The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 294

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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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294

“Wow, this is absolutely incredible! As expected from our blue-chip stock, Seo Ho-yoon~. If you shoot like this on the actual filming set, the PDs will go crazy!”
“They’ll definitely go crazy if I actually shoot like this.”
“…Oh, right.”

During the film shoot, I wouldn’t actually need to draw the bow—just assume the correct posture and the CG would handle the rest beautifully. But demonstrating my archery skill had at least spared me from my Manager’s excessive worrying and endless lectures.
As my Manager continued to shower me with admiration and ask how I could possibly be so skilled, I deflected with a laugh.
After all, I couldn’t exactly tell him, ‘I’m on my second career in this life, and I practiced archery while preparing for Victory is Mine when I was an idol.’ Could I?

“Ho-yoon, let’s go!”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work….”

With no further schedule, I returned to the apartment where I’d first opened my eyes in this world.
As I was about to head inside, I hastily grabbed my Manager’s arm.
Though my Manager seemed incompetent and naively kind-hearted, he possessed an equally good-natured disposition and had cultivated decent connections throughout the industry.

“By the way, Manager. Could you look into the whereabouts of someone named Sung Ji-won?”
“Huh? Who?”

Even if I couldn’t locate all The Dun members, Sung Ji-won—a rookie under a major entertainment agency—was notable enough that I might at least hear some news about him.
Besides, there was nothing to lose.

“There was a trainee named Sung Ji-won at D.go, but he might be affiliated with a different agency now.”
“Why are you looking for him?”
“There’s something I need to check on.”

My Manager wore a bewildered expression but nodded in agreement.
After confirming the van had left the parking lot, I climbed upstairs and immediately collapsed onto the sofa.
I was exhausted and drained, having accomplished nothing.
Moreover, somewhere along the way, the silence of the apartment had begun to feel strangely uncomfortable.

‘Tsk, enough.’

If I meet Min Ji-heon and probe him, even something small might surface.
I’d naturally assumed the specific person who remembered me was Seo Ho-jin, but now that my younger brother had vanished, the next most likely candidate was Min Ji-heon.
Even if that wasn’t the case, he’d seen far more than I had, so I figured shaking him down would yield something regardless.
I decided to dig deeper during the upcoming shoot and picked up the script again.

‘No matter how many times I read this, it’s just unpleasant.’

Dead after Hope.
The character I was playing, Kim Woo-ho, was depicted in the drama as currently twenty-five years old—a prodigy who competed in the Olympics at eighteen and won gold, then claimed another gold medal at the next Olympics four years later.

“But why is the name like this?”

It seemed to derive from something like “Woo-woo.”
With a frown creasing my brow at the discomfort, I continued reading through the script.

It was written that he possessed a rather charming face that captivated the entire nation, and he’d dabbled in everything from entertainment shows to commercials.
However, during the height of his popularity, a traffic accident left his arm severely injured, and he could no longer work as an archer—instead depicted as someone living out his days in hollow emptiness.

But what bothered me most was,

[A group of survivors arguing over who should go out to find food. The cowardly college student eventually pushes a child forward to scout the situation outside the building….]
[Kim Woo-ho: (kicking the college student’s back who suggested sending the child out) You’re going first? Thanks.]

The nature of that character.
Someone who cursed constantly and showed no mercy to anyone who got in his way.

“Damn….”

Even worse, he’d act like an ally before suddenly turning around to use people and discard them without hesitation.
Feeling an eerie sense of déjà vu, I checked all the way through to the last page of the second episode’s script that had been sent to me in advance.
Then I pressed my fingers firmly against the bridge of my nose.
The memory of when I first read the script for “Please Camera” came rushing back.

“This one’s also based on my life.”

If Lee Jung-hoon was similar in occupation and personality, Kim Woo-ho was similar in personality and family circumstances.

[Kim Woo-ho: I’m going to find my younger brother.]

