The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 308

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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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308

“Ah, haha, hehe. Ho-yoon, you really love kimchi fried rice, don’t you! I’m crazy about jjajangmyeon too. I could eat it for all three meals and be perfectly happy.”
“Hahaha.”
“Since we’re just having a casual look today, don’t be nervous. Think of it as just light conversation, okay?”

Director Joo eased the atmosphere with a relaxed demeanor and pressed the camcorder button that the Assistant Director had preset, beginning the recording. It was a simplified setup serving as a makeshift audition.
Even after meeting Seo Ho-yoon in person, a corner of Director Joo’s mind remained somewhat twisted, yet on the other hand, his desire as a director stirred within him.

According to Director Joo’s judgment, in entertainment industry dramas—especially those featuring idols as the main profession—the most crucial element wasn’t singing ability, dancing skill, or acting talent.
Of course, those would earn bonus points if they were good, but what took absolute priority was appearance.
Handsome faces were commonplace in this industry, but finding an actor who possessed that distinctive idol aura without actually being a current idol was extraordinarily difficult.

Yet now, facing Seo Ho-yoon—whom he had initially dismissed as merely a thin-featured handsome man—Director Joo felt as though he were encountering a genuine idol.

“Look at Ho-yoon’s styling today. I really don’t think it would look out of place if he went straight on stage.”

Director Joo’s head bobbed up and down at the Assistant Director’s quiet murmur beside him.
When Seo Ho-yoon had appeared on television as Kim Woo-ho from Dead after Hope, his exterior had been pleasant enough. However, perhaps due to the nature of the role, he had seemed somewhat weathered by hardship.
But now, with his hair dyed a slightly brighter shade and dressed simply in a white short-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, he was distinctly different. A pure yet indescribable radiance seemed to emanate from him in all directions.

“I appreciate the opportunity.”

Facing Seo Ho-yoon’s gentle smile, Director Joo recalled his conversation with Director Jung from a few days ago.
When he had asked what actor Seo Ho-yoon was like before this casual meeting, Director Jung had poured out excessive praise—calling him kind and affectionate, saying he was the best person to work with as a colleague.

‘There aren’t any other candidates yet anyway. He’s not bad, but still… it would be better to see more and decide if he’s right for the role.’

He had no intention of asking him to sing or dance here.
What Director Joo wanted from Seo Ho-yoon was just one thing.
The character’s essence emanating from his attitude, expression, and behavior.
How Seo Ho-yoon would portray Kang Ji-sung.

“I’d like to hear how you interpret the character, Ho-yoon. I’ll ask you some simple questions, and I’d like you to answer how that person would act.”
“Yes.”

Director Joo cleared his throat and asked.

“Ahem, you’re walking down the hallway of the Broadcasting Station when a junior greets you. How would Kang Ji-sung handle this situation?”
“‘Oh, hey.’ And then I’d just walk past them.”

Seo Ho-yoon demonstrated this with an indifferent expression, casually waving his hand, then added with a gentle smile.

“But actually, Kang Ji-sung probably wouldn’t even realize who was greeting him in the first place.”
“…Why do you think that?”
“Because he has no interest in other people. He’s grown accustomed to one-sided affection from those around him, but having been hurt in relationships, he’s built walls just as high. That’s what I believe.”

In that moment, Director Joo’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“Oh, that’s interesting. So what if someone he dislikes tries to provoke Kang Ji-sung? What kind of reaction would he show?”
“Ah…”

Seo Ho-yoon’s gaze wandered through empty space as if searching through memories, then he tilted his head slightly.

“Sorry.”

And he pulled one corner of his mouth into a smirk.

“I don’t remember people with forgettable faces very well.”

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, Director Joo was impressed.
It was a perfect answer.
Ever since reaching the pinnacle of idol stardom, Kang Ji-sung couldn’t accept people’s kindness and goodwill at face value. He believed every gesture concealed hidden intentions.
Naturally, he’d grown indifferent to those around him.

“If, as the drama suggests, Kang Ji-sung himself took the initiative to help someone—someone he wanted to help—how do you think he would approach them?”

This was a scene not yet written even in the script.
Though Director Joo wondered if the question was a bit excessive, he eagerly awaited Seo Ho-yoon’s answer.

“He’d have to be annoyingly persistent to a suspicious degree.”
“Pardon?”
“Constantly reaching out, pestering them at every turn, and only grumbling when they ignore him, quieting down for just a brief moment.”
“…Hmm?”

Yet what actually came out of my mouth was completely different from Kang Ji-sung’s character and direction.

“Hmm. That doesn’t quite seem right.”
“…Yes?”

Though they were questions without a single correct answer, Director Joo felt disappointed that the reality didn’t match his rising expectations.

“As Seo Ho-yoon mentioned earlier, Kang Ji-sung fundamentally puts up walls with people. On top of that, his pride is extremely high. Even if there’s someone he wants to help, it doesn’t seem like he’d approach them so easily.”
“…Is that so?”

The way his eyes blinked suggested he didn’t quite understand something. Either way, since acting would follow the script, it wasn’t an immediate concern.
What had caught Director Joo’s attention from the start was something else entirely.

“By the way, do you play guitar?”

Following Director Joo’s finger, Seo Ho-yoon’s gaze shifted to the guitar, and he brushed the case with his hand.

“Someone taught me, so I can play a little.”
“Oh, a friend?”
“A friend… Yes, well. A composer I know.”
“Then could you play any song for us?”
“Of course.”

Seo Ho-yoon readily agreed, took out the guitar, and assumed a composed posture.

“I’ll begin.”

