The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 275

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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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275

The day of The Dun’s Gymnastics Stadium concert, broadcast simultaneously across the globe via the Internet.

“Whoa, are you serious? Isn’t that Joo Woo-sung?!”
“No way, really?? He’s insanely handsome!”

Joo Woo-sung, who had arrived at the VIP section right on time, was feeling quite embarrassed at the moment.

‘Damn, why did I even come.’

I’d received a ticket from Seo Ho-yoon, so I casually asked my team members if they wanted to go to the concert. They all widened their eyes, then immediately started coughing as if they’d choked on something.
Then came all sorts of comments—asking if I’d eaten something bad, if my head was okay, if I needed to go to the hospital. As I felt increasingly mocked and turned to leave the practice room, my members hurriedly followed after me.

“Whoa whoa! Woo-sung! Of course we were joking!”
“Come with us, come on!”
“Get lost.”

The members who had been teasing me relentlessly grabbed at my pant legs, asking me to come along, but I coldly left them behind and came alone.
Truth be told, I hadn’t really wanted to come, but recently Seo Ho-yoon hadn’t asked me to help with practice at all, which bothered me a little.

‘Though there are other reasons too….’

But after a short while, I regretted not bringing at least Chae Jung-woo with me.
Then, camera flashes went off from the section below. Despite wearing a cap, they seemed to have recognized me.
I grabbed the brim of my cap and pressed it down again, as if to hide my face.
Then I glanced around, moving only my eyes.
This was supposed to be the VIP section, but I couldn’t see a single celebrity besides myself.

“….”

There were only what appeared to be the members’ families.
I’d heard The Dun hung out among themselves these days….

“…You guys really don’t have any other friends either….”

It was a statement that Seo Ho-yoon would have accepted with humiliation had he heard it, but Joo Woo-sung himself felt self-loathing the moment the words left his mouth.
Because seeing himself through The Dun felt like witnessing his own reflection.

“…Should I just leave?”

The thought of staying here only to have photos of him circulate with the caption “What did Joo Woo-sung do during his hiatus? Attended The Dun’s concert alone” made his skin crawl.

‘I’m leaving.’

“Hey, Joo Woo-sung!”

As he rose from his seat to make his exit, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
He turned to find Lim Hyun-sung and Yoo Ji-a standing there with expressions of mild surprise.

“Man, it’s been forever.”
“Wow, noona! Thank you so much for really, truly coming.”
“…Huh? …Oh, yeah.”
“Hello, Woo-sung.”

Joo Woo-sung bowed in response to Yoo Ji-a’s greeting, and inwardly felt relieved.

‘I won’t be the only one drawing attention!’

Since Yoo Ji-a had come with Lim Hyun-sung, the focus and conversation wouldn’t fall entirely on him.
He offered a smile to mask his slight embarrassment, and Yoo Ji-a’s lips curved upward as she spoke.

“You’re still quite shy, aren’t you, Woo-sung?”
“…Please understand.”

True to her nature as someone who’d been rolling through the entertainment industry since childhood, Yoo Ji-a’s instincts were sharp—he could feel she’d seen right through him.

“I’m glad you’re still close with The Dun.”
“Not really…”
“You’re acting like some cool cousin. Since you’re already here, you might as well have some fun.”

Lim Hyun-sung clicked her tongue and gave Joo Woo-sung’s back a light tap before leaning her arms against the railing.
As they exchanged brief updates with one another, the lights dimmed and a grand beat resonated through the venue.
It was the intro announcing the concert’s beginning.

“Oh, it’s starting.”

Zing, zing, zing.

“Yi-yeol~.”

Lim Hyun-sung whistled along, delighted by the rhythm that gradually built the excitement.
At the same time, the VCR screen glowed blue.

Kyaaaaaah!

Then Kang Yi-chae’s face appeared on the screen. As his lips curved into a confident smirk, the image abruptly darkened.
A hazy intersection bathed in scattered light reappeared, followed by scenes of The Dun’s members strolling leisurely through it.
Jung Da-jun with neon signs casting their vibrant hues across his cheeks, Sung Ji-won bathed in the relentless glare of a bright flashlight from the side.

Zing, zing, zing.

Seo Ho-yoon walking through the ashen street.
As he brushed his lips with his hand, smoke seeped through the gap and turned a brilliant blue.
The moment I felt Kim Sung-hyun’s hand burst through the spreading blue smoke in all directions, as if about to touch the camera lens itself,

“Oh….”

The wall displaying the VCR cracked open, and The Dun emerged.

Waaaaaah-!

“Yeah.”

Standing at the front, facing forward amid the cascading roar, Seo Ho-yoon stood out far more than I’d anticipated.

【Can you save me?
Whisper your faith to me】

If I could see it this clearly, how much more striking must he appear to everyone else.

