A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 88

As the rumor of a romantic relationship with Kim Ok-hee, nicknamed ‘Ok-nyeo’ [a common Korean nickname, meaning “Jade Girl”], spread, malicious commenters began to circulate posts as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Not only malicious commenters but also so-called ‘Wreck Car’ YouTubers [YouTube channels that specialize in exposing or creating scandals] created evidence forcibly linking Kim Ok-hee and Do-hyun, turning it into a major issue.

The fans were the ones suffering.

Especially, the one suffering the most among them…

“Do-hyun, why do I have to write about your dating scandal with my own hands?”

It was none other than Yoo Hana, a reporter for Sports Daily.

She had happily enjoyed the two-day concert, attending all shows, and was editing photos and videos when, what’s this?

Do-hyun’s dating scandal had exploded on online communities.

Kim Ok-hee had uploaded a kissing photo with a heart, without any further explanation.

Those who knew Kim Ok-hee knew that she was naturally attention-seeking, but to those who didn’t, it would seem as if Do-hyun had invited his lover to the concert and was openly displaying affection.

Moreover, she couldn’t get through to Hue Entertainment on the phone.

“Please answer the phone… Ugh, this is so frustrating.”

Yoo Hana was in agony.

* * *

The first one to grasp the situation was Do-hyun himself, not anyone else at Hue Entertainment.

‘Huh? Why am I tagged on social media?’

When Do-hyun checked, it seemed to be the account of a woman called ‘Ok-nyeo.’

She had tagged Do-hyun with a heart and uploaded a photo of them kissing, making it look like they were a long-time couple.

As soon as Do-hyun realized there was a problem, he called Kang-ho, who was sprawled out in the next room.

“Kang-ho hyung [older brother or close male friend]! Big trouble!”

“…Uh, uh? What’s wrong?”

“Hyung, that Ok-nyeo from earlier. A photo of us kissing was uploaded to her account. Weren’t you supposed to take care of it?”

Kang-ho was also taken aback by those words.

He had seen Ok-nyeo delete the photo when he approached her and asked her to, and she had snapped, “Is that enough?”

“I clearly watched her delete it with my own eyes! Could she have restored the photo with some kind of recovery program?”

It was highly likely.

“Hyung, shouldn’t we contact the company? The comment sections are a mess right now, and articles keep coming out…”

“I’ll contact them right away. Ha… she’s a real handful.”

Kang-ho said he was going outside to smoke while making a phone call.

Do-hyun considered stepping forward himself to ask her to delete it, but he judged that it could provoke this attention seeker and lead to worse outcomes.

He usually enjoyed checking fans’ reactions, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it this time.

He had come in after finishing the performance in a good mood, but this kind of thing happened.

“Ugh… how could this happen right after the performance!”

Do-hyun figured it would take Kang-ho a while to make a phone call and come back, so he took out his tarot cards.

The topic this time was, ‘How much will this one-sided scandal with Ok-nyeo affect my popularity?’

Do-hyun’s expression was serious as he shuffled the cards.

This time, he decided to draw only two cards.

With his eyes closed, Do-hyun spread the cards and drew two that he felt drawn to.

And the cards that came out were…

[The Tower]

[Seven of Swords]

The Tower card, meaning a big change will happen.

The Seven of Swords card, also known as the ‘Thief’ card.

Combining these and interpreting them, the conclusion was that Do-hyun’s popularity could decline.

“…Ugh, the cards have never been wrong so far.”

Do-hyun became anxious.

The reason he went on stage on the second day was because of the fans and his parents who had waited for him.

The fact that he went on stage while pushing himself, and that he tried to make the stage special even while scheduling his hospitalization, was about to be ruined because of ‘Ok-nyeo.’

Beep, beep—

Do-hyun’s cell phone rang.

[Hue Entertainment Management Team Leader]

Seeing the name on the screen, Do-hyun immediately answered the phone.

“Yes, Team Leader.”

[Do-hyun, do you know Ok-nyeo?]

“I don’t know her well.”

That was understandable.

Ok-nyeo went around targeting popular people.

She wouldn’t have been interested in Do-hyun back when he wasn’t popular.

Besides, he hadn’t paid attention to the rumors.

[Aish… Ok-nyeo, she’s got a reputation. Once she latches on, she’ll be desperate for attention for a while. Quite a few people have been hurt by her.]

What good would it do to hear this now?

“…I’m sorry.”

Do-hyun, after offering the insincere apology, became anxious.

What if the fans leave like this?

How did I even get to where I am now?

A dating scandal right after finishing the performance.

Even Do-hyun, who had shown off a confident stage despite his injury, became uneasy with worries about the future.

“Team Leader, is there any way to fix this?”

[You have to deny it. I mean, you weren’t even dating Ok-nyeo in the first place, were you? However, it seems like you’re in for a rough time, Do-hyun. Ok-nyeo is close to some reporters. I don’t know how she made those connections.]

“Ugh, I understand. Should I upload something like a handwritten letter? To be honest, this is the first time I’ve experienced something like this in my career.”

[A handwritten letter seems like an overreaction since it’s not even true. Our official statement will be released soon, right? Then it would be good to post something on social media to match that. Got it?]

“Yes. I understand.”

* * *

Hello, this is Na Do-hyun.

I would like to address the photo that was uploaded after today’s performance.

The other person was someone I met for the first time today, and I was taken aback by the sudden physical contact.

I thought everything would be fine because I deleted the photo on the spot.

