dojae-huh

[dojae-huh]

Seeing the rumors of JW and JH leaving for Italy made me wonder if JD really didn't have a schedule together? Now that they look so unfamiliar, I'm sad to see it

https://x.com/besttt_flight4u/status/1783867830938882517

https://x.com/F7I6H1/status/1782682675758919818

Link, Link2

I'm sorry, I don't understand your question. JaeWoo are BAs of Italian brands, them going to Italy for work makes sense. As long as Jae gets to attend Do's concert, I don't care about the rest. He is filming a movie and finishing his album, follows his own aspirations.

[dojae-huh]

Maybe you mean Doie took the train after dropping Taeyong off?

https://x.com/NCTDAOYlNG/status/1779828824269820076

https://x.com/do0_dle/status/1779826781379567983

Link, Link2

Oh, thank you. Now I get why I'm confusing everyone. So it was a train. I guess I saw a picture from this angle, so misidentified the type of transport.

[dojae-huh]

what do you mean with doyoung took a bus to personally send off Taeyong after the members had a mini reunion? because from what happened that day I remember all members except mahae being there, with jaehyun being the one to travel alone after he couldn't make it to the mini reunion (which was held at night). There's pics of doyoung and jungwoo going to the countryside together. Then doyoung was the first to leave after the send off since he probably had a schedule.

I asked to correct me if what I said was wrong. I couldn't monitor X and only saw a few posts quickly that day.

I got the impression that there was a send off party with 127. Jae was present on the group pics, so he made it in time, if not to the party. I haven't seen pics with other members accompanying Tae on the street. All the posts from the streets I came across had only Do. Plus this bubble about sending Tae off.

However, now I've found one with Jungwoo. Which mean all were present? Or only DoWoo?

I didn't bookmark, and I can't find the bus picture now. I remembered it because it was unusual. Do was inside the cabin already, looking back, I think. Maybe it was a ss kind of pic, so taken down.

[dojae-huh]

'Tae does love Do. And yes, I think it is possible Do is suspicious there can be more to it. He isn’t a mind rreader'

Exactly....thats what I think too.....i have this tiny feeling of dy suspecting something...okay I got my answer....huh nim..you are so cool.....thank you so much for answering my ask with such an amazing way.... Nd I think I will keep coming here asking lot of things.... ... Thank u❤

Come to play again~

TaeDo are multifaceted. We see the shiny side, their support and love for each other, but the relationship isn't without its complications. Both are people with strong characters and darker sides to them afterall. Their bond is strong though, I think stronger than MarkHyuk.

[dojae-huh]

It's unfortunate, but it looks like I can't use YT at all if I want to save on i-net data. I've watched only 4-5 short videos, and 1/5 of my credit is gone in 1 day, heh. I will experience and enjoy the stages and concerts with a delay, in summer. There are always sacrifices in life...

With this NewJeans and Illit plagiarism scandal going on, it becomes clear how Big3 look not only for looks/talent, but personality, afterall. Whether I like BP or not, I have to admit that all the girls are very different and can stand on their own fan-attractor wise. Same with Babymonster, even with the same make up and beauty standart for every member, the girls are more memorable than most 4-5gen. NCT produced 4 soloists so far (I'm counting Lucas), and everyone's album is not like the other's. Riize also stands out among 5gen looks and concept wise.

Well, on the other hand, there is empty space to fill in left by Hybe, which young producers of small agencies try to occupy (StayC, Kiss of Life, Ive (maybe)).

Taeyong and Doyoung.

