The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 377

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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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377

[A cameo appearance?]

I got in touch with Min Ji-heon on the day I was supposed to have a preliminary meeting with the staff from Before the Moon Wanes.
It had been quite some time since my manager received the offer for a special guest appearance in the drama, and I’d sent him a separate message about it.
I was busy with year-end special performances and collaboration preparations, so I wanted to wrap this up quickly, but Min Ji-heon responded with notable indifference.

[Do I really have to act with an idol again?]
“….”

He’d worked with me just fine when I was a complete rookie idol, so why was he making a fuss about it now?

[…Besides, a cameo doesn’t have much merit anyway. Why don’t you just turn it down?]

Min Ji-heon let out a shallow sigh and spouted another unhelpful remark.
I glanced at the blue Quest window positioned at the corner of my vision and replied flatly.

“We already scheduled it for today.”
[Sigh… Yeah, I figured you’d say that… I’ve got to get to filming, so I’m hanging up.]
“What?”
[A top star’s life is always busy, you know.]

Click.

And he really did hang up.

“What’s wrong with this guy?”

I muttered while staring at my phone’s lock screen.

‘This guy’s definitely hiding something.’

Normally, he’d drag out his words and pester me about when I’d show up on set, but this time he was unusually curt. Min Ji-heon had hidden things and glossed over them plenty of times before, but something about this felt different. I considered pressing him for details when we met, and began packing my things to head to the preliminary meeting location.
I’m packing my bags to head to the pre-meeting location, wondering if I should ask him some questions when we meet.

Bang!

The practice room door burst open with tremendous force.
Jung Da-jun rushed in right after, his cheeks flushed red and his breathing ragged.

“Hyung—!!!!”

Hyung?

“—please show me the script!!!!”
“No, I don’t want to.”

The moment I picked up my bag to leave, Jung Da-jun slid across the floor on his entire body and grabbed my pant leg, refusing to let go.

“‘Before the Moon Wanes’! A Korean-style fantasy drama that unravels mysterious incidents based on exorcism!! Written by screenwriter Kim Sook-hee and starring Min Ji-heon as the lead!! Filming has already started and it’s airing soon, yet all we have is just that much information!!”
“No spoilers.”
“Hyung, Ho-yoon! Please! Aren’t I pitiful? I heard from the Road Manager that you’re doing a cameo in that drama, so I ran up the stairs from the first floor! I even abandoned Sung Hyun-sung who was with me!!”
“You could’ve just taken the elevator.”
“How long was I supposed to wait for the elevator!!”

So you abandoned even the Leader and came rushing up here alone?
I tried to pull my leg free, but our elephant was so strong it didn’t budge an inch. His unwavering determination not to move until he got the script was evident.
Still, I couldn’t exactly kick Jung Da-jun away.

“…Look, I don’t have the script.”
“Huh? What?”
“They said it’ll take a while since they’re rushing through revisions. I’m supposed to get it at a meeting today.”
“Can you show it to me once you get it?”
“Depends on what you do.”
“Got it.”

Only after hearing my answer did Jung Da-jun finally release my pants, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles he’d created, and grinned.

“I’ll wait maturely, hyung.”

I didn’t bother responding and headed outside. Jung Da-jun followed a step behind, chattering away incessantly.

“Brother, brother, brother—so you agreed to go without even reading the script? That’s not like you at all~?!”
“It’s just a role with barely a few seconds of screen time anyway.”
“Ohhh~.”

Besides, I’m basically just set dressing.
From what I heard, they were gathering all the high-profile celebrities who’d worked with Min Ji-heon before to boost the drama’s recognition. I’m just one of them.
Multiple cameos would be appearing, all supposedly deployed to highlight the spiritual abilities of the character Won Jae-uk that Min Ji-heon was playing.

“We’re busy too. We can only spare a few days.”
“Huh?! Then brother, won’t it be tough without time to rehearse? What if people criticize your acting as wooden?!”
“Tsk. Where does such pointless worry come from?”
“Ugh, stop pinching my cheeks! I’m just worried, that’s all…. So is this really okay?? What kind of role is it anyway?”
“Want me to tell you?”
“Yes!! Please~!”

Pinched on the cheek once more, the Maknae cupped both his cheeks and shot me a sullen glare.

“A ghost-possessed PD Lee Jung-hoon.”

Jung Da-jun’s mouth fell open.

***

After shoving Jung Da-jun—who was wailing about going to reshoot “Please Camera” right then and there—back into the practice room, I headed to the parking lot and climbed into the van to attend the pre-meeting for “Before the Moon Wanes.”

“The overall schedule shouldn’t be too tight. Today you’ll receive the revised script, and it looks like we’ll just need to make some simple schedule adjustments.”
“Yes, thank you.”

