A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 32

It felt like a unique event, unlike anything seen in previous audition programs.

I thought, “Ha Yeon-ho will probably announce the busking schedule tomorrow, right?”

I headed to the auditorium, filled with anticipation.

Looking around at the other participants, some looked like they’d just rolled out of bed.

Participant number 33, Hyo-seop, seemed to be in relatively better shape.

As for me, participant number 23, I’d been practicing all day, so I probably looked a bit rough.

And to top it off, I was lugging my guitar around. Oh boy.

Ha Yeon-ho, the MC, stood on the stage wearing a sweatshirt and jeans instead of a suit.

“Everyone’s here. It seems some of you were practicing, and others were catching up on sleep in your dorms.”

“That’s right! I was sleeping when I got woken up!” one participant grumbled.

Everyone laughed. Despite his slightly intimidating appearance, the participant was wearing a cute hairband.

That’s probably why everyone burst out laughing.

“So, can you all guess why you’re here?”

“The busking schedule!”

“Don’t tell me the busking is tomorrow? We only got two days off!”

“Producers, no way……!”

Ha Yeon-ho laughed heartily. “That’s right, everyone. The busking mission schedule you’ve been waiting for is finally being announced. But some of you are saying you’re disappointed because you only have two days off… Our production team isn’t that stingy!”

Hearing that, I had a strong feeling it wouldn’t be tomorrow, at least.

I figured the busking would be the day after tomorrow.

“The busking schedule is, in fact, the day after tomorrow! You have a day and a half to spare!”

Things were unfolding as I expected.

I’d wake up around 10 a.m. tomorrow, have breakfast, warm up, and then practice singing all day. Then, the day after tomorrow, I’d wake up around 10 a.m. again to maintain my condition, and go busking in the evening. The plan was perfect.

The tarot cards also showed positive signs, so I was feeling hopeful. To create a busking stage full of passion and determination, to attract more fans, I’d do anything!

“The day after tomorrow at 7 p.m., your venues… Gangnam Station, Hongdae Street, Yeonnam-dong, Cheonggye Plaza, and so on, will be where the busking takes place.”

The participants nodded at Ha Yeon-ho’s words.

The participant who said he had just woken up seemed to be fully awake now, taking off his cute hairband and looking serious.

“That’s all for today’s announcement. You can use the time after this as you wish. The cameras are off, and the practice room lights can be turned on whenever you want, so feel free to allocate your time as you see fit, okay?”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

Everyone answered.

Some participants were muttering about going to the practice room, but that wasn’t important to me.

I had already practiced all day, and my body was feeling exhausted.

I was sure that if I practiced any more in this state, my vocal condition would worsen.

Everyone else returned to the dorm and headed to practice, but I took a shower and went to bed.

* * *

The ‘day after tomorrow’ that Ha Yeon-ho mentioned had arrived.

Finally, the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of an audience had come.

Since everything would be live, I had to show my skills for sure.

I was about to practice eight songs for the last time in the practice room when someone knocked.

The time was 2 p.m.

I knew that we would start coordinating from 3 p.m. and then move to the designated location.

Who could be looking for me at this hour?

Instead of saying “Come in!”, I opened the door myself.

Waiting in front of the door were the Sisters [referring to a duo of female mentors/judges on the show].

“Hello!”

The Sisters waved their hands at my loud greeting.

“You don’t have to greet me like that. It makes me feel like I’m a senior in the music industry.”

“No, but still…”

“It’s okay. I probably came at the wrong time when you were about to do your last practice, right?”

The Sisters spoke as if they could see right through me.

I nodded.

The Sisters laughed cheerfully at my response.

“It’s so funny how honestly you answer. Can I listen to you once? I’m expecting a lot since I was a mentor in the previous competition, so I came because I wanted to hear just one song.”

“Yes. The first song is an acoustic version of my title track ‘I Only Know You’ from my first debut. I’ll play it for you!”

As I played the guitar and sang with increasing emotion, the Sisters’ eyes showed growing interest.

I was singing for a single audience member right now.

I was curious about their reaction since I was singing the song with a slightly different arrangement, reflecting Ocean’s advice.

Clap clap clap!

The Sisters gave me a standing ovation when my song ended.

“Thank you!”

“It’s better than I thought. Senior Ocean had high expectations, so I was also expecting a lot.”

“Ah, if you expect too much, it feels like a burden on my shoulders…”

I revealed my honest feelings.

The more the judges expected, the more burdensome it felt.

Even with my experience in audition programs, I couldn’t escape that feeling.

“You don’t have to feel too pressured. You’re doing well. Are you performing at Gangnam Station today?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Do well. I’ll be looking forward to it. Then, I’ll be on my way!”

The Sisters nodded and left.

I focused on the remaining seven songs again.

I practiced more than 100%, no, about 200%.

For any stage, instead of doing just 100%, you need to practice about 200%, to the point where it feels excessive. That’s because the ability that can be demonstrated on the actual stage is only about 100% due to various circumstances.

