Episode 2
Dohyeon checked the delivery as soon as he woke up. The tarot cards he had ordered were waiting in front of the door.
He brought them in right away and opened them up.
“Let’s see, these are Pentacles, the coin cards. These are Wand cards, Sword cards. Star card.”
Dohyeon checked the cards one by one, from the Major Arcana to the Minor Arcana, confirmed there were seventy-eight, and slowly shuffled them.
*I have a pretty good memory. I watched dozens of videos yesterday, but I remember most of them.*
Come to think of it, he also memorized lyrics after just one listen, and he recalled how his fellow members who had promoted with him had greatly envied that.
*They say a shaman can’t read their own fortune, but I feel like it should be fine if I draw for myself.*
He picked up the pace of his shuffling, then laid the cards out in a round arch on the spread cloth.
Dohyeon placed his left hand over the cards and chose one that he felt drawn to.
Closing his eyes, he moved his hand over the cards, and there was one that gave him a special feeling.
The feeling was so strong that his body flinched.
With his right hand, Dohyeon flipped that single card over.
[WHEEL OF FORTUNE]
“The Wheel of Fortune?”
In the center of the card was written “Rota,” and above the wheel was a Sphinx, while below, Anubis supported the wheel.
He had to draw a total of three cards.
After hovering over the card spread, he drew two more.
[NINE OF PENTACLES]
[THE SUN]
Dohyeon opened the book.
Wheel of Fortune, The Sun, Nine of Pentacles. Especially the Nine of Pentacles, which symbolized affluence. According to the book, the Wheel of Fortune was turning, and with the positive energy of the Sun and the energy of coming wealth, it meant it would brighten his future.
Dohyeon let out a short laugh.
“Not bad news.”
The moment he tried to put the tarot cards away, one card caught on his fingertip and flipped over on its own.
“The Wheel of Fortune again?”
The explanation he had just read in the book came to mind.
*All fate repeats the cycle and begins anew. Numerologically, ten signifies yet another beginning… Joy and sorrow, rise and fall, everything changes, returns, and changes again. You may be at the highest position, but…*
It felt like something unexpected was going to happen.
“The start is good, but the question is whether it’ll actually happen. If it does.”
Happy imaginings unfurled on their own.
If only he could meet an agency that worked incredibly well for his life as a singer.
The imagination didn’t last long.
“Does it make sense that my fate would change just because I did some tarot cards?”
He scoffed, roughly covered the cards with the spread cloth, and flopped down.
*Doing all sorts of things since morning.*
The shaman yesterday had been impressive, after all.
That was why he was finding a delivery and drawing tarot cards first thing in the morning.
Thinking that these things were no help in life, Dohyeon let out a deep sigh and thought of the list of agencies to send his profile to.
Sending around his profile seemed far more productive than spinning some fortune wheel or whatever.
Buzz?!
At the phone vibrating since morning, Dohyeon checked the number with curiosity.
“Oh, what brings you calling, hyung?”
It was a composer hyung he knew.
What could it be, all of a sudden?
Dohyeon answered the phone with a puzzled mind.
“Yes, hello hyungnim!”
*Yo, Dohyeon, you doing well?*
“Yes. Of course. How about you, hyungnim?”
*I’m doing well too. By the way, I made a song and need a guide vocal. You free?*
Dohyeon was disappointed but tried his best to sound nonchalant.
“That’s right. Finding work isn’t easy.”
He had almost forgotten that this was someone who only contacted him when needed.
“You need a guide vocal, right?”
*Right. And the pay is pretty good.*
He wasn’t in a position to refuse. He needed to do whatever he could. And if the pay was good, it was obviously something he should take.
“How much, hyungnim?”
Perhaps his last shred of pride. He wanted to check the pay.
*Two hundred.*
“What? Two hundred for a guide?”
Dohyeon was startled by the unexpected number.
He had been feigning indifference just moments ago, but the number two hundred was different.
*If you don’t do it, I’ll give it to someone else.*
“Of course I’ll do it! When is it?”
At Dohyeon’s proactive attitude, the composer answered readily.
*Today. This is a song commissioned by Hyu Entertainment, and you’re the only one who came to mind for the guide vocal.*
“Thank you. I’ll head there right now.”
*You know the studio?*
“Of course. Do you think I’ve only been there once or twice?”
Truthfully, he had only been once or twice.
*Good, oh, and a Hyu Entertainment executive is here too, so mind your manners.*
A Hyu Entertainment executive for a guide vocal recording?
Wasn’t Hyu Entertainment one of the Big Three agencies!
*So they’re the Big Three, and they really care about the guide vocal too. Though I don’t think they necessarily need to.*
He had once aspired to join Hyu Entertainment but had failed the auditions repeatedly. That was why he had coveted it all the more.
If you debuted under Hyu Entertainment, success was virtually guaranteed.
Even though he wasn’t going to an audition, Dohyeon dressed in the neatest clothes he had that would still show off his charms.
As he came out of his room, his mother, who seemed to have just woken up, greeted him while stretching in the living room.