Doyoung's album feels more mature. Granted, Taeyong's 2 albums are more unique, individualistic, intimate in a way, debatebly there could be more artistic value to them, but it is still "Taeyong looks for TY" phase. There is hesitance. On the other hand, Doyoung knows who he is, I was wrong to doubt it. He might be afraid of whether fans can accept his non-idol self, the shift in the image, but he knows the road he wants to take. The album and the promotion feels like Doyoung sailing. It has that powerful element of the strong wind in the sails. The album already shows results close to IU and BTS guys in Korean charts. How happy Doyoung looks, how his true bold nature comes forward more and more in the performances. He is ready to take it, to enjoy everything. And yes, the timing is better for him than it was for Taeyong (both times). More room for concerts and festivals. However, the preparatory period was the same for both.

It is also about the voice. As I has been observing Do's progress since the time he made mistakes with pitch and was refusing to sing during interviews, I can feel the difference. He doesn't just sing well enough on the album, he shows different colours and techniques, uses his backvocals, in many places makes his work harder because he can (breathing, transitions, oberlayered singing with Taeyeon). During live performances he sounds weaker, so there is room to grow, but he will improve and catch up soon.

All in all, I'm personally glad SM doesn't allow the artists to go solo too early. Yes, maybe Doyoung could have released the album a year earlier. Maybe even two years earlier if covid didn't happen. The things happened how they happened though. Doyoung needed 127 to get Daesang and become a million seller, to perform at Tokyo dome and win over Korean fans, to get very close to Kenzie, to go through his burn out and overcome it, to invest some years into his love life with Jaehyun, to get the brand deal, the musical and tv-series first to be able to produce such an album, to approach renown song-writers and to ask for festivals and concerts in Japan and HongKong. The musical improved his vocals, the tv-series showed him he can succeed in a new area he is not comfortable in, DJJ let him get the experience of promoting outside of 127, gain support from fans with a new sound, the success of individual careers of the other members let him be "arrogant" and go for big things for himself. Mayhaps even the ousting of LSM was of help, who knows. LSM was known for being very involved in the work of his artists (to the degree of cutting off Seulgi's fringe for a better concept look right before the shooting of an RV's MV and changing aespa's "tsu-tsu-tsu" in the lyrics (which was genius on his part, but you know... his vision)).

Doyoung said people mostly remember Taeyong and Mark in 127, that he is not as memorable or standing out in the group in comparison. And it is true. It because he mimics an idol, plays a role for the group, (and loses points in dancing), he is confined in an image that is not him (Tae and Mark are themselves, Taeyong the soloist is a natural continuation of Taeyong the leader of NCT). Doyoung did it to himself, by the way, so the group is not to blame. In the performance on Mnet of "Little light" Dongyoung came out, and was as attention grabbing. He is not shakled by the level of success of the group (i.e. if he fails it won't affect negatively the unit), only the eyes of his own fans will be on him, the risk and reward are all his, so he is free to be more bold and greedy.

[dojae-huh]

huh nim... Wow.. Yes they have the same shirt......now am a little bit relieved they both not there to feature on each other's album... But their shirt is...... I mean I don't knw if it's the same.. Both must need diff size.... Or not..... But what we got is the same shirt..... So what tae couldn't featured in Doyoungs youth, atleast his shirt could got the chance.... 🥹🥹🥹🫴🫴..... Thank u huh nim....... 🫶🫶🫶🫶

I think there is enough of this type of "love language" sprinkled here and there. Like the way Do included credits in his promotional poster to thank and honour the people who worked for his album. The couple necklace and sneakers with Jae. In the opening card for Beginning on Mnet there is Haechan and Jaehyun's voices instead of Doyoung's part. A (not the most beautiful thus a weird choice (Fact check stage)) shot with Jae behind Do.

