A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 65

It was Professor Park Ji-hoon who made the next move.

He got the answer right. The answer was Philopon [a stimulant drug, often misused], and the culprit was his wife. She leisurely enjoyed her time for two hours and thirty minutes, then moved while the guards were off guard.

He chose room seven instead of room six.

The guards hurriedly chased after him, but Professor Park entered room seven by a hair’s breadth. Waiting for him in room seven was none other than Do-hyun.

“Oh, Professor Park?”

“Mr. Na Do-hyun, it’s nice to finally meet you. It was hard catching up.”

Professor Park spoke very politely. Do-hyun was strained, as he had pushed himself to come to room seven.

If one more person is added here, they will have to solve a random quiz, and if they can’t, they will go to jail and have to start again from room one.

The most likely candidate was PD [Production Director] Cha. PD Cha, who is in room four, had a high probability of coming to room seven today.

“Give me the question.”

Professor Park took his eyes off Do-hyun and spoke to the production team.

The production team gave him the same question they had given to Do-hyun. Professor Park’s answer was without hesitation.

“It’s probably because the room wasn’t sealed properly. The stalker might have thought it was sealed, but they would have failed. Complete sealing is harder than you think.”

At Professor Park’s answer, the production team shouted that it was correct. Only then did Professor Park turn back to look at Do-hyun.

“Is it because it’s the beginning? The questions are easier than I thought.”

“Isn’t that because Professor Park is smart? I’m also using my brain to answer.”

Do-hyun replied awkwardly.

Professor Park’s expression didn’t change.

“It will be easy in the beginning. The difficulty will increase as we go on.”

“I think Professor Park will win, somehow.”

That’s what Do-hyun’s intuition was telling him. It wasn’t his specialty, but since he came out here, he wanted to achieve first place, but he judged that he wouldn’t be able to catch up with Professor Park’s brilliant brain.

“No. Here, it’s more important to figure out how to move than to answer quizzes. You never know who will be the winner. It’s not good to be certain in the beginning. I’m safety-oriented, so I might go slower than you think.”

“I see. I’m a bit risky and adventurous. Professor Park, you’re being too modest, so I’m getting stimulated.”

“I hope it’s a good stimulus. Come to think of it, Do-hyun, you’re really good at singing. I’ve been humming the song Do-hyun sang for a while, to the point where the students make fun of me.”

“Thank you so much! I was able to get first place thanks to you.”

“So, when is your fourth debut album coming out?”

“Well, I’ll have to see how the work goes.”

Do-hyun skirted around the sensitive question.

“I’m really curious about the new song. I’m looking forward to hearing what kind of wonderful song you’ll bring this time. Actually, Do-hyun, you were the cast member I was most looking forward to meeting while appearing on ‘White House’ this time. I pride myself on being a fan.”

Do-hyun thanked Professor Park for his words.

Opportunities to hear such sincere stories were rare.

If he released a regular album and started activities such as fan signing events in earnest, he would be able to hear it a lot from Honeys [Do-hyun’s fan name, likely affectionate], but Do-hyun cherished every word he heard now because he didn’t know how long it would take until then.

Moreover, since he started filming ‘White House,’ he didn’t even have his cell phone, so he couldn’t know the fans’ reactions.

“Thank you for each and every word. I’m even more grateful that you’ve become my fan.”

“Do-hyun, you’re not like ordinary celebrities. Actually, I had a prejudice against the job of celebrity. I thought they would be arrogant whether there was a camera or not.”

Do-hyun pondered how to answer Professor Park’s words. He was worried that he might make an arrogant statement.

“Thank you for seeing me that way! I’ll try my best!”

Do-hyun finished with his usual line. Professor Park didn’t seem to mind that Do-hyun had finished speaking.

“By the way… I wonder where the others are.”

Do-hyun thought it was a relief when Professor Park changed the subject. In programs like this, every move was important. A single careless word could cause controversy after the broadcast.

Professor Park, who was a non-celebrity, wouldn’t know, but Do-hyun, who had built up his image for ten years and was making his fourth debut, couldn’t help but react sensitively.

“I’ve already moved all three spaces today… I hope the others come slowly.”

“I still have a chance left, so I might go first.”

“It would be better if you did! It would be good to take the lead.”

Do-hyun expressed his inner thoughts indirectly.

He wanted Professor Park to leave this room quickly. He had a strong feeling that PD Cha Jae-hyun would come to room seven.

At that moment.

The alarm went off!

Do-hyun focused his ears. He heard footsteps getting closer to room seven.

‘No way, no way…’

Do-hyun judged that it was PD Cha Jae-hyun moving.

Soon…

The door opened with a click.

“Did both of my feet come in?”

The being who was dealing with the guards with a relaxed smile was, as Do-hyun had expected, PD Cha.

Now, it became important who could answer the quiz quickly.

“Well, three people have gathered in room seven. As planned, I will give you a random quiz. As I said, only the first two people to answer correctly can stay in this room, and the remaining one person will go to jail.”

Do-hyun felt a sense of unease creeping in.

‘Ah, I think I’m at a disadvantage…’

The production team called the three people to the table and handed them cue cards with the quiz written on them.

“The first question. This is very easy. Among whales, what is the name of the whale that protects humans and other species well? It’s a very popular whale online.”

