The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 18

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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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18

“Hahaha! This is so fun, so much fun.”

Director Jung didn’t answer, just chuckled and walked away. I felt a bit wronged, but I let it slide.
After finishing the member teasers and jacket photoshoot in the morning, the music video shoot proceeded smoothly.
Without exaggeration, I must have performed the choreography at least twenty times. Especially since ten of those times were on a filming set flooded with water, making it exponentially more exhausting.
Curious about why they’d flooded the set and whether there was some deeper artistic meaning, I asked Director Jung, who gave me a thumbs up and explained cheerfully.

“Low-budget shoots can’t afford much CGI, so when you actually suffer through it like this, it looks so much prettier on camera!”
“Ah, I see!”

I kept my mouth shut—what could a broke, unknown idol say?—and continued matching formations with the other members.

[Dance +1]
[Dance +2]
[Dance +2]
[Dance +1]

‘When did the System Window become so generous?’

[‘Real-world practice is supreme!
Dancing under actual tension grants double experience points!’]

How thoughtful of it to explain.
Ever since that abnormal status effect incident, my distrust of the System Window had only deepened.

“Let me rest and come back!”
“Got it!”

Jung Da-jun scurried out from the set, squeezed himself into a corner, and was now resting with a heat pack wrapped around his ankles—flushed red from dancing continuously in the frigid water.
…This is going to look so pitifully beautiful on screen.

“Kang Yi-chae.”
“Yes!”

I gestured to Kang Yi-chae, then thrust the camera toward Jung Da-jun.

“Da-jun, are you cold?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine!”

Jung Da-jun pitifully pretended not to be cold, startling as he jumped to his feet. Sung Ji-won handed over the blanket he’d been using.

“Use this. We’ve still got some time before the next shoot.”
“I’m okay!”

Watching Jung Da-jun force cheerfulness made me uncomfortable.
He’d barely eaten or slept all week, and now he was doing hard labor here.
Even the Competition Program I’d hosted didn’t push participants like this. Especially since Jung Da-jun was the youngest, sometimes I thought of Seo Ho-jin….
No, what am I saying.

‘Why am I getting attached to him.’

While Kang Yi-chae turned the camera toward Sung Ji-won and conducted a brief interview, Jung Da-jun asked me something.

“Are you really okay, Ho-yoon?”
“Why?”
“You just got back from the Emergency Room a few hours ago. Aren’t you worried you’ll collapse again?”

Ah, what’s he talking about. My condition’s already cleared up anyway, so I’m fine.
I absently patted Jung Da-jun’s head.

“You worry about yourself, Jung Da-jun.”
“…What, what? Is this a drama?”

Jung Da-jun grumbled and emerged from the corner. Kang Yi-chae had already moved away, heading toward Kim Sung-hyun, who was monitoring with Director Jung.
Jung Da-jun stared at him before speaking.

“Still, it’s really touching. Being able to film again like this….”
“Save that for when the camera’s rolling.”
“I’m saying it because you’re here. How could I say something embarrassing like that?”

Actually, he could probably gain sympathy points from it. I almost offered advice, but decided against it—letting a fresh rookie rely too heavily on sympathy seemed dangerous.
Jung Da-jun let out a small sigh and spoke.

“I seriously thought about giving up every single day, but ever since Seo Ho-yoon came back, everything seems to be working out.”
“Is that so.”

Results had to come first. Of course, I’d already laid all the groundwork I could.
Bulk buying weighed on my conscience—not that anyone would believe that—and the risk of exposure later was too great, so I’d done everything within my means to set things up. The rest was up to the public.

“I was actually caught by an Unethical Entertainment Company before.”
“Really?”
“I’m just grateful for my current agency now….”

My current agency isn’t that great either. Actors might be different, but as an idol, honestly, we don’t even rank in the tier list.
I kept my mouth shut and watched, and Jung Da-jun’s body trembled.

