The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 169

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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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169

Shining Star Episode 5 aired.

Wow, Shus is seriously super popular. All my real friends are voting for them right now lol

[Me too.. my friend asked me to vote for StarStar lol wait, is this what they call ‘influx’? I’m drooling

Lol look at this stagnant loser getting all worked up

With recognizable cast members, clean editing, compelling storytelling, and high-quality performances.
Shining Star Season 2 drew far more explosive popularity than Season 1.
With only the final stage remaining, the fandoms were more intensely competitive than ever.

[I really like Seo Ho-yoonㅠㅠㅠ]
[I’m not sure why I didn’t know until now ㅠ I should have seen it too when everyone was watching Kaboo ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Fuckㅠㅠㅠ]

Of course, this didn’t apply to viewers who simply enjoyed the program with a light heart.

[Episode 5 is starting!!]

The main content focused on each group preparing for the final competition.
All five groups joked around, passionately debated ideas, and showed themselves practicing seriously.
Interviews were interspersed throughout, and Seo Ho-yoon was among them.

[Whoa Seo Ho-yoon interview]

But it passed by in a flash.
Compared to other members who filled several minutes with lighthearted jokes or those who elaborated on their backstories while expressing their desire for good results, Seo Ho-yoon’s segment lacked impact.

[I’ve seriously never heard Ho-yoon talk like that;;]
[This is insane…]

However, the Noeul fans who had been watching Seo Ho-yoon through their own produced content and various events were shocked. They knew he was someone who always hid his struggles and instead responded with calm detachment.

[Come on, Seo Ho-yoon is speaking so desperately—please just give him first place]
[Please voteㅠㅠㅠㅠ Oh pleaseㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[I’m really starting to hate other groups… ah… ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m sorry guys… ㅠㅠ!!!]

While Noeul fans were buzzing with talk about Seo Ho-yoon’s interview, one fan habitually refreshed SNS when something caught their eye.

[;;;;;;;]
[Oh]
[Damn it]
[What]

Their phone lagged as hundreds of posts appeared on the screen.
Meanwhile.

【Traffic Accident】
【Dashcam Footage】
【Ho-yoon Accident】
【The Dun Seo Ho-yoon】
【Shining Star】

At first, the term “traffic accident” climbed the real-time trends, but within moments, Seo Ho-yoon’s name began flooding the rankings.

[What is this??;;]

It all started with a single video uploaded to YouTube.
The dashcam footage showed a vehicle on the road being struck by a truck, flipping over in the collision. One side of the car was severely crushed from the impact.
A horrific and tragic, yet not uncommon traffic accident.
The real crux of the matter was the video’s title.

【Seo Ho-yoon Traffic Accident Dashcam Footage】

Everyone who saw the video refused to believe it.
And for good reason—there was no actual person visible in the footage, and aside from the title, there was no supporting evidence.

[Damn it, don’t fall for this bait. With the finale coming up, these crazy bastards are really going all out]
[We’re all reporting it now… It’s so infuriating seeing this climb YouTube’s trending list in real time… Please report every time you see this post]
[Do they really want to do this??? Damn it, these assholes will do anything for attention]

Right on cue, an article from four years ago was dredged up as well.

《[Breaking News] Collision Accident in XX City… 3 Dead/1 Injured》
At approximately 4:21 PM on December 18th, a truck collided with a sedan at the XX City OO District Intersection, resulting in a multi-vehicle accident.
One truck driver and a couple in their 40s in the sedan were killed, while one person in their 20s in the vehicle sustained injuries.
According to police officials, it appears to be drowsy driving, and they are currently investigating the circumstances of the accident….》

Because it was breaking news, the information was sparse and dry, but people cross-referenced the article with dashcam footage that had surfaced at a suspiciously convenient timing.

[Wait, what is this article??]
[Is this Seo Ho-yoon’s accident?]

As suspicion gradually took root among the public that the person in the video might actually be Seo Ho-yoon, The Dun’s fandom descended into chaos.

[He doesn’t usually wear short sleeves, but whenever he goes on stage in short sleeves or sleeveless, he cakes on concealer]
[Is that it? A scar from the accident?]
[There were eyewitness accounts of him getting scar treatment]

Even fans who tried to dismiss it as mere attention-seeking were shaken.
The peak of this controversy, which had been burning like dry kindling, came when a single photograph was uploaded.

Traffic Accident Verification Certificate

A blurry, obviously covertly taken photograph was uploaded in the early morning and deleted in less than ten minutes.
But it was enough time to screenshot.
The image spread instantly.
The date, location, and time written on the document all matched the article perfectly.

Seo Ho-yoon

Most importantly, Seo Ho-yoon’s name was written plainly in the victim column.
By then, it was already too late.
Too late for the company to respond, too late for the fandom to keep it quiet.
Entertainment articles exploded everywhere.