[dojae-huh]

Okay.... So it's better when ty got a chance to sent dy coffe truck in his shooting set... Ok.. Am happy for them..... Am happy for them....But I don't get one thing u mentioned here... Like jaedo is a secured married couple... So y there is a reason to get jae jealous??... Okay even if jae gets jealous time to time, but dy would never like it if it is effecting his personal life... U knw just becoz jae getting upsets over small things, dy can't talk nd mingling with others... Especially taeyong.... What I wanna say is, taeyong knows who is jaedo, nd jae knws who is taedo nd dy knws who is tae nd jae to him.... Nd dy really knows how draw line to everyone... But here I get why jae gets upset, but don't getting why dy is going with that flow? Like it's not that he is going to date tae... I think dy is drawing a line with taeyong himself.. That's what am confused about.... Do u perhaps think there is a chance that dy might get the feelings of tae likes him not as a brother but like a lover??! .... I don't knw abt tae's orientation, but u knw sometimes,, for milliseconds I do have this feelings of tae likes him in that way atleast for 0.01 %!!! Don't u think??coz considering Doyoungs personality, I kinda getting that feeling.....so I need your opinion on this!! Thankyou

If I misunderstood you and didn't answer properly, please don't hesitate to ask again with explicitation.

Jaehyun is inherently a jealous (and insecure) person. It's a feeling that is hard to govern for him. Years of dating gave him security he lacked in the beginning. JaeDo got to know each other better, Doyoung didn't leave him, other members got used to the new way of things, found their places in the new setting, etc.

JaeYong took a long time to re-adjust, to find a way to share Doyoung comfortably. The rules and lines were drawn. However, those lines need to be maintained. Ceremonial actions performed to signal everything stays as it should be. Jaehyun is first, Taeyong is second. Jae is being pumpered, Tae is being weaned.

Tae does love Do. And yes, I think it is possible Do is suspicious there can be more to it. He isn't a mind reader, and Taeyong likes to go overboard. Doyoung himself took time to realise his orientation, it is logical to think he keeps this option open for his friends as well.

That being said, even without romantic element, there is a need to keep Taeyong at bay for Doyoung. Taeyong openly says he wants someone to lead him.

("as for my ideal type", the answer in the middle)

And Doyoung doesn't want to be that person. Doyoung takes care of people but he doesn't like to be responsible for them, he is too empathic, has a habit of giving his all, people drain him. Even his relationship with Jaehyunie works because Jae can be left alone to survive in the winter forest, lol.

Heh. Think of it like Taeyong being a vampire and needing blood, Doyoung letting him suck his blood, but just enough for Tae to keep his strength, not to the extent of making Do himself weak. And as Tae is always thirsty, it is Do's job to control when to take the arm away for the sake of them both.

Two hurt people (both Tae and Do were bullied in school to the degree of not wanting to go to school, later they both were afraid to not debut, and after the debut they were attacked as idols by netizens) can help each other, but they can't heal each other. As they need different environment and means to heal, they need their own separate support groups and paths.

Anyway, I digress.

To put it very crudely, Doyoung is acting as a surrogate partner for Taeyong currently (a person to trust the most, to depend emotionally, to shower with love, to want attention and praise from). And yes, Do is aware of it in some way. Hence friendzoning and pretence he doesn't get why Tae proclaims his love left and right publicly.

I still doubt Tae has real romantic feelings. I trust Jaehyun. And he doesn't even mind "TaeDo are married" jokes anymore.

I lean towards emotional dependancy. Doyoung accepts Taeyong fully, with his weirdness and big mood swings. They don't have many hobbies in common, but they are tied together, they are intimate friends who can be vulnerable around each other and still feel safe.

[dojae-huh]

Huh nim it's bunny…. Thank you so much for saying taedo will get a duet later…. I mean I will just live for that moment…. 🥹🥹…. Nd abt dy taking a bus to sent off dy…. I hadn't see that information… Can u just attch the link if u have?!

I was offline during Tae's enlistment date, so couldn't monitor the events closely, but I saw later pics by fans of Do boarding a bus. He probably went without a manager, so not in a company car? I can be mistaken. Maybe someone can confirm or confute? Anyway, Do personally sent Tae off, that's what important.

BTW, I didn't catch it, but TaeDo had the same shirts for their teasers.

