The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 161

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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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161

When the first preview video dropped and not long after the Second Round Competition concluded, the Noeul fandom was at peace.
Every day felt like a celebration, thanks to the stunning Easy Tempo performance The Dun had delivered in the First Round Competition.

[Kim Seong-hyun ㅠㅠ He is so so so handsome and cute that I want to put him in my mouth;;;;;;;;;;;;;

└Just reported this
Please wait a moment.

[Sung Ji-won I seriously can’t believe he trained for 7 years with that enchanting face. If I were a CEO, the moment Sung Ji-won appeared I’d be screaming “Oh my god, oh my god” and debut him on the spot

└Sung Ji-won’s mole really… I’m losing it]

Just as Seo Ho-yoon had predicted, hardly anyone was pairing him with Lia Purple.
Moreover, in this preview video that compiled all the highlights, The Dun had claimed the spotlight.
Specifically, Seo Ho-yoon’s ribbon scene.
With slightly furrowed brows and a languid gaze, as Seo Ho-yoon slowly pulled the ribbon tied around his neck to untie it, he was absolutely lethal. Everyone watching froze in their tracks.

[Seo Ho-yoon: Yeah~ I’ll kill you
Noeul: Yeah~ I’ll die for you]

Ahahahaha, so you want to get all messy and tangled up with me, huh? See you in the Courthouse, you bastard. You’re gonna regret this.

Once it spread from YouTube to various communities and SNS, the posts began flooding in at an incredible pace.

[Dear God… Thank you for sending me this face genius, main talent genius idol rabbit. I feel rewarded for living righteously]
[Seriously these guys live with such fierce intensity…]
[They’re out for blood.. Now I understand why they placed second…]

A stage they could suffer from for the next decade, and a ranking that wasn’t bad either.
The Noeul fans, knowing they had placed dead last in the pre-broadcast final ranking predictions, were already grinning with satisfaction at the First Round Competition results that had spread far and wide.
But happiness never lasts long.

[Yo Second Round Competition spoilers incoming]

A spoiler for the Second Round Competition had surfaced.

[The Dun in 5th place?!?!?!???]

Everyone was taken aback.

[What?! How is 5th place even possible? They placed 2nd in the first round—can they really plummet to 5th?]
[They were ranked 1st by expert votes, so how did they end up 5th?]

After synthesizing all the scattered reviews and discussions circulating online, I arrived at a single conclusion.

[It’s a strategic vote.]

In that instant, frustration surged through me.

“Fuck, are we screwed?”
[ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋAre they really crazy people? I rolled my head so hard ㅗ]
[I’m so disillusioned…]

While speculation about the rankings and spoilers swirled, a roughly 30-second fancam of The Dun’s Second Round Competition stage—shot secretly with part of the screen obscured—leaked online, reigniting the Noeul fandom’s fury.

[ㅠㅠㅠㅠWhat should I do when Dajun is so embarrassed ㅠㅠㅠbreak the fucking wheel]
[Whoever made that thing so heavy, come out…]
[Wow ㅠㅠ But you still held on well mentally until the end ㅠㅠㅠ]

Of course, not everyone was heartbroken and sorrowful. The toxic antis that plagued every fandom like a chronic disease weren’t about to let such a golden opportunity slip away.
Already on edge from the 5th place ranking, the Noeul fandom’s malcontents seized the moment to grossly exaggerate and nitpick Da-jun’s mistake.

[Damn it, he just threw away an entire verse]
“Isn’t it actually because of Jung Da-jun that we’re in 5th place? Our mistakes are visible to us, so imagine how obvious they must be to the audience lolol”
[Dajun, shit~~ㅠㅠ I told you to practice a little bitㅠ]

Da-jun’s mistake certainly had some impact, but it wasn’t the deciding factor. Yet a vocal minority clung to it obsessively.
The strategic voting issue from the Second Round deepened the divisions and scheming within the fandom.
Then, before long, the next filming day arrived.
The Third Round Competition—the Unit Competition.
Normally, it would have proceeded in a warm atmosphere.

“Doesn’t the mood feel particularly tense today?”

The atmosphere was incredibly tense, like walking on thin ice.
No one dared speak openly; everyone whispered cautiously among themselves.
One of the Staff Members muttered while observing the mood on set.

“This is genuinely terrifying.”

