A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 98

When Do-hyun greeted them, Coast, Seon Hwa-seung, and Choi In-joon welcomed him warmly.

Choi In-joon, who was meeting him for the first time, was especially happy to see Do-hyun.

Choi In-joon was the frontman of Do-hyun’s favorite band, Lavitta Vita.

Do-hyun had been nervous when he saw him in the judges’ waiting room, but now that this meeting was arranged, he felt even more nervous.

He even felt like asking for an autograph.

“Hello, seniors! It’s so nice to meet you all, especially Choi In-joon! Thank you so much for welcoming me. You have no idea how much I love Lavitta Vita…”

“I know. I heard that Do-hyun often covers your songs. I also knew that you passed the audition singing a Lavitta Vita song.”

“…Ah! You knew about that too?”

“Do-hyun’s fans left comments on my social media, so I found out. So, I listened to your songs to see what kind of singer you are, and I think I became a fan instead.”

“You’re too kind! Thank you so much!”

Do-hyun bowed deeply.

Choi In-joon laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder, telling him that he didn’t need to be so nervous.

The staff told them that now that the greetings were over, they should talk about the Season 2 participants.

Do-hyun, the youngest, skillfully grilled the meat. He planned to listen to his seniors’ stories and chime in with his own comments from time to time.

“There are so many remarkable participants this time, aren’t there? It was hard for me to choose each one. What do you think, Coast? Don’t you think it’s even harder than last season?”

“Oh, my. It’s so hard to pick each one. I didn’t know it would be this difficult to choose someone. Actually, when I picked Na Do-hyun last season, I made the decision right away…”

Coast seemed to have forgotten what he had been worried about back then.

Do-hyun was about to bring up the story, but he just laughed it off.

Choi In-joon, who was appearing as a judge on an audition program for the first time, shared a story about his experiences.

“There was even someone who balled up their fists and rushed at me when I told them they were eliminated! Wow. I wondered if they were that desperate, but seeing how violent they were, I thought they would cause an accident if they debuted.”

“Haha… There are some intense participants like that sometimes,” Do-hyun added.

“Well… Do you remember Hyo-seop from Season 1? The guy who fiercely opposed me until the end? He even raised an objection because of the voting, that friend.”

Seon Hwa-seung clapped his hands as if he remembered.

“Ah, that guy.”

“Yes. It felt strange to have Hyo-seop come to me for judging. His skills had improved. I think I need to be nervous. There’s also a congratulatory performance prepared as the Season 1 winner. I think I need to prepare a lot to show the participants what a winner looks like.”

Do-hyun confessed honestly.

Seeing the participants, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Rather, he became more nervous, thinking that the future of the music industry was bright.

Seon Hwa-seung and Coast talked about Do-hyun’s recent achievements.

It was about winning the Korean Popular Music Award.

“Do-hyun, your path as a winner has been very good, hasn’t it? Starting with the award… I think we should show a better side of ourselves as seniors.”

“Seon Hwa-seung, you too… I enjoyed your new album! Please sign the album I bought when I go home,” Do-hyun joked.

The warm camaraderie between the judges was captured on camera.

“Anyway, let’s do well as the Season 2 judges. With the Season 1 winner as a judge, I hope someone who surpasses Season 1 will emerge.”

Do-hyun nodded.

“We have to! There are many people who are better than me. I’m not saying this as if I’m anything special. Anyway… that’s it.”

Coast said after hearing that.

“We picked you, and the viewers picked you, so why the modesty? Do-hyun, you’re sometimes too humble. You can brag at times like this. Don’t you think so, everyone?”

Everyone agreed with Coast’s words.

Do-hyun shrugged.

“Come to think of it, Do-hyun, I heard you’re good at reading tarot cards?”

The camera held by the staff zoomed in on Do-hyun’s face. It was a natural reaction since an interesting topic had come up.

“Yes, that’s right… Well, they’re quite accurate. So, I often seek guidance from tarot cards.”

“Then can you guess who will be the winner of this Season 2?”

“I think I’ll have to see it near the end. I think it’s too early to predict the winner… that’s what I think.”

“I see. We have to conduct viewer popularity votes and mission-specific votes. There’s a lot to do,” Choi In-joon replied. He asked Do-hyun as if he had a question, “Then one question. Our Lavitta Vita album is about to be released, can you predict if it will be successful?”

Do-hyun had tarot cards in his pocket. However, he couldn’t answer Choi In-joon’s question because he was under a three-day penalty [likely a game rule or personal challenge not to use his tarot reading for a set period].

“It will be successful.”

“Hey, you have to look at the tarot cards!”

Do-hyun thought for a moment at Choi In-joon’s words and replied, “It’s just a feeling. Even if I don’t look at the tarot cards, I think this is a pretty good opportunity and a time to solidify your popularity.”

“Oh… You’re only saying good things because you like our band?”

“Of course! You’re also appearing as a judge this time, so there will be people who are interested and look you up… You’re also going to the rock festival. You’ve always been on stage as a headliner, but I think it’ll be even better!”

“Thank you. I can really feel that you like our band. I’ll give you an album as a gift when it comes out later.”

“Thank you!”

The judges’ warm night continued.

* * *

The preliminaries were all over…

Finally, the first day of the finals arrived.

Do-hyun’s performance was prepared.

Do-hyun had practiced a lot in advance, but he felt a different kind of tension than when he stood in front of fans.

