support.

At those words, Seokwon pondered once again.

“…Wouldn’t it be good to promote with my real name? Even if the name doesn’t come in at a glance, still….”

Seokwon timidly stated his opinion but soon dropped it.

“No. Now that I think about it, I think it would be good to have a separate stage name for a new start.”

“Okay. Then let’s rack our brains together and come up with a stage name.”

Dohyun actively led Hyunho and Seokwon.

Hyunho and Seokwon began to come up with ideas.

Something like SW… something that reminds you of the abbreviation for software also came out, but it soon disappeared from the candidates.

And an hour passed, but nothing was decided.

The story soon flowed into small talk, so it became a pleasant chat time.

“Let’s think about the stage name later. It’s not like we’re going to release an album right now just because we’re thinking about it.”

Seokwon, the strongest drinker of the three, wrapped up the conversation.

Dohyun, who was slightly tipsy, nodded at this. Hyunho was almost half-asleep.

“Okay, let’s do that. I only drank a few glasses of wine, but why is the alcohol hitting me so hard….”

“Hyung, isn’t it because you haven’t been able to sleep because you’ve been spending time on Yrae’s debut? Even today, you just did a stage at Yrae’s press showcase. I think you must have been quite nervous.”

Dohyun said that Seokwon’s words seemed to be correct.

“Before the press showcase, Yrae said she couldn’t do it. Seeing that reminded me of when I debuted. I was also very scared and afraid when I first stood in front of reporters. Thinking about that time, I understood how Yrae felt….”

“It seems like she did well in the end? I watched the video that was uploaded and gave her a standing ovation.”

“A standing ovation… Anyway, she did well. I thought she was timid, but surprisingly, she was bold and seemed to be born to be a celebrity. She’s a completely different type from a hard worker like me.”

“Hey, if Hyung is a hard worker, what are we?”

Hyunho fell asleep on the sofa, saying he was sleepy.

Only Seokwon was keeping Dohyun company.

“You guys have natural talent. I have… I have a lot that I’ve managed to acquire through effort. I always suspect that it was possible to get to where I am now because I was lucky. Do you know that?”

“Know what?”

“If I don’t constantly doubt what I have, I’ll become obsolete. I’m afraid of that, Seokwon. I’m afraid that I’ll become obsolete in this industry someday, that I’ll fall. I haven’t told anyone this, but it’s easy to talk to you about this….”

Seokwon expressed his sympathy for Dohyun’s words.

He could sympathize because he was also feeling the same emotions as Dohyun.

“I feel the same way, Hyung. To be honest, I was so scared when I decided to terminate my contract with my previous agency. But… Hyung established a label just in time and saved me. I was afraid I would fall, that I would be forgotten.”

“Don’t worry about that. As long as I’m here, as long as I’m standing, I’ll make sure you’re not forgotten. Let’s fly higher. The tarot reading was good earlier. My tarot readings have never been wrong. So trust me. I’ll help you fly higher.”

“Thank you, Hyung! I’m always grateful, and grateful again. You’re an amazing person just for raising me, a no-name singer, to this level. Now… when the article about the contract with The Dreamer comes out, will I get more attention?”

“Yeah. You will. So just get ready to fly. I’m ready.”