The participating groups had greeted each other with smiles earlier, but now the silence was so complete that you could hear an ant crawling across the floor.
TEW, who had claimed first place in the Second Round Competition, maintained an air of smug confidence throughout, while High Five remained expressionless, and the remaining groups seemed to be merely reading the room.
Apparently, each group had received briefings about the overall situation through their respective companies, creating an atmosphere as sharp as a cutting wind.

“A survival program should feel warm and fuzzy, shouldn’t it?”

At this rate, the viewership ratings were guaranteed to be solid.
She hadn’t misspoken either.
Yet Kim Hee-young’s mind remained unsettled.

‘Are they holding up mentally?’

While issuing instructions to the surrounding Staff Members, Kim Hee-young’s gaze drifted toward The Dun’s designated seating area.
Seo Ho-yoon didn’t seem bothered at all. He struck me as the type who would respond with an indifferent “I see” even if the entire world condemned him.
As her eyes swept across the room, one person caught her attention—someone in poor spirits. The Dun’s youngest member.

‘Well, if he saw the internet reactions, there’s no way he could be in his right mind now….’

She also noticed the TEW Members sitting right beside him whispering while looking at Jung Da-jun.
She didn’t know the specifics, but she could sense something was off.
Watching that shot on the monitoring screen, Kim Hee-young brushed her bangs back.

‘What’s this? Did they fight? I can’t air this as-is.’

But there was no time to deliberate further.
The filming began shortly after.
To the sound of applause, MC Ha Seo-yeon took the stage.

“Thank you for your efforts in the Second Round Competition.”

Ha Seo-yeon deftly gathered some comments about their impressions, then moved on to introducing the Third Round Competition.

“The Third Round Competition consists of a Vocal Unit and a Performance Unit.”

Kim Hee-young had watched Ha Seo-yeon’s commentary so many times that she could recite it word-for-word without even listening.
This competition was divided into two major categories.
Performance Unit and Vocal Unit.
The Performance Unit had one representative from each group competing in individual matches.
The Vocal Unit operated differently—each group selected one member, forming a total of five people per team to create Team A and Team B.
Votes were allocated to each individual, generating scores, and the team with the highest combined score from its members won. The winning team received bonus points.
Additionally, within the winning team, the person who received the lowest individual votes had to transfer their earned points from this unit competition to the top individual scorer from the losing team.
In essence, it was a battle of strategy, with team and individual competition intensified to an extreme degree—a devilish format that demanded unwavering focus.

‘That’s why the approach changes depending on who your teammates are.’

Regardless, there were essential members who had to be secured for the team to win.

‘I absolutely have to bring Sung Ji-won.’

In competition, the safe middle ground was the one that always survived.

“First, the Vocal Unit. TEW, who placed first last time, and High Five, who placed second, will serve as Team Leaders for Groups A and B respectively, selecting their team members. Team selection begins with TEW’s first pick, followed by High Five, alternating one at a time. TEW, please come forward.”

TEW’s members huddled together, heads bowed in brief discussion, before the TEW Main Vocalist rose with a gentle smile.
Ha Seo-yeon posed a question to the TEW Main Vocalist standing before the pre-installed stand microphone.

“Team Leader Jung Won-ha, you may select the person you most prefer. Do you have a member in mind?”
“Ah, yes, of course!”

The TEW Main Vocalist, whose face still appeared youthful despite accumulated experience, displayed a practiced smile honed by years in the entertainment industry.

“I do have someone in mind!”

He’d either choose Sung Ji-won from The Dun or the High Five Main Vocalist.
Considering the risk of losing him, he might pick Sung Ji-won first.

“Oh, I see. So, who is this lucky person?”
“I choose—!”

Jung Won-ha’s gaze turned slowly toward The Dun.

‘It must be Sung Ji-won after all.’

“The Dun’s——!”

Kim Hee-young, anticipating a predictable scene with nothing particularly entertaining about it, was about to turn away when,

“I’ll choose Seo Ho-yoon!”
“…?!”

An upset had occurred.
The cameras captured everyone’s shocked expressions perfectly.
Even Ha Seo-yeon, who had remained composed throughout, showed a hint of bewilderment, yet Seo Ho-yoon alone rose from his seat with unhurried composure.
He walked steadily forward without sparing a glance at Jung Da-jun, whose eyes trembled as he stared at him, and approached Jung Won-ha, whose face was flushed with excitement.

“You really picked me right away?”
“Come on, that’d be lame~.”

‘…When did he ever say that was lame?’