[dojae-huh]

Now that we know of the extent of his bullying, I get why doyoung stays within his own bubble. He must have been a very confident kid but the bullying made him insecure about himself and that I believe gives us the mix of confident but extremely shy as well

Btw I lobe 2, 3rd and 4th song alot... Don't know the names but I love them. A few songs sound so much like anime openings (slice of life animes)

He was not physically abused but he was made invisible, an outcast in the class with rumours discussed behind his back, it seems, after multiple consecutive years of being a class president, and the teacher let it be. During the teen years a child's "authority" switches from the parents to the peers, it becomes very important to be accepted by the other kids and society. It's the period when not being accepted into a group is the most painful. Plus hierarchy is important to Do.

I don't think it made him an introvert or choose a small circle of friends (everyone has a small circle of truly close friends, and Do's social circle of friends is big, he asks to be introduced to people (liek Paul Kim), goes to make those connections). People are born with the traits that produce such behaviour. However, the bullying did create a crack that continue to influence him. Yes, it's probably a source of his misplaced shyness. Shyness is like a learnt behaviour (a shield) when it comes to him, not a trait. A truly shy person won't be able to come close to the judges for them to hear him better during SM evaluations. It also, probably, why he is so slow to forgive.

[dojae-huh]

More pics of couply sneakers.

[dojae-huh]

To add to TaeDo as soloists discussion. It's not just that they are very different as artists (the genres they like, the way they express themselves, their relationship with singing/performing as a medium), it is better to step on the new land on their own. Become soloists on their own. TaeDo's relationship, their co-dependancy is a bit unhealthy. They became close through suffering, through understanding each other's struggles and hurt. Doyoung said Taeyong supported him with words of comfort as a person who ventured into being a solo artist on his own (i.e. who experienced working away from 127, who had to persuade oneself that everything will be all right and the fans will accept the vision). They are each other's support group. However, one doesn't learn how to do things unless he tries to do it alone, without being held by the hand. Taeyong is very clingy. While Doyoung needs space to maneuvour, to be alone to do what he wants, shed the responsibility for looking after others. Asking experienced professionals who have no emotional ties or history with you to give you their opinion on your work is free of any additional baggage.

Taeyong sent a coffee-truck to Do's MV shooting location. He said Do asked a coffee truck as a gift for BD.

It's an interesting detail, very TaeDo. The BD present pretext both allowed for an expensive gift (to have an excuse for the boyfriend), to give Tae what he wants (to support Do in a lavish way). As in, Jae can do big things whenever he likes, Tae only after permission. Problem solved, everyone is satisfied. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

[dojae-huh]

Lol, I've just remembered the discussion here of Do's dancing skills and how they could have potentially hindered his career as a soloist.

Do: "Who cares, I'm standing still. Give me a 18-member orchestra to impress the public with instead". Beginning, Little light.

Doyoung pretended to be an idol long enough, now he shed his skin like a selkie and morfed into a band-vocalist, his true form, heh.

By the way, eventhough Do wrote and arranged for his school band, I do believe Tae performing with his own self-written songs pushed Do's competitive buttons as well. He could have opted for a different song from "Beginning" (it is a very hard song to sing (breath control, long notes), and is similar in colour to the title).

[dojae-huh]

Oh, I really liked this cover. Goes to the top 5.

Do recently said he started practicing singing when he is not ready (after waking up, fore example) because good vocalist can sing anytime anywhere. I wish his next goal were working on his English, he needs to get rid of the noticeable accent.

The happiness on his face when a pro singer was singing the song he himself wrote and composed. He would hide all his notebooks with lyrics from everyone for years and then give the one song he deems good enough to show to the world to other people to sing, heh. All or nothing. Only the first place.

The female singer was so respectful, really put emotion and her own interpretation, sang with care. You can tell she is liek Do, likes to sing for the art.

[dojae-huh]

Doyoung is such an interesting mix of being shy and bold at the same time. He is self-aware and wary (he can't stand being mocked, laughed at), but he goes for what he wants despite it. Do first, cringe later.

