The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 226

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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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226

【Take Care of Me – First Broadcast!】

Take Care of Me began with a stunning Han River View.

[Wow, Seo Ho-yoon is seriously incredible. He’s genuinely competent, so clean and considerate… Is this real?]

In the early segments, Seo Ho-yoon faithfully performed his managerial duties. The witty back-and-forth between Seo Ho-yoon and Min Ji-heon provided subtle entertainment value.
However, the program didn’t differ significantly from existing variety show formats, leaving viewers with a somewhat mundane feeling.

[Hmm, this doesn’t feel like Choi Ji-sung’s PD style]
Haha, I thought you’d show something a bit more ridiculous… Did you hold back because Min Ji-heon showed up? Haha

Around the thirty-minute mark, as new captions appeared on screen, the broadcast’s atmosphere suddenly shifted.

【What is the most important thing in the relationship between a manager and an entertainer?】
【It is knowing each other well!】

[Oh, a quiz?]

[Didn’t Seo Ho-yoon and Joo Woo-sung do well on the quiz?? Haha, I think this one will fit right in too.

└LOL, that wasn’t really proven to be true, but I did know Joo Woo-sung’s identity well LOL]

The variety show’s progression unfolded in a direction entirely different from what viewers anticipated.

【We have secretly delivered missions to the cast members.】

[????]
[Huh? Suddenly? Here??]

It was that Choi PD—famous for having a deceptively innocent face but a twisted personality, crafting programs with equal intrigue.
Even for reality variety shows, he wasn’t the type to simply capture ordinary, natural moments and call it a day.

【※Actually, I just wanted to surprise him.】

Hahahahaha, hey Production Crew, you guys!
Why didn’t you just say that from the beginning lol
[Hey hey, I trusted PD Choi~~~hahaha]

Choi Ji-sung was originally a specialist in low-brow, absurdist variety entertainment.
From the start, he had intended to capture everything that would unfold as the cast members performed their missions.

“Oh… heart rate.”

Min Ji-heon, who had just been assigned the mission, seemed utterly indifferent.
However, the Production Crew, who had been rolling around in this game for so long, couldn’t possibly have skipped their preliminary preparations.
Having already collected the fact that Min Ji-heon would sell his soul for food, they unveiled their trump card.

“Min Ji-heon.”
“Yes?”
“If you succeed in surprising Seo Ho-yoon… I’ll give you 10 sets of S++ Korean beef aged 10 years.”
“…!!”

Instantly, Min Ji-heon, who had been melting away like a slug moments before, snapped upright with sharp focus.

[Where did Ji-heon go, the one who was melting just now]
Hey lol you’re so simple-minded lol

Then, with a sharp glint in his eyes, he pressed for the details.

“How high does the heart rate need to go?”
“If Seo Ho-yoon’s heart rate rises 40 beats or more above Min Ji-heon’s, that counts. And you must keep the fact that you received this mission completely hidden. Do you think you can do it?”

As Choi PD spoke, the image of Seo Ho-yoon from “Hyperfocus Master” overlapped behind Min Ji-heon’s eyes.

【This guy is strong…!】

Even when watching Joo Woo-sung perform a wall-pin toward Yoo Ji-a or a middle-aged man who had appeared from behind fluttering curtains fitting the internet novel concept, Seo Ho-yoon’s expression had remained unmoved.

【Can I really pull this off…?】

As this caption flashed across the screen, a close-up of Min Ji-heon’s determined face appeared.

“Tsk.”

He brushed back his silky bangs with a gentle touch, then curved one corner of his mouth in the subtlest of smiles.
It was a captivating smile, yet one that hinted at hidden schemes.

“I’m still an actor, after all.”

Beside him sat a small, glimmering prime-grade Korean beef that shone with golden radiance.

【I complimented him on looking cool♡】

[You’re not cool, Min Ji-heon

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha]

[Why is Min Ji-heon acting so dumb lolololol]

Min Ji-heon rarely found anything interesting outside of acting, but with food on the line, he couldn’t afford to be careless.
He gauged Seo Ho-yoon’s reaction, timed his moment, and then slowly began his attempt.

First attempt: provoke irritation.

“Ji-heo’s a total airhead, a total airhead.”
“When did I ever do that?”
“….”

It didn’t land at all.
The attempt ended in less than ten seconds.

He thought for a moment.
And so began the second attempt: startle him.

“There’s probably a spray bottle in the bathroom, right?”
“Is there?”

【But what awaited Seo Ho-yoon in the bathroom was a ghost doll prepared by the production crew…!】

“Kyaaaa!”
“…Oh~.”

【Production Crew: ?
Min Ji-heon: ?
Seo Ho-yoon: ?】

“….”
“….”

【Ooh…?】

“…How terrifying.”

