The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 101

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

101

As the first half of the drama’s filming drew to a close, the broadcast began. On the day the first episode aired, we rented out a restaurant and gathered—cast and crew alike.

“Ah, Seo Ho-yoon, is this your first time at something like this? Usually we all watch the first episode together like this. Though sometimes it gets skipped if the shooting schedule is tight.”
“Ha, well, this is my first drama.”

I’d done variety shows before. Still exhausted from the lingering fatigue of the self-cam shoot, I gave a half-hearted response and tried to slip into a corner seat, but Director Yu gestured for me to come over.

“Seo Ho-yoon! Over here, over here.”
“Don’t go anywhere! Your seat is right here.”

‘Damn it.’

I’d been called to the one seat I absolutely didn’t want to sit in.
Since I couldn’t ignore the director, I dodged Min Ji-heon as much as possible and quietly slipped into the seat next to Kim Writer, but Yoo Ji-a, sitting across from me, smiled and greeted me.

“You really worked hard. Your ad-lib today was great!”
“Thank you.”

The crowd kept me from staying seated. I kept popping up to greet people and accept drinks, and only after the pre-drama commercial finally started could I sit down properly.

“What kind of ratings do you think we’ll get this time?”
“Well, with my name recognition, I’m hoping for at least 4 percent for the first episode.”
“Isn’t that too modest? I’m betting on 6. What about you, Min Ji-heon?”
“Me? Well… I’m also betting on 6 for the first episode.”

Min Ji-heon, who’d been practically inhaling the side dishes before the main course even arrived, suddenly lifted his head.

“The final peak viewership will be 18 percent.”
“18 percent?!”

‘Insane….’

I choked on my water.
Min Ji-heon was doing this on purpose.

“Eighteen percent? That’s practically a syndrome. You’ll get a bonus vacation.”
“I’m really looking forward to it~.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen Min Ji-heon like this before.”
“What about you, Seo Ho-yoon?”

I’d been trying to stay quiet and keep the conversation away from me, but it came at me anyway. I wiped my mouth with a tissue and answered.

“I also….”

Sigh….

“I’m also aiming for eighteen percent with Senior Min Ji-heon.”
“Wow, that’s ambitious~! I’m excited.”

I said it deliberately, forcing it out, but everyone just took it as rookie confidence and laughed it off.

‘This damn eighteen percent.’

That must be Min Ji-heon’s standard for success. He won’t tell me anything unless we surpass it.
While we were chatting, Episode 1 started. As the opening played with a clicking sound, everyone cheered and applauded.

“Wow, Yoo Ji-a is such a great actress. I was crying during the funeral scene too.”
“Oh my, thank you.”

The funeral scene for her father was genuinely impressive no matter who watched it. Her acting prowess—transitioning from singer to acclaimed actress—radiated through the screen. Yoo Ji-a was undoubtedly destined for stardom.

“Wow~! Min Ji-heon, you really photograph well.”
“Honestly, the Min Seung-tae character could easily be hated if done wrong, but the pure emotional appeal makes everything believable.”

Min Ji-heon moved on.
Finally, my character was joining the company, and my face appeared on screen. It felt different from watching the stage monitor.
The staff member beside me, who was checking viewership ratings and monitoring community reactions, gave a double thumbs up.

“Wow, Seo Ho-yoon’s on screen and the energy just explodes!”
“Where, where? I want to see!”
“Nothing but praise right now!”
“Ha ha….”

I’d have to check it out later myself.
Setting aside my own acting ability, I was worried that The Dun might suffer any fallout from this.
My phone kept buzzing, and when I checked, messages were flooding in from the group chat with the members.

[Jung Da-jun: Hyung hyung hyung when are you coming on??]
[Seong Ji-won: I guess Ho-yoon is busy right now. Let’s not mess with him]
[Sung Ji-won: Oh!! Ho-yoon’s on!!!!]
[Kang Yi-chae: Wow]
[Kang Yi-chae: What]
[Kang Yi-chae: So handsome]
Jung Da-jun: Wow!! Brother, what the heck?! Why are you acting so well???
[Jung Da-jun: PD Lee Jung-hoon. I’m completely immersed right now “done”]
[Kim Sung-hyun: We’re just laughing in disbelief right now]
Kim Sung-hyun: You’re so good at this, so why did you say you don’t act? haha

Because I didn’t want to see Min Ji-heon….
I replied to the messages appropriately and focused back on the drama. True to screenwriter Kim Sook-hee’s reputation—whatever she writes becomes a hit—the production itself was so engaging that I couldn’t tear my eyes away until the end.
With Yoo Ji-a running toward the broadcasting station, her hair pulled back tightly, the credits for episode one rolled.
Everyone finally exhaled and frantically checked the notifications flooding in.
Then, a staff member at the next table suddenly jumped up and cheered.

“Real-time viewership is 6.2%!!”
“Yesss!”

The screenwriter let out a relieved sigh, and the director screamed and stood up.
6.2%—a strong start.
Could we climb steadily like this and reach 18%?

“Congratulations, truly.”
“It’s a hit! A massive hit!”

