A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 82

“It was Na Do-hyun today, and so it will be tomorrow. I bid you goodnight from the boundary of dreams and night.”

After his closing remarks, Do-hyun exited the studio.

PD [Production Director] Ahn and the writers were busy fawning over him.

“I mean, how can he be so good? His skills are improving so rapidly day by day! I guess I have an eye for talent when it comes to DJs.”

The writers nodded in agreement with PD Ahn.

“Exactly. It hasn’t been long since he started, but he’s never late, and he always comes on time to read the script and practice! There’s no one like him! Honey DJ is so good that I’m moved to tears…”

“Oh, writers and PD, if you keep this up, I’ll get overwhelmed and run away.”

“We can’t have that! I’ll chase you to the southernmost tip of Ushuaia and beg you to be our DJ.”

“Haha… PD, you’re too much. I wouldn’t run that far. It’s too far away.”

“True. Anyway, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I had my eye on Na Do-hyun since he appeared on ‘Neocheotga’ [a TV show]! He’s even better as a radio DJ than he was on ‘Neocheotga,’ so I’m very pleased.”

“Thank you! I’ll continue to show you an even better version of myself!”

“In that case, shall we order some fried chicken and have it in the duty room? Maybe have a beer too. It’s already 2 a.m., so it’s awkward to just go home.”

Do-hyun thought about his schedule for tomorrow. There was nothing. He figured it wouldn’t be bad to hang out with the PD and writers. You never know where good relationships might come from.

“Sure! I’ll pay for the chicken!”

Everyone cheered at Do-hyun’s words.

Do-hyun ordered chicken and beer through a delivery app.

Considering the time, he predicted the delivery would arrive quickly since not many people would be ordering.

“Kim Writer will pick it up. Got it? She’s been shouting about her love for Do-hyun even before he came.”

“PD, how can you reveal that!”

Kim Writer said to PD Ahn, seemingly embarrassed. However, Do-hyun didn’t show any particular reaction. He had been meeting people who claimed to be his fans quite often lately in this industry.

Also, Do-hyun believed that to survive in the cutthroat entertainment industry, you needed to have someone you liked to endure it.

“I thought Kim Writer was treating me coldly because she didn’t like me… This is very appreciated?”

“No, that’s not it!”

PD Ahn laughed and teased Kim Writer’s denial.

“What do you mean, no? You even asked to clear your schedule to go to his live broadcast.”

“Haha… Really? If you come next time… well, it seems like it will be soon, but I’ll treat you really well then.”

Kim Writer subtly took out a necklace from her bag. It was the necklace that Do-hyun and the agency staff had pieced together over several days.

“Wow, this is the one you could only get in the last week! You must have come!”

“Of course! I can’t wear it around because I’m afraid it will show that I’m a fan, but I carry it around like a talisman. I pray that serendipity will happen in my life.”

Bzzzz─

Do-hyun received a call from an unknown number.

They had been talking so much that they lost track of time. Do-hyun said he would go get the chicken and beer and hurried out.

Even after Do-hyun left, the conversation about him continued.

“PD, how could you out me like that! We were supposed to keep it a secret!”

“What does it matter? From what I see of Na Do-hyun, he doesn’t seem like the type to discriminate against people based on that. He seems like the type who keeps his mouth shut.”

PD Ahn said, not caring. To PD Ahn, Na Do-hyun was someone who had agreed to the DJ schedule earlier than expected and seemed like a diligent and hardworking person who put in a lot of effort to do well.

It was markedly different from how people changed after reaching a certain level of popularity. PD Ahn felt that Na Do-hyun would continue to enjoy popularity for a long time.

“I’m here!”

Do-hyun opened the duty room door, panting. Everyone made a fuss about how quickly he had returned.

“Two chickens should be enough, right?”

“Yeah. Eating at this hour will make us gain weight, but since Do-hyun is paying…”

“PD, it’s morning in America right now. Let’s live on American time for now.”

The chatter continued, and in a lively atmosphere, the four of them had a post-broadcast get-together.

Around 3:30 a.m., Do-hyun thought it was time to leave.

After cleaning up all the trash, Do-hyun said his goodbyes.

“I had a lot of fun today. PD, writers. I’ll continue to work hard as Na Do-hyun! Please take care of me!”

“Good work today, and please do well tomorrow too.”

“Get home safe, Do-hyun.”

“Thanks for the chicken.”

The writers and PD each said.

Do-hyun walked through the main building, where a cool breeze was already blowing even though the end of summer had not yet passed. The fans were nowhere to be seen, having already dispersed. It was a relief. He would have felt guilty if the fans had been waiting for him until this hour.

“Well, shall I take a little walk today?”

Do-hyun was mesmerized by the moonlight and starlight illuminating the dark night sky. It was fantastic. Plus, he had a bit of alcohol in his system, so he felt like he was floating.

“I could release a song called ‘3:30 a.m.’ I don’t think I’ll ever forget this fantastic feeling.”

Do-hyun hummed an unknown melody. Various chords were mixed in.

“You only look at me, I’m sorry I can’t only look at you, you orbit around me, I’m at the center of you.”

