The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 340

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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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340

In my childhood, there was a line from a movie that my older brother loved, one I’d watched countless times without thinking.

‘Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.’
1)

But Kang Yeon-hu wasn’t entirely sure if what he was doing now was an extension of that wisdom. In any case, he pulled his cap down a little deeper and quietly opened the practice room door.

“Ta-da! Follow along—one, two!”

He glanced down at the watch on his wrist. Despite arriving at the promised time, music was still flowing from inside the room.

‘When will this end?’

Should he come back later?
He lifted his gaze again, watching The Dun as they refined the details of their movements.
If it had been just them, it might have been fine, but with the back dancers matching the choreography and the staff filming behind-the-scenes footage, the practice room was completely packed.
If even a single strand of his hair happened to be caught in that camera angle….

‘Terrible.’

Already, there was quite a stir online about High Five and The Dun. He could already predict what kinds of comments would start circulating on the internet.

“No, no, it’s supposed to be like this—swish, swish, swishy-swish, right?”
“Oh, ah… yeah, you’re right. Hey, Jung Da-jun’s got it.”
“Right?! Hehe!”

As he pressed his temples with his fingers, debating whether to turn back, he caught sight of The Dun’s maknae grinning with wide eyes. Jung Da-jun pulled his t-shirt up to wipe the sweat from his face, then resumed his step practice. He looked quite different from when they’d first met. Even when he kept his mouth shut, he now exuded the same cool, subtle aura as his older members.
Just as Kang Yeon-hu was about to let out a heavy sigh, remembering High Five’s energetic and innocent maknae,

“Oh! Senior!”

Jung Da-jun spotted him and came running over with a bright smile.

“What’s going on?”

At that bright, innocent demeanor, Kang Yeon-hu found himself unconsciously stepping back. Jung Da-jun, who had drawn closer once again, tilted his head curiously as he asked.

“Are you looking for Ho-yoon?”
“…Did Seo Ho-yoon say something? That I was coming?”
“Not exactly, but I figured there’d be no reason for you to visit us unless it was about Ho-yoon!”
“….”

…Was this kid messing with him?
Should he be concerned about appearing close to Seo Ho-yoon, or worried that Jung Da-jun was subtly implying he showed interest only in Ho-yoon while ignoring the other members of The Dun?
Jung Da-jun caught the towel Kim Sung-hyun tossed him and dried his hair with it, then turned around and shouted loudly.

“Ho-yoon!!!”

Then something dark and shapeless rose from the floor in one corner of the practice room, stumbling forward unsteadily. It was Seo Ho-yoon, still drenched in black from head to toe.
He rested his chin on Jung Da-jun’s shoulder and mumbled.

“I’m dying, seriously.”
“Ugh, it’s hot! Sweat, sweat! Get off me, hyung!!”
“Sung Ji-won, try to stop him.”

The moment Seo Ho-yoon sensed Jung Da-jun’s reluctance, he deliberately clung tighter, rubbing his face against Jung Da-jun’s t-shirt despite having a towel right there. Sung Ji-won, who had been watching them with a benevolent expression from a few steps back, only separated the two after receiving eye signals, hand gestures, and foot signals from Kim Sung-hyun—all while Seo Ho-yoon and Jung Da-jun were squealing and squawking.

Unable to find a place to fit in among The Dun members who seemed so close, Kang Yeon-hu found himself in an awkward position when his eyes met Seo Ho-yoon’s directly.

“So you came after all that hesitation, senior.”

Only then, as if just noticing him, Seo Ho-yoon grinned and lifted the corners of his mouth.

“…You said to come?”
“That’s why I’m grateful. Hey, I’m heading out first.”

At Seo Ho-yoon’s call, the voices of The Dun members who had huddled together poured out all at once.

“Huh?! Where are you going?! Come back when you’re done!!”
“Ho-yoon, you know our dormitory curfew is at ten, right~?”
“Ho-yoon, what about dinner later?”
“Let’s eat doenjang-jjigae at the dormitory.”
“Whatever works.”

Seo Ho-yoon, who had asked them to wait just ten minutes, emerged from a shower in that brief span, his hair neatly groomed. He’d even changed out of his training clothes into a white shirt and deep gray slacks with a hint of blue—clearly he’d come prepared.

“Shall we go?”
“…Seo Ho-yoon, I need to say something first.”

Kang Yeon-hu had decided to draw a line before being swept up irreversibly into Seo Ho-yoon’s orbit.

“This is really all I can do for you. Understood?”