“I hope my skills come out as well as I practiced…”

I put the guitar in its case and moved to get coordinated.

I put on light makeup and wore clothes that fit my body perfectly.

Looking in the mirror… I’m handsome as expected.

During my second debut as a flower boy idol [a Korean term for a young, attractive male idol], there was someone more handsome than me, so it wasn’t obvious, but I’m definitely skilled and handsome, haha. I was confident that I could capture the hearts of the audience tonight.

* * *

6:30 p.m.

I moved to the Gangnam Station area. I was waiting 30 minutes before the stage.

A makeshift stage was already set up in front of Exit 8 of Gangnam Station.

Whether they heard the information somehow, my fans, including Rabitta Doyun [likely the name of a fan club or dedicated fan], and newly joined ones, were waiting in the front row of the stage.

As expected, fans have great information skills!

I decided that if the fans were waiting in front of the stage, I could decorate the stage more fearlessly [meaning to perform with more confidence and flair].

“A, i, u, e, o… Um, um, hello, I’m Na Do-hyun. No, hello, I’m participant number 23. Should I do it this way?”

Then, the staff member who was sitting next to me and filming me gently informed me.

“It would be better to announce yourself as number 23, since you’re getting votes as number 23 rather than as Na Do-hyun, right?”

“Oh… Thank you! I need to emphasize participant number 23 several times.”

“That’s right. Number 23, there’s not much time left, what kind of stage are you planning to show?”

I gave the answer that I had organized in my head to the staff’s question.

“A stage that can touch people’s hearts. I will present a fantastic stage so that people can think, ‘Ah, I want to hear this song in Na Do-hyun’s version!'”

“There are a total of eight songs from the first song to the last song, and each song will have a different charm, right? I heard that you also participated in the arrangement yourself.”

“Haha… Actually, I went to the company’s PD [Production Director] on my days off and got a lot of help, and there are also songs that I participated in arranging while practicing. I didn’t arrange 100% of them myself, but I also got help from Ocean judge in the middle… I want to complete a good stage with the help of various people!”

“I’m looking forward to a good stage. Well, it’s time.”

Before going out, I had my makeup fixed by the makeup artist and got out of the car.

“Oh? It’s number 23!”

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“Dohyun oppa [a Korean term used by younger women to address older brothers or male figures they admire]!”

“Rabitta Dohyun!”

“Na Dohyun! We’ll make you number one!”

My lips curled up at the loud cheers of my fans who were occupying the front row.

Other people were also filming me with their cell phones.

I went up to the stage prepared for me with my guitar.

“Hello! I’m participant number 23 from ‘I Want to Be Your First Singer’!”

Clap clap clap clap!

Applause followed.

The raw sound of applause. How long has it been since I heard this happy sound!

I got a standing ovation in the last competition, but it was less touching than now.

Especially, being able to sing on a stage where so many of my fans have come is a great happiness as a singer.

“Please vote for number 23!”

“I’ll vote for you!”

“I vote 5 votes every day!”

“Handsome, number 23!”

“Number 23, I hope you win!”

Encouraged by the voices shouting enthusiastically, I tuned my guitar.

The sound of the guitar strings was perfect. The sound of the five strings was perfectly matched to my ears, which have perfect pitch, so it was good to hear.

“Number 23 has prepared 8 songs today. I will let you hear a variety of voice colors!”

Clap clap clap─!

The applause was heard and subsided.

I adjusted the standing microphone, grabbed the guitar strings with a slight tension, and started singing softly.

I only know you

I’m in love

Cupid shooting arrows at you

Come to me now

I’m ready for you

La la la la la

Cupid shooting arrows at you

Come to me

I’m ready

You are the only one who can have my love

I only know you

I tried to create an atmosphere as if watching a music movie, hitting the guitar hard in the middle.

Looking at the audience’s eyes while singing, it felt like they were completely immersed in my voice.

A stage filled with my passion and will. With this stage, I will make myself number one, Na Do-hyun.

Click click click─!

In some places, there were people with telephoto cameras, so-called ‘cannons’ [a slang term for large telephoto lenses used by dedicated fans to take high-quality photos of idols].

Both men and women were filming me.

It seemed like the number of fans had increased after the Gangnam Station busking. In addition, my skills, appearance, and physique were enough to make people fall for me.

When I visited Hue Enter a while ago, the PR team member even told me directly, “Dohyun’s popularity is soaring these days.”

The proportion of people filming me with cannon cameras was higher than those filming with cell phones. The fact that there are many people taking pictures with cannon cameras means that my awareness and popularity are increasing.

Looking around, I focused on the guitar solo again.

I have to show all the charm I have.

That’s how I finished the first song.

“Hooray!”

“Na Dohyun is so cool!”

“You’re the best! Na Dohyun!”

“Na Dohyun! I love you!”

“Dohyun oppa! Marry me!”

“Marry me? Where are you, who are you, let’s get married.”
The audience was buzzing when I expressed my affection like an idol.

“Kyaaaa! Marry me!”

“Get in line! I’m first!”

I continued this atmosphere of excitement.