The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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102

“The Dun isn’t suffering any damage from this, right?”
“Damage? If anything, our public recognition is going up. You didn’t notice your search rankings climbing last time?”

I hadn’t noticed.
I’d been too busy searching for how this might affect The Dun Group….

“Plus, the video of Yi-chae producing the drama OST dropped, so the atmosphere is actually supportive.”

Right, now we’re pushing hard with album activities and self-content too… actively filming. I clenched my teeth, refusing to forget the humiliation from last time. Apparently the Planning Team received substantial bonuses this round—the company must be making decent money these days.
I heard the Planning Team received a lot of bonuses this time, so it seems the Entertainment Company is making quite a bit of money these days.

“Well, at least I’m making a lot of money…”

Just as she was entering the filming set, she ran into Screenwriter Kim Sook-hee, who suddenly made a strange sound.

“Pardon?”
“Huh?”

Then he went on to talk about the viewers’ reactions.

“…You’re saying the Lee Jung-hoon character’s reaction is pretty good?”

I was quite taken aback because all Lee Jung-hoon’s character had done in the script so far was harass the slave Yoo Jung-hwa and tease Min Seung-tae, his unrequited love.

“Haha, you see, when a guy who’s normally inconsiderate bothers someone ten times and then takes care of them once, that comes across as charm. The so-called ‘bad boy’ type. Is that still too far removed from the pure-hearted Ho-yoon?”

“Has everyone in South Korea gone crazy?”

I almost got slapped by Kim Hee-young, so that wasn’t something I should be hearing…

Anyway.

Kim Writer looked slightly flustered, but she was seriously contemplating something. It seemed she was thinking about revising the script because the audience response to the chemistry between Lee Jung-hoon PD and Yoo Jung-hwa was better than she had anticipated.

“I’m working on episode 8 right now. We originally decided on a dual-lead structure and started the screenplay, but the reaction to the Lee Jung-hoon bait I threw in early on seems to be really good.”
“…Interestingly, there was that kind of reaction too.”
“Exactly. So here’s the thing….”

I’m anxious.

“Should we add some script pages and throw in a love line?”

‘No!!’

Don’t do it.
It can’t happen.
The reason I felt somewhat reassured when choosing this drama was precisely because Lee Jung-hoon had no love line.
Even during the publicity push, I emphasized his role as a ‘supporter,’ not as a ‘secondary lead,’ so suddenly changing direction would just invite criticism.
Plus, if my position changes and I have to act out a love line opposite Yoo Ji-a, and not just any actress but a singer-turned-actress at that?

‘God, just thinking about it gives me chills.’

To stay as safe as possible and avoid getting tangled up with anyone, I laughed awkwardly.

“I don’t have confidence in doing that kind of romantic acting.”
“Come on, I think you’d do great! PD Lee Jung-hoon might not have the best manners, but there’s something subtly charming about him!”
“No, no. Even if I did, how could I compete with Min Ji-heon? It would be ambiguous and just stir up unnecessary backlash.”
“True… Min Seung-tae’s character is pretty strong, isn’t he? Both narratively and in terms of romantic acting.”

Yeah, that guy’s acting alone is flawless.
Once I brought up Min Ji-heon, Kim Writer reluctantly backed off, smacking her lips in disappointment.

“Should we film a romance next time?”
“I’d be grateful just to be called.”
=Nope.

Still, I managed to get through it. Leaving the cold sweat behind, we wrapped filming at the broadcasting station today, and as the episodes progressed, it became increasingly challenging to keep up with Yoo Ji-a and Min Ji-heon’s deepening and richer emotional performances.
Min Ji-heon was… exactly the caliber that Jung Da-jun praised. He was absolutely soaring.

“…Sister.”

Before the camera rolled, he’d smile brightly, but the moment the shot started, he’d suddenly shed tears and grab Yoo Jung-hwa’s sleeve, pleading—and everyone gasped.
Given that Min Seung-tae was someone who looked down on everyone, seeing him grovel before Yoo Jung-hwa made the viewers’ hearts race.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”
“….”
“So don’t look at me like that….”

It was utterly heartfelt. For that moment alone, I found myself captivated by Min Ji-heon, unable to tear my gaze away.
Thanks to that, Kim Writer, who had fallen for Min Ji-heon’s romantic acting all over again, seemed to have completely abandoned her plan to make Lee Jung-hoon a secondary male lead.

‘Whether it’s the writer’s creative impulse or just fickleness.’

And there was one more fickle person.

“Please take good care of me today too~.”
“…Yes.”

Min Ji-heon had apparently gotten a taste for it since last time—he kept throwing in ad-libs.
He seemed to do it to Yoo Ji-a as well, but he was particularly relentless with me.
Every time those impromptu lines came at me with nowhere to escape, I ground my teeth and barely managed to finish the scene. The Director still showed no sign of stopping him.
Damn it.

“Ugh, this is ridiculous….”

As I quietly muttered through gritted teeth, Min Ji-heon scrunched his nose and laughed.

“Yeeeees.”
“….”

That final consonant hanging at the end of his response screamed absolute refusal to stop.

