The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 162

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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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162

“Yeon-hu, good luck with the Vocal Unit practice!”
“Wow! You’re going with Sung Ji-won?? That’s so cool!! Tell him I’m a fan!”
“Haha, I will.”

Within High Five, Kang Yeon-hu had always been composed and dependable, earning the respect of his members and excelling at coordinating with the company. He naturally became the group’s leader.
Yet that hadn’t always been the case.
Kang Yeon-hu’s composed nature had been forged through years of trainee life at a major entertainment company, chiseled and refined through countless trials.
Those days had been grueling.

‘It was really tough back then….’

No matter how much WH Entertainment prided itself on prioritizing character, those who had clawed their way up through fierce competition were never simply docile.
After coming up from the provinces with nothing but dreams of becoming a singer, I witnessed countless human dramas and learned survival only after shedding my naive innocence.
Talent was the foundation, but politics was a necessary evil.

“I’ll practice once more.”
“Wow, the WH Practice Studio really is amazing….”

That’s why Kang Yeon-hu had become exceptionally skilled at reading people.

‘Sung Ji-won is a shame, really.’

“This is incredible, seriously.”
“How does he sing like that?”

I’d heard he originally came from a major agency.
Had he been in the same group as me, he could have shined even brighter, even faster.
But then Kang Yeon-hu shook his head.

‘No, it’s better that he’s with that person.’

He recalled someone in his own group—someone similar to Sung Ji-won, or perhaps even more of a madman.

“Cough, cough!”

It was Seo Ho-yoon from The Dun.
Since only one member per group could participate in the Second Round Competition, the opposing team had selected High Five’s main vocalist.
Using that as an excuse to visit WH, one of the three major entertainment agencies, everyone had gathered at WH Entertainment’s practice studio to prepare for the competition.
Since each person was assigned to a different location and the soundproofing was excellent, no one knew what the others were practicing.
Still, because we were positioned across from each other, we could occasionally run into one another in the hallway.

“…Oh, just a moment.”

After deciding to take a brief rest, Verse’s main vocalist member opened the practice room door, and Sung Ji-won, who caught sight of a figure passing through the gap, stopped drinking water and rushed out.

“Ho-yoon, are you okay?”

A pale-faced man sat on a sofa positioned along the hallway, rubbing the back of his neck with his head bowed.
Though his condition seemed poor, his harmoniously arranged features stood out distinctly even within WH Entertainment, where idols and trainees swarmed.

‘He’s got what it takes.’

Seo Ho-yoon carried many titles.
Best friend of Black Call’s Joo Woo-sung, the overwhelming victor of Shining Star Season 1, an acting idol who delivered outstanding performances in dramas.

‘In the first place, that group is a minor miracle.’

Not only Sung Ji-won, who began making a name for himself in the entertainment industry as a vocalist, but also Kim Sung-hyun, who gained recognition for dancing, and Kang Yi-chae, who received love calls from entertainment companies for songwriting and composition.
They were all from the same group.
Sung Ji-won carefully sat down beside Seo Ho-yoon.

“You were fine until just now, so why did you suddenly get sick? Want to go to the hospital?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Hmm, you really don’t look good.”

Seo Ho-yoon exhaled deeply as if swallowing a sigh, then splashed water on his face.

“Cough, don’t tell Kang Yi-chae about this.”
“Huh? Why?”
“…He seems to worry quite a bit.”
“Got it. But won’t Yi-chae find out even if I don’t say anything?”
“He’s been holed up at the company composing the finals lately, so it should be fine.”

Seo Ho-yoon coughed, wiping cold sweat from his forehead when Jung Won-ha, the TEW Main Vocalist from the practice room across the way, poked his head out.

“Hyung, are you in a lot of pain?”

From Kang Yeon-hu’s perspective, the TEW Main Vocalist clearly hadn’t harbored any positive feelings toward The Dun—at least not until just before the First Round Competition, and certainly not when facing Jung Da-jun in the Second Round.
But now, it was almost fair to call them sworn brothers.

