The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 322

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

322

Why on earth had he done that?

“Yeon-hu, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Why had Seo Ho-yoon acted that way?

“For someone who says it’s nothing, you sure seem restless….”

The members’ concern merely brushed past Kang Yeon-hu’s ears.
In the practice room where all of High Five had gathered for comeback preparations, Kang Yeon-hu alone remained lost in thought.

Based on the flow of things, Seo Ho-yoon had definitely manipulated Han Young-jin into choosing The Dun’s song.
To select The Dun’s track for the cover.
Yet no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t fathom the reason.
From what Kang Yeon-hu had witnessed during Shining Star Season 2 and “Wanna Sing With Me,” Seo Ho-yoon was not the type to willingly take on trouble without benefit.
Kang Yeon-hu shuddered, an eerie chill running down his spine.

‘What could Seo Ho-yoon possibly be scheming?’

What had Seo Ho-yoon said to convince Han Young-jin, who had been carefully withholding his choice, to pick The Dun’s song? Even during filming, I had been so shocked that my facial muscles moved involuntarily.
Sure enough, Han Young-jin, who had relied on song selection to compensate for his lacking skills, was utterly demolished, and when the preview video was uploaded to YouTube, the shockwaves were enormous.
And when the broadcast aired yesterday, Group D’s stage, which included Han Young-jin, became the talk of the town even more.
Of course, in a bad way.

Kang Yeon-hu ran his fingers through his hair and picked up his phone, accessing the community.
The forum was still ablaze.

[Title: Did Han Young-jin Go Crazy After Getting the Super Pass

We praised him, said he was pretty, and now he’s drowning my picked trainees
You bastard, how did you choose The Dun for a cover song!!! Don’t you know The Dun is the second group to avoid after Black Call??

└Why?? Because they’re popular?
└└The members make it look easy, but when you actually try it, it’s insanely difficult lol
└└Agreed, the vocal range is crazy
└└Honestly, they can’t capture that essence at all. They literally can’t. Some random person going to a karaoke and singing it
└They have no idea how difficult The Dun’s songs are. They even called it a second-chance debut song
“So you’re just pretending Glow never existed?”

[Title: But wasn’t Han Young-jin originally pretty sharp?

He might seem a bit cunning, but ultimately he took care of his own interests and didn’t cross the line too much
From the editing, it looked like he originally wasn’t going to push for it..
But something must have happened to Young-jin… suddenly he picks The Dun’s second-chance debut

└Everyone was trying to stop him, but suddenly his eyes lit up
└└And then he suddenly shot a honey-dripping gaze at Seo Ho-yoon
└└What is this even lolololol]

The moment Kang Yeon-hu read this post, a hazy figure came to mind. Jung Won-ha, whom he’d briefly encountered during Shining Star Season 2.
He too was someone who’d been captivated by the cunning Seo Ho-yoon and squandered his precious stage opportunity. Han Young-jin was likely no different.

“How predictable….”

He must have exploited the gaps in their hearts and dangled sweet bait before them.
But the consequences of such actions wouldn’t be entirely positive.

[Title: But am I the only one who feels a bit uncomfortable?ㅠㅠ

No matter what, they’re complete rookies who haven’t even properly performed on stage yet… it feels like they’re being compared too much to The Dun
It’s like a major corporation crushing a small business
Can’t they be nicer about it..

└Yeah, this really does feel overheated..
In short, The Dun must have prepared a lot when they debuted too… so I find it a bit ugly how they’re putting down the Trainees like that.
└└I get what the original post is saying, but the comments are seriously weird. The Dun back then was literally a complete mess. They were a self-produced group under an agency with water leaking from the ceiling
└└Strictly speaking, the trainees now receive better training than The Dun did at debut, if anything. There’s nothing better about their situation. Especially Han Young-jin and Jung In-hyun have been at major companies for years lol
└└Still, there’s a difference between trainees and debuted artists~
└└Most of the comparison videos uploaded are from the early stages of The Dawn’s activities. What’s the difference? ㅇㅅㅇ Even Seo Ho-yoon, who was called a quickie at the time, crushed them, so the trainees deserve to be criticized.
└└Wow, why is the atmosphere here like this]

Just as I thought.
As The Dun’s evaluation climbed higher in comparison to the trainees, the gap between them became increasingly pronounced, and people began to voice their discomfort proportionally.

[Title: WH, stop the favoritism already—it’s so obvious lol

Honestly, The Dun’s push is seriously cringe
They’re doing this whole “reevaluation” thing, but who doesn’t know these bastards just got lucky with their timing and rode a wave of hype? They’re basically nobodies who caught a break.
And if they’re weaker than the trainees, they should just quit being idols lmaooooooooooooo

Anyone who’s been around K-pop for a minute knows they’re getting overrated just because they climbed up last year and this year.

