The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 26

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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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26

“And today’s first place goes to… Today! Congratulations!”

I clapped mechanically. MC Joo Woo-sung grinned widely as he handed over the trophy. Today’s gaze swept past me, but I pretended not to notice.

“Thank you!”
“We truly didn’t expect this.”

Whether Today won first place or not, I was too busy watching the fans who waved only at us without sparing them a glance. Whoever they took after, they really were something else. It was almost amusing.
I bowed respectfully and was about to leave the stage when Today Yoo-hyuk fixed me with a lingering stare. His expression was openly mocking.
The kind of look that said, ‘You guys could never get something like this, could you?’
I was used to such contempt and would have let it slide, but unexpectedly, Kim Sung-hyun took the bait. Sung Ji-won quickly grabbed him by the arm as his expression darkened with anger.

“Sung-hyun.”
“….”
“Hold it in.”

Kim Sung-hyun let out a sigh as he looked at Sung Ji-won, then turned away.
That’s right. That’s how it has to be.
No matter how petty and vile it is, we can’t let it show while the cameras are rolling.

“Today, Today!”

The cheers of Today’s fans echoed as an idol passing nearby grumbled.

“Why do people like those guys? Their true colors are showing….”
“They just act nice when the cameras are on, so people don’t know any better.”
“Their fans are really pitiful. The rumors about them are absolutely disgusting….”

I suddenly lifted my head and our eyes met. The idols gossiping froze, realizing they’d been caught, and quickly shut their mouths before hurrying away.
What was that group’s name again? I carefully filed away the overheard remarks in my mind. With an expression of complete obliviousness, I bowed politely to those around me and climbed into the cramped van.

“Everyone, good work today. Let’s head to the dormitory.”
“Yes.”

The atmosphere had grown oddly heavy.
I texted the CEO a brief summary of what Joo Woo-sung had told me, then set my phone down.
What should I do? I organized my thoughts in silence, plugged in my earbuds, and listened to our song.

‘The designated one….’

I continued to wrestle with how to navigate this situation. Even after arriving at the dormitory, the Manager kept glancing at me nervously before leaving. Only then did Kang Yi-chae call out to me.

“Hyung.”
“….”
“Ho-yoon hyung!”
“Huh?”

I was sitting blankly in a chair at the dining table, tapping my index finger against the surface, when I looked up at Kang Yi-chae in confusion. Strangely, all the members’ gazes had turned toward me.

“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you that disappointed we didn’t place first? Or did someone pick a fight with you?”
“What are you talking about, all of a sudden?”
“Or why do you look so fierce? I’m getting a cold wind blowing from you right now. Are we at the North Pole?”

Was I like that? No, I wasn’t particularly angry….
When I’m focused, I tend to tune out everyone around me, so I suppose that’s what happened.

“No, it’s nothing like that. I was just thinking about something for a moment.”
“Really?”
“What did Senior Joo Woo-sung say?”

Why is he suddenly bringing him up?
When I furrowed my brow at Kim Sung-hyun’s question, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

“Guess not. Thank goodness. We were worried Senior Joo Woo-sung had called you out and scolded you.”
“Why, if he had a problem with us, should I go find him and get chewed out?”
“…It’s scary, but maybe we should try?”

Sung Ji-won’s response came back sharper than expected. I brushed it off as a joke and moved on.

“Then why are you like this? The Manager was just tiptoeing around you earlier.”
“The Manager has a weak disposition—that’s the problem.”
“Have you ever considered that maybe you’re just too intense?”
“Never really thought about it…?”

By any reasonable standard, my mental fortitude was fragile. Regardless of what my expression looked like, everyone recoiled and kept their distance.

“Is he serious?”
“Even if he’s acting, it’s terrifying. If he’s serious, it’s even worse.”

Kim Sung-hyun flicked the back of Jung Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae’s heads as they whispered right in front of the person in question. Then his gaze snapped toward me.

“So what is it? Did something happen?”
“Well, it’s…”

Not long ago, I had given the members three strict warnings.
I never imagined that my final words—”trust me”—would come into play so quickly.

“Even if we compete, we can’t take first place.”
“What? Who said that?”
“Because the winner’s already been decided.”
“What?!”

Jung Da-jun shot up from the dining table in shock.

“Seriously, these bastards are so petty…!”
“Are we just decoration to them?”
“How did you even find out about this? Wait, who exactly are you talking about?”
“Well.”

I tapped the table again, deliberately.

“Today.”

Then a cold silence descended. Every member’s face hardened. And then they all started cursing.

“Those bastards lack the skill, so they’re resorting to anything.”

Kang Yi-chae muttered coldly.

“I always thought we were incredibly lucky compared to our actual skill level. I figured our recognition just went up because we were pushed into variety shows….”
“I never expected them to call us out so blatantly.”

Kim Sung-hyun’s face twisted. He looked even more irritated than before, probably because he’d been swayed by Yoo Hyuk until just moments ago. While everyone else was groaning, Jung Da-jun asked a question.