I thanked the Road Manager for the brief explanation and gazed out the window. Since it was Studio Olio, the drama production company I’d visited during the “Unknown Actor Tycoon” days, I believed the work would wrap up quickly and cleanly, just as the Road Manager suggested.
But reality diverged from expectation.
The moment we arrived at the designated building, three staff members came down to the lobby waiting for us.

“Seo Ho-yoon, hello!”
“Aha… welcome!”
“…Ah, nice to meet you.”
“Wow~, you’re even more handsome in person?”

Above all, a sharp glint flashed from one of them.

‘What is this?’

It was clearly not a friendly expression.
I composed my face as though I hadn’t noticed anything amiss and followed them into the conference room.
As we took our seats across from each other at the long rectangular table, the staff member with the gentlest demeanor carefully opened his mouth.

“Thank you for accepting our proposal. You’ve heard the basic synopsis, right? We have the revised script here, so if you could take a look through it first and let us know if you have any thoughts, that would be great.”
“Yes, I understand.”

I accepted the script they handed me.

[Before the Moon Wanes]

After glancing lightly at the title and turning the page, I noticed sticky notes attached to every scene I appeared in.

Sung Dong-hyung’s funeral hall. Since his parents had passed long ago and he had no children, his nephew Lee Jung-hoon—the son of his sister—would serve as the chief mourner.

“The first scene is at a funeral hall?”
“…Haha, yes. The screen time isn’t much, but given the location, the acting atmosphere might be a bit… heavy.”

So the ghost that had appeared was my dead uncle.
I turned another page of the script, my eyes narrowing slightly.

Lee Jung-hoon, wearing a mourning band, bows in return to the funeral guests, and a mourner offers condolences to him.
Lee Jung-hoon, head bowed, tears streaming down his face.

There’s even a crying scene?

“…Are you, are you okay with this?”

I quietly reviewed the content.
The direct confrontation with Min Ji-heon was barely more than a passing conversation, and the dialogue itself was minimal.
Only the sound of the staff member swallowing echoed in the quiet conference room. As I closed the final page, I smiled.

“Yes, it’s fine.”
“Oh!”

The role seems to require more acting skill than I initially thought, but this much is nothing.
As I responded lightly, as if it were no big deal, the anxious faces of the staff members suddenly brightened.

“Wow, Seo Ho-yoon sure is cool. I like that, I like that.”

Everyone seemed to let out a collective sigh of relief.
I glanced around at their faces.
Strangely, from our first meeting until now, they seemed to be constantly scrutinizing my expression.
Even after the meeting ended, they rattled off hollow praise about how much they enjoyed Please Camera, their words devoid of genuine feeling.

“Oh! We happened to rent a nearby restaurant, and the staff are planning to have a casual drink together. Would you like to join us, Seo Ho-yoon?”
“Come on, Seo Ho-yoon must be swamped with work. Especially this time of year, things get hectic.”

The man who had been glaring at me with displeasure tried to preempt my answer with a smirk, but since my schedule was free, I exchanged a glance with my road manager and nodded.

“I’d be happy to join if you’ll have me.”

The man’s expression soured momentarily as he tried to say something, but another staff member quickly stepped forward and cut him off.
Following their lead to a nearby bar, I found the place already packed with the director and production crew—roughly fifteen people in total.
Some of them were familiar faces from previous projects: Dead after Hope, which we shot during the Unknown Actor Tycoon days, and Shining Star.

“A staff member I know mentioned that you’re quite the drinker, Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Ha ha, I get drunk just from the smell of alcohol.”
“Oh my, should we skip it then?”
“Still, I’d be grateful to accept a drink from the director.”

After politely having just one glass and playing along with the atmosphere, the conversation gradually became more relaxed.
And without question, the most frequent topic of discussion was Min Ji-heon.

“How can Min Ji-heon be so perfect?! Not a single bad rumor about him!!”
“He really is remarkable. Among actors his age, there’s no one who can match his acting.”
“Haven’t some of his films performed poorly?”
“But he’s never been criticized for his acting. If anything, he’s only praised for taking on experimental roles.”

I let the blunt conversation pass without acknowledgment.
Every time I witnessed moments like this, I could tangibly feel Min Ji-heon’s prominence.
Then, a gruff voice cut through the chatter.

“But doesn’t Min Ji-heon seem cold sometimes?”

It was that same man who had been showing his displeasure all along.
The nearby staff members’ eyes widened in surprise, but with his intoxication rising, he paid them no mind and continued smirking.

“I think he’s just too aware of his own talents. He meddles constantly, telling people what to do and what not to do. Sometimes he even overstepped his bounds. Recently, he’s been telling Kim Writer to change the script settings, saying do this, don’t do that.”

The Lighting Director, wearing an awkward smile, poured beer for the grumbling man and patted his back as if to tell him to get a grip.

