A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 67

There were moments when I wanted to believe I was in this position by chance.

But now I know.

It wasn’t a coincidence.

Serendipity, serendipity.

That wasn’t the right word.

It wasn’t just luck.

“PD [Production Director], how are the lyrics coming?”

PD Lee Junhyuk tilted his head, considering, and said,

“To be honest, they’re too straightforward. I think the lyrics would be better if you added a bit more metaphor.”

“…Ah.”

I wasn’t expecting it to be approved on the first try, but I was hoping for fewer revisions.

I guess I got too confident writing lyrics while smoothly filming ‘White House’.

“And would you like to sing along to the melody?”

PD Lee Junhyuk played the music.

Dohyun sang along. But one problem became clear.

While appearing in ‘White House,’ I was writing lyrics in my head or humming, so I didn’t realize that the rhythm was off.

But now, when I sing along to the proper accompaniment, the rhythm doesn’t match. It felt like I was forcing the lyrics into the rhythm.

“Ah, the rhythm doesn’t match either.”

“I commend you for writing the lyrics while you were busy filming the program. But it seems like there are many parts you missed because of that. For now, our company’s goal is to make Dohyun a singer-songwriter who can do everything from writing lyrics and composing to producing.”

“Ah, yes!”

For Dohyun, it was a very advantageous position. If he had the image of a successful singer-songwriter, he could have the opportunity to join a better company even after his contract with Hue Entertainment ended.

“That’s why you need to put more effort into this album. Don’t think of this work as a disappointment, and do it again.”

PD Lee Junhyuk’s voice was cold.

“And… I’ll play the other completed songs for you first.”

Dohyun was excited. He had only heard the other songs in their raw state, not in their completed version.

“I’ve also organized the tracks organically. Number 1 is the intro, and the last track, number 10, is the outro. Like this. Now, let’s listen to them in order. Take notes as you think of things.”

PD Lee started playing from the intro.

The moment Dohyun heard the intro, he got goosebumps.

‘…Is this really the intro?’

A splendid orchestral sound centered on strings was clearly announcing Dohyun’s start. After about 1 minute and 30 seconds of the orchestral sound, the second track began to play.

‘Wow, this is what it feels like to have capital behind the music.’

Dohyun couldn’t help but be moved by the high-quality music that he had never felt before.

It was music that made you feel the ‘taste of money.’ This album was the first time he felt the impact of financial investment in an album he participated in. The memories of his past debut were nothing in comparison.

Especially when compared to the music from when the beastly idols [a K-pop idol group known for their masculine and powerful image] debuted, it was like comparing the size of the distant end of the universe to a single island on Earth.

“How is it?”

After the last outro ended, PD Lee Junhyuk opened his mouth.

“It makes me think, ‘This is what capitalism is.'”

At those words, PD Lee, who rarely laughed, chuckled.

“Really?”

“I’m so excited to think that I’m going to let the public hear an album filled with music like this. Wow, I was excited from the moment I heard the music until the outro ended.”

Dohyun was just disappointed that his feelings were only expressed as ‘excited.’ He wanted to express it more profoundly; the organic nature of the album tracks and the completeness of the songs were remarkable.

“I’m glad you like it, Dohyun. So you have a sense of how to write the lyrics for the title track, right?”

“Yes! I have a sense of it!”

“Ah, also, there’s a mission. What do you think about the track before the outro?”

The track before the outro… It was the song with the most ticklish and sweet melody on this album. Recalling that, Dohyun answered honestly.

“It tickles and sweetens one corner of my heart. So I think it would be nice to sing it as a fan song…”

“You have a good sense. That’s right. This is a fan song. You know why there were no lyrics, right?”

“…Ah! It would be great if I could write the lyrics! I’m sure raw lyrics will come out, but with the help of the lyric writing team, I think good lyrics will come out as I fix them little by little.”

“That’s right. This 9th track is a fan song. If the intro and outro splendidly decorate and make you look forward to the next album, the 9th track is a song to send to the fans who have been with Dohyun for 10 years and will be with him in the future.”

Dohyun nodded at PD Lee’s explanation.

“I can do well!”

“Good, that’s the attitude. What I want to praise Dohyun for is that he always shows confidence even when there are moments when he shrinks back. I think that’s charming. Let’s try to bring out that charm during this album recording.”

“Yes! PD!”

PD Lee Junhyuk handed over the USB containing tracks 1 through 10. Dohyun bowed and went outside.

* * *

“Shall we go home slowly?”

Dohyun contacted Doha to see if they could go together, or if he should head home alone.

Doha would surely be waiting for Dohyun and sleeping in the duty room.

‘…It’s better to have him sleep in the house we live in than to sleep uncomfortably.’