“Park Ji-hoon!”

“Yes, Professor Park!”

Do-hyun tried to answer quickly, but he was a step late.

“Humpback whale.”

“That’s correct.”

Professor Park stepped back from his spot and sat on the sofa behind him.

PD Cha and Do-hyun were now facing off.

“PD Cha, please be gentle. We were together in the previous room too.”

“No. It’s times like these that you have to be cold-hearted.”

PD Cha didn’t lose his cool even at Do-hyun’s coquettish words.

“Well, you two. You’re having a subtle battle of nerves. Then I’ll give you the second question. This question is a nonsense quiz. What color is a hamburger?”

“Cha Jae-hyun!”

“Na Do-hyun!”

The production team announced that they would take a moment to review the video of the two people who shouted their names at the same time.

“Oh, oh… PD Cha spoke slightly faster. PD Cha, what’s the answer?”

“Burgundy?”

“That’s correct! You’re a PD for a current affairs and culture program, so you’re good at these nonsense quizzes.”

“Well, this is nothing.”

“Then the last remaining person is unfortunately… Na Do-hyun.”

When the production team gave a signal, the door opened and a guard came in. The guard gave Do-hyun a look to get up quickly.

‘Ugh… I knew the answers to both questions, but I couldn’t get them right. I didn’t know everyone would be so determined to answer the questions.’

Do-hyun couldn’t bring himself to say the words out loud and was dragged to jail by the guards.

“Wow! It’s Do-hyun!”

What greeted Do-hyun when he arrived at the prison was web novel writer Mango Juice. Mango Juice was about to leave, but she seemed happy to be in the same space as Do-hyun even for a short time.

“Mango Juice, it’s almost time for you to leave, right?”

“Yes! I’m going to try my best when I get out.”

“Oh, Do-hyun is here?”

Jin Wook-je greeted him, happy to see him. Then he said something annoying.

“See, if you had formed an alliance with us, you wouldn’t have come to jail.”

“No. I prefer to play alone.”

Was that something a person who had led the alliance and still ended up in jail should say? But Do-hyun smoothly brushed it off.

“Still, you know. People are human… A lot of colleagues will come to jail, so get some rest. I wonder if the announcers have even started yet.”

Come to think of it, the two people who had passed the huge open recruitment and risen to the position of announcer didn’t even show any signs of following.

“Heh…”

Do-hyun could only let out a hollow laugh at being in jail on the second day.

“Do-hyun, how many rooms did you go to?”

Mango Juice asked Do-hyun, curious. Because he didn’t have to tell her the questions.

“Room seven.”

At those words, Mango Juice was sincerely impressed.

“Wow! Then you moved three spaces a day? Since room one is the starting point?”

“Yes. That’s how I moved. I’m in jail now, though. There are thirteen days left, and after spending a day here, there will be twelve days left, and it will be cutting it close.”

“I guess so. As a fan, I’d like to see Do-hyun in first place…”

“Writer Mango Juice, you have to achieve good results since you’ve suspended your current work and come here.”

At Do-hyun’s words, Mango Juice laughed as if it was nothing. It was a different look than when the two of them were talking in front of Jin Wook-je.

“No. I just don’t want to be last. As a fan, my goal is to see Do-hyun in the rankings…”

At those words, Jin Wook-je added a word, seemingly upset.

“Wow, is this discrimination? The atmosphere is different than when you talk to me!”

Mango Juice snorted at those words and replied.

“Of course it’s different. Are Jin Wook-je and our Do-hyun the same?”

“Wow, he’s ‘our’ Do-hyun to Na Do-hyun. Gee. We’re going to be in the same space for fifteen days anyway, so let’s not discriminate.”

“Whatever.”

It was quite enjoyable to watch Jin Wook-je and Mango Juice bickering. But on the other hand, Do-hyun’s head was complicated. How many spaces would he move in the remaining time? Since he had come to jail, he clenched his teeth. He would win, no matter what.

* * *

It’s already the eleventh day since the filming of ‘White House’ began.

Do-hyun went to jail from room seven for two days, and on the third day, he restarted from room one and made a bold challenge to move three spaces a day.

It was practically a gamble, but thanks to luck following Do-hyun, he was able to catch up with Professor Park Ji-hoon, who was in first place, by a difference of two spaces.

Twenty-nine for Professor Park Ji-hoon, twenty-seven for Na Do-hyun.

It seems like Do-hyun is two spaces behind, but Do-hyun still has one move left, and Professor Park has finished three moves.

But even if Do-hyun moves today, he can only go to room twenty-eight. If it becomes midnight as it is, the one who moves first will reach room thirty first, and if that’s Professor Park, he will solve the problem and win.

Do-hyun didn’t aim for the win when he first participated in this program, but he didn’t want to lose since he had come this far.

Do-hyun decided to make his last move.

As soon as the alarm went off, the guards who were standing near the target point rushed in. Then they grabbed and tied Do-hyun’s arms.

“You are under arrest.”

Do-hyun was waiting for those words. He was full of confidence. Something he hadn’t used even when he went to jail on the second day. He was going to use it now. He took out a note hidden inside his pocket.

“Let’s use this!”

What Do-hyun took out was the precious note he had obtained from room two!