“Oh come on, what are you going on about? Min Ji-heon has been working with Kim Sook-hee for so long. And Kim Writer likes proactive actors anyway~. Besides, actors should be able to voice their opinions.”
“Even so, this time he really went too far.”

But the man, seemingly oblivious to the atmosphere around him, raised his voice before turning his gaze toward me.

“He even said to cancel Seo Ho-yoon’s appearance altogether. Are the two of them not that close?”
“Ah, haha, haha, come on, they even appeared together on a variety show. Everyone knows they’re close.”
“Really? Then why is he like that? He’s been touching every single detail of the settings.”

Unable to read the signals people were sending, he continued his complaints. When I showed little reaction, he took a sip of beer and opened his mouth again.

“Oh right, did you know the original script had the parents’ funeral, not the uncle’s? Min Ji-heon suggested changing it to a relative’s funeral, so it was modified.”
“Really?”

Most people seemed unaware of this fact, and everyone’s faces showed surprise.

“And Seo Ho-yoon’s agency even asked to cut it, so the writer trimmed a lot.”
“Ah, I see.”
“With Min Ji-heon, WH Entertainment, and all these people rowing the boat for Seo Ho-yoon alone, nobody even knew which direction the ship was heading. We staff members were just trying to coordinate everything in between and nearly died doing it.”

Ah. So that’s why he was so desperate just moments ago.
The man before me seemed to have accumulated resentment and dissatisfaction as multiple parties continued to interfere excessively over what was merely a minor guest appearance, and he exploded when he encountered me.

“You’ve worked hard.”
“Hmm.”

I answered briefly, not wanting to provoke any further conflict.
The man deliberately poured soju into my untouched beer glass and grinned.

“But no matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand. Why did they cut the funeral scene? Because of that, we threw away nearly ten pages of script. Is it because she’s an Idol? Or because Seo Ho-yoon is young? Has he never attended a funeral before? Is that it?”
“…Ugh, Hyung-joo. You’re drunk.”
“No, I’m not! I’m completely fine. I’m not even drunk yet.”

The conversation that had been flowing gradually quieted down until even the sound of an ant’s footsteps would have been audible.
Everyone except the man, who was raising his index finger upward in jest over my exposed family circumstances, sent desperate signals with shocked expressions telling him to shut up. Of course, the message didn’t get through properly.

“How old is Seo Ho-yoon again? Twenty-two? Twenty-three?”

I lifted the beer glass slowly and drained it in one gulp. Then I answered his question calmly.

“Twenty-five.”
“Ah, I was close then. But you have experience, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, that’s a relief—….”
“When our parents passed away.”

The man blinked blankly, as if he’d received words he couldn’t quite comprehend.
I opened a fresh bottle of soju and poured it into his glass, adding softly:

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. I’ll do my best with what’s been entrusted to me.”
“….”
“Shall we toast then?”

I refilled my own glass and raised it, but my counterpart remained stiffly frozen, unable to move. I shrugged and finished drinking alone.
I could feel the gazes of those around us fixed on me, unwavering.

“Drinking soju from a beer glass….”
“Ha ha.”

Then I picked up my coat and touched my cheek with my hand, though no heat had risen to it, as I spoke.

“Ah… I’m getting a bit tipsy. I’ll step outside for some fresh air.”
“…Yes, take your time! Enjoy yourself! Get some fresh air out there, ha ha…ha.”

The moment I stepped outside, I heard someone behind me chiding the man for being reckless.

‘At least he’ll keep quiet during filming.’

He’d been grating on me from the start.
Since I’d already seized the initiative, I figured I could get through the brief filming period smoothly enough.
I stood in the shadowed alley beside the restaurant and pulled out my phone. A new message had appeared in The Dun’s group chat.

[Jung Da-jun: Hyung, why is the meeting taking so long?]
[Jung Da-jun: Come quick… I’ve been waiting for Kim Sook-hee’s script and I’ve turned into a giraffe…]
[Sung Ji-won: Ho-yoon fighting!!(laughing emoticon)]
[Jung Da-jun: Hyung, don’t lose your nerve]
[Jung Da-jun: If you do, I’ll run over right now and do a butt-shaking dance for you]
[Kang Yi-chae: Let’s do it together right now]
[Jung Da-jun: (butt-wiggling emoticon)]
[Kim Sung-hyun: I’m the one who’d lose my nerve…]

I let out a quiet laugh reading the messages.
I was about to send a reply saying I didn’t need such encouragement when a sweet citrus scent wafted through first, followed by a shadow falling at my feet.

“Seo Ho-yoon.”

At the familiar voice, I lifted my head and caught sight of Min Ji-heon with his characteristically elongated eye corners curved upward in my view.

“Did you come out for a cigarette?”

How did this busy man know to find me here? I clicked my tongue and kindly corrected Min Ji-heon’s nonsense.

“Get lost. I’m an idol.”

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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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