A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 24

It was past 10 PM.

I called Hyoseop to the practice room.

I thought it would be more effective to comfort Hyoseop, who must have been exhausted from the day, off-camera.

Beyond our rivalry, I didn’t want to see a friend with a long way to go get discouraged by just one mission.

“Hyungnim… If I were outside right now, I’d be pouring soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] and beer and chugging them down.”

“How badly did you get chewed out today to be like this?”

At my question, Hyoseop’s expression turned incredibly dark.

I could feel the corners of his eyes drooping.

“I just got chewed out as much as I could. What should I say? People say their soul gets threshed. It was exactly that feeling. I knew Mentor Seon Hwaseung was sharp, but… it felt like more than just criticism. Like they’re really toughening people up, or something?”

“Hyoseop-ah. I don’t usually do this kind of thing, but…”

“Hyungnim! Please give me a tarot reading! Is that what you’re going to say?”

That’s right.

I brought tarot cards to lift Hyoseop’s spirits.

The tarot cards had been 100% accurate so far. Until now, I had only drawn them for ‘me,’ but this was the first time drawing them for someone else. I held the cards in my hand, hoping to give him a positive and hopeful story.

“Yeah. That’s what I was going to do. Don’t blindly believe the cards, just listen to the good stuff.”

“How do I do it? I’m curious because it’s my first time seeing tarot cards, Hyungnim.”

“So, I’ll shuffle the cards and spread them out, and you pick three that catch your eye.”

The three-day restriction on the tarot cards was lifted, so the cards were clearly visible.

None of the cards looked dark.

I started shuffling the cards with relaxed hand movements.

Soon, after doing a spread, I told Hyoseop to pick three cards that caught his eye.

“Hyungnim, with my right hand, or my left hand? I heard there’s a hand to use when picking….”

“Just pick with whatever hand is comfortable. Whichever one captures your eye.”

Hyoseop quickly picked three cards.

“Okay, now that you’ve picked three cards, I’ll give you a reading. It’s about your near future. About this competition.”

I turned over the cards.

[TEN OF SWORDS]

[THE TOWER]

[FOUR OF WANDS]

“Two of these cards don’t look good. Are they bad cards?”

“No. Every card has both positive and negative meanings.”

“Then how is it interpreted?”

“You’re probably going to have a very hard time practicing. You’ll suffer a lot, and your heart might be tired every day. But that will bring a big change to you. You’ll probably awaken through this competition and this program. In the end, no matter the outcome of this program, it will lead to good results for you. I see a positive future.”

“Ah, really? Hyungnim! I feel hopeful after hearing that. Wow, and what does this card that doesn’t look so good mean?”

“The person lying down with ten swords stuck in them means you’ve had a lot of stress, but if you look behind them, the sun is rising. So it means you’ve received a lot of stress and been busy with work, but that will disappear and you’ll start again.”

“Wow… amazing. Then what about this collapsing tower card?”

“That’s change.”

“What about the last one? Four wooden staffs are standing, and it looks like a celebration.”

“Read it as it is. In other words, it’s a wedding card.”

“Ah!”

I was touched to see Hyoseop exclaim in admiration.

Until now, I had only looked at the tarot of people who seemed to have a negative impact on me. Of course, Hyoseop was also someone I had to be wary of, but now, as an industry senior and junior, I was looking at it with the intention of comforting him, hoping that things would work out for him.

It was also the first time I had looked at someone else’s tarot, and the first time I hadn’t drawn the cards myself. I was also curious whether this tarot would come true. A good result came out, so I hoped it would come true.

“Amazing. I hope it turns out like Hyungnim said.”

“It will. Tomorrow will be different again. And this is something I’m saying separately.”

I started to speak, worried that I might look like a *kkondae* [older person who is condescending or preachy].

Hyoseop widened his eyes as if curious.

“What is it?”

“I hope you don’t think I’m being a *kkondae*, but there must be things you remember from what Seon Hwaseung said today. Write those down. Harsh words aren’t always poison. Sometimes they become recovery potions.”

“That’s true…. Actually, after practice today, I wondered if I was too complacent. I wondered if I hadn’t prepared enough while coming out on the audition program.”

“Don’t think like that. Everyone has limits, and they overcome those limits. We are enthusiastic about the people who overcome those limits. Hyoseop-ah, you’re good at it. Maybe you were offended by what you heard today.”

“Actually, that’s also true. I was also offended.”

“So, to summarize… you can throw away your pride. But don’t lose your confidence. You’re good at it. I’m not just saying that to make you feel good, you’re good, so believe in yourself. Do you understand what I mean?”

