The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 196

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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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196

Moments later, the Recording Studio door swung open.

“Hello, I’m Yi-chae.”

Now Kang Yi-chae looked somewhat presentable again.
He swept back his disheveled hair, flattened by the hat, and lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“Haha, this is Kang Yi-chae from The Dun.”
“What about Pineapple from earlier?”
“A bound spirit living in the Recording Studio.”
“Come on, hyung. A bound spirit? More like a beautiful fairy.”

I swatted away Kang Yi-chae’s hand as he playfully poked my cheek, then turned back and spoke.

“Yeon-hu hyung, please come in. You can sit on the sofa over there.”
“…?”

Kang Yi-chae’s eyes widened at my tone, and he scanned over Kang Yeon-hu, the Staff Member, and the camera.

“Ah.”

And true to his perceptive nature, he seemed to grasp the general situation.
His eyes narrowed with amusement as he leaned toward me and spoke in a low voice—yet loud enough for the audio to catch every word.

“Was I not enough?”
“Yi-chae, why must you say such hurtful things?”

Ding!

[Eye Poking]
[You two, please stop this already!!]

Kang Yi-chae should have written the romance script for this program instead.
We were giggling at the impact of each other’s words when one of the camera operators swiveled the angle toward the abandoned Pineapple hat on the floor, smoothly zooming in.

“If only you could cherish me just as I am~?”

Meanwhile, Kang Yi-chae sat cross-legged on the chair, busily swaying his body this way and that, tapping out the beat and humming the melody.
I’d seen it countless times before, so I didn’t think much of it, but Kang Yeon-hu seemed unable to concentrate.
I had no choice but to leave him be for a moment and toss some casual conversation at Kang Yi-chae.

“By the way, didn’t you say the junior member was coming today too?”
“He went to the Practice Room with Hyun-sung. I guess his mind changed~.”
“The junior member?”
“It’s the youngest member’s nickname.”

Kang Yi-chae glanced over and answered at Kang Yeon-hu’s murmur.

“Should I call you ‘Hoo’ too, senior?”
….

As I grinned and spoke, Kang Yeon-hu abruptly retreated to the edge of the sofa.
Seeing his reaction, I chuckled, and Kang Yi-chae switched to a beat and started humming.

“Hoo~ hoo, blowing to eat ramen? That’s not even a nickname~.”
….
“Where did your naming sense~ go~?”

The banter was completely baseless.
Only after taking a hit to the back from me did Kang Yi-chae finally get serious about the work.

“Alright, pick, pick~! Ho-yoon’s brother mentioned last time that he wanted something that matched the season, so I picked out beats that suit summer~.”

Melodies flowed out in sequence.
Kang Yeon-hu, who had been quietly listening until the end, carefully pulled out a notebook from his bag and pushed it forward.

“These are just lyrics I’ve been scribbling down so far, and I thought they might help somehow….”
“…Oh?”

Though he’d agreed to help when I said I would, Kang Yi-chae’s eyes widened—apparently the situation of having to create a song for a unit that included members from another group didn’t sit well with him, as he’d been fidgeting about it.

“Senior, you’re quite thorough in your preparation, aren’t you?”

He seemed to like it quite a bit.

“I like the analog touch too. Would it be alright if I made some adjustments?”
“Of course.”

Kang Yeon-hu, who had finally found some composure, smiled for the first time since arriving here.
Kang Yi-chae examined the lyrics and tapped the table with his ballpoint pen as if keeping time, then proceeded to strike through lines in the lyrics or, pen held between his lips, alter the melody.

“Hmm, the high-teen concept is nice and all, but given the members we have, why don’t we bring out a bit more of that bad-boy vibe?”
“Why are you looking at me when you say that?”
“Then should I look at Yeon-hu instead?”

Once we got down to serious work, the smile vanished from Kang Yi-chae’s face. Yet satisfaction gleamed in those sharp eyes of his.
After that, he revised the lyrics several more times and kept tweaking the melody and beat this way and that.
Just when things seemed to be coming together, Kang Yi-chae smirked and jerked his chin.

“Let’s record.”
“Okay.”
“…Right now?”
“Yes, we do it right away.”

Kang Yeon-hu, who came from a major agency and was experiencing for the first time the flavor of a small-to-medium idol group that specialized in in-house production and cottage-industry craftsmanship, was bewildered by how quickly things were moving and ended up finishing the recording almost in a daze.

