A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 33

I love you

This universe is for you

I love you

This world is for you

I love you

Oh-whoa-whoa-whoa

I love you

Even in moments of exhaustion

Even in moments of hardship

Remember that I am by your side

I love you

The first to start the sing-along were my fans. As one or two began to follow, people sang ‘I love you’ together as a group. It felt like being at a festival.

Excited by the atmosphere, I mixed arpeggios [a musical technique where the notes of a chord are played in sequence rather than simultaneously] into the guitar solo, playing it fantastically. With applause, people shouted, “Na Do-hyun!”

No way.

Until now, I was ‘Na Mu-myeong’ [Na Mu-myeong translates to ‘Nameless’]. To the point where the stage name Na Do-hyun was useless!

It gave me goosebumps to hear so many people shouting ‘Na Do-hyun.’

After finishing ‘I love you,’ fans shouted from all directions.

“Everyone! If you liked the song today! Please vote for participant number 23, Na Do-hyun, on the KBC ‘I Want to Be Your First Singer’ website! On the website, it’s only marked as number 23, so please remember the name Na Do-hyun too!”

“Thank you! Singing along with you all like that, I think it might be the most touching moment in my singing career.”

“Do-hyun, I love you!”

“I love you too! Then let’s move on to the next song!”

People were gathering more and more, and I witnessed the road starting to be controlled [meaning traffic was being managed due to the crowd].

The staff is working hard.

I closed my eyes and, with a sweet voice, opened my mouth to sing the third song.

The whole world turns towards you

Even if hard times come

Even if tiring times come

The whole world turns towards you

You do not collapse

I do not collapse

Ordinary words of encouragement are useless

I felt great happiness while singing.

The countless people filming me, my growing number of fans, the gently blowing breeze, the sky with traces of sunset—all of this came together and resonated in my heart. Soon, it led to tears.

How long has it been since I cried from happiness while singing?

After singing the third song, I spoke into the microphone.

“Everyone, I love you. This moment, created by this whole atmosphere, is overwhelming for me. Everyone here, I really love you. Thank you for listening to my song. My real name is Mu-myeong. If you include my surname, it’s Na Mu-myeong.”

I said that much and wiped away the tears that continued to flow down my cheeks.

People shouted “Don’t cry” repeatedly.

“But at this moment, I’m no longer ‘Na Mu-myeong.’ I love this moment that you all have created. I will never forget it. I will never forget Na Do-hyun as a singer either.”

“Now, from the fourth song to the last song, shall we run without a break?”

* * *

The busking, which started at 7 PM, ended around 8:30 PM.

The production team expected 30 minutes, but with equipment checks in the middle, Do-hyun shedding tears, and talking, more time was given. If it gets edited, it’s obvious that it will be about 10 minutes instead of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Moving to the accommodation, the staff’s interview continued.

With tear marks still on his face, Do-hyun answered the staff’s questions.

“Participant number 23, you showed tears today. I’m curious about what you felt at that moment. Was it the sadness of your past as an unknown? Or… was it the emotion as a singer, as you said on stage?”

“I’m not thinking about the past. Today’s stage was so fantastic. The atmosphere that everyone created together was so touching. The people singing with me, the people cheering—all of that was unforgettable in my singing career.”

Do-hyun answered honestly.

In the tarot cards, the wand card symbolizing passion, especially the King and Queen, came out, and I had a feeling that I could create an amazing stage, but it was beyond expectations.

It was a stage that seemed like it would never happen again in my singing career.

“Do you think it will remain in your memory in the future?”

“Yes! I think it will remain in my memory. It’s really a stage that will never happen again. I was even touched that I could do such a stage. I would like to thank the production team once again for giving me this opportunity…”

“Originally, you wanted Yeonnam-dong [a trendy neighborhood in Seoul]. How do you feel about performing in front of Gangnam Station Exit 8 [a very busy and iconic location in Seoul]?”

At those words, Do-hyun spoke, thinking that he should be considerate of Hyo-seop, who went to Yeonnam-dong.

“I realized that I am really happy as long as there is a place where I can sing. Is that enough of an answer?”

“Thank you! We’re almost at the accommodation. The next schedule is to change into team uniforms and gather in the auditorium. And the real-time voting scores will also be revealed, based on the website voting scores as of 10 PM.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Five minutes later, Do-hyun got out of the car upon arriving at the accommodation.

Do-hyun, who had already become familiar with the accommodation, went inside, changed into his team uniform, and waited for the call.

Glancing at Hyo-seop, he seemed full of excitement.

It was a situation where he had to use polite language because the camera was still on.

Do-hyun asked Hyo-seop a question.

“Participant number 33, how was the Yeonnam-dong stage?”

