The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 166

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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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166

The day of the Final Competition announcement was fast approaching.
While we prepared for the Cross Unit, Kang Yi-chae had been locked away working on compositions, already having several candidate songs ready for the finals.

“…Phew, it’s here.”

The Dun, which had received zero votes in the final predicted rankings during the first filming and finished last, was now the strongest championship contender of all.
In fact, based on the total scores received so far, we were in second place, right on the heels of High Five.
Sharp gazes pierced toward us amid the subdued atmosphere compared to the beginning.
Before long, all the contestants gathered, and the lights dimmed.

“Wow!”

People murmured in surprise as a VCR video played, showing a brief compilation of all the competitions held so far.
The Dun was the fourth one featured.

[THE DAWN]

From the first meeting, through “Say You Love Me” sung by Sung Ji-won and me, Kang Yi-chae’s original rap, and Lia Purple’s “Easy Tempo,” the hip-hop with Eastern influences “Phantom Samsara,” to the “Ride with You” Performance Unit where Jung Da-jun shined once again.
I noticed Kim Sung-hyun’s lips curving into a subtle smile as he watched the screen intently beside me.

[We will now begin the announcement regarding the Shining Star Season 2 Final Competition.]

As the VCR video ended, MC Ha Seo-yeon appeared with a mechanical voice announcement.

“Hello, did you enjoy the video?”
“Yes~!”

Setting the results aside, all the groups had witnessed the efforts they’d made, so the atmosphere became slightly more relaxed.

“The evaluation method remains the same as the competitions so far. However.”

As Ha Seo-yeon snapped her fingers, a massive Live Hall and stage unfolded on the screen.

“The key difference is that it’s conducted through live broadcast rather than on-site voting. Additionally, the final score is calculated by combining the audio track score released a week prior with the live broadcast voting score.”

Live voting.
It was the very thing gnawing at my mind most intensely right now.
Having experienced Season 1, I knew the broadcast well, but Kim Hee-young, being fair-minded by nature, wouldn’t edit things in favor of The Dun alone. Even if viewership ratings were at stake, it was obvious she wouldn’t go easy on us.

‘Hmm.’

I recalled the various conditions and circumstances I’d already mulled over countless times.
Verse and Try. They weren’t bad, but they failed to stand out, ultimately remaining in the lower rankings throughout, separate from their initial strong performance. TEW was ambiguous, but not something I worried about greatly.
In the end, only High Five remained as a concern.

‘Hmm.’

Honestly, I felt somewhat anxious.
With on-site voting, I had at least some sense of it. Except for when we placed last, the results roughly matched my expectations.
However, live voting had large variables, and to begin with, The Dun was struggling to compete with High Five’s recognition.
If the song was good, there was a chance of drawing responses from the general public, but with an ordinary narrative, it was difficult to secure their votes.
Lost in thought while rubbing my chin,

[Hello! I’m Han Chae-ri!]

“Wahhh!”

Perhaps wanting to extract more editing time for the finals, mentor video messages were shown.
Unlike Joo Woo-sung, who was frequently edited out for being biased, Han Chae-ri had truly watched everyone fairly and diligently.

[I’m nervous too, but the effort you’ve put in so far will never betray you. Fight until the very end!]

“She’s truly angelic!”
“During practice, she was really scary, but….”

Despite her renowned fame, she wasn’t arrogant and treated all contestants equally with genuine dedication, so everyone was moved.
After Han Chae-ri, who smiled brightly and greeted everyone warmly, Joo Woo-sung appeared.

[Hello, I’m Joo Woo-sung.]

Joo Woo-sung appeared somewhat subdued.
Even Ha Seo-yeon, who was skilled at managing her expression, seemed to pause for a moment.
Joo Woo-sung slowly shared his thoughts on the competition while fidgeting with his fingers.

[With the finals approaching, I find myself thinking about many things. I’ve learned so much watching all of you competitors throughout this journey.]

“….”

[There’s much I’d like to say, but as we stand before the finals, there’s only one thing I can offer.]

Joo Woo-sung, who had seemed to hesitate for a moment, looked directly at the camera.

[I hope you’ll give your absolute best. Without leaving any regrets behind.]

At Joo Woo-sung’s unusual demeanor, everyone wore enchanted expressions despite gaining little practical advice.
Among them, I alone seemed adrift. My nerves were razor-sharp, consumed by the singular question of how to claim first place.

“….”