“Hyung, why are you being so calm?! Aren’t you angry?”
“No. I’m not particularly angry.”
“Hyung, are you a pushover?!”
“…?”

Who’s calling whom a pushover right now?
Jung Da-jun flinched and stepped back at my bewildered expression.
There was actually one reason I wasn’t particularly angry. As if sensing it, Sung Ji-won asked me.

“You’ve got something up your sleeve.”
“Yeah, I do.”

A remarkable scenario was taking shape even as the members were running wild right now. Sung Ji-won laughed helplessly.

“What is it? Don’t tell me you’ve given up. Like, ‘it’s fine if we’re not first place,’ that kind of thing?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what’s your plan?”

My thoughts had crystallized. I weighed several factors and understood their true value. I spoke with conviction.

“We’re taking first place.”
“….”

A silence deeper than when Today had mentioned being the predetermined choice settled over the living room.

“Hyung, didn’t you hear what was just said? No, if the person who told you was Ho-yoon hyung, what are you even talking about right now?”
“Ho-yoon, this kind of thing involves the agency too, so it’s difficult. It’s not something we can do through skill alone. This kind of thing happens all the time in the entertainment industry.”

I know. I understand. That’s why my broadcast slots had been pushed back more than once. There was even a time when another PD snatched away a project I’d spent a year developing. Back then, I downed at least five bottles of soju to cope.
But maybe because I’ve been pushed back so many times.

“We can take first place.”

I know that world pretty well.
My blunt words made the members’ faces pale again. My image seemed to be cemented here.
Crazy bastard. It wasn’t entirely bad, actually.

“But there’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
“Remember what I said last time? I mentioned three things to be careful about.”

Kang Yi-chae’s eyes lit up. Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

“You’re not about to lecture us on dating, are you? You’re saying to trust your hyung?”
“Yeah. No matter what happens, you have to trust me. Even if I commit a crime, trust me. Even if I call the sun the moon, believe it.”
“Are you joking right now?”
“I’m not joking.”
“….”
“A lot of things are going to happen from now on. When they do, no matter what I do, you have to trust me. Don’t believe what others say.”

It was the kind of statement that would normally invite comments like ‘What nonsense is he spouting?’ or ‘Did he eat something bad?’
Yet none of them voiced such thoughts, because I had a track record to back it up.
To make us shine, I would boldly take any risk.
They might all get chills, but still.
Kim Sung-hyun asked carefully.

“Why are you saying it like that?”
“….”
“You must have something in mind, right? That’s why you’re saying it that way?”

His attitude was completely different from when he’d told me to leave without ruining the mood at first. I slowly looked around at the members.

“I won’t be picky about means or methods.”

These were guys I’d thought were completely finished. But look at them now—they’d become quite capable. Star quality could be manufactured.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to make us blow up.”
“….”
“You might lose affection for me in the process… but even if you do, you still have to trust me.”

I spoke honestly. If I couldn’t earn the members’ trust now, the foundation of all my plans would crumble. I waited calmly for their response.
I’d naturally anticipated them dismissing my words with ridicule.
Then, suddenly, Jung Da-jun sprang to his feet, rummaged through Sung Ji-won’s luggage, and pulled out a bottle of red ginseng juice to drink.

“…What’s that about?”
“I just suddenly felt drained… Ho-yoon hyung is always acting like a madman, and it’s hard to deal with. I’m just going to stop thinking about it.”
“Yeah, me too. Me too.”

Kang Yi-chae giggled. When I raised one eyebrow, Sung Ji-won spoke carefully.

“Ho-yoon, I don’t know about the others, but I’ve trusted you for quite a while now. I already knew your personality was bad….”
“That’s right, hyung. There’s already been plenty of times when the truth came out with you. Especially at first when you mentioned parents and all that—I really wondered what kind of person does this.”
“Honestly… Seo Ho-yoon’s personality is really terrible.”

…These guys?
Kang Yi-chae added his own words to what followed.

“Let’s see how it goes. Honestly, I have fun working with hyung. Things go in directions I never expected.”

Kang Yi-chae never said he believed in me outright. But this was enough. The rest was something I could fill in slowly over time. Kang Yi-chae grinned.

“Let’s do it. Let’s trust Ho-yoon hyung, push out the chosen one, and try to take first place.”

It was decided.

***

Time flew quickly, and soon it was planning time.
The CEO laughed heartily even when told that the chosen one was already decided, and told us to “be satisfied with second place.” Even the usually gentle Manager seemed irritated by such thoughtless words, grinding his teeth, but I remained unmoved.
Because.

“There! Your position is wrong right now!”
“Ahhh, hyung, this is off by centimeters!”
“Fix it again!”

Sung Ji-won’s switch had been flipped back on.
Keeping up with Sung Ji-won was so damn exhausting that I couldn’t even think about the irritating words from the CEO or Yoo Hyuk.
When I collapsed in the corner, Kang Yi-chae plopped down beside me.

