A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 26

“Ugh! 300 seconds? Other programs only give 60 seconds!”

“Why not just say it’ll be announced in 5 minutes! 300 seconds is ridiculous.”

“Seriously… these audition programs are always like this.”

The audience’s angry voices echoed.

Do-hyun, who was so nervous during the performance that his hands were sweaty, wiped his hands on his pants. Seeing that his hands were still sweating, he figured he must have been pretty nervous.

‘It’s so nerve-wracking because I think this is really the last time.’

Five minutes felt like a long time to Do-hyun.

Looking around at the other contestants, they seemed to feel the same.

Some contestants didn’t know where to look and were half-hiding behind the mentors.

Hyo-seop, for whom Do-hyun had foreseen a positive future, couldn’t hide his nervousness either.

At least Do-hyun had been through an audition program once before, but this was Hyo-seop’s first time.

Do-hyun thought that this time must feel very long for Hyo-seop as well.

‘Hmm, this result has to be good. I hope I got a lot of points from the real-time voting.’

Although the two mentees with the same mentor practiced together, it was ultimately an individual competition. It was a format where 10 people each sang with their chosen mentor.

A stage where you had to believe your choice was right. Do-hyun didn’t want to lose on such a stage, especially since he had turned down Coast’s offer and chosen Sisters.

MC Ha Yeon-ho came back on stage.

“Okay, 10! 9! 8!”

The countdown quickly passed.

“Everyone, 5 minutes was quite a long time. Wasn’t it?”

“Tell us the results!”

“Hyo-seop, noona [older sister or female friend] believes in you!”

“Seon-ah noona! Let’s go back to Hongdae [a district in Seoul known for its indie music scene]!”

“Jin-ah! Let’s succeed!”

“Do-hyun! Let’s make your fourth debut a success!”

Each person shouted towards the person they were supporting.

Do-hyun turned his head towards the direction where he heard voices cheering for him.

Then, some of the people sitting there sent finger hearts [a Korean gesture of affection] to Do-hyun. Do-hyun, like the experienced idol he was, returned the gesture with a finger heart, even in the midst of tension. A squeal was heard from nearby.

“Okay, it’s a very tense moment.”

As Ha Yeon-ho dragged out his words, the audience made angry noises.

“Boo! Boo! Announce it already!”

“Your wish is my command. Should we announce from 10th place? Or from 5th place? Or maybe from 1st place? Or maybe…”

Do-hyun had experienced this kind of 떨림 [excitement/nervousness] in his previous survival show, but his heart started to race again.

“Should we announce in the order of the individual performances? Or by mentor!”

“Ah, just hurry up and do it!”

A fan holding a [Lavita Do-hyun] placard shouted.

Seeing his old fan in the audience seats, Do-hyun felt a little relieved from his worry that he might receive a low score.

He felt like he could have a long career as a singer with that fan. That’s how precious that fan was.

“Okay! Then let’s find out the rankings from 4th to 9th place first.”

Doo-goo-doo-goo-doo-goo—

The sound of drums, heightening the tension, echoed, and some audience members closed their eyes, holding their hands tightly.

The contestants’ eyes, including mine, turned to the electronic display board.

Who would take which place?

Since it was a debut stage as an individual, not as a group, the vote count was also important.

Please, let the results be good…….

“Okay, everyone. You’re most curious about 4th place, right?”

I don’t know why Ha Yeon-ho’s voice is so annoying.

Of course, everyone is most curious about 1st place!

I also wanted to check the results quickly, so my hands started to sweat.

I was confident that I wouldn’t be in last place, but I wasn’t sure that I would be in the top ranks either.

“Okay, 4th place is…!”

The faces of six people, from 4th to 9th place, appeared in a six-split screen on the electronic display board.

This is the same four-split screen I had experienced on the previous program I was on.

This section is the most nerve-wracking.

“It’s among these 6 people!”

At Ha Yeon-ho’s words, the audience clamored for him to announce 4th place quickly.