As I lifted my head, my eyes met those of Kang Yeon-hu, who was watching me.
He smiled faintly—as if already displaying the composure of a victor.

With the mentor’s video concluded, Ha Seo-yeon’s expression transformed completely.

“But it’s not just the mentors. For this final competition, our Production Staff has specially arranged a special guest. They’ll be here to help you achieve your best results.”

Who on earth are they bringing out now?

“Let us welcome our special guest!”

I turned my gaze toward the entrance with indifference.
Since Joo Woo-sung was the mentor, it wouldn’t be Black Call—at best, I figured it might be Yoo Ji-a, the Season 1 MC.
However,

“The Midas Touch! K-pop’s heartbeat responds!”

Brilliant, multicolored lights converged toward the entrance.

“—Blue Tiger’s Composer, Lim Hyun-sung!”

Why is someone who’s supposed to be in the United States here?

“Wooooow!!”
“…Cough.”

I heard a coughing sound from Kang Yi-chae, who was sitting in the back, apparently startled.
Gone was the dejected expression I’d seen last time—Lim Hyun-sung strode in with absolute confidence, sweeping her hair back with a flourish.

“This, this.”

Then, lowering her angular black sunglasses slightly, she winked at the camera.

“Quite the familiar face, isn’t it?”

Still not satisfied, she turned to me and struck a gun-shooting pose with a bang.

‘Good grief, this person….’

I desperately hoped this scene wouldn’t make it to broadcast.

.
.
.

“Seo Ho-yoon~!”

It wasn’t even a major shoot today, but I was already exhausted for no reason. Just as I was about to head to the van, I saw a text and reluctantly dragged myself to the Smoking Room.

“Long time no see?”

There was Lim Hyun-sung, taking a deep drag on a cigarette before exhaling white smoke.

“Looks like you still haven’t quit smoking.”
“The fact that you’re so damn smug tells me you’re still holding on.”
“Obviously.”

Lim Hyun-sung clicked her tongue regretfully, then suddenly leaned her face close and examined me from different angles.

“Wow, look at this guy’s bright face. Have you been eating well and living comfortably?”
“Well, I have to eat well at least. Composer, your skin looks a bit tanned though?”
“Yeah, while you were rotting away doing a survival show in Korea.”

Didn’t you just say my face looked good?
Setting aside the nonsense, I stepped back from the encroaching cigarette smoke, and Lim Hyun-sung let out a subtle laugh.

“Ho-yoon, I’ve come to realize a fundamental truth of life once again.”
“What is it?”

I wasn’t curious at all, but my face was practically screaming “Please ask me quickly,” so I decided to humor them.
Then Lim Hyun-sung laughed with satisfaction.

“When things are hard, what do you do?”
“I don’t know.”
“You cure it with money and love.”
“….”

Then Lim Hyun-sung pushed up the sunglasses that had slipped down.

“This Chung Beom spent a fabulous and fun vacation in California. Spent a lot of money, drank some cocktails, and other things….”
“Ugh. Stop!”
“…Anyway, that’s why, man―, the stress just flew away. I really do like people with that healthy glow.”

What’s so special about California anyway?
Does money spring up from the ground there?
I glared at Lim Hyun-sung with displeasure.

“Why are you bothering someone who’s just minding their own business?”
“Why are you reacting like that? Don’t you want to hear how hot my time in California was??”
“Take that kind of talk to Joo Woo-sung—that’s more his specialty.”

But there was no stopping Lim Hyun-sung’s mouth.
They rattled on about how amazing their vacation had been with such cool people, and I was busy trying to tune it all out.

“If you’re just going to say pointless things, I’m leaving. I’m busy.”
“Hey, wait. I have something to tell you.”

Lim Hyun-sung, who had been giggling, grabbed me and tapped off some ash, then sucked on the cigarette filter until the tip glowed red.

“Have you seen Kang Yi-chae?”
“The Manager called him, so he went back to the van first. Why?”
“That’s cold. He just said hello and left.”

‘Does he really not know why I only greeted him?’

It was Kang Yi-chae’s own way of being considerate toward Lim Hyun-sung.
Being quick to pick up on things, he read the subtle moods of the people he cared about with keen sensitivity. That’s why he deliberately avoided her first, worried that Lim Hyun-sung might still be uncomfortable around him.

“…Kang Yi-chae, what a sweet kid.”

Lim Hyun-sung seemed to understand the situation well enough, uttering something ambiguous. Then she tilted her head as if pondering for a moment before picking up her phone.

