The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 304

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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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304

《Shocking! Lee Kang-seok’s Abuse of Power Scandal Revisited》
《Patch Obtains Lee Kang-seok’s Phone Messages… The True Face of a Star》
《Lee Kang-seok’s Abuse of Power Rumors Confirmed as Fact》

Articles about Lee Kang-seok spread like wildfire.

「[Exclusive] Text Messages Between Lee Kang-seok and Staff Member A Revealed

‘Patch’ obtained Lee Kang-seok’s phone and recovered the messages.

Lee Kang-seok: Do I really have to teach you every little thing? Are you putting your incompetence on display?
Staff Member A: You said you didn’t like it that way last time, so I did it like this…
Lee Kang-seok: Now you’re blaming others?
Staff Member: No, I’m sorry.
Lee Kang-seok: Just call the CEO first. And quit your job quickly. Otherwise, I’ll make you quit…

(Continued below)

….」

Beyond this, Lee Kang-seok’s messages—filled with endless criticism and slander toward others—were shocking enough to stun the public. It was the complete opposite of his existing image.

[Lee Kang-seok… that’s shocking
He had such a gentle and shy image, but this really breaks it…]
[The entertainment industry really does have no peace… I need to take down his poster from my wall^^;;]

[Ugh, revealing text messages like this
It’s illegal but they act like detectives. He’s a celebrity anyway, just leave his private life alone

└Calling abuse of power “private life” is classy
└└No, this is definitely a privacy violation;;]

Haha, I do feel a bit bad for them… but still, they should’ve been more careful around others. Why are the Broadcasting Staff’s messages blowing up like this? Ugh, in the end, they’re just incriminating themselves.

Even among reporters, there were those who criticized Lee Kang-seok for crossing the line, but his popularity plummeted far more rapidly than such reactions could account for.

「—Text messages between the presumed newcomer actor Seo Ho-yoon and Lee Kang-seok were also uncovered.

Lee Kang-seok: Mr. Seo Ho-yoon
Lee Kang-seok: Wouldn’t it be better to acknowledge your mistake and apologize right now?
Lee Kang-seok: I’m speaking to you as a senior in life and as a senior actor.

The messages showed as read, but there was no reply.

Lee Kang-seok: Hey
Lee Kang-seok: Hello?

In the messages that followed, not even a single checkmark appeared.
Thus, ‘Patch’ concluded:
that Seo Ho-yoon had blocked Lee Kang-seok.」

Moreover, a follow-up article even published the contents of what Lee Kang-seok had sent to Seo Ho-yoon.

[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Seo Ho-yoon’s fucking personality is so fucking funny]
[My actors were all in one, Kim Woo-ho and Seo Ho-yoon hahaha]
The fact that you didn’t even bother replying is so funny lolololol

From that point on, a reevaluation of Seo Ho-yoon began to take shape.

[Seo Ho-yoon really has some backbone..]
Honestly, I get why Seo Ho-yoon ignored Lee Kang-seok… I’d be freaked out too if he clung to me like that lol. Lee Kang-seok seems to really like Min Ji-heon though… poor guy..

There are more videos of Ji-heon looking uneasy around Lee Kang-seok than I expected lol

└In the Dead after Hope behind-the-scenes, he seems really interested in Seo Ho-yoon but acts shy..]

[But isn’t it unproven that Seo Ho-yoon stole Lee Kang-seok’s role? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right?

└Please watch his acting
“What are you even saying to an actress who’s casually hitting a million views with Kim Woo-ho videos these days lolololol”

There were still those who raised questions about unresolved suspicions, but such comments were quickly buried beneath other posts.

[Title: I’ve been writing that Seo Ho-yoon is a good person all along

but back then I was ignored and only got cursed at, so I’m posting this again
Seo Ho-yoon is truly a good person
I worked at Dead after Hope for a while in the middle, and Seo Ho-yoon was always the first to smile and greet the staff
I heard from others that there were rumors about him being a nepotistic hire at first, which made the atmosphere a bit tense, but that’s all nonsense
Now that you see Dead after Hope, you know… Seo Ho-yoon is Kim Woo-ho in a way that no one else could be.
Anyway, I never saw him show any displeasure even during the grueling filming schedule… and when the staff struggled moving equipment, he’d step forward to help… (though I did see him looking uncomfortable about the smoking scenes, but the Director ended up having it all done in CG)
Working with Seo Ho-yoon made me respect him as a person. I’m sure there’s no one among the staff who dislikes him
He’s truly a good person]

[Seo Ho-yoon is really such a good person~ ♡♡
And he’s so easy on the eyes~
He buys us coffee all the time!
Seo Ho-yoon_autograph.png

Woo and Kim Woo-ho!!! I’m so jealous of you guys lol~ How are you doing??
└Huh? You got an autograph? But why is there a rabbit drawing?
“Haha, it’s a bit strange, but all the autographs our broadcasting staff received from Seo Ho-yoon are shaped like rabbits… Well, anyway!”

