The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 341

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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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341

Swift and decisive action.
Before The Dun’s comeback could be officially postponed, we decided to handle it quickly.

“Manager Jang said that? Ha, well, this is something….”

The first move was to make good use of the hint Manager Jang had given me.

I reserved a table at a famous Chinese restaurant in Gangnam and brought Sung Ji-won along to meet with Kim Section Chief. Though he initially seemed hesitant, once he confirmed that the information about his daughter being a fan of The Dun was true, he quickly warmed up and began sharing stories about her.

“Ha, how embarrassing. Please tell your daughter we’re grateful. Thanks to her, we’re drawing a lot of strength from our fans.”

Sung Ji-won, grinning warmly and responding affably, habitually refilled Kim Section Chief’s glass the moment it emptied, steering the conversation toward toasts. As a result, Kim Section Chief rapidly descended into intoxication.

“Ugh, s-so Director Jung is trying to, uh, postpone The Dun’s comeback…. I don’t know why…. Hic, to begin with, Dae Pa-sung’s acquisition was, hic, something he disliked anyway….”
“Really, is that so?”
“Shh, shhh, this is, a secret. If you tell, you can’t!”
“Yes! It’s absolutely a secret!”
“Th-there’s, uh, Han Executive, hic, competing with Director Jung over a subsidiary vice president position, you know? Anyway, there’s someone like that, and! Who is he? Hic, he’s, uh, incredibly, scary…. Very strict…. I’m sorry….”
“Oh, I see. It’s okay, it’s okay!”
“…Hic, oh! But he’s good at his job! And, um… his wife, sniff, Min Ji-heon, hic, was she a fan? She was…. But because Han Executive is so scary, she hasn’t been able to, hic, get even a single signed poster all this time, sob….”
“Oh, that’s too bad for her. Kim Section Chief, don’t cry. There! Would you like another drink?”
“…Sung Ji-won, hic, are you perhaps a devil?”

Watching Kim Section Chief, soaked in alcohol and spilling answers like an automated machine with each nudge, I slapped my forehead.

‘Damn, the higher-ups really are rotten.’

The company was ignoring the voices of the actual consumers—the fandom—and stalling an idol’s activities over internal office politics.
If the fans found out, they’d tear the place apart.

“So this is what was going on.”

After handing Kim Section Chief an album packed with The Dun members’ signatures and safely sending him home in a taxi, I returned to the restaurant. Sung Ji-won, who had been drinking baijiu, flashed a fresh smile.

“Ho-yoon, if there’s anything you need help with going forward, just say the word.”
“That’s more than enough. Thank you.”
“Want to have a few more drinks, just the two of us?”
“No.”

I regretfully smacked my lips and gave Sung Ji-won’s back a push, hurrying back to the dormitory.

“Huh? Why would I call Han Executive’s Wife?”
“Isn’t this all part of managing The Dun? You said you handled Min Ji-heon’s work before, even if just briefly, right? This is a chance to expand your network.”
“…Oh, I suppose that’s true?”

And now it was my turn to reel in a bigger fish using the bait Kim Section Chief had dropped.

The next day, late in the afternoon,
I appeared at the WH Entertainment Management Team Office and began pitching a deal to the Manager.

“Since I’m quite close with Min Ji-heon, I can offer advice from the sidelines. You just need to relay what I say. Simple, right?”

I smiled disarmingly and spoke in an unusually gentle manner, which made the Manager narrow his eyes suspiciously, but he ultimately got dragged into the conference room and attempted to call Han Executive’s Wife on his phone with the speakerphone enabled. I snatched the Manager’s laptop and quickly typed out instructions in the notepad.
I snatched the Manager’s laptop and quickly typed out instructions in the notepad.

[Oh my, thank you so much. How did you know I wanted that?]
“Ha, ha, ha. We’re both from Dae Pa-sung, after all. Our Ho-yoon is just so, so close with Min Ji-heon?”

The Manager delivered my words exactly as written, his staccato delivery rivaling Sung Ji-won’s rap or Kim Sung-hyun’s acting.

[Give it a Kim Section Chief accent]

“Kim Section Chief’s accent… Ah, no, it came up in passing while having a meal with Kim Section Chief. If you’d told me beforehand that you were a Min Ji-heon fan, I would’ve taken care of it long ago.”
[It’s nothing special, so what can I say? Really, thank you for being so thoughtful. Actually, he’s been under a lot of stress from work lately, so I’m careful even about the smallest things.]
“…Yes?”

