A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 30

After I listened to the last song and applauded, PD [Production Director] Lee Junhyuk handed me a USB containing the arranged music.

“I believe you will definitely take first place in this competition. You have to.”

Those words felt like a burden on my shoulders, but I agreed that I had to.

The live broadcast competition is judged in just five rounds.

Now, only the first live broadcast competition has ended.

I need to win the second busking mission overwhelmingly.

“Thank you! I will repay you with good results.”

“I hope you don’t sing for me or for Huent [Likely the name of the entertainment company]. Think about your own career as a singer, and sing with your own success in mind. The moment I do something, whether it’s a song or anything else, it becomes the audience’s. What remains for me is the score. I trust you understand what I mean.”

That’s right. The moment a singer sings a song, the song belongs to the audience, and all that remains for the singer is the score.

So, I need to work even harder.

I held the USB tightly in my hand so I wouldn’t lose it and left PD Lee’s studio.

* * *

The return time was 10 PM.

The current time was 7 PM. I had to check in within three hours, so my schedule was tight.

I stopped by home for the first time in a while.

Both my parents happened to be there.

“Our Mumyeong [Meaning ‘nameless’ in Korean, likely a nickname] is here?”

My mom’s affectionate voice.

“Our talented son is here?”

My dad’s warm voice.

But the word still grated on my ears.

“Ugh, I’m not Mumyeong anymore! I even got 3rd place! I told you, if I win, I’m changing my name first thing!”

“I told you that’s not allowed, right? How carefully your grandfather named you!”

My mom retorted.

But I will win first place and get it done.

My name change.

“I can only stay home for a little while. I have to check in by 10.”

“So short?”

“I was late because I had to stop by the company today to get the music and practice a bit.”

My mom looked disappointed.

“You should have come home first and had a good meal.”

“I’m okay with food, Mom. I just came to see your faces.”

My dad said, trying to soothe my mom.

“Our busy son came all this way… You stay still. I’ll treat my son for once. What do you want to eat, Mumyeong?”

“Dad, are you going to make some weird fusion dish again? I thought you might, so I stopped by a restaurant as soon as I left the company and had something simple. And please stop calling me Mumyeong, I feel like my ranking will drop…”

Despite my reaction, my dad didn’t seem to hear me.

Looking at him heading to the kitchen, it seemed like he was going to make some snacks for drinks.

“Dad, if you’re going to make snacks, just give me some Camembert cheese. I’ll just have a little wine at home and leave. I have to practice hard again from tomorrow. Drinking too much isn’t good for my voice, so I’ll only have a little.”

“Our son is quick-witted. I was going to have a quick drink with my son after a long time…”

“Whose son do you think I am? I’ve been in the entertainment industry for 10 years and your son for 30 years. Of course, I can pick up on things!”

My dad laughed at my words and brought wine, an opener, and Camembert cheese.

“I should quickly have a drink or two and send my son off. Honey, are you going to have a glass too?”

My mom nodded at my dad’s question.

She doesn’t usually drink much, but this time it seemed different.

My dad put down the wine glasses and poured.

I took a sip of wine after a long time. The flavor of the wine was amazing. If I had more time, I would have finished the whole bottle by myself and gone to the dorm.

“Our son, you did so well in the first competition. We were surprised too. We had a neighborhood meeting then and made everyone vote for you, and they all said you were great.”

“Oh, really?”

I was touched by my mom’s excited voice.

To gather all the people in the neighborhood to vote for her still unknown son.

Knowing that my parents played a role in my getting 3rd place, I almost shed tears of admiration.

My parents, who were unconditionally against my life as a singer before my grandfather passed away, have been so enthusiastically supporting me since some point, and my heart fluttered.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

“No need to thank us. Your name is Mumyeong, but maybe Mumyeong has a different meaning, don’t you think?”

My dad asked in a gentle voice.

I couldn’t understand the meaning, so I asked back.

“What meaning?”

“Mumyeong means having no name. So, it doesn’t matter whether you put the name Na Do-hyun on it, or another name. You are a person who can change in many ways.”

“Wow, I’ve never thought about it that way in my life.”

I gave a sincere exclamation at my dad’s words.

I only thought of being nameless as a synonym for sorrow, but I never thought that I could add many colors to it.

Feeling good, I made a toast and emptied my glass.

I drank two glasses and talked with my parents.

By the time the Camembert cheese on the table had disappeared, it was already 8 o’clock.

I felt a little tipsy from the alcohol. I had to go to the dorm before the alcohol took over my mind even more.

“Mom, Dad, I’ll come home first next vacation. I think I should go now.”

“The busking location is in Gangnam [A district in Seoul], right? Has the time been announced yet?”

I shook my head at my mom’s words.

