The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 352

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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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352

[Did you hear what those numbers mean…
YES I LOVE YOU AS ALWAYS…]

Not long after Level S2’s music video dropped, fans flooded the internet with interpretations and theories.

[Wow just got back from the pilgrimage site, I’m losing it, this is so good]
[The bad guy theory from the teaser was right after all
But when you decode the meaning of those numbers, it was actually true love…]

└Ahhhhhhh
└└Ahhhhhhhhh]

The lyrics spoke of setting aside complicated thoughts and meaningless words, inviting us to simply enjoy this moment together in the pure dawn. Yet at the end, those encrypted numbers subtly revealed that wasn’t the whole truth.

[Planning to grab Kim Sung-hyun by the pant leg and demand he take responsibility

└He’d probably actually do it…
└└Right, but Seo Ho-yoon splashed water on him to snap him out of it, so it failed
└└Getting splashed by Seo Ho-yoon is family glory in itself
└└I’m putting it on my tombstone lol ‘Got splashed by Seo Ho-yoon’
Haha, that’s hilarious!

[You complete the mission only after seeing Sung Ji-won laugh awkwardly and say ‘Sorry if I confused you.’]

The song had struck Noeul fans’ hearts perfectly, and with their affection already overflowing, good news kept pouring in.

[Congratulations on entering the US Billboard 200♡]
[Our artist is going places]
[The Dun brand reputation index ranked 4th, naturally our artist♡]

Naturally, negative opinions followed right along.

[Isn’t that just where K-pop fandoms always go?]
[These days, whenever anyone releases an album, they all seem to enter it]
When I ask my friend about it, she keeps mentioning the names of stones she doesn’t even know, saying she’s so happy she’s gotten into it lol

The Dun’s “Connected,” which had collaborated with Caris Games, remained popular among IRIX fans. Thanks to that, it still frequently played as a requested song on overseas radio stations, and all of The Dun’s albums released this year had successfully charted in the United States.
Of course, their domestic streaming performance was also quite impressive.

[Title: Is The Dun’s high domestic chart ranking right now thanks to Meryl?

The streaming seems no different than usual
But the firepower feels incredibly strong even without streaming, so I was just assuming there was a massive influx of fandom… but it doesn’t seem like it
Surprisingly, it looks like non-fans are actually listening now

└Really??
└└Do you believe that
└Ah, another male idol mainstream credibility post… sorry, but this is a fan party here..
└└They said it was real and not a lie?? ㅜㅠㅠ Damn, I don’t believe it either.
└Right now I think the happiness circuit is running at full capacity
└No joke, non-fans are actually listening to the song ,,,,,, even my regular friend contacted me saying the song is good..
└There will be a lot of naive kids who believe this kind of thing, but you shouldn’t lie to fans…
Tears are blurring my vision…]

[Title: Lol The Chart Right Now is Ridiculous

The Dun being a music powerhouse..
What kind of Black Call flop story is this?

└Are you a Noeul fan,,,
You don’t need to be wary, just be happy sincerely,,
└└(Author) Sorry.. I just.. can’t believe it..
Haha I came in trying to get mad but ended up cracking up instead
└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㄹㅇ Why doesn’t it feel like it’s just someone else’s pretending to be Noeul to check the reaction?
└I’m genuinely in favor of it—male idols’ songs are good these days but their music rankings are too low.. I really like it going back to the old days]

Above all, if it were Black Call, which is beloved worldwide, it might be different, but as the next generation emerged and male idol music performance generally declined, the result was something that surprised not just The Dun’s fans, but many people in the K-pop industry.

[Title: The music video is more intuitive than I thought

If the setting is too heavy, non-fans won’t dig into it, but overall it’s good how it unfolds in an easy-to-understand way

I really love The Dun, but their initial concept was so niche (naturally, hardcore fans like me ate it up) that I figured they’d struggle to find mainstream appeal…

Nope, I was wrong
Once the tide turned, they went full throttle~

So after 3 years with the car, they’re doing stuff like this lol
WH’s capital + member talent + Dae Pa-sung Planning’s execution ✓
└└Never thought I’d see the day praising Dae Pa-sung lol
└└Excuse me, the Dunging Group is in their fourth year now
└└A glow nobody gives them credit for
└└What do you think of our… our memories?!!
└└True, fans do push the three-year narrative
I mean, idols don’t build seniority—youth is king in this industry…]

What’s more, the chorus choreography from Level S2 that debuted at the comeback showcase went viral on Tick-Tock like a rushing current.

