The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 149

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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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149

Oblivious to my pitiful stare, Joo Woo-sung continued with a flat tone.

“We dated about two years ago…? It’s been a while.”
“Did you date for a short time?”
“No? It lasted quite a while. About six months?”
“…Are you insane?”

Watching Joo Woo-sung already equipped with an American mindset before we’d even started activities in the United States made me feel like my common sense was trying to run away from home.
With an encounter with his ex-girlfriend looming ahead, Joo Woo-sung felt even more like an alien from Mars.

“How can you be so shameless in front of your ex-girlfriend?”
“Huh?”

Yet Joo Woo-sung tilted his head as if he didn’t understand what I was saying.

“What does it matter? We’re already done anyway.”
“….”
“It’s not like we’re going to meet again.”

This guy’s common sense had transcended Mars and ventured beyond the solar system. I was grateful I’d sent the kids away first. At least they wouldn’t have to hear this nonsense.
Being someone with a sense of normalcy, I felt my energy plummet whenever I was around Joo Woo-sung.
I reached into my pocket for the candy that had become a permanent fixture there, but Joo Woo-sung snatched it away and unwrapped it.

“Ho-yoon, want some advice from your hyung?”

I don’t need it, you brat.

“People who harbor lingering attachments to past relationships tend to treat them poorly when they meet again.”
“Yeah.”
“I mean, whenever someone messes something up because they couldn’t do it right, the regret that follows is really something. That’s why I’m always really good to people when I’m dating them??”

And so the legendary piece of garbage spoke.
I’d handled myself so well that I’d even managed to spill an entire pitcher of water over Han Chae-ri.
Joo Woo-sung’s advice seemed worthless, so I ignored it and tried to move past him, but he blocked my path.

“But you’re exactly that type, yeah.”
“…What are you talking about?”

Joo Woo-sung tossed a candy into his mouth and grinned wickedly.
Wait, could he possibly…?

‘No, there’s no way he could know.’

In the previous world, maybe, but here I had no connection to Kim Hee-young whatsoever.
Joo Woo-sung smirked beside me.

“You’ve had some dating experience, haven’t you? You can’t develop that attitude without it.”
“…”
“But it all went spectacularly wrong, didn’t it?”

This bastard really…

“You’ve got that ‘how did you know’ look on your face? I can read it like a book. Seo Ho-yoon, what kind of dating are you doing? Guys like you are smooth on the surface, but your partner isn’t a priority, so conflicts pile up and pile up until you get slapped and dumped—that’s your type, I’m telling you.”
“Why don’t you just pray for my downfall instead?”

…But Joo Woo-sung was right about everything.
No matter how objectively I thought about it, I had wronged her.
Joo Woo-sung, seeing me standing there speechless, deliberately let out a long sigh and patted my shoulder twice.

“So listen, Seo Ho-yoon.”
“…”
“You…”

*Gulp.*

“Give up on Chung Beom before you crash and burn. From what I can tell, that one’s already cracked open.”

Ugh…
I felt foolish—me, who’d always watched this guy who was perpetually two percent off and worried anxiously in my chest.
As I listened to Joo Woo-sung tease me about tidying up my feelings before Chung Beom returned from California and things got awkward, I sighed.

“Joo Woo-sung.”
“What?”
“You seem to be under some serious misunderstanding. But that’s beside the point….”

I propped my chin up with both hands to make my point crystal clear.

“Ho-yoon’s an idol, so I don’t date~.”

Joo Woo-sung’s eyebrows twitched.

“…Did you lose your mind?”
“Unlike some people who can’t keep their heads straight and swap partners every three months without getting caught, I don’t do that.”
“….”
“I don’t get tangled up with some obscure junior nobody’s heard of and then get pushed around like a fool with no self-respect.”
“Hey!”

Apparently, being pushed around by me for the past year had wounded his pride a bit—Joo Woo-sung’s eyelashes trembled.

“Sigh… I’ll let the content slide. But that third-person speech and that tone of yours—doesn’t it give you the creeps?”
“Why? Does it creep you out?”
“You should focus on improving your dancing, not picking up weird habits….”

Ding!

[Everything Joo Woo-sung said is absolutely right!!]
[When did you become so shameless?!!]

