A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 74

One hour before the fan showcase, Dohyun obsessively rehearsed. He wanted to deliver an unforgettable performance for the fans who had supported and waited for him so eagerly.

He paid particular attention to the limited-edition CD tracks, viewing them as a special gift for his devoted fans, and he wanted to perform them flawlessly.

“Wow, hyung [older brother or male friend], there are so many fans here!” Doha exclaimed, impressed after returning from a quick trip outside the venue to buy drinks.

Dohyun’s heart pounded at those words.

Tension surged through him as he anticipated meeting the fans.

“What should I do, Doha? I’m really nervous.”

“Of course you’re nervous; you’re performing in front of your fans!”

“I thought I’d be over this nervousness since it’s been 10 years since I entered the entertainment industry, but I’m even more nervous than I was during the ‘Produce First Love’ [a fictional reality TV show] performances.”

“I guess so. This time, it’s a place dedicated solely to your fans!”

“Hoo… I can’t wait to meet them.”

Dohyun meticulously checked his makeup and warmed up his vocal cords in the waiting room. He felt he was in peak condition. He was determined to give the fans a perfect performance in this optimal state.

“I want to meet them even more because there are so many. I want to remember each and every one of their faces.”

Dohyun said, almost muttering to himself.

As the start time approached, Dohyun’s anxiety intensified.

“Hyung, you must be really nervous,” Doha observed.

“I’ve never been this nervous before. I wasn’t this nervous when I was busking during ‘Produce First Love’ or when we were competing for first place… Maybe it’s because I have to prove myself as a singer now… Ah, I’m going crazy.”

“Should I get you a sedative or something?”

“No. I think I’ll perform better if I’m a little nervous.”

Dohyun steeled his resolve as he watched the remaining time dwindle.

He would create the best memories for his fans. He would share joy with all the fans who had been with him for so long. That’s what he resolved.

“Okay, Dohyun, let’s check your in-ear monitors!”

* * *

The showcase began as scheduled. The intro music played, and a VCR started. It featured behind-the-scenes footage of him changing outfits during the music video shoot, and the colors looked vibrant and captivating.

Dohyun, watching from under the stage, felt a surge of excitement, as if he had become the protagonist in a fantasy.

As the VCR ended, Dohyun moved into position along the planned route.

“Kyaa! Na Dohyun! Na Dohyun! Na Dohyun!”

“Dohyun, I love you!”

The fans’ enthusiastic shouts filled the venue.

Dohyun’s shoulders tensed momentarily.

Soon, Dohyun began singing ‘Serendipity’ as the opening song.

Dohyun couldn’t clearly make out the faces of the fans below the stage because of the bright stage lights, but he made a conscious effort to look at the audience more intently. He wanted to memorize at least one person’s face. They were fans who had dedicated their precious weekday evening to him.

After the song concluded, the house lights came up, and Dohyun could see the faces of the fans clearly.

“Hello, Honeys [endearing term for fans]. This is Na Dohyun. I’m here to see you with my first full-length album!”

A wave of applause erupted.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you all, and I heard that you’ve been waiting for me a lot too.”

“It’s okay! I can wait a lifetime!” One fan’s loud declaration made others laugh.

Dohyun removed one of his in-ear monitors to better engage with the audience.

“I was actually worried that my next step after ‘Produce First Love’ would be ‘White House’ [meaning doing nothing]. I thought my fans would want to hear my voice more. I’m really happy to see you all with this album, and I feel like I’m flying above the sky.”

The fans offered individual comments, but the sounds were a jumbled mix and difficult to decipher.

“Thank you all. For coming. Thank you for filling this place and making me happy. I’ll sing the next song.”

Dohyun sang the tracks from the [Serendipity] album in order. He performed all the songs except for the ones he had reserved for the concert.

Then, as he was singing the last song, ‘Only One,’ the fans began rustling through something and held it up towards Dohyun.

Dohyun read the message under the bright stage lights.

[Dohyun, we are always your ONLY ONE]

It was a slogan event prepared by the fans.

He had wondered what they were fidgeting with while he was singing and talking, and it turned out they were trying to surprise Dohyun.

The emotion added to the already heartfelt fan song was overwhelming.

Dohyun was so moved that he gripped the standing microphone and bowed his head deeply.

He had never received such love before.

Perhaps because of the name ‘unknown,’ he had struggled to gain recognition in his first three debuts, and he finally found success in his fourth debut after much hardship.

This path had been far from easy. To be honest, there were times when he had felt skeptical about even debuting.

Yet, these fans loved him despite all that. Dohyun deeply realized how foolish he had been to equate fans and stalkers in his mind.

As Dohyun was unable to sing, one of the fans started singing in a loud voice. Other fans joined in, creating a chorus. Soon, the venue was filled with the sound of the fans singing together.

“…Everyone, thank you so much. I have nothing to say but thank you.”

Dohyun said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

“I was actually looking forward to the fan showcase more than the press showcase, and I was even more nervous too. Because it was you who waited for me. But, how can you make me cry like this?”