Do-hyun turned on the recording app and started recording as ideas came to him.

Yeouido at dawn was deserted, so he wouldn’t be treated strangely for humming a song.

Moreover, many stalkers had left since Doha was fired. So he could enjoy this moment to the fullest.

“Haha, this isn’t bad either. Walking in the cool breeze at dawn feels like this.”

Do-hyun was lost in sentimentality. The calm feeling of dawn comforted Do-hyun’s heart.

* * *

Ding-dong─

“Ugh… who’s ringing the bell so early in the morning.”

Having walked home at dawn, Do-hyun was still in bed at 2 p.m.

“Who is it!”

“Sunbaenim [senior/respected colleague]! I’m Kang-ho, and I’ll be your manager starting today!”

“……Kang-ho?”

Fearing that he might be a male stalker, Do-hyun called his agency director to confirm Kang-ho’s identity. The call ended with a brief confirmation that he was the new manager.

Do-hyun roughly tidied his hair to look presentable and opened the door.

“Hello, Kang-ho-ssi [Mr. Kang-ho].”

“Hello! Sunbaenim!”

“Is your name Kang Ho? Or is your surname Kang and your name Ho?”

“The latter!”

Kang-ho’s image looked very strong. His large build and bulging veins seemed to certify his strength.

“You’re starting as my manager today, right?”

“Yes, Sunbaenim.”

“Ugh… I don’t like being called Sunbaenim. If there’s one thing that needs to be fixed in this entertainment industry, it’s calling everyone from PDs to writers to reporters Sunbaenim. How old are you?”

“I’m 29 this year.”

“Oh… you’re older than me? I’ll call you Hyung [older brother/male friend].”

“No, but you’re my Sunbaenim…”

“I don’t care about those titles, Hyung. I’d like you to call me Do-hyun comfortably.”

“Ah… then it’ll be awkward, but I’ll try calling you. Do-hyun-ah [a more intimate way of calling Do-hyun]… Ugh, it seems like it’ll take some time before I can say it properly.”

Do-hyun chuckled as he watched Kang-ho feel awkward.

“I’m going to take a shower, Hyung.”

Holding a stiff posture, Kang-ho sat on the sofa and waited for Do-hyun without doing anything.

When Do-hyun came out after showering, Kang-ho recited today’s schedule.

“Today, you have concert practice. There’s also recording of the remastered songs from the repackage album. At midnight, there’s ‘Today, Tomorrow Too’…”

“I woke up too late. I should have woken up a bit earlier, but I had a late-night get-together.”

“Hey, it happens. Just make sure to handle the schedule tightly.”

Kang-ho was large, but his tone was gentle and soft. It reminded Do-hyun of Doha, who used to scurry around with a small build, making him compare them.

‘With that kind of build, he wouldn’t be easily harassed by stalkers.’

Thinking that, Do-hyun quickly got ready to leave.

Since the concert was going to be a live band performance, all the session musicians would have gathered.

“Let’s go quickly, Hyung.”

“Alright, Do-hyun-ssi [Mr. Do-hyun].”

“Hyung, Do-hyun-ssi is even more awkward. I think it would be better if you just called me Do-hyun…”

“First, it’ll be Do-hyun-ssi, and when I get comfortable, I’ll call you Do-hyun-ah. Let’s go.”

The car ride to the company was quiet. Do-hyun somehow felt burdened to talk to Kang-ho. He had a polite demeanor and a soft tone, but that made it even more burdensome.

‘Will I be able to get along with him?’

“Ah, you know I live with my manager, right? You’ll have to move your luggage to my place… Are you ready?”

When he asked Kang-ho, who was driving, Kang-ho glanced at the rearview mirror and replied.

“Of course. I received prior notice and came prepared. Even though I look big and rough, I’m confident in doing housework.”

“No, Hyung. There’s no need to do housework. I don’t like abusing my manager, and I just like everyone cleaning up their own mess.”

Do-hyun drew a firm line.

He had seen many celebrities who were enjoying their popularity treat their managers like servants. Having seen those scenes, Do-hyun had vowed not to do that.

“Thank you, Do-hyun-ssi!”

“Hey, who thanks someone for this. Just think of it comfortably, Hyung.”

“Yes, I understand. Oh, we’ve arrived at the company.”

Kang-ho skillfully turned the steering wheel and parked the car. As soon as he parked, Kang-ho got out and opened the door so that Do-hyun could get out comfortably.

“Hyung, you don’t have to do this. It’s really burdensome. No escorts! Got it?”

Kang-ho replied, feeling embarrassed.

“I understand…”

“Then let’s go up.”

Do-hyun went straight to the practice room.

The session musicians were already rehearsing. When Do-hyun appeared, the performance stopped, and the session musicians greeted him happily.

“I came too late today, right? I’m sorry!”

“Na Singer, aren’t you too late? As punishment, how about chicken later?”

At the words of the person in charge of the guitar, Do-hyun laughed loudly and replied.

“I was eating chicken until dawn.”

“That body doesn’t look like someone who ate chicken until dawn. It seems like you’re losing weight every time I see you?”

Everyone said “That’s right” at someone’s words.