The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 206

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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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206

‘What a wonderful world where it’s so easy to prey on the naive.’

Ever since childhood, when Kim Jae-yeon realized that everyone possessed hidden depths, he’d found genuine pleasure in uncovering them.
Sure, he faced accusations and ridicule, but as a paparazzi who dug into people’s secrets and earned decent money doing it, his job satisfaction was remarkably high.

Recently, however, there was someone who frequently made him doubt his own professional expertise, and it troubled him.

*Tsk.*

An Idol who seemed just as skilled and versed in this kind of work as he was.

“What the hell is this guy, anyway??”

He was young, and no matter how much I dug, he seemed completely removed from this dark and sinister lifestyle.
His appearance was striking enough to rival any celebrated actor, yet his mental fortitude was top-tier even by the ruthless standards of the entertainment industry—a jungle where only the strongest survived.
One day, when I happened to flip through the television (naturally catching him putting on a show), I saw Seo Ho-yoon being kind to his members on a variety program and actually threw the remote in shock.
His relationship with the members didn’t appear strained, but…
Was that for the camera or genuine?

[There’s no benefit to dragging this out.]

The memory suddenly surfaced, and I frowned just as Seo Ho-yoon’s voice came through the phone.
On the computer screen before me was a screenshot of the StarStar account of the Home Master, presumed to be Yoon Hee-eon’s lover—information Seo Ho-yoon had provided that I’d struggled to find despite extensive searching.

“Wait, how did you even find this? I mean, you said it existed, but…!”
[Well, it just happened.]

Kim Jae-yeon’s pride took a serious hit.
Seo Ho-yoon didn’t elaborate further, instead radiating annoyance before claiming he was busy, tossing additional materials my way, and hanging up.

I began scrolling through the captured photos, starting with the posts, and noticed scattered grayscale entries mixed in.
I wasn’t sure what they meant, but regardless, this was pure gold.

‘Creepy.’

Kim Jae-yeon gathered the relevant content and dates, organizing them separately before moving on to the message screenshots. Here too, several were blacked out, but one message stood out in particular—it had no representative profile picture, and neither a name nor any other identifying information was set.
The account ID was ‘@h__X18313n’.
From the conversation content, there was only a single line of text: the name of a certain restaurant famous among celebrities for its tight security, along with a day of the week and time written briefly.

‘This is Yoon Hee-eon’s StarStar secret account, isn’t it?’

Just in case, I searched for each account on my phone, but both showed only a lock symbol indicating they were private.
Disappointed that I couldn’t dig up anything more, Kim Jae-yeon smacked his lips before thoroughly combing through everything Seo Ho-yoon had given him, then compiled and analyzed it all alongside what he’d previously investigated.
Around the time the work was wrapping up, Seo Ho-yoon contacted me again.

“I think we could just leak it as is.”
[What are you talking about? That would only cause a brief scandal, and then he’d pretend to reflect and start gauging his comeback. Don’t you know how this works?]

A sigh came through, followed by the sound of a tongue click.

[Let’s make the picture look prettier.]

As I reviewed the scenarios stacked carefully in my mind about which approach would work best, Seo Ho-yoon’s voice came through again.

[Wouldn’t it be best to simply return what was received?]

The explanation that followed was quite similar to Scenario #17—the tit-for-tat method—which Kim Jae-yeon favored most and used frequently.
The process differed slightly, but ultimately it meant returning to Yoon Hee-eon exactly what Sung Ji-won had suffered.

‘Ugh, seriously.’

After the discussion and once the method was finalized, everything became very simple.
I’d known for a while that fan managers and sasaengs exchanged information through open chat rooms, but it had always been so secretive and security was tight enough that I couldn’t get in.
Fortunately, among the materials Seo Ho-yoon provided, one message contained the chat room address and password, so I decided to use that. Following the address, I was redirected to another mobile messenger.
Everyone seemed cautious about this sudden stranger’s appearance, but since reaching this place required going through multiple channels and having both an invitation and password, the wariness seemed to ease faster than expected.