“Yeah. I really wonder what would’ve happened if I’d signed with that agency. Ugh, it gives me chills. If it wasn’t for the person who stopped me back then….”
“Someone stopped you?”
“Yes. A few years ago, someone from the Broadcasting Station told me why I was going into a place like that, to get my head straight. But strangely, I can’t quite remember their name or face.”

…Huh?
Jung Da-jun was speaking when he suddenly clapped his hands together.

“Now that I think about it, you kind of remind me of Seo Ho-yoon. Really similar. Your tone of voice, or maybe your vibe….”

…What?
I felt a sense of dissonance. My head throbbed for a moment. Just as I was about to grab Jung Da-jun and ask, Kim Sung-hyun called out to us.

“Let’s shoot again!”
“Yes, I’m coming!”
“….”
“I just said a bunch of useless stuff. Let’s go and work hard again, hyung!”
“Uh… yeah.”

I blinked rapidly before answering. Jung Da-jun was running off eagerly, and I had no choice but to follow.
Surely not, surely not…. No, that couldn’t be. I shook my head and looked toward the filming set.
I needed to focus now.
After filming ended, a teaser came out urgently within days.
It was a move made in response to the comeback song leak incident.

***

“Ugh, I want to burn down the company….”

An office worker who had quit K-pop fandom nearly two years ago due to countless idol controversies arrived home completely exhausted from work.
She had cleaned up her public fan accounts, but kept her personal social media since she had cultivated friendships through years of fan interactions. Lying in bed scrolling through her timeline while rewatching cute cat videos, she suddenly noticed it flooded with question marks.

“What’s going on?”

The person spamming was an acquaintance who casually liked Joo Woo-sung and, like her, had only kept their personal account. She almost scrolled past it, but then noticed a music video had been reposted.
It was a music video for The Dawn—an obscure idol group she had once jokingly insulted for having a terrible name.

‘They’re really going all out with the noise marketing….’

Of course, they were also famous as good Samaritans who caught a robber and helped an elderly woman. But what first caught attention was Joo Woo-sung’s appearance on StarStar, and the leaked comeback track incident had kept them steadily appearing in community discussions.

‘Well, he is handsome, I’ll admit.’

When an acquaintance had cried over the member teasers dropping not long ago, she had brushed it off. After all, South Korea was drowning in idols.
Seriously, it felt like one-third of Korea’s population was an idol.
After being burned by the character controversies of an idol group she had supported years ago, she no longer had positive feelings toward K-pop. Of course, she still listened to songs occasionally….

[Tears streaming down my face, this is the addictive taste of K-pop.. That’s right, The Dawn—they are the new future itself]
[The Dawn streaming mass promotion guide announcement.]
[It’s been a while since I’ve seen a music video with a story like this, so I’m getting attached to it ㅠㅠ If it’s an apocalyptic SF film + uniform + techwear + Cheongbeom Haengnim’s song, you’re telling me to shut up and listen??? Are you just sticking it in your mouth?]
[Hey guys, I’m in a rush—what’s the name of the brown-haired member?????? He’s so innocent???? My heart just skipped a beat]
[I’m into the black-haired one;;;;;who is the black-haired member???I’m a K-pop grandma and I’m losing it]
[Love starts with…. what the hell is this?]

But the timeline was so full of praise that her curiosity was piqued. These people were all hardcore K-pop fans who wouldn’t care about just any idol.
Besides, “Blue Tiger” was a nickname for composer Blue Tiger.

‘Oh… I actually love all of Blue Tiger’s songs.’

She clicked the YouTube link. Five minutes wouldn’t hurt, she thought. After all, she was the type to skip through and only watch the beginning before closing it anyway.
She opened the comments section to check the members’ names, and memorized them as they appeared with timestamps. Five members made it easy to remember.

‘Let me watch this.’

Static crackled, as if an old video had been turned on.
Three silhouettes appeared against a black screen.

Crackle….