“Seo Ho-yoon, go tell our Yi-chae something for me.”

Since when is he ‘our’ Yi-chae?
As I raised my eyebrow, Lim Hyun-sung smiled confidently, lifting the corners of her mouth.

“I just sent him a song. Tell him to check it out.”
“…That’s not weird, is it?”
“Hardly.”

Even as I narrowed my eyes to look at her, Lim Hyun-sung only smiled faintly, offering no answer to my concern.

“…Well, I’ll pass it along to Kang Yi-chae. But didn’t you forget something?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re a special guest, aren’t you?”

Lim Hyun-sung, you must have a reason for coming all the way here.

“What advice do you have for the performers?”

Lim Hyun-sung smirked and tapped my arm.

“Don’t lose your pride, and take first place.”
“Goodness.”

I laughed lightly and left Lim Hyun-sung behind, heading back.
Since she’d made the effort to show her face after so long, I thought she deserved a song as a gift, but—

‘Anyway, it’s a relief to see he looks healthy.’

Joo Woo-sung had been right about that, whenever it was.
Lim Hyun-sung really did look better with a bit of that self-absorbed confidence.

“Hey, you’re back~?”

As I returned to the van, Kang Yi-chae was in the middle of teasing today’s targets—Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun.
Even as he did, his eyes kept glancing at me, clearly curious about what Lim Hyun-sung and I had talked about.

“Kang Yi-chae.”
“Hm?”

I sat beside him and pulled the blanket over myself.

“The Composer said to check your messages.”
“…Oh, really?”

After relaying what I’d been told, I closed my eyes.
It was just a song anyway, and I figured there wouldn’t be any major issues.
But that assumption proved wrong.

“…Huh?”

Kang Yi-chae’s eyes furrowed deeply as he checked his messages in the van.

***

“Where’s Kang Yi-chae?”
“Huh? Isn’t he in the bedroom?”
“I checked just now—he’s not there.”
“That’s weird? I saw him going in earlier.”

But that day.
Kang Yi-chae was unusually quiet—far too quiet.
I was too caught up in my own thoughts to notice at first, but something felt distinctly off. Kang Yi-chae wasn’t pestering me the way he usually did.
I led the way into the bedroom I shared with Kang Yi-chae as roommates. Sung Ji-won tilted his head in confusion as he glanced around the empty space beside me.

“Look, he’s not here.”
“…Huh?”

While we were both puzzled, Jung Da-jun came rushing over from the kitchen, muttering as he pulled out ice cream.

“What? What’s wrong?”
“Kang Yi-chae is missing.”
“Isn’t he out exercising?”

Kim Sung-hyun emerged from the bathroom, toweling his hair dry as he spoke. He was about to sit down in the chair where Kang Yi-chae usually sat when something stirred.

“I should probably call him… AHHHHH!!”

Something moved.

“WAHHHHH!”
“AHHHHHHH!”

The cowardly Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun shrieked and scrambled backward toward the door. Sung Ji-won and I were shoved back along with them.

“…”

Spin, spin, spin…

As the chair rotated, Kang Yi-chae’s face slowly emerged from what we’d thought was just a bundle of blankets on the bed.

‘…Is this a horror movie?’

Kim Sung-hyun, clutching his racing heart, asked in alarm.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey… Why are you doing this without making a sound?!”
“B-brother, brother!! I seriously thought you were a ghost.”

Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun, stammering like a broken record, trembled and clung tightly to each other.
I pushed past them both and strode toward Kang Yi-chae’s bed.

“You were here? Then why didn’t you answer?”
“…”
“Kang Yi-chae?”

I called out again, but there was only silence. Something felt distinctly off.
Even when I tapped his cheek lightly, he remained unresponsive and said nothing.

“…What’s wrong?”
“…”
“…Well, let’s go eat first.”

I suppose everyone needs some time alone sometimes.
Just as I shrugged my shoulders and was about to leave with the other members,

“…Waaahhhhh!”

Kang Yi-chae grabbed my collar and burst into tears.

“…??”
“I’m… I’m so worried about myself…!”

I quickly cupped Kang Yi-chae’s face with both hands to check, but there wasn’t a single tear. His skin was perfectly dry and fluffy, each fine hair seemingly alive and quivering.

‘This bastard…’

“I’m so worried about myself I’m going crazy!!!”

Right in front of my deteriorating expression, Kang Yi-chae flopped dramatically onto the bed and produced a obviously fake crying sound while throwing a fit.

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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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