While my mind raced through past drama data, my mouth kept exchanging greetings with everyone around me. In the midst of it all, my eyes met Min Ji-heon’s.

“I hope things just keep going up from here… right?”
“They have to go up.”
“Really? How high?”
“Ninety percent.”
“….”
“Oh wait, eighteen percent.”

Min Ji-heon’s eyes widened, and he broke into a genuinely beautiful smile. The guy’s face was still as radiant as ever.

***

[Title: Please Camera is shaping up to be a masterpiece

25-year K-drama fanatic here…
I can feel it.
This is a masterpiece.

When I, Yoo Jung-hwa, was sobbing at the funeral, I went through a whole box of tissues… and seriously, Yoo Ji-a’s acting was insane.
└└Right, and then Min Seung-tae standing behind her all arrogant, couldn’t even say a word, just holding an umbrella in the back… that look in his eyes? Guilty as charged. Just guilty.
└└Min Ji-heon’s acting just keeps getting better with each episode, sometimes it feels like he’s possessed;; he’s definitely the rising star we all knew he’d be]

[Title: I’m literally dying help me

Who is PD Lee Jung-hoon he’s so handsome
That sharp look is totally my type
Is he a rookie??

└Seo Ho-yoon
└└Wait I just looked him up
He’s an idol????
└└Yeah]

[Title: But didn’t they say an idol was going to appear?

My friend hated that they buried the idol reveal, but I never figured out who the idol was the whole time; is it Yoo Ji-a’s friend? Or someone who joined as a PD at the same time?

└It’s PD Lee Jung-hoon
└└???????Him???
Lolololol I was really taken aback too.. What’s with Seo Ho-yoon’s acting, it’s like Lee Jung-hoon PD possessed him

└How old is she? That’s pretty old for an idol, isn’t it?
└└23
└└…???? But she doesn’t give off 23-year-old vibes;
└└I guess celebrities really do have a different aura lolol They got criticized for forcing her in even after editing her age during casting, but she’s doing well…]

The community response was quite favorable. As reactions began heating up online, the viewership for Episode 2 climbed even higher.
Episode 2’s viewership: 9.1%.
Up until Episode 1, there had been complaints that PD Lee Jung-hoon was being too harsh to Yoo Jung-hwa for a newcomer, but those criticisms vanished entirely by Episode 2.

[Title: Hey, can I seduce Cabu?

At first, Lee Jung-hoon (Seo Ho-yoon) said some harsh stuff to Yoo Jung-hwa (Yoo Ji-a), and it reminded me of my own rookie days..
Ugh, seriously, like he could know better. How’s a rookie supposed to understand! I was so mad
But did you watch today’s episode? Here’s my list of the best moments

1.

A higher-up came and asked who handled this and was annoyed.. ㅠ Our used and new recruit Yoo Jeong-hwa did it ㅠㅠ

(Screenshot of Lee Jung-hoon blocking the flustered Yoo Jung-hwa)
Lee Jung-hoon: I did it. My apologies.
Superior: What? Why would a PD make such a mistake?
Lee Jung-hoon: People make mistakes sometimes. The Chief did the same thing two years ago…
Superior: (Rubbing the back of his neck) Hey, hey, hey, get over here!!
Lee Jung-hoon: (Calmly leaving) Sorry~ I’m busy, gotta go~

So Yoo Jung-hwa left feeling super apologetic, and then Lee Jung-hoon says this

Lee Jung-hoon: (Sighing) Why would I make more than Yoo Ji-a? That’s what I’m here for…
I’m so sorry… I feel terrible that I couldn’t be of any help at all.
Lee Jung-hoon: Huh, you really think that?
Yoo Jung-hwa: Yes??
Lee Jung-hoon: I’m glad you understand… I thought you didn’t know.
Yoo Jung-hwa: (Trembling)

Haha, things were already getting weird from that point on.

2.

Second-year rookie Yoo Jung-hwa… messed up again today and PD Lee Jung-hoon was throwing a fit…
Yoo Jeong-hwa: At first, I was like, ‘Why am I like this? ㅠㅠ’ and ‘What did I do wrong.. ㅠㅠ’
But after a month, she was cursing up a storm

(Yoo Jung-hwa’s Internet search history.png)

[How to bury your boss on the back mountain]
[How to curse at your boss to their face without them noticing]
[How to smack PD Lee Jung-hoon in the back of the head, that bastard]

이딴거 치고 있음 아ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ직장인이라면 모두 공감할 극하이퍼리얼리즘ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Yoo Jung-hwa was humming to herself when PD Lee Jung-hoon suddenly rushed over and said he needed to use her company computer.
But Yoo Jung-hwa hadn’t deleted her Internet history.

Yoo Jung-hwa: W-w-wait a second!!
PD Lee Jung-hoon: Why?

And then the mouse clicked…

PD Lee Jung-hoon: (silence)

Yoo Jeong-hwa’s Internet search window history… Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Yoo Jung-hwa was fidgeting nervously… but PD Lee Jung-hoon just quietly let it slide

Lee Jung-hoon: Oh haha, I was like that too haha
Yoo Jung-hwa: I’m so sorry…
Lee Jung-hoon: It’s all good haha, that could happen.

