The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 17

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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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17

“Brother, are you really okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You have gastritis from overwork. I keep telling you not to push yourself….”
“I’m fine, I said.”

The members’ eyes narrowed. I pretended not to hear and picked up my phone. The car was already heading toward the Music Video Set.

[Seo Ho-jin: Brother, are you trying to work yourself to death??]
[Seo Ho-jin: No way, no way, no way]
Seo Ho-jin: Don’t say anything to me later.
[Seo Ho-jin: Sigh… no way
But seriously, if it really hurts, just sit this one out]

I ignored Seo Ho-jin’s message.

[Lim Hyun-sung: This is insane;;; what’s with the leak]
“How does your company even manage things?”
Lim Hyun-sung: I’ll admit, she picked a good song even in this situation~ haha

She’d sent it to brag. I carefully texted Lim Hyun-sung back.

[Me: Yeah]

“Did you collapse from the shock of the leak?”
“No, it was overwork.”
“Yeah… you could definitely collapse from overwork. Ho-yoon worked the hardest out of all of us.”

Everyone nodded earnestly.

“He really doesn’t look it, but he’s incredibly tough.”
“What do you mean he doesn’t look it?”
“You look like you grew up without any hardship, hyung.”
“Me?”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

“Back in my day, let me tell you.”
“Oh, here we go.”

I really suffered before the possession, you know! If I were to write down everything I endured, it would be published as an autobiography, surpass bestseller status, get adapted into a film, and wring out enough tears and snot from people to form the Han River and still have leftovers!

Ding!

[That’s nonsense!]

…Well, if you include the System Window, it gets classified as fantasy instead of autobiography, but anyway, that’s how it is, right?

“Anyway, I’m glad you came to your senses.”
“Everyone was about to lose it mentally, but seeing you collapse actually helped us hold on.”

When did these guys start feeling so close to me?
I ignored them and continued playing our song, still struggling to fix the slightly off-beat rhythm. The trip to the Emergency Room had cost us precious time.

“Ah, we’re here.”

After stopping by the shop and getting in the car for a brief nap, we arrived at the Music Video Set in what felt like an instant.
Sung Ji-won nervously brushed his chest as if anxious. Kim Sung-hyun tapped his shoulder and signaled for us to get out.
We stepped out of the car and immediately began bowing ninety degrees the moment we spotted the staff.

“Hello!”
“Hello, we appreciate your help!”
“Oh, you’re the ones who caught that robber, right?”
“Y-yes, that’s us!”
“That was so cool. I saw the article. Do your best today!”

The staff members’ eyes widened before they smiled warmly and returned our greetings with genuine friendliness. As we entered the studio, a hastily constructed stage set came into view.

“Wow, this is the set?”
“Amazing!”

‘Low budget…’

Honestly, I’m not sure if you’d call it a stage set, but it looks like they’re trying to mask the low budget with lighting.
This CEO bastard, I asked him to give us proper support. While the other members were walking around with sparkling eyes, my expression was rotting away standing next to them.
As I glanced around, my eyes met with a man in his forties standing in front of the camera.

“Hello! We’re The Dun.”
“Oh, you startled me.”

I could tell at a glance.
This must be Director Jung that Lim Hyun-sung mentioned. There seemed to be quite an age gap, but judging by how they called each other names without honorifics, they seemed pretty close.
Director Jung looked at us and smiled knowingly.

“You rookies sure have great energy. Today we’re going to finish both the individual member teasers and the music video shoot in one go. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Yes! We’re grateful for the opportunity.”

He seemed like a better person than I expected. Our eyes met, and he smiled and extended his hand.

“You’re Seo Ho-yoon, right? Lim Hyun-sung wouldn’t stop talking about you.”

…Was she usually complimenting me, or not?
I felt uncertain, but a professional smile was already plastered on my face. I grasped his hand and answered smoothly.

“I’m not sure what she said.”
“Haha, don’t worry, I didn’t hear the details either. But I did hear that you have impressive confidence for a rookie—not at all green. There’s been talk about leaks and whatnot… but you know that all those controversies disappear if you do well, right?”

