The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 20

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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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20

“This.”

I revealed the long scar that ran from my forearm up to my shoulder. It had faded over time, but if you looked closely, the mark of the wound was unmistakably visible.
Perhaps the other members had seen it during practice. Yet none of them had ever asked me about it first.

“This happened to me in a car accident… well, several years ago. Back then, the doctors said I might never be able to use my arm again.”
“….”
“I worked hard at rehabilitation, and eventually I could use it without any problems. But back then, I was truly terrified. No matter what I did, it wouldn’t move.”

For the first time, I was opening up to someone other than Seo Ho-jin. I wasn’t sure yet if Sung Ji-won had become someone truly important to me, but right now, in this moment, he was exactly who I needed.

“I know that feeling well—when it seems like nothing will ever work out.”
“….”
“But through rehabilitation, I learned something: opportunities do come. They’re not always fair, but they come, and only those who are prepared can seize them.”

It wasn’t just rehabilitation. After losing my parents and experiencing society earlier than most, I had encountered countless injustices.
People raised in wealthy families without hardship, who naturally saw others as beneath them….
There were so many in my life, far too many to count. I had grown disillusioned. Good opportunities were always stolen by others.
Even now, whether fair or unfair, this was an opportunity given to us.
But always, if you prepared, opportunity would come. Even if only once.
I met Sung Ji-won’s eyes.

“You’ve prepared hard.”
“….”
“Right?”

Sung Ji-won hesitated before nodding. It was an affirmation that he was ready to seize the opportunity.
I rolled my sleeve back down. Even as I tried to smooth it out, wrinkles creased across the fabric. The Stylist would have something to say about this.

I turned my gaze away from the shirt that was beyond saving and glanced sideways at Sung Ji-won.

“That’s enough.”
“…Yeah.”
“Stop moping and let’s go.”

Sung Ji-won clenched his teeth and stood up. Then he whispered softly to me.

“…I’ll do well.”

[Sung Ji-won trusts you.]
[Your relationship with Sung Ji-won has become very favorable.]

‘…I said too much.’

I was grateful the camera hadn’t captured that moment. I was already regretting how I’d spoken like some old-timer, showing off my scar.
It would probably become a source of embarrassment later, but at least I’d earned Sung Ji-won’s favor, so it wasn’t a total loss.

“I should save these touching narratives for when the cameras are rolling….”
“Haha, really… you’re still the same.”
“…?”

Still the same?

“Ah, sorry. Um… let’s just go.”

Sung Ji-won looked confused by his own words. I sensed something odd about it, but time was pressing, so I didn’t press further and headed back to the Waiting Room.
The members seemed anxious, fidgeting as the Showcase drew near and we still hadn’t returned.

“Why are you so late!”
“Did you really need to use the Bathroom that badly?”
“Yeah, you bastards.”

They’d already figured out the situation but were deliberately teasing us anyway.

‘Sharp instincts.’

Instead of responding, I gathered the members and followed the staff’s directions down the dimly lit Backstage. The sound of a VCR showing each member’s face was playing in the background.
Kim Sung-hyun, true to his role as leader, brought us all together.

“Let’s do a chant.”
“…Do we even have a chant?”
“We don’t.”
“Just make something up, quick.”

Everyone chimed in noisily, one after another. Kim Sung-hyun let out a heavy sigh, then raised his hand into the center where the members had clustered together.

“Just put your hands in. We need to do something like this before we go out there.”
“Yes.”

Five hands stacked together in the air. Being part of this felt both strange and natural.
What do you mean? Don’t ask me—I don’t quite understand this feeling myself.
I could see the members’ faces, some tense, others grinning. Kim Sung-hyun spoke hesitantly.

“We’ve all worked so hard this past month… Let’s keep pushing hard for another month.”
“Wooo~!”
“That’s so weak~!”
“Let’s come up with something cooler~!”
“Ugh, you guys…. I’m just saying let’s do well.”
“Yeah, let’s do well.”
“Let’s tear up that stage.”

Kim Sung-hyun pumped himself up and shouted. Let’s go, fighting!
Since it was our first time, we each did our own thing with the chant, giggling and teasing each other, but laughter spread through the group. It was a relief that the tension had eased.
As we walked out onto the darkened stage, cheers erupted. While we were getting into formation in the darkness, my eyes met Sung Ji-won’s. He quietly mouthed something at me.

‘Fighting.’

Even though he was the most nervous himself, Sung Ji-won was cheering me on. Who was really supporting whom here?
Still, it was worth all the effort—even the herbal remedy I’d taken for mental clarity.
I let out a quiet laugh, then quickly composed my expression as the beat started flowing.
With the opening of the song, the fans’ cheers grew even louder. At the same time, their voices came through in sync with the intro.

“Kim Sung-hyun, Sung Ji-won, Seo Ho-yoon, Kang Yi-chae, Jung Da-jun!”
“….”

‘Is that a fan chant?’

The fans below were shouting a fan chant. Everyone was surprised—none of us had expected it.

“The Dun, Second Chance!”

The moment the fan chant ended, I picked up the microphone and harmonized with Sung Ji-won.

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

We would have a second chance. Sung Ji-won’s eyes opened wide, his head tilting slightly. Gone was that gentle gaze—this was pure stage presence. His expression shifted dramatically, confusion flickering across his face before he raised his right hand to cover it, then lowered it to reveal unwavering resolve.
The transformation was complete, a portrait of determination etched into every feature.

[I can never let this chance slip away]

‘That’s Sung Ji-won for you.’

As Sung Ji-won panned the camera with his hand, I lifted my head from backstage and walked toward the front of the stage.
Kang Yi-chae and Kim Sung-hyun dangled cards in front of their crossed arms, pretending to flip them as they sang.

