The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 303

—————

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

—————

303

[Title: I think I finally get why Seo Ho-yoon completely disrespects Lee Kang-seok lol]

I majored in drama and film studies, so I worked my ass off doing broadcasting staff gigs
That’s how I saw Lee Kang-seok a few times on set, and the guy is genuinely insane

Don’t believe Lee Kang-seok’s image on TV
Seriously, watching him push that intelligent gentleman son-in-law image makes me want to puke while eating

Back then I was just a part-timer, so I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut, but I saw him talk shit to his manager constantly

Even I thought to myself that this wasn’t right
His manager is at least old enough to be his uncle, and every time he’d bow his head repeatedly and apologize
All the staff around him would notice
I’d be in the corner rustling garbage bags and rolling my eyes like crazy

Even now I remember every single word that bastard said back then
>Aren’t you causing me harm because you’re lazy and stupid?< That's what he said

To be honest, he's not just like that to his manager
Lee Kang-seok is famous in this industry for treating easy targets like garbage
He doesn't even treat junior staff or part-timers as human beings lol

On the flip side, he sucks up like crazy to famous directors, PDs, and actors—basically people he considers worthwhile

I always thought he'd get what's coming to him, but when this whole thing blew up, he's playing victim and causing a scene at StarStar, so I'm posting this because it's infuriating
I got so disillusioned with this industry that I got a job in a completely different field. Of course, there are tons of crazy people besides Lee Kang-seok lol

On the other hand, Seo Ho-yoon… I thought this was surprising too, but apparently he's got his head on straight
He's never late, never throws tantrums, rarely does NG takes so filming wraps quickly (the last part seems most important lol)
He's apparently nice even to junior staff and part-timers
I heard this from a college junior who works at Data Hub, so take it or leave it

└Where'd the summary go lololol
└└Summary: If you're in your right mind, doesn't this just mean everyone hates Lee Kang-seok?
└└lololol seems like they just wanted to bash Kang-seok
└Hey, what are you doing right now? You're gonna get sued by Kang-seok lololol
└└It's anonymous anyway, what lawsuit…

[Title: Finally it's going up

I was debating whether to post this too, but Lee Kang-seok is seriously fucking terrible
If I accidentally see that bastard's face on TV, I want to go inside and beat the remote against the screen

I think I've encountered the original post before
Whenever Lee Kang-seok's voice gets louder, the staff members exchange glances with each other
Like, here he goes again with his bullshit

└I was just a camera assistant, but when I heard Lee Kang-seok tell me to go buy his favorite coffee, my blood pressure actually spiked
└It's interesting how people fabricate stories like this
└└Fake verification, asshole
Lee_Kang-seok_tlqkf_drama_set.jpg
If you don't believe it, fuck off~]

[Title: Wait? So Seo Ho-yoon isn't bad then??

???
??]

[Title: Actor A trending in rumors right now

I worked briefly as a makeup staff member
I agree that this actor is insane
It's strange why nothing was said before and now all these stories are coming out
I mean, I know there are plenty of shitty people in broadcasting, but I kept quiet until the posts came out, and then I jumped on the trend too

└Wow, seriously? What was he like?
└└The power tripping was really bad… I used to like that actor, but as soon as work ended, I told everyone around me absolutely never to like him
He acts like he's something special…
└└Wow.. that's shocking..]

[Title: So between Lee Kang-seok and Seo Ho-yoon, who's actually good?

What?
Lee Kang-seok? Seo Ho-yoon?

Lol just use your own judgment here lol

***

I handed my phone to the Manager and stretched luxuriously.
With outdoor filming sessions piling up day after day, returning to the set felt like a rare reprieve.
During this brief break, the actors were resting in their own ways, but Min Ji-heon sat alone in a corner, still streaming tears. He remained trapped in the emotional depths of the scene he'd just filmed.

'That guy really is something else.'

He held an ice pack beneath his swollen, reddened eyes, quietly trying to process his emotions.
Unlike me—parched and brittle—Min Ji-heon's eyes never dried as the drama escalated toward its climax.

"Wow, Min Ji-heon must be having such a tough time too."

Shin Hee-chan, who'd drifted to my side, murmured softly.

"Yeah. Well, we're in the final stretch."

Actors in general endured intense emotional exhaustion, but Min Ji-heon performed as though he'd been reborn as the character itself. When taking on roles like this one—righteous and grieving someone's death—he seemed to suffer even more.