“From what I can see, Sung Ji-won hyung has lost his mind.”
“Yeah, he’s really committed to something. I think a dead trainee from the practice room possessed him.”
“He wasn’t like this for the past year… So it’s true that he’s famous as a practice bug.”

Everyone had gathered quietly to gossip about Sung Ji-won behind his back. Even Kim Sung-hyun joined in.

“Sung Ji-won was famous?”
“Yeah, didn’t you know? He was originally a major rookie in the debut team, so he had some recognition. Most of the handful of fans we had were there because of hyung.”
“Isn’t that where Today is?”
“Yeah. An agency called D.go.”

Kim Sung-hyun answered quietly.

“Apparently there was a lot of territorial behavior. He was unlucky and slipped out of the debut team there.”
“I see.”
“He was practicing half-heartedly like a dead man, but after hyung arrived, his eyes flipped. Hyung poured gasoline on a burning house—no, he dumped the entire fuel tank on it.”

Kang Yi-chae emptied a bottle of water before speaking.
Was that why Sung Ji-won avoided Today Yoo-hyuk?
Or rather, why did he fall through in the first place?
I’ve said it before, but Sung Ji-won was the most skilled and well-balanced member of The Dun.

“Getting cut out turned out well, anyway.”

Kang Yi-chae flinched at Sung Ji-won’s response. It seemed he’d heard our entire conversation. He trudged out and fanned the flames.

“I didn’t want to debut with the Today members either.”
“Even though you’re number one right now? Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Better to have a sore stomach here than to suffocate and die there.”

Sung Ji-won spoke bluntly, unlike himself. Something serious must have happened, so I’d have to coax it out of him later.

“Sung Ji-won hyung!”
“Huh? What?”

Jung Da-jun, whom I thought had passed out, suddenly jolted up and asked.

“So you’re saying loyalty matters more than popularity?”
“Huh? Does that phrase work that way?”
“Please make sure to put that exact line in your autobiography later.”
“Do idols usually even write autobiographies?”

Sung Ji-won got flustered and fell into Jung Da-jun’s nonsensical banter.
In the midst of it all, my phone rang. When I checked it, Kang Yi-chae’s head suddenly perked up.

“Hyung, is it the composer?”
“No.”
“Ugh, what a shame.”

Kang Yi-chae smacked his lips shut. Lately, Kang Yi-chae had been acting strange. He observed everything with indifference like a detached bystander, but the moment Lim Hyun-sung’s name came up, he’d flip out completely.

“You don’t possibly….”
“Huh?”
“…No, never mind.”

Could it be… Could he actually have feelings for Lim Hyun-sung?
As I glanced at him surreptitiously, Kang Yi-chae let out a hollow laugh.

“Hyung. What kind of sordid thoughts are you having?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t think you were like that. You really do have a narrow mind….”
“I said I’m sorry.”

Kang Yi-chae launched into a lengthy speech about how “the composer is someone in a different realm and is almost like a faith to me.” I half-blocked out his words and checked the text message.

[Joo Woo-sung: Yo]

It was from Joo Woo-sung.

[Joo Woo-sung: I checked on what you mentioned before. I even know what the first mission is lol]
[Joo Woo-sung: You’re curious, right? Huh? Just say Joo Woo-sung senior is the best, I respect you, thanks, and I’ll tell you]

“Roger.”

I typed out my response with care.

[Me: Best.]
The best.
[Me: Respect.]
Respect.
[Me: Thanks.]
Thanks.

[Joo Woo-sung: I’m serious^^]
[Joo Woo-sung: Sometimes I wonder if I’m a fool for treating you well even while getting treated like this^^]

Not wondering if you’re a fool—you are one.
Joo Woo-sung grumbled but still explained it to me. I slowly reviewed the detailed mission he’d sent.
I’d been receiving a lot of help from Joo Woo-sung lately.

[Joo Woo-sung: And I checked with the PD too.]
[Me: Who is it?]
[Joo Woo-sung: Apparently D.go started getting heavily involved and the PD got replaced a bunch of times… but it looks like this person is the final PD.]

I would have known most PDs at that broadcasting station. A name flashed through my mind. For someone taking on a competition program like this, it wouldn’t deviate much from my expectations.
As I was casually reading the message, my heart suddenly sank.

[Joo Woo-sung: It’s PD Kim Hee-young.]

“….”
“Hyung?”

I was momentarily speechless. Kang Yi-chae, who had been listing Lim Hyun-sung’s impressive qualities beside me, tilted his head in confusion.

“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“Ha….”

I pressed my eyes firmly and collapsed flat on the floor.

“Yi-chae.”
“…What?”
“Life isn’t easy.”

Kim Hee-young—impressive, intelligent, and famous at the cable broadcast station as the “crazy woman of this district.”

“It’s not easy….”

My ex-girlfriend.

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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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