If there was one thing his long years as a trainee at WH Entertainment had given him, it was connections. Just days ago, someone from the upper management had reached out about grabbing a meal, and by fortunate timing, Seo Ho-yoon had asked him to broker an introduction.
It wasn’t difficult to guess the reason.

‘It’s because of the comeback.’

News that The Dun’s activities had been postponed was becoming almost certain.

“I know, I know. I’ll just quietly eat and come back.”
“Honestly….”

Quite the character.
After watching Seo Ho-yoon’s retreating figure stride confidently toward the parking lot of the WH Entertainment New Building, Kang Yeon-hu followed behind him.

.
.
.

“Manager Jang, hello.”
“Yeon-hu! It’s been a while. Sorry for the sudden dinner invitation.”
“Not at all, I should have reached out sooner.”

Kang Yeon-hu, who had stepped into the reserved private dining room first, offered a gentle smile in greeting. Manager Jang’s gaze, which had been warmly patting his shoulder, then shifted toward Seo Ho-yoon.

“How was your trip to Hawaii?”
“It was wonderful, thanks to Manager Jang’s thoughtfulness. I had a great time.”
“Ha! I was just being nosy, so I’m actually grateful you accepted my offer so readily. You probably don’t know much about me, Seo Ho-yoon.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I’ve heard the rumors.”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you the executive who oversees Joo Woo-sung?”
“What the—?!”
“From what I can see, there are times when even Woo-sung hyung struggles to keep up with you.”

Kang Yeon-hu had to work hard to hide his surprise at Seo Ho-yoon’s skill in weaving flattery as naturally as breathing.

“Ha ha ha! This guy’s entertaining!”

There was no way Manager Jang, the director of WH Entertainment’s Planning Team, wouldn’t know what kind of talent Joo Woo-sung possessed.
Yet despite such transparent flattery, he didn’t seem to mind it at all—he chuckled heartily and gestured for Kang Yeon-hu and Seo Ho-yoon to take their seats.

“So you’re close with Yeon-hu? It’s rare for him to bring someone along like this.”
“Yes, Yeon-hu hyung… ah, I mean, Yeon-hu sunbae…”

Seo Ho-yoon’s cheeks flushed slightly—clearly he’d intentionally fumbled the honorific. At that pathetic display, Kang Yeon-hu felt the meat in his mouth nearly shoot back out.

“He’s been incredibly kind to me since we filmed Shining Star Season 2 together. These days, with how sensitive the timing is, we can’t openly acknowledge each other in public, but…”

When exactly did we become…?

“Is that so? That’s good for us. When artists support each other like that, things run smoothly without us having to lift a finger. That’s really the ideal scenario, isn’t it?”
“No, that’s only possible because there are people like you, Manager Jang, working hard behind the scenes to make things comfortable for us. Nothing runs smoothly on its own in this world.”
“Ha ha! This guy’s got a way with words.”

Pleased, Manager Jang launched into his usual repertoire—the eighteenth anecdote he always pulled out, a story from Kang Yeon-hu’s trainee days.
Smooth-talking Seo Ho-yoon responded enthusiastically without a hint of reluctance, playing along perfectly. Meanwhile, Kang Yeon-hu grew increasingly embarrassed, burying his face in his plate and focusing solely on his food.

“You must be so proud that High Five has debuted.”
“Of course! The boss says there’s no one he cherishes as much as our Yeon-hu!”
“I feel bad for intruding like this.”
“Oh come now, I really enjoyed seeing this new side of you today, Seo Ho-yoon. No wonder your group is so popular these days!”

Just as the warm atmosphere reached its peak, Seo Ho-yoon seized the moment and brought up the main topic.

“I’m so grateful for your kind words. But since I’m still lacking in many ways, I’ve been feeling a bit anxious lately…. I’ve heard rumors that our comeback might be postponed…. Though I’m sure it’s just gossip.”

As Seo Ho-yoon placed emphasis on the word “gossip” and offered a disarming smile, Manager Jang studied him intently for a moment before returning to his usual expression and responding.

“Oh dear, what can I do? I’m not really informed about such matters.”

Kang Yeon-hu sensed it immediately.

“Someone else would know better about that.”

Manager Jang had drawn a clear line at this moment.
Even if he knew something about The Dun’s affairs, he had no intention of speaking about it himself.

Kang Yeon-hu quietly shifted his gaze to check on Seo Ho-yoon. He was simply nodding calmly.

“Is that so?”
“…Oh my. Ho-yoon, Yeon-hu. I’m sorry. I really need to take this call. Just a moment.”