The two exchanged words in hushed whispers.
TEW had clearly conveyed a subtle nuance while looking at Jung Da-jun. If the cameras caught it and it entered his field of vision, there was no way Seo Ho-yoon hadn’t noticed.
Yet Jung Won-ha now treated Seo Ho-yoon like a trusted older brother.
Seo Ho-yoon accepted it as though it were only natural.

“Then next, High Five, please step forward.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Kang Yeon-hu, not High Five’s main vocalist, stepped forward.

“Kang Yeon-hu. Will you choose a teammate from Group B?”
“I’ll… choose Sung Ji-won.”

Kang Yeon-hu had selected Sung Ji-won for a guaranteed victory.
After that, Jung Won-ha pointed to Try’s main vocalist, and Kang Yeon-hu’s turn came around again.
Kang Yeon-hu, who had been carefully observing all the idols, smiled brightly and said,

“I’ll pick Joo Hyung-jin from TEW.”

An idol whose name frequently surfaced on various communities, YouTube, and SNS with debates about his abilities.

“…!”

It could easily become a disaster depending on which members were selected, and while everyone stirred nervously without knowing the criteria, Kim Hee-young’s lips curved upward.

‘A direct hit.’

Things were unfolding in an entertaining direction.
The High Five Leader proved sharper than expected, and she’d grasped the rules immediately.

“Well then, Team A and Team B are now complete.”

Kim Hee-young surveyed the ten vocalists evenly selected from each group.
Team A, which included Seo Ho-yoon, Jung Won-ha, and High Five’s Main Vocalist, was formidable in its own right, but it couldn’t compare to Team B, which had Sung Ji-won and Kang Yeon-hu.
If she excluded Seo Ho-yoon, Jung Won-ha’s selection criteria wouldn’t be entirely incomprehensible.

“Do your best, Jung Won-ha.”
“We’re definitely going to win~!”

‘…Why on earth did he pick Seo Ho-yoon first?’

With the vocal unit team composition finished, it was now time for the performance units to be selected from each group.
Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun from The Dun seemed to have been discussing something for quite a while—.

“The Dun performance unit.”

An unexpected situation unfolded as Kim Sung-hyun pushed forward the dispirited Jung Da-jun.

“Jung Da-jun will be participating.”
“…??”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward The Dun, as they’d naturally assumed Kim Sung-hyun would be the one selected.

“Jung Da-jun?”
“Wow, I thought it’d be Sung-hyun….”

But soon enough, everyone’s expressions relaxed with relief.
Kim Sung-hyun, who’d been quite famous in the dance scene since high school and was the biggest beneficiary of Shining Star Season 1, wasn’t participating.
And the one selected instead was Jung Da-jun, considered The Dun’s weakest link.
For the other groups, this was nothing but an advantage—certainly no disadvantage.

“…Wow, look at those relieved faces from the cast. This is going to seriously bruise some egos.”

The Assistant Director next to him whispered quietly, just loud enough for Kim Hee-young to hear.
True to his words, Jung Da-jun bit his lower lip firmly for a moment, then stepped forward and lined up alongside the Performance Unit.

“Jung Da-jun, coming out. I’ll be selecting ‘Ride with you.'”
“Yes, thank you!”

Seo Ho-yoon, who had been smiling at Jung Won-ha’s whisper, kept his gaze fixed on his team’s youngest member.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

Just then, as Seo Ho-yoon turned his head, their eyes met.

“….”

Seeing Kim Hee-young flinch slightly, Seo Ho-yoon playfully widened his eyes.
Kim Hee-young understood upon seeing him.

‘Of course he knew all along.’

I couldn’t tell anymore whether I was filming an idol survival show or a palace intrigue drama dressed up in modern clothing.

‘Fine… do as you please.’

It would be nice if he made it entertaining at least.
After all, I knew well that trying to predict the thought process of a madman was futile.

***

“Ho-yoon, so we’re starting practice this afternoon?”
“That’s right.”
“Should we create a group chat?”

The camera’s red light went dark, and I gave a half-hearted response to the excited TEW Main Vocalist when a piercing gaze fixed upon me. Looking up, Kang Yeon-hu from Group B smiled habitually.

“Work hard.”

I nodded and gathered my members to head back to the dormitory.
Sung Ji-won couldn’t have missed this subtle atmosphere, and deliberately struck up a conversation with Jung Da-jun.

“Da-jun, are you heading to practice?”
“Oh, yes. …With Hyun-sung hyung.”