I was watching thinking, what’s this?? I totally empathized with Yoo Jung-hwa, so why is that guy just letting it slide?? That was unexpected
I was impressed thinking wow, he does have some standards after all… when PD Lee Jung-hoon stood up

PD Lee Jung-hoon: Thanks for letting me use the computer~ I’ll head out now.
Yoo Jung-hwa: Huh? Where are you going? The meeting’s about to start…
Lee Jung-hoon: Haha, ah
Yoo Jung-hwa: (gulp)
Lee Jung-hoon: Back Mountain, yeah~

Hahahahahahaha lol

PD Lee Jung-hoon: I’m digging my grave ahead of time~ But it’s my burial plot, so I should pick the spot myself, haha
Yoo Jung-hwa: (trembling trembling trembling)

Hahahaha Lee Jung-hoon is so petty lol, he never ends it with just one verse, and every time he sees Yoo Jung-hwa after that he keeps asking if she’s into feng shui, saying he’s so worried about where to sell his own grave plot hahahaha
Haha, ugh, that’s so annoying haha

3.

Pretty garbage PD Lee Jung-hoon stirred up trouble again today without fail…. Yoo Jung-hwa was so furious she was gritting her teeth and pounding the keyboard when suddenly a request came in from a different entertainment team

Other Team Member: Jung-hwa, could you do this by tomorrow?
Yoo Jung-hwa: Huh?? Um….
Other Team Member: It’s urgent, sorry. We’re short-staffed over here.
Yoo Jung-hwa: (Do I really have to do this too…?
pupils dilating)

This rookie’s dilemma… But I saw all those other team members chatting and laughing in the break room earlier while drinking coffee. Man, I’m pissed

While Jung-hwa was panicking, I was alone screaming in my head Jung-hwa, Jung-hwa, noooo don’t take that!!! but…

Yoo Jung-hwa: Yes, understood!
=I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing!!

And just took it anyway….
…I think I’m getting PTSD

And when PD Lee Jung-hoon came back from location scouting and saw Yoo Jung-hwa working, he raised his eyebrows

PD Lee Jung-hoon: What are you doing right now?
Yoo Jung-hwa: Huh? Oh, this was a request from another team….
PD Lee Jung-hoon: …What? (serious expression)
Yoo Jung-hwa: (Oh crap)

After that…. it was just PD Lee Jung-hoon’s time….

He went to the other entertainment team and absolutely raised hell…. while Yoo Jung-hwa watched from behind like a frightened rabbit, trembling nervously….
The narration was the best part

Yoo Jung-hwa: (dazed…) Our pretty garbage personality PD… I wondered where he’d ever use that temperament…
Turns out he’s using it to fight with other teams….

And naturally, Lee Jung-hoon returned victorious. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, yet somehow he looked magnificent and imposing.

Yoo Jung-hwa: (heart racing…)
Lee Jung-hoon: Ms. Jung-hwa.
Yoo Jung-hwa: Yes!!!!
Lee Jung-hoon: Next time someone asks you to do something, I’ll throw a fit and say it can’t be done. Understood?
Yoo Jung-hwa: Wow…. (sealing lips) (moved)

But Yoo Jung-hwa’s emotion didn’t last long

Lee Jung-hoon: (flipping through documents, then pausing)
Why isn’t this done?
Yoo Jung-hwa: Well…. I was handling the other team’s work….

Hearing that,
Lee Jung-hoon’s smile was genuinely beautiful and radiant

Lee Jung-hoon: Ms. Jung-hwa.
Yoo Jung-hwa: (heart racing like crazy)

(And then came the cascade of absolute chaos like Niagara Falls)

Hahahahaha oh my god hahahaha the waterfall CG is gonna be insane

Anyway, this dynamic is seriously hilarious haha
I think I’ve been hit hard by the fan bug
Who wants to catch Lee Jung-hoon with me? lol

└ugh.. he’s rude but so cute
He was rude from the start so I cursed him out but then grew fond of him and like him even more
This was meant to make my heart flutter right? Am I catching the submissive male lead?
└└ But why am I fluttering over this when he’s just being belittled?]

[Title: About that Lee Jung-hoon post below

Sorry but this is a top-bottom romance so there’s no submissive male lead. The author nailed it down

└Don’t lie.
Haha, you got the meme stock…
└I’m going all in on Jung-Sung couple.
└└Don’t come up with a couple name alreadyㅠㅋㅋㅋ]

[Title: Jung-Sung Couple All-In.

Friends, listen up!!! This is a stock that’s guaranteed to succeed!!

└(Broke person meme)
Oh come on, that’s too much lol

The moment the tide turned, Dae Pa-sung seized his chance and rowed with all his might. He released portions of the drama’s making film as The Dun behind-the-scenes content across the official YouTube channel.
The fans were grateful even as they raged about why he’d kept it in the drive until now.

“—and that’s the current situation!”

The Manager thrust out his index finger and cheerfully explained the state of affairs.
I honestly found it absurd.

‘Why on earth?’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————