He is also a person who is not aware of his own natural charm and appeal.

[dojae-huh]

dy and jhn patching things up to a certain extent aside, do you think this is dy's way of making up to jhn for not telling him about his musical and not wanting him to go watch it at first to not get made fun of? i think jhn might have feel offended about that before if he likes getting spoiled (recently a member said ty, hc and jhn get spoiled the most among ilichil) and wants to be trusted.

apologies if i offended jhndy shippers or fans here 🙏 not that i don't believe they're good friends or criticizing jhn but i feel like jhn is a cheerful and supportive person who needs attention and getting spoiled too

I haven't watched the documentaries for Youth yet, so I don't know how much Johnny was involved. I saw this part from the radio show though.

I agree with you. Johnny is the only child of doting and well-off parents. He grew up spoiled, he likes attention, and demands it from those he picks without shame. He pushes.

JohnDo have a bond, and Do has a hard time trying to be the friend he was before the rift. I see him doing what he is supposed to do as "a good friend and good person" (I should forgive, he is a good person, he likes me so much), but his body language tells me he continues to keep his guard up. It is like he can't trust Johnny wholly anymore, can't lower the barrier he put up after he was hurt. Doyoung used to be the one to glue to Johnny, to give him hugs, spank his ass, ask to film an MV for his cover, invite to come to his home in Guri for holidays, eat his homecooking, want to visit JN's house in Chicago. Despite all the heavy teasing, he showed Johnny a lot of warmth and patience. I mean, his hearfelt letter, his care and empathy made Johnny feel like he was needed and wanted in SM to begin with, made him decide to stay.

Will Doyoung comeback to how he was with Johnny before? Maybe. He certainly is making an attempt after Johnny gutted him with his "to us" message. If a person says he wants you in his life forever, how you can refuse? When so much ties you (the past, the friendship, the unit)?

As for JohnDo vs JaeDo. Look at Jaehyun when Johnny is around. Jaehyun isn't even fighting for Do's attention anymore, he just takes it confidently. We, as fans, are told and shown what idols want us to see. So pay little mind to what is on the stage, what is presented openly, and look behind the scenes. Even TaeDo, as celebrated as it is, as raw as we see it, has sides to it that are hidden from us, that we can only see glimpses of (in Tae's complains or expected things not happening).

As an example. Fans were looking forward to Doyoung sending a food truck to Tae's MV location. He didn't do it for Shalala (Tap was shot in Japan, so no opportunity there). And some can see it as him not caring for his friend enough. On the other hand, Do, despite being super busy, took a bus to send off Taeyong personally, even after the group members gathered to give Tae a send-off party. It's the key actions and moments that show a relationship how it is.

[dojae-huh]

So huhnim...... How are you?? Am so busy these days , but have to ask so many things with u.... But no time.... It's ok I'll write a long post when I have time... Now am here to discuss about the dotae thing that has been running in mind for a quite long time!!!

First of all doyoung is my bias.... If anyone here get offended by reading this.... Forgive me... Tht was not my intention!!!

So everyone knows, how tae was eager to show his solo songs to doy nd even get some advice from him.... Be it shalala nd tap, in both of em doy did saw the glimpse of it nd made tae so confident in his solo..how many time have tae mentioned dy, like he watched it nd said it's good..nd made tae confident..... But the moment tae said doy didn't let him hear the songs, the story really changed...

. As we all knw, doy is a perfectionist... Nd his perfection could see in all his songs too..... But he didn't let his best friend see it, who is a senior soloist before him .... Still he didn't... Why you think it is.... Hear is my theory, correct me if I'm wrong...

