The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 190

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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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190

“Let’s do our best today!!”
“Yes!!”

It had been quite some time since I joined the Sound Team as the junior member. Because of this, I was gradually growing accustomed to seeing idols pass by with their faces gleaming brilliantly under the lights.

‘Is The Dun next?’

As the pre-recording progressed and I checked the broadcast cue sheet, it was already The Dun’s turn.
I’d seen them during the dry rehearsal, but since they were a contender for first place, they had quite generous time allocations from the title track to the B-sides.
The Dun I’d known before was a group that matched intense songs with razor-sharp choreography. However, their songs this time, which I heard during yesterday’s pre-mixing practice, felt somewhat different.

‘Not a single mistake until the end!’

The song we were recording now had received overwhelming praise from experts.
Some said that after hearing this song, Kang Yi-chae’s characteristic roughness had disappeared, making it easy listening, while others evaluated it as The Dun’s new beginning, including mass appeal.
Given that Kang Yi-chae was already receiving numerous love calls for songwriting and composition, his album seemed to be attracting more industry attention than expected.

“Hello!”

Taking the stage with an expression completely unrelated to such evaluations, Kang Yi-chae smiled brightly at the fans before sitting in the designated chair.
The outfit for the B-side was a light ivory knit with jeans—a comfortable look.

The Sound Team junior checked the precautions for this stage written in the continuity script once more and verified the audio levels.

【Waking up at dawn to sit beside you
If I want to kiss your lips and whisper deeper into sleep
Is that what love is?】

Kang Yi-chae would be opening with this very part.
And not as a rap, but as a song.
Moreover, it was high-caliber.

【My heart becoming clearer in the light
I hide it and smile, afraid it might be too much for you】

Under the bright stage lights, Kang Yi-chae’s jet-black hair swayed gently.
As Kang Yi-chae opened the song with a calm voice, Jung Da-jun, the youngest member, picked up the next verse.

【Don’t smile at me so painfully
Don’t be so kind to me, it’s so difficult】

A soft and crystalline voice rang out.

【I wake at dawn and see your face
Even resting my chin on my hand, looking and looking again without growing tired
Is that abnormal?】

Then Seo Ho-yoon’s voice resonated through the venue. His tone and presence harmonized perfectly with the song, elevating the entire performance.
The Sound Team Junior, positioned before the mixing console, watched Seo Ho-yoon’s image fill the monitor and tensed, afraid even the slightest mistake might slip through.

【My words floating in the darkness
I hide them, afraid they might burden you too much, moving slowly】

The Dun’s harmonies layered upon one another, building steadily.

【Slowly, one step, two steps
Again, slowly, one step】

Sung Ji-won, who had been tapping the microphone with his fingers to keep the tempo, finally opened his mouth.

【When you approach so boldly, I grow dizzy and run away】

“…!”

Goosebumps erupted across my arms in an instant.
It was the same every time I heard it.
The rhythm and pitch were flawless, but more than anything, the emotion transmitted through the microphone was achingly palpable.
He sounded truly desperate, genuinely unstable.

【Please, slowly, one step, two steps
Again, slowly, two steps】

Kim Sung-hyun exchanged glances with Sung Ji-won beside him, a faint smile playing across his lips.

【My heart growing clearer in the light
I hide it and smile, afraid it might be too much for you】

After the first pre-recorded stage ended, the Sound Team Junior—who had set everything up himself—was bewildered about whether it was actually live.
After shooting a couple more times like that, The Dun’s members told the fans they’d see them again in a moment before stepping down from the stage.
Even then, they didn’t forget to greet the staff.

“Wow, at that age, how can their emotions be like that….”
“The Dun’s vocals have improved even more??”

After another artist’s pre-recorded stage wrapped up smoothly, the live broadcast began.
The performances proceeded without a hitch, and with the MC’s introduction, The Dun took the stage again.
They’d made subtle changes to the outfits worn in the MV, making the understated exposure stand out even more.
It was the result of Lee Ji-hyun’s insistence on summer-fresh pure sexiness and the Stylist’s demand for a powerful impact.

“Seo Ho-yoon, you’re trying to kill me!!!!!”
“Hey!! I’m full without even eating!!”

