The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 228

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

228

“Ho-yoon! This is our seat!”
“Yeah.”

I kept touching my ear, nodding absently.
My nerves felt stretched taut as a wire.

‘That sound from earlier… it must have been a mistake, right?’

I desperately wanted to believe that.

“When does it start?”
“Probably once they finish rehearsal and get ready.”

On stage, visibly young trainees with soft, fluffy features were rehearsing in makeup far too heavy for their age.

“Oh, senior! Hello!”
“Hello!”
“Work hard. Looking forward to your performance.”
“Fighting!!”

Despite the broadcast being imminent and the tension that must accompany it, the Dae Pa-sung trainees I’d crossed paths with a few times at the company bowed precisely at ninety degrees as they passed.
Our company’s trainees were one thing, but I found myself scrutinizing the others, and I had nothing good to say.

‘Pushing them to success will be rough.’

As a former main PD of a survival program, it was painfully clear to me.
Markedly insufficient skill, yet they approached rehearsal half-heartedly.
Eyes devoid of focus, expressions hollow and vacant.

Just as I’d misjudged The Dun initially, success depends on the individual’s effort, but when the person involved had zero motivation, there was no solution.
Compared to these trainees, the mentors seemed almost wasted.

‘So that’s why the Internet reaction was like that.’

Each beat of the music sent a sharp throb through my temples. I pressed my fingertips against them repeatedly before finally rising from my seat.
Sung Ji-won looked up at me with wide eyes.

“Ho-yoon, what’s wrong?”
“I’ll come back once the broadcast starts. It’s just too loud for a moment….”
“Oh… okay.”

Behind Sung Ji-won’s nod, I caught the worried gazes of Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun following me.
But they all turned away without pressing further.

I walked slowly through the Broadcasting Station hallway, now familiar from filming Shining Star, and opened the door leading to the emergency stairs.
Within the radius I could currently move, the quietest place.

“A mentor stage?”

Just then, a voice echoed up through the stairwell and reached my ears.

“Was there any mention of that beforehand?”
“Damn, we barely get any airtime as it is, measured in minutes….”
“Fuck, will our recognition even go up after this program ends?”

Right. This place was famous as a spot for gossip precisely because people assumed it was quiet and nobody came through.
But if you grumble in a place like this, the broadcast crew hears your morning complaints and your evening ones too.

I gripped the railing and carefully peered both up and down the stairs. A shadow flickered below.
It was mostly just continuous grumbling, but even trainees should have received basic discretion training from the company. Yet their mouths were looser than feathers.
I was debating whether I should go down and advise them on the precautions of running their mouths in a place like this, when a familiar name suddenly came up.

“But seriously, isn’t Kang Yi-chae scary?”
“…Yeah, totally.”
“Super scary. He’s the only mentor who doesn’t act like a jerk to us, but we’re completely terrified of him.”
“His face?”
“I thought he was a funny and cheerful guy from watching variety shows, but no. I don’t know if that was a concept or what, but he’s seriously intense. I threw out a joke once and he just stared at me, and I nearly lost it….”

Well, they certainly had a pretty accurate read on Kang Yi-chae.
My head was spinning, and since these kids were just anxious and grumbling like they were throwing a tantrum, I didn’t need to hear more. I tried to turn back toward where the members were, but before I could even open the door, it swung open first and someone burst out.

“Hi~.”

It was Kang Yi-chae.
At the same time, the lower level erupted into activity. The sound of trainees scrambling down the stairs echoed through the space after recognizing Kang Yi-chae’s voice.
Kang Yi-chae glanced down toward the staircase below before turning his gaze back to me.
He wore tight black slacks paired with a round-neck cropped short-sleeve shirt connected to the pants, and a black choker string wrapped around his neck—a bit sparse for stage attire.

“Came to see a funny and cheerful rapper?”

Sharp ears on this guy.
Kang Yi-chae, chewing gum with a delinquent swagger, lifted his right foot onto the staircase and adjusted the laces of his walker boots.

“Hyung, Yi-chae has good instincts.”
“…Huh?”

I bit the inside of my cheek and responded casually.
Sweat trickled down my back, but my complexion was already covered by makeup.

“But I’m very worried.”

I thought I could brush past it somehow, but Kang Yi-chae, tapping the toe of his walker against the floor, looked at me and raised his lips in a loose smile.

“Go home.”
“….”

