NOVEL NEXT Chapter 65
On my way to practice after finishing school and returning to my daily life, I got on the bus as usual, wearing my wireless earbuds and listening to my practice recordings.
Amid this, a guy who looked to be in his twenties approached me.
He was someone whose gaze had been subtly meeting mine for a while.
Of course, I was used to the attention, as there were often instances where guys approached me for my contact info.
“Um, excuse me…”
But this time… I wanted to believe it wasn’t for that.
If there had been a trending search, I would have been number one for sure!
It had gotten that much buzz…
I took out my wireless earbuds and replied.
“Yes?”
“Um… You’re Do-hee Lee, the center from ‘Jodol,’ right?”
He asked cautiously, but there was certainty in his eyes.
Finally…
Finally, someone recognized me?
Wow!!!
“Yes, that’s right!”
I jumped up to respond.
The guy looked a bit taken aback by my enthusiastic reaction but quickly regained his composure.
“Ah, I thought so! I’m really enjoying ‘Jodol!'”
Huh?
But the prologue has only been released…
Is there really much to enjoy yet…?
“Ah… Thank you~”
“Haha…”
“…”
Once the conversation ended, an awkward silence fell.
It was the first time someone recognized me, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it.
The guy seemed equally confused.
After scanning the room, I decided to speak up.
“Um, could I get your autograph…?”
“Ah! Yes! I’d appreciate it!”
Thank goodness, it seemed I hit the jackpot of the correct response.
I pulled out a notebook from my backpack.
Opening it revealed that most of the pages were filled with signatures.
It was something I’d prepared in advance since schoolmates kept asking for it…
I glanced at the guy, who was stifling his laughter.
…The whole world is a joke.
I quickly turned the page, signed it anew, and tore off the paper to hand it to him.
“Thank you!”
“Yes~ Thank you too!”
Just when I thought it was over, the guy lingered in front of me, looking sheepishly unsure.
It seemed he still had something else in mind.
I carefully asked,
“Um, could we take a picture together…?”
That must be it, right?
Saying no would be so embarrassing.
“Yes, yes! Thank you so much!”
Thankfully, that was the right answer too.
I took out my phone, opened the camera app, and switched to selfie mode.
With the phone in hand, I stretched out my arm.
But the guy wasn’t showing his face on the screen.
“Uh… You need to look over here…”
He appeared puzzled but soon turned to face the screen.
With both our faces captured, I pressed the button to take the picture.
After the shot, the guy was still making a perplexed expression.
Did I do something wrong…?
The man scratched his head and chuckled before pulling out his phone from his pocket and said to me.
“Haha… but… with my phone…”
Phone?
I looked at my phone in my hand.
My phone.
Ah.
“I’m sorry…”
“Oh no, that’s not it, I’m just grateful.”
The man chuckled even more.
“Yeah…”
Ah… I’m about to die of embarrassment.
After we took a selfie with the man’s phone, he finally said with a satisfied grin.
“Thank you so much! I’ll definitely vote!”
“Oh! Thank you~ Have a great day~”
I tried to respond casually at the end, but I knew that my face was flushed, even without looking into a mirror.
Fortunately, not many people witnessed my embarrassing moment.
At 3 PM, thankfully, it was a time when there weren’t many bus riders.
‘I should get off at the next stop quickly…’
Of course, I couldn’t.
“Student, are you a celebrity?”
An elderly lady in the back seat started talking to me.
“Haha… yes.”
“Really? You look so pretty! I have grandchildren too…”
I wanted to get off the bus immediately, but the grandmother kept chatting, and I ended up being her conversational partner until we reached my destination.
…
…
That night, a post appeared in the Jodol Season 3 community.
[I saw Do-hee, here’s the scoop .txt]
(selfie photo) (autograph photo)
I was taking the bus to a meeting, and in the back seat, there was someone who was clearly stunning.
They were hiding their face with a hat, but you know, there’s that silhouette that can’t be concealed.
Their face was so small that the hat looked like it was floating.
So, I was curious and kept glancing over, and for a moment, they revealed their face, and it was Do-hee Lee.
I asked if it was Do-hee; they looked surprised, stood up, and greeted me, haha, I guess it was their first time.
Anyway, I was so flustered that I couldn’t say anything, but thankfully, Do-hee asked if they could give me an autograph first.
But when I went to get an autograph, I realized I had no paper, so I was in a bind, but luckily, Do-hee took out a notebook from their backpack, probably from school.
However, when they pulled it out, haha, it seemed most of the pages were covered in their autograph practice. LOL.
I struggled to hold back my laughter because they were just way too cute.
Anyway, after getting the autograph, I wanted to take a picture too, and I was hesitant about how to ask, but this time, Do-hee suggested we take a picture. Seriously, they’re a gem.
So, as I was trying to take out my phone to snap a picture, Do-hee pulled out their phone first, haha.
Without even thinking, we ended up taking a picture, but when I asked for one with my phone too, their face turned bright red, LOL.
I might be the first guy they’ve saved on their phone besides their dad? Jackpot, haha.
Conclusion.
For sure, I’m voting for Do-hee in Jodol 3, they’re just too cute. LOL.
