The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 159

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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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159

“So that’s why the Black Call seniors like you so much?”

Ah, so that’s what he wanted to say.

“You certainly jump right in without warning.”
“Haha, well, I was curious. There’s been a lot of talk about you lately.”

Kang Yeon-hu shrugged his shoulders without any malice, his gaze shifting to the elevator floor display as it climbed higher with each passing moment.

“It’s surprising, you know. Joo Woo-sung gave us mentoring for just five seconds.”
“Are you jealous right now?”

Since he was being direct, I matched his candor and answered in kind.

“…Seo Ho-yoon, you certainly live up to your nickname of being blunt.”

He lowered his eyes once, then pressed his temple with one hand and let out a groan.
He genuinely seemed troubled.

“No, it’s not jealousy. I’m just genuinely curious.”
“Hmm.”
“Whenever there’s an uncertain element I don’t understand somewhere, it makes me anxious. You’d feel the same way, wouldn’t you, Junior Ho-yoon?”
“….”
“I need to break this habit.”

Kang Yeon-hu exhaled softly, then took a sip of his coffee.

“Well, anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

Watching Kang Yeon-hu mutter to himself, I revised my perception of him slightly.

“I’m fine with anything. Whether you do something or not, Seo Ho-yoon, even if Joo Woo-sung only looks after you. It’s just—.”

This guy seems to be poking around a bit.

“—Just don’t try to set me up against my group.”

There’s something similar about him to me.

“I trust you won’t, but if you do, the fallout will be quite severe.”

He spoke gently, but it was ultimately a threat—a promise that he’d take action one way or another.

‘Refreshing.’

It had been ages since someone else threatened me instead of the other way around.
I lowered my gaze and stirred my lemonade when the Elevator arrived.

Ding.

“Then I’ll be going.”

The moment the doors opened and Kang Yeon-hu moved to step out, I quickly blocked his path with my arm and pressed the close button.

Whirrrr.
Thud.

“…??”

To Kang Yeon-hu, who was staring at me with eyes that asked what the hell I was doing, I widened my eyes while keeping the straw in my mouth.

“Why did you close—”
“Kang Yeon-hu, I naturally look for a place to lie down before I stretch my legs too.”

High Five was under the same Agency as Black Call.
If I poked carelessly, I couldn’t handle the backlash myself. Unlike before when I had nothing, unless The Dun was unknown.
Even Joo Woo-sung, who acts like a pushover now, might bend his loyalty inward toward his own Entertainment Agency when push came to shove.
If word of what I’d said to Joo Woo-sung so far got out, it wouldn’t just be me in danger—The Dun would be too.
And besides, I’d abandoned any idea of touching High Five long ago.

“It’s not that I won’t—it’s that I can’t.”

‘Unfortunately.’

Of course, I hadn’t exactly been naive about it.
Even at a major entertainment company, those destined to derail inevitably slip through the cracks. Just look at our Joo Woo-sung—no scandal has erupted, but otherwise he’s practically….
But High Five? Cigarettes, alcohol, dating, gossip, drugs… they haven’t been caught doing any of it.
Because they’re virtuous? No.

‘This bastard is the ringleader.’

It meant the Leader managed them with an almost obsessive-compulsive intensity.
Kang Yeon-hu was twenty-five, wasn’t he?
After a lengthy trainee career, he debuted at a relatively advanced age for a major company, and his hunger for success was nothing short of ferocious.

“…Ah.”

My answer apparently wasn’t what he expected.
Kang Yeon-hu looked taken aback, then burst into laughter.

“You’re quite honest. But you don’t need to hold back like that—.”
“We’re going to win anyway.”
“….”

But.

“I’m just the type who has to win at everything.”

This guy’s skill at being difficult still needs some refinement.
Watching the stunned Kang Yeon-hu, I kindly pressed the open button.

“Well then, let’s head out.”
“….”

.
.
.

“Huh?”

After exiting the Elevator with Kang Yeon-hu and heading toward the Conference Room, I spotted Joo Woo-sung and Chae Jung-woo in the distance down the opposite corridor.

“This combination is fresh. Yeon-hu, hey?”
“…Oh, seniors. Hello.”

Kang Yeon-hu, who had been spaced out, reflexively answered, then quickly wiped his mouth. It was a hollow laugh.
No matter how I thought about it, my elevator thug skill seemed ridiculous.

‘I should learn to act more like a real troublemaker.’

Of course, it wasn’t my concern, so I ignored it and asked Chae Jung-woo instead.

“Did you finish your business?”
“Ah, yes. Well, everyone understood quickly.”
“Where’s my green tea latte?”

There it is, you bastard.
Joo Woo-sung, who still hadn’t said a word to Kang Yeon-hu, plucked the green tea latte right out of the drink carrier I was holding.
Chae Jung-woo wore a slightly awkward smile.

“Fighting. And Yeon-hu, I was planning to go to High Five anyway.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Wait. I’ll just send Joo Woo-sung and then leave.”
“Okay.”