The frenzied voices of fans, stimulated more than usual by the provocative outfits, reached even the Sound Team.

“Wow.”

The Sound Team Junior let out an involuntary exclamation, sensing an entirely different aura from the B-side stages or rehearsals.
Seo Ho-yoon, with pristine white lace draped down to his knees on his right wrist, gave a subtle wave toward the camera following him for the direct cam shot.
With his cute second-year-idol appearance, all the staff members who saw it smiled warmly, and The Dun’s members took their positions according to the starting choreography before the music began to play.

【I keep touching out of curiosity
You make me wonder about you】

Seo Ho-yoon turned his head and extended his lace-adorned hand forward before curling it and pulling it to his chest. The gimbal camera closely tracked him.

【The first is always the most stimulating】

Then as he waved, the fluttering lace revealed the lines of his body in stark clarity.
While the Sound Team Junior genuinely marveled at his skill, the Noeul fans in the audience were too busy screaming at the concept of being fed the performance on a silver platter.

【Holding hands urgently
Don’t hold back, give it all
I can’t afford to be leisurely】

The sound of white sneakers dragging across the stage echoed in steady rhythm.
At the same time, Kang Yi-chae stepped to center stage, wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a slightly raised neckline and a lip ring on his lower lip.
His husky voice, which had showcased impressive vocal prowess during the previous recording stage, now delivered an intense rap.

【I can’t prepare to let you go
I keep wanting to make mistakes
I came in out of curiosity and ended up trapped
You can be my divine】

Afterward, Jung Da-jun was caught on camera pressing down the brim of his white cap, disheveled from the intense choreography, flashing a grin.
Seo Ho-yoon slipped in beside him.

【Right now, do it,
baby love me
I’ll give you everything】

Simultaneously, he crossed both hands around his neck and slowly dragged them downward.

【The first time is always the most thrilling
Sorry, but I’m quite fickle
You like that about me, don’t you?】

Beneath the blue stage lights, Seo Ho-yoon tilted his head back and slowly turned, his expression languid as he curved his lips upward—screams erupted from the audience.

【Truth is, I’m a little scared
That you might get tired of me
But not right now
Do it, baby love me】

The Sound Team Junior was struck not just by Seo Ho-yoon’s appearance, but more so by the voice he heard through his headset.

【If you hate it, I won’t do it
When I try to stop, you block my way
(So I laugh softly)】

My low, resonant voice blended seamlessly with the melody—a fast-paced, refreshing, and light tune that should have felt crisp and breezy, yet somehow carried an unexpectedly sultry undertone.

【Let this not be our last】

After we finished filming through the final verse and ending pose, Seo Ho-yoon mischievously snatched the hat off Jung Da-jun’s head, and a flustered exclamation reached the Sound Team Junior’s ears—The Dun’s title track stage had come to an end.

***

“I want to do it again.”
“Stop it, enough.”

I cut off Sung Ji-won, who kept muttering about wanting to perform the stage again, unsatisfied with how it went, and waited for the other first-place candidate’s stage to finish.
Moments later, I followed the Staff Member’s guidance and made my way to the Stage.

“Congratulations to The Dun on first place!!”

As I’d expected, first place came to us.
Beneath the falling confetti, I held the trophy aloft and performed a live rendition of the title track.

‘This is only the beginning.’

I intended to sweep up every possible achievement with this album.
And for good reason—a new Quest had appeared beside me.

[Quest Arrived!
Claim three music show wins!

Success: 3,000 Points Awarded
Failure: Entertainment Show Appearance Ban for Six Months]

The penalty was still as cryptic as ever, but given my confidence in this title track, the difficulty itself wasn’t particularly daunting.

‘A few wins should be manageable.’

I figured I’d need to secure at least four or five trophies to face the fans who’d suffered through the Shining Star days with any dignity.
The song was excellent, the B-sides were solid, and the choreography was superb.
Perhaps because we were riding high on a wave of sweet popularity, every time I walked down the hallway, I caught glimpses of wariness, envy, jealousy, and admiration in people’s eyes.

“Hello, seniors!!”
“Huh??”

Jung Da-jun, bouncing excitedly at the front with the trophy in his arms as he headed toward the waiting room, froze at the greeting from the junior idol group Raccoon.