“Okay, production team! Show the screen!”

Then the screen changed to a three-split screen this time.

“It’s changed from 1 out of 6 to 1 out of 3. I heard that these three had a very fierce competition. Aren’t you curious?”

“Show us quickly!”

“Ugh! It’s hard to wait!”

“Hurry up and do it!”

“Due to the enthusiastic support of the audience, we will announce the results starting from 4th place. 4th place is… immediately! Contestant number 12!”

Contestant number 12’s expression was full of regret. It seemed he was disappointed that he remained in 4th place despite receiving Coast mentor’s 까다로운 [demanding/strict] directing.

Contestant number 12 continued, trying to hide his disappointment.

“Thank you, everyone! Thanks to you, I was able to record a good ranking from the first live broadcast competition! I will show you a better 모습 [image/performance] in the future!”

He conveyed his feelings calmly, trying to control his emotions as much as possible. It would be the best he could say.

Meanwhile, the screen changed to a two-split screen.

“Then 5th place is…!”

Silence filled the audience.

“It’s 진부 [cliche/predictable] to start from 5th place, right? 9th place is immediately! Contestant number 45!”

Turning my head, Mentor Seon Hwa-seung’s expression was subtle.

“Thank you so much to those who voted for me. It’s really an honor just to be able to stand on this stage, and I will work harder to show you a better 모습 next time!”

Contestant number 45 was 울먹거리고 [on the verge of tears].

“Contestant number 45 is shedding tears. I heard that Mentor Seon Hwa-seung trained her firmly with 매운맛 [spicy/intense] feedback, Mentor Seon Hwa-seung. What are your thoughts now?”

Seon Hwa-seung grabbed the microphone, cleared her throat, and said.

“First of all, I would like to thank contestant number 45 for following me well. My position is to clearly distinguish between public and private matters, so I gave her slightly 매콤한 [spicy/intense] feedback. The result is somewhat disappointing, but thank you for following me well. And I would also like to thank the listeners who recognized the charm of contestant number 45.”

Ha Yeon-ho skillfully manipulated both the contestants and the viewers, announcing the rankings of the remaining four people. Among them were two of Coast’s mentees.

Do-hyun’s name had not been called in the meantime.

Do-hyun was sure that he was in the top 3, but he couldn’t be sure of 1st place.

“Okay, then let’s announce 10th place right away?”

The people whose rankings had not yet been announced had a suffocated expression at Ha Yeon-ho’s words.

“10th place is… Contestant number 17! It’s a disappointing result, but don’t worry too much. There is no elimination in the main competition. If you get good results in the subsequent missions, a come-from-behind victory is also possible!”

Even with Ha Yeon-ho’s words, contestant number 17 was looking at the floor with a bright red face, not knowing whether he was embarrassed or angry. As a result, even though he was in 10th place, there would be viewers who voted for him, so it couldn’t be said to be a good attitude.

“Okay, then let’s announce 1st place right away. The long-awaited 1st place is…!”

Doo-goo-doo-goo-doo-goo—

The sound of drums, heightening the tension, echoed, and some audience members closed their eyes, holding their hands tightly.

Do-hyun also couldn’t open his eyes properly due to the tension.

“1st place is… Congratulations! Contestant number 33! This is the contestant who is challenging his second debut, right? He is rapidly emerging as a rising rookie! Congratulations! Shall we hear your 소감 [impressions/thoughts]?”

Do-hyun opened his eyes at Ha Yeon-ho’s announcement.

“Thank you! It’s all thanks to you that I was able to get such good results in the first live broadcast competition! I will work harder!”

It turned out that the first time he had read someone else’s tarot card was correct.

Although he wasn’t in 1st place, he was happy to offer his congratulations because he knew that Hyo-seop’s personality was a kind one that was hard to find in this industry.

Even though the production team was creating a rivalry between the two.

“I think contestant number 33, who took 1st place, is in a rivalry with contestant number 23. It’s a moment where I’m really curious about contestant number 23’s ranking! Shall we reveal contestant number 23’s ranking first?”

