The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 387

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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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387

Carols echoed through the streets early on, and the entire nation bustled with the year’s final preparations.
The Dun was equally swamped, juggling in-house content production and various activities without a moment’s rest.

[They say “rowing when the tide comes in” refers to The Dun]
[I heard that this school bell was my friend from schoolㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m really jealousㅜ]

[Why do only students get to enjoy this kind of access

Office workers have feelings too
Office workers love Noel too
Office workers want autographs

Come visit our company
Share if you relate
Boost this up

└What does boost mean??
└└(OP) For real?
└Calm down, ma’am..
└└(OP) Ma’am? That’s too much (*´□`)ﾟ
How old are you???? Let’s settle this with photo cards and a PC room fight.
└└I’m 12 years old…
└└(OP) Oh.. sorry.. I didn’t think..
Hahahaha you’re probably actually 12 years old hahahaha
Hahahaha don’t immediately tuck your tail between your legs hahahaha

[Title: The school festival appearance already spread everywhere

They kept asking for reviews during the live stream but dodged it saying spoilers
In the end, she changed the subject and asked me to help her with her worries instead lol

Noel Member 1: I want to become a huge problem for my brother
Noel Member 2: Have you ever thought a fan could become your biggest worry?? It can happen, so be prepared

Chatting like this, Kim Sung-hyun suddenly wore a complicated expression and pretended to sip his drink (feat. Kang Yi-chae, who nearly fell backward while giggling beside him)

Yi-chae: Don’t worry about it and just be happy~ You should only look at the good things in life, haha.
Ji-won: Almost there, almost there haha
Da-jun: Yi-chae~~~ that’s a wise saying
Yi-chae: (feeling proud)

└Why did our Dajun grow up so much? I used to be good at giving spoilers… ㅠㅠ… Now I’m good at talking in a fun way without that… ㅠㅠ I’m perfect at avoiding it.
└└The Dun members are moving impressively these days
hahahahahahahaha
└The part after this is even more legendary
Seo Ho-yoon, who had been quiet the whole time sipping his chocolate frappuccino… when Yi-chae asked “A fan wants to be your concern?” he casually said “Want to give it a try?”…
└└screams
└└screams222
└└this guy still doesn’t know he’s scary to girls
└└seriously prepare yourself seo ho-yoon]

Videos flowing through YouTube’s algorithm, various broadcast programs, and even advertisements for diverse products—Ranta, a carbonated beverage he’d consistently modeled for since early in his career, a luxury brand’s men’s beauty line, bank advertisements, and more—
The Dun’s image appeared everywhere.

[Title: These days only The Dun is on TV

I’ve been a fossil fan of The Dun since the Glow days…
Sometimes it feels like the world is deceiving me

└He looks happy..
└└Yeah…
└└Good for him(laughing)]

[Title: The Dun’s bank ad is heartwarming but hilarious

The ad basically says that with just one app, you can handle all your Bank business—whether it’s stocks, payments, or whatever else. Something like that lol
Kim Sung-hyun suddenly pops up and throws out lines that are absolutely hilarious

“You still using that?”

I knew it was their intention to switch to their new app, so at first I thought it was just that, but later I saw the members teasing me and started laughing too haha.
Every time Kim Sung-hyun does something he jumps in with “You still using that?”

In the end, it seems Kim Sung-hyun has finally let go of his inhibitions, openly advertising on the live broadcast.

Hyun-sung: Please use MJ Bank a lot, everyone…
Dunking: hahahahahahahahahaha

“Kim Sung-hyun is so funny lol. The kid who seems like he can’t do anything on the app except save money is rattling off all these lines so smoothly, it’s totally unbalanced and adorable.”
└If Seo Ho-yoon had done this, everyone would’ve just let it slide without a word..
If it had been Jung Da-jun, he probably would have thrown it around thoughtlessly without understanding what it meant.
└Does everyone know this? If you look closely at the shape of Jeong Da-jun’s mouth when they are all chanting for independence in the commercial group shot, you can see that they are saying “Hoo~~~” haha. So, Sung Ji-won and Kang I-chae also raised both their hands and said “Hoo~~~” haha.
I didn’t know, haha
These guys are still having fun lol

In particular, The Dun was famous for utilizing advertisements thoroughly and promoting them effectively.
Someone who happened to come across such reactions let out an exclamation of admiration. It was Yoo Ji-a, who had been idly scrolling through her phone in the waiting room of the Green Music Awards.