Hyoseop looked at me with teary eyes.

This guy, he’s going to cry if I stay here any longer?

“Don’t be so touched. I feel like a senior giving *kkondae* advice for no reason.”

“No, Hyungnim! I will live my whole life considering it a blessing that I met a senior like Hyungnim here!”

I choked on those words.

“Cough… cough… cough….”

“Hyungnim, are you okay? Should I pat your back?”

“I’m okay, I’m okay. Let’s just talk until here today. Let’s fight again from tomorrow!”

“Yes, Hyungnim! Thank you for listening to my story today, giving me a tarot reading, and talking to me! I will never forget this grace!”

* * *

After comforting Hyoseop on the first day, Hyoseop’s attitude changed noticeably.

Dohyun was grateful that his comfort had reached Hyoseop.

First of all, he was grateful that Hyoseop didn’t take his words as a *kkondae*’s words.

And he was also grateful that he could give someone hope with tarot.

“Oh, number 23, your emotions have become richer!”

It was the 5th day of practice.

It was now two days before the official competition.

Practice was coming to an end.

The song was passed, but they were smoothing out the emotional lines and refining the vocals.

Number 41 praised Dohyun.

The Sisters also clapped softly, as if they liked it.

“Good. I like it. But what if we brought it to life a little more? It’s all good, but I still feel like something is subtly lacking. You know I don’t mean it’s lacking, right? Number 23 is doing better than I expected. But you feel a little shy in expressing your emotions. Have you ever felt like, ‘I will save you!’?”

At those words, Dohyun recalled the time he had talked with Hyoseop a few days ago.

What he did might have been salvation.

It felt like he had saved a baby bird that had lost confidence and was wandering around.

“…Yes.”

“Then bring out that feeling and sing it a little more thrillingly.”

“Yes!”

Gaining strength from the Sisters’ words, Dohyun began to sing.

As he sang, the Sisters’ faces had subtle expressions.

He couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.

‘…Am I doing well now?’

Dohyun finished singing, bowed his head slightly, and took a breath.

Clap clap clap clap!

This applause was the sound of the Sisters clapping.

“Wow, you can do this well, but you’ve been hiding it until now? Just go up to this point. It’s just right. It’s so good. Right, number 41?”

At the Sisters’ question, number 41 nodded and clapped.

“As the person who made the song, I was really touched. I wondered if you could sing this song so thrillingly, at the end of salvation. You brought out this emotion well. Just go to this extent in the competition. Make my mentee number one.”

“I will! I will work hard!”

“I like that you’re showing your will. I’ll be honest….”

As the Sisters were about to speak frankly, the cameramen zoomed in on the Sisters’ faces.

“I really liked the venomous number 23. There was venom in your eyes. Like, ‘I’m going to get results here.'”

“Thank you for seeing it in a good light.”

“No. Thank you for letting me know that my judgment was not wrong. I have to go and brag now. I’m the one who raised number 23. Is that okay?”

A warm atmosphere flowed.

Dohyun smiled.

There were smiles on the faces of number 41 and the Sisters.

* * *

Competition day.

Only the final rehearsal remained.

Two people from each team were sticking together.

They were creating an atmosphere of cheering each other on.

But….

“Ah, number 23?”

Number 17, who was in the top 10, approached Dohyun.

Dohyun had a bad feeling for a moment.

It didn’t seem like she was approaching with a good heart.

“Yes. Number 17.”

“You’re in the top 10, so you’re showing us the stage like this.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I’m just curious, so I have something I want to ask. It’s not to hear you say thank you.”

“What is it?”

Dohyun asked back in a soft voice.

Then number 17, whose young face was barely twenty years old, swaggered and said.

“Do you want to be a singer so badly that you’re taking the places of young kids like us? People like me are having their debut delayed because of people like number 23.”

The staff and the remaining 8 people who heard the conversation gathered.

Because fighting is always fun to watch.

But Dohyun was past the childish age.

Now was not the time to push forward childishly.

It was a moment to prove everything with skill.

Dohyun issued a challenge to participant number 17.

“Um, it seems like you don’t like that I came this far. Shall we make a bet? Who gets better scores from the audience?”

“Ha, really. Of course, it’s me. Isn’t it obvious that trendy me will get better scores than old number 23?”

“I’ll let you know that you can’t be sure of anything before the stage.”

Then number 17 laughed and replied.

“I’ll let you put down that useless confidence.”

For a moment, there was silence.