Just like Min Ji-heon. Why did so many people keep telling me to go home?

“Don’t push yourself just to show your face in a measly one-minute broadcast. If you’re worried about controversy, then… what is it. Ask the production crew to composite you in like they do with a photo ID next to the group picture when someone’s absent from a school trip.”
“Have you ever been on a school trip?”
“Ouch, you’re poking at my weak spot. Or just say Min Ji-heon’s variety show filming ran long.”

In this information-saturated world, any lie would unravel the moment someone bothered to check.
I tried to laugh it off, but Kang Yi-chae’s gaze was more intense than expected.
There was something sharp about it….

“You know the audience seating is visible from the stage, right?”

…If I didn’t go, he looked ready to tear apart even a fellow group member.
I quickly opened my mouth.

“I’ll talk it over with the Manager.”
“Oh, that’s perfect.”

Only then did he break into a bright smile.

“I’m a bit disappointed after preparing so hard, but I’ll get to see my performance again in the future anyway, right?”

With that, he said he needed to head back to the Waiting Room and left first, adding one more word of trust.
I watched his retreating figure and leaned my back against the wall.

‘Leave? What are you talking about, kid.’

My personal healer had even provided emergency treatment—there was no way I was leaving now.
At minimum, I wanted to see the live reaction.

After steadying my breathing a few times, I exited the Emergency Stairs and headed back toward the Competition Venue.

“Seo Ho-yoon!”
“Yeah.”
“…Are you okay?”

I nodded and took my seat.
A special seating area had been arranged on the right side near the Stage.

Not long after, the Trainees’ competition began.

【I wanna have you, have you, have you
I wanna catch you】

And their stage was at the level of a school performance.

【Your body is so beautiful
【Your body is so beautiful

Ooh Beautiful Girl】
“……hmm.”

“…Hmm.”

At first, the members responded enthusiastically, but their reactions gradually faded.

‘Shouldn’t the viewers be getting paid for watching this?’
It may have been a way to shock the trainees and at the same time capture the attention of viewers and correct the status of the program.

It was meant to shock the trainees while capturing the audience’s attention and restoring the program’s prestige.

Ooh Beautiful Girl】

Kim Sung-hyun muttered while gazing with an unusually cold expression.

“….”

Beside him, Jung Da-jun rubbed his arms repeatedly.

‘Kim Hee-young, you made the right call stepping back.’
I clapped endlessly to avoid being noticed that my fingertips were shaking in pain. Still, it was still worth holding on to.

I clapped endlessly to hide my trembling hands, aching from the strain. Still, I could manage for now.

[Now, let’s meet the special stage prepared by the mentors for the trainees!]

After all the trainees’ performances ended, the MC introduced the mentors’ upcoming performance.

“Wow!! Looks like Yi-chae is coming out!”

The Dun Members cheered with anticipation.

‘Kang Yi-chae, I’m sorry.’
Dark blue and red lights moved dizzyingly on the stage, which was decorated like an abandoned construction site.
When had I ever listened to anyone?

With a faint whistle echoing through the air, the title ‘DICE’ flashed across the screen.

“…Oh!”
Underneath the rider’s jacket and short-length T-shirt, his abs showed off their presence.
In the center, someone wearing a cap pulled down firmly sat perched on the remnants of broken concrete.
Beneath the rider jacket and short-hemmed t-shirt, defined abdominal muscles subtly commanded attention.

Opening the mentor performance was none other than Kang Yi-chae.
“Hey, the way you talk…and where did you forget my brother?”

“Hey, watch your tone… and you forgot to call him hyung.”
The back dancers’ costumes were uniform in pure white uniforms, so Kang Yi-chae, who was all black except for her hair and had a contrasting look, stood out even more.

Since the back dancers’ costumes were unified in pure white uniforms, Kang Yi-chae—dressed entirely in black except for his head—stood out even more strikingly by contrast.

【Screeeech!】

Bathed in a spotlight, he removed his cap and tossed it to the side, lifting one corner of his mouth into a smirk.

【Did you throw the dice?】
Drums played beneath the powerful electric guitar sound.

Beneath the intense electric guitar sound, drums laid down the foundation.

【Wandering like a madman, I finally found it

You can’t deny it, my heart is racing】

A melody that clung stubbornly to the ear, saturated with Kang Yi-chae’s distinctive taste.

“Wow….”