“Where are you going? Did you get a schedule?”
“It’s not a schedule, just a guide vocal. The pay is good.”
“Good, you have to do something. I’m proud of you, my son!”
“It’s not even coming out as my song. Don’t mention it.”
She was a mother who refused to let him change his name, but always respected his dream of being a singer.
I smiled, waved my hand, and stepped out the front door.
His steps walking to take the bus were very light.
The world had always been cruel only to him. He looked up at the sky. His colleagues lacking in skill had all found their places, but Dohyeon’s negotiations had fallen through every time.
Even the few remaining fans had left, unable to endure the drought of content from an inactive singer.
*A guide vocal is no different—there’s nothing in it for them either.*
Still, thinking of recording after a long time, he felt he should give a gift to the remaining fans and posted a selfie on SNS.
*On my way to record!*
Along with a caption.
When a few comments came in, Dohyeon replied kindly as befitting an idol.
Before he knew it, he was at the bus stop, and after boarding the bus, he put his phone in his pocket.
To maintain his condition, he loosened his throat and focused his mind.
*I have to do well.*
This could be a good opportunity.
Dohyeon steeled his heart.
* * *
Dohyeon arrived at the studio and rang the bell.
“It’s me, Dohyeon, hyungnim.”
The door opened, and when he entered the studio, the smell of cigarettes hung heavily in the air. It seemed they had been working for quite a long time.
“It’s been a while, hyungnim.”
“Yeah, long time no see. The person here is Hyu Entertainment’s team leader hyung, Lee Junhyeok. Say hello.”
*Wait, Lee Junhyeok, the team leader of Hyu Entertainment?*
He possessed the most delicate ears in the industry, and all the renowned groups had gone through Lee Junhyeok’s directing.
At the fact that such a person was right in front of him, Dohyeon naturally bowed his head.
“Hello!”
“Nice to meet you.”
Despite the cynical reaction, Dohyeon felt nervous.
Today, something felt different.
Even if it was just a guide vocal, if he sang in a way that satisfied him, he might forge a connection with Lee Junhyeok and accomplish something.
For example, joining a new agency. And not just any agency, but Hyu Entertainment, which was renowned in the industry.
“The song title hasn’t been decided. The lyrics are pretty much just repeating FLY. It’s a boy group debut song. You know keeping this confidential is mandatory, right?”
At the composer hyung’s words, Dohyeon finally came to his senses and nodded.
Lee Junhyeok’s cynical voice continued.
“Even if it’s just a guide vocal, we take it seriously. After all, the kids who sing the song end up following the guide vocal. We scouted you after hearing that Na Dohyeon-sshi’s vocals are good and receiving a recommendation, so we ask that you do your best. We made this decision after much deliberation as well. Please don’t let us down.”
Lee Junhyeok’s words were very cold.
Dohyeon had met such people in the industry more than once, so he tried his best to stay calm.
At that moment, the tarot card he had drawn that morning came to mind.
The Wheel of Fortune.
*Yes, perhaps this is an opportunity. I can’t miss that chance. Three debuts, and still a world full of people who don’t know who I am. I have to break through and move forward.*
Dohyeon lightly loosened his throat.
“First, let me play the MR.”
Dohyeon perked up his ears.
They said it was a male idol debut song, and indeed, freshness and a cool, clear feeling poured out. It was a song perfect for the season.
Dohyeon had perfect pitch.
Even with such a gift, why hadn’t he made it?
Fate is cruel.
“How is it?”
At the composer hyung’s voice, Dohyeon shook off his gloomy thoughts and gave an honest impression.
“It’s the best. I can’t help but think how happy I’d be if this were my song.”
“You have an ear for music.”
Dohyeon smiled even at Lee Junhyeok’s words.
Though the tone was frosty, it was a compliment if viewed positively.
“Alright, shall we listen a few more times and hear the guide version I recorded too before starting?”
“Yes. Sure, hyung. It’s a song that makes you happy just listening to it.”
The composer played the song’s MR a few times, then let him hear his own guide version.
The composer couldn’t sing well, but Dohyeon imagined singing this song on stage.
It truly felt like it would lift his spirits.
How happy would he be singing this song on stage?
“Dohyeon-ah, let’s get to recording.”
“Yes, hyungnim.”
“I agonized over this because I thought it would really suit your vocal tone, so do a good job.”
At the composer’s emphasis, Dohyeon’s gaze briefly rested on Lee Junhyeok.
When their eyes met, Dohyeon pretended not to care and entered the recording booth.
Soon, the MR began to play.
Dohyeon closed his eyes and focused on the song.
To the fluttering moment of debut.
Dohyeon’s emotions were returning.
*Grandfather. I’m thankful you named me Nameless so that the reaper wouldn’t take me. But I wanted to fly like this too.*
Dohyeon’s wish was infused into the song.
At the same time.
Watching Dohyeon like that, Lee Junhyeok asked the composer a question.
“That friend, Na Dohyeon. Could I get his contact information?”