The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 299

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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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299

[Dead after Hope is so anticipated]

When Dead after Hope’s production concept, characters, and relationship chart were revealed, drama enthusiasts erupted in excitement.
The Main PD, the Screenwriter—even the Camera Director, lighting director, art team, music team, and costume team that fans discovered through internet research were all from production companies they’d heard of before, so drama enthusiasts couldn’t help but be thrilled.

[Box office guarantee Min Ji-heon appears]

And the protagonist is none other than Min Ji-heon.
Even back when he played a mad scientist who loved frogs in a small theater troupe, he had audiences weeping uncontrollably.

Moreover, Min Ji-heon had never once failed at the box office, earning him the title of undefeated actor.

[But the production concept is a bit vague lol doesn’t seem like it’ll be a hit..]

【Intelligent but not significantly beyond the ordinary range.
Quick-witted and sound in judgment, yet unremarkable.
Someone with just a touch more altruism.

When an ordinary person living day after day as always faces a catastrophe beyond imagination, what path will they walk?】

Still, the production concept itself seemed perfectly ordinary without a single unique element.

[Why would you cast an ordinary protagonist in a post-apocalyptic setting]
[lol well… then he’ll swing a baseball bat a few times and have an awakening]
[Why even look at the production concept, they always write stuff like that and the actual drama is totally different]

[But this comment is hilarious
Min Ji-heon’s face is anything but ordinary though

└So there wouldn’t be any mention of his face
So incomparably handsome compared to ordinary people / dazzlingly beautiful
That’s what it must have said
Hahahahahaha this is it]

Everyone said they’d watch and judge for themselves, but most held little expectation for this drama.
However, Dead after Hope—which had been the subject of public gossip solely because Min Ji-heon was starring in it—received a completely different reception after its first episode aired.

【Please! Save me, please save me!】

In an instant, the city transformed into chaos, and the world became one where everyone scrambled merely to survive.
Min Han-jun, the character Min Ji-heon played, was no exception.
As Min Han-jun searched for a place to hide, a slightly dull yet tender voice reached his ears.
Perhaps around ten years old—two Infected pounded frantically against the window of a sedan where a child sat, face smeared with tears and snot.

【Ha, haha. I’m going insane, really….】

Min Han-jun’s face twisted into a distorted laugh.
The possibility of dying while saving the child, the guilt that would crush him if he turned away—he seemed to wander somewhere between these two extremes.
In that brief hesitation, countless emotions flickered through him, and ultimately Min Han-jun chose to help.
He knew the terror of being left alone.

Scanning his surroundings, Min Han-jun seized a large stone and brought it down hard on the nearest Infected’s head. Then, immediately swinging his arm to the side, he attacked another Infected lunging at him. Despite the direct hit to its face, it merely staggered slightly before charging at Min Han-jun to bite him.
Thinking this was the end, his eyes clenched shut in that instant,

Crack!

【Don’t close your eyes like that!】

At the voice from right beside him, he lifted his eyelids again, and a familiar face with a gentle expression came into view. It was someone who had been among the group when Min Han-jun first discovered multiple Survivors.
He introduced himself as Kim Woo-hyung while shaking blood from his bow after smashing the Infected’s head open.
One of Kim Woo-hyung’s arms was in a cast. Given the circumstances, professional medical treatment would be difficult, so Min Han-jun judged it wasn’t a recent injury—and that he wasn’t Infected.

【Phew…, are you okay?】

Kim Woo-hyung carefully opened the car door and lifted the child into his arms, soothing them.
After that, the two traveled together only while searching for a safe shelter to leave the child with. Kim Woo-hyung soon departed, saying he had to find his brother.

【Brother, let’s meet again. Stay healthy until then.】
【Yeah, thanks.】

Min Han-jun remained frozen at the shelter’s entrance until Kim Woo-hyung’s silhouette vanished from sight. But it wasn’t long before Min Han-jun had to leave that place as well. The Infected breached through the hastily constructed, haphazardly layered defensive barriers.
Thus, the role of ‘Kim Woo-hyung’ left a brief yet indelible impression on the viewers.

[Wow, it’s really, really fun ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ This drama is crazy]
[So, it’s been a while since a masterpiece came out. The scale of the set is overwhelming]

[Plus, it’s an incredibly passionate performance… I hope they don’t break the tempo and go all the way to the end.

└We need to keep an eye on Seo Ho-yoon… Seeing how they’re planting the younger brother subplot, he’s probably going to have a huge role
Haha… [with a blank stare…]

One week after the Episode 3 teaser dropped.
People had come to believe that the central message of Dead after Hope was humanity and hope blooming even amid despair—themes woven throughout Episodes 1 and 2.