I glanced sideways at the System Window that had popped up and was now backing Joo Woo-sung up.
I’d grown so used to being called a rabbit—what else could possibly faze me?
Especially with Kang Yi-chae right beside me, constantly whining about being pretty, cute, and not wanting to be handled by other people, piling on even more.
Seeing me, corrupted by their influence and now shameless to the point of being armored, Joo Woo-sung clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.

“In all my life, I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

Joo Woo-sung seemed unbothered, but looking at him, I found myself thinking.
This was the same Joo Woo-sung who’d been getting under my skin ever since the Black Call Christmas album, going on about concerts.
Should I mess with him a bit while I had the chance?

‘Yeah.’

After a brief moment of thought, I reached my conclusion and deliberately tilted my head at just the right angle.

“Human?”
“…?”

Joo Woo-sung stiffened, clearly unsettled, but it was already too late.

“What are you talking about? I’m a baby rabbit.”
“….”

[F***….]

The System Window’s profanity appeared to be auto-censored, coming out garbled instead—the first time it had ever used such language.
Joo Woo-sung in front of me let out a low curse as well.

“You crazy bastard….”
“Ahahaha, why?”

[Have I lost it….]
[This is insane. Looks like we won’t even need to give you dialogue cues anymore]

Right?
I glanced sideways at the System Window, which was gradually appearing with the realization that it would now have to rack its own brain to provide dialogue cues, and giggled to myself.
Joo Woo-sung took several steps back, his expression completely exhausted.

“Seo Ho-yoon, you absolute lunatic….”
“Why should Joo Woo-sung be the only one?”
“I can’t even compete with you….”

Joo Woo-sung, who had been shaking his head as if he’d given up, suddenly stopped moving and opened his eyes wide. Then he quickly poked me and gestured urgently with his eyes.

“Oh, hello.”
“…?”

An ominous sensation suddenly washed over me.
It was similar to the chill that had crept up my spine when I realized Kang Yi-chae was watching me practice aegyo alone in the practice room, or the shock that had struck the crown of my head when Kang Yi-chae revealed that fact on a variety show.

With a creeping dread, I turned my head toward where Joo Woo-sung’s gaze had landed.

“Oh….”

…Kim Hee-young was standing there.

“….”
“….”
“….”

An awkward, chilling breeze swept between us.
As I stood frozen, unable to even greet her, Kim Hee-young—who had a cigarette in her mouth, apparently having come to smoke—scratched her cheek.
Then, in an attempt to break the tension, she thrust out her thumb.

“True to form, an Idol. Unable to accept the transformation into a beast, consuming yourself instead….”
“….”
“I’ve watched the videos sometimes too. That professional spirit is impressive.”

Then, as if nothing were amiss, she flicked her lighter and lit the cigarette. Kim Hee-young took a long drag, held the smoke in her mouth, and exhaled it before throwing another joke at me, the tension still thick between us.

“Little rabbit, hoo-hoo~.”
“….”
“….”
“…Well, good good. Aha-ha.”

She had a sense of humor that wouldn’t land even with the Assistant Director.
Naturally, when it fell flat, Kim Hee-young laughed awkwardly and stepped into the Smoking Room.

“….”

Ding!
Ding!!

[Ugh]
~
[Ahhhhhhh]
[Screeeeeech]

System Windows cascaded down in a torrent.

[hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha]
[Why ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ????

As the alarms rang incessantly, I finally snapped out of my shock and turned my gaze toward where Kim Hee-young had moved, then lowered my head.

Hahahahahahaha

Life, damn it….

“…I’ll head out first.”
“Huh?”

As I quickened my pace, I heard Joo Woo-sung’s footsteps following behind me.

“Crazy rabbit, you little bunny, where are you going?”

Still oblivious to the situation, Joo Woo-sung teased me in sync with my agitation, then flinched back when he caught sight of my eyes.

“…Hey.”

It was only natural. Even without looking, he could sense that my expression was far from normal.
My jaw clenched and trembled.

“Joo Woo-sung….”
“Huh?”
“Don’t call me that, seriously, before I lose my mind completely….”
“But you just called yourself that a moment ago.”
“What! When did I?!”
“What??”

Joo Woo-sung looked bewildered, wondering what was wrong with me.
Was I really going to call myself a baby rabbit (damn it) in front of my ex-girlfriend?
I should have just said I wanted to die instead.

‘Why did I have to be like this, damn it….’

“…What’s up?”