Kim Jae-yeon applied himself carefully.
I’d experienced many times before how careless behavior could result in complete failure.
He pretended to sell information while gauging the atmosphere, carefully spreading fabrications mixed with truth.
Poor relationships with women, sponsorships, two-timing, and so on.

At first, there was no reaction, but soon a few people began to suspect something was amiss. Kim Jae-yeon deliberately latched onto those skeptical voices, scattering evidence left and right.
Photos of Yoon Hee-eon entering a hotel parking lot on days when he wasn’t meeting with his current fan manager girlfriend, for instance.
The rumors gained momentum and spread rapidly.

‘Will it work?’

After anxiously monitoring the situation unfold for several days, the long-awaited result finally emerged.

[Exposing Yoon Hee-eon’s True Nature]

A post with such a title had been uploaded anonymously to an open forum on a major portal website, one famous even among idol fans.

[After returning from a Jeju Island trip, he said he was going to see his parents, but there’s even a photo of him heading straight to a hotel]

He wasn’t going to see his parents—he was going to meet his sugar daddy.

[For six months, I heard things like “there’s only you, you’re different from other girls,” and I gave him money. I suppose I was quite the fool.
He would even fabricate lies and curse at idols or juniors he didn’t like.
I loved him and believed in him with absolute conviction, but looking back now, I realize I was nothing but a complete sucker.]

Information unfavorable to him was conspicuously absent, but Seo Ho-yoon said nothing.
He seemed to know well enough that it would all come out eventually.

After that, everything accelerated.
Once a day, exposés came pouring in from women claiming to be Yoon Hee-eon’s girlfriends.
As photos taken with Yoon Hee-eon, couple merchandise, dating locations, and more were endlessly revealed, people who had been uncertain at first gradually began to believe.
Simultaneously, the identities of the accusers were thoroughly excavated.

[Wow, a current girlfriend parade lol]
This isn’t even two-timing, how many people are you juggling lol you crazy bastard lmaooo when you read the comments everyone’s so pissed it’s hilarious
[Did you guys read the full posts from Yoon Hee-eon’s accusers??
Lol everyone’s calling themselves pitiful victims, but then exposés keep coming out about them too lol. Guess male idols are really hated.
[This year’s K-pop all-time worst blunder update confirmed]

I’d merely lit the fuse, yet everything exploded spectacularly.

‘…Seo Ho-yoon really is a capable bastard.’

Of course, considerable groundwork had been necessary to ignite the fuse, but if I’d simply leaked it as-is, it wouldn’t have produced nearly this much impact.

[Yoon Hee-eon photocard transfer available
No, I’m scrapping this. Damn it, this is beyond recovery. It’s at a level where even foreigners wouldn’t buy it.
[Oh my god ㅠㅠㅠHeeunpleㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m really getting hostile towards other people.
Hey, your Group’s male idols are even doing media play while trying to establish seniority over their juniors lol

Kim Jae-yeon watched Yoon Hee-eon burning away to ash across various SNS platforms and communities, then decided to search for The Dun.

[What do you think about that guy Seo… being a male rabbit?]

It was utterly peaceful.

“What do you think about that guy Seo… and the sasaeng ecosystem?”

He’d apparently been huge on a variety show recently, and YouTube had endless clips related to him.
Especially whenever Seo Ho-yoon’s pretense showed through, my teeth would itch.

“But seriously, why is he even doing this?”

If P.O.B was the setting sun, The Dun was the rising one.
A guy who wouldn’t bleed even if you stabbed him surely wasn’t actually doing this to look after his own members.

“Sung Ji-won, is it delicious?”

Watching Seo Ho-yoon on the computer screen with his eyes wide and kind expression gave me goosebumps.

“Would anyone say he’s crazy?”

There’s no way.

***

‘I did something completely pointless because of Sung Ji-won.’

That night, I clicked my tongue as I watched YouTube flood with sensational videos about Yoon Hee-eon.
I didn’t understand why he’d deliberately do something that would eventually crack and break—it made no sense.

