A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 48

Having checked into the dorm at 1 PM, I changed into the group uniform and headed to the auditorium early.

Then, the main director spotted me and approached quickly.

I figured I’d get an earful for doing something that wasn’t planned.

“Good job, Do-hyun. Actually, we were planning to leak internal information on purpose. Or, we were thinking of swaying public opinion by showing the battle videos of numbers 17, 31, and 23 during the broadcast. But you directly issued a challenge and even did a collaboration broadcast! And you won!”

The main director seemed even more emotionally charged than I was.

“Not at all. I just did what I wanted to do. I figured I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing about my own work, so I pushed ahead, but I didn’t expect these results. It seems like it’s elicited an even better response…….”

“As a result, only good articles are coming out, and interest in the program has also increased. That’s exactly what the broadcasting guys want. As expected of someone with experience on a survival program! 크으! [A Korean onomatopoeia, often used to express satisfaction or admiration.]”

The main director’s words made me feel burdened.

It seemed like the attention would be focused on me until the final competition, a feeling I hadn’t experienced during my third debut, so it felt like a weight had been placed on my shoulders.

The main director praised me and then moved on to the other participants, exchanging greetings and asking how they had been.

The youngest staff member was still following me around, checking my every move.

It was in that chaotic environment when…

The main director stood on the stage above the auditorium.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you all. It’s been a whole week, can you believe it?”

At those words, I worried if the mission had changed and looked ahead.

“I’m sure you all have something you’re curious about……. The mission hasn’t changed. You can showcase your skills through this week’s music show stage! Last week was tough, wasn’t it? Nothing like that will happen this week. No matter what happens in the future, the broadcast will go on, so don’t worry.”

My eyes met with the main director.

I could feel trust in his gaze towards me.

It’s a bit 부담스럽다 [burdensome/uncomfortable]. Please don’t look at me like that!

The other participants, except for me, seemed relieved by those words, and I could hear sighs of relief from nearby.

“This time too, the theme is still what you can do best. Whether you dance while singing, or headbang while singing, you have about 2 minutes. You have to show everything within that time.”

The main director’s gaze went from me to Hyo-seop and then to Seon-ah noona [older sister or female friend].

Two idols, and Seon-ah noona from the Hongdae [a district in Seoul known for its indie music and arts scene] front man.

It was understandable to expect an exotic stage, so I had nothing to say.

“Now, let’s move to the practice room!”

* * *

Arriving at the practice room, Do-hyun began preparing a different stage from the one he had rehearsed until now.

Originally, he wanted to show a side of himself that was the opposite of what he had shown in the previous competitions, so he intended to perform a song with powerful dance moves.

However, due to his ankle injury, intense dance moves became difficult. Thinking about his future career as a singer, he thought he should avoid pushing himself too hard on stage now and suffering from aftereffects.

Also, after checking the existing rehearsal video, he felt that it wasn’t emphasizing the powerful image as he had expected, but rather felt like he was doing a solo one-man show on an empty stage, which he thought was lacking.

After much deliberation, Do-hyun decided to sing his second debut group’s title song, ‘HOT해 HOT해 [HOT HOT],’ instead of a powerful dance song.

This song is a tropical genre song filled with 청량함 [freshness/refreshing vibes], and the choreography is quite impressive with its gentle swaying.

He still remembered the choreography. He couldn’t forget it even if he tried.

This was because he had practiced so much every time he made his first, second, and third debuts that he only slept for an hour or two.

“Hmm, the ‘HOT해 HOT해’ stage can be performed stably even with an injured ankle, and it can give the feeling of a full stage even if I dance solo.”

Do-hyun showed confidence in this song.

If the songs he had shown during his first and third debuts emphasized ‘칼군무 [synchronized choreography]’, ‘HOT해 HOT해’ was a song that could give the feeling of a full stage even if he performed solo.

“Shall we start first?”

Do-hyun turned on the music and stretched carefully.

Since it hadn’t been long since he injured his ankle, careful ankle management was important.

Do-hyun thought that getting injured again before the stage would be something only an amateur would do.

After loosening all the muscles in his body, Do-hyun stretched one last time.

The youngest staff member, who was watching this, asked Do-hyun a question.

“Number 23, I heard you were originally going to do a different song?”

I could feel the camera zooming in.

Do-hyun smiled and said.

“I was going to, but after watching the rehearsal video, I thought it would be difficult to do it alone, so I’m going to do a different song. Compared to the other participants who are performing the same song as before, I have less time to practice, but I think it’ll be okay because it’s a song I’ve already performed on stage. I’m going to perform my second debut’s title song, ‘HOT해 HOT해’!”

“Oh! What’s the reason for choosing that song?”

“The first reason was the sprained ankle, and the next reason was that I thought I could complete a high-quality stage, a full stage even if I stand on stage solo. In addition to that, the stages I’ve shown so far have had a slightly heavy and soulful voice color, but this song is full of 청량 [freshness]! I wanted to show the viewers an exotic stage!”

“So, you’re saying that you chose this song because you thought you could complete a full-feeling stage even if you perform the song that you did as a group alone? And that you can show a new charm?”