“Yes!”

“Please reveal it quickly!”

“Lavita Do-hyun!”

“Do-hyun, I love you!”

It seemed that quite a few of Do-hyun’s fans had come.

Do-hyun was overwhelmed with tension at Ha Yeon-ho’s sudden announcement of his ranking and closed his eyes.

“Contestant number 23 has his eyes closed tightly, I will reveal the ranking!”

Doo-goo-doo-goo—

“Congratulations! 3rd place! As expected, you are different! It’s proof that you showed good skills as you are challenging your fourth debut, right? Then you must be curious about 2nd place too! 2nd place is…….”

Ha Yeon-ho continued to announce 2nd place. It was contestant number 41—Hongdae’s new Seon-ah noona—who performed a duet with the same Sisters mentor as Do-hyun. Sisters laughed loudly and hugged Do-hyun and contestant number 41.

“Mentor Sisters, you succeeded in including your mentees in the top 3 in the main competition, how do you feel? This team is getting a lot of attention online!”

“Thank you so much! I never imagined that all of our mentees would receive such good results! There are so many great people among the other mentors. There is also a 25-year senior in the music industry, so I am really happy that my mentees have achieved good results in the top 3. Our mentees who chose the mentor Sisters, thank you for your hard work during the week, and I love you!”

Ha Yeon-ho looked at number 23 Do-hyun and number 41 and asked a question.

“I’m curious about the 소감 [thoughts/feelings] of contestant number 23 and contestant number 41. I will ask in order of 빠른 [faster] number. Contestant number 23! You are gathering 화제 [buzz/attention] online as you are challenging your fourth debut. How do you feel about taking 3rd place in the first live broadcast mission?”

Do-hyun tried to calm his floating mood and speak in a state where he had 절제한 [restrained] his emotions as much as possible.

He is a winner now, but he may not be later.

Humility is always a virtue. When you have to do this 개인플레이 [individual play], you have to be humble and show a 견고한 [solid/strong] 모습 [image/appearance]. That’s how you can capture the hearts of viewers. Do-hyun needed even one more vote.

“Thank you so much. You said it’s my fourth debut challenge. I am grateful that I was able to receive a good ranking of 3rd place as I have 절실하게 임한 [approached earnestly]. I think that my mentor, as well as number 41, played a role in helping me achieve this result. Thank you to everyone who voted for me.”

“As expected, it’s a comment from an audition program 경력자 [veteran]! Contestant number 41, Hongdae’s new 참가자 [participant]! How is it? Do you feel like going back to Hongdae? Your 포부 [ambition/aspiration] for coming to this program was to go back to Hongdae, wasn’t it?”

Then contestant number 41 took the microphone and said with a bright smile.

“I want to go to Hongdae right now. But there are 남은 [remaining] stages, right? Everyone, please pay a lot of attention to Hongdae’s indie scene. And our Ether members! If you are watching this broadcast, remember. Don’t forget that we agreed to meet again if I win!”

* * *

I couldn’t hide my joy. I guessed that my 모습 [appearance/image] that went out on the broadcast camera would be smiling brightly.

“Then the audience must be very curious, what is the next mission!”

Thinking about that, I thought about the next mission.

‘너의 첫 번째 가수가 되고 싶어 [I Want to Be Your First Singer]’ has a very different format from the previous audition program.

What will the second live broadcast mission be?

MC Ha Yeon-ho grabbed the microphone and looked at the audience seats.

“Okay! Everyone, you’re curious about the second live broadcast mission, right? Look at the screen!”

Then the screen changed to a 10-split screen, and screens of Hongdae, Gangnam Station, Jongno, etc. appeared.

설마…… [No way/Could it be] this feeling is?

“Do you know the common point of these familiar places?”

“Busking!”

Some audience members shouted loudly.

“That’s right. The second live broadcast mission! It is for 10 contestants to busk [perform on the street] in each location and win the hearts of the audience!”