. Do you remember, when doy said he hates to practice with tae, coz he don't knw what is rest nd he nags while monitoring.... Nd it was the biggest reason for them to fight in rookies days..... So for doyoung, his taeyongie hyung is really a lot above him..am not saying doy is jealous but for him tae is from a lot more diff level than him..... Like doy really respect tae nd consider him as the most great idol in front of him...i don't knw if he said it before, but am sure for some field he must have consider tae as his role model, someone great to learn things from.... But u knw, doy is a perfectionist but also a worrywart... I don't knw how to explain it...if I was in doyoungs position, I would never let tae hear it... Like everyone knows how tae is a 'T' nd he said it himself in yt show with junhwoo, that when members approach him with concerns, how he respond it without any feelings like, why can't u do it, u do it like that...am not saying tae is someone rude nd harsh...but mayb sometimes he won't act the way others want...nd for doyoung,tae is a great artist ,so when great artist says smthng abt his work, rather than trying to change it, persons like doyoung get discouraged,nd lose their confidence sometimes....am not saying its the case, but worrywart doyoung would never want to take the risk i guess....

on the contrary he called Johnny in his shooting at jeju nd also let him hear the song before the release....i dont knw wtvr the beef johndo had in past,, but they have overcome it well, nd dy find comfort in Johnny... Ofcrs like everyone else we knw how Johnny likes to get doys attention, but I'm more got amused abt dy being so close with Johnny.... I knw some must be for the smoothy sail of the ship but not fully.... I can clearly see dy being comfort with Johnny nd even confident to let Johnny hear his songs.... Am not a johndo shipper, even though am a jaedoist now, I came to this fandom as a dotae shipper... Nd it still hurt to knw there won't be any dotae content for next 3 years... So I knw how their bond is nd how they act as a pillar to each other, nd how comfortable they are with each other.... I hope u understand, the comfort I told here dy having with Johnny, is not more than dotae could have....

Even though doyoung would never admit it, but he must have a ranking position with 127 in his mind... I don't knw where he ranked himself, but ofcrs mark nd tae is definitely in higher rank than him... ( one of the recent interview he said it himself, when ppl talk abt nct they could only remember mark nd taeyong, so that's y he mde his solo with the songs of his like, so ppl could knw dy is someone who sings song like this), nd am sure he ranked Johnny below him( not that Johnny is incapable in any manner) coz, dy have this confident with jn,..like u knw....how to explain...am scared... Omg what if my statement make a war here... Huh nim hope u understand what am saying...

Then some ask, mark is in higher rank why he let him collab!! Like u knw its a whole different love story.... I don't knw what dy has with this mark.... He is great nd talented, nd dy does respect him.... Nd dy even want mark to sing rather than rap, which is actually mark likes to do... Nd dy is confident with mark too, cause u knw mark can really talk prettily... Even if he wants to criticize, he will do it very nicely wothout hurting other persons feeling....so may be that's y....

Nd ofcrs doy must be sad that his best friend is not here for his solo release ... Nd now he's having his first solo concert tae couldn't attend😭😭😭.... (God am more sadder than them....) But trust me doy prefer that, rather than he coming on his show.... But this goes to every 127 member, coz u knw he really doesn't like it, when he is doing something for himself, not in group schedule, he likes to do it without the members seeing it.... That's how acted when everyone wants to go for his musical, nd also when ty went to busan to support him.... Doy want him to leave, coz he don't want tae see him acting..... Same goes for how doy rejected, when ty asked him to watch his drama together in a live... (The one live where legend doyoung jealous over baekhyun moment😅😅!!) ~~

Lastly abt him don't let ty feature in his solo, really makes me curious.... Like u knw how many songs ty wrote for them to duet, nd even yestoday he wrote it for him nd doy only.... But from dy's side I don't see an effort to do so... Am not criticizing, but u knw if he want he could make one.... Nd am sure ty must have offered him a collab in his solo nd my Instinct saying me that dy must have rejected it!!! Am a dy stan, but I do think sometimes dy just keep tae away from his matters.... Like not crossing the line.... I don't knw... No matter how settled nd boring married couple jaedo is now, dy must not want to make his bae jealous... May be... I don't knw... I'll let you answer this..... The reason they didn't featured each other in their solos....

