The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 160

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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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160

“Kang Yeon-hu! Look over here for a second!”
“Yeon-hu!!!!!!!”
“Hyun-sung, fighting spirit today too!!”

Kang Yeon-hu returned greetings to the fans he encountered as best he could while entering the Second Round Competition Venue.
After receiving makeup that matched today’s concept and leaving the waiting room, I stretched my stiff body by rotating it side to side, when I crossed paths with The Dun in the hallway.

“Oh.”

Seo Ho-yoon’s expressionless face carried an icy impression.
When our eyes met, Kang Yeon-hu reflexively flashed a smile.

“Seo Ho-yoon—.”

I called out to greet him, but since there were no cameras filming and no one watching, Seo Ho-yoon simply ignored me and walked past with complete naturalness. The rest of The Dun’s members awkwardly bowed their heads and followed after him.

“…Hmm.”

Kang Yeon-hu stared after them.
They say group members grow to resemble each other, and while the other members seemed to have strong personalities, Seo Ho-yoon was on another level entirely compared to anyone I’d ever encountered.

‘All the members must have rock-solid mental fortitude.’

Having organized my thoughts indifferently, I stretched my arms upward and loosened up my body again.
Shortly after, following the staff’s guidance, I finished rehearsal and was gathering the High Five members when I witnessed a peculiar exchange.

“The rehearsal was really impressive this time. But that prop spinning thing seemed like it might be difficult?”
“….”
“What if you make a mistake? You can’t afford to twist your ankle, right~.”

‘There are still plenty of people like that.’

Words spoken with a courteous tone that feigned concern, yet beneath the surface lurked a murky, damp desire—a wish to drag me down to the depths.
Such people were countless.
During my trainee days, and even after my debut.

‘Well, it should be fine….’

After all, I was a member of the group that included Seo Ho-yoon himself—surely I’d manage competently enough without needing to be told.

“….”

‘Huh?’

Yet Jung Da-jun’s expression was precarious.
As though a complex had been touched.

“Yes.”

After responding, Jung Da-jun spun around and walked away.
Watching the TEW Main Vocalist left behind, his face flushed and breathing heavily, Kang Yeon-hu’s eyes narrowed.

‘What was that?’

Though a lingering unease remained, I didn’t dwell on it and returned to the waiting room. The second round competition would begin soon.

“Welcome to Shining Star Season 2, Second Round Competition.”

Just as I finished adjusting my makeup and appearance, the MC’s voice came through the monitoring television. The camera capturing High Five’s reaction had been rolling for some time already.

“Ah, I’m nervous!”
“….”

At WH, everyone naturally assumed High Five’s first-place finish was assured.
Thus, what they truly desired wasn’t the first-place title itself, but rather the supplementary benefits that would follow in its wake.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Shining Star Season 2 consisted of a total of four competitions. Given the compressed format, we had to pour our hearts into each and every stage.
This second round competition emphasized fairness by offering too many choices. The logic was simple: if the selection committee’s picks seemed unfair, the groups should choose for themselves.
Whether cover or original, as long as the genre and concept matched, it was essentially like searching for the most beautiful pearl in a vast ocean.
While the spinning wheel introduced an element of luck, it paradoxically made each group’s capabilities and their agency’s resources shine through even more prominently.

‘Hmm.’

Perhaps this was what PD Kim Hee-young had wanted all along.
And as I’d anticipated, according to what the Manager told me, every group had prepared their performance using original compositions.
Since they’d showcased cover songs in the first round, they’d naturally chosen to present something fresh that could better showcase their abilities.
High Five had prepared an upbeat, bright song with an energetic rhythm that their major agency had invested heavily in acquiring from abroad.
This was both an advantage and a mark of stability for a major entertainment company, but it was also a strategic choice to differentiate themselves from Black Call, who always delivered intense performances.
Kang Yeon-hu watched the other groups’ performances with his hand covering his mouth, his expression serious.

‘The other groups aren’t bad either.’

However, compared to official title tracks that had been developed over months, the limitations of something completed in such a short timeframe were evident.
After two performances concluded, The Dun’s VCR played.

“The Dun is doing Oriental style with hip-hop?”

Of course, after my appearance on Shining Star was confirmed, I’d reviewed all the Season 1 clips. The way The Dun had reinterpreted Today’s “Make Love” with an Oriental twist had been particularly impressive.

“Oh… I see.”
“It won’t be easy for The Dun.”

Since The Dun had already exhausted their Oriental-style weapons in Season 1, there was a risk their performance could come across as tedious to viewers.

‘The genre itself is problematic.’