‘Hmm. The dancing is still rough around the edges, but as an idol, I do possess the fundamental talent of drawing people’s gaze.’

In any industry, money was what mattered, and in this world, it translated directly into public attention.
People spoke of dancing and singing, of skill and talent, but without star quality, none of it could truly shine—that was the nature of the Entertainment Industry.
In that sense, Seo Ho-yoon was someone blessed with talent.

【Our youth that will never come again
Whatever I don’t care
Come here before I bite you】

“Wow, intense from the start. And the live performance doesn’t shake at all.”

Yoo Ji-a let out a small exclamation of admiration.
Joo Woo-sung, noticing her murmur fondly about her trainee days and how good those times were, added a light comment.

“…Yoo Ji-a, that’s nostalgia talking.”
“Haha, nostalgia tastes pretty good.”

Yoo Ji-a, brushing off Joo Woo-sung’s remark lightly, couldn’t tear her eyes away from The Dun.
Especially from Sung Ji-won, who possessed such remarkable vocal talent.

“Hmm, I’m a bit envious. Especially Sung Ji-won—it seems like natural talent. And he’s so dedicated too.”
“Hey, Yoo Ji-a, you’re one to talk? You’re a natural talent yourself.”
“Aha, Lim Hyun-sung, you’re something else. Well, if it weren’t for the injury, I would’ve kept insisting I was right….”

Yoo Ji-a’s reasons for transitioning to acting were numerous.
Her agency’s contract renewal period had coincided with it, and at that time, transitioning from singing to acting once a singer’s career had matured had become an established path.
It was then that she injured her knee joint.
Even with treatment, the Doctor’s diagnosis warned that if she continued to strain it as she did now, she might never walk again—after months of anguish, she had to abandon the stage she loved so dearly.
Of course, all of this remained confidential between her agency and herself.

【Spinning around beside you like something broken
How can I live without you?
I will never change】

Then Kang Yi-chae stepped forward, delivering rap with a husky tone that breathed life into every syllable.

“Yes~~! That’s my student, my student!!”

Joo Woo-sung quietly took a step back from Lim Hyun-sung, who was waving both arms excitedly and shaking them wildly.
The Dun immediately followed up with “Connected,” a collaboration with IRIX, right after “Our Brilliant Dawn” ended.

【Finally, this boring time is passing
I love watching you shine
Come up to the ring as I desire】

“Yaaaaa~~~!!! Our Yi-chae is a genius, damn it!!!”
“Noona, calm down a bit….”

Joo Woo-sung quickly stepped back, judging that it would be difficult to restrain Lim Hyun-sung.
Yet he couldn’t help but understand that excitement.
The Dun’s harmony was exceptional.
A live performance of this caliber in their third year of activity—it was remarkable.
The image they’d cultivated was one of steady, gradual ascent, but in truth, they’d been riding an express train forward.

‘…Yeah, no wonder the companies are eager.’

Ever since rumors of Dae Pa-sung’s acquisition began circulating behind the scenes, various companies had been moving restlessly.
Just as he was wondering what would happen next,

【Don’t hesitate, just move forward
I will never leave your side】

“…Huh?”

As Seo Ho-yoon’s part began, Joo Woo-sung instinctively sensed something was off.
His expression was the usual Seo Ho-yoon, his dancing was decent enough, and his balance was fine, but—

【Ready to be connected?】

—something felt wrong.
Watching Seo Ho-yoon intently, Joo Woo-sung noticed his movements becoming smaller, as if he were unconsciously avoiding using his right foot, or trying to gloss over it using the surrounding formations.

‘An injury?’

Joo Woo-sung’s brow furrowed slightly.
Lim Hyun-sung and Yoo Ji-a, oblivious to anything amiss, continued to shower praise in unison.

“Wow, he’s doing great. Our quick-fix guy.”
“Seo Ho-yoon really has improved so much. The person who was clumsily dancing to Black Call songs on my program doesn’t look like the same person at all.”
“…You two. Doesn’t something seem off about Seo Ho-yoon?”

When Joo Woo-sung cautiously asked the two of them, Lim Hyun-sung tilted her head in confusion.

“Does he seem hurt somewhere?”
“Him? Where?”

It was strange.
He moved too well to be injured.
Even Yoo Ji-a, who was typically sensitive to injuries, merely wore a puzzled expression without offering any additional commentary.

“Hmm? I’m not really sure….”
“Doesn’t seem like his leg is injured?”
“Woo-sung. Aren’t you being a bit overprotective?”
“What are you talking about?”

At Lim Hyun-sung’s words, Joo Woo-sung grimaced and fell silent. He still felt uneasy, but everyone else seemed unbothered, and he didn’t want to drag it out alone.
When The Dun’s next performance began, Joo Woo-sung’s gaze remained fixed on Seo Ho-yoon throughout.
Even as the song ended and he delivered his opening remarks, Seo Ho-yoon simply waved with a perfectly composed expression.