Min Ji-heon unleashed his acting prowess with a startled scream, but Seo Ho-yoon, a beat too late, feigned surprise before simply grabbing the spray bottle and shutting the bathroom door again.
Min Ji-heon’s interview footage followed.

“Still, I was grateful you at least pretended to be surprised.”

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Your bar for gratitude is way too low lol

Thus the second attempt concluded just as anticlimactically.

Then Min Ji-heon suddenly realized something: Seo Ho-yoon always grabbed the back of his neck whenever he saw him.

And so came the third attempt—simply living normally.

“Where are you going? The interview is coming up soon.”
“There’s this amazing dumpling place nearby called XX Dumpling Restaurant! I’ll buy you some!”
“No.”

No matter what he tried, Seo Ho-yoon remained steadfastly unmoved, while Min Ji-heon found every morsel he purchased promptly confiscated—greasy, salty foods were forbidden before schedules, he was told. With his own manager, he’d slipped away like a loach, indulging freely in culinary delights, but Seo Ho-yoon’s hawk-like gaze was inescapable.
While he could easily slip away like a loach whenever he worked with his own manager to enjoy fine dining, there was no escaping Seo Ho-yoon’s hawk eyes.

Min Ji-heon was flustered seeing Seo Ho-yoon humming a tune and driving leisurely, even though he had clearly been annoyed just by Ho-yoon breathing beside him.

What is it?

Pushed to his limit, Min Ji-heon finally collapsed on the floor.
Min Ji-heon, who had become extremely sensitive, finally collapsed on the ground.

“Don’t starve me—just step on me instead!”
“….”
“If you won’t let me eat this, I’m seriously not moving an inch from here! I won’t let you leave either! If you’re going, you’ll have to step over me!”
“Wow, you’ve got unique tastes.”
“―Wait, wait, wait—don’t actually step on me!”

Nothing worked on Seo Ho-yoon.
Naturally, the third attempt also ended in failure.

【Min Ji-heon’s heart rate refuses to rise no matter what he does….】
【An impenetrable shield vs. a spear that keeps breaking】

By the time these captions appeared, everyone understood.
Min Ji-heon would never succeed at this mission.

[The spear is basically a cotton swab at this point

Haha, you’re way too weak!

I feel like I could just step right over Seo Ho-yoon and keep walking lol

Min Ji-heon persisted stubbornly, but Seo Ho-yoon remained unmoved.
Then,

【◁◁◁】
【The reason Seo Ho-yoon remained so composed continues from earlier in the shoot.】
Following the caption, an interview with Seo Ho-yoon was inserted.

“You want me to raise Min Ji-heon’s heart rate?”

【In fact, Seo Ho-yoon received the exact same mission as Min Ji-heon!】

The prize allocated to Seo Ho-yoon was also premium Korean beef.

“Ah, Korean beef?”

Seo Ho-yoon blinked slowly a few times as if pondering, then broke into a grin.

“Our maknae’s appetite has been absolutely ravenous lately, so this works out perfectly.”

Brief clips flashed across the screen—Min Ji-heon exhausting himself through every conceivable method to elevate Seo Ho-yoon’s heart rate.
Simultaneously, Seo Ho-yoon’s expressionless face remained visible throughout, creating an atmosphere of serene calm, as if Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On” were playing in the background.
His heart rate stubbornly remained below 80 throughout.

【Even if we measured during sleep, his heart rate would be higher than this.】

[P_P and ㅇ_< -☆!! are friends who fit together so well…]
[They’re seriously close, this is hilarious, I’m literally crying]

Seo Ho-yoon, too, had been assigned a mission.
He didn’t stop at mere defense.
When Min Ji-heon had placed a ghost doll in the bathroom to startle him, Seo Ho-yoon grabbed the back of Min Ji-heon’s neck—who was pretending to be terrified—and pulled him close, pressing his lips against Min Ji-heon’s ear before speaking in a low voice.

“Come back here.”
“…!”

In that instant, Min Ji-heon’s heart rate spiked to 110.
A brief interview clip of Min Ji-heon was inserted.

“Honestly, it was cool.”

[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Jiheon nooooo hahahaha]
[Wait a minute, it’s easy for you ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋ]

Later, after Min Ji-heon had faithfully completed his schedule while starving, he returned home and collapsed listlessly—only for Seo Ho-yoon to bustle back and forth in the kitchen.
Soon, delicious aromas wafted through the air, and Seo Ho-yoon dragged Min Ji-heon over and seated him at the dining table.

“I’m fine, really….”
“Eat.”
“…Yes.”

The table was laden with an appetizing kimchi stew, golden-yellow rolled egg, crispy roasted seaweed, neatly cut kimchi, and steaming white rice rising with wisps of steam.
Min Ji-heon picked up the spoon placed neatly before him and took a spoonful of the kimchi stew broth, his eyes widening.

