The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 323

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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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323

News spread that The Dun’s first countdown live broadcast would air through YouTube and Tick-Tock.

[Our boys doing a countdown live… We were so used to them broadcasting from that cramped dormitory with cracks webbing across the walls like spider silk, spreading out a folding table for meals]
[Wow my heart’s already racing, I’m so hyped]

The countdown live broadcast would air one hour before the music video release—a live show where the members would interact with fans, give a brief introduction to the album, and wait together for the music video premiere.
The surroundings of the location where The Dun Members appeared were marked by buildings with traditional tiled roofs.

“Hello! We are The Dun, the rising dawn!”

They were all wearing vibrant, beautifully colored traditional robes.
Starting with member introductions already familiar to Noeul fans, casual talk about the album and what they’d done during their hiatus followed.

[Our precious ones…]

“—I bought ice cream for Ho-yoon hyung, but he didn’t eat it!”
“You bought mint chocolate, and then you ate it yourself.”
“Oh, that’s right. Hyung, you hate mint chocolate. I heard you’d rather eat chocolate while brushing your teeth… Anyway, I didn’t eat that one.”

[Still the same as always…]

“Wait, then who ate the one in the refrigerator?”
“I ate it. Why? Nobody else was going to eat it anyway.”
[It gives me chills. For a second I thought that was Ho-yoon hyung speaking.”
“Know when to speak and when to keep quiet.”

[Do they even want to promote the album or not]
Look at Kim Sung-hyun being so fed up with it.
[Ah, it’s still the same, Dungeons, hahaha, fighting so hard is so funny]

Seo Ho-yoon, Kim Sung-hyun, and Jung Da-jun, who had been squabbling and snapping at each other over a single mint chocolate ice cream, finally calmed down thanks to Sung Ji-won’s intervention—what they called his restraint, though it was really just a cold smile.
Light conversation continued for a bit longer after that.
As evening approached six o’clock,

“Three minutes left on the countdown. This has been The Dun. Goodbye!”

With the members’ farewell, the live broadcast came to an end.

[Wow, the guys seem to be in a great mood today]
[Right!!! They’re so adorable]
[I’m really nervous, but the kids look so relaxed. They’ve all seen the music video.]

The number of viewers watching the broadcast dropped sharply.
At the same time, the staff members bustled about, preparing to film their reaction to the music video right away.
Lee Ji-hyun, who had been checking the situation outside the camera’s view, logged into YouTube.

“Oh, it’s starting!”

As leaves swayed by the breeze collided with one another, producing soft rustling sounds, Jung Da-jun sat absorbed in something atop a fan-shaped pavilion positioned in the center of a pond. Beside him, Kang Yi-chae lay sprawled on his side.
Both wore modified hanbok tailored for ease of movement.

《Lantern processions continue across the nation….》

Kang Yi-chae, gazing lazily at his phone, read an article and let out a soft chuckle. Then he suddenly sprang up, grasped Jung Da-jun’s chin, and examined it from different angles.

“Let me see… A face entirely clean and harmonious, with clear eyes—such features mark one destined to be a king…”
“Me?”
“Indeed.”

Jung Da-jun’s eyes widened.
Just then,

“Such honeyed words are best disregarded. They deserve no credence.”
“Ah.”

Sung Ji-won, climbing onto the pavilion, shot Kang Yi-chae a sharp look and spoke. He pushed Kang Yi-chae’s body aside, drew out colored paper from his robes, and offered it to Jung Da-jun.

“Why not write down a wish? They say that what you believe comes true.”

The colored paper reflected in Jung Da-jun’s pupils. The screen, drawing ever closer, soon spun in circles and was pulled inward.

【Perhaps gazing up at the same moon,
retracing the dawn we spent together】

The scene shifted as music flowed forth—the ethereal melody of traditional instruments woven beneath the luminous cascade of synthesizer tones.
Jung Da-jun stood at the windowsill, dressed in a soft pastel blue shirt and white shorts, gazing toward the descending sun.
The faint daytime moon drew gradually closer, and then Kim Sung-hyun emerged into the frame.

【What are you feeling right now
A restless night, turning over your worries】

A shadow fell across Kim Sung-hyun as he raised his arm to shield his face from the brilliant light. Through the hazy backlit haze, Seo Ho-yoon appeared, expressionless, holding an open fan to block the rays.

The screen swept past countless buildings, pierced the darkness, and arrived at a vast river that stretched like the sea.
There stood The Dun members. They walked along the riverbank, each holding a softly glowing lantern.

