The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 321

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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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321

Kang Yeon-hu pressed his lips together, then sighed and sat back down.

“Why do people have to be like that?”
“It’s cute, isn’t it?”

I tilted my head with a slight smile, and he seemed to compose himself, taking several deep breaths before changing the subject.

“…Is the comeback preparation going well?”
“Of course it is. How about you, Yeon-hu?”
“Well, it’s so-so.”

After a brief pause, Kang Yeon-hu rubbed the bridge of his nose and added with reluctance.

“This comeback is really important for us.”

Every comeback had always been important.
High Five was scheduled to make their comeback a month after The Dun’s activities concluded—a strategy to divide public attention.
Back at Dae Pa-sung, even with reconnaissance and information gathering, we’d often miscalculate other idols’ comeback schedules, but now we could easily adjust our release timing without much effort.
I’d heard that High Five still received more capital investment, but regardless, we were getting our fair share of the scraps, so there was nothing to complain about.
Of course, these positive aspects would eventually become obstacles down the line.

“…You know, the competition next year or the year after will be absolutely fierce.”

Like Kang Yeon-hu had just said, if we both ended up as award candidates simultaneously, there’d be no way to split the prize.

“Right, I know, I know.”

I pretended to brush away nonexistent dust from Kang Yeon-hu’s shoulder, playing along.

“But Kang Yeon-hu, why are you probing me like this, bringing up awards and all that when we both already know the score?”
“Well, it’s just…”

He was sharp enough to understand how reckless it was to say such things without any benefit. So it was hard to discern what his true intention was in blurting this out so openly.

“…It’s just… I was anxious about it. Anyway, you should avoid that junior.”

Well, if he’s not willing to confess right now, that’s fine.
Eventually, I’ll find out when the time comes.
I turned my gaze toward the monitoring television installed in the waiting room. Whether it was intentionally tuned this way, the previous episode of the program I was scheduled to appear on as a guest was playing.

“I have one question—is that person skilled?”
“That person?”

Kang Yeon-hu, whose eyes had been following my finger, furrowed his brow.
On the screen, among the trainees busily dividing into teams, the face of the one who had grabbed my arm earlier was visible.

“Ah, that trainee from earlier?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t need to worry about it, Seo Ho-yoon. If anything, I’d think he was acting this way because he was desperate, but his skills aren’t even that good….”
“Hmm.”
“Still, his image management is decent, so he seems to have some recognition. This program still has some buzz to it, after all.”

Is that so?
Even with heavy editing, Han Young-jin’s skills on screen were ambiguous.
As I watched quietly, Kim Hee-young’s words suddenly crossed my mind.
She had said the trainees were covering The Dun’s songs.

‘Should I give it a try?’

As I lifted the corners of my mouth in a smirk, Kang Yeon-hu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Seo Ho-yoon, what….”
“Guests, I’m heading out now!”
“Yes.”

So how am I going to use this?
Kang Yeon-hu, who seemed to have something to say and was about to call me, clamped his mouth shut the moment the staff member entered the waiting room. As I hummed a tune while putting on my microphone, I felt his gaze stick to me. I walked calmly to the backstage as if I knew nothing.
I walked into the Backstage calmly, as if I knew nothing.

“We have with us Seo Ho-yoon from The Dun and Kang Yeon-hu from High Five!”

Kang Yeon-hu, who had been watching for cues as MC’s introduction was about to play, followed me onto the Set/Filming Location a step behind.

“Wow!! Seo Ho-yoon!!”
“Oh! Kang Yeon-hu!”
“His face is really small….”
“Seriously, I’ve never seen Seo Ho-yoon before… that’s insane.”
“Completely handsome!”

Where the hell did you sell off ‘senior,’ you bastards?
In the eyes of the trainees cheering in unison, admiration, envy, and jealousy swirled together.

“Hello, I’m Ho-yoon from The Dun.”

First, be kind.

“Since I’ve experienced a survival program myself, it feels quite nostalgic. I was nervous right up until the moment I arrived here. If any of you have concerns, please come to me anytime. I’ll do my best to help with all my strength. All trainees, fighting!”
“Wooooow!!”
“Seo Ho-yoon senior, you’re so cool!!”

I rattled off empty platitudes and headed toward the guest seating.

“…Hello, I’m Kang Yeon-hu.”

Following suit with a brief greeting, Kang Yeon-hu sat beside me and began shooting daggers at me with his gaze.
As if interrogating me about what I was scheming.
I simply deepened my smile all the more.

“…—Today’s mission is to cover songs from famous idols, including tracks from our guests High Five and The Dun!”