Joo Woo-sung muttered that he really couldn’t understand, but I was too overwhelmed managing my own mortification to hear any of it.

[Deep breath]
[Huff, huff]
Hahahahahahahahaha
Even thinking about it again, I’m going crazy lol

Should I bite my tongue right now?

***

“Isn’t this really cool?”
“Wow….”

Joo Woo-sung had a meeting scheduled due to mentor duties, so we parted ways and I arrived at the designated meeting location to wait.
Several cameras were already set up there.
The members huddled together in one spot, watching a video on their phones of the Black Call concert—specifically Joo Woo-sung’s cover of a famous pop singer’s “Verse on the Floor.”

‘Damn it….’

I was still writhing in embarrassment.

“Wow, the lyrics are kind of risky…. But how does he sing such a sensual song so plainly?”
“Right? Joo Woo-sung’s vocals are really impressive too, it’s just overshadowed by the dancing.”
“The emotional delivery is insane!”

That’s because the raw emotion comes from his actual experience….
I buried my face in my arms, lying among these good-natured, innocent guys completely mesmerized by Joo Woo-sung.

‘Should I just quit Season 2 altogether?’

“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“Life is just too hard right now….”

Kang Yi-chae looked puzzled, but I was already scheming about how to avoid Kim Hee-young’s face, knowing full well it would be difficult.

“Hello~.”
“Ah! Hello.”

While my mind was spinning, Kim Hee-young walked in. The staff member who followed turned on the cameras and quickly rushed back outside.
I quickly composed my expression and greeted her along with the members.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. Oh, don’t mind the camera. This is a preliminary meeting, so we’re recording just in case, but it won’t take up much airtime.”
“Yes!”
“Today, as I mentioned over the phone, we’ll just do a light briefing on how the program will proceed. First, before the first competition, there’s a preliminary meet-and-greet. Let me explain how that works.”
“Yes, understood!”

By the time we’d entered the Broadcasting Station, all traces of nervousness had vanished, and everyone answered with spirited enthusiasm.
Kim Hee-young flipped through the documents and continued her explanation. She seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened moments before.

“So, basically, it’ll be structured as a six-part series, just like last time. And when it’s over, there’ll be a special bonus—a gala concert exclusively for the first-place winner.”
“…!”
“The Dun has high expectations? You should aim for first place.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at the mention of the gala concert.
Perhaps because we’d never held a concert before, everyone’s eyes sparkled with desire.
I too sharpened my scattered thoughts.
Right, let’s take first place in Shining Star.
Get first place and break the scenario quickly.

“The first competition is…. Oh, just a moment.”

Kim Hee-young, who had been smiling at The Dun’s reaction, raised her hand slightly when her phone rang mid-sentence, then stood up from her seat.

‘…?’

Kim Hee-young seemed unusually energetic today. Sensing something slightly off from that moment, I furrowed my brow slightly.

“I need to take this call. I’ll be right back, so just wait a moment.”
“Yes!”

Four grown men with wide, round eyes obediently nodded their heads, and Kim Hee-young let out another soft chuckle before stepping outside.

“A concert…??”
“We can do it. If we take first place.”

Kim Sung-hyun fidgeted with his hands, excitedly talking about what kind of stage he’d like to create if we got to hold a concert. The other members added their own comments as well.
But I simply rubbed my forehead and thought.

‘Why is Kim Hee-young so full of energy today?’

A PD worn down by overtime work couldn’t possibly be like that. As I scanned the surroundings, I suddenly felt something off.

‘…Hmm?’

It was something I’d found strange from the moment I first set foot in this place.
Why were there so many cameras installed for a preliminary meeting?

“…Can I turn on my happiness circuit right now?”
“How do you want to do the opening?”

Multiple unmanned cameras moved back and forth following the members’ movements, filming continuously.
I carefully examined the seams between walls and the ceiling, making sure my expression didn’t betray any suspicion.

‘The pattern doesn’t match.’

As if temporary partition walls had been hastily added.
A shoddy filming location, multiple cameras, minimal staff, and Kim Hee-young’s perfectly timed departure.

“…Ah.”

So that’s it.
Sung Ji-won, puzzled by my reaction, turned his head.

“What?”

In that instant, the lights went out.

“Why did the lights….”
“Is it a blackout?”

Right on cue, a piercing scream echoed from outside.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

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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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