‘…How exactly did he manage to turn this around?’

“My condition just isn’t great today… *cough*.”
“Do you want to rest for a bit?”

This peculiar dynamic made Kang Yeon-hu suspicious from the start.

‘…What is this?’

Despite how naturally Seo Ho-yoon treated him.

“No, I’m fine.”

The more harmoniously Seo Ho-yoon and Jung Won-ha got along, the more uncomfortable Kang Yeon-hu felt inside.

‘Could he really not know?’

That Jung Won-ha was the culprit who had shattered his group’s youngest member’s mental state.
Yet for Kang Yeon-hu, the image of Seo Ho-yoon pressing the close button in the elevator and smiling brightly remained vivid.
His mind knew it couldn’t be, but a small nagging doubt continued to irritate him like a persistent speck of dust.

“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Good work today~!”

As everyone left after practice ended, Kang Yeon-hu spotted Seo Ho-yoon crouching in the hallway. Sung Ji-won was nowhere to be seen.
There was no one around, they were inside WH Entertainment—his own backyard—and Seo Ho-yoon was alone.

‘Well, alright.’

After a brief moment of deliberation, Kang Yeon-hu approached him.

‘I can tell him at least this much.’

“Seo Ho-yoon.”

Dizzy, Seo Ho-yoon had buried his head in his arm, but at the sound of his name, he only lifted his eyes slightly.
Though his hair was damp with cold sweat and clung to his forehead, his gaze remained sharp and clear.

“Where’s Sung Ji-won?”
“…At the convenience store.”
“Ah, I see.”

Kang Yeon-hu crossed his arms and looked down at him. The timing was perfect.

“Can we talk for a—”

But Kang Yeon-hu couldn’t finish his question.

A retching sound escaped.

Seo Ho-yoon had suddenly gagged.
He’d been holding it together until now, but the moment his eyes met Kang Yeon-hu’s face, it became impossible to tell whether he was genuinely ill or if this was a deliberate jab—”looking at you made me feel worse.”

“Wow, I almost threw up.”
“…But, surely I’m not that bad, right??”

In fact, Seo Ho-yoon had timed it perfectly.
Kang Yeon-hu considered turning around and leaving out of spite, but replaced the impulse with a sigh instead.

“…I have something to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you close with the TEW Main Vocalist?”

Seo Ho-yoon looked at him with eyes that asked “what kind of question is that?” before turning his gaze away and pulling out his phone.

“If I am?”

Having already resolved to deliver this message, Kang Yeon-hu pushed through Seo Ho-yoon’s evasive response, running a hand through his hair as he continued.

“I saw the Main Vocalist picking a fight with your youngest member last time. He was deliberately getting under his skin.”
“….”
“Jung Da-jun’s mistake in the Second Round Competition might not have been a coincidence….”

He tapped the floor with his heel, muttering under his breath.

“So, being that friendly is a bit—.”
“I know.”

—…You know?

It took me a moment to process his response, and I stared blankly at him. Seo Ho-yoon furrowed his brow and rubbed the space between his eyebrows.
Was he saying it was fine even if TEW had broken the youngest member’s spirit by pushing him around?

“…You know?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“That’s not something you need to know.”

Kang Yeon-hu closed his mouth.
Since a fellow group member already knew, he felt it would be overstepping to pry any further.

“Is that what you came out here to say? You’re kinder than I expected.”
“…Was I being nosy?”
“A bit. Is it a company trait?”

Just as Kang Yeon-hu was about to leave—partly to get away from Seo Ho-yoon’s expression that clearly showed his displeasure—

“Kang Yeon-hu.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you come on this program?”

This time, Seo Ho-yoon was the one asking the question.

“I’ve been thinking about it. Why would High Five go out of their way to swallow their pride and appear on this program? I’ve been curious about it.”
“Did you think I’d answer if you asked?”
“It seemed like you might?”

Kang Yeon-hu rolled his eyes once.
Well, it wasn’t really something he needed to keep secret.