[But why not do it yourself? Wouldn’t that be faster?]
“Ah, I’m naive, you see.”
[…What?]

Kim Jae-yeon found it absurd, but I genuinely believed it.
How could an Idol do such a thing.
After scanning everyone’s reactions, I set my phone down without hesitation.

‘It’s over.’

Fan club statements and expulsion campaigns were already erupting.
Expulsion seemed only a matter of time.
Even if it didn’t happen, a comeback would be nearly impossible.
Did Yoon Hee-eon realize?
That what he’d done to others had now been done to him.

Gazing at the ceiling for a moment, I placed my hand over my heart.

“Ho-yoon, let’s use this as a cautionary tale and live righteously from now on.”

[What are you saying? Are you insane?]

The System Window, usually silent, had been grumbling beside me throughout this entire operation, complaining about how I was using items.
Of course, I paid it no mind.

“You’ve worked hard with such a tender heart, Ho-yoon…”

[Ugh.]

The System Window, continuing to grumble, slowly faded away as if sighing, then reappeared.

[But from now on, please be more careful with your actions. Things have been really difficult lately.]

Difficult? What do you mean?
As my eyebrows twitched, the System Window provided clarification.

[Originally, we’re the ones who issue Quests—not the ones who custom-tailor what you need and hand it over. And there should be appropriate compensation and cost for it. Honestly, this Quest was essentially giving you a freebie by setting the desired compensation and making it an easy mission.]

“Freebie? Didn’t you see me suffering because of Joo Woo-sung?”

[That’s precisely why I issued it—because I wanted to see that.]

What a nasty bastard.

[During the loan period, during Shining Star Season 2, and even now. The System has been so unstable that I find it difficult to predict what might happen next. This isn’t a good phenomenon for the Player either.]

“Mm.”

I stroked my chin while listening to the clamorous noise leaking through the door gap, then flopped back onto the bed.

“Just don’t give me any weird Quests.”

Since I’d finished organizing my surroundings and planned to diligently complete Quests going forward, I judged this level of warning light enough to brush off.
The only thing I found slightly regrettable was that I hadn’t witnessed Yoon Hee-eon’s pathetic expression firsthand.
Like with Today, I should have gotten a jab in at least once. And then I could’ve enjoyed my daily life with a pleasant mind.

‘What a shame, what a shame~.’

“Hyung! Ji-won’s birthday is in 10 minutes!!”

As I was thinking that, the door burst open.
It was Jung Da-jun.

“Did you think of fish?”
“Fish?”
“That was so bad I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear it.”

Jung Da-jun cheerfully chattered on about how he’d bought two pairs of socks with hair-like toes as a gift for Sung Ji-won, and that if we took a photo together wearing them and posted it on StarStar, the fans would love it.

“I got one for you too, Hyung! It looks a bit different though…!”

I got up and slung an arm around his shoulder, then pinched his unusually chubby cheek hard.

“Ow!”
“Do you have a motor in your mouth? Why do you never stop talking?”
“…Brrrrr.”

Watching the Maknae play along by pressing his lips together and making motor sounds, I giggled.
As I leaned my weight against the arm draped over him and he whined that I was heavy, I pressed my finger against his lips to make them pout like a duck’s bill, then sauntered out of the room.
Kang Yi-chae, who happened to be on the sofa snapping gum while looking at his phone, smiled gently when he saw me.

“You’re here?”

Sitting beside him, I caught a glimpse of his phone screen—Yoon Hee-eon’s article was displayed there. Fortunately timed with Sung Ji-won’s birthday, the useless posts had been pushed back, and the search results had been purified to some extent.
He seemed to sense that I’d done something, but it didn’t feel like the right topic to discuss with the other members around, so I steered the conversation elsewhere.

“Where did Sung Ji-won go?”

Now that I thought about it, when I’d been with Joo Woo-sung, he’d gotten a message and seemed like he had something to say, but with schedules and everything else keeping us busy, it had just slipped by.

“I’m here.”