The fact that I’d lost my parents in an unexpected accident.
The fact that I was surrounded by worthless relatives, with only my younger brother being family to me.
The fact that in a world thrown into chaos by zombies, I struggled desperately to find my younger brother.

…and so on. It was a story I’d seen many times before.

‘Is this also some kind of fragment, or something like that?’

Something about fragments of existence flowing in, or whatever it was called.
Since I’d been ejected by an error and ended up here, it seemed possible.
Just then, an alarm sounded and a Quest window appeared.

Quest Arrived!
Begin your first shoot for ‘Dead after Hope’!^^
How thrilling—every beginning is exciting, isn’t it!
Arrive at the filming location and successfully complete your first shoot.
Complete First Shoot 0/1
Success: 10,000 Points
Failure: Error processing will be delayed.

Though there were many unsatisfactory aspects to this place, the point benefits alone weren’t half bad.
I snapped the script shut with a crisp sound and lifted the corners of my mouth into a smile.

***

“Hello~.”
“Hello!”

From early morning, the Dead after Hope Set was bustling with activity. I wove through the hurrying staff members, greeting everyone I encountered.

“Ah! Ho-yoon, this is your first shoot today, right?”
“Yes, hello.”

It seemed the pretense I’d put on at the Chinese Restaurant last time had worked somewhat, as most people greeted me warmly.

“Did you practice archery well?”
“I did my best.”

My Manager beside me gave me a peculiar look, but I ignored it and surveyed the filming location.

“What about Min Ji-heon?”

Min Ji-heon, who was always serious when it came to acting, typically arrived at the filming location early to prepare unless something urgent came up.
But today, there was no sign of him.

“Ah! I heard Min Ji-heon had an overseas schedule right before this, so he’ll be a bit late. I think he’ll arrive within about an hour.”
“I see.”

I thanked them for the information and headed to the waiting room for makeup. I’d already done basic makeup, and since the early scenes didn’t require special effects makeup, it was finished quickly.

“Wow, your skin is literally glowing from within. You could totally be an idol!”
“Ha ha ha, you’re just joking.”

I was checking my disheveled hair in the mirror to match the character when the Makeup Staff leaned in and whispered softly.

“Um, Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Yes?”
“Well, I was debating whether to tell you, but I thought it would be better if you knew.”

Once goodwill accumulated, it proved remarkably useful. Information just piled up naturally even when I simply smiled.

“You know actor Lee Kang-seok, right?”

Of course I knew Lee Kang-seok.
My beloved carrot cake.

“I think you should be careful. The Kim Woo-ho role was apparently offered to Lee Kang-seok as well… and because of that, it seems like he’s been watching you pretty closely.”
“Oh, really?”

The image of Lee Kang-seok, who used to adorably make carrot cake by hand to give to Min Ji-heon, came to mind, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you for worrying about me. It’s probably just a rumor.”
“Goodness! How are you supposed to survive being this innocent, Seo Ho-yoon!”
“Ha ha ha. It’s nothing.”

Ding!

[How dreadful….]

Keep quiet. I’m in the middle of image management.

The moment those words left my lips, the already bustling filming set erupted into even greater commotion.

“Hello!”
“Wow, it’s Min Ji-heon.”
“No way.”

I turned my head and caught sight of Min Ji-heon stepping through the entrance.

“Insane, absolutely insane. He’s genuinely so handsome. Not a single blemish on his skin—he looks like a sculpture carved by divine hands.”

The Makeup Staff murmured in a daze, utterly entranced.
Really? His face hasn’t changed that dramatically, has it?

“Hello, thank you for having me today as well.”

Min Ji-heon offered a polite greeting before disappearing into the Waiting Room, trailed by an endless stream of staff compliments.

“I should get going.”

I hastily checked my appearance and made my way toward Min Ji-heon’s Waiting Room.
After a quick knock, I opened the door to find Min Ji-heon’s Manager staring at me with startled eyes.