【Damn it, get the hell out of here!!】

But Episode 3 opened with someone being betrayed or betraying every thirty seconds, and one person bitten by the Infected every minute, the virus spreading with terrifying speed.

Hahahahahahaha… ugh… ugh… ugh… I’m literally holding my head right now muttering “Is this right?” Damn it, Screenwriter, PD, Actor/Actress—did you really have to do this to me?
[But this is realistic though… It hurts but..]

The weak were gradually excluded from the distribution of supplies.
Physical strength became law, became power in this world.
It had only been a few weeks since the Infected first appeared.

[Screenwriter, you’re stabbing us in the back]
[No no no no you were on our side, you were a good person]
[The way he smiles at Min Han-jun is so creepy;;;]

In that moment when the drama was suffused with frustration and bleakness, reminding viewers of the boundless cruelty humans could inflict depending on circumstances,

【Why me?】

Kim Woo-ho appeared.

[Ah, it’s Woo-hyung’s brother!!!]

Unlike Kim Woo-hyung, who always carried a smile and took the lead in saving people,

【I’m annoyed.】

he was rough,

【I don’t like it.】

lazy,

【Why should I?】

and calculating.

[How did that bastard even make the national team? He’s disgraced South Korea’s honor, the asshole]
[I think he got exposed lol he probably has no real skill]
[Kim Woo-ho’s only good quality is his face]
[He’s the worst, seriously lmaooo look at him keeping his mouth shut and acting all indifferent ugh so annoying]

[Seo Ho-yoon acts so well… people are only talking about how annoying Kim Woo-ho is lololol

└Yeah seriously lol I wasn’t even thinking about acting
I just wanted to smack Kim Woo-ho in the back of the head..]

Criticism poured in toward the newly emerged group of survivors and Kim Woo-ho, who had become the villain of Episode 3.

[Ahhhhh our Han-jun is a good person]
[Min Ji-heon can’t possibly die like this]

With roughly ten minutes remaining until the drama’s conclusion, Kim Woo-ho’s arrow was aimed at Min Han-jun, who had been branded as an Infected.

【Right. I fell off my bike like an idiot a few weeks ago.】
【….】
【So? Obviously I can’t use a bow then.】

Kim Woo-ho, who had been murmuring softly, drew his bow with eyes gleaming as if he’d heard something amusing, then turned his head to the side.

【Then who’s the liar here?】

At the same time, I swing the bow I’m holding downward, smashing the head of the figure who has become an Infected.

【…No, you have a bow, so why aren’t you shooting…?】
【Arrows are precious.】

Min Han-jun, who had stopped in surprise, blinks with bewilderment as he asks, and the corner of Kim Woo-ho’s mouth rises playfully.
The villain who had been tormenting Min Han-jun throughout the episode makes a swift exit at Kim Woo-ho’s hands, and Episode 3 comes to an end.

[Wow the pacing at the end was insane]
[He’s lost it lol lol lol wait, you can take down Infected with just one hand?
feat. all the suffering Min Han-jun went through…]
[No lol lol lol I thought it was weird they kept saying Min Han-jun was ordinary, but in the Dead after Hope world that’s actually correct lol lol the strongest person in the entire world is Kim Woo-ho lol lol lol lol lol]
But Kim Woo-ho is pretty intense though lol
[Feels like he’s gonna betray Min Han-jun and dip out immediately]
[Right lol is this the real villain introduction?]

The reactions were divided into extremes, but everyone agreed on one thing: Seo Ho-yoon’s acting was incredible.

[Seo Ho-yoon’s acting is seriously amazing people aren’t even talking about the protagonist right now just Kim Woo-ho]
[Wow… did you see how his eyes changed in an instant? That was insane for real]

After Episode 4 aired as well, Seo Ho-yoon’s popularity soared even higher. The goodwill that had been depleted by ignoring or criticizing the protagonist Min Han-jun was replenished by the moments he showed whenever he recalled or mentioned his younger brother, Kim Woo-hyung.
Whenever the usually composed Kim Woo-ho discovered traces of his younger brother, his expression would turn desperate, or whenever he met a Survivor who had encountered his brother, his gaze would waver.

【Pfft, he was always a bit slow.】

Or he would chuckle while recounting his younger brother’s embarrassing past—for instance, how he fell off a hill while riding a tricycle as a child and lost his front teeth.
People didn’t even have a chance to deny it before they were completely captivated by the character of Kim Woo-ho.