‘He’s subtly putting pressure on me.’

But I laughed shamelessly.

“I’ll do my best.”
“Good, I’m looking forward to today.”

I wanted to talk more with Director Jung, but the curious gazes of the members were fixed on us, so honest conversation would be difficult from here on out.
I’d try to recruit him later if it proved useful.

“Come on, you guys! Hurry over here and try on your outfits.”

The Stylist, who was only assigned to Dae Pa-sung Planning’s actors, raised her hand and called us over. The members were too hesitant.

“Your costumes are really complicated, aren’t they?”
“I’m so sorry!”
“What? Don’t apologize. Actors don’t wear clothes like this, so I rarely get the chance to make something like this. It was so much fun after such a long time.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“You can call me noona!”

When Kang Yi-chae spoke warmly, the Stylist responded enthusiastically. They skillfully distributed the clothes by member.
According to the concept pushed by the Planning Team Junior, the styling was divided into two different themes.
As we received those outfits, our expressions grew peculiar. It certainly was intricate.
After struggling and squirming into the clothes, I stood before the mirror. Beneath hair that bordered on navy blue hung a deep blue uniform, with shoulder straps crossing from my right shoulder down to my left side.
Uncertain if it looked right, I simply stared blankly ahead.

“Wow, Seo Ho-yoon, that’s incredible!”
“…Is it okay?”
“More than okay! You have such cool undertones—it looks like you were born wearing this.”
“Thank you.”
“Perfect fit, perfect fit!”

The Stylist and Hair Stylist watched with satisfaction from the side. As the other members emerged, Sung Ji-won suddenly thrust a camera in front of me.

“Wow, Ho-yoon! It really suits you!”
“What are you filming?”
“The Manager told me to film our shooting behind-the-scenes.”

I got the gist immediately. Sung Ji-won wore a similar uniform to mine, but his hat was slightly different. His chestnut hair, which gleamed brightly when light caught it, suited him well.
At the same time, Kim Sung-hyun, Jung Da-jun, and Kang Yi-chae burst out. Their outfits resembled military uniforms more than formal dress. As they put on boots and rolled up their sleeves, the Stylists busily adjusted their hair and clothes.

“Kids these days are really tall.”
“Right, their limbs are so long and lean—it’s fun dressing them up.”
“Ah… hehe.”

Jung Da-jun laughed shyly. Kang Yi-chae had already snatched the camera from Sung Ji-won and was bouncing around like a puppy.

“Say hello to the camera here!”
“Huh? Can staff members say hello too?”
“Of course!”
“My apologies. Kang Yi-chae, come here.”
“I don’t want to!”
“This brat….”

In the meantime, he’d gotten so comfortable clinging to the staff that Kim Sung-hyun came over and flicked him on the forehead before dragging him back.
That’s when it happened.
Just as we were preparing to leave, a song suddenly began playing across the quiet filming set.

“Oh….”

It was our song.
The low beat and the humming sound—the one Lim Hyun-sung had pestered us to re-record, the one that turned out even better than the White Cherry track—it was playing here.
Playing the artist’s own song at a music video set was such a natural thing that the staff quickly resumed their work with renewed focus, but I couldn’t move, and neither could the other members.

“…It’s our song.”

Sung Ji-won smiled quietly. Jung Da-jun, who had been chattering non-stop until moments ago, clamped his mouth shut.

‘Good grief.’

We’d already heard and practiced this song countless times, yet here I was getting moved all over again.
The Stylist and Hair Stylist must have found the members’ expressions endearing, because they both laughed and added their own comments.

“Your song really turned out great!”
“It’s catchy. When it drops, you guys are going to be huge.”
“Th-thank you so much.”

Jung Da-jun bowed his head slightly, his voice wavering.
I glanced at him, and a sudden playful impulse struck me—I pressed the back of his neck firmly. Jung Da-jun stumbled forward with a startled sound.

“Hey, hyung. What are you doing?”
“Let’s do our best today too.”