[Title: Why “keep it under level S2” is spreading on Tick-Tock

There’s a version where you smile prettily and break a heart
And a version where you draw an ‘S’ with your fingers, then make a V and stretch it forward
It’s so cute!! ♡

└Plus the lyrics about not loving easily
That vibe of just enjoying the moment..
Feels like exactly what would hit right now
└The song is really addictive haha ​​I can’t wait to see Jeong Da-jun take on the challenge, he’ll be great ㅜ
└Kang Yi-chae is also ridiculously cute, and the guy can rap too..
└└Lol hip-hop circles sometimes diss male idols with Kang Yi-chae leading the charge, and watching him not budge is hilarious]

The song was picked with fresh precision, the response was shockingly hot, and already I could see the glimmering prize within reach—the Noeul fans’ hearts soared with anticipation.

Ah~ The fan service cuts are going to be high, huh.
[My entire savings account is about to drain, I’ve been grinding like crazy for this day]

Then,

[Wait, mini fan meeting pre-notice just dropped]
[What?!?!?!]

A post was uploaded to The Dun’s official Twitter.

〔
The Dun (THE_DAWN)
@DPS_THE_DAWN
We will be holding a mini fan meeting at You You Bank this Saturday. Those who receive an entry number at You You Bank on the day will be able to participate in the mini fan meeting.〕

It was an announcement about a mini fan meeting—something rookies did.
My soaring spirits plummeted to the ground.
The Noeul fans felt dizzy.

[I’ll die for this…]

***

“Wow, it’s been forever since I came here at dawn.”

She had sworn never to look back at K-pop after leaving the scene, but The Dun kept popping up everywhere, irritatingly nagging at her. She’d ignored them all until late last year when she finally took a closer look. And like fate itself, she fell for them in an instant.

Then a new album was released.
With her heart racing as she waited for music broadcast activities, she saw a notice on SNS about pre-recording audience applications. It even included a mini fan meeting.
Even if it were just a pre-recording, the odds of winning would be like finding a needle in a desert, but with the mini fan meeting added, the competition rate skyrocketed endlessly.
Yet somehow, as if by fate itself, she won, beating out everyone else.

Everything unfolded as though it were natural that she loved The Dun.

[Jung Min: Haven’t you quit yet?
The kids call you auntie]
[Me: Yeah, call me auntie♡]
[Jung Min: They’re asking when you’ll give them allowance]
[Me: Yeah, take all my money♡]
[Jung Min: This crazy woman is serious]
[Joo Young: Hey, she even took a half day off work to see the pre-recording, leaving at 4 AM]
[Jung Min: If a 90s-born office worker would do that… it’s true love…]

Usually, mini fan meetings were held by rookie groups to build their name and promote their albums.
This might be The Dun’s last mini fan meeting ever. The thought made her heart race even harder.
For a moment, her acquaintances’ words—”You’re a K-pop grandmother now, and everything you know has disappeared into history”—flashed through her mind, but she brushed them away with a shake of her head.

‘I’ll burn that handsome face into my memory….’

The entrance had changed since before, so I wandered a bit before finally locating where the Noeul fans had gathered and took my place in line.
I cautiously glanced around, then pulled out my phone and searched SNS for “YuYu Bank,” “The Dun,” “fan meeting,” and similar terms.

[I didn’t want to learn about this harsh competitive society in a place like this]
[Seriously, fan meetings? These aren’t even rookies anymore, I’m losing my mind, my stomach hurts]
[An idol being mentioned as an award candidate doing fan meetings? I feel like they’ll keep doing them consistently this time]

[If the weather’s bad, they do it indoors, are they joking?
Show us the handsome face in natural lighting

└It’s supposed to rain, what natural lighting?
└└I want to see him wet..]

It was as if WH Entertainment had completely transformed—uploading workshop footage they’d never revealed before to YouTube, producing in-house content more frequently, hosting live streams regularly.
Their movements seemed suspicious in every way.

‘Did they finally come to their senses?’

Even as I told myself that was impossible, a quiet hope bubbled up in my chest.
After the long wait, I stepped inside and caught sight of the stage, and my mood lifted even further.

‘Oh, looks like they made some decent money.’

As I carefully examined the elaborate decorations scattered throughout, I overheard whispers from nearby Noeul fans.

“By the way, Seo Ho-yoon was apparently in a lot of pain during the music video shoot…”
“He doesn’t look like he’s in great condition these days either.”
“I’m not really sure though. He doesn’t show it much….”