The official position issued by the agency is the same as my position.

I am sorry for causing controversy unintentionally.

– From Na Do-hyun

* * *

[Na Do-hyun posted a post on social media about O.N.] [Initials used to refer to Ok-nyeo without explicitly naming her]

ㅋㅋㅋ Hue Entertainment wrote in the notice that they will sue O.N. ㅋㅋㅋ O.N., I hope she doesn’t act up so much now

└I hope I don’t see Ok-nyeo in the idol scene or the sports scene

└O.N. Sue her well, but be careful, she’s still a civilian

└Honestly, it’s obvious that it’s a lie, isn’t O.N. crazy for attention?

└It seems like Hyunie [a cute nickname for Do-hyun] is getting popular because O.N., the attention seeker, is attached, but why am I so angry ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└If there are any malicious comments or false information, take a screenshot and send it to Hue Entertainment without saying anything ㄱㄱ [Korean abbreviation for “go, go!”]

* * *

“Ugh……”

The firestorm did not subside despite the agency’s belated response and Do-hyun’s official statement.

In particular, the fire intensified as Ok-nyeo posted a few more photos taken with Do-hyun on her social media.

He had just taken a few photos because she came to the after-party, but he never dreamed that things would get this big.

The fact that Do-hyun’s fans had decreased was evident in the number of social media followers.

The number of followers decreased by 10,000 in just a few days.

The company was aware of this fact, but they couldn’t stop the fans from leaving.

But what made Do-hyun struggle was something else.

So-called basic social media profile accounts appeared in droves and began to spread false rumors, claiming to be fans who had left the fandom.

“Do-hyun, I told you to stop looking at your phone.”

Do-hyun had been glued to his phone for days, sighing and not eating properly.

As his manager, Kang-ho couldn’t help but worry about Do-hyun.

“Hyung, what should I really do? I’m saying it’s not me, the company is saying it’s not me… A person I don’t even know is claiming to be dating me, and the reporters are writing articles as if they’re just copying what that woman is saying. The company is talking about suing her. What do I have to do for people to believe me?”

“Look, it’s not something you can control, Do-hyun. Ok-nyeo is notorious, right? The media knows it all. They all know it, but they write those articles anyway because it generates clicks and money. That’s why they write the article.”

“I know that too. But I don’t understand people. Is it just because they’re human?”

“Don’t try to understand things you can’t understand. Those people are beyond our common sense. Maybe this is the first big challenge you’ll experience in this industry. You’ll have to overcome countless crises in the future. You succeeded in your fourth debut, but that’s just how it is in this industry.”

It was Kang-ho’s way of comforting him, but it didn’t feel like comfort to Do-hyun.

He could only sigh.

If he could, he just wanted to hole up somewhere and work on songs.

Then would someone understand his sincerity?

“Hyung, I’m going to the company.”

“The company? Why now?”

“I have to go to the studio. I want to relieve my mood by working on songs. Otherwise, I feel like I’m going to go crazy with frustration.”

Kang-ho told him that there were foreign fans who had come to see Do-hyun in front of the company.

“I don’t care. Whether they’re foreign fans or Korean fans. I just want to go to the studio. If I go to work hard at the company, will people see me a little differently?”

“Do-hyun, how about just working from home?”

Kang-ho tried to stop him once again, but Do-hyun shook his head.

“No. I’ll go to the company. And this dating rumor isn’t true, is it? That Ok-nyeo person won’t come to the company…”

“No. Ok-nyeo might try something… I was actually going to skip this, but our company didn’t give Ok-nyeo an invitation to the celebrity party. They blocked her from the start.”

“Really? How did she get in?”

“I don’t know the exact route. Maybe she followed someone who was there… The security guard didn’t recognize that it was Ok-nyeo. Everyone was distracted by the after-party. It’s the company’s fault.”

Do-hyun had a blank expression on his face at Kang-ho’s words.

“Okay, Hyung. I’m going to work alone, so you stay home. You don’t have to drive me.”

“Can you really go alone? What if some weird person bothers you?”

“I don’t think things can get any worse in this situation.”

At Do-hyun’s cynical words, Kang-ho handed him the car keys, but he refused.

Do-hyun came out of the house and walked slowly.

As Do-hyun walked from the villa to the main street, he encountered his usual group of stalkers.

“Do-hyun, how do you feel about the dating rumor?”

One of them said, trying to provoke him.

She was doing that because she knew that Do-hyun usually didn’t even acknowledge the stalkers.

It was a provocation, but Do-hyun didn’t react and waited for a taxi.

As soon as a taxi with a [Vacant] sign came, Do-hyun got in.

Seeing Do-hyun do that, the stalkers took a so-called ‘stalker taxi’ and chased after Do-hyun.

The destination: Hue Entertainment.

As Kang-ho said, there were fans from faraway countries at the company entrance to see Do-hyun.

“Hi, Do-hyun!”

“Do-hyun oppa [term used by younger females to address older males], hi!”

“Ogenki desu ka [How are you?], Do-hyun!”

“Bonjour, Do-hyun!”

Languages from various countries were heard, but Do-hyun pulled his hat down and entered the company.

He took the elevator and pressed the button to go to the studio on the 3rd floor.

The elevator door opened, and the employees who recognized Do-hyun were startled.

It must be because of the dating rumor.

Do-hyun, feeling like the elevator ride was unusually long as if he was running away, hurriedly opened the door to the studio.

And there.

“Have you come?”