Moreover, verification posts from staff who had worked with Seo Ho-yoon started appearing.

[Why does he sign autographs as rabbits]
Hahahahaha this Actor is fucking impossible to pin down hahahahahaha
[Seo Ho-yoon wasn’t pushing the little cat?? Hahaha sudden betrayal]
[Please note: this is a long-eared cat, not a rabbit]
[Our kind-hearted kitty who’s nice to the staff too]

Even Seo Ho-yoon’s fans, who had been quiet for a while, joined in, and public opinion gradually formed in a positive direction.

[Seo Ho-yoon must be the real deal. Even when he was getting heavily criticized, a few counter-posts would always pop up, but now they’re pouring in]

When you see the broadcasting staff posting with their real names, they’re really bold about it lol. That’s his only mistake.
not smoking and bothering the CG team

└Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk is so funny ㅠ]

[If he’s close with Min Ji-heon who’s shy around people, don’t you know? Seo Ho-yoon is seriously no joke]

Just as public interest had reached its perfect peak, a new episode of Dead after Hope aired.

Late that night, the day Kim Woo-ho learned his younger brother might be dead and was heading to the Gangwon Province Shelter.
Min Han-jun suddenly woke from sleep and realized Kim Woo-ho wasn’t in his spot, so he followed the faint smell of cigarette smoke.
There he found Kim Woo-ho leaning his back against a half-crumbled wall, smoking while gazing up at the sky.

【Your younger brother Kim Woo-hyung—don’t you think he’s probably dead? Based on what we heard today too….】

Min Han-jun finally let slip the question he’d been holding deep in his chest.

【…Han-jun, have you ever done archery?】

Soft moonlight seeped into Kim Woo-ho’s face. White smoke curled between his rough lips, and at the cigarette’s end, a distinctly crimson glow flickered.

【—Composure is incredibly important. Once it breaks, everything crumbles without end. Just like it did for me.】

Then smoke spread like dawn mist, obscuring his pallid face. Unable to bear meeting that gaze, Min Han-jun’s eyelids trembled delicately as he looked down.
Afraid Kim Woo-ho might be overwhelmed by sorrow and consumed by it.
But then,

【But conversely, it means I just have to not let myself become anxious.】

The calm yet sharp gaze that reappeared was the same as Kim Woo-ho’s usual self.

【People believe whatever they want to believe anyway, and they spout all sorts of nonsense about me… screw it.】

No matter what anyone says.
The arrow’s tip will never waver.

【I’ll persist tenaciously, just as I always have, wherever I am.】

His fingertips turned pale white as he gripped the bowstring tightly, as if declaring his resolve.

【…You believe that?】
【I believe that.】

He was speaking of hope in a place overflowing with despair.

【Simple, isn’t it?】

Kim Woo-ho’s lips curved into a smile.
Following the OST, the next episode’s preview appeared on screen, yet the audience remained trapped in the lingering afterglow of that final scene.

[Seo Ho-yoon is just Kim Woo-ho…]
[If it were me, I’d be screaming from the start about how unfair this is, how Lee Kang-seok messed up, going around like that until they forcibly kicked me off the drama because they couldn’t stand the sight of me]
[But Seo Ho-yoon has never made any official statement this whole time, right? And…
showing it through the drama like that is fucking genius lol]

[The cat really… shows it through “acting”…

└Is he insane lololololololololololololololololololololololol
└└Our Seo Go-aeng is a brave Go-aeng ㅠㅠㅠHehehehehehe]

With everything aligning perfectly at just the right moment, the rumors surrounding Seo Ho-yoon rapidly faded into obscurity.

***

Today was the day we were filming the final and highlight scene.
I steadied my emotions and walked toward the camera.

[We arrived in Gangwon Province, but instead of survivors greeting us at the shelter, there were countless infected.
Min Han-jun carried Kim Woo-hyung, who was injured and unconscious, while Kim Woo-ho escorted them as they began to flee. People were rolling and falling all around, but we couldn’t help anyone. The moment we stopped, we’d all be dead.]

Min Ji-heon’s gaze wavered relentlessly, but I pretended not to notice as I pulled him along, quickening our pace.