Turning around, he was coming out of that room with Kim Sung-hyun.
Do you know what I did for you?
I had no intention of ever mentioning it aloud, yet internally I was taking credit for every conceivable thing, when Sung Ji-won stopped in his tracks at the farthest point from me.

‘Huh?’

Moreover, his gaze shifted away awkwardly.

“—cake, there’s no cake so it does feel a bit empty.”

Sung Ji-won even turned his head sharply away from me.

“Oh! There’s Mong— and Choco— in the kitchen cabinet. Should I grab those instead?”
“Hyung, I have candles.”

While I was processing how strange this was, Jung Da-jun scurried off to the kitchen.
Since we were planning to have a birthday party with fans on B Live around 7 PM anyway, we hadn’t prepared anything special.
As Jung Da-jun stacked chocolate bread into a tower, Kang Yi-chae placed a candle inscribed with “Congratulation” on top and lit it.

“28!”
“No, why are you counting down from such an awkward number?”

Jung Da-jun began the countdown as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

“24!”
“The timing doesn’t match, does it? It’s already 12:02 AM right now?”
“20!”

Even as the members chimed in one by one, Jung Da-jun remained steadfast.

“5! 4! 3! 2! 1!!”

A loud bang erupted as confetti cannons burst, sending paper cascading in all directions.

“Happy birthday!”

August 31st.
I’d thought he was born in the lush spring, yet this guy had come into the world at summer’s end.

“Hyung, make a wish quickly!”
“I’ll just make another one later.”
“Come on, hyung~! Morning, afternoon, evening. Three times a day works, right?”

Urged on by the youngest members, Sung Ji-won glanced over each of his groupmates once before quietly closing his eyes and clasping his hands together.
Kang Yi-chae grabbed my arm.

“Come on, hyung too! One more time, nice and long~ We should celebrate with all our love!”
“Sigh….”

I concealed the slight turbulence in my heart and opened my mouth again.

“Yeah, Sung Ji-won. Stay healthy and blessed going forward. While you’re young and have the stamina, work hard and don’t forget to earn money diligently.”
“Sung Ji-won, go make a bow of respect.”

Kim Sung-hyun chided me from the side, saying it sounded like something you’d hear on a holiday. After giving him a light tap on the back, I continued.

“Happy birthday.”

Sung Ji-won, who seemed to have been avoiding my gaze, finally looked straight at me.

“…Thanks.”

I ruffled the youngest member’s hair as he stuffed a chocolate bread into his mouth in one bite, then headed into my bedroom.

‘What the hell?’

Something felt off, and I was left with an uncomfortable feeling.
As I mentally retraced my steps in reverse order, Sung Ji-won cracked open the door and poked his head in cautiously.

“Ho-yoon, you awake?”
“….”

Even as Jung Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae’s voices still echoed loudly outside, I whispered back softly.

“Do you happen to have some time today?”
“No.”
“…Really no time?”
“…Actually. Yes.”

He’d kept his distance before, but now he was drawing closer again.
I’d intended to refuse—unwilling to be alone with Sung Ji-won, who was displaying such inexplicable behavior—but watching him hesitate right in front of me made it difficult to brush him off.

“Great! Will you get a cake with me?”
“Won’t the staff members bring one?”
“Haha, I want to buy it myself. We don’t have any schedule today anyway.”

His affectionate tone and those pale brown eyes tinged with anxiety.
The moment I sensed something odd about the atmosphere, warning bells rang in my mind.

‘What is this?’

After living together for over a year, I knew he wasn’t the type to sentimentally celebrate his own birthday.
Moreover, true to his nature, he would have withdrawn the suggestion the instant I showed any sign of annoyance.

So why?

“…Where are you thinking of buying it?”

Why was he being so insistent with me?

Sung Ji-won smiled faintly.
In a way, he seemed nervous.

“XX Hotel 1st Floor.”

That was the hotel Yoon Hee-eon used to frequent.

It feels ominous.
Very ominous.

In my thirty-three years of life, I’ve learned that ominous premonitions never miss the mark.

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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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