At the bite of the big fish I’d been waiting for, I jabbed the Manager’s thigh.
The Manager, who’d genuinely thought this would end with just sending a Min Ji-heon autograph and building connections, stared at me with a blank expression.

‘This is where it gets important.’

I tapped the laptop screen, and the Manager furrowed his brow deeply before hesitantly opening his mouth again.

“Ah, well… this might be an impertinent question, but is it related to Director Jung?”
[Oh my, you already knew?]
“Haha, since The Dun’s comeback—my responsibility—keeps getting pushed back, I’ve been dealing with quite a few headaches on this end too.”

My fingers moved restlessly as I simultaneously organized the information I’d gleaned while condensing what to relay to the Manager.

〔Han Executive and Director Jung competing for the position of Vice President at WH Entertainment.
The race had been neck-and-neck for years, but this year Director Jung’s influence grew stronger.
Then Director Jung proposed postponing The Dun’s comeback.
Speculation) Director Jung and CEO Dae Pa-sung are from the same hometown. Their relationship is reportedly terrible.
>Could The Dun’s delayed comeback be motivated by Director Jung’s resentment toward CEO Dae Pa-sung?
>>According to Han Executive’s Wife’s personal opinion, there’s plenty of room for that possibility.〕

A sigh escaped from both the Manager’s mouth and mine simultaneously.
Whatever logic Director Jung might have had, the reality was that The Dun’s activities had been constrained due to internal relationship troubles rather than external necessity.

That’s ridiculous.

[—It seems like that’s the case… oh dear, I didn’t talk your ear off, did I?]
“Not at all! Your information was incredibly helpful. I was already a bit concerned about the activity delay anyway.”
[You’re working so hard. And on top of everything, you even took care of Min Ji-heon’s autograph….]
“It was really nothing, ma’am. Well, thank you so much for today. Please go inside—yes, yes, huh? Ah…!”

I jabbed the Manager’s thigh again as he hurriedly tried to end the call, looking drained. He flinched and shrank back, then glancing at the laptop, quickly added something.

“Please, don’t worry too much. We believe we can be of help to Han Executive.”
[Yes? Yes, thank you.]

Click.

After hanging up, the Manager squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and rubbed his face vigorously with both hands before asking.

“…Ho-yoon, what exactly is happening right now? I thought I just needed to deliver Min Ji-heon’s autograph and build connections? What was all that talk just now, and what did that loaded remark at the end mean?”
“They were unavoidable circumstances.”
“Sigh, but according to what you just said, things are really a mess. What is this company even… no, what should we do….”
“Manager, we don’t need to do anything.”

I cut off the Manager’s words decisively.

“All we did was prepare some gifts and have a conversation.”
“Ugh….”

After sending the Manager out of the conference room—still looking troubled and wracking his brain over something—I gathered my thoughts.

‘So the plan is to dig into Director Jung….’

The real question was whether to use my points on the Item Shop or rely on the Paparazzi again.
After a moment of deliberation, I turned on my phone, entered a contact number I’d memorized long ago, and sent a message.

[Check if this guy has anything worth digging into.]

The moment I stood up to join the dance practice, a reply arrived.

[Kim Jae-yeon: What’s the price?]

I couldn’t waste points on something so trivial.
I casually pulled one item from the list I’d compiled beforehand and wrote it down, then settled in to wait for the results to roll in naturally.

***

The Dun’s Manager was having another eventful day.
The Dun had collaborated with a renowned domestic beauty brand, and to commemorate it, they were holding a fan sign event at the Flagship Store.

“Hyun-sung! Hyun-sung! Something terrible just happened!! Yi-chae almost broke his ankle while doing tap dance with me….”
“He broke it?!”
“He almost did!! But I used that judo falling technique you taught me, so thankfully he’s fine!”
“Do you have a death wish?”

The Waiting Room buzzed with its usual lively energy, yet carried a warm atmosphere. Seo Ho-yoon, having finished his makeup first, sprawled across the sofa.
Just then, a call came in from an unfamiliar number. The Manager stepped quietly into the Hallway and pressed the answer button.