As a phone’s ringtone broke the awkwardness, Manager Jang excused himself and stepped outside. After watching the door close, Kang Yeon-hu leaned toward Seo Ho-yoon and whispered.

“Did you put lip balm on before telling lies like that?”

Seo Ho-yoon widened his eyes slightly, then impudently stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

“I just applied it.”
“Hah….”

Kang Yeon-hu, who had scoffed in disbelief, suddenly stopped moving.
The expression had completely vanished from Seo Ho-yoon’s face. He seemed lost in thought, staring at the spot where Manager Jang had been sitting moments before.

‘It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to achieve what I want.’

At this rate, it seemed all this would amount to was a pleasant dinner.
Feeling somewhat awkward, Kang Yeon-hu didn’t dare say another word until Manager Jang returned.

“Sorry about that. Things have been hectic with personnel reshuffles lately. People keep calling at all hours.”
“Ah, I see.”

Seo Ho-yoon, facing Manager Jang who raised a hand seeking understanding, maintained an impeccably composed demeanor as if nothing had happened.
Kang Yeon-hu felt goosebumps crawl across his skin.

“Oh, but did you know? The person I just called was Kim Section Chief, and his daughter is apparently a fan of The Dun?”
“Really? That’s an honor!”
“Kim Section Chief looks incredibly intimidating, but when it comes to his daughter, he’s absolutely devoted to her. If you have time, maybe we could share a meal together like this, and give him something to brag about to his daughter, hmm? That’s a win-win situation, wouldn’t you say?”

The way he dragged on with unnecessary talk he’d never made before, coupled with that old-fashioned tone that circled around his true intentions—something about it felt off.
Kang Yeon-hu glanced sideways at Seo Ho-yoon’s expression.

“Yes, I’ll reach out to the Section Chief.”

Seo Ho-yoon simply replied while maintaining his idol-like composure without missing a beat.
After that, the meal proceeded more ordinarily than expected.

“Seo Ho-yoon, you’re such a bright and spirited person. I like that.”
“Haha, thank you.”

Bright and spirited.
While Kang Yeon-hu could only shake his head at Seo Ho-yoon’s behavior—never leaving a moment of silence, conducting himself without excess—Manager Jang finished his final sip of barley tea and rose first.

“Well then, this old man has work to attend to. You young folks enjoy yourselves and have a good time.”
“Thank you for today. We’ll visit you again with Yeon-hu next time.”
“Yes, yes. I’m quite fond of Yeon-hu, and it seems Seo Ho-yoon isn’t a bad friend to have.”
“I’m grateful for your kind regard.”

What was this, some kind of formal meeting between families?
Standing awkwardly between them, Kang Yeon-hu forced strength into the corners of his mouth that threatened to contort, and Manager Jang laughed mischievously at the sight.

“I’ll take care of the bill, so don’t worry—don’t worry. You don’t need to come out—haha!”

He added firmly, “When an adult speaks, you just say thank you and listen,” then gently patted Kang Yeon-hu’s back before leaving the room.

“Sigh….”

Exhaling the breath he’d been holding all this time, feeling as though he might burst, Kang Yeon-hu gulped down carbonated water in large swallows.

“Seriously, how can someone put on such an act?”
“This is my real personality.”
“Word’s already spread among the fans that you’re overly modest. Where are you getting your supply from?”

Kang Yeon-hu, sprawled back in his chair, clicked his tongue while watching Seo Ho-yoon calmly savor the remaining dessert.

“Are you sure about this? It doesn’t seem like there’s much real gain in it.”

Seo Ho-yoon pulled the fork from his mouth and lifted the corners of his lips into a smile.

“Why? Worried?”
“No, why are you—”
“By the way, Manager Jang, I get why Lee Yul is so popular. The carrot and stick approach is crystal clear.”
“Pardon?”
“You draw a clear line and maintain neutrality…”

Then he twirled a Shine Muscat grape on the fork’s tip before stabbing it decisively.

“…but you’re clever enough to drop hints like a fox.”
“….”

He was probably right. Manager Jang’s awkward comment about Kim Section Chief had been a sort of gift—a hint dropped to show approval.

“Isn’t it fun?”

—isn’t it?

“Then Ho-yoon should eat it deliciously.”

As Seo Ho-yoon popped the Shine Muscat into his mouth and broke into a grin, Kang Yeon-hu desperately wished for an antacid.

1) Film ‘The Godfather’ (Mario Puzo’s The Godfather), 1972

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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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