Now that we’re actually watching them, they’ve completely crossed the line—total trash~

└Why are you so angry
└└(Deleted comment)
└└Ugh.. ;; Dude, go see a therapist
└But I kinda agree~ They always talk about how talented they are, but honestly I don’t see it lol
└Is this just how mid-tier companies are? They love the self-made success story narrative, but they’re not even self-made—they just do in-house production lol. Did all the Dae Pa-sung staff just suck their thumbs and die? Like, fans think The Dun alone just magically creates idols. Their IQ is literally chimp-level]

“…I knew this would happen.”

Kang Yeon-hu scrolled through the screen with his finger, then let out a heavy sigh, turned off his phone, and approached the High Five members who were warming up.
After spending half the day immersed in practice, he was heading to the underground parking lot with the members to return to the dormitory.
A compilation of The Dun’s mistakes had been uploaded to YouTube. Minor errors that weren’t even noticeable had been edited together to look like catastrophic failures.
At the same time, ridicule and criticism of The Dun began spreading quietly.

By this point, Kang Yeon-hu felt genuinely frustrated.
He didn’t particularly want to seek out Seo Ho-yoon, but it seemed like he needed to have a conversation with him, even briefly. Kang Yeon-hu sent the members ahead first, then turned and headed toward the elevator.
Just then,

“Oh, Yeon-hu!”

Chae Jung-woo called out to him from the end of the hallway.
Perhaps because he was in a hiatus period, Chae Jung-woo’s hair was disheveled, but his skin looked radiant and healthier overall.
Kang Yeon-hu approached him with a faint smile.

“Long time no see. Where are you headed?”
“Oh, the 11th floor.”
“Perfect. I was heading there too. Let’s go together.”

The senior remained as gentle as ever, seeming to care about me.

“How have you been lately, senior?”
“Ah, it feels good to rest. I feel bad for the fans, though.”

Chae Jung-woo smiled somewhat sheepishly.

“My throat’s fine too. At this rate, I think I’ll recover soon.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”

We exchanged casual pleasantries and stepped into the elevator. After getting off on the 11th floor, Kang Yeon-hu greeted the senior and turned to walk, but our paths kept overlapping.

“…Huh? Do you have business on this floor?”
“Yeah. Looking for a member with nothing to do.”
“A member with nothing to do?”
“Just watch.”

With that, Chae Jung-woo grasped the doorknob to The Dun’s practice room and carefully opened it.

“Hey!!!”

A loud shout hit my ears first.
Startled, Kang Yeon-hu peeked through the gap in the door to see inside.

“You’re seriously—huh? Do you have a brain or not? If you’re going to perform like this, just postpone the comeback!”

Standing there was Joo Woo-sung, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

And in front of him stood Seo Ho-yoon, frowning and leaning on one leg.

“If it’s because you’re in pain, then stop even more! I told you before. Pushing through while your body’s falling apart—that’s the dumbest thing in the world.”
“I’m not in pain.”
“Did someone from the Planning Team bully you? Or the Management Team? Go ahead and make a scene. Like you did when we first met, throwing a fit at me.”
“That’s not it, seriously, stop nagging!”

The Dun members were already accustomed to such situations, calmly continuing their practice.
Kang Yeon-hu watched the scene unfold with a bewildered expression.

“Ugh, this frustration….”

Joo Woo-sung pounded his chest with his fist before shooting Seo Ho-yoon a glance.

“Talking to you makes me feel like I’m getting stress-induced illness. I need to drink something refreshing.”
“I don’t like the in-house cafe.”
“Look at you being picky. Come on, I’ll buy you something delicious from outside.”

As if Seo Ho-yoon would agree to that.
He was the type to weigh every cost and benefit.
Yet surprisingly, despite grumbling as I expected him to dismiss the offer, Seo Ho-yoon obediently trudged along behind Joo Woo-sung.
When Joo Woo-sung reached the door first, he raised his eyebrows upon spotting Chae Jung-woo and Kang Yeon-hu.

“Chae Jung-woo, what are you doing here?”
“You said today you needed to buy a gift for your younger brother.”
“Oh, right. Hold on a second. Let me take care of this guy first.”
“Hello, seniors.”
“Yeah, okay. I got it. Get to work.”

Joo Woo-sung swiftly passed by before Chae Jung-woo could finish speaking. Seo Ho-yoon bowed once more and chased after him.
Kang Yeon-hu simply stared blankly at the two of them.

‘Weren’t they fighting?’

“This is going to take a while. I can’t wait around. Yeon-hu, I’m heading out first.”

Chae Jung-woo, scratching his head and looking awkward, patted Kang Yeon-hu’s forearm and left.
Kang Yeon-hu, who had something to tell Seo Ho-yoon, had no reason to linger any longer.
Just as he was about to head back to the dormitory, Kim Sung-hyun made eye contact and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

“Senior, Joo Woo-sung and Seo Ho-yoon will probably be back soon. Please wait and see them before you go.”
“That’s right! Come this way!”
“Ah… yes.”

As he awkwardly replied and stepped into the practice room, Sung Ji-won approached him warmly.

“How have you been?”