“We’ve got the recording footage we need, so we’ll see you next time!”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

The staff, thrilled that we’d wrapped up the footage faster than expected and finished filming early, quickly packed their gear and withdrew.
After seeing them off all the way to the end and returning to the recording booth, I resumed my usual demeanor, and Kang Yi-chae chuckled beside me.

“I’ll do one more take. Just a moment.”

After that, Kang Yi-chae, saying he wanted to do just a bit more polishing, listened to the recorded file and made revisions repeatedly. Then, after muttering his rap verse a few times, he said he’d record again and stepped into the booth.
Watching him, Kang Yeon-hu murmured.

“It’s remarkable.”
“What is?”
“The members have good fortune, but the way they follow him—they really do follow well.”

Kang Yeon-hu, who had been watching Kang Yi-chae spit out his rap, turned his head toward me.

“How did you even manage that? I didn’t think you’d act so kindly.”
“Why would you say something so harsh?”

Kang Yeon-hu exhaled as if he found it absurd.

“Seo Ho-yoon, you’re confusing me. I can’t tell if you’re a good person or a bad one.”
“Confusing?”

Knowing that wouldn’t change anything anyway.

“More precisely, I can’t figure out what you’re thinking. Why are you even doing this?”

That’s the same issue.
I let out a chuckle and flipped through Kang Yi-chae’s worn lyric notebook, which was filled to the brim with rap verses.

“Yeon-hu, I’m human too, and like everyone else, sometimes I feel the urge to do good deeds.”
“….”
“…Well.”

He wasn’t buying it.
Kang Yeon-hu’s expression suggested he thought I was spouting nonsense with complete seriousness.

“Why doesn’t anyone believe me?”
“You should have done something believable first.”

[Good Deeds Spread by Word of Mouth~!
You can have your good deeds toward others spread externally as if someone else is spreading the word.
Seo Ho-yoon, let’s do good deeds and create a positive image together!
※The target of good deeds is limited to third parties unrelated to the player, and the standard of goodness follows universal norms.
※Each designated good deed takes a different form and is automatically exposed to random individuals.
※You have not yet achieved the conditions for ‘Good Deeds’.]

I closed the notebook and glanced at the System Window flickering at the edge of my vision, then turned my attention back to Kang Yeon-hu.

“Yeon-hu, it’s a shame you’re so guarded.”

Well, it doesn’t matter.

[Processing….]
[Processing….]
[Processing….]
[…Condition achieved.]
[Lia Purple member Yeon-ri watches the filmed footage and feels relieved that there is no romantic undertone.]
[Lia Purple member Yeon-ri is moved by your good deed of delivering the romantic lines in her place.]

The insurance is working properly.

[Your good deed related to Lia Purple member Yeon-ri can be spread to the outside world.]

“At least someone believes in me.”

Seeing me break into a wide smile, Kang Yeon-hu drew further away from me.

***

The first episode of “Want to Sing with Me?” aired that Saturday at five o’clock.

[Title: Didn’t expect much from the broadcast

Why is it so funny?
I turned it on without thinking and couldn’t even go to the bathroom, just sat there watching
When I saw Yeon-ri and Gu Chan paired together, I was like “wait, is this actually a romance?” and I was so disappointed… lol

Yeon-ri: Ja… jjajangmyeon!
Gu Chan: If it’s a bit thicker, it’s jjajangmyeon..

Yeon-ri is seriously out of this world..
The fact that he’s fidgeting and doing well at his job and working hard is just so cute lol, and the fact that Gu-chan is having a party without saying anything…

└Doesn’t seem to bring up anything personal… they only talk about work
└It would make more sense if there was romance between me and my boss
└└…that’s so creepy
└└Ah, so funny hahahahahahaha]

[Title: Why is Seo Ho-yoon acting like this

I could tell from the self-camera footage that this guy wasn’t ordinary,
but why is he acting like this toward Kang Yeon-hu?

Did you see Kang Yeon-hu’s pupils shake?

└Looking at how the pairing was pre-arranged, it seems the production crew was aiming for Yeon-ri & Gu Chan as the best couple award, but Seo Ho-yoon stole it all
Hahahahahahahaha oh my god hahahahahaha

Most viewers watched with laughter as the first episode progressed past the midpoint.
Seo Ho-yoon had barely any screen time except during the unit announcement at the beginning, and he spoke very little.
But at some point, I felt like he was subtly flirting with Kang Yeon-hu, and the final scene reached its peak.