He prepared and practiced one song from Monthly Do-hyun [likely a series of monthly song releases], Seon Hwa-seung’s ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper,’ which had a good response in Season 1, and more of his own songs.

The MC was still Ha Yeon-ho.

Ha Yeon-ho introduced Do-hyun’s stage, which was prepared in the middle of the finalists’ performances.

“He heated up Season 1 and succeeded in his fourth debut [referring to a successful career after the show]! It’s Na Do-hyun! Na Do-hyun’s stage is ready! Well, you’ve been waiting a long time, right? Let’s go meet the ‘Vocal King’ Season 1 winner Na Do-hyun’s stage now!”

In the audience below the stage, there were audience members who came to see Do-hyun’s congratulatory performance and the finalists.

Do-hyun’s parents were also there.

Do-hyun put on his guitar and went on stage.

The audience’s reaction was explosive when he appeared.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“Wow!”

“Na Do-hyun! Na Do-hyun! Na Do-hyun!”

Do-hyun smiled at the stage below and started the first song.

“Woah! It’s Seon Hwa-seung hyung [older brother/male friend]!” A little boy shouted at Do-hyun, who was drinking water after finishing the first song.

Everyone burst into laughter at the words.

The woman – Seon Hwa-seung – in the back seat laughed even louder.

“Our little one is turning me into a man?”

The little boy looked back and forth between the stage and Seon Hwa-seung.

“Anniya! Seon Hwa-seung hyung is on the stage, 맞아 [correct/right]!”

“Our baby is right about everything. Seon Hwa-seung on stage. Can you do a song?”

Do-hyun joked and grabbed the microphone.

“Hello, I’m Na Do-hyun, who became Seon Hwa-seung a little while ago… Season 1 winner. The second song I’m going to sing is Seon Hwa-seung mentor’s song, ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper.’ I established my position in Season 1 through this song. Please look forward to the stage!”

Do-hyun stopped playing the guitar for a moment and sang ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’ in a sorrowful voice to the flowing MR [music recorded].

Some people teared up while watching his performance.

They were the people who had been watching this program steadily since Season 1 and wanted Do-hyun to win.

They were Do-hyun’s fans who were lucky enough to be selected for the audience.

When Do-hyun’s ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’ stage ended, the concert hall was filled with applause.

“Na Do-hyun! Na Do-hyun! Na Do-hyun!”

“Thanks to your enthusiastic cheers, I can continue to the next stage. Thank you. Especially to the finalists. I hope you show off your skills to the fullest through the Season 2 stage and become great singers!”

Do-hyun sang a few more songs and came down from the stage.

The makeup artist quickly fixed his sweaty face, because he had to go back to the judges’ seat.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], how was my performance?”

When he asked Kang-ho, applause returned instead of an answer.

“Wasn’t I awkward or off?”

“I think you did better than when you practiced!”

Do-hyun shrugged at Kang-ho’s words.

“It’s nice to hear you say that. I need to get used to praise.”

“You need to be more generous to yourself. Sometimes I see you treating yourself harshly. Oh, and the part where the little kid shouted Seon Hwa-seung hyung earlier, that part will be uploaded to the agency’s YouTube channel as a cover video.”

“Oh, really?”

Do-hyun at this time did not expect that he would make his shortest 100 million view video with ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’.

* * *

└Wow, did you see Na Do-hyun singing Seon Hwa-seung’s song? It’s really crazy, insane, awesome!

└Na Do-hyun’s skills are still there; he’s not out of shape.

└It’s not for nothing that he won the Grand Prize at the Popular Music Awards.

└I must have been grinding my teeth while practicing.

└I’ve been listening to this all day these days.

└Really, what would Na Do-hyun have done if he wasn’t a singer?

└It’s so strange that his family was against it; he sings so well.

└He was born with talent, really.

└I’m so proud to be a Do-hyun fan at times like this ㅠㅠ [crying emoticons]

└I love Hyunie ㅠㅠ

└Hyunie, I love you!

└ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠI can only cry. How can he sing so sadly and desperately? Na Do-hyun’s vocal cords are the best!

* * *

Na Do-hyun’s channel on Hue Entertainment uploaded the ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’ ‘Vocal King’ Season 2 stage version.

Of course, it was uploaded after consultation with the KBC ‘Vocal King’ production team, which caused a hot reaction.

It was a phenomenon that Seon Hwa-seung’s ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’ topped the karaoke chart.

Anyone who could sing a little bit watched Do-hyun’s video and uploaded a cover video of ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’.

It was Seon Hwa-seung who thanked Do-hyun for this.

During a break in the middle of judging, Seon Hwa-seung said to Do-hyun, “Do-hyun mentor, thank you so much. Thanks to you, many people are singing my song, so I can expect royalties?”

“No. It’s Hwa-seung mentor who allowed me to perform that great stage.”

“When you go to YouTube, ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’ pops up as a related video. Especially Do-hyun mentor’s video has surpassed 100 million views in the shortest period of time… it’s amazing.”

“No! Hehe.”

Do-hyun laughed. Choi In-joon said that he was planning to cover the ‘Under the Trumpet Creeper’ stage soon and upload it to YouTube, so please look forward to it.

“It’s all thanks to Do-hyun mentor? When the royalties come in, I’ll treat Do-hyun mentor!” Seon Hwa-seung added with a smile.

Do-hyun just laughed.