《[Comprehensive] The Dun’s Ho-yoon, Dashcam Footage from Traffic Accident 4 Years Ago Leaked》
《Seo Ho-yoon’s Traffic Accident, Was His Year-Long Hiatus Due to Trauma from Losing His Parents?》

A member of a currently trending idol group had actually lost his parents in a traffic accident and was the sole survivor at the scene.
The public’s attention inevitably focused on this dramatic story.
Everyone began speculating about Seo Ho-yoon’s one-year hiatus following The Dun’s debut. Some showed sympathy, while others rushed to seize upon even the smallest detail to attack him.

[The young friend went through something terrible when he was little.. My condolences to the deceased.]
[This is seriously shocking;; At that level, he must have a mental illness]
[Please just stop.. seriously stop pretending to know and stop contacting him why do you think you know anything please just leave Ho-yoon alone]
Wow lol the Agency is doing such a great job lol they’re dropping it right before the final broadcast lol
[Selling his parents to get first place, how disgusting]
[ㅠㅠ I support you. When I watched the broadcast, the tea guide seemed like a friend. Is that why he took a break for a year after debut? There are people who take medicine even after minor accidents, so it must be mental illness. ㅠ]

All manner of posts swarmed in like predators circling prey.
Articles, videos, anonymous messages.
A few hours later, it was almost inevitable that a clip of Seo Ho-yoon’s interview from the latest episode of Shining Star would hit number one on YouTube’s trending videos.

[Seo Ho-yoon Shining Star Episode 5 Interview Video Clip]

A part that had been glossed over during the live broadcast was now being scrutinized.

Q. Why do you work so hard?

At the staff member’s question, Seo Ho-yoon in front of the camera offered a serene smile.

“I have to work hard.”

And he answered matter-of-factly.

“It’s all I have left.”

That was it.
Seo Ho-yoon’s interview—the one that shook all of South Korea’s appetite for gossip—lasted only fifteen seconds.

***

Final Competition Venue.
Outside, audiences were already waiting with bated breath, while inside, rehearsals were in full swing.

‘I’m pretty exhausted.’

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept in days. I’d been that consumed by practice.
I ignored Jung Da-jun’s nervous glances, now painfully on edge, and brushed off the concerns of Sung Ji-won and Kim Sung-hyun as trivial.
Kang Yi-chae had grabbed me and said something, but I’d already forgotten it.

‘Hmm.’

Night fell, dawn broke over the horizon, morning arrived, and then the sun set again. I think I ate at some point too….

“Brother, I’m sorry.”

After practicing like that, I had fallen asleep briefly at the dormitory, and when Jung Da-jun shook me awake while crying, I found myself growing calmer instead.

“I’m really sorry….”

Kim Sung-hyun, who had prompted Jung Da-jun to speak, said with a heavy expression.

“I’ve talked to the company and we’re doing everything we can to prevent the leak.”
“…Yeah.”
“Seo Ho-yoon, are you really going on stage like this?”

I nodded.
In truth, I had organized how to proceed with the situation at the time, contacted Kim Jae-yeon afterward, and then turned my phone off completely. There were far too many unnecessary calls coming in.
However, I didn’t forget to leave a message for Seo Ho-jin beforehand in case he worried.

[Me: Seo Ho-jin]
[Me: Are you hurt?]

I only learned that Seo Ho-jin had called me right away after turning my phone back on and seeing the missed calls. There were also several messages saying he wasn’t hurt.
Because the things I was doing to myself bothered me even a speck, I found myself hesitating several times before deciding to call Seo Ho-jin later and putting the phone down.

The most fortunate thing about this situation was that Seo Ho-jin wasn’t in the car during the accident, so his identity wasn’t exposed.
Originally, Seo Ho-jin and I didn’t look particularly alike. If we were together, the similar aura we gave off would make people realize we were brothers, but when we were apart, people rarely noticed the resemblance.
My profile didn’t specifically mention any sibling relationship either, and since no one except the members knew he was my younger brother, as long as I was careful, there shouldn’t be any major problems.
And so, I had arrived at the Final Competition Venue.

‘Time really does fly.’

After finishing the final rehearsal lightly, I was drinking water in a quiet spot, avoiding the members’ worried or anxious and sharp gazes, when somehow Kim Hee-young approached me.

“Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Ah, PD.”

I reflexively smiled, but Kim Hee-young stared at me with an expressionless face.
Just as I wondered if she’d timed this when the members and staff weren’t around, Kim Hee-young glanced at her surroundings before speaking.

“It wasn’t you, was it?”
“Pardon?”
“This situation. Seo Ho-yoon didn’t do it, right?”

She came to me for an answer, visibly tense.

“Why did you ask to change the interview?”

When I called, Kim Hee-young had been editing content for Episode 5.
The moment we met, I brought up viewership ratings and made a proposal.
Wouldn’t it be better to expand Jung Da-jun’s interview segment to connect with his performance from Episode 4, rather than focusing on me with no issues to speak of?