The program hadn’t aired yet, but quite some time had passed since filming, and we’d already completed several missions.
The already-divided groups huddled together and whispered among themselves.

“Which song should we choose?”
“Wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to pick a song from The Dun senior or High Five senior?”
“…It’s a good idea, but considering this is a competition, let’s think through various options and decide calmly.”

After wandering around offering advice here and there, I caught Han Young-jin’s group mentioning The Dun and couldn’t help but smirk.
Just then, I heard a staff member’s shout that we were cutting for a moment.
The red lights on the cameras blinked out one by one.
It would be a safe comment even if it were caught, but I removed my microphone and approached Han Young-jin.

“Han Young-jin.”
“Ah! Seo Ho-yoon, senior!”

He seemed startled when I, who had been leaning against the wall, spoke to him first. Moreover, as the attention of those around us shifted toward us, his shoulders seemed to rise slightly.

“I have something to tell you for a moment.”
“…Something to tell me?”

I narrowed my eyes a bit more, brought my lips close to his ear, and whispered softly.
Han Young-jin, who had initially been cautious and only rolled his eyes around, gradually wore a resolute expression as if he had made a decision as my words continued.

“…Yes. I think that’s the right thing to do. Thank you!”

Watching Han Young-jin answer solemnly, I suppressed the laughter that was about to burst out and gave his shoulder a couple of light pats.

“Fighting!”

When I returned to the guest seating, Kang Yeon-hu looked me over.

“What were you doing?”
“Senior, the audio.”
“….”

I held up the microphone to show it, then put it back on. Kang Yeon-hu fell silent. However, he didn’t take his gaze away from me.
I controlled the corners of my mouth that naturally wanted to rise with joy and looked ahead.

“Then first, Group D!”

Shortly after, the camera turned on, and the MC’s voice spread across the set.
Han Young-jin, who had been exchanging conversation with his group members, soon nodded his head.

“Trainee Han Young-jin, who holds the Super Pass, please come forward.”
“Yes!”

He bounced over to the MC, received the microphone, and spoke with solemnity.

“I was confident there was no song that could express us better than this.”
“….”
“I will choose The Dun senior’s debut song, Second Chance!!”

The moment Han Young-jin answered, Kang Yeon-hu’s head snapped toward me.

“Oh no!! I was going to do that!”
“Ah, what a shame….”

All the Group D trainees wore satisfied expressions. They seemed confident that securing such a well-known song would give them an advantage in this mission.

“Senior! We’ll do our best!”

I clapped for them with a gentle smile as they deliberately bowed deeply in my direction.
Kang Yeon-hu’s expression management faltered, and he awkwardly covered his face with his hand.
He had said there was no need to worry since Han Young-jin lacked skill.

“Fighting!!”

Why waste such a convenient card when I’d found a good opportunity to use it?

***

[Pop Pop legend’s dutiful son Seo Ho-yoon…]
[Why have you become so much sweeter these days?ㅠㅠㅠ The term ‘Seo Da-jeong’ is really perfect]
[Ah, the story about Noeul’s lover who thought he was cheating after seeing Seo Ho-yoon’s Pop-Pop notification is so funnyㅠ hahahaha]

Seo Ho-yoon’s false modesty—how he transformed into Sung Ji-won whenever he performed Pop Pop or went live—was so famous that even other idols’ fans knew about it.

I really missed you all.
Have you been having a tough day?
Me? I’m doing fine.

As Seo Ho-yoon tried his best to appear well, the Noeul fans sank deeper into an abyss, clinging to him so tightly they couldn’t escape.

[The more Seo Ho-yoon acts coy, the happier we become…

└There were rumors he was hurt
└└ㅇㅇ But I don’t think I really want to say it… If you see Seo Ho-yoon jumping around on variety shows, it’s too often said that he collapsed even though he was in good healthㅠ]

[WH’s security must be airtight lol He didn’t come for a few days because of rumors about meeting a woman at a club lol

└Yeah, welcome, you idiot~
└Muted]

Did you see the preview grades this time?? They were insane lol
Even accounting for the initial sales inflation that male idols typically experience, the fact that he keeps hitting career highs every time is insane lolololol
[The kids seem really close these days, it’s nice to see…]

Meanwhile, whispers about Seo Ho-yoon’s image circulated quietly among the fans.

[Ho-yoon seems subtly more composed lately… what’s up with that?