The Dun’s chosen concept and genre weren’t actually bad.
Among previous artists, there had been cases where blending rap beats with Oriental aesthetics had succeeded, and advertisements mixing Oriental melodies with trendy sensibilities had become globally famous.
However, the fact that only a countable number came to mind was telling.
There were countless more that were forgotten.
It required not just producing trendy songs, but also performers with innate sense and enough experience to command the stage freely.
From that perspective, The Dun—with limited seniority and capital—was inevitably at a disadvantage.

‘But it’s really strange.’

Why was I so anxious?

“Let’s begin!”

Whoooosh—.

As if to justify that anxiety, the moment the intro started, everyone fell silent.
With the sound of rain, a dark, damp, and grimy street unfolded across the stage. Faint neon signs flickered through it.

“…East Asian aesthetic?”

The High Five main dancer, who had expected us to push forward with a melancholic atmosphere, blinked in surprise.

Whoooosh—.

The camera swept across the ground as if strolling through that very street, then encountered heavy black boots before slowly panning upward.
A man sat astride a matte black and menacing motorcycle, one leg stretched out, dressed in form-fitting latex leather pants and a rash guard topped with an ornately embroidered modernized hanbok durumagi.

“…Wow.”

The camera traced past the collar and neckline, reaching his jawline,

【Are you ready?】

Then Seo Ho-yoon’s face filled the screen, one corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk.

【Did you think I couldn’t follow you?
Reborn, I chase your traces relentlessly】

As Seo Ho-yoon descended from the motorcycle and roughly swept his hair back, the durumagi fluttered gracefully.
The moment he took center stage, backup dancers burst out from both sides, matching the choreography.

“No way, hip-hop done like this??”

This song was my answer after hearing the track Chae Jung-woo had recommended. I’d poured my own taste into it completely.

“East Asian aesthetic without forcing the framework.”

【Even if I spin the wheel of six paths,
I’ll find you, didn’t I say?
Do you believe me now?】

“Woooooow!!”
“That’s amazing!!!”

It was a trap that could easily ensnare the unwary.
Rather than being confined by the conventional notions that came to mind with “Eastern aesthetic,” The Dun had chosen to weave only that concept into the song itself.

‘Impressive.’

The Buddhist cycle of six realms of rebirth.
Those who had traversed countless cycles of reincarnation to reach the present day.
The lyrics spoke of spinning through that eternal cycle, determined to find and devour their rival.

【Even if you pretend to know nothing, it’s already cold
You can’t chase me out
Your scent lingers thick between the cities】

I understood where that meaning was directed. Yet the beat was so refined and the choreography so sharp—like a blade honed to a cutting edge—that I couldn’t bring myself to voice it.
Aimed directly at their opponent.
Simply watching Kim Sung-hyun express the fragrance brushing past his own nose through dance made the answer clear.

“…Wow.”

The High Five main dancer seemed to feel the overwhelming gap in skill.
Their expression was identical to when they first watched Joo Woo-sung’s dance practice in the practice room.

【Was that your Karma?
Yearning for your fear】

Moreover, in Sung Ji-won’s part as The Dun’s main vocalist, he showcased an impressive vocal range, starting with a low tone and ending by raising his pitch to belt out the final notes with a growling quality.

【Was this my fate?
Shall we build karma together?】

In the first round, one could argue that strategy played a significant role, but this stage was entirely different.
It was pure skill.
The usually cold Seo Ho-yoon, the perpetually gentle Sung Ji-won, and the seemingly taciturn Kim Sung-hyun had vanished—replaced by performers unleashing their power with unbridled intensity.

【Grrrrrr…】

In that moment, a feral beast emerged, accompanied by a low, guttural growl.

【If I bite, I never let go
I live dumb like a beast, but
How did you know? I wanted to devour you】

Kang Yi-chae, his hair slicked back sharply with pomade, fixed a piercing gaze forward and spat out his rap with the precision of scratching at the beat itself.

“Insane….”

【Fangs bared in an open mouth
By the time you try to run, it’s already too late】

The beat accelerated, and the melody that had been climbing steadily since Seo Ho-yoon’s entrance continued its ascent,

【Yes, you are in my throat!】

The moment the high pitch arrived, the stage lights dimmed, everything froze, and only the salt-like timbre of the vocals flowed through.

“Insane, insane, ah, chills!!”
“What is this, why is it so cool…?”

They had deliberately built the atmosphere to its peak before inserting the high-pitched, crystalline vocal tone to momentarily drop the song’s tempo.
Then, Seo Ho-yoon appeared at the railing installed on the 2nd Floor Stage, tapping lightly with his fingers in a deliberate gesture.

【Some mock, some ridicule
People don’t know you anyway
Yeah, Okay】

Seo Ho-yoon, wiping the corner of his mouth, flicked his fingers toward the approaching camera.