Ever since the Second Round Competition, Da-jun’s words had noticeably dwindled. He no longer ran around or joked. He was simply too busy reading the room around his older members.
As I dragged my exhausted body onto the sofa, Da-jun approached hesitantly and fidgeted.

“Um, hyung….”
“What?”
“That… it’s nothing.”

He wiggled his fingers as if he had something to say, then shook his head and abruptly stood up, rushing out toward the Practice Room.

“We’ll go with you. To keep an eye on Da-jun.”

Except for Yi-chae, who went into his bedroom saying he’d catch up later after grabbing something, Ji-won and Kim Sung-hyun followed Da-jun toward the Practice Room.
I chuckled quietly, watching the closed entrance door.

“He’s grown a bit, hasn’t he?”

I’d expected him to whine about it, but after being gloomy for several days, Da-jun seemed to have learned how to compose himself in his own way.
I was about to check the Item Shop when the System Window suddenly appeared.

[Seo Ho-yoon.]
[Over the past few days, I watched with admiration as you skillfully brought the TEW Main Vocalist completely over to your side.]

“….”

[Why???]
[Why did you join Jung Won-ha’s team? It’s practically as if you volunteered??]

Too annoyed to respond, I tried to ignore it.

Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
—…!

The alarms kept ringing incessantly.

“Ugh, my ears are killing me.”

[What do you mean why??? What’s in it for you?]

What do you mean there’s no benefit?
I never move without compensation.
It was Kim Hee-young, as expected. By the time the Third Round came around, she wanted to add some spice to things.
Thanks to her, a scenario dropped right before my eyes where I could secure the narrative and rack up generous points.
Specifically,

‘Sung Ji-won and I each taking first place in our respective teams.’

In this competition, whether we won or lost, securing first place meant no losses.
Even if our team lost, if we placed first individually, we could claim the points of the winning team’s last-place member.
And I’d known about this from before the competition even started.

“Hey! Did you know about that??”

The day before filming, through a call from Jung Won-ha.
To be honest, my connection with TEW’s Main Vocalist Jung Won-ha was something I’d cultivated lightly just to lay groundwork. I hadn’t expected him to call me so casually.

“Our members have been thinking about it this way.”

Whether he’d obtained advance information through the power of a Major Entertainment Agency or not, Jung Won-ha explained the format of the Third Round and suggested we form a team together.
His plan was simple: TEW’s scores hadn’t been bad so far, and whether we won or lost, one member would end up in each team anyway and receive points, so we just shouldn’t place last.

“So let’s form a team together!”
“Are you really sure about this?”

The TEW members thought I was the biggest star of the first round. Excluding our competitor High Five, there weren’t many people with decent recognition on Shining Star, so it was a reasonable choice.
What was kind of funny, though.

“Yes! You’re quite a capable person, hyung!”

Jung Won-ha had trusted me far too easily.
Without knowing what I was actually thinking.
Well, I could let that slide—.

‘Kang Yeon-hu is the problem.’

—The fact that Kang Yeon-hu was thinking exactly the same thing as me was incredibly irritating.
Seeing how he’d selected the member from TEW who took the most flak, his intentions were crystal clear.
It seemed he’d assembled his team that way to make up for finishing second to TEW in the last competition, and he still had the confidence to win.

‘Well, as long as I perform well, that’s all that matters.’

Sung Ji-won had nothing to worry about. The real issue was me—I had to overwhelm Team A with pure skill.

“Hey, show me.”

I unwrapped a candy from the table and rolled it around in my mouth. The System Window displayed itself with a screen full of noise, as if grumbling.
With most of the slots still empty, the few items that had appeared weren’t particularly impressive either.
But then, one item highlighted with a glittering marker suddenly caught my eye.

‘That’ll do.’

It was a self-improvement item I could use perfectly, but there was one thing that bothered me.

[※Warning: Using this item may cause nausea, gastritis, body aches, and other status abnormalities.]

“…Hmm.”

Because there was this thug-looking bastard in our group who was obsessively fixated on the members’ health issues.
I kept rereading the description and fell silent for a while, when Kang Yi-chae came out of the bedroom, plugging earbuds into his ears.

“Brother, I’m heading out too~. Going to cheer up Da-jun, who’s been down because of our eldest brother~.”
“….”

Kang Yi-chae hummed a little tune and spoke playfully, but when he caught sight of my expression, his eyes narrowed.

“Hm?”
“….”
“Why are you reading the room?”

Seriously.

“…When did I?”

If I write this, will you kill me?

—————
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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