└Wait, you noticed too? I can’t quite put my finger on it, but he seems more actor-like somehow… He always had that mature vibe, but lately it’s just pouring out openly
I’m so happy I’m drooling
└└You should try hiding it a bit]

He’s always been soft-spoken, but lately there’s this weird mix of warmth and coldness coexisting in him lol

I feel so used to spending time alone without the Members lol… Why does meeting my ex again feel so bittersweet like running into someone I dated while studying abroad..
└Isn’t Kang Yi-chae kind of like that these days too?
└└So annoying, Kang Yi-chae’s like that and now all these random people are using black and white thumbnails of him on YouTube playlists
‘Struggle harder, have fun’ with this kind of stuff…
Damn, hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

In that moment of eerie calm before the storm, Seo Ho-yoon appeared in the teaser for the trainee survival program ‘Idol Jungle’.

What kind of Survival Program name is Idol Jungle lol that’s so funny
But my favorite rookie is in it
stops laughing]
[Oh Ho-yoon’s appearing as a guest!!!!]
[It’s really funny that Seo Ho-yoon’s face is the biggest in the trailer ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋ]

The Noeul fans, who had grown tired of the endless stream of survival programs with similar formats, stirred with interest.

【[Exclusive Preview] ‘The Cute Ones’ Rebellion!’ Don’t Stay D – Second Chance!】

And in that instant, as if someone had known exactly when to capture people’s attention, a preview dropped on YouTube with perfect timing.

[Oh, they covered The Dun]
[For some reason, it seemed like one group would do it haha]

As interest surged, the view count climbed rapidly.

【This ringing sensation in my head
In other words, I’ve returned
I clench my fists tight
I can’t possibly miss this chance】

[Oh my god]

But the moment the video started, everyone fell silent with their mouths agape, unable to react.

【Pick up the target and rise, I have confidence
I won’t miss this cold sensation
Even with my eyes closed, I can see your face】

[Insane…]

【No need to wander aimlessly
I’ll find the way
This time, this lifetime, I absolutely will】

[Wow…]

It wasn’t positive surprise.

[Rotten Second Chance shows up]

They were genuinely terrible.

[It’s so funny hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha]
“Damn, people started calling this ‘Mia,’ and the lyrics say there’s no need to wander, but these guys seem to be wandering around like crazy lol”
[Look at the judges’ expressions. I would have rather chosen Ocean Tren. If that were the case, it would have been an easy choice haha]

Those who recovered from their shock soon burst into uncontrollable laughter.

[Comparing Kim Sung-hyun’s dancing with the trainees’ is kind of cruel, isn’t it]

[The Dun members really were different from the start. I thought there were immature aspects early on, but now I see they were just shining…

└When he came out, it was absolute chaos. The otaku snipers were out in full force]

[Seo Ho-yoon was definitely shaky back then, but when he stepped out, he completely commanded the stage presence. I think I finally understand why they call him a center. This is truly the realm of entertainment talent…]

In the end, people who couldn’t watch the performance to completion sought out The Dun’s stage to cleanse their eyes.

[Da-jun, stop changing the lyrics when you sing

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
That’s actually hilarious lol

[These days, no one can match the vocal harmony between Sung Ji-won and Seo Ho-yoon
Especially Sung Ji-won really crushes it at everything lol
[Kang Yi-chae not appearing in the underground scene is a real waste, and he’s hip-hop
Lately, everyone’s saying Kang Yi-chae would be better at everything, demanding they bring Kang Yi-chae into hip-hop, so the underground guys are targeting him to provoke reactions, but the person himself is completely indifferent, which is hilarious]
[Ho-yoon… I feel like I’m falling in love with you again]

Attention toward The Dun reached new heights, and the Program itself received the spotlight, but Group D of trainees who covered Second Chance couldn’t plant a positive image in the public’s mind.
That naturally applied to Han Young-jin as well.

.
.
.

“Puhahaha.”

Meanwhile, Seo Ho-yoon, who had remained alone in the dormitory, burst into hearty laughter while watching the pre-release video.

“Tsk, it’s a shame the kids weren’t properly prepared.”

Contrary to his sympathetic remark, Seo Ho-yoon chuckled while reading the comments, and a System Window slid into view beside him.

[Are you satisfied now?]

“Yeah, it’s pretty entertaining.”

[How exactly did you manipulate them?]

I didn’t really do anything special.
Seo Ho-yoon stretched out on the sofa, extending his legs fully.

[No matter how careful one is, if something goes wrong… Well, being talked about behind your back is unpleasant, but it might be better to refrain from hasty actions….]

“Hey, do I look like the kind of person who’d do something pointless?”

[…No, sir.]

“Right?”

He was someone who drew lines by his own standards, dividing the world into insiders and outsiders, and moved through the latter with ruthless calculation of profit and loss.

“I’ve cast the bait. Now I just have to wait.”

Seo Ho-yoon smiled with his eyes, a graceful expression playing across his face.

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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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