The fans chanted, “Don’t cry!”

The more they encouraged him, the more Dohyun remembered the difficult times he had endured leading up to his 10th year, and tears streamed down his face.

“You are really precious to me, everyone.”

Dohyun wiped away his tears and continued to look up at the audience. The tears didn’t stop.

Click, click, click—

The sound of continuous camera flashes was heard.

“There, come out. Don’t you know that taking pictures is not allowed? Bring out the camera.”

The staff’s voice was heard.

Dohyun grabbed the microphone and addressed the staff.

“Don’t confiscate the camera now. I hope that things like this will be allowed freely at concerts or fan signing events related to me in the future. Everyone has taken their time to come and see me. I don’t think it’s right for them to have their time taken away just because they took pictures.”

The staff looked embarrassed, bowed, and retreated behind the stage.

“Everyone, the last song is over, but I really don’t want to leave. Don’t you? Right?”

“Yes!”

“Dohyun, I can’t let you go even if I die!”

“No. I can’t see you if you die.”

Dohyun, who had regained a little composure, said with a smile.

“I was only planning to do the showcase for an hour, but I can’t. Is there a song you want to hear? I’ll play just one more song. I can’t do two songs. Not yet…. I don’t know if I can reveal this. I might get scolded for revealing it, but I have to save the songs I’m going to sing at the concert.”

“Kyaak!”

“Concert, concert!”

“When are you doing it?”

The fans made their own comments and buzzed with excitement.

Dohyun smiled and replied.

“The concert will be announced soon. Maybe… there are Japanese fans here too, right? I’ll be able to meet you too.”

“ありがとう! [Thank you!]”

“Well, I don’t know if the MR [music recorded] for this song is ready… I’ll play ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’.”

Dohyun had asked the staff before the start, just in case. It was the performance that had received the most praise among the stages Dohyun had performed since starting activities related to his fourth debut, so he decided on it, thinking that the fans would want to see it in person.

“We are under Na Dohyun!”

Dohyun burst out laughing thanks to the fan who shouted during the interlude, even though it was a song that he had to sing while capturing the emotions well.

Dohyun, who barely managed to regain his composure before the song started, sang ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’ passionately.

Even the fans who had only seen this stage on TV were drawn into the world of Dohyun’s song at this moment and became narrators waiting endlessly for someone.

The song ended, and the lights went out.

[Dohyun, please come down to the stage!]

The staff told him to come down to the stage, but Dohyun didn’t move.

When the lighting staff turned the lights back on, Dohyun looked at the fans and whispered sweet words.

“I want to hug everyone who came to this place, is that okay? Actually, this is an unplanned event. Just like I was able to gain strength because you were there in my difficult times, I want to hug you like that. I’ve also seen posts saying that you gained strength because of me.”

When it was announced that an unexpected hug event would be held, the staff and fans were all taken aback.

[Dohyun, if you do an unplanned event now….]

More words were heard through the in-ear monitor, but Dohyun boldly took off the in-ear monitor and came down to the stage.

Doha quickly ran over and stood next to Dohyun at Dohyun’s sudden event.

Doha whispered to Dohyun with a bewildered expression.

“Hyung… aren’t you going to get in big trouble?”

“Don’t worry. This is nothing. I want to do everything I can for my fans. Doha, please keep an eye on the fans coming to me, just in case.”

“…Okay, Hyung!”

The fan manager hurriedly ran over and started lining up the fans in two rows. The bewildered fans realized that this was not a dream but a real event, and their faces turned red, or they covered their mouths and repeatedly said, “What should I do?”

When the venue was somewhat organized, Dohyun hugged the fans one by one.

“Oppa [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends], I gained strength listening to Oppa’s songs when I was tired and having a hard time. Thank you so much!”

The fan’s voice was trembling.

Dohyun hugged the fan and reassured her that only good things would happen in the future.

He made eye contact and hugged them one by one. Doha and the fan manager played the role of directing them to Dohyun one by one.

The hug event took about 40 minutes.

And then, the empty venue where everyone had left. Confetti scattered everywhere. Looking at this scene, Dohyun was immersed in a fantasy, as if he had experienced a midsummer night’s dream.

When he entered the waiting room, the celebrities that the CEO of Hue Entertainment had mentioned were waiting.

Among them were people Dohyun only knew by name, and a rapper who was famous for leading the latest trends. Various people were waiting for Dohyun.

The CEO of Hue Entertainment approached and whispered.

“First, take pictures with the celebrities, have a brief conversation, and let’s talk later, Dohyun.”

His voice was slightly angry, but Dohyun didn’t care.

After taking pictures with the celebrities and they left the waiting room one by one, the CEO spoke to Dohyun again.

“Na Dohyun.”

“Yes, CEO.”

“You should have consulted with us if you were going to do such an event. What if there was someone among the fans with bad intentions and a weapon?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that point.”

Dohyun immediately apologized for his impromptu event.

The CEO replied to that.