"Speaking of which, Ho-yoon, you're wrapping up soon, right? How much is left?"
"Two more scenes."

The System Window had mentioned last time that the error corrections were nearly complete anyway.

"Whoa~! That's such a shame. The Kim Woo-ho role is seriously popular. Oh! Did you hear? Our viewership is apparently going to surpass 16%."
"Oh, really?"
"…Look at you being so indifferent. You know what? The more I see you, the more you look exactly like Kim Woo-ho. It's so wild."

It wasn't that I resembled Kim Woo-ho—it was that Kim Woo-ho resembled me.
I kept that answer locked inside, listening to Shin Hee-chan's chatter, when—

"…Whoa!"

Lee Kang-seok strode into the set with bold, confident steps.

"Really, that guy's got some nerve too. How does he even think about coming here again?"

I patted Shin Hee-chan's shoulder in a soothing gesture as he huffed and grumbled quietly, then kept my eyes on the situation.
Even though Lee Kang-seok must have felt the sharp gazes from all the staff members, he calmly approached Min Ji-heon and clung to him once more.

"Senior, are you alright?"
"…."
"What are these staff members even doing? You look so exhausted, senior."

Min Ji-heon, who had been burying his face in an ice pack, finally lifted his head. His brow was slightly furrowed, as if a headache was setting in.

"Ah…."
"Senior, does your head hurt? Should I get you some medicine? Or maybe…."

Min Ji-heon raised his hand to cut off Lee Kang-seok's fussing.

"Lee Kang-seok."

He stared at Lee Kang-seok with only his eyes moving.

"Read the room."

It was a clear signal to leave.
With the stress from his assigned role reaching its peak and his head throbbing relentlessly, Min Ji-heon couldn't hide his true nature and let it show completely.
Lee Kang-seok, biting his lower lip and holding back visibly, soon greeted Min Ji-heon and began moving closer to me.

"Why is he coming this way?"

Shin Hee-chan panicked over something that wasn't even his concern, looking flustered.
I thought his expression resembled the maknae's, but my view was blocked as a shadow fell over me.

"We have something to talk about. Either watch or get out of the way."

Lee Kang-seok said this to Shin Hee-chan.
Shin Hee-chan, who had been gauging the situation by looking between me and Lee Kang-seok, reluctantly moved away at Lee Kang-seok's irritated hand gesture.
Once Lee Kang-seok judged that Shin Hee-chan was far enough away, he looked down at me with a smirk and opened his mouth.

"Seo Ho-yoon, I didn't see your text message."
"Oh. No, I did see it."
"…You saw it?"
"Yes. But I blocked you."
"…."
"…."

He exhaled as if utterly exasperated.

"…Seo Ho-yoon, you haven't been in the entertainment industry long, so you probably don't understand. If you act that arrogant toward your seniors, you'll fall fast."
"Oh…."
"You still don't have a grasp of how this situation is unfolding, do you?"

When I merely shrugged without responding, Lee Kang-seok openly clicked his tongue.

"I can't tell if our Seo Ho-yoon is naive or just stupid."

Then came an endless barrage of harsh words. Lee Kang-seok remained unchanged, whether here or elsewhere.
It wasn't that his looks were lacking, nor was his acting ability particularly poor.
Perhaps if he'd been just a little more humble, he might have achieved great success later.
But the real problem was his unchanging nature—his inability to reflect on himself, his failure to recognize his own strengths, and his constant need to find external reasons for all his failures.
However, the problem was his unchanging disposition—unable to reflect on himself, failing to recognize even his own strengths, and always seeking to blame external factors for all his shortcomings.

"Mr. Seo Ho-yoon, you know the rumors about you are getting worse, right? Let me help you."

Lee Kang-seok took another step closer and whispered, as if accepting my expressionless face.

"Yes. I can get the rookie actress B to clarify that it wasn't you. If you show proper respect to your senior, that is?"
"Yes. I can clarify and organize that the new Actor B isn't Seo Ho-yoon. If you show me some respect as a junior?"

He was probably observing how I'd respond in this situation. Testing what kind of person "Seo Ho-yoon" truly was.
Perhaps he's observing how I'll act in this situation. Trying to confirm what kind of person Seo Ho-yoon is.

"By the way, Senior Lee Kang-seok. There's something I'm curious about."