“Hello.”
“S-s-senior, congratulations so much!”
“Yes, thank you.”

I grabbed the back of the stammering Jung Da-jun’s neck and dragged him away, receiving their greeting in his stead.
After the members of Raccoon disappeared with sparkling eyes, stealing glances at us, Jung Da-jun belatedly rubbed his arms and spoke.

“Hyung, did you hear that?! They called me a senior!!”
“Feels good?”
“No way?! I got such a shock, I got goosebumps!!”

A group that hadn’t even been around for two full years yet.
Of course, countless idols came and went every single day in this industry, but in a place where recognition equaled hierarchy, The Dun had rarely been on the receiving end of respectful greetings as seniors.

‘What was I like back then?’

Thinking back on the past, it seemed I’d either ignored or clashed with seniors who’d made a fuss about discipline back when I was a PD trainee.
Apart from that, I’d managed my social life reasonably well, played along, and endured.

I thought Jung Da-jun would be happy about becoming a “senior,” but instead he shook his head vigorously side to side.

“I want to stay the youngest!!”
“…What?”

Bewildered by his words, I looked at him, and our team’s youngest member wore a rather serious expression.

“I think if I grow bigger here…”
“Mm.”
“…I’m afraid Ho-yoon hyung won’t look out for me anymore when I mess up.”

Kang Yi-chae, standing a step behind, began clapping.

“Smart thinking, youngest. Have you seen how he treats me??”
“A dog at a village school learns poetry after three years!”

Good grief, that’s not even what I meant?

“But accepting Ho-yoon’s discipline is part of becoming an adult, isn’t it….”
“Your process of becoming an adult is a little strange, don’t you think?”

In any case, just as Seo Ho-jin would always be my younger brother, our team’s youngest would remain the youngest no matter how much he grew, but I didn’t bother correcting Jung Da-jun’s thinking.

“…!!”

He was practically my nephew’s age.

‘Wait, thinking about it this way, I really have no conscience, do I?’

Being in the same group as someone practically my nephew’s age. Wasn’t that insane?
It couldn’t be helped, but the absurdity of the situation left me gasping for air.
Just then, Jung Da-jun clung to my arm.

“Wait, get off me for a second. I need to find my conscience.”
“Huh?! Where would you have a conscience, hyung?!”

As I shook Jung Da-jun off and reflected on my life, someone blocked my path.

“Hello?”

It was Yoon Hee-eon.
Kim Sung-hyun wore a puzzled expression, and Jung Da-jun tilted his head in confusion.

‘Why’s he popping up here?’

He was the one who’d been spouting nonsense about acting clean in front of Sung Ji-won, claiming this and that.
I’d long forgotten about him, but it seemed our activity periods overlapped. Facing that irritating nuisance again made me dislike him even more.

In this industry, there was no one quite like Sung Ji-won—so upright in his conduct, knowing nothing but practice, so pristine he was practically alpine spring water.
At the very least, he wasn’t someone I should be taking advice from.

“Haha, are you really that happy about winning a trophy?”

Part of me wanted to indulge in some character assassination and wrap up the day happily, but with the kids around and the situation being what it was, I hesitated.
Either way, I was increasingly aware I needed to exercise restraint.

Now that I think about it, was Yoon Hee-eon a member of P.O.B?
I’d heard their recent performance didn’t rank particularly well, and it seemed to have him on edge.
He deliberately raked his eyes up and down Sung Ji-won in plain sight.

“Congratulations on first place this time. But if this is the peak of your popularity in your second year, that’s a bit….”
“Gotta go display the trophy~.”

But before Yoon Hee-eon could finish speaking, Jung Da-jun slipped past him.

“Before that, a selfie~.”

Then Kang Yi-chae chased after him with a playful expression, mimicking Jung Da-jun’s tone.
In that moment,

“Haha, I’m gonna go practice~.”
=Just go practice.

“….”
“….”
“….”

Sung Ji-won, whom I hadn’t expected to do so, mimicked the members ahead of him and brushed past Yoon Hee-eon as well.

And I realized it once more.
Our Alps-class first-rate was the most shameless one in the group.

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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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