【Even if I seem but a small dot to you
I will gladly send as much as you wish
Even if we cannot reach that distant shore
Even if I appear like a fading star】

Kang Yi-chae, who had placed his arm across Jung Da-jun’s shoulders as he hesitated, delivered his rap with poetic calm and restraint.
Jung Da-jun looked at him and smiled, reassured.

【Waiting is something I do well】

Sung Ji-won gazed up at the moon, now grown larger. His long eyelashes trembled delicately, as if embodying the fervent wish he had entrusted to the lantern.

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

In that moment, the rising notes erupted, and the group choreography began, led by the paired dance of Kim Sung-hyun and Kang Yi-chae.
Then Seo Ho-yoon burst forth from between them. As he unfurled the fan held in his right hand, the fans of The Dun members and back dancers spread open like ripples across water.

【Within wishes that spread like ripples
Within emotions that surge like waves
May my lantern drift far, carrying my regrets away】

The riverbank came into view once more.
A gentle smile blossomed across Seo Ho-yoon’s face as he set the lantern adrift upon the water for the river lantern ceremony.
The lights bearing each person’s wishes drifted slowly away upon the ripples.

【I’ll send my heart upon the flowers
Drifting like a rainbow into the sky】

Hundreds, thousands of lanterns had gathered without anyone noticing.

【Even in the faded morning
Even within the procession of flickering light
Our days will shine brilliantly】

Among them, a lotus lantern carrying Jung Da-jun’s wish was zoomed in on.

‘May everyone find happiness.’

【In the time not far ahead
We will meet again】

Kim Sung-hyun, who had been quietly observing him, turned his gaze toward the other members. When his eyes finally reached Seo Ho-yoon, Seo Ho-yoon was already looking back at him.
Kim Sung-hyun’s lips curved into a subtle smile as he approached Seo Ho-yoon, patted his back, and moved on.

【In the time not far ahead
We will meet again】

Jung Da-jun, splashing water playfully from behind, and The Dun members crying out in surprise gradually became distant specks, while the title ‘The Dun – Lantern Festival’ was emblazoned across the shimmering lanterns.
Just as the music video seemed to be ending,

“No, that’s not it. It’s not that what you believe comes true—it’s that you believe in the day you’ll make it come true.”

Seo Ho-yoon tossed off his traditional robe and appeared at the Fan-shaped Pavilion.
At those words, Kim Sung-hyun, who had been crunching on a piece of taffy, clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“How impressive of you.”
“Of course it is.”

Lee Ji-hyun, who had watched the music video through to the end once more, lifted the corners of her mouth with confident pride.

***

《The Male Idol Who Spread Korean ‘Beauty’ Far and Wide! Lantern Festival Sales Surge!》
《The Dun, Targeting Antis with ‘Keep the Distance Between You and Me’ Lyrics?!》
《’Lantern Festival’ Perfectly Domestic Content, Overseas Fans Turn Away Saying ‘Can’t Understand’》
《Why Foreigners Are Going Crazy Over The Dun’s New Song! ‘All in Korean?!’》

Within mere hours of the music video’s release, YouTube was flooded with videos about The Dun.

[Weaving modernity with Korean tradition is truly amazing!]
[This destroys the narrative that K-pop aims for Westernization. Racist haters should shut their mouths]

Notably, despite every lyric being in Korean, the song received high praise among overseas fans, leaving the Noeul fanbase equally astonished.

[Title: Were We Actually Being Suppressed?

Setting aside those spouting Westernization nonsense…

When the haters attacked because Seo Ho-yoon hadn’t appeared on Pop Pop for a little over two weeks, or when they stirred up trouble about trainees from all over the place, I was so pissed I was just headbanging like crazy lol. I thought, is this even something worth picking a fight over?

But now that I think about it… we…
Were we…
Actually being heavily suppressed?

└That’s exactly what I’m saying!!!!!
The number of antis suddenly exploded
└Right;;;; I’m confused too now
└Look at The Dun popping up all over the trending videos..]

[Title: I Finally Get Why The Dun Is So Popular Overseas

Apparently overseas fans have relatively high loyalty
They keep sending letters asking for the song on the radio
They were ready to praise whatever song we released

└Seriously…
Suddenly loving overseas fans
Want to play ‘Become Your Captive’ haha;]

[Usually when it’s easy listening, the impact critics complain about it, but this song is so addictive that they barely show up lol. It’s seriously so good. Kang Yi-chae is a genius

└Kang Yi-chae plagiarized
└└Looks like his brain plagiarized from a worm’s brain
└└Copycat plagiarizer fuck off fuck off fuck off fuck off fuck off
└└Yeah The Dun’s Kang Yi-chae plagiarized a song that civilian Kang Yi-chae wrote as a hobby, they apparently reached an amicable settlement
Looking in the mirror and coming to an agreement lol

The response to the audio released the day after the music video dropped was equally explosive. Those who heard the tracks from the full-length album “Wish” couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.

