The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 395

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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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395

After The Dun completed all their schedules on Jeju Island and returned to Seoul, they were consumed with preparations for the WH Entertainment concert scheduled to premiere on January 1st. In the meantime, The Dun’s schedule naturally continued as usual. While juggling everything frenetically, time slipped away with startling speed.
Before long, it was mid-December—the day of pre-recording for the WH Entertainment concert, which would be held without a live audience.

“Whoa, we can reshoot this as many times as we need?”
“Since there’s no audience, it’s possible as long as the schedule they gave us doesn’t fall too far behind.”

The Dun’s waiting room was just as lively as always.
As the most junior artists under WH Entertainment, The Dun had already finished their shoot and returned to the waiting room, chattering away as usual. Only Seo Ho-yoon and Kim Sung-hyun, who still had their special collaboration stage ahead, moved to change into their costumes.
As Seo Ho-yoon donned form-fitting slacks that opened to the knee and draped a short black jacket across his bare chest, then wrapped the long front panels around his torso and tied them like a sash, Jung Da-jun made a fuss about how cold he looked, piling heat packs on him haphazardly.

“Ho-yoon, you can’t collapse on us now!!”
“Don’t talk to me—I need to conserve my energy….”
“Wow, the collaboration’s coming up soon. Don’t worry, you’ll do great with all that practice! Come on, everyone—fighting~!”

Sung Ji-won’s affectionate encouragement was followed by cheers and support from Jung Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae.
But for Kim Sung-hyun, who had already finished dressing and was sitting on the sofa, such words barely registered.
Clad in a flowing black shirt lavishly adorned with crystals and slacks laden with jeweled chains, Kim Sung-hyun bounced his leg nervously, the delicate accessories chiming softly with each tremor—a perfect reflection of his anxiety.
All the members nearby sensed his state of mind and watched him carefully without saying anything aloud.
But the truth was, Kim Sung-hyun wasn’t trembling because he had to perform with a senior he so deeply admired.

‘What did Joo Woo-sung’s advice really mean…?’

Ever since the day Joo Woo-sung had offered his counsel, Kim Sung-hyun had been wrestling relentlessly with its hidden meaning. For some reason, he couldn’t just let it go.

“Seo Ho-yoon, Kim Sung-hyun—please head out and prepare.”

A staff member’s guidance came with a knock on the door.
Receiving one final burst of enthusiasm from Sung Ji-won, Kang Yi-chae, and Jung Da-jun, they made their way down the hallway and up onto the stage, where Joo Woo-sung stood beneath the brilliant lights.

“Hello, senior.”

He wore a white organza blouse with silver threads woven through it, ruffles gracefully adorning the neckline and sleeves, paired with white slacks that had a thin ash-gray line running down the outer seam of each leg—an ensemble that matched the atmosphere of his and Seo Ho-yoon’s outfits perfectly.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Though the senior seemed to be sharing all sorts of useful insights, Kim Sung-hyun found himself unable to focus. Standing back and merely listening to their conversation, Joo Woo-sung smirked and draped an arm across Seo Ho-yoon’s shoulders.

“Our Seo Ho-yoon, you worked hard. Let’s have fun today, yeah?”
“…Why are you like this?”

Seo Ho-yoon shrugged off Joo Woo-sung’s arm with a small grimace. Still in high spirits, Joo Woo-sung chuckled softly and playfully nudged Kim Sung-hyun with his body.

“Kim Sung-hyun, you too. It’s fine, so do whatever you want.”

“I hope you experience a long, terrifying, dark, and profound slump—and endure it. The way I did.”

In that instant, Kim Sung-hyun’s mind flashed back to something Joo Woo-sung had told him not long ago.

“We’re rolling in a moment. Get into position.”

The staff’s instructions came through the earpiece, and the camera’s red light flickered on.

【Flash, Flash, Flash….】

The title of the song they would unveil as a special collaboration was “Wit”.
It was a precious unreleased track that WH Entertainment had kept closely guarded.

【Flash, Flash, Flash….】

Following the beat that echoed quietly like a heartbeat, pure white light flashed three times, illuminating the darkness around them before fading—a rhythm that repeated. Simultaneously, the silhouettes with their profiles fully exposed were captured by the camera’s lens, then vanished, only to appear again.

【Flash.】

A brilliant flash—the lights blazed across the entire space, and In-young’s face emerged from the darkness. As Joo Woo-sung’s eyes opened languidly and his chin lifted, a grand yet dazzling beat flooded the venue.
The moment Joo Woo-sung lazily opened his eyes and lifted his chin, a grand yet dazzling beat filled this place.