Even though we’re from the same company, it’s hard to see each other’s faces, and I was curious about how you’ve been doing.
While they responded sincerely, saying they’d also been busy preparing their album, Kang Yeon-hu found this gathering oddly uncomfortable.

“And Ho-yoon mentioned that you helped a lot during Shining Star.”
“…Me?”

…What on earth did I even do?
Watching my bewildered expression, Sung Ji-won broke into a wide smile, his small mole crinkling slightly at the bridge of his nose.

“Yes. I’m truly grateful. Honestly, there are many things I admire about you, senior, so I wanted to have this separate conversation with you.”
“Ah….”

Despite his soft voice speaking only pleasant words, there wasn’t a trace of artificiality to it.
Kang Yeon-hu, suddenly feeling awkward, turned his gaze away and rubbed the tip of his nose with his index finger.

“On the contrary, I’m more grateful that you’d say such things.”

Sung Ji-won’s eyes carried a tender warmth.
Now I understood why someone with Seo Ho-yoon’s personality was so protective of his members.
Kang Yeon-hu cleared his throat softly and changed the subject.

“Ahem, your comeback… how’s it going?”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been hearing various things lately.”

Having said that much, Kang Yeon-hu quickly shook his head and hurried to recover. He’d realized this wasn’t something he should casually bring up.

“Ah, no. I shouldn’t have said something so unnecessary.”

Inwardly clicking his tongue at his own foolishness, Kang Yi-chae suddenly spoke up.

“Are you talking about those posts saying it’s unconscionable to compare with trainees?”

The startled Kang Yeon-hu quickly waved his hand, but Sung Ji-won beside him responded calmly.

“Ah… right. There was that kind of reaction.”
“That stage was unforgettable.”
“Haha, honestly, the preparation did seem a bit lacking.”

Kang Yi-chae and Sung Ji-won were remarkably composed. Even Kim Sung-hyun showed little agitation.
Kang Yeon-hu, who had been listening to their conversation, cast a subtle glance diagonally across the room.

“…Hmm.”

It was where Jung Da-jun was sitting, half-reclined.
In my memory, Jung Da-jun had seemed easily swayed and unstable around others. That’s why he’d even made mistakes back then.
Once it had caught my attention, I couldn’t help but ask despite telling myself not to bring it up.

“Are you doing okay, Da-jun?”
“Huh?”

Jung Da-jun, who had straightened his posture at the sudden call, froze mid-movement. Then his lips twitched slightly.

“Of course I’m fine!”
“…You’re not upset?”

Jung Da-jun’s face tilted slightly, as if he’d heard a completely unexpected question.

“Why would I be upset?”
“What?”
“I just need to prove it with my skills.”

Wow. The Dun’s youngest member really has grown so much.
Just as Kang Yeon-hu was about to admire this inwardly, The Dun’s members, spotting an opportunity to tease, twisted their mouths into grins and quickly surrounded Jung Da-jun.

“Ohhhhh, prove it with your skills, huh~”
“Wow~ our Da-jun’s got such confidence~”
“Man, Jung Da-jun, you’re really the ultimate idol.”
“What, what?”

Jung Da-jun clenched his teeth as he watched his older members circling around him, each adding their own jabs.

“Prove! Your! Skills! Prove! Your! Skills!”
“Show! Your! Dance! Show! Your! Dance!”

They even clapped along, mocking him in rhythm.

“I’m leaving!!”

Jung Da-jun’s skin flushed crimson as he let out a sharp cry and bolted upright, rushing out of the practice room.

‘He’s being raised with a strong hand.’

Kang Yeon-hu could detect Seo Ho-yoon’s scent lingering heavily in The Dun’s van.

.
.
.

Having purchased only five drinks and returned, Kang Yeon-hu took Seo Ho-yoon’s beverage in his stead, but it was far too sweet to drink properly. He managed only an awkward sip before leaving the practice room.
Afterward, he attempted to extract information about The Dun’s comeback preparations through the Manager, but received only the response that WH Entertainment’s policy prohibited sharing progress updates on other teams.
In the end, he learned about The Dun’s new album only when the teaser dropped.

【The Dun – Yeon-deung-hoe (燃燈會) Teaser】

From the opening notes, the crystalline sound of a gayageum resonated through the air. Lanterns drifting across the black night sky suddenly plummeted earthward as if reversing time itself.
At the center of it all, Sung Ji-won stood alone, draped in an ornate jade-colored durumagi adorned with elaborate embroidery, stepping forward without constraint.

【I send my heart upon the flowers
Like a rainbow gently floating up】

Electric guitar, bass, synthesizer, and drums blended seamlessly with the refreshing yet grand, vintage vocal tone, weaving in a city pop melody.

【In the not-so-distant time
We shall meet again】

The thirty-second video ended in an instant.
Kang Yeon-hu exhaled softly and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

“This is driving me insane.”

Jung Da-jun’s remarks about skill were not merely about individual emotional growth.
They had emerged naturally because he truly possessed confidence.

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