“…Wow.”

It almost looked like he was flicking ash from a cigarette.
But the gesture was so subtle and precise that it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what it was.
Seo Ho-yoon smiled knowingly, as if he’d planned it all along.

【After all, I’m going to swallow the competition whole】

“Woooooow!!!”
“What, what is that… so cool…”

Despite his declaration to devour the competitors, the High Five members cheered with unbridled excitement.
Jung Da-jun was the center for this song, and he stepped forward during the highlight section.

【We’ve been through that】

His platinum blonde hair swayed slightly, with thin strands of ribbon-like ties tangled on the right side, and everyone marveled at Jung Da-jun’s appearance—a black shirt with a sleeveless vest draped over it and light-colored jeans.
But only Kang Yeon-hu remained quiet.
The Dun’s youngest member appeared unstable somehow.

“Whoa, whoa! A wheel in the back!”

【Breaking through the wheel of karma and returning
Spinning the six-spoked wheel, round and round…】

The other members didn’t seem to notice and were just looking forward to seeing what Jung Da-jun would show.
Jung Da-jun’s fingertips reached toward the wheel, and he applied force to turn it, but—

“…omg.”

It didn’t go back.
Since the camera rehearsal had been completed with the expectation that the wheel would spin smoothly, naturally the camera was focused on it.
Missing the appropriate timing, the stage effect sparks that ignited off-beat shone awkwardly on screen.

‘It’s still okay.’

In any case, viewers will probably think that’s the way it is or feel a little awkward.
Kang Yeon-hu judged that continuing the stage naturally and smoothly was more important.

【… Girl, I… .】

But the real problem came next.
But the real problem erupted right after that.

‘… Ah, that one earlier.’

He said he was worried for some reason, but it seems like TEW’s main vocalist’s words really shook Jeong Da-jun’s spirit.
It seemed the TEW Main Vocalist’s words had properly shaken Jung Da-jun’s concentration.

At this point, it didn’t seem easy to settle things.

【I could tell at a glance from between the buildings】

No one could have noticed that Jeong Da-jun blew his part and Seo Ho-yoon was covering it hard.
No one could fail to notice that Jung Da-jun had dropped his part and Seo Ho-yoon was desperately covering for him.

Perhaps that’s why Seong Ji-won raised the octave as high as he could, as if trying to attract attention.

【Was that your Karma?
Yearning for your desperation
Was this my fate?

“…The vocals are truly heavenly.”

The High Five members, who could not easily open their mouths due to the dizzying feeling that they had made a mistake even though it was another team’s mistake, let out exclamations of exclamation when they saw Seong Ji-won’s high notes.
The High Five members, who had been too dizzy from the mistake—even though it was another team’s error—to speak easily, let out exclamations of admiration at Sung Ji-won’s high note.

【Before spitting it out properly
Before spitting it out moderately and pretending to choke
I’ve been through this endless cycle.

And the moment Kang Yi-chae’s hand hit the floor,

As colorful fireworks exploded, the view was obscured, and when the stage was illuminated again, everything had disappeared.
Brilliant fireworks exploded, obscuring the view, and when the stage cleared again, everyone had vanished without a trace.

“……and.”

The High Five members let out a long breath that had stopped for a moment.

“What…did I just see?”
“What did I just… see?”
“What are they expecting us to do??”

After the lecture, he looked at his members buzzing around with excitement and a little nervousness after seeing a great performance, and rubbed his forehead.

“ha…….”

Other groups and their own performances followed one after another, but after the lecture, I thought about The Dawn in my head.
As other groups and their own performance took turns, Kang Yeon-hu kept churning over The Dun’s performance in his mind the entire time.

Pow!

“Congratulations, TEW is first place!”

High Five took second place.

‘There’s a lot of change this time.’

TEW’s performance may have been better than expected, but I didn’t expect it to win first place.

“The Dun—.”

and.

“——Fifth place!”

They were not the only group with large fluctuations.

“Ahaha. Good job!”
“Haha. Good work!”

After the rankings were revealed and the other members of The Dawn surrounded and patted Jeong Da-jun, who had a pale complexion, after the lecture, he came down to the waiting room with the High Five members.
After watching Jung Da-jun’s face drain of color as the rankings were revealed, with the other members of The Dun gathering around to comfort him, Kang Yeon-hu made his way down to the waiting room with the High Five members.

“I’m a little disappointed with second place.”
“Second place is a bit disappointing, though.”
“The Dun performed so incredibly well, yet they placed last… Did they make a mistake?”
“Even so, they had the highest expert score.”

Lecture Hu, who had remained silent until then, lowered his gaze.

‘Expert ratings are deservedly high.’