Nd for the johndo shippers, who came here asking typical shipping question.... Go nd watch jcc in maldives.... Coz how many times dy ignored Johnny u can see there....(I have watched it 2 times to confirm it) Am not saying dy dont like nd irrespect Johnny that he ignored him.... But u knw for example compare it with all the djj content nd see how attentive was dy with jae in it.... U will see the difference!! Nd huh nim reply me as soon as possible, otherwise I afraid, it will make a scene here... Nd u can call me bunny.... I have alot to ask.. So I will come later with so amy asks.... Untill then take care nd have a nice day!!! 😌😌!

Enjoying the nature, getting my hands on new to me species of birds, hehe. Being in my element, I guess.

I agree with you in some places, and disagree in others.

Taeyong is not a vocalist, so he can't be a person to be "afraid" of. To begin with, Doyoung doesn't have untouchable idols of his own. He has artists he loves and respects, but not those he worships. He asked (the) Taeyeon to future (who is way ahead of Taeyong in years of experience, solo works and vocal provess), approached Lucy band members, he got (the) Kangta to give him a song, and said to (the) Kenzie that he wants to be the one who will sing the last song he will create in her career (very arrogant of him, heh, they are that close then). Here a producer who has known Doyoung since trainee days said how Do came to supervise and make corrections with post-productions of songs.

I think it is about "going solo", having an album made wholly by yourself. Mark wrote lyrics for an existing song. A song Doyoung picked and approached his favourite to ask to do a collab. A song with Tae will be Taeyong's vision, Taeyong's song. Not to mention, Tae was very busy with his own solo albums. There was probably no time to write a song from scratch, and one that perfectionist Do will like. Tae has a lot of experience as a song-writer, a rapper, but little as composer. The sound he goes for, his team of producer friends, do very different genres from Doyoung.

I agree that Doyoung pushes Taeyong for independance. He listened to Tae's songs and supported him, but he evaded giving more than "don't worry, do you". Tae said himself he is indecisive and needs opinions of others, their help. Do was always "throwing a puppy into the water to swim on its own" with him. I agree that Do didn't want any judgement from an experienced songwriter/producer, to not get more worries than he aleady had. And, looking at how Tae always praised Do's writing and singing, I don't think Do would believe him, in Tae being objective and not biased (ah, you are saying nice things because you are my friend). So in the end, Tae's help won't be of help. Again, Tae was in the middle of his own comeback and promotion when Do was wrapping up his album. Doyoung prepared his first solo album as a package deal, all the songs are a part of one "youth" theme (a book). I see why he would like for his friends, especially Tae (who he respects as a musician, yes), to listen to the final perfected result.

The closer people are to Do, the more harsh he can be with them. Doyoung letting Johnny listen to some songs before the debut isn't a sign of how close they are, actually. It's more about Do not being able to refuse this time, afraid to offend (after he did in the past with the muscial, Johnny always complained about Do not telling him things, not giving him tickets), or, as you said, wanting the verbal support but not being afraid Johnny will shake his resolve/opinion in any way (as JN not being high on the totem pole as an artist). Johnny is a good cheerleader, he genuinely supports his friends, is proud of them, a sertified Do's fanboy. He is a people person, he knows how to find words. Other members also mention it.

The boyfriend factor. Is also a good reason for Tae's absence on the album. Mark is in the child category. MarkDo is not TaeDo, there is no co-dependance, Mark is not Jae's rival.

One day Taeyong will win, we will get TaeDo duet, I'm positive. Either as a single, or on the second album.

[dojae-huh]

I actually don't remember Jae's photo, but meh, they wear same sneakers so often, I'll pass with fact checking, lol. Do's photo is from his recent Apple music winners fanmeet.