***

“More wistful! Don’t look awkward in front of the camera—give me that distant gaze, Ji-won.”
“Yes!”

Director Jung was stricter than I’d expected. A gentle smile in front, a tiger behind.
According to Lim Hyun-sung, he was usually the type to take things more loosely, so why is he putting in this much effort?

“Wow, he’s really meticulous about this.”
“He seems to understand every detail too.”

I’ll have to buy Lim Hyun-sung some really expensive sake later.

“Impressive momentum.”
“Right….”

Sung Ji-won looked troubled. He seemed slightly nervous.
Though his expression was sufficiently wistful, Director Jung kept calling for retakes as if Sung Ji-won could do better.

“No! Look further away, I said?”
“Ah, yes!”

Kang Yi-chae was enthusiastically filming the behind-the-scenes footage, capturing everything, while Jung Da-jun seemed frustrated that Sung Ji-won couldn’t find his rhythm, fidgeting restlessly.

“Hyung! Hyung, remember that baby chick you bought in front of your elementary school and raised? You cried back then, didn’t you!”
“Hey, hey!”

Sung Ji-won’s face flushed red as he shouted at Jung Da-jun.
Laughter erupted among the staff on set. But Director Jung remained serious.

“That works though. Let’s try it again with that longing for the chick.”

‘…?’

“Imagine if that chick had grown into a chicken by now—what would it look like?”

What is he talking about.

‘Is that supposed to be art.’

I wonder if I can say that, or if I shouldn’t.
I stood with my arms crossed, watching. But what was truly absurd was that the moment the camera’s red light came on, Sung Ji-won—still blushing with embarrassment—suddenly transformed into an expression of such poignant longing.

‘… ‘No, is it just a face?’

I was also rubbing my chin in confusion, but Director Jeong was excited and called out more chicks.

“Yes, that’s it! It’s that face! What was the chick’s name?”
“Yes, that’s it! Exactly that expression! What was the chick’s name?”
“C-Chicken, sir.”
“Good, think about Chicken!”
“Chicken…?”

Jeong Da-jun and Kang I-chae muttered to each other. There was no such thing as Dumb and Dumber.

“Can you take that order and act like that?”
“Can you really act like that after receiving that kind of direction?”

As I muttered, Seonghyun Kim silently nodded.

“Trainee Jjambap is not going anywhere.”

In the spirit of a professional, Kang Yi-chae did not let go of the camera even while desperately holding back her laughter. I’ll have to preview how it will be edited later.
Kang Yi-chae desperately held back his laughter with the professionalism of a veteran, never once lowering the camera. I’d have to check how it looked in editing later.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

I tilted my head. I was scared last time.

“Next, Seonghyun Kim!”
“Next, Kim Sung-hyun!”

Seonghyeon Kim answered bravely and walked out.
Kim Sung-hyun answered briskly and walked out onto the set.

“Let’s look at him coldly, Mr. Seonghyun!”

At Director Jeong’s order, Seonghyeon slightly tilted his head and looked ahead. His appearance fit the project’s image of a cool-headed and thorough person.
At Director Jung’s direction, Sung-hyun tilted his head slightly and gazed forward. It matched the planned image of a cold, meticulous character perfectly.

‘no.’

I quickly gestured to Kang Yi-chae. Kang Yi-chae nodded, quickly scribbled on the sketchbook she had received from the staff at the request, and held it up.

“Brother, look at this!”

When Kim Seong-hyeon looked in that direction in surprise, he saw a quiz written in cursive letters by Kang I-chae.
Kim Sung-hyun startled and glanced over, catching sight of a quiz written in Kang Yi-chae’s flowing handwriting.

“What is the greeting a gentleman gives…?”
“What does a gentleman say when greeting…?”

I took over the sketchbook, flipped through a page, and lifted it over my shoulder. Kang Yi-chae shouted.

“The correct answer is…!”
“The answer is…!”