[Wow I’m seriously going crazy over this guy]
[You came out as a bad person, so I told you to come out as a bad person until the end ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Oh, I’m really going crazy ㅠ]

Even within the drama itself, Kim Woo-ho’s attitude toward Min Han-jun gradually changed.
In the beginning, he was “a kid who couldn’t even use money if you gave it to him,” but now he looked at him as he would his own younger brother.

【Why are you treating me like this?】

Kim Woo-ho, as if receiving an unexpected question, hesitates for a moment before answering.

【You kind of resemble Kim Woo-hyung.】
【Huh?】

Min Han-jun, who had been eating cup noodles, spit out the noodles again in surprise.

【Oh, ah, wait. You mean Woo-ho’s younger brother? Is that a compliment?】
【It’s not a compliment, so stop grinning and wipe the broth off your mouth.】

Despite Kim Woo-ho’s jab, Min Han-jun kept smiling and carelessly wiped his mouth with his palm. Kim Woo-ho clicked his tongue disapprovingly, muttering about how dirty it was.

【Just… there are some foolish aspects to him. Even in this situation, he tries to save people… that kind of thing.】

The way he couldn’t simply overlook those who were weak or in difficulty, how he was gullible yet still trusted others easily—that sort of nature.

【That’s not foolish. It’s only natural.】
【Yeah, you fool.】
【And you’re the same way, Woo-ho.】

Looking at Kim Woo-ho’s deeply furrowed face, Min Han-jun spoke as if stating the obvious, asking why he was even surprised.

【You’ve saved me several times already.】

In his eyes now dwelt an unshakeable faith in Kim Woo-ho.

【Yeah… there should be more people who think like you.】

The corners of Kim Woo-ho’s eyes softened gently.

[Kim Woo-ho…
He’s like an angel]
Like an angel
[He is our South Korea]

[The color of Kim Woo-ho’s eyes when he first saw Min Han-jun vs. the color of his eyes now
Kim Woo-ho’s eyes when he first saw Min Han-jun vs. his eyes now

└At first it was too horselike hahahahaha]

In the final scene of episode 4, Kim Woo-ho stands still with his face buried in his hands after hearing the news that Kim Woo-hyung has been found.

There was not a single line of dialogue, but his trembling fingertips and irregular breathing expressed his feelings.

[UNTRANSLATED LINE 237]
[Kim Woo-ho is not an unpopular character.
[Kim Woo-ho isn’t an unpopular character
If I’m wrong, I’ll eat my words]
If I’m wrong, I’ll cut off my own arm.

Every gesture and glance screams how hard she’s been grinding… lol you can tell she was already getting worked to the bone as an archery national team member even before this scandal broke.
At that time, when the public was not satisfied with everything from behind-the-scenes videos to interviews with the staff’s stars and main PDs and casting directors, they were clamoring for it.

From behind-the-scenes footage to interviews with StarStar staff, the Main PD, and the casting director—audiences devoured every morsel and still cried out for more.

“We have the hottest names right now! Please welcome Min Ji-heon and Seo Ho-yoon from Dead after Hope!”

Min Ji-heon and Seo Ho-yoon appeared on an entertainment news program.
“hello!”

“Hello!”

[Kyaaaaaaah screeeeeech]

Stripped of the grimy post-apocalyptic aesthetic, their polished appearances radiated brilliance.
[Wow, Seo Ho-yoon John~~~~~I’m handsome]
[Min Ji-heon looks inhuman]

[Insane how both have completely different images but both give off that intense vibe, it’s so cool for real]
“This is Min Ji-heon, who plays Min Han-jun~.”

“I’m Min Ji-heon, playing Min Han-jun~.”
For some reason, Min Ji-heon haha. under. It seemed like he was laughing in a staccato manner.

Though Min Ji-heon’s laughter seemed to come in staccato bursts.
“yes.”
“Thanks to your passionate performances, I’ve become a devoted fan of Dead after Hope myself, so I’m thrilled to look at the profiles you prepared in advance! Shall we reveal them now?”
“Yes.”
“First, Seo Ho-yoon… your greatest strength…. Oh my goodness!! Really?!”

“Wow, such confidence!”

The Reporter’s eyes widened as they let out an exclamation, deliberately building suspense before slowly rotating the paper they’d been holding.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Seo Ho-yoon’s most confident specialty is—!!”

[It’s gotta be acting]

Just as the audience was thinking he could manage at best shedding tears quickly, singing a verse, or doing an awkward impression, the Reporter’s voice flowed clearly through the speakers.

“—Idol choreography!!”

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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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