3 picks Do-hee for sure, so cute lol
3-line summary
1) Met Lee Do-hee on the bus; the prettiest person I’ve seen in my life.
2) Got an autograph and took a photo.
3) Her personality is so goofy compared to her looks, so cute lol
– Wow, I’m so jealous! Which bus was it?
– Is that a basic camera? With that looks, wow, legendary!
– Lol, even just from the story, her personality shines through.
– Super cute lol
– I’m dying from her cuteness lol so clumsy!
– Practicing signatures lol just debut already!
– Must’ve been flustered when recognized lol
– Why is she taking pictures with her own phone? lol
└ Do-hee probably wanted to keep a memory too lol
– Ah, that’s hilarious lol major like!
– I’m so jealous of the writer ㅠㅠ
– lol
This was the first story that would follow me for a lifetime with Do-hee.
*
July 4th.
Four days before the first broadcast and the Monday of the broadcast week.
It was the production announcement day.
Convention center at 63 Building, Yeouido, Seoul.
Main PD Hyun-woong Lim was first, and it was photo time for the 6 trainers.
And behind them was a step-shaped podium covered with a banner featuring the logo.
All trainee participants stood on the step-shaped podium.
“Ah, I’m so nervous.”
Next to me, Seo-yoon Unni shook her legs while speaking in a small voice.
Even though she always looks confident, the one who’s most nervous is Kim Seo-yoon.
“We did the rehearsal; why are you so nervous?”
“Stop fidgeting and talk.”
My hands were trembling.
“I’m excited, that’s why.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Everyone, quiet down.”
Once again, it was thanks to Na-eun Unni’s mediation that it stopped.
After a while, maybe the trainers’ photoshoot was over, the announcer shouted.
“Let’s meet the 99 participants!”
As the announcer’s words ended, the curtain lifted and revealed the 99 trainees.
Cameras from the press flashed away.
“Alright, participant trainees, please greet the producers!”
“”” Hello! Producers, please take care of us! “””
.
.
.
Time to introduce each trainee.
The announcer called out the names and agencies of each trainee.
“Centre for the title track, Topist trainee Lee Do-hee!”
I waved and smiled.
Everyone was doing that.
.
.
.
As I stood there smiling in front of the reporters, the production announcement finished.
‘Feels a bit anticlimactic…’
Well, it took quite a while to introduce 99 people, so it can’t be helped.
But after the announcement was over and I was on my way out of the building, the real filming was about to start.
As soon as I went outside, I could already hear the voices of a small fandom that had formed, along with the click of cameras from individual photographers who couldn’t get passes.
“Do-hee!!!”
As I waved to a few holding panels with my name, someone shouted in a booming voice.
As I waved goodbye to some people and stepped out, someone shouted with a booming voice.
“Do-hee! Look over here!”
When I turned my head, a woman wearing a mask in this hot weather was taking my picture.
The shutter sound continued.
It seemed she was only capturing me.
Oh…
The Topist managers told us.
The photos from the production press conference apparently affect the early voting rates.
Maybe that’s why Seo-yoon Unni and Na-eun Unni next to me were striking poses for the camera.
Reluctantly, I faced the camera and posed too.
“Do-hee, smile for us!!!”
When I looked at the camera and gave a slight smile, they loved it.
Isn’t this fun…?
“Do-hee! Do a hand heart!”
So, I posed in response to the camera crew’s requests.
Of course, I ignored any requests for cheek puffing or poking or cute poses.
I pretended not to hear those.
“Lee Do-hee is so cute!!!”
“So lovable!!!”
…Give me a break.
Anyway, since the agency said the production press conference photos are important, I tried my best to look good.
We took a few group shots with the unnis.
That night, as announced by the production staff, the official trailer was released.
I logged into YouTube and started the trailer.
The lights in the ranking seats were off.
The trailer started with the voices of the trainees.
[This season has a different scale.]
[Starting with the top three agencies on Netflix.]
Suddenly, the lights in the ranking seats turned on, and the host’s voice narrated.
[This year, the debut members are not 11!]
[Season 3 kicked off with high hopes, which also means a different number of members.]
Scenes of the trainees entering.
[This is unfair…]
[Feeling betrayed by a major agency…]
[It’s amazing that all of them are like Hana…]
Cutscene of Ha-rang Unni and Sara Unni in a fierce competition for first place.
[Wow… Day vs. Js]
[Are they fighting?]
Evaluation clips of the trainees.
[Even from major agencies, it’s the same…]
[Seems doable?]
[We’re doomed…]
[We just came to support…]
As the trainees rejoiced or despaired, the judges’ evaluation clips were shown.
[I have no idea what they’re doing. Are they here just to mess around?]
[This is really good! It’s legendary.]
[It’s disastrous, just disastrous.]
[(Bee—) The trainee is naturally talented.]
After the evaluation clips ended, the official logo filled the screen with intense music.
< JUSTDOL3 premieres this Friday night at 11 PM on Mwave & Netflix simultaneously >
There wasn’t a scene of me.
Just as I felt a mix of disappointment and sorrow, the logo vanished, and my face appeared.
Then I heard Ko Yoon-jeong Teacher’s voice.
[Why on earth do you want to be an idol?]
It sounded like a scolding at first glance.
And that was the end of the trailer.