With a smile on her lips, she tilted her head slightly.

"Senior, didn't you say you like people who act well?"
"…What? Yes?"
"Then why won't you praise me?"
"Excuse me??"
"I think I'm doing quite well, actually."

Lee Kang-seok's face contorted before smoothing out just as quickly. He seemed to be conscious of those around us.

"What are you even…. Your self-assessment is far too generous."
"Is it?"
"Seriously, Seo Ho-yoon, you're incredibly selfish. You spoke rudely to me and acted carelessly, causing everyone to suffer because of it, and now you're cracking jokes like this so easily?"

Finally, Lee Kang-seok's suppressed voice rose slightly. I'd already felt the staff members stealing glances at us, but now they were staring openly in our direction.

"Well, even if everything you say is true, how do you live worrying about every single little thing like that? You have to let some things slide."

I patted Lee Kang-seok's back gently.
The faint trembling of his body transmitted through my fingertips.

"Senior Lee Kang-seok, you just got thoroughly criticized by Senior Min Ji-heon too, but don't stress too much about it. Just think of it as me being so incredibly talented that I can't help it, and you'll feel a lot better."

Veins bulged across Lee Kang-seok's clenched fists.
I thought that even if he threw a punch at me right now, the situation would turn out entertainingly, so I smiled even wider.

"We're all too busy just looking at beautiful and good things in this world—let's live our lives positively and wisely."

Those were words Sung Ji-won had once said.
Though he probably didn't intend for them to be used in a situation like this.
Lee Kang-seok's face, now dark red rather than merely flushed, ground his teeth as he leaned in toward me more aggressively.

"…Are you insane? Do you really want to end your acting career?"

Lee Kang-seok is really unfortunate in that regard.
He has a talent for needling people and getting under their skin, but he lacks the foresight to think through the consequences.
He seems aware of people's gazes to some degree, yet he ultimately can't suppress his true nature.

Spreading rumors.
Posting emotional appeals on the StarStar account.
Causing a scene at the filming set.
Treating staff and managers disrespectfully.

All the actions he had taken himself had provoked the public and generated curiosity. He had no idea that all of this would come back to haunt him as his own undoing.

Zing.

And it happened right when the controversy was reaching its peak.

"Tch…."

Lee Kang-seok saw the name displayed on his phone and irritably hung up. It appeared to be his manager.

"How annoying…."

But the ringing bell resumed almost immediately. Lee Kang-seok remained frozen, unable to take any action.
Glancing at the screen, he saw the word "CEO" displayed.

"Kang-seok."
"…."

I spoke deliberately at a leisurely pace.

"Why don't you answer?"

Lee Kang-seok, who had been nervously nibbling at his thumbnail, hesitated before turning away and pressing the answer button.

"…Hello."

A loud shout erupted through the small, cautious voice of Lee Kang-seok as he began to speak.

[Hey!! Lee Kang-seok!!]

In less than a minute, Lee Kang-seok's face had turned ashen.
Back when Lee Kang-seok's article broke in the obscure idol community, I regretted not being able to see his reaction in real-time, but… it seemed the downfall of villains always looked the same.
Judging by how it reminded me of Today Yoo-hyuk from Shining Star Season 1.

"What a shame."

Right, he should just focus on doing his own job.

"What, what's going on? Why is he acting like that?"

Commotion rippled through the staff in an instant.
Shin Hee-chan, who had been cautiously approaching me while keeping an eye on Lee Kang-seok, glanced around at the murmuring staff members before hastily turning on his phone.

《Shocking! Lee Kang-seok's Abuse of Power Incident Revisited》
《Exclusive! Lee Kang-seok's Phone Messages Obtained…. The Star's True Face》
《Lee Kang-seok's Abuse of Power Rumors Confirmed as Fact》

Amidst the chaotic filming set, only Min Ji-heon sent me a weary gaze.
I met his eyes directly and smiled back at him.

Yeah, I'm not a particularly good person.
You laughed when you heard that too.

"Shin Hee-chan, by any chance."

Walking slowly toward Shin Hee-chan, I placed my arm around his shoulder and whispered near his ear.

"…Yes, hyung."
"Do you know how to do judo?"
"…Huh?"

Shin Hee-chan looked at me with a bewildered expression.
I deeply regretted that Jung Da-jun, who could throw Lee Kang-seok down with judo, wasn't here.

—————

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

—————