“…This is delicious?”

In that moment, his heart rate climbed to 120.

【Min Ji-heon’s Special Note: Lacks conviction】

[Dude…you…
You’re making this too easy…]
[Hahahahahahahahaha Jiheon, have some sense of purpose ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Min Ji-heon ate everything without reservation, but his refined palate made him particular about his food.
Seo Ho-yoon’s kimchi stew, with its perfectly balanced sweetness and deep umami, was exactly to his taste.

“Oh~. You cook well too? Do you make this often?”

[Does Seo Ho-yoon cook well?]

Honestly, they said there’s nothing this guy won’t do with his mouth… lol

└Dancing…?
“No… the members still tease Ho-yoon about his dancing being clumsy, haha, but honestly these days it’s way better than some of the other guys’ moves…”

“No, I don’t cook well. It’s too much of a hassle.”
“Hm?”
“But you enjoy eating, Hyung.”
“…!”

Watching Min Ji-heon’s eyes waver uncontrollably, Seo Ho-yoon approached the induction cooktop and retrieved the steamer basket.
When he lifted the lid, the dumplings Min Ji-heon had wanted to buy earlier were sitting inside, still warm and steaming.

“What, what is this? When did you…?”
“I bought them.”
“You said dumplings are greasy and high in sodium….”
“You have no schedule tomorrow, and you wanted to eat them.”
“…!!”

Seo Ho-yoon smiled smoothly.

“Hyung looks most beautiful when you’re eating.”

Min Ji-heon covered his mouth.

“Ho-yoon…!!!”

【I thought Min Ji-heon was doing that to raise his heart rate….】
【Turns out he just genuinely wanted to eat it】

[hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Qㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Seo Ho-yoon ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

In the end, Min Ji-heon’s heart rate ultimately hit 140.
A solo shot of Min Ji-heon with the Han River View in the background filled the screen.
He stroked Malang while exhaling a sigh, his gaze fixed on the gently flowing waters as he spoke.

“He’s definitely doing that on purpose, you know?”

【Seems like he knows it too.】

“But why… is it so cool?”

【But it seems he still hasn’t come to his senses.】

[hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha]
[PD Choi really did something. The subtitles are so funny hahahaha]

Seo Ho-yoon’s interview followed in succession.

【Was all of that a calculated action with the mission in mind?】

“Yes, of course.”

Seo Ho-yoon answered firmly, though his eyes dimmed slightly.

“But I think his heart rate would have gone up even if I’d just offered him the food from the start.”

【Unlike the other one, this person actually understands what’s going on.】

[hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha]

As one side overwhelmingly completed the mission too easily, the Production Crew entered an emergency meeting.

“Min Ji-heon’s heart rate has jumped fifteen times over four days. Fifteen times.”
“That’s five times per meal.”
“Exactly. I never expected him to be so vulnerable to food….”

Seo Ho-yoon recalls the moments when Min Ji-heon’s eyes sparkled with wonder and admiration each time he provided food.

【Min Ji-heon Heartbeat Points +1♡】
【Min Ji-heon Heartbeat Points +2♡】
【Min Ji-heon Heartbeat Points +3♡】

There were also the brilliant roles Min Ji-heon had portrayed—a ruthless killer, a rational and cold chaebol heir, an artist with a closed heart and icy demeanor.
Those magnificent characters flashed through his mind as well.
Then, with thirty percent opacity, the image of Min Ji-heon waiting obediently before food overlaid everything.

[Give back my Jiheon ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He’s so cute hahahaha]
[Dae Pa-sung did well…
pushing Min Ji-heon’s mystique…]

“There is one method we could try.”

The production crew, their identities thoroughly concealed beneath caps pulled low, huddled together and whispered before the screen cut to a new scene.

【Production Crew Helper Request!】

After exhaustive deliberation, the production crew concluded that Min Ji-heon could never raise Seo Ho-yoon’s heart rate, so they brought in a new guest.

[What is it hahaha haha ​​Pasung-ah, the tie-in sales make a lot of sense haha]
[??? Is this really Jeong Da-jun?? Hahahahahaha]
“These crazy bastards are really trying to get me cursed out.”

Most viewers simply thought a ‘new face’ had appeared.
However, some who had been wary of The Dun caught on sharply.

[Pathetic,, anyway most otaku or people don’t know about bundling tactics like this ,,,]
[This is just gonna be a mudslinging match,,]

【Jung Da-jun (20)
The Dun Lead Dancer, Maknae.】

Jung Da-jun fidgeted nervously with his clothes when a profile appeared beside him.

