A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 80

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy. Still no contact with Kim Sunhee’s manager?”

“No. No contact with Kim Sunhee’s manager, and no contact with any other company officials either.”

“This is insane. We’re on the verge of a broadcast meltdown. Are they trying to sabotage us as a group?”

I was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. I had a sinking feeling that I might end up filling in as today’s special DJ.

I subtly glanced at Doha, trying to signal that I wanted to escape, but PD [Production Director] Ahn’s words prevented my getaway.

“Give the broadcast script to Na Do-hyun and tell him to memorize it. Don’t worry, he’ll get the hang of it after a few tries.”

“Wait… am I going to be the special DJ today? I haven’t even practiced properly… PD-nim! You’re changing your tune!”

“That’s right, PD-nim! My hyung [older brother or close male friend] came here today to practice and learn, and now you’re throwing him into a live radio show because of a sudden no-show?”

Doha protested in unison. It was an understandably bewildering situation.

It seemed absurd to put a DJ who hadn’t even practiced in the DJ seat just because the original DJ bailed.

“PD-nim, I really can’t do it without practice.”

“Nonsense. You can do it. You’re going to be the radio DJ full-time in a week anyway, so it’s not a bad thing to prepare in advance, right?”

PD Ahn looked like a devil in my eyes. If it weren’t for Doha, I would have been completely lost.

“PD-nim, do you often hear that you’re like a devil?”

I threw out a comment. PD Ahn responded with a meaningful smile.

“A devil with a gentle face. Isn’t that wonderful? Don’t you think?”

“…Do you often hear that you’re wicked too?”

“Well, let’s just say that. I like that Do-hyun isn’t frozen with fear. Now, shall we start practicing together?”

***

After an hour of being tamed by the wicked PD Ahn, Do-hyun still had the air of a novice DJ, but he had become a DJ capable of leading the show for about two hours.

Nevertheless, Do-hyun was worried. He had to do better than Kim Sunhee, the original DJ. Why did she have to go AWOL [Absent Without Leave]?

‘Ugh, what am I going to do with this pressure? I like that the schedule I have to do is what I want… but what am I going to do about this?’

Do-hyun was the type to worry a lot. It wasn’t like he could pull out a tarot card right there and then to foresee the future. If he did, he would probably draw a card like [Nine of Wands], which meant a mountain of work and twice the responsibility.

‘Get a grip. Even if you’re caught by a tiger, you can survive if you keep your wits about you. Only 5 minutes until the broadcast. The writers said they’d help too. I can do it.’

Do-hyun was already inside the studio.

Since it was an open studio, he could see outside the window, where about 20 of Do-hyun’s fans had gathered, having heard about it from somewhere.

[Na Do-hyun Fighting]

[NaDJ Fighting!]

They were already calling Na Do-hyun combined with DJ as NaDJ.

He thought to himself that the fans’ information network was fast. On the other hand, he was curious about where they got this information. Probably a company employee? Just as he was about to delve deeper into that thought, PD Ahn spoke.

“Okay, we’re starting the broadcast. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, commercials first.”

***

“Huk, PD-nim… what’s so easy about this… you devil… you’re a mega-devil!”

Do-hyun said to PD Ahn after being released from two hours of tension.

PD Ahn just laughed heartily, probably because there hadn’t been any broadcast accidents.

“But you did well when I threw you into the battlefield. Do-hyun, I told you I wanted to cast you, and you really were a true DJ. When you said in a mid-low voice, ‘Today, tomorrow, it’s also Na Do-hyun,’ I got goosebumps all over. You were a prepared talent, Do-hyun.”

“PD-nim, you’re not going to turn on me if I make even a small mistake later, are you?”

“Of course not. Oh, and there’s one thing I need to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Kim Sunhee’s side contacted us during the broadcast. They said she got into an accident on the way… Well, according to an exclusive article, she was driving under the influence and committed a hit-and-run. Kim Sunhee is the kind of person who would do that, but if she says any nonsense about you stealing her spot, just ignore her.”

“Ah… I understand.”

“Okay. You worked really hard today. Yeouido isn’t great because there aren’t many places open around here. You can’t drive out and eat at a fast food restaurant. This neighborhood is dead after companies leave work… the annex has food, but the main building, sigh. Anyway, thanks for your hard work.”

“Yes! Then next week…”

“No, it’s tomorrow. Kim Sunhee deserves to be suspended from KBC [Korean Broadcasting Corporation]. How irresponsible of her. Anyway, I’m counting on you, Na Do-hyun.”

“Thank you.”

Do-hyun and Doha left the studio and moved to the parking lot.

After getting in the car, Do-hyun slumped into the seat, saying that the tension had finally been released.

“Hyung, you really worked hard.”

“I didn’t do much. Ah, let’s go home quickly.”

“Should we order some chicken when we get home?”

“If there’s a place that delivers.”

“Sounds good, Hyung!”

* * *

Do-hyun, who had taken a shower as soon as he got home, saw Doha’s phone ringing non-stop.

He was about to hand the phone to Doha when unidentified messages popped up.

[What’s Do-hyun’s schedule today?]

[Is Do-hyun home now?]