“Min Ji-heon. Stop with the ad-libs. If you’re going to do them, at least give me something in return.”
“Give and take? Are we that kind of relationship?”
“How about you take a hit to the head every time you ad-lib once?”
“…Oh, sorry. Ji-heon doesn’t have those kinds of tastes.”
“Just… don’t say anything.”

This guy loves getting hit….

Disgusted, I walked outside. I had no scenes scheduled for now, so it was downtime. That’s when I spotted Lee Kang-seok walking toward me in the distance.
…Why is he here?
I heard they finished filming at this location.

Ding!

[Lee Kang-seok is a regular guest on this broadcasting station’s variety shows.]

I watched the System Window, my eyebrows twitching. The quick-witted one had dropped just one piece of information for me before vanishing without a trace.

“…Seo Ho-yoon.”

The moment he saw me, his expression hardened before I caught him composing himself. Though I suspected that his earlier sarcastic demeanor was closer to his true nature.
Either way, he seemed thoroughly afflicted with that incurable actor’s disease.

“Your ratings are doing well, congratulations? Must be nice. Though I’d say you’re riding on the coattails of being at Dae Pa-sung, the same agency as Min Ji-heon.”
“Wow.”
“…Pardon?”
“…Never mind.”

It was the first time I’d ever heard praise for my agency….
I touched the corner of my mouth and nodded.

“Yes, I’ve been fortunate.”
“Exactly. I told you acting alone isn’t enough.”

Lee Kang-seok was clearly revving himself up, looking for a fight. He was searching for any opening to pounce on.

“I wish some of that luck would rub off on me….”
“Luuuuck?”

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from somewhere, laced with laughter.

“Huh? Ho-yoon has luck?”
“…?”

I spun around in surprise to find Kang Yi-chae and Jung Da-jun standing there.
What are you two doing coming out of there?
Jung Da-jun looked genuinely shocked.

“No, seriously, Hyung, your luck is absolutely terrible. I’ve never seen anyone with worse luck than you.”
“I mean, just getting into our Entertainment Agency in the first place was already….”
“Hyung, but that’s the same for all of us, isn’t it?”
“Oh, right!”

Kang Yi-chae spoke as if whispering into Jung Da-jun’s ear, but his voice was deliberately loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Seo Ho-yoon’s group member…?”

Lee Kang-seok and I both froze like we were buffering, our minds slightly disconnected from reality, when Sung Ji-won and Kim Sung-hyun suddenly burst out from the bent hallway where they’d been chatting quietly.

“Huh?”
“…What?”

The two of them surveyed the situation, exchanged a quick glance, and rushed over.

“Ho-yoon, calm down first and step back.”
“Yeah. I get what you’re thinking, but just stand behind us for now.”
“….”

The absurd part was that they weren’t protecting me—they were treating me like a hazardous material, telling me to calm down. Sung Ji-won stepped forward with a smile like a bomb disposal expert.

“Hello, senior. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“….”
“I’m Sung Ji-won, Ho-yoon’s groupmate.”
“Ah, I’m Lee Kang-seok.”

When Sung Ji-won bowed respectfully and showed proper courtesy, Lee Kang-seok unconsciously followed suit, bowing awkwardly in return.

“It’s really nice to meet you like this. But what brings you to our Ho-yoon…?”
“…It was nothing much. Sorry for blocking the way.”
“Ha ha, no, not at all. If you need anything later, feel free to contact us separately.”
“…Yes, then I’ll be going.”
“Take care.”

Lee Kang-seok left with some lingering unease, disarmed by Sung Ji-won’s gentle smile that said ‘that’s enough, please go now.’ I watched him leave with slight admiration.
Sung Ji-won’s aggro management skills had improved dramatically. I really had no idea whose doing that was.
Kim Sung-hyun narrowed his eyes and looked at my expression, then asked.

“You’re not actually disappointed he’s backing off, are you?”
“What kind of person do you think I am?”
“I think you’re Seo Ho-yoon….”
“You’re treating me too harshly.”

I vehemently denied it and naturally averted my gaze. If I said I wasn’t disappointed that Lee Kang-seok had backed off so readily, that would be a lie.

“Ho-yoon’s acting keeps getting better.”
“That’s why he acts, I guess.”

Of course, that didn’t work at all. I ignored the members’ whispered chatter behind me and asked.

“Why are you guys here?”
“Oh, we’re doing B Live today.”
“Wasn’t that supposed to be at the dormitory?”
“You said filming would wrap early, so we thought we’d film some behind-the-scenes content here and head out~.”
“Ho-yoon! We promised to eat beef after this!!”

The Manager, who had arrived late, turned on the camera and moved to the filming set with the members. Since we’d already filmed script reading behind-the-scenes footage and drama making film content and received permission in advance, we just had to follow a few precautions.
After we’d gotten enough footage and turned the camera off again,

“Uh….”

I ran into Min Ji-heon, the one person I’d hoped to avoid. Min Ji-heon, who had been filming a new scene, had already finished and changed into different clothes.
I’d hoped to just pass by, but Min Ji-heon, being perceptive as ever, initiated conversation again.

“We meet again, huh~.”
“….”
“Hello to you too, Jung Da-jun.”

I thought Jung Da-jun, being a Min Ji-heon fan, would bounce around excitedly again, but instead he made a strange expression and….

“Yes, hello.”

He merely tilted his head awkwardly.

Ding!

[What?]

What?

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