Flash of Wit, this sensation you find hard to comprehend】
Flash of Wit – You’re having trouble understanding this feeling

Even the smallest gesture, when executed by him, transcended into art of profound significance. Kim Sung-hyun could only focus on maintaining his center, refusing to be swept away in Joo Woo-sung’s wake.
Even the most trivial movements became elevated into significant art when he performed them. Kim Sung-hyun was barely able to maintain his composure and keep from being swept away by Joo Woo-sung.

【I feel a thrill when I push down】

In this moment, Kim Sung-hyun was truly being pressed down by him.

【It took a long time to climb up here
Don’t recklessly charge in
You can’t follow my path】

From time to time, Seo Ho-yoon treated Joo Woo-sung dismissively. So even though he claimed to respect him, he had somehow grown numb to the figure that was Joo Woo-sung.
But standing beside him now, I could sense it.

‘This is insane.’

On stage, he was an omnipotent being.

“You need to understand. There’s something called instinct. For example, extending your arm isn’t where it ends—you need to know how to finish with your fingertips—….”

【Even so, if you follow me
Play with me until the very end】

“…when you lift your head, where should your gaze be directed? Not just simple movements, but fluid motion. Not just exhaled breath, but connected respiration.”

Joo Woo-sung’s voice echoed once more.

‘…Is that even possible.’

Will I ever be able to do that someday?
Kim Sung-hyun instinctively understood those aspects. But controlling his entire body, his muscles, his cells the way he thought—it wasn’t as easy as the explanation Joo Woo-sung had casually offered.
Then, Seo Ho-yoon, who had passed by his side and taken center stage, raised the handheld microphone to his lips with an ease-filled smile.

【You don’t need to tell me I’m crazy
I’ve always been this way (Are you sure?)】

A vivid live performance spread raw and unfiltered across the pre-recorded filming location.

【Keeping my center, no matter what anyone says
I always go straight】

‘…Seo Ho-yoon, he’s good.’

After pulling all-nighters to practice, Seo Ho-yoon selected camera angles with surgical precision and delivered choreography with razor-sharp control of intensity.

‘I could never pull off something like that.’

Kim Sung-hyun understood his own strengths and weaknesses with crystalline clarity.
He was the type who easily got swept up in the moment and danced on instinct—if he tried to follow Seo Ho-yoon’s calculated approach, his footwork would tangle in seconds.

【To captivate me
you need to make a big move】

…But then, what about me?

‘I can’t calculate, and I can’t just enjoy it either….’

Tall and long-limbed, Kim Sung-hyun had to constantly innovate to avoid looking clumsy.
He’d mimicked others, copied them, then struggled to break free—and only now did he feel he’d finally found something of his own, finally caught up with the rest. Yet if he was still falling behind, still treading water in place, if the road ahead stretched endlessly—….

“Develop depth.”

…Wasn’t that frustrating?

【Get up this way!】

Kim Sung-hyun burst forward with raw intensity, pivoted hard on his feet, and planted himself center stage.
He would never become like Joo Woo-sung, nor like Seo Ho-yoon.

【I feel exhilaration when I strike down】

Then I have to find it within what I already possess.
A way to stand equal with them.
Without regretting it later.
Among the tenacity earned through effort, my sense of responsibility, my expressiveness?
No.
Something more fundamental—something I was born with—.

【You can—.】

—It’s power.
A fist with veins bulging swings down with tremendous force.

【—be my witness!】

The force that carries this stage through to the very end.

【I don’t care for complicated words
Flash of Wit this action only I can do】

I poured strength into each movement, syncing with the heavy melody.

【Get up this way
It’s my flash of wit】

The instant Joo Woo-sung stepped forward again, our eyes collided. Joo Woo-sung’s eyes widened with genuine delight at this moment.

【Didn’t I tell you? I want to act simple in front of you】

He then stepped back and stood beside Seo Ho-yoon. Originally, Joo Woo-sung should have been positioned in front of Seo Ho-yoon.

【If you’re drawn in, just say it feels good
Don’t be sarcastic about it】

“…!”

In that instant, Seo Ho-yoon’s expression crumbled, then reformed.
But Joo Woo-sung, as if unbothered, grinned and pulled Seo Ho-yoon’s arm.

【Do you understand now?】

And then I unfolded the choreography.
The solo dance transformed into something far more brilliant as it shifted into a pair dance.