Today, except for the mistakes, everyone saw that they were in first place.
Aside from that mistake, anyone with eyes could see they should have been first.

“…It’s difficult.”

After the lecture, I washed my face and sighed.
Kang Yeon-hu rinsed his face with his hands and let out a sigh.
The Dun’s skill ran deeper than what appeared on the surface.

‘It felt like a black call.’

After the lecture, I smiled bitterly, feeling like I had learned something I didn’t really want to know.

***

“Oh, shit.”

‘5th place, are you kidding me??’

Since my ranking was pretty good in the first contest, I expected some checks, but it was worse than I expected.
He’d anticipated some targeting given the decent ranking from the first round, but it was far worse than expected.
Following the face-to-face meeting, when The Dun received a high ranking in the first round, it seemed the fandom had internally discussed voting strategies in response to the alert.
Feeling suffocated, he returned to the waiting room and gulped down water.

“Do you want to go back and eat ramen?”
“Want to grab ramen when we get back?”

Even Kim Seong-hyun, who had been restricting various things, saying that idols should watch what they eat, nodded and said that he could be released today.
Even Kim Sung-hyun, who usually restricted what Idols could eat for management purposes, nodded in agreement that today we could let loose.

“That’s right, Jeong Da-jun. Take your wallet—….”

But I couldn’t finish it.

This is because Jeong Da-jun was shedding tears like chicken shit.
Jung Da-jun was shedding tears like drops of rain.

“Wow~.”

Sung Ji-won smiled awkwardly and quickly hugged Jeong Da-jun.

“Why are you crying, Dajun? Huh?”
“Why are you crying, Da-jun? Huh?”

Even though I tried to stop crying, all I had been holding in burst out, so I whined for a while longer.
Even as he tried to stop crying, everything he’d been holding back burst out, and he continued sobbing for a while longer.

“It was my mistake. I’m sorry….”
“It’s my mistake. I’m sorry….”
“Huh?”

I’m talking about the time I got so embarrassed that I couldn’t turn the cart and missed a line.

“The hyungs did a great job, making no mistakes and heaving like crazy. As expected, I held back.”

‘As expected?’

As I listened to Jeong Da-jun’s crying words, one word hit my nerves.

“I promised myself not to do it, but I made a mistake….”
“I promised myself I wouldn’t, but I made a mistake….”

Even while Kang Yi-chae was telling jokes to lighten the mood, my head was busy spinning.

“Ah! Lee Chae, pick up the wrap.”
“Oh! Yi-chae, drop the rap.”
“What’s a rap? Is it something to eat? And that eldest hyung lacks character.”
“Seo Ho-yoon can’t really argue with that.”

I was convinced by Jeong Da-jun’s last words.

“If you make a mistake, it’s a nuisance….”

When everyone was speechless for a moment, I touched my mouth for a moment.

‘I see.’

“Jeong Da-jun.”

I took a step closer to Jeong Da-jun and rubbed the corners of his eyes to wipe away the tears that had formed.

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

Dajun Jeong will grow further in the future.

“The mistake you made today is just one of many mistakes.”

Looking back later, something like this will end up as just one full episode on the show.
When we look back on this later, it will be nothing more than a single episode in the broadcast.

‘So what’s the problem?’

I smiled softly.

“It’s no big deal.”
“It’s nothing.”
“….”

Jeong Da-jun sniffled and then slowly nodded.

“…yes.”
“…Yes.”
“Why did you hold it in and cry now?”

When Kim Seong-hyeon asked Jeong Da-jun while stroking his head, vague answers came out intermittently. It was hard to understand because I kept crying.
Kim Sung-hyun ruffled Jung Da-jun’s hair as he asked, and fragmented answers came back between sobs. It was hard to understand him after crying so much.
Kang Yi-chae poked Jung Da-jun’s cheeks from the side, spouting nonsense about how he was too delicate to even turn a wheel, while Sung Ji-won gently stroked his back the whole time.
We barely managed to calm him down and get him into the van, but the youngest started crying again as soon as he took a sip of water.

“Dajun, you worked hard and did well.”
“Da-jun, you did great. You worked hard.”
“…Yes.”
“It’s okay to cry a lot. I’ll stay by your side until you’re ready to stop.”

While listening to their conversation and fastening my seatbelt, I made eye contact with Kang Yi-chae, who had a strange expression on her face.
As I listened to their conversation and fastened my seatbelt, my eyes met Kang Yi-chae’s, whose expression was peculiar.
Jung Da-jun’s mental state had suddenly collapsed like this, and he’d used words he would never normally use, along with behavior that seemed off lately.

“Good job.”

Jeong Dajun.

“Ahaha, you did a good job too, brother.”

What kind of bastard did that?

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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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