【Ho-yoon: I’m excited.】

Originally, the production crew had planned to pair Mars’s main vocalist with Lia Purple’s junior member. However, as time went on, the fresh and youthful tension faded, leaving only a grim camaraderie between them—a determination to survive no matter what.

Instead, the jackpot hit from an unexpected place.
The cast members were setting up the stage themselves, and it was even entertaining. There was no way the production crew would pass on this.
So Seo Ho-yoon’s guilty plea line to Kang Yeon-hu decorated the very end. It was even edited like a drama ending scene with sweet music playing as the BGM.

[I’m excited
Clack clack…I’m excited… Clack clack…]
[I’m really flustered, but Ho-yoon…
You ignore and mock any aggro that comes your way, so why are you doing this with a different group? I’m really flustered, but… you… yes, do whatever you want]
[Seo Ho-yoon threw the guilty plea so well that Noeul fans are just blind]

And then videos of Seo Ho-yoon’s guilty plea compilation poured onto YouTube.
Most were from self-produced content or casual remarks he threw at The Dun members during B Live, or quiet conversations he had with Noeul at fan sign events.
Even from the broadcast of “Want to Sing with Me?” which only had one episode, videos were created editing “Seo Ho-yoon being nice to Kang Yeon-hu.”

[Why is he doing this???]

His words were one thing, but his actions were clearly different.
Pouring water first, holding the door open, gazing with honey-dripping eyes, and so on….

【Yeon-hu: Ha….】

With each such moment, Kang Yeon-hu’s awkward smile gradually hardened, and by the end it had turned cold. In contrast, Seo Ho-yoon smiled even more brightly.
That contrast stood out, and SNS and various communities were absolutely ablaze.

[Kang Yeon-hu: Man, he’s getting more and more distrustful]

[Are you making fun of Seo Ho-yoon after his lecture? Haha, how cute is this combination hahahaha

There’s no point in complaining when you’re already doing such a great job lol

[Kang Yeon-hu: Eventually says ‘Why are you doing this to me?’….]
[Right now it looks like Ho-yoon is draining Yeon-hu’s energy]

An unexpected chemistry emerged between the groups competing for first place in Shining Star Season 2.

[Title: Yeon-hu isn’t trying to shake off his boring image this time

I’m really fed up with Seo Ho-yoon.
Hahahahaha oh my god it’s so cute how my younger sibling is stopping me from going on Facebook hahahahahaha

└└ But honestly, if Seo Ho-yoon made that face at me, I’d stammer and get shut down too, obviously]
Even if I were like that, I’d naturally stop Seo Ho-yoon from acting like that with that face.

Noeul was already familiar with Seo Ho-yoon’s peculiar antics that only showed up on variety shows, so they laughed it off. But the High Five fandom was ablaze over Kang Yeon-hu’s unexpected side.
While Noel was used to Seo Ho-yoon’s peculiar antics that only showed up on variety shows and laughed it off, the High Five Fandom was set ablaze by Kang Yeon-hu’s unusual side.

Yeon-hoo, I think this is the first time I’ve seen you flustered since your debut… my heart is burning black…

Sigh… Yeah, if it’s WH Entertainment, they need to have someone like Joo Woo-sung with that timeless airheadedness… He’s cute, seriously…
Ugh!! I really hated Seo Ho-whow back then, but now I’m bowing to him from all directions lol. He’s a bad guy, but I’m grateful.

After Episode 1 broadcast, the MC panel members, having learned that the chemistry between Seo Ho-yoon and Kang Yeon-hu was more popular than that between Mars’s main vocalist and Lia Purple’s junior member, weren’t about to let such good material slip away.
After the first episode aired, the MC panel members, realizing that the chemistry between Seo Ho-yoon and Kang Yeon-hu was more popular than that of Mars’s main vocalist and Lia Purple’s junior member, weren’t about to let go of such good material.

MC: You two have had such great chemistry lately… Do you stay in touch privately as well?

Normally, he would have glossed over it by saying they texted occasionally, but for some reason, seeing Seo Ho-yoon grinning smugly beside him made his blood boil.
Normally I would have brushed it off as just keeping in touch occasionally, but for some reason, seeing Seo Ho-yoon grinning smoothly beside me made my blood boil.