【Hold your center and no matter what anyone says
I always go straight
Yes, Yes, Yes】

The rising melody slowed, and the three of us stood in a line side by side.

【It’s my flash of wit】

Joo Woo-sung blew a kiss toward the camera, bringing the performance to a close.
Kim Sung-hyun gazed up at the lighting rig, which seemed to shine even more brilliantly today.

.
.
.

‘Damn it all.’

“Thank you for your hard work~.”
“I’ll just do a quick monitor check before I head out.”

Joo Woo-sung—that lunatic had suddenly changed his movements.
Since this was a recording, we could always shoot it again, but there was no telling how many times this bastard would pull the same stunt.
If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up with nothing but the title “Seo Ho-yoon dancing next to Joo Woo-sung lol.”

“Woo-sung, the choreography was a bit different at the end, wasn’t it? That’s why we had to pull the camera back a bit.”
“Oh, you didn’t like it?”
“No, no, it was totally fine. Actually, it looked even better on camera.”

I was certain this was payback from the workshop.
My teeth ground together involuntarily.

“Man, you were floundering on stage, but you look perfectly fine on screen. Nice work, Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Huh? Seo Ho-yoon doesn’t dance well?”

Joo Woo-sung, who had been monitoring the footage, smirked. The staff member who heard him wore a puzzled expression.

“…Are you serious?”
“Of course…? Seo Ho-yoon has clean, refined lines. It’s extremely rare to find a vocalist who dances like that.”

My dance stat is A, you bastard!
I wanted to shout it out loud and enthusiastically agree with the staff member’s assessment, but seeing Joo Woo-sung’s face—clearly not genuinely convinced—I swallowed my words.
Then, soft exclamations erupted from beside me.

“Wow, the power in it….”
“Hyun-sung, your style is a bit different today, isn’t it?”

Kim Sung-hyun took center stage in the monitoring television, moving with sharp, powerful precision.
The crisp, explosive movements harmonized perfectly with the song’s intense and fierce energy.
I turned my head to offer him praise, looking directly at Kim Sung-hyun.

“…Yes, I think it went well.”

For some reason, he seemed simultaneously hollow and delighted.
Joo Woo-sung, who had been staring intently at Kim Sung-hyun, lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“Kim Sung-hyun.”
“…Yes, yes?”
“How was it? That stage was fun, wasn’t it?”

Kim Sung-hyun remained momentarily dazed before breaking into a smile so wide his dimples deepened.

“…It was good.”

Ding!

[It seems Kim Sung-hyun has realized something!]

What?

[Singing: B+
Dancing: ???
Entertainment: B+
Acting: D0
Charm: A+
???: ???
※Precise stat measurement is currently impossible due to changes in dancing form.]

“What is this….”
“Yes?”
“No, never mind.”

This was the first time I’d seen such a message from the System Window.

‘…Did I really grasp something from Joo Woo-sung’s ridiculous advice?’

I read the glowing blue text on the System Window over and over, then brushed back my sweat-dampened hair.

‘…Fine, whatever. Good is good.’

I still didn’t understand it, but at least it seemed like that nonsense had become some kind of trigger for change in Kim Sung-hyun.

“I think we could wrap up the recording like this. What would you like to do? We have plenty of time, but….”

After finishing The Dun performance back-to-back with the special collaboration, the tension had eased, and fatigue crashed over me like a tidal wave.

“Yes, I—.”
“Come on~!!”

Joo Woo-sung’s loud voice drowned out my response.
Somehow he’d already climbed back onto the stage, waving his hands with a bright smile.

“Hurry up~!!”
“….”

The Staff Member looked pleased, glancing back and forth between me and Joo Woo-sung.
I had a bad feeling about this.

“Should we do another pre-recorded take?”
“…Ha, haha. Woo-sung is really eager for the stage.”
“That’s a pro for you, a real pro.”

Eventually, wearing a grim expression, I trudged over slowly, and Joo Woo-sung leaned in close to whisper.

“Hey, did you really think it’d end in one take?”
“….”
“Wait and see what comes next.”

Ever since Jeju Island, he’d seemed to be in such a good mood!

‘Bastard!’

Kim Sung-hyun just giggled, delighted at the prospect of dancing again, his body swaying with excitement.
Alone, I anticipated Joo Woo-sung’s impending whimsy, my eyebrows trembling with irritation as I returned to my starting position and took my stance.

“Hey. Do you treat everyone else this petty and spiteful and annoying too?”
“No way. That can’t be it.”

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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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