Grasping a few chords and plucking the strings, I soon let a gentle melody flow.

【Chill out, Do not go too far….】

“…!”

The moment a clear, warm baritone spread through the soft guitar sound, Director Joo and the Assistant Director’s eyes widened in astonishment.

【You and I are waiting fear hid underneath the bed】

‘Chilling.’

It was a song released by a 1990s rock band.
Despite its notes not being particularly high or its technique flashy, it was famous for being difficult to sing—yet Seo Ho-yoon was performing it with remarkable ease.

【As we cannot leave all the things behind…】

Seo Ho-yoon singing along with the guitar accompaniment looked like a scene straight out of an indie music film.
The way he continued his performance with unwavering focus, undeterred by the intense gazes fixed upon him, suggested he was already accustomed to such circumstances.

【Lay down, do not go too far
You and I are waiting hope over the sunlight】

Just as Director Joo and the Assistant Director were becoming completely absorbed in the song, the melody stopped.

“Wait, why did you stop here?”
“Haha.”
“Did you prepare as a vocalist originally?!”

Before Director Joo could even open his mouth, the Assistant Director—whose face had flushed crimson—exclaimed first.

“I thought you were just a good dancer, but it seems you sing even better?”
“I’m actually a better dancer.”

Seo Ho-yoon’s expression turned serious.
Director Joo, recalling the entertainment news program featuring Seo Ho-yoon that the Main Writer had shown him recently, nodded in agreement with that statement.

Seo Ho-yoon was a catch.
One could tell just by watching the Assistant Director nudge him repeatedly in the ribs, urging him to secure this talent quickly.
While his grasp of the character Kang Ji-sung was somewhat lacking, when it came to singing, dancing, and even acting—
he possessed all three talents in equal measure.
Yet as they reached this point, Director Joo found himself wanting to confirm one more thing.

“…Seo Ho-yoon. You see.”
“Yes.”
“In truth, if we attach romantic relationships to an idol, it would likely spark considerable controversy, so there won’t be any overtly explicit scenes… but the Kang Ji-sung in the Main Writer’s mind is a character who has been through numerous girlfriends.”

For the first time, the corners of Seo Ho-yoon’s lips, which had been rising, fell.

“…Is there an actual motive behind it?”
“Hm? I’m not entirely sure about that.”
“I see….”

He turned his face away, scratching the nape of his neck before carefully opening his mouth.

“…But this drama doesn’t have romance in it, does it?”
“Still, I’d like to see some of that nuance reflected in your words and actions.”

The character’s essence tends to seep through in small gestures and tone of voice. That would translate into charm for the viewers.

Director Joo believed that the subtle depth in acting came from the actor’s direct or indirect experiences.
He didn’t necessarily expect Seo Ho-yoon to be skilled in that regard, but at minimum, he didn’t want him to appear clueless.
Even if the screenwriter added meticulous stage directions like ‘someone who’s met many members of the opposite sex’ or ‘a handsome man that everyone on the street would turn to look at,’ the character’s appeal would be halved if the actor couldn’t properly convey it.
Director Joo absolutely didn’t want to put an actor in that state in front of the camera.

“If you don’t mind, could you do some kind of working dialogue? If you need a scene partner, I can lend you the Assistant Director here.”
“I’m happy to!”

The enthusiastic Assistant Director raised both hands in agreement.

“…Really?”

Seo Ho-yoon’s expression turned uncomfortable, clearly reluctant.

“Do I really have to?”
“…Hm? Did I ask for something too unreasonable?”

Director Jung had said Seo Ho-yoon was skilled at everything without exception.

‘Is romance a landmine for him?’

Since there were often actors who struggled with certain genres, Director Joo’s expression grew slightly perplexed.
As Director Joo fell into thought, letting out a quiet sigh, Seo Ho-yoon rose from his seat and exhaled softly.

“Why are you asking me to do that?”

Then he extended one hand to brace himself against the table, leaning his upper body forward.
Not toward the Assistant Director,

“…Huh?”

Director Joo was caught completely off guard.
This sudden turn of events left the director of this year’s “Shining Star” utterly flustered.

“Well, Seo Ho-yoon. If you don’t want to do it, just say so….”
“That’s not it.”

Seo Ho-yoon lowered his long lashes, his gaze downcast.

“Director… would you really be fine if I said something like that to someone other than you?”
“Yes, yes??”

His voice trembled delicately, as though he were suppressing a deep sense of hurt.

“Really?”

Director Joo found himself defenseless against Seo Ho-yoon’s onslaught at close range—later, when recalling this moment, the director would say there was no other way to describe it—and could offer no response.

“…I’m a little disappointed.”

Even as the Assistant Director beside them watched this unfold in real time, visibly stunned, Seo Ho-yoon’s gaze never wavered from Director Joo.
He smiled faintly at the director.

“Director.”

This smile was different from the one Seo Ho-yoon had worn throughout the meeting.
It was the smile of someone who knew exactly when he appeared most captivating.
In other words,

“What time does this wrap today?”

It was the face that someone Seo Ho-yoon portrayed often wore.

.
.
.

Whirrrrr.

As I stepped outside the building, a hot wind brushed against my cheek.
The meeting ended with Director Joo’s final words about actively reviewing the role of Kang Ji-sung.

“Joo Woo-sung is….”

But rather than feeling relieved, I was lost in a moment of harsh reality.

“How on earth did Hyperfocus Master pull this off….”

Ding!

[I learned a lesson today.]

“…What lesson.”

[Friends are….]

“….”

“Let’s really make this work…”

“That guy isn’t my friend…”

She wanted to get back to Idol Tycoon quickly.

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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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