Kang Yeon-hu nodded slightly and turned to look at me.

“Seo Ho-yoon, I’m looking forward to the Second Round Competition.”
“Yes, me too.”

Kang Yeon-hu held my gaze for a moment, then without adding anything else, quickly walked away. Joo Woo-sung sipped his green tea latte and smirked at me.

“You punk, you only act all friendly and well-behaved with me at times like this? Normally you’d be giving me a hard time.”
“I’m always well-behaved.”
“What would I even say to you.”

Chae Jung-woo quietly laughed beside us.
Since I wasn’t alone with Joo Woo-sung, I thought about holding back, but the atmosphere suggested he already knew everything anyway, so I decided to ask honestly.

“But Joo Woo-sung, do you dislike High Five?”
“…Huh?”

At first, I thought Kang Yeon-hu was helping me in this competition because he was jealous of me, and Joo Woo-sung disliked High Five.

‘But that’s not it.’

Looking back, Joo Woo-sung had been giving me advice since Second Chance (though there was a hint of coercion involved), and considering his tendency to keep his distance from most people, he didn’t act that way only toward High Five.
And when I talked to Kang Yeon-hu, he seemed more composed than I expected.

“…Really?”

Moreover, when I asked him just now, Joo Woo-sung looked bewildered, as if hearing it for the first time in his life.

“Why would I?”
“….”
“Did he tell you something about me?”

While I was thinking about how to respond, Joo Woo-sung snapped his fingers and came to his own conclusion.

“Ah~! You think I’m helping you because I hate them??”
“….”
“That’s not it, dude. I don’t care about them. I’m just helping you because….”

But Joo Woo-sung didn’t want to say more and closed his mouth.

‘…Because of what?’

Chae Jung-woo let out a long sigh after seeing that.

“Phew…. Our Woo-sung really is such a handful, isn’t he?”
“…Sometimes I don’t really understand.”
“Why am I a handful? Don’t you know how well I treat Seo Ho-yoon?”
“That’s what makes him such a handful. Didn’t you see Kang Yeon-hu’s expression just now?”

Living up to the title of best friend, Chae Jung-woo had an accurate eye for people, unlike Joo Woo-sung who was always two percent short on reading the room.
He spoke to me, who still couldn’t grasp the current situation.

“As Woo-sung said, there’s no trouble between us and the junior. He’s lived his entire life as the center of his own universe, so he only cares about himself.”
“…No, what are you talking about? That’s not it at all.”
“Hey, Joo Woo-sung. You’ve been annoying since earlier. Go talk to Seo Ho-yoon first.”
“….”
“Hurry.”

As Chae Jung-woo pushed him away by the back, surprisingly, Joo Woo-sung grumbled with narrowed eyes but obediently moved away first.

‘What’s with him?’

Having only ever seen Joo Woo-sung as brazen and reckless on stage, I slightly frowned at his docile behavior.

‘He’s being awfully compliant?’

Chae Jung-woo crossed his arms and clicked his tongue before turning his body toward me.

“Anyway, I’m really grateful, Seo Ho-yoon. Thank you for looking after Woo-sung.”
“…Have I really done anything for him?”
“Haha?”

Chae Jung-woo broke into a bright smile.

“Seems like you don’t realize it yet.”
“I really have no idea.”

As long as it didn’t harm The Dun, I had no interest whatsoever in why Joo Woo-sung was helping me.

“Anyway, fighting for the Second Round Competition! Seeing a great junior group like The Dun really motivates us. If you need anything difficult, just reach out. I’ll answer anytime.”
“If you say that, I’ll contact you at all hours.”
“Please do. I tried not to be biased, but honestly, I feel more affection toward you, Seo Ho-yoon, whom our Woo-sung helped, than toward my direct juniors.”

Chae Jung-woo, who had been speaking with casual warmth, fixed me with clear, sincere eyes full of goodwill.

“I hope you win first place overall.”

I couldn’t fathom what this statement meant—said to a group from a different agency while overlooking his own direct juniors.
Moreover, I had no idea why Joo Woo-sung and Chae Jung-woo had taken such a liking to me.

“Mm.”

I chuckled.

“Of course.”

After wrapping up the conversation, I watched Chae Jung-woo’s retreating figure for a moment before heading back to the Conference Room.

“Wow, no way!”

The Conference Room was brimming with energy, a stark contrast to the subdued atmosphere from moments before.

“Got it! We’ve got the framework down!!”
“Amazing! Yi-chae’s a genius~.”
“The moment I heard it, the vibe just clicked! It’s perfect~!”

It seemed Lee Ji-hyun’s input wasn’t even necessary—the Members had already hammered out the basics. I set down the coffee carrier and examined the notes they’d left behind.
They’d organized it quite well.

“I roughed out a beat. Want to hear it?”
“In that short amount of time?”
“When inspiration hits, anything’s possible.”

Kang Yi-chae spoke matter-of-factly and pulled up the track on his laptop.

“Kang Yi-chae, you’re seriously a cheat code….”