Sung Ji-won, a figure in a dark uniform with brown hair, held a gun and aimed it at two men collapsed on the floor while wearing techware. The two sprawled on the ground appeared to be Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun.
Sung Ji-won’s lips trembled.

-I’m sorry.

The gun barrel, which had been pointing at Kim Sung-hyun, was redirected toward his own head. The moment Kim Sung-hyun’s eyes widened.

Bang!

The screen was consumed by darkness.

“What?”

Did he just commit suicide?
Without realizing it, she covered her mouth and couldn’t tear her eyes from the video.
A few seconds passed before the black screen slowly brightened.

Boom, boom.

Along with the sound of drums, Blue Tiger’s distinctive beat echoed through the air. Chills ran down her spine.

‘Just as expected from Unnie…!’

The song was far superior to when they had poured massive corporate capital into it.
At the same time, under a blindingly white light, Sung Ji-won slowly opened his eyes, glared at the screen, and began to sing.

[Give me, Give me, Give me Second Chance
This sensation ringing in my head—in other words, I’ve returned]

“Insane, is this a regression?”
She, an addict of K-pop and web novel narratives, immediately recognized the trope. In the opening scene, Sung Ji-won had committed suicide and reset his life.
Sung Ji-won staggered to his feet and stared at the mirror in the dilapidated bathroom.

[Clenching my fists, I absolutely cannot miss this chance]

‘The song is pretty good, though?’

Wait… this actually tastes pretty good?
In the middle of giving serious feedback on the song, a scene of group choreography dancing in a dark space was inserted.
Just as the camera zoomed in on Kang Yi-chae, the screen switched at the same moment he made a gesture of turning the camera with his hand.

[Ooh, Pick a card, a clearer future revealed]

It was Seo Ho-yoon. He sat in a chair, leisurely swinging his feet as he shuffled the cards skillfully. Then he selected five cards from the face-down deck.
As he flipped them one by one, a Spade, Queen, Ace, and Joker appeared. Even when the Joker came up, Seo Ho-yoon remained unfazed.

[You grow anxious at low odds, but there’s no need]

Seo Ho-yoon, dressed in uniform, checked the final card alone and smiled with one corner of his mouth raised. He tucked that card into his chest and, maintaining eye contact with the camera, walked sideways while singing in a languid voice.

[It’s okay, I’ll lead you]

“What… what….”

Dark navy hair bordering on black with a scheming appearance—it was perfectly aligned with her taste.

“What is this…. No, not yet.”

Did I just fall into a fan accident?
No, I didn’t. Not yet, anyway.
Even as she remained confused, the music video pressed steadily onward.
Seo Ho-yoon and Sung Ji-won wore navy uniforms, while Jung Da-jun, Kim Sung-hyun, and Kang Yi-chae wore techware. The contrasting aesthetics suggested they’d adopted a government forces versus revolutionary army concept.

[Come to me, Come to me,
Don’t be Afraid, come to me
I have my second chance]

Jung Da-jun, who had been lying collapsed with Kim Sung-hyun in the opening shot, squinted under the brilliant white lighting. Then the choreography was cross-cut with the scene.
Techware outfits with that beat—isn’t that cheating?
As Jung Da-jun and Sung Ji-won grasped each other’s arms, Kim Sung-hyun appeared beneath them and sang.

[Say it once more, we are the beginning]

At the same time, Kim Sung-hyun, the leader of the revolutionary forces, appeared running somewhere with an assault rifle in hand.

[I will come back everytime
This strange sense of déjà vu, don’t you fear it
No need to worry
I’ll guide you through it]

At that moment, Jung Da-jun bent at the waist, and Kang Yi-chae stepped onto his back, spinning through the air in a complete rotation before making his entrance. It was nothing short of acrobatic artistry.