“We need fresh influx of people. Shining Star Season 1 already proved it, didn’t it? Not just The Dun, but the recognition of every group that appeared skyrocketed like crazy.”
“High Five is already sufficient though.”
“Come on, we need to go even higher.”
“….”

I tried to move past it, but Seo Ho-yoon stared directly at me.

‘Hmm….’

It was a gaze that pierced right through me.
Truth be told, it wasn’t just about bringing in new people.

As one of the “Big Three” entertainment agencies, WH Entertainment had always dreamed of success in the United States whenever launching a new group.
The ambition to conquer a broader market—what people called “American fever”—kept pushing Kang Yeon-hu’s group toward the edge of a cliff.
Even if a U.S. debut failed, the group wouldn’t be unable to continue activities. But the labels that would follow afterward made Kang Yeon-hu anxious.
From accusations of chasing the American Dream to being mocked as a group ignorant of their own capabilities, attempting what even Black Call wouldn’t try—I could already see those criticisms clearly.
I had expressed my opposition countless times, but to the company, I was merely one idol among many groups.
In the end, Kang Yeon-hu resigned himself and chose to adapt obediently.
Of course, we weren’t fully prepared yet.
But since I had neither reason nor the energy to explain all this in detail to Seo Ho-yoon, I chose to smile rather than answer.

“Anyway, that’s why the company pushed Joo Woo-sung senior too. To gain even a bit more recognition for us. Joo Woo-sung senior’s popularity is really huge, you know.”
“…Yes.”

Perhaps unsatisfied with my explanation, Seo Ho-yoon remained indifferent even at the mention of Joo Woo-sung’s name.
Suddenly, I recalled the first time I met Joo Woo-sung and greeted him.
Having joined the company before Joo Woo-sung, I remembered that time vividly.
Because I could understand it at a glance upon seeing him.
That all the brutal training, self-management, charm—none of those things I had poured tens of thousands of hours into were necessary.
That fresh shock was something beyond words.

“Hello.”

From the very beginning, Joo Woo-sung shone.
I thought, so this is the kind of person who becomes an entertainer.

“Honestly, it would be stranger if he weren’t popular.”
“….”
“With that face, that talent, that personality. And luck is even on his side.”

So I took a direct hit of reality shock. I think I also felt the emptiness of all the effort I’d poured in.
I was always desperate.
During my long trainee years, I couldn’t even count on one hand how many times my debut fell through.
When I failed to make Black Call’s debut lineup, I wanted to abandon everything.

‘Back then, living wasn’t really living at all.’

I watched most of my friends who trained with me pack their bags and leave dozens of times over.
My title as the ‘longest-serving trainee’ was anything but honorable.
There were plenty of people who mocked me behind my back.
In every such moment, Kang Yeon-hu clenched my teeth.
I swore that one day I would stand under those brilliant lights, receive everyone’s cheers, and sing my own song.

‘Phew.’

When Joo Woo-sung suddenly said he wanted to learn more dance and would go to the United States, no one at the company objected.

‘I envied everything about him—the way he could speak so decisively, the confidence that taking a long break was fine. I envied it to death.’

“I have a question I’d like to ask too.”
“….”
“Does Seo Ho-yoon know—or not know—why Joo Woo-sung is helping you?”

I couldn’t figure out how Joo Woo-sung got involved with an unknown group that wasn’t even part of Black Call, no matter how hard I racked my brain.
So I wanted to see for myself at Shining Star and confirm it with my own eyes.
Seo Ho-yoon, whom I met directly, was a strategist.
But that alone couldn’t have captured Joo Woo-sung’s attention.
Kang Yeon-hu tilted my head in confusion.

“It’s definitely not because Seo Ho-yoon is kinder than expected? Or more affectionate? …that doesn’t seem to be it.”
“….”
“You can tell just by looking that’s not the case, but if it were, Joo Woo-sung would have already liked us long ago.”

Seo Ho-yoon’s expression darkened, but he said nothing.

“Do you know yourself what was different?”