‘The Dun really is the trend these days, it seems.’

The Green Music Awards was an awards ceremony attended by both actors and idols.
Having made her mark as both a singer and an actress, Yoo Ji-a had been holding the MC position for several years now.

‘Maybe it’s because I’ve been away for so long, but I can’t seem to get into the groove.’

She turned off her phone and picked up the script she had already seen countless times.
Through her connection with PD Kim Hee-young, she had participated in filming “Let’s Go on a School Trip,” but aside from her personal YouTube channel broadcasts, she hadn’t engaged in any other activities.
She had simply been spending her days leisurely in an acquaintance’s vacant house located on Jeju Island.

There was a time when she believed that her existence was proven by being surrounded by many people, dressed in glamorous outfits and heavy makeup, basking in popularity. But now, in this quiet place reflecting on herself, she found that the time gradually being forgotten by the public felt rather pleasant in its own way.
Perhaps that was because she could still be certain that there was a place like this to return to.

“Senior Yoo Ji-a! You’re beautiful as always today!!”
“Haha, I’ve just been eating so much I think I’ve gained weight.”

Before rehearsal, numerous junior idol groups and actors stopped by her waiting room to greet her.
Yoo Ji-a made an effort to be as kind as possible to them while offering necessary advice.

“Senior, hello.”

Just when it seemed no one else would arrive, familiar faces appeared.
It was The Dun, who would be closing out this awards ceremony.
Having not seen them in a while, Yoo Ji-a sprang from her seat with genuine delight.

“Wow, it’s been forever. How has everyone been?”

Among them, Yoo Ji-a held a particular fondness for Sung Ji-won, who stood at the far right.
He possessed a refined appearance, yet beneath it lay sharp intellect and fundamental goodness—a man of unwavering principles like bamboo, yet one who bent rather than broke.

“Have you been well?”
“Of course.”

Of course, Sung Ji-won wasn’t the only one drawing her attention. There was another for different reasons.
Seo Ho-yoon.
With a portion of his bangs left loose and the rest swept back with pomade, he wore a gray suit with striped patterns adorning only his left arm.
It brought back memories of when he was filming “Please Camera.”

“Seo Ho-yoon, I watched ‘Before the Moon Wanes.’ It was excellent.”
“That’s an honor. Was it satisfactory?”
“Seriously, it was incredible.”

Despite not appearing to actively pursue acting, his craft had matured considerably.
Even though Yoo Ji-a herself had stepped back from the industry and was resting at a distance, rumors had reached her ears that Director Kang Jung-gun had taken notice of Seo Ho-yoon—though the man himself seemed utterly indifferent.

“Min Ji-heon hardly needs mentioning. But Seo Ho-yoon—the emotional depth he conveys in those brief moments is truly remarkable.”
“Ha, that’s all thanks to the director and Min Ji-heon’s consideration.”

His expression remained unchanged, yet Yoo Ji-a’s mind churned with conflicting thoughts.

‘What is this?’

He’d always worn that slick, artificial smile, but something felt different now.
The Seo Ho-yoon she remembered wore a social mask, but beneath it lay someone sharp and sensitive.
The prime example was during Shining Star Season 1, when he’d smiled without changing his expression while speaking bluntly to Today.

‘He does seem softer in recent broadcasts.’

She wasn’t naive enough to believe everything presented in media. The entertainment industry was rife with people whose exteriors contradicted their interiors. And her knowledge of Seo Ho-yoon had frozen in time two years ago.

“Hmm.”

After finishing her assessment of me, Yoo Ji-a deliberately threw out a playful jab.

“PD, you’ve been working us hard, but it looks like your circumstances have improved quite a bit.”
“What?”
“Now you’re even decorating the end of award ceremonies.”