“…Why?”

Kim Hee-young raised her eyebrows as if trying to read my hidden intentions.

“Because of Jung Da-jun.”

I spoke in as neutral a tone as possible, saying that if Jung Da-jun seemed to stand out too much, I could distribute some of my reduced interview time to other lower-ranked group members as well.
I casually added that this was merely a suggestion, and all decisions would follow PD Kim Hee-young’s judgment.

“Hmm.”

When persuading someone, you need to present your opinion and then subtly step back. You had to speak naturally, as if the other person held the advantage and the decision-making power.
Any awkwardness would invite backlash.

“…Well, I’ll think about it.”

After deliberating for a while, Kim Hee-young nodded, apparently finding it reasonably justified. Though her expression was somewhat ambiguous.
As a result, my segment was heavily edited, producing an interview that felt more desperate than I’d anticipated.
I was quite satisfied.

“…Sigh.”

But Kim Hee-young, unaware of these facts, was suspicious of me while remaining confused.
At the same time, she seemed to be asking the question while thinking it was something that made no sense unless she’d lost her mind.

“Even you, PD Kim Hee-young?”

I deliberately lowered my gaze and spoke in the most dejected voice I could muster. PD Kim Hee-young’s shoulders trembled slightly before she sighed and splashed water on her face.

“Yeah, I’ve lost my mind.”
“….”
“I’m sorry. You must be struggling right now too, Seo Ho-yoon.”

She brushed her hair back, and she looked utterly exhausted.

“…I’m also sorry about your family situation.”

All I could offer in return was a smile.
After apologizing once more, PD Kim Hee-young hurried away at the staff member’s call.
I returned to the waiting room as well.
Soon the final live performance began. Following Ber and Try’s stages, TEW’s performance came through the monitoring television.

【Burning up in this moment
Spark in your eyes】

The song and choreography themselves weren’t bad.
The subtitles inflated their prospects, calling them the likely first place, but TEW had solidified into nearly third place.
All the members stared silently at the screen, and the staff member knocked to signal it was time for us to go.

“The Dun, we’re ready for standby!!”

The staff member’s gaze brushed past me briefly.
I stood and quietly followed the members heading out ahead.
As we reached the backstage area outside the waiting room, the hot energy of the venue washed over my skin.

“Seo Ho-yoon, I’ll adjust your in-ear monitor.”
“Okay.”

Standing while the staff member attended to the final checks, my eyes met PD Kim Hee-young’s from across the distance.
She seemed to have something to say—her lips moved silently several times before she looked away first.

I kept my expression composed, simply reciting the lyrics in my mind.

“Ho-yoon.”

At that moment, Sung Ji-won called out to me.

“Think you can go up there?”

When I turned my head, Sung Ji-won’s warm gaze was fixed directly on me.
I glanced around. The various eyes that had been fixed on me quickly darted away. Most of them held a mixture of anxiety and wariness—afraid I might cause some kind of broadcast incident.

“…Sung Ji-won.”

Could I go up on that stage?
Of course I could.
Despite the exhaustion from consecutive all-nighters, my mind was sharper than it had ever been.
That’s why I was certain.

“What are you talking about?”

I could finish this performance flawlessly.

“We’re taking first place.”

When I flashed a grin, Sung Ji-won’s eyes widened slightly before a smile curved across his lips.

“—Yeah.”

Though it was clear he was forcing it.

“The Dun is entering!”

Following the staff member’s guidance, I stepped onto the blue tape.
Before Kim Sung-hyun took his position, he tapped my shoulder twice.

“Let’s go.”

I gave a small nod and stepped onto the lift.

Click.
Whirrrrr—.

The roar of the crowd grew closer and closer.
Yet my mind was cooling down gradually.

‘Kim Hee-young, she’s suspicious after all.’

Well, if I thought about it even a little, there were plenty of suspicious points to notice.
Things like traffic accident dashcam footage or traffic accident reports were difficult for others to obtain.
Moreover, the sudden editing proposal and its timing were more than enough reason for such suspicion.

Fair and just Kim Hee-young. Conscientious Kim Hee-young. She seemed tough, but was secretly tender and refined.

That was the biggest reason I liked her, but it was also her blind spot.

The reason she accepted my proposal was obvious without even looking.
Since I was relatively well-known, she probably wanted to give a lower-ranked group more screen time so they could build up a bit more recognition later.
I remembered Kim Hee-young from Season 1, how she’d gone through all that with me, and when I made even the slightest complaint, she’d been sorry and flustered.
I clenched my fists tightly.

‘You don’t need to apologize.’

A high-pitched whine echoed through the air.

‘Sister.’

Where would a guy who almost got slapped go?

—Waaaaahhh!!

As the lift rose, white and blue lights pierced down upon me.
I tightened my lips and deliberately formed a faint smile.

‘That was me who did it.’

Now it was time to bring it all to a close.

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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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