“Wow, I guess this is why people become singers. It’s the first time I cried while performing on stage. I’ve cried under the stage when I debuted, though. How was it, participant number 23? There must have been a lot of people at Gangnam Station too, right? I thought Yeonnam-dong was going to burst today because of me.”

“There were really a lot of people. I cried while singing the song I prepared. It was a moment that might never come again in my singing career, because I was so happy.”

The two exchanged their feelings.

And it became 10 PM.

[The 10 participants, please gather in the auditorium.]

Today’s MC seemed to be Coast, not Ha Yeon-ho.

Seeing Coast giving the instructions.

“Now that all the other cameras are off, I guess we can speak comfortably.”

Hyo-seop muttered. At those words, Do-hyun replied.

“I guess so? I hope I got a lot of votes today.”

“Me too. So many people gathered in Yeonnam-dong to see me… I hope the number of votes is as impactful as the crowd…”

Arriving at the auditorium, Do-hyun observed the other participants.

He could see the face of participant number 41, who still seemed to have some heat left [meaning he was still feeling the excitement or aftermath of his performance].

He also saw the face of participant number 17, who seemed full of dissatisfaction.

On the stage sat 5 judges, including Coast.

Do-hyun was looking forward to what would be said.

“You all worked hard on today’s busking stage. I heard that you could feel the hot atmosphere in the areas you were each in charge of!”

Clap clap clap!

The participants clapped and took time to recall what kind of stage they had performed today.

“The stage impressions were conducted through interviews with each staff member, so we will skip that. The reason why we summoned you tired people to the auditorium after busking is… as you heard from the staff, to announce your rankings as of 10 PM.”

The expressions of the participants, who had been relaxed until just now, were filled with tension as if they were about to perform on stage.

Among them, Do-hyun was curious about how his ranking had changed.

He was in first place in the last vote, and he wanted to know if he would continue to hold the first place this time as well.

“I will announce from 10th place. The production team, please display the screen.”

The announcements were made in order from 10th place.

Surprisingly, 4th place was participant number 41. There was a change in ranking from last time.

From 5th to 10th place, there was almost no change in ranking.

“Now, the rankings from 1st to 3rd place. The remaining participants are participant numbers 23, 33, and 17. Participant number 23 took first place in the last ranking, and I’m curious to see what the ranking will be. Shall we find out the 2nd place?”

On the screen created by the production team, 2nd place was fluctuating between 33 and 17.

That meant one of them was in 2nd place.

Do-hyun predicted that Hyo-seop would probably be in 2nd place.

The needle of the compass that was fluctuating between 33 and 17 gradually slowed down.

And the protagonist of that direction is…

“Participant number 33! You took 3rd place as of 10 PM today! Congratulations!”

Coast said.

Then now, 1st and 3rd place remain.

It could be predicted that 1st and 3rd place would come out of Do-hyun and number 17.

“With 1st place ahead, the two of you are facing off. Participant number 23, what are your thoughts?”

The staff quickly brought the microphone to Do-hyun.

“Uh, um. This might sound a bit much, but I think I will take 1st place. No, 1st place is mine!”

Do-hyun said in a triumphant voice.

Some of the participants smirked and laughed at those words.

“Participant number 17, what were your thoughts after hearing participant number 23’s words just now?”

“I would like to tell participant number 23 that he is mistaken. If he had been at my busking site today, he would have known how great I was.”

“That was the same for Gangnam Station Exit 8!”

The production team’s cameras were busily turning at the two’s playful words.

Coast smiled slightly and turned over the cue sheet.

“One of you will be in 1st place, and the other will be in 3rd place. I was also curious to see what kind of stage you showed to get these rankings after seeing the rankings written here.”

Coast turned the cue sheet upside down and drank some water.

Do-hyun and Hyo-seop looked at each other and laughed.

They each made a 1 with their index finger and pointed to themselves, saying it was theirs.

Coast finished drinking the water and continued.

“You are both saying that you are in 1st place. That’s good to see! Then shall we check 1st and 3rd place? Production team, please display the screen.”

Once again, a screen with a compass needle moving back and forth appeared.

The needle, which was moving very quickly, stayed on Do-hyun’s side a little longer before moving to Hyo-seop’s side.

Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!

The needle continued to move back and forth.

It took longer than when revealing 2nd place.

Do-hyun thought.

‘Please… I hope I get 1st place… I hope you make today an unforgettable moment!’

Do-hyun desperately wished and wished again.

Participant number 17 also closed his eyes, perhaps unable to open them.

“You have both closed your eyes. The needle doesn’t stop, does it? The production team is truly mischievous, revealing the rankings so slowly.”

At Coast’s words, the other participants could be heard muttering.

“Maybe number 23 will be in 1st place?”