‘Was I being too sensitive?’

In Joo Woo-sung’s view, Seo Ho-yoon often behaved foolishly. He could act indifferent to everything in the world one moment, then charge forward like a madman devoted to The Dun the next.
The Seo Ho-yoon who had been forcibly summoned and asked to attend practice for a music video shoot the very next day, only to collapse and be rushed to the hospital—he was likely no different now.

“Noeul fans, hello. I’m Ho-yoon.”

As Seo Ho-yoon’s voice echoed through the Gymnastics Stadium, the crowd’s cheers erupted.
When Seo Ho-yoon’s radiant smile appeared on the large screen in response, screams pierced the air once more.

‘Disgusting bastard….’

“From here, the light from the light sticks really is so beautiful. I can see the smiles on all your faces so much better too. Thank you so much for coming today.”

Both Joo Woo-sung and Lim Hyun-sung frowned simultaneously at his words.

“Wow, that’s creepy.”
“Woo-sung. Why does he talk like that?!”
“Right? Why is he like that?! I’m glad I skipped dinner!”
“W-why are you two so worked up?”

Yoo Ji-a, unaware of the deep history between Joo Woo-sung and Lim Hyun-sung, was bewildered by their reactions.
As Joo Woo-sung and Lim Hyun-sung grew increasingly heated with each passing comment, Yoo Ji-a endured it as long as she could before using the excuse that she wanted to enjoy the concert from a spot with a better view of the stage, and she moved to find an empty seat.

“Wow, look at that guy’s dance break.”
“Ugh. That guy must be incredibly talented.”

The performance resumed, and Lia Purple’s cover of Easy Tempo and their fan song Orbit followed—performances that would be legendary among the Noeul fans for years to come.
Seo Ho-yoon, despite being the “jack-of-all-trades,” now stood center stage even during the dance breaks.

“…Woo-sung. I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but…”
“What is it? Don’t beat around the bush.”
“Geez, you’re so prickly.”

Despite her casual opening, Lim Hyun-sung’s expression was quite serious.

“Why do you care about Seo Ho-yoon so much?”
“Even if you’re my older sister, this is a bit much. Why would I care about him?!”
“Why do you always get so worked up?”

Joo Woo-sung ran his hand roughly through his hair.

“…It’s just something that bothers me, that’s all.”

When Lim Hyun-sung questioned why he acted that way and whether he possessed some incredible dancing talent, Joo Woo-sung, who had been silent for a moment, looked toward Seo Ho-yoon, who was laughing and embracing the other members, and spoke.

“It’s the same as you, noona…”

Confidence in success, composure that never wavers before any challenge. That audacity—never shaken even when facing an opaque and dark reality. All the things I had wanted to possess.
All of it.

“Yeah, you’re really hopeless too…”
“…I know that very well.”

Joo Woo-sung, unwilling to continue with such pathetic talk, closed his mouth.
Just then, a fan’s placard was captured prominently on the large screen.

【My Little Baby Kitty Seo Ho-yoon】

“Wow, the Noeul fans’ placards are so cute.”

The moment I started speaking, whoosh—the placard flipped over.

【But why aren’t you crying?】

“….”
“….”

These fans are terrifying.
After that, the two of us enjoyed the concert without much further conversation.
As the performance neared its end, watching The Dun perform Stardust, Joo Woo-sung could finally confirm that his nagging sense of unease was the truth.

【Embers kindle in my heart
I will risk it all
I’ve wagered everything from the start】

“Uh….”

The kicking choreography had been replaced with sitting in a chair, and whenever the right leg was used, the foot barely lifted from the ground.

‘Ah, as I thought.’

In fact, it hadn’t shown at all during the early part of the concert, but it seemed the hours-long performance had taken its toll—whenever the movement pattern shifted toward the back of the stage, Seo Ho-yoon’s expression darkened.
Being in the VIP section gave me a better view, but some fans had probably started to notice as well.
Yet whenever his part came or he moved to the front, his face looked perfectly fine, leaving everyone uncertain.

‘Still, if he’s able to continue the concert, the condition can’t be at its worst, right?’

No matter how sloppy Dae Pa-sung’s management was, they wouldn’t push him onto the stage if it meant worsening a leg injury.

【I haven’t lost my way
We’re moving forward】

But I could see the tension clenched in Seo Ho-yoon’s jaw.
Of course, when he bounded back to center stage, that characteristic confident smile was plastered across his face.

“…Wow.”

It was exactly like that smile from when his parents’ scandal spread across the world, yet he still took the stage for Shining Star Season 2’s final performance and completely fooled everyone.
Joo Woo-sung felt goosebumps rise across his entire body.

【All the way to the end】

“…He’s truly insane.”

Joo Woo-sung could be certain of it.
He wasn’t standing there in his right mind.

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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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