[Raise the target, I have confidence
I won’t lose this cold sensation]

At the line about the cold sensation, Kang Yi-chae gripped a sniper rifle. Through the scope, Jung Da-jun appeared as the target.
Wait, weren’t they on the same team? Why was he aiming at him?
Before I could unravel the mystery, Kang Yi-chae winked with a playful grin, and I completely forgot what I’d been wondering about.

‘Devastatingly handsome….’

[Your face visible even with my eyes closed
I ain’t gonna miss this time]

With a sharp motion, Kang Yi-chae pulled one arm back as if firing a shot, and Sung Ji-won and Seo Ho-yoon resumed singing with the choreography.

[Say it once more, we’re beginning
I will come back everytime]

Beneath the brilliant high notes and solid harmonies, the music video was approaching its climax.
In the rain, Sung Ji-won approached the fallen Jung Da-jun. Kim Sung-hyun glared at Sung Ji-won with resentment. Sung Ji-won trembled with fear.

[This strange sense of déjà vu, don’t you fear it]

“Huh, this….”

This is exactly the same as the opening part.
In that instant, the high note soared upward, and Sung Ji-won pulled the trigger toward his own head, just like in the opening sequence.

—Bang!

The gunshot echoed again. But what fell was Sung Ji-won’s rifle.
From a distance away, Kang Yi-chae in techwear contacted someone via radio. Sung Ji-won, still on the ground, tried to reach for the gun, but someone kicked it away with their foot.

[No need to wander lost
I’ll find the way for you]

And gradually, a close-up.
Seo Ho-yoon’s expressionless face, dressed in the same uniform as Sung Ji-won, came into view. Sung Ji-won’s eyes wavered.

[This time, in this lifetime, I will surely
I will save you (Save you)]

‘So he wasn’t dead from the beginning!’

Chills ran down my spine.
The chaotic scene of all The Dawn members was captured on screen, then transitioned into synchronized choreography. The water pooled on the floor splashed spectacularly in perfect rhythm with the razor-sharp, precisely executed movements.

[Give me, Give me, Give me Second Chance]

As the final chorus echoed, the scene returned to Seo Ho-yoon’s card shot from the beginning.
The card Seo Ho-yoon had last checked was revealed, overlapping with Sung Ji-won.
King of Hearts.

[Give you, Give you, Give you Second Chance]

Seo Ho-yoon smiled faintly. At the same moment, a drum sound echoed in rhythm with a heartbeat’s pulsing.
Slowly, the music video faded to black, and the title appeared.

[The Dawn – Second Chance]

“….”

I had promised myself to watch for only a minute—where had that resolve gone?
She steadied her racing heart and opened SNS with trembling hands.

[The Dun… what is this???]
[What did I just witness????]
[Seriously, someone explain why Seo Ho-yoon didn’t kill Sung Ji-won]
[Did Sung Ji-won get betrayed?]
[Did I get hit?]
[Did Seo Ho-yoon hit me?? What’s with this devastatingly handsome guy? No wait, I’m still fine, I didn’t get hit]
[Actually, I think I did get hit…]
[Okay everyone, please give me an explanation (begging)
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Oh my goshㅠㅠㅠㅠIn the end, you too… . Did you hear more (link to interpretation)]

Otakus always showed their strongest denial when they were truly smitten.
While he searched for promotional articles about The Dun in denial, a related article appeared below it.

[Mango Chart Overhaul Begins… Real-Time Chart to Account for 70% Instead of 24-Hour Aggregate Performance]

Though the article had nothing to do with her yet, Seo Ho-yoon’s thoughts were different as he continued practicing in the studio as dawn approached.

[Mango 100 will combine 24-hour aggregate performance and real-time chart at a 3-to-7 ratio. During late-night hours, 24-hour aggregate performance will be reflected at 100%….]

Lying in the corner of the darkened practice room, Seo Ho-yoon finished reading the article and let out a quiet laugh before setting his phone down.
The music streaming site had been restructured.

‘Just as I heard.’

In other words, the real game was about to begin.

—————
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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