Wow, the atmosphere on set has become cold. In particular, the surroundings of Kim Seong-hyun, the person solving the quiz, became cold as if it were the North Pole.
The atmosphere on the filming set froze solid. Especially around Kim Sung-hyun, the one answering the quiz, it became as frigid as the Arctic itself.

“Gentleman Saimdang! I really like your expression right now! That’s exactly the cold image!”
“Shin Sa-im-dang! That expression right now is perfect! Exactly that cold image!”
“….”

It works.

‘exorcism.’
‘Good.’

I stuck out my thumb towards Kang Yi-chae. Kang Yi-chae nodded and asked the second question.
I gave Kang Yi-chae a thumbs up. Kang Yi-chae nodded and scribbled down the second question.

“What does a dragon say when it goes up to the sky?”
“When a dragon… rises to the sky… what do you say?”
“What is it? Ascension?”

Seong Ji-won was embarrassed by the momentum and held up his sketchbook. Seonghyeon Kim was really distressed, but he couldn’t ignore the correct answer and had no choice but to look at his sketchbook. Seong Ji-won cried out in shame.

“The answer is… I, I’m going up…!”
“The answer is… me, I’m going up…!”
“….”

I asked Dajun Jeong. Jeong Da-jun shook his head with a calm expression. In the end, it felt like the temperature had dropped by at least 10 degrees.
I asked Jung Da-jun. Jung Da-jun shook his head with an uncertain expression. The temperature seemed to have dropped by at least ten degrees.

“It’s perfect, there’s nothing more to do.”

Director Jeong sent Kim Seong-hyun away with a satisfied smile. Kim Seong-hyun came out of the camera grumbling as if he was somehow tired. And he squeezed honey chestnuts into Kang Yi-chae’s head.

“Well, Seo Ho-yoon, please come in next time!”

Ah, it’s finally my turn.
Finally, it’s my turn.
Kang Yi-chae shouted words of encouragement. I stood before him, gazing at the dazzling lights and reflectors that blazed like a second sun.

“Seo Ho-yoon, don’t be nervous and just do what you’re doing. Be subtle and look like you have a plan.”

‘… Write it.’

I think I know something from the incident with Director Jeong and Lim Hyun-soo.
Director Jung probably knows something about what happened with Lim Hyun-sung.

“Why are you nervous?”
“What, nervous?”

Director Jeong smiled slyly and looked at me subtly. I smile awkwardly and recall the advice given by Lim Hyun-soo and Joo Woo-sung.

“i look forward to.”

I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes towards the camera. Director Jeong’s eyes, which had been flashing to find out something, suddenly became serious.

“Your eyes look so good right now, – okay.”

There was a close-up of Director Jeong giving the sign of acceptance from the beginning. I slowly smoothed my fingers and looked ahead.

“Just lower your gaze and smile a little more.”

I was fortunate that the character concept for this project suited me. If I had had to continue with the cute and lively pineapple concept, saying that I wouldn’t want to die soon, I wouldn’t have been able to get immersed in it as easily and film it well.

“Okay, so… um, I like it.”

Director Jeong nodded and gestured. As I slowly walked out, the members’ eyes were focused on me.

“Are you enjoying the camera, Mr. Ho-yoon? It was worth my expectations.”
“You’re very photogenic, Seo Ho-yoon. It was worth the anticipation.”
“Thank you.”

When I went next to Director Jeong and looked at the image on the screen, it felt a little strange.
I walked over to Director Jung and gazed at the monitor, but the image felt strangely unfamiliar.

‘It’s fascinating.’

… Because I don’t feel like myself.

“What do you think?”

At the same time, a choice came to mind.

[Option
[Choices
1. Am I… perhaps an angel?
2. My heart is racing so fast.

‘Fuck.’

I chose it quickly.

“I look so handsome.”
“I’m incredibly handsome, aren’t I?”

It was the best option. At least it’s the best. When I said this so shamelessly, Director Jeong burst out laughing and slapped me on the back.

“You have a sense of humor, Seo Ho-yoon.”
“You’ve got a good sense of humor, Seo Ho-yoon.”

Does that mean he’s not handsome?

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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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