[At the path blocked by collapsed building debris, Kim Woo-ho quickly assesses the situation.
That at this rate, everyone would die a dog’s death.]

I muttered curses under my breath as I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a lighter.

[Unless someone makes a sacrifice.]

And I take in the pale face of Shin Hee-chan, unconscious and carried on Min Ji-heon’s back.

“…Han-jun.”
“Yes?!”
“Time to earn your keep.”

I couldn’t possibly misunderstand what that single word meant.
Seo Ho-yoon tore the cloth and fixed a bottle filled with oil and styrofoam to the arrow. Our eyes met, and the moment Seo Ho-yoon’s hand ignited the lighter, Min Ji-heon charged forward.
The bowstring was drawn taut, and an explosion erupted among the Infected.

The camera zoomed in on Seo Ho-yoon’s face as he emerged through the billowing black smoke.

“…Damn, that’s terrifying.”

Even Shin Hee-chan’s slumped shoulders were no longer visible. Seo Ho-yoon clicked his tongue softly and grasped the bowstring again.

Scorching flames licked at my cheeks, and for the first time, my fingertips trembled with instability. Sweat trickling down my forehead beaded on my quivering eyelashes.

As I squeezed my eyes shut, droplets rolled down my cheeks like tears.
Then,

“Kim Woo-ho!!”

Hearing Min Ji-heon’s voice, Seo Ho-yoon released the tension from his hand and let the string go.
The Infected lunging at me collapsed to the ground.

In my bewildered vision, Min Ji-heon stood atop the ruins of a distant building, his face streaked with sweat and tears, frantically waving his arms.
He had returned. With reinforcements.
True to the righteous and upright Min Han-jun.

“Don’t you dare die on your own terms, you bastard!!”

The surroundings were still teeming with Infected, and flames raged fiercely.
Yet Seo Ho-yoon laughed.

“You’re insane, Min Han-jun.”

A brilliant blue sky reflected in my pupils.

.
.
.

Moments later, Director Jung called cut.
Simultaneously, thunderous cheers erupted.

“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Seo Ho-yoon, you worked so hard on that final shoot!”
“Huh?! That was the final shoot?”
“We already filmed all the scenes that come later in bulk last time.”

The staff members with fire extinguishers immediately rushed forward to suppress the flames.

“Wow, you really nailed that in one take. Is it because you use your body so well?”
“Aha ha.”

I lowered my bow-wielding arm and offered a gentle smile.
After that, Min Han-jun left to find ways to save more people, and Kim Woo-ho left to seek treatment for his younger brother.
We parted with only the promise to see each other again if we survived, and my role as Kim Woo-ho in Dead after Hope came to an end.

“Seo Ho-yoon, how do you feel now that filming is complete?”

Time to head back.

“I suppose I won’t have to worry about getting soot on my face anymore.”
“Huh? Aha ha!”

The Assistant Director handed me a large bouquet of flowers.

“…Oh, I also prepared something.”

As I accepted the bouquet, I glanced at my Manager.
Just like with “Please Camera,” I had prepared gift certificates and small message cards in advance.

“…Seo Ho-yoon!!”
“You’re really too kind of a person, it’s almost a problem…”
“Aha ha.”

Just as I was handing out gifts to each staff member one by one, suddenly cheers erupted from behind.

“Our viewership numbers are in! The highest rating is 21 percent!!”
“What?!”

Starting with Lee Kang-seok, the whole progression felt remarkably similar to “Obscure Idol Tycoon.”
The staff member filming behind-the-scenes footage captured the delighted actors and production crew perfectly on camera.

“Man, Kim Woo-ho, hearing such wonderful news at the end of filming like this.”
“He’s absolutely the unsung hero!”

Director Jung, his face flushed with excitement, nodded vigorously before stepping closer to me.

“Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Yes?”
“There were truly many complications and troubles, but I’m genuinely grateful the parachute hire turned out to be you.”

Director Jung spoke in hushed tones, patting my back. I responded with a playful smile, curling my lips upward.
After exchanging farewells with all the staff, I turned toward the van, leaving the filming set behind.

“Seo Ho-yoon.”

Min Ji-heon called out to me.
He walked alongside me as if seeing me off, holding an enormous bouquet of flowers so large it was difficult to carry with one hand.
Then he murmured near my ear.

“This is relentless, absolutely relentless. How did you manage to write letters to every single person here? But why is there nothing for me?”
“We have something separate to discuss.”

His expression hardened instantly.

Before returning as an idol,
it was now time to uncover Min Ji-heon’s secrets.

—————
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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