Seo Ho-yoon was an odd fellow.
I’d initially thought he was simply sharp-minded, but his bold moves in Shining Star Season 1, his unguarded words in the elevator, and recently even getting along well with the TEW Main Vocalist who’d been tormenting the youngest member—it all painted a puzzling picture.
He was the type difficult to read.

‘Hmm.’

Yet as Kang Yeon-hu came to know Seo Ho-yoon better, he sensed something vaguely becoming clearer.
That this man was charging forward in a straight line toward some singular goal, through all of it.
The entertainment industry was a kind of swamp.
The further you tried to walk, the deeper you sank into the mire.
Cameras constantly trailing you, evaluated by the second, ridiculed for the smallest things—such was this life.
Those who’d loved you moments ago turned their backs coldly, and those who’d sheltered you transformed overnight; the cycle repeated endlessly. How many could endure it without losing their minds?
Only the rarest few who weathered it all could bloom like lotus flowers in that swamp.

‘Though that wasn’t the end of it.’

Even then, countless flowers withered prematurely or fell to disease.

‘Joo Woo-sung nearly became one of them.’

Following that thought, Kang Yeon-hu’s eyes met Seo Ho-yoon’s.

“—I’d be curious if I were you.”

Seo Ho-yoon wasn’t the type to care about public perception.
A man who saw only the results he desired.
Perhaps that was why Joo Woo-sung was drawn to him.
To Joo Woo-sung, who’d wandered aimlessly having lost both dreams and purpose, Seo Ho-yoon may have appeared as a guiding light.

“Sigh, cough, cough….”

Seo Ho-yoon exhaled at Kang Yeon-hu’s question, then coughed for a long moment.

“Kang Yeon-hu.”

Then he slowly parted his lips.

“I’m not curious.”
“…”

Seo Ho-yoon, the ‘truth-teller’, cast ‘Vocal Suppression’.

“Seriously, what do you want me to do about it….”

Kang Yeon-hu’s words caught in his throat at the blunt retort.
Seo Ho-yoon stared at Kang Yeon-hu with eyes flushed red from rising anger, his gaze pitying.

“Do you really enjoy spouting nonsense while harassing someone who’s unwell?”
“…So your lack of manners isn’t an image—it’s your actual personality?”
“Shouldn’t you have figured that out in the elevator?”

As Seo Ho-yoon added that he was too slow to notice, Kang Yeon-hu scratched his head awkwardly.

“You’re really something else….”
“Yes.”
“Anyway, fighting spirit. I’m pretty sure our Vocal Unit will take first place.”
“Sure, whatever you say.”
“….”

Kang Yeon-hu sighed and walked away.
Still crouched down, I released the cough I’d been holding back and rubbed my brow.

“Acting like he knows everything….”

In truth, I had suppressed the urge to correct Kang Yeon-hu as he interfered.
Joo Woo-sung is human too—how could any of this be easy? I’d considered speaking up for him but decided against it.

“…What a mess.”

In the end, both he and I are equally strangers to Joo Woo-sung.
I wiped the cold sweat trickling down my temples and stood up, glancing at the System Window blinking at the edge of my vision.

[Vocal Suppression Item!
Temporarily reduces vocal ability by two ranks.
Duration: One week.
However, your stat growth accelerates 1.5 times faster than normal.
※Warning: Using this item causes status abnormalities such as nausea, gastritis, and cold-like symptoms.]
[Congratulations! You’ve achieved Vocal A+!
The Vocal Suppression Item is equipped, so ability restrictions remain in effect. Status abnormalities persist.]

[Seo Ho-yoon
What explanation is needed?
A stubborn mule who won’t listen to a word.

Singing: B- (A+)
Dancing: B+
Variety: A-
Acting: B+
???: ???
Charm: A0]

My satisfied gaze lasted only a moment.
My phone buzzed with a notification.

Kang Yi-chae: Haha

Upon seeing it, I paused for a moment.

[Kang Yi-chae: Come out]

“….”

A few days later.
The Performance and Vocal Unit stage began.

—————
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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