【Special Note: Devoted Min Ji-heon Fan】

Jung Da-jun must have received advance notice, as he unlocked the door with a key card and stepped inside. He quickly kicked off his shoes, but his foot tangled and he tumbled noisily into the living room.

“A-a new assistant manager Jung Da-jun has arrived!!”

【Special Note 2: Exceptionally Cheerful】

Jung Da-jun, who seemed momentarily flustered, threw his hands up and shouted.
At that, Seo Ho-yoon, who had been lounging limply on the sofa, snapped his eyes wide open and jumped to his feet.

“Hey!!”

Seo Ho-yoon’s heart rate, which hadn’t climbed no matter what Min Ji-heon did, skyrocketed to 120 in an instant.

“Hey, Jung Da-jun, you okay?”
“Yes!!”
“The assistant manager’s voice was really loud.”

A caption appeared below the reading, still hovering above 120.

【Successful Deployment!】

Heart rate doesn’t lie… lol

“While Ho-yoon edits Min Ji-heon’s vlog, I’m Jung Da-jun, a daily supporter here to help Min Ji-heon!!”
“Wow, I’ve never seen someone introduce themselves like that….”
“Make yourself comfortable!!”

Each time Jung Da-jun grinned widely and eagerly offered to take on anything, Seo Ho-yoon’s complexion grew paler or his heart rate climbed higher.

“I’ll give cooking a try!”
“Oh~, really? Better than Ho-yoon?”
“Ho-yoon cries in front of me!!”
“Hey.”

About ten minutes after Jung Da-jun began cooking with such enthusiasm, a loud bang erupted from the microwave, sending sparks flying everywhere.

“W-wait, it’s okay, senior! I can handle it….”
“No, no, no, stop—Da-jun, please just stay still!!”

Min Ji-heon, startled, hurriedly pulled on rubber gloves and yanked out the power cord.

【Min Ji-heon, Seo Ho-yoon Heart Rate 150☆】

“Senior! Let me drive instead of Ho-yoon!”
“Oh? You must be a good driver?”
“Yes, I got a perfect score!! Ho-yoon can rest comfortably while editing!”

【Jung Da-jun, who claims to be such a skilled driver☆】

“Well, he did ace the road test.”

Though slightly uneasy, Seo Ho-yoon nodded and repeated his warnings to drive carefully five or six times before finally relinquishing the driver’s seat.
Jung Da-jun, now behind the wheel with his seatbelt fastened, confirmed through the rearview mirror that Min Ji-heon had boarded, then slowly pulled out onto the road.

“Da-jun, how did you manage to get a perfect score on the road test~? I heard it was difficult.”
“Well!!”

Jung Da-jun answered cheerfully.

“I took it about seven times!”
“…What?”
“At first, I even confused the brake and accelerator~, hehe!”

He sped recklessly through sharp curves, executed flashy lane changes, and even threw in a drift for parking.
Min Ji-heon gripped the car’s handles with both hands, desperately stifling the scream threatening to burst from his throat.
Once Jung Da-jun arrived at the schedule location, he unbuckled his seatbelt and gave a triumphant thumbs up.

“Not a bad ride, right?!”
“….”

【Min Ji-heon Heart Rate 160☆】

And so, Seo Ho-yoon and Min Ji-heon found themselves repeatedly subjected to Jung Da-jun’s innocent antics, their heart rates climbing with each incident.

【Then, what about Jung Da-jun’s heart rate…?】

Jung Da-jun tumbled into the living room, and the moment his eyes met Min Ji-heon’s, a graph shot upward in a runaway spike.

【It’s been at 150 straight since the moment he saw Min Ji-heon ^^】

Hahahahaha oh my god so cute hahahaha
Oh my god, she’s actually a real Jiheon fan hahahahahaha

【You three can just order the Korean beef as you like ☆】

“I, uh… I’m going to rest for a bit…”

Watching Min Ji-heon return looking half-dead and wilted while Jung Da-jun bounced back with his face flushed with excitement, Seo Ho-yoon thought to himself.

‘Jung Da-jun really was helpful.’

Without any expectations, thanks to Jung Da-jun, the variety show had flowed well, and he’d managed to avoid drawing any backlash.
Having finished the variety shoot feeling unusually comfortable today, Seo Ho-yoon wore a satisfied expression and patted his youngest member’s head.

“Brother, do you think Min Ji-heon will feel comfortable around me now?”
“He’ll think of you as a really good junior.”
“Really?!”

For the sake of his youngest member, whose excitement was transparently pure, Seo Ho-yoon spoke with practiced nonchalance.
In the future, Min Ji-heon would continue to suffer from Jung Da-jun’s wild antics and wouldn’t find comfort at all…

“Bangbang-ah. Just keep doing that from now on.”
“Yay!! Yes!!”

Did Seo Ho-yoon know?

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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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