“Yes, hello.”

[Hello, Manager Kim. This is Han Ji-hyuk, Executive.]

The Manager’s eyes widened.

“Y-yes? Han Executive?”
[I apologize for the sudden call. Do you have time to talk right now?]
“Yes! I do.”
[It’s nothing much, but I heard from my wife that you’ve been quite worried about the group you’re currently managing.]
“Ah, yes, yes.”

Han Executive cut straight to the point with surgical precision.

[—However, there’s no need for you to be overly concerned. After all, WH Entertainment isn’t in a position to be involved with Dae Pa-sung anyway. Things will return to their original state soon enough.]

He had the power to make it happen.
The Manager couldn’t gather his wits as the words dripped with kindness yet bristled with sharp edges, his eyes blinking helplessly.

[And thank you for this. Thanks to you, things should proceed smoothly.]
“Pardon?”
[But I do find one thing puzzling. How on earth did you uncover it? It’s not the sort of incident a mere manager would be able to discover….]
“…What?”

Unable to comprehend what Han Executive was saying, I responded blankly, and a sharp retort came back.

[You’re not asking because you genuinely don’t know… Do you really want me to spell it out myself? Director Jung’s embezzlement.]

Yet I, the Manager, truly had no idea what he was talking about.

“…I’m truly sorry, but what are you talking about right now?”

After hesitating briefly to gauge the situation, I asked again very carefully, and this time Han Executive actually laughed.

[Ha ha, you’re quite capable, and you handle social situations well too.]
“…Yes? Is that really—….”
[That’s what you told my wife. That you believe it will be beneficial to me.]

Of course, irritation was thick in the voice that followed, and my body instinctively shrank back.

[Well, never mind. If you prefer, I’ll pretend not to know. However, I’m the type who can’t live with debts, so I’ll push the group you manage to the forefront. Let’s call it even. I’ll be watching over you carefully from now on, Manager.]

Then the call abruptly ended, and I stared down at my phone with a bewildered expression.

‘What just happened?’

A dull ache throbbed at the back of my head. But I had no idea where to even begin untangling it.
I turned my body around, thinking I should at least focus on The Dun’s immediate schedule,

“Whose call was that?”

My eyes locked directly with the ghostly figure standing before me, arms crossed, staring at me with an unnervingly wide gaze.

“Kyaaaah!”
“Did you really need to be that startled?”

As I clutched my racing heart and drew in a deep breath, Seo Ho-yoon tilted his head and stepped closer.

“Whose call did you take?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing….”
“Han Executive?”
“Huh?!”

How did he know?

“He thanked me and… ah! It looks like we’ll be able to go ahead with the comeback as scheduled!”
“Wow, really?”

Seo Ho-yoon’s lips curved into a graceful smile as he patted the Manager’s shoulder.

“That’s such a relief. You worked hard, Manager.”

The Manager studied Seo Ho-yoon carefully.
There was no physical evidence, but my years of experience as a manager spoke loudly and clearly. Han Executive’s actions had a source—and that source was something Seo Ho-yoon had done.

“…Ho-yoon, did you do something?”
“I’m really sorry, but what are you talking about right now?”

As Seo Ho-yoon moved toward the waiting room, repeating the exact same words he’d said to Han Executive, an image overlaid his retreating figure—that younger Seo Ho-yoon from back then, the one who’d been talking about settlement ratio contracts.

“Manager.”
“Yeah, hm?”

Seo Ho-yoon suddenly stopped in front of the waiting room door and asked the Manager a question.

“By the way, what’s the CEO been up to lately?”
“…Well, I heard he’s been going out to the countryside recently and running an orchard as a hobby.”

After Dae Pa-sung was acquired by WH Entertainment, the CEO had imposed enormous interference and pressure on management, contrary to the original negotiations. Pushed into the position of a figurehead CEO against his will, he gradually reduced his public appearances, and recently had almost completely withdrawn from sight.
As if offended, Seo Ho-yoon’s eyebrows shot upward.

“Has he lost his mind? He’s actually running an orchard.”

The Manager automatically recalled the associated phrase ‘like Mango, going on and on….’ and began murmuring it without realizing, prompting Seo Ho-yoon to click his tongue. I tensed up, worried the backlash might land on the CEO this time, but Seo Ho-yoon only let out a faint sigh.