Now that they mentioned it, I remembered hearing rumors that he’d been ill.
Worry began creeping in, but just then the members took the stage, guided by a staff member.

“Kyaaaaaaah!!”

Before the B-side tracks, they were apparently filming the title track, dressed in the exact same outfits as in the music video—sleek-shined walkers paired with black latex pants, black turtlenecks with cutouts at the sides, and racing jackets in different accent colors draped over each member’s shoulders.

‘Wow, the styling is gorgeous….’

Scanning from bottom to top, she lost her words the moment her eyes landed on Seo Ho-yoon’s face.

“Hello!”
“Hello, Noel.”

He was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.
More than anything, the pale, sensitive figure from the music video was nowhere to be found. Though his skin was luminously fair, it gleamed with clarity and vitality rather than pallor, radiating an almost tangible energy.

“Wow, damn….”

The soft curse from beside her needed no translation—its meaning was instantly clear.
After greeting the members as a group, Seo Ho-yoon naturally draped an arm across Jung Da-jun’s shoulder. Then, flashing a smile that reached his eyes, he whispered something to Kim Sung-hyun.

‘An idol’s face is everything….’

She murmured this absolute truth, entranced, but the moment she regained her senses, the intro was already underway.

【Stop buzzing off my head!】

The opening’s electric thrill raced down her spine,

【Toss away your tangled worries
Leave everything to me this dawn】

Through the screen, her gaze collided directly with Jung Da-jun’s.
The subtle curve of his lips radiated an ease that spoke of a maturity distinct from his previous work.

Next, Sung Ji-won, positioned at the back, took Kang Yi-chae’s hand and burst forward in a circular motion.

【But let’s keep it under level S2
Before it deepens, let me shatter these letters】

As Sung Ji-won’s voice joined in, the song’s depth intensified further.
The hall erupted in cheers.

【Don’t ask, just come dance with me Babe
I’ll tell you I love you tomorrow too, probably】

She too gripped her wavering consciousness and forced her eyes wide open.
That was when Seo Ho-yoon stepped into the center.

【Let’s keep it under Level S2
Before I find meaning between the numbers】

Seo Ho-yoon, shielding his vision with his hand as if dazzled, stood to the side and snapped his hips to the beat with a sharp, controlled motion.

【Let’s not call it love
Before I fall for such a trite word】

The crimson jacket fluttered, and between the movements, bare skin peeked through in tantalizing glimpses.
A shriek tinged with wild fervor erupted from the crowd.

‘Are you serious right now?! This is a comeback and he’s dancing like he’s in a survival show! Where do these male idols get off?!’

Once home, I would replay the official YuYu Bank fancam, study it, scan it, and scrutinize every frame.
Lamenting that my eyes lacked a recording function, I made every effort not to miss even the most minute movement.
As Seo Ho-yoon stepped back, Kim Sung-hyun mirrored him at the front. On the opposite side, Sung Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae took symmetrical positions.

【Don’t ask, just come dance with me Babe
Like it’s our last moment together
The dawn belongs entirely to us】

Kim Sung-hyun’s powerful yet possessed sharp, staccato control and Seo Ho-yoon’s feather-light, fluid dancing formed a pair choreography that meshed together exquisitely.
Standing alone in the center, Jung Da-jun executed three consecutive spins in place, then grinned.

【Drop everything and grab my waist
Just remember—】

Swoosh!

In that instant, silver confetti burst forth as if on cue, fluttering down through the air.

【—keep it under level S2】

Reaching the climax, all five spun in the final chorus, then brought their index and middle fingers together to trace an S shape before spreading them apart to form a V, extending their arms forward.

【Let’s keep it under Level S2!
The dawn belongs entirely to us】

The final shot fell to Kim Sung-hyun.
His chest heaved with overwhelming emotion, but the moment the director called cut, he bent at a perfect right angle in gratitude.

“Thank you!”

The intense, piercing gaze he’d been projecting moments before had vanished without a trace.
The same stage repeated several more times. It wasn’t until roughly forty minutes later that the pre-recording of the title track finally wrapped.
The members linked arms and headed downstairs to change clothes.

“I love you….”
“I fucking love you too… please, someone take responsibility for me….”

As they all murmured similar delirious words as if possessed, The Dun appeared once more.
She wore a deep teal sprite suit with subtle variations in detail, a belt fastened over her jacket.
And beneath it all—no shirt, just bare skin.
She squeezed her eyes shut against the raw provocation.

‘Lim Jong….’

The title of the next track to perform was ‘Candies’.

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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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