‘I’m an idol, an idol, an idol….’

At least I felt confident filling in with gestures like this.

[Pick a Card, a future that comes into clearer focus
You’re anxious about the low odds, but there’s no need to be]

“Waaaaah!”

…I’ll be honest—I was startled. If my practice had been any less thorough, my expression would have cracked in that instant.
I twisted my head expressionlessly and picked up one of the cards, then flashed a confident smirk.

[It’s okay, I’ll lead you forward]

Cheers erupted for me. After my part, I stepped back into position, and Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun came forward to match the harmony.

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

As the chorus built, Kim Sung-hyun’s dancing was explosive and commanding. Beyond him, I caught glimpses of fans waving their light sticks, their faces alight with joy.

[Say it again, we’re starting
I will come back everytime
This strange déjà vu, don’t be afraid
No need to worry
I’ll lead you through]

My eyes met Kang Yi-chae’s as he waited in the wings. He scrunched his nose playfully, his face flushed with excitement, as if everything would turn out perfectly.
Then Jung Da-jun bent low, and Kang Yi-chae stepped onto his back, launching himself upward in a full rotation before landing cleanly.

[Rise with the target, I have confidence
I won’t lose this cold sensation
Even with my eyes closed, I see your face
I ain’t gonna miss this time]

He was absolutely flying.
Kang Yi-chae seized the stage in an instant. As befitted the main rapper, his precise diction and overflowing confidence poured from the stage. No one could stop him as he burned with fearless ambition, blazing across the performance.
When he executed a shooting motion in his choreography, several fans staggered as if they’d actually been hit.
I shouldn’t have, but a laugh escaped me anyway.

[Say it again, we’re starting
I will come back everytime
This strange déjà vu, don’t be afraid
No need to wander
I’ll find the way]

Everything we’d practiced through weeks of exhaustion poured out on this stage. Perhaps it was even better. Sweat dripped from everyone’s chins.
A good song, solid production, the buzz driven by controversy, desperate members. And the fans.

[This time, this lifetime, we must]

I looked toward the audience seating. Lightsticks swaying wildly, and blind, unwavering faith directed at us.
Perhaps I’d been too complacent about this work.
My eyes met Sung Ji-won’s across the stage. Breath caught in my throat. I felt it.
We could pull this off.

[I will save you (Save you)]

I hit the high note. Sung Ji-won solidly backed me with the chorus.
In sync with the beat, we turned our bodies and returned to the first large formation where we’d all gathered. Then, swaying slowly like leaves in the wind, we rocked our bodies left and right.

[Give me, Give me, Give me Second Chance
Give you, Give you, Give you…]

Kim Sung-hyun made a shooting motion with his gun toward Sung Ji-won standing in the center. As Sung Ji-won collapsed to the floor, the swaying movements ceased, and while the formation scattered, I alone rose slowly.

[Second Chance.]

The beat ended with a whispered utterance. Everyone suppressed even their ragged breathing until the lights dimmed.
A moment of silence transformed into roaring cheers like a waterfall. Unbelievably so.
A blind devotion I never thought possible in my life poured forth.

“….”

We rose and bowed deeply to the fans. As I lowered my head, composing an indescribable emotion—that subtle feeling of my heart bursting and threatening to leap out—I felt taps on my shoulders and back.
Jung Da-jun with an expression of bursting pride, and Kim Sung-hyun with the face of someone who’d safely cleared a hurdle. Beside a grateful Sung Ji-won, Kang Yi-chae beamed widely.

***

“Wow, that was incredible. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a team dance with such intensity. Right, everyone?”

While the members lined up to wet their throats with water and calm their excitement, staff quickly set up chairs on the stage.
Once all preparations were complete, the MC took the stage and opened the Showcase with praise. The audience responded enthusiastically.

“Then we should have each of you introduce yourselves.”

I happened to be sitting closest to the MC and ended up taking the microphone first.

“Yes, hello everyone….”
“Kyaaaaa! Our bunny is so handsome!”

‘…Bunny??’

I’d barely spoken a word when cheers erupted. They were louder than my own voice through the microphone.
Flustered and momentarily forgetting what to say next, the MC quickly filled the gap with a joke.

“Who gave this guy the microphone?”

I’d never been caught up in someone’s momentum like this in my life, and today it happened multiple times. I was bewildered.

‘Wait… surely I didn’t hear that right.’

I pulled myself together and continued with the prepared remarks.

“Um… hello, I’m Seo Ho-yoon, sub-vocalist of The Dun. Thank you so much for coming today.”

After my greeting, I passed the microphone to the next member. Everyone took their turns introducing themselves in sequence, and each time, the roar of the fans made us all feel a bit dazed.
Then again, we’d never experienced this level of popularity before.

“We really have so much to ask today. The Dun is the center of attention right now, after all, isn’t it?”

The MC proceeded with practiced ease.

“First, let’s hear about the long hiatus and how Ho-yoon joined the group.”

It was a question we’d prepared for. Having someone else answer would paint a prettier picture than if I explained it myself.
Sung Ji-won immediately picked up the microphone.

“Yes, Ho-yoon was part of the original debut lineup from the start, but he took a break due to health reasons and is now returning to activities starting with this single.”
“I heard he came back with incredible ambition?”

…This wasn’t in the script. Did my words somehow spread as-is?

‘All that stuff about my parents and being satisfied as a nobody….’

I’d said plenty of provocative things. As the interview veered off in an unexpected direction, even I found myself breaking into a cold sweat.

“Seo Ho-yoon, could you say a few words?”

The MC looked at me and smiled in an unsettling way.

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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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