How could he hear this and not recognize himself as a genius?
I watched the Members clustered nearby, bobbing their heads and swaying their hands to the beat, then shifted my gaze toward the planning notes.

‘Hmm.’

As I tapped my fingers on the table, Kang Yi-chae’s stats materialized as if on cue.

[Kang Yi-chae
Your group doesn’t have Kang Yi-chae, right?]

This obsession really knows no bounds.

[Vocals: A+
Dance: A0
Entertainment: A0
Acting: B-
Charm: S-
??: ??]

[Hold on a moment! Your kind, beautiful, adorable, clever, and considerate System Window is here to explain!
Rap is included in vocals, and charm represents star quality!]

I appreciated the timely clarification, even if it came a bit late.

[You’re welcome, System Window!]

Ignoring that, I carefully examined those with Dance S-, Vocals S0, and Charm S-.
Then I imagined the Second Round Competition stage by plugging in the members of this small-to-medium enterprise miracle.

‘This should be enough.’

We might actually take first place in the expert voting this time around.

“Brother, why are you staring so intensely?”
“I’m pleased.”
“Huh?”

The members looked at me with curious eyes, and only then did I notice that one pair of eyes was missing from the group.

“By the way, where did the youngest go?”

***

“Oh.”

Meanwhile, Jung Da-jun found himself face-to-face with the TEW Main Vocalist in front of a vending machine near the Broadcasting Station’s rest room.

“Hello.”
“…Hello?”

It seemed there were other groups staying behind to have meetings as well.
Jung Da-jun pulled coins from his pocket and fed them into the vending machine.

Clink, clink.

‘Since Ho-yoon said he’d bring coffee, I should just get water, right?’

I’d come out because my throat was dry, but seeing all the beverages lined up made me hesitate.
As I was carefully choosing what to drink, I heard a voice from beside me.

“How’s practice going?”
“Eek!”
“….”
“Oh, ah, you haven’t left yet. You startled me.”

Though I had no such intention, I somehow felt reproached for TEW Main Vocalist’s faint presence.

“Jung Da-jun, you seem to space out sometimes.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Be careful. You can’t treat seniors like that.”
“Yep, yep.”

Jung Da-jun answered halfheartedly and turned his face back toward the vending machine. At this dismissive attitude, TEW Main Vocalist’s eyes flared with irritation.

‘Hmm. Since Ho-yoon probably eats a lot of sweets, maybe barley tea?’

I tried to ignore the continued pestering from beside me.
The greatest lesson I’d learned from being active in The Dun and spending time beside Seo Ho-yoon was that troublesome matters must be blocked before they start.
However, one particular word kept tickling my ear and grating on my nerves.

“Work harder in the Second Round Competition. One mistake can spiral and ruin everything.”
“….”
“You don’t want to burden your talented seniors, right?”

Thunk.

A bottle of water dropped from the vending machine.
With my gaze lowered, I looked at him quietly, then slowly bent my waist to retrieve the water and handed it to TEW Main Vocalist, who wore a smirk at the corner of his mouth.

“Take this, Senior.”
“…What?”
“Hyun-sung said to give an extra one to someone you dislike.”

It was something Kim Sung-hyun usually said to Seo Ho-yoon.
Jung Da-jun handed water to the confused TEW Main Vocalist and spoke.

“Drink some cold water.”

It was something Sung Ji-won said when Kang Yi-chae, who mostly lived a nocturnal lifestyle, was half-asleep.
Seo Ho-yoon’s follow-up line of “Wake up, you idiot” remained unspoken, swallowed down instead.
No matter what, he didn’t think it was appropriate for a junior to say such things to a senior.
Jung Da-jun turned his head sharply and grabbed a few more drinks with practiced efficiency before stopping as he tried to leave.

“Oh.”

And he looked at the TEW Main Vocalist again.

“And our brothers don’t call it a burden.”

This was something he knew as the youngest, without the members even having to tell him.

“Is that so for you?”
“…Ha.”

With those words, Jung Da-jun brushed past the TEW Main Vocalist. Behind Jung Da-jun’s back, the TEW Main Vocalist’s expression twisted sharply.

“Tch! Seriously…!”

Jung Da-jun’s footsteps toward the Conference Room quickened even more.
The TEW Main Vocalist had probably just been trying to get under his skin.

‘A mistake.’

A small anxiety began to sprout in Jung Da-jun’s heart.
And that anxiety awakened the thought he had buried deep for the past year—that without the position of being the youngest, Jung Da-jun would be nothing special.

‘I know. My brothers are exceptional, and I’m ordinary.’

That’s why I couldn’t afford to make even the slightest mistake.

“You’re here?”
“…Yes.”

The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, Seo Ho-yoon’s uncanny intuition locked onto me with an adhesive gaze, but Jung Da-jun simply offered a smile.

‘It doesn’t matter. I just need to do well.’

Yet that day, the day after, and even until the eve of the Second Round Competition.

“….”

Jung Da-jun tossed and turned, unable to find proper sleep.

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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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