“No, it hasn’t. If it had, I would have given you a hint… The production team seems like they’re going to suddenly show up, just like the meaning of ‘busking’.”

Then my mom said.

“I saw on the internet that your fans are looking forward to it. There are already fans waiting at Gangnam Station every day. You know Junho’s house in our neighborhood, right? His daughter Junhee is your fan and keeps asking when it will be. She became a fan after watching this competition.”

“I want to let her know too… Too bad for her. But I think the production team will give a hint since they need to gather a lot of people for the performance. Tell her to watch SNS [Social Networking Services] closely. Okay?”

I said earnestly, said goodbye, and left home.

* * *

The next day.

I still had a bit of a hangover from the wine, but it wasn’t like I had a headache or was particularly tired.

“Number 23, I heard you drank yesterday? I’m jealous.”

Hyo-seop said, now that the cameras were rolling.

“What did Number 33 do yesterday?”

“I was busy practicing the song I’m going to sing for 30 minutes at the coin karaoke [A small, private karaoke booth]. My friends wanted to see me, but I couldn’t even meet them.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. Still, I’m jealous that you practiced a lot.”

“I have to stop Number 23 from regaining first place. I only chose songs that will shake up Yeonnam-dong [A neighborhood in Seoul]!”

“I should go practice too. I didn’t do much yesterday.”

Yesterday, learning the melody by ear was the priority, and today was the time to start practicing in earnest with the guitar.

“Let’s go together.”

“Sure.”

On the way to the practice room, a large number of staff with cameras appeared.

Then they called Hyoseop and me separately and said they would do an interview.

I ended up doing an interview in front of the staff.

“Participant Number 23. You are close to Participant Number 33, who is your official rival. What do you think while competing?”

“Well, I want to say that I’m not thinking anything bad for now. I personally think Number 33 is a good person. It’s a shame that his skills are buried.”

“Is there anything you are wary of as a rival?”

“Well, that he’s handsome, charming, and sings well? Number 33 and I have different voice colors. Some people might think Number 33’s refreshing voice color is trendy, and they might not like my voice color. But personally, I think my voice color is steady.”

“Oh! You’re full of confidence! Have you selected all the busking songs? I heard you were busy during your day off yesterday.”

So the production team also knew that I visited the company.

Well, there must have been a lot of tip-off photos, so there’s no way they wouldn’t know.

“I was busy. I had a drink with my parents after choosing the songs.”

“I see. Thank you for participating in the interview despite your busy schedule. Can I ask one last question?”

“Yes, you can.”

“What is something you will perfect on the busking stage, something you want us to look forward to?”

I wondered if I should talk about the guitar or my voice, and then I answered.

“You will be able to see a different side of Participant Number 23, Na Do-hyun. A charm like an eight-colored bird [A bird known for its vibrant colors, symbolizing versatility]. I’m actually thinking about singing eight songs.”

PD Lee selected nine songs, but I was thinking of taking out one song that was too good to sing on the busking stage. If I exclude that song, I would be singing eight songs, which fits perfectly with the word ‘eight-colored bird’.

“Oh! A charm like an eight-colored bird! And the choice of eight songs! I look forward to it! Thank you for agreeing to the interview!”

“Thank you. Then I’ll go practice now!”

I greeted cheerfully and came out.

Then, as I was heading to the practice room, I ran into Participant Number 17.

“Real-time vote 1st place, I’m jealous?”

The way she ended her sentence made it sound like she was very displeased.

But what could I do? I was in 1st place in the real-time vote.

“It looks like you’re jealous. But Participant Number 17 was in 3rd place.”

“You know how big the difference in votes is, are you being sarcastic? You’re arrogant.”

“I’m not arrogant. But votes can be overturned at any time. There’s no point in creating this negative image when the cameras are rolling.”

I gave sincere advice, but Number 17 continued to speak as if she didn’t care.

“I’ll look forward to your fourth debut, whether it happens or not. I’ll catch up with that voting rate soon. Do you understand?”

It sounded like she was giving a warning in her own way, but it didn’t register.

It just sounded like a childish remark.

“Suit yourself. I have a lot to practice, so I’ll be going. Let’s both show good performances. Let’s get rid of the frustrating feeling of eating sweet potatoes [A Korean expression for feeling stifled or frustrated].”

“Hey!”

I ignored the call and entered the practice room.

I plugged in the USB and prepared to practice from the first song.

Preparing to sing my first debut title song, ‘I Only Know You’.

“Ah, ah, eu-eum! A-i-u-e-o! Keu-eu-eu-eu! My voice condition is good.”

I found the selfie camera and winked in front of it as a fan service.

“Everyone who will be watching this scene on TV, please look forward to it. I’ll let you know the true value of Na Do-hyun!”