Having heard only a few seconds, I was struck so profoundly that I momentarily forgot even the pain.
This is a board prepared for you】

This game was prepared for you】

Moreover, though it was a joint mentor stage, Kang Yi-chae’s own part was woven throughout with lyrics and motifs from The Dun’s previous songs.
But at this point you should understand
【Perhaps I was too kind

Rising high then plummeting in an instant】
It was a lyric that could be interpreted dually.

The lyrics could be interpreted in two different ways.

‘This feels comfortable. Really.’
Kang Yi-chae, who seemed a little upset and rapped harshly, naturally took a step back when it was the other mentor’s turn.

Kang Yi-chae, who had rapped with a slightly wicked demeanor and raw intensity, naturally stepped back when it was another mentor’s turn.

【No matter how many times I watch, I don’t understand
Do you want me to hug you now?

Do you want me to repeat?】
Nevertheless, there was no one who shone as brightly as Kang Yi-chae on stage.

Yet, no one on that stage shone as brightly as Kang Yi-chae.

【Perhaps I was too kind】

You can tell by how much I’m holding back right now.
This is not a coincidence, it’s a trap】

This is no coincidence—it’s a trap】

When his turn came around again, Kang Yi-chae placed one heavy boot onto the speaker.

【I want to paint you with my colors】

Then, with his leather jacket slipped down on one side, he twisted his hips and performed a wave.

【Can I bite you a little?】

Excited screams erupted from the audience.

“Ahhhhhhh!!”

Waving their hands, shouting their lungs out. Some people frantically mashed their voting devices while declaring they were picking Kang Yi-chae, even though this was supposed to be a mentor performance.

‘He’s insane.’
The trainees in the reserved seats on one side of the stage had their mouths wide open. He had a shocked expression.
Kang Yi-chae was unleashed like a madman possessed.

Overwhelming skill and an aura that seized people’s hearts in an instant.

‘Maybe I didn’t need to watch this.’
I tried to suppress a rising cough and twisted the corner of my mouth that was twitching. My fingernails dug deep into my palms as I clenched my fists to bring myself out of my stupor.

I suppressed the rising cough and twisted my convulsing lips. My fingernails dug deep into my palms as I clenched my fists to shake off the haze clouding my mind.

【This is no joke—it’s a warning】

In that instant, our eyes locked.

“Kyaaaah!!”
And then I noticed.
His eyebrows twitched for a moment.

That bastard—

“…Huh.”
He continued on stage resolutely, but he gave me a look that asked, ‘Are you really crazy?’
He was pissed off.

That health-obsessed maniac had seen right through my deteriorating condition in that brief moment.

【I want to color you with my hue】

Of course, he quickly composed himself and pressed the ear mic closer to his lips, flashing a smile, but his eyes remained cold.

【I don’t have time to spare you】
The members seemed refreshed by the afterglow of the performance.

The members seemed caught up in the afterglow of the performance, their excitement palpable.
“It was a really scary moment~!!”
“Wow, Hyung’s facial acting is insane~!?!”

“….”

They praised how perfectly Kang Yi-chae’s expression matched the stage presence, sparing no compliments.

‘This is dangerous.’
They decided that it would be better to resolve the issue at the hotel.

I figured it would be better to handle it back at the dormitory.
“Oh, yes!”

“Oh, sure!”

Since we’d finished filming all the broadcast reactions, I told Sung Ji-won, stood up, and slowly made my way into the hallway.

“…Huh?”
I reflexively raised my hand to cover my nose, but blood dripped through the cracks in my fingers.

I reflexively raised my hand to cover my nose, but blood dripped steadily through the gaps between my fingers.

“What….”

It was an amount I’d never seen before.

Zzzziiing—…!
I touched my ear with my elbow, and as expected, there was a lot of blood.
Then a horrifying ringing erupted in my ears.

Cursing under my breath, I frantically pulled out a handkerchief to cover my face and hid myself in the emergency stairs.
Tiriring!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding ding!
Ding ding di…
Ding di…—

—….

Countless warning windows appeared, then vanished all at once.

“Ugh…!”

I suppressed the wave of nausea that crashed over me simultaneously.

Screeeech————!
The day that had been endlessly repeated in the nightmare that once consumed my nights unfolded before my eyes, accompanied by an extremely familiar sensation.
The sound of skidding tires pierced my eardrums.

The car accident I wanted to forget. My car accident.

Ding!

[E R R O R]

Crash!!

“…!!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————