[Manager-nim, where is Do-hyun? What’s his schedule for tomorrow?]

[Is he a fixed radio DJ from tomorrow?]

Numerous messages were pouring in.

Doha’s phone wasn’t locked. He felt like he had been hit in the head with a hammer rather than being embarrassed.

He had suspected that someone was leaking information because fans were following him to places they shouldn’t know about, but it turned out to be his own manager.

Do-hyun quickly filmed the evidence with his phone.

That’s when it happened.

“Hyung, my phone…”

“Hey, Doha. What are you doing?”

Doha’s eyes were shaking.

He had thought that Doha’s movements had been suspicious recently. He suddenly went out shopping and came back with a bunch of expensive clothes.

He just thought the company was taking good care of him, but the connection seemed to be complete.

The fact that sasaengs [obsessive fans who stalk celebrities] knew and followed him everywhere. The fact that rumors spread quickly among fans. It was all…

“Ryu Doha, answer me. Did you sell my information? Did you make money by selling my information? Huh?”

Do-hyun was furious. Doha just hung his head and didn’t answer.

He had heard that there were many cases in the entertainment industry—especially among idol managers—where they made a good amount of money by selling information. He had never experienced such a case because he had been an unknown idol until now.

“I’m sorry, Hyung.”

“Yeah, how much did you buy and sell my information for? Let’s at least know how much you sold it for.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I thought I had met a trustworthy manager, but you were just the same as everyone else in the end? Didn’t you feel any guilt selling my information?”

Doha only repeated the word sorry.

Then he handed Do-hyun the car keys for the schedule.

When Do-hyun didn’t say anything even after seeing that, Doha went into the room and started packing his bags.

“Hey, get out of here quickly. I’ll give you an hour, so get out of here within an hour.”

Do-hyun called the management team leader without paying attention to the fact that it was dawn.

If a singer calls the agency at dawn, it means there’s an emergency. The team leader answered the phone right away.

“Team leader, I thought there were a lot more sasaengs lately, but there was a reason for that.”

[…What are you talking about, Do-hyun?]

“I’ve been keeping a spy-like bastard in front of me and didn’t even know it.”

[A spy-like bastard?]

“Yes. This bastard Ryu Doha has been buying and selling my information to sasaengs.”

[It’s not just suspicion, you’ve caught all the evidence?]

“Yes. I confirmed it with my own eyes. If you ask me to show you, I can show you as much as you want. I told him to get out within an hour for now.”

[No, wait, I’ll go there first, so hold on to Doha. Got it?]

“Do I have to see a face I don’t even want to look at anymore?”

[Just bear with it a little. I’m sorry to say this. I understand Do-hyun’s position too… but we need to take disciplinary action on our side with solid evidence.]

“Sigh, then come quickly.”

After hanging up, Do-hyun shouted so that Doha could hear him.

“Ryu Doha, stop packing your bags and come here right now.”

At those words, Doha came out of the room hesitantly.

“You said you were my fan, right? You weren’t lying about being a fan, were you?”

“No… it’s true that I’m Hyung’s fan.”

“If I were in your position, I wouldn’t have sold my information. But you sold it as much as you wanted. Isn’t that right?”

“It’s not that I was trying to do that at first…”

“Everyone makes excuses like that. Isn’t that right?”

“At first, I just had a simple thought that I wanted there to be a lot of people where Hyung was going. Then… I started to think it would be good to sell it for money…”

“That’s enough. My stomach feels queasy because your excuses are getting longer. I’m so uncomfortable, Ryu Doha.”

Not long after, the sound of the door lock being pressed was heard. It seemed the team leader had arrived.

As soon as the team leader opened the door lock and came in, he looked for Ryu Doha. When Doha came into his sight, the team leader grabbed him by the collar and slapped him across the cheek.

Slap—!

Doha’s head turned with the team leader’s hand.

“You bastard, don’t even think about setting foot in this industry again. I know there are more than a few bastards who sell information about the celebrities they’re in charge of, but you shouldn’t even think about setting foot in this industry again. You were complicit in the stalkers’ actions. Did you like making money off of that?”

“Team leader, I think you should calm down a little. You’ll be in big trouble if you get charged with assault.”

Doha was afraid of Do-hyun, who was calmly speaking even in this situation.

“Ha, I thought I had picked a good person, but how could you do this? Is this even something that makes sense?”

The team leader’s anger didn’t subside easily.

Do-hyun felt relieved just by the slap on the cheek. Of course, if it had been him, he wouldn’t have slapped him on the cheek and would have just let him go. He felt relieved after catching the internal traitor.

“Let’s just send him away now. Hey, Ryu Doha. I don’t know if you’ll do this again, but don’t do that in the future. Got it?”

Do-hyun said quietly. Doha just nodded his head.

“The only reason I’m letting this go is because there was a time when we got along well. If you’re going to be a manager for other celebrities, you know you can’t live like that, selling their private information. If you continue to stay in this industry, it’s not hard for me to spread rumors about you. Keep that in mind.”

Do-hyun warned. He was disappointed in his relationships, realizing that as things got better, the people around him also changed.

‘Damn it…’