My eyes widened at that.

“Yoo Ji-a, don’t joke around. If a senior like you says things like that, I’ll get fired.”
“….”
“And you won’t take responsibility for it either?”

At my response, Yoo Ji-a looked at me with a slightly surprised expression. As the silence stretched on and I began to find it odd, an awkward voice leaked from her.

“…You’ve become quite witty, haven’t you…?”
“Huh?”

A strange sound escaped from Jung Da-jun, who had been quietly listening to our exchange.

“If that’s how you perceive it, then I suppose I’ve accumulated some experience. Well, you must be busy too, so I’ll head out first.”

I simply brushed it off nonchalantly, bowed politely, and led The Dun out.
Left alone in the waiting room once more, Yoo Ji-a leaned back against the sofa and rested her chin on her hand.
A gentle smile, a relaxed atmosphere, yet somehow more unguarded than before….

“…Has he changed?”

He seems to shine a bit brighter than before….

***

‘Was that just a casual observation?’

I’m not sure what her intention was, but I was about to brush it off as something not worth dwelling on when Sung Ji-won’s voice reached me, pitched higher than usual with excitement.
He tried to brush it off as if there wasn’t much to worry about, but then he heard Sung Ji-won’s voice, which had risen higher than usual as if something had come back to him.

“Yoo Ji-a seems just as cool as ever, even though it’s been a while since I’ve seen her. Right?”

Sung Ji-won, who had admired Yoo Ji-a for so long—and still did—had been chattering away excitedly when he suddenly caught sight of me and began waving his hand frantically.

“Oh! Ah, w-well, of course I admire Ho-yoon too!!”
“Yeah, sure.”

‘Anyway, whatever.’

I deflected his comment appropriately and posed the question I actually needed answered.

“So Ji-won, how many awards are being given out today?”
“Um, singers and actors combined, eight total.”
“Wow.”

The Green Music Awards hadn’t been included in the main Quest’s designated award ceremonies. However, its importance had suddenly skyrocketed. A new mission had just appeared.

[Quest Arrived!
Year-end stages are festivals for fans and turning points to reflect on the past year!
Through the two year-end stages that will now take place, generate the most buzz among all existing idol groups!
※The measurement period is three days following the broadcast of each year-end stage.
※Measured by the combined buzz volume from SNS, news, and comments. Keywords tracked are ‘The Dun’ or ‘Seo Ho-yoon’.
Success: 10,000
Failure: Unable to appear in all year-end stages during subsequent idol activities]

‘Hmm… the Quest isn’t as difficult as I thought.’

If I did this well, I might be able to recover Seo Ho-jin’s memories by December.
The moment we returned to our assigned waiting room, Jung Da-jun slid onto the sofa, his cheeks flushed crimson, and asked a question.

“Hyungs, do I look scary or something?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Well… as I was passing through the hallway, some rookies looked startled and avoided me… I got flustered too….”

The finale that The Dun and High Five had alternated hosting would now be The Dun’s responsibility at this Green Music Awards.
A mid-tier group rising this rapidly in just four years was rare, so various people had approached The Dun. However, some younger idols would hesitate and keep their distance, hovering uncertainly.
Kim Sung-hyun was inwardly disappointed by such things, yet he offered stern advice to the maknae.

“Da-jun, you need to get used to being a senior now. You have to mature.”
“Ugh… but I still don’t like it when people avoid me.”

Jung Da-jun’s cheeks puffed out as he scrunched his face and pointed a finger at Kang Yi-chae.

“And even at my level, people who run into Yi-chae hyung practically flee like they’ve encountered a disaster.”
“He’s gotten a scary reputation ever since Rising Rookies… it can’t be helped….”
“Ahahaha, you all just don’t know—I’m such a sweetheart.”
“Ugh….”
“Blech.”

Kang Yi-chae, having declared himself a sweetheart, turned his head toward me with a grin.

“We should fill the rest of the year with love, shouldn’t we?”

I answered with a snort and a shrug of my shoulders.
The curtain on the year-end performances was about to rise in earnest.

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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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