“That’s right!”

“I’m looking forward to it! Oh, and keep taking care of your ankle!”

The youngest staff member interviewed Do-hyun and then went outside. Usually, they would be busy filming the practice video, but they were checking their phone screen and leaving, so it seemed like they had been called.

“Well, that’s even better for me. I can definitely concentrate better.”

Do-hyun listened to the music and slowly followed the choreography.

Although it was an unsuccessful debut song, the choreography that had been ingrained in Do-hyun’s body flowed out naturally.

Do-hyun lightly danced the choreography and grasped the flow. There were some parts he had forgotten in the middle, but he focused on practicing those parts while checking the previous videos.

There were only a few days left until the music show, so he had to allocate his time well.

‘Two days for choreography, two days for singing, and about a day and a half for choreography and singing together?’

Thinking that, Do-hyun loosened his knees and ankles once more before starting to practice in earnest.

* * *

Do-hyun was engrossed in practice until the day before the music show, being careful of his ankle.

The song ‘HOT해 HOT해,’ which depicts the story of lovers falling in love on a hot summer day, was a stage that was receiving a lot of anticipation from the production team.

The production team probably predicted that Do-hyun would be number one in this competition as well.

The main director was checking the sum of the real-time website votes, the judges’ scores, and the audience scores.

“Wow, this guy is a real treasure. Why did such a treasure live as an unknown? Anyway, the broadcasting guys have a bad habit of not even looking at small and medium-sized agencies.”

The assistant director added to that.

“That friend has everything from looks to skills. It’s not for nothing that he’s maintaining first place. There was a commotion because of those damn numbers 17 and 31, but seeing him recover his upward trend and widen the gap with second place to 500,000, you can really say he’s amazing.”

“That’s why Hu Entertainment put him out as a hidden card. Sigh. I want to have him under a public broadcasting station, but for one person, I have to choose an agency and make a deal with one of them, and this process is really complicated because of the conflicting interests.”

The main director clicked his tongue in disappointment.

The assistant director comforted the main director.

“Senior, it’ll be okay. Even if he goes back to Hu Entertainment after this competition, there will be many opportunities for him to appear on our entertainment programs.”

“That’s true. It would be a blessing for us if Hu Entertainment gave us a lot of entertainment programs in return. Or should we go into renegotiation with Hu Entertainment in advance? About the contract terms.”

“Hey, if something else happens again, we’ll have to cancel the broadcast……. There are so many things that people do to envy the number one because he’s doing so well.”

The main director, unable to shake off his disappointment, this time revealed his feelings about number 33, Hyo-seop.

“Then how about number 33 instead of number 23? He’s good-looking and skilled too. And he’s challenging his second debut because his first debut failed. It’s not for nothing that we made him a formal rival of Na Do-hyun, right?”

“That’s right. Our hope is number 33. I think he’ll probably be in second place, so we’ll connect him with a moderately good agency and have him appear on various programs. If we can continue to see both numbers 23 and 33 on one program, it seems like it will have effects such as increased viewership.”

The main director made a 크으 [onomatopoeia for satisfaction] sound, as if he was impressed by his own thoughts.

“크으 [onomatopoeia for satisfaction], my head is really working well. It’s admirable.”

The assistant director thought it was time to avoid the situation and got up.

“Senior, I’ll go and visit the participants’ practice rooms once.”

“Okay. If there are any participants with problems, call me right away.”

“Yes! I understand.”

* * *

I was practicing the ‘HOT해 HOT해’ stage for the 30th time today alone.

I was trying to create a stage that wouldn’t look empty even when performing solo.

First of all, as a result of my repeated monitoring, I found that using props while using the stage as a whole didn’t make the stage look awkward even when I was alone.

My injured ankle has also gotten much better. On the broadcast, I’ll probably be portrayed as Na Do-hyun who completes the stage despite the injury.

However, not looking awkward wasn’t my goal, so I felt the need to rearrange the song a little more.

What if I arranged it in a musical style?

I thought about it for a moment, but that didn’t seem right.

What I want to emphasize is ‘청량미 [refreshing beauty]’.

That’s why I regained my wavering heart.

Let’s do it twenty more times!

Then, wouldn’t I be able to complete a stage that meets my standards?

I should rest a little first.

I felt that my ankle was gradually getting strained from practicing continuously.

I had frequent ankle injuries even during my idol days, but this time it seemed to last longer than then.

“Hoo, I have to overcome the injury quickly.”

I muttered to myself. This muttering will probably be recorded on the practice room camera.

It’s not good to be too engrossed in thoughts silently. I had to secure enough screen time, so it’s good to show a 적당히 [moderate/appropriate] performance.

Toc toc─

“Come in.”

I wondered who was coming in, but the assistant director came in.

“Na Do-hyun!”

Why is he welcoming me so happily?

Is it the same psychology as the main director?

“Yes, assistant director.”

“I heard you’re practicing hard, can I get a cut of you practicing?”

“Of course! It’s possible!”

“Then would you prepare?”

……I was going to rest, but he’s asking me to show him practicing.

Oh no, resting is ruined.