After finishing filming ‘White House,’ Dohyun found a two-room house between the company and the broadcasting station and moved out on his own. Since it was comfortable to live with Doha, they were using one room each.

Dohyun quietly went to the duty room. As expected, Doha was nodding off to sleep.

“Doha.”

“Ugh, ugh… Yes?”

Doha wiped the drool that was flowing from his mouth and raised his head.

“Hyungnim [older brother or close male friend], are you done now?”

“Yeah. I got all the music too.”

“Hyungnim, how is it? I want to listen to it too.”

“I’ll let you listen to it when we get home. Let’s go home first. Can you drive while you’re sleepy? It doesn’t matter if I do it, so let’s go first. It’s important to sleep comfortably at home.”

“Hey, the manager has to drive.”

“There’s no need for that. The person who is even a little bit sane should drive. You’re the one who’s been suffering from a lot of schedules these days, so you can close your eyes for a bit while we go. It’s all because you’re suffering from a lot of schedules these days.”

Dohyun said, thinking of Doha. Doha waved his hand, then nodded.

“Okay, Hyungnim. Then please play the music in the car.”

“Okay.”

Dohyun and Doha headed to the parking lot. It was a cramped space to call a parking lot, and it was a space where fans could easily approach.

“Kyaa! Dohyun oppa [term used by younger women to address older male figures]!”

“Dohyun-ah! Look here just once!”

“Dohyun-ah, you worked hard today!”

Numerous fans’ voices were heard.

Dohyun only gave a light wave, following the company’s policy of not accepting greetings from fans who come to the company, and got into the driver’s seat.

Doha sat in the passenger seat, mumbling.

“Want to listen?”

“Hyungnim, I’ll plug it in.”

Doha received the USB and plugged it into the car. After a while, track number 1, the intro, started playing.

“Wow, is this really Hyungnim’s album? Not another singer’s album? Not the music of the kids in our company’s debut group who will debut next? What kind of solo album intro is this, it’s so amazing like a group intro.”

Doha spat out admiration from the bottom of his heart.

“Right? I was surprised when I heard it too.”

“Wow, our Hyungnim, I think you’re going to be a huge hit this time.”

“I hope so.”

Dohyun answered, turning the steering wheel.

“However, the lyrics I took today were all rejected. And I was even given a mission to write the lyrics for a fan song.”

“Ah, the lyrics you wrote while filming the ‘White House’ program? I guess that’s because you couldn’t fully concentrate at that time, right?”

Dohyun nodded at Doha’s words. He thought it could be because the situation at the time of the program was very different from the situation now.

“Well, that’s probably it. We only have the photoshoot and interview this week, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. We have to go into album filming from next week… Hyungnim, can you control your diet? The company is telling you to diet too.”

Dohyun usually controlled his diet. After deciding to become a celebrity, he unconditionally controlled his diet. Not only that, but he didn’t skip bodyweight exercises either.

There were many things to pay attention to in ‘White House,’ so he couldn’t do that. Usually, he paid a lot of attention to bodyweight exercises. If not bodyweight exercises, he went to the gym and exercised steadily. This was all a habit he developed during his beastly idol days when he ate chicken breasts and worked out.

“Isn’t it okay now? If I lose more weight from here, I’ll look too skinny.”

“That’s true. But the company has ordered you to manage your diet even if you don’t exercise more.”

“I will, I guess.”

The night view was beautiful. As he talked about this and that with Doha and slowly grabbed the steering wheel and went forward, all sorts of inspiration came to his mind.

“Sometimes I wish there was something like that.”

Dohyun muttered.

“What is it, Hyungnim?”

“Well, you know. Something that immediately translates what I’m thinking in my head into letters. The moment you say what you’re thinking in your head, the order tends to get twisted. So something like that, directly connected to the brain. Then I might receive the Best Lyricist Award.”

“Maybe… it’ll be possible in about 200 years?”

Doha answered seriously, and Dohyun burst out laughing.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Ah, this is home now. I’ll park and go up, so go up first.”

“No, Hyungnim. It’s my job to take care of Hyungnim, so how can I go up first.”

Doha got out of the passenger seat and waited until Dohyun parked. After parking, Dohyun checked the mailbox first.

A large envelope was inserted into 401 of Our Villa, where Dohyun lives.

“Hmm? Doha, what’s that envelope? I shouldn’t be receiving something like that.”

Doha took it out and looked at it.

“There’s no name written on who sent it… I think fans might have come in and put it in?”

“Hey, how long has it been since we moved in, how can fans already come and put it in?”

Dohyun said, wondering, and took the envelope and went inside.

He put it on the table and went to wash up.