“Oh, Seo Ho-yoon? What brings you here…?”
“I apologize for the sudden intrusion.”

Since we belonged to the same Entertainment Agency, he apparently recognized my face.
I arranged my expression into a professional smile.

“Would it be possible for me to speak with Min Ji-heon for a moment?”
“Ah, is that so? Well….”

He glanced back and forth between me and Min Ji-heon, then scratched his head.

“Then I’ll step out for a bit. Feel free to talk comfortably.”

Though he seemed somewhat hesitant, he likely figured there was nothing to worry about given we were from the same agency. Min Ji-heon’s Manager left the Waiting Room without further objection. I pulled a folding chair from the corner and sat down in front of Min Ji-heon.
The man, his brow slightly furrowed, was studying me from head to toe.

“Senior.”

I crossed one leg while folding my arms across my chest.

“How is it you haven’t sent a single message? I thought you’d be the one reaching out first.”

It had already been a week since I arrived here.
Nothing had progressed in that time. Min Ji-heon had also been quiet.

“There’s something I wanted to ask, and we still have time before filming starts….”
“Hey, Seo Ho-yoon.”

Min Ji-heon cut off my words coldly and abruptly.
When I raised my eyebrows, Min Ji-heon wiped the corner of his mouth with his hand and laughed as if bewildered.

“Were we really close enough to be in contact?”
“….”
“Including today, I’ve only seen Seo Ho-yoon twice in total.”

Does he really not remember?
This bastard’s got a dark side to him.

“But it is curious, you’re a type I’ve never seen before.”

I stared intently at discern his true nature, and Min Ji-heon’s head tilted slightly.

“I didn’t think much of it when I first saw you, but now it’s different. …If you’d been like this before, I would’ve remembered right away because it would’ve been so curious.”

And he repeated the exact same words I’d heard when we first met.

“Well… not that it’s any of my business.”

The guy who had been scanning my face with a slow gaze added in a listless tone.

“So is there something you need?”

Younger brother, food, acting.
The guy who had rambled on endlessly about only these three things was extremely cold here.
I still couldn’t rule out the possibility that it was all an act, but there was no real reason for him to deceive me to this extent.

‘I should just be honest about it.’

We know each other, and I need help.
Min Ji-heon would likely accept even irrational situations with ease, thanks to his natural talents.

“…I have no business here.”

But my hesitation didn’t last long.

“I apologize, senior. I think I was mistaken.”
“…Ah, I see….”

Min Ji-heon added his response a beat late, his skepticism written all over his face.

“A mistake? That’s strange. But why do you treat me so familiarly?”
“That can’t be.”

I deflected his remark with practiced nonchalance.
If Min Ji-heon knew nothing, then pretending ignorance was my best strategy.
I could extract information through other means.

“I’ll be taking my leave now. Please prepare well for filming, senior.”

I stood up, returned the folding chair to its original spot, then turned back toward him as if something had just occurred to me.

“Oh, that’s right! Senior Min Ji-heon.”

I slowly smoothed the bare skin on my wrist and curved my lips into a smile.

“Your wrist looks clean today.”
“…What?”
“You know, that thing you always wear.”

I could clearly see his expression harden.

“Let’s do well with the filming together.”

Though he quickly returned to his usual demeanor, I was already thoroughly satisfied watching Min Ji-heon’s uncharacteristic flustered state.
I strolled out casually toward the waiting room assigned to me when the Assistant Director called out to me.

“Seo Ho-yoon, we’re about to start filming!”
“Yes.”
“Huh? Seo Ho-yoon, you seem to be in a good mood.”
“Aha.”

A humming melody escaped my lips unbidden.
If I played this right, I could finally get the better of that cunning Min Ji-heon.
And if luck was on my side.

“Does it show?”

Perhaps I could finally edge closer to answers that had eluded me before.

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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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