“Yes, I really hope the CEO continues with his orchard for a long, long time.”

The words that followed were also well-wishes. Except for that grinding sound of teeth.
Seo Ho-yoon, who had regained his composure with another quiet breath, stepped into the waiting room.

“Seo Ho-yoon!”

Before he could even take a step inside, Kim Sung-hyun rushed over with a bright expression and called out.

“Our comeback schedule is going ahead as planned! I just got a call from Planning Team Lead Jung Sun-ui!”
“Really?”
“Yeah~ Hyun-sung was anxious for a few days, but this turned out great.”

Sung Ji-won also added his words while patting Kim Sung-hyun’s back with a bright smile. The Manager reflexively scanned Seo Ho-yoon’s face.
Seo Ho-yoon merely wore an enigmatic faint smile and slightly bent forward to peer at the Leader’s face.

“Hyun-sung. Kim Sung-hyun.”
“Huh, what?”
“Don’t make that sad face anymore….”
“….”
“Your smile suits you better.”
“Is this guy completely insane?”

Kim Sung-hyun’s expression shifted instantly, as if his moment of emotion had shattered completely.
After that, The Dun members joked around with each other for a while in a lively atmosphere before entering the Flagship Store under the staff’s direction.
Throughout all this, the Manager’s mind remained thoroughly confused.

‘No way, it’s really Seo Ho-yoon? Could it be…. But how could he…?’

No logic could find any proof, nor would it ever, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that Seo Ho-yoon had done something.

At the fan sign event that had begun without warning, Seo Ho-yoon skillfully donned his practiced charm and greeted the fans.
When the event was halfway through, a sensitive question struck Seo Ho-yoon, who was wearing the requested long-eared rabbit headband.

“Ho-yoon, you know?”
“Yes?”
“Um… could I ask when you’re coming back? Just… on the off chance…?”
“Hm?”

Seo Ho-yoon, brushing down the rabbit ears, answered with an awkward smile, feigning innocence.

“Well, I don’t really know about that.”

Goosebumps erupted across the Manager’s arms.

“Come on, you obviously know!”
“I really don’t… what should I do? Sorry. But I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
“Ah… I see…”

That gentle smile and soft tone—as if possessed by Sung Ji-won.
Despite witnessing this scene countless times, the Manager never grew accustomed to it.

“Ho-yoon. Just say ‘Seo Min’ once for me!!”
“Ah.”

Seo Ho-yoon’s smiling expression hardened in an instant.

“Seo Min…”
“….”
“…Do I like you?
1)
”
“Hahahaha!”

And then, suddenly, the Manager resolved to maintain silence going forward. He had concluded that it would be better not to involve himself any deeper in this matter.

.
.
.

After the fan sign event concluded, The Dun followed their Manager back to the dormitory.

“What do you want to eat when we get back??”
“Jung Da-jun said he’d cook?”
“I’m skipping dinner today.”

Seo Ho-yoon took his phone back from the Road Manager and powered it on.

[Younger Brother]
[Younger Brother]
[Younger Brother]
[Younger Brother]
[Younger Brother]

Countless missed calls from his younger brother flooded the screen.
Even as the members gradually moved away, Seo Ho-yoon stood motionless, staring at the display.
An inexplicable sense of dread seemed to chase at his heels.

“Seo Ho-yoon?”

Kim Sung-hyun turned back and called out to him, but Seo Ho-yoon didn’t hear it.
Then,

[Younger Brother]

Bzzzzt— bzzzzt—.

The phone vibrated in his hand.
Seo Ho-yoon took a steadying breath and answered the call.

“Yeah, what is it.”

[—Huh? Hello? Finally got through! Are you Ho-jin’s older brother?]
“…Who is this?”

An unfamiliar voice crackled through the receiver.

[Oh, I’m not that strange person—I’m Seo Ho-jin’s university friend! That’s, that’s not the important part! I’m at XX Hospital right now! Why haven’t you been answering your phone!!]

“…Where did you say you are?”

[XX Hospital! Brother, could you please come quickly?]

The voice, growing increasingly strained and trembling, felt like a hammer pounding relentlessly against my skull.

[Seo Ho-jin is in the Emergency Room right now.]

1) A line from Episode 2 of the SBS drama ‘The Heirs’.

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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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