【MC Park: Yes~!】
【Yeon-hu: Seo Ho-yoon doesn’t reply to my messages.】
Yeon-hoo: Seo Ho-yoon doesn’t reply to text messages.

Kang Yeon-hu had made up his mind to get back at Seo Ho-yoon with that remark.
However, the studio erupted in the opposite direction instead.

【Park MC: Ah, this is Seo Ho-yoon’s fault~!】

The atmosphere was practically at the level of ‘Our Yeon-hu was really hurt by Ho-yoon~?’

【Yeon-hu: Wait, I’m serious though? Ho-yoon only treats me well when the cameras are rolling?】
MC: Hahaha, that’s hilarious!

With a very flustered expression, Kang Yeon-hu launched into an impassioned speech based 200% on truth—’He picks me up and puts me down,’ ‘I can’t tell what he’s thinking,’ ‘He’s actually not interested in me at all’—but the more he spoke, the more all the panelists simply nodded at him with affectionate eyes.
Eventually, an exasperated Kang Yeon-hu shut his mouth, but afterward, a subtitle appeared reading ‘Kang Yeon-hu, 25, desperately craving love and attention.’

【MC: At this point, we should hear from Ho-yoon too! How did you feel hearing Yeon-hu’s story??】

Seo Ho-yoon, who had been listening intently while keeping his gaze fixed on Kang Yeon-hu, slightly lowered his eyebrows.

【Ho-yoon: I’d prefer if we didn’t share our story with others.】
【Park MC: Why not?】
【Yeon-hu: Huh??】

The moment all eyes turned toward him, Seo Ho-yoon, who had paused briefly, spoke slowly.

【Ho-yoon: Because I want to keep it just between the two of us.】
【Yeon-hu: …!】

At the same moment, two skull marks appeared on either side of Kang Yeon-hu with a thud.

Seo Ho-yoon, you crazy bastard hahahahahaha

As the scene transitioned with a pink-tinted subtitle reading ‘A world just for the two of us…,’ Mars’s main vocalist and Lia Purple’s junior member appeared next.

【Yeon-ri: (Boom-chick boom-chick) Senior. I’m. Really. Looking forward. To the stage.】
【Gu Chan: (Boom-chick boom-pat) Let’s. Do our. Best together.】

[What is this again lol it’s so ridiculous I’m getting a headache from laughing]
[Ah ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠQQㅠㅠㅠㅠWhat are you two doing ㅠㅠㅠㅠ LOL]

The two were doing their best within their limits, but standing awkwardly apart and conversing with stilted dialogue while adding beatbox made it nothing but hilarious.

Honestly, at this point I wondered if there was any meaning in following the script, but the humor that arose from the gap between the scripted dialogue and the awkwardness actually made for decent entertainment.
Of course, not all opinions were positive.

[It’s funny… but maybe I’m the only one who feels a bit uncomfortable ㅠ
Seo Ho-yoon and Kang Yeon-hu were so distant during Shining Star
Wouldn’t it have been better to do this bonding during Shining Star instead?? Ho-yoon isn’t the type to be oblivious to these things, so why is he acting like this??

└But honestly, I can’t tell what he’s thinking… it’s hard to predict.. Just when you think his character arc is complete, he does something completely unexpected..]

While each fandom was buzzing away like that, before dawn broke, a single photograph was uploaded to the Community Website.

[Wow]

Everyone who saw it was left speechless.

[Title: ‘Want to Sing with Me?’ Script Leak]

[Holy shit;;;;;;;]
What is this lolololol you crazy bastards lololol

.
.
.

A few minutes before that, Seo Ho-yoon sat leisurely in the Dormitory sipping coffee, having ignored all the text messages from WH Entertainment’s celebrities (Mr. Joo, Mr. Kang, Mr. Yi-chae), and watched with satisfaction as the post spread across the internet.

[Item activated.
The player’s good deeds spread to the outside world.]

The System Window flickered across my vision.

[Processing….]
[Processing….]
[Processing….]
[Processing….]
[Processing….]
[…Processing complete.]

And then, another new window appeared.

[To notify the player of their good deeds, a portion of the script for ‘Want to sing with me?’ is leaked.]

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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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