[Where did Kang Yi-chae go to train under a waterfall or something???]

The production quality was exceptionally high.

[I actually like the B-sides more than the title track… Well, I get why Lantern Festival became the title, but the B-sides are seriously insane. Why are they so refined? They’re totally my style]
[The guys’ voices are seriously perfect together]

Among the B-sides, “Dive” garnered the strongest response.

【Within the time that’s cracked and faded
Without any need to deliberate
I just wish you’d tell me honestly】

The trendy melody and fast-paced beat were layered with subtly melancholic tones that clung to the eardrums with visceral intensity.

【Can you be together? or not?
The words I carelessly uttered stick like summer heat
Like a lotus flower that’s lost its breath

Let us dive till the end
Until we surface in the sea to breathe
We can’t stay trapped in loneliness forever】

In the instant Sung Ji-won’s high notes soared,

【Let us dive till the end
Until we surface in the sea to breathe】

Seo Ho-yoon’s husky mid-range voice cut through, creating a harmonious blend.
The Dun had always been known as a treasure trove of B-sides, but this album “Wish” elevated each track to rival the title song itself.

[What on earth does Kang Yi-chae think about all day to write something like this?]
[The contrast with Yeon-dung Lantern Festival is so striking… it feels like watching from a side perspective, and the narrative is insane…]
[It could’ve been a double title track… I feel like performing this entire album live is going to be so exhausting, but I’m so incredibly excited for the comeback show…]
[I love how well it suits the refreshing vibe… if I watch the comeback show, I’ll just die right there]
[The Dun Special) The live performance is really bad, but the post-production is insane, so fans are pushing the narrative that they’re skilled performers (lol). This is just the audio director doing their art.]
[Looking forward to Jung Da-jun floundering like in Phantom Reincarnation^^ Ah, I wonder if the camera work will capture it well??]

Even amid the positive responses, the controversy surrounding their skills hadn’t died down. While aware that such comments were merely jealousy, some Noeul fans still felt their anger rising.
However, the longtime fans who had supported The Dun from the very beginning weren’t particularly worried.
They believed in their idols with unwavering faith.

[I’ll kill it on the live stage]

They would perform better than anyone else.

.
.
.

The day of the scheduled comeback show.

“The Dun! We’re ready for you.”
“Over here!! The props are here!”

The urgent voices of staff members rushing about seeped into the waiting room.
The Makeup Artist scolded Seo Ho-yoon, who kept glancing toward the door.
As he closed his eyes again, the ticklish sensation of the brush bristles brushed against his skin.

“You look like you’ve never known hardship in your life.”
“Really?”

As if hearing something amusing, the corners of Seo Ho-yoon’s mouth lifted.
Kim Sung-hyun nudged Seo Ho-yoon from beside him.

“Hey, let’s run through it once with the props.”

After finishing the costume check, The Dun synchronized the choreography for their title track in one corner of the waiting room. Each member was given a fan as a prop, adorned with ornate embroidery and jewels that matched their outfits.
Because of this, the fans felt rather stiff.

“Ho-yoon, what are you doing?”

Jung Da-jun asked, noticing Seo Ho-yoon had suddenly stopped moving.

“It’s too stiff.”
“Oh. Try opening it again.”

Snap.

“Hey, that works. Put some force into it.”
“Mm.”

After repeatedly opening and closing the fan, I brushed back a few strands of hair that had fallen across my forehead, only to be scolded by the Hair Stylist and have to get my hair redone.

“Everyone, let’s give it our all. Just like always.”

As the time to take the stage drew near, Kim Sung-hyun swept his gaze across the members who had their microphones on and spoke. It was a statement no different from usual, yet it carried a subtle implication of the recent controversies.
Naturally, the other members who quickly grasped the meaning simply laughed.
Jung Da-jun raised his right hand dramatically.

“What happens if we perform worse than usual?”
“What do you mean? We just go grab dinner.”
“It’s nice to see you taking care of meals like that.”
“After that, it’s one-on-one counseling with me!”
“That worst punishment of being locked in the practice room with Sung Ji-won for 48 hours…?!”

Leaving the members to their banter, I stepped out of the waiting room first.
I continued to grip and open the fan, but it still wasn’t working smoothly.

‘It’s a bit unstable.’

Well, it should be fine.
There was no spare to swap it out with anyway.
I walked forward without concern.

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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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