The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 40

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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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40

[When I see you, it feels like I’m walking through those distant clouds]

[You don’t need to consider]

Today’s “Make Love” is a refreshingly innocent love song.
It tells the story of someone in their early twenties who fell head over heels for a person they met at university.
It’s a tropical-style track that’s admittedly well-crafted.
Kang Yi-chae flipped through the lyrics and laughed for quite some time.

“How on earth did they pull off this innocent concept with these lyrics?”
“Why?”

I had a feeling I knew exactly what he meant. But I didn’t feel like saying it in front of Jung Da-jun, so I just looked away.
Kang Yi-chae, who’d studied abroad early on, couldn’t suppress the laughter bubbling up from his throat.

“Didn’t anyone at the agency stop this? This is seriously the level of someone who doesn’t know a single word of English just slapping words together randomly.”

Make Love.
In other words… it means to make love.
I’ll leave it at that.

“You see it that way too, right?”
“Why didn’t the lyricist say anything?”
“Look at this.”

Sung Ji-won waved the printed lyrics in the air.

[Lyrics by: Yoo Hyuk]

We all (excluding Jung Da-jun) buried our faces in our hands.

“So that’s why.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
“Ugh, what are you even saying!”

We ignored Jung Da-jun and continued discussing the arrangement.

“You know what? Since we’re already here, going in a sexier direction might not be bad. If we add string instruments, we could create a more grand atmosphere.”
“So we’ve settled on the arrangement direction?”
“Yeah, I think we’ve got it. The melody line is a bit plain, but I want to make it dramatic here.”

Kang Yi-chae continued scribbling notes as if ideas were endlessly flowing from him.

“But what about our concept?”

That was a good question.

“We don’t have much time, so let’s use our trump card.”
“Trump card?”

I picked up my phone and called someone who was an expert in this sort of thing.
Moments later, with a loud bang, Lee Ji-hyun burst through the door.

“That’s me!”
“Yes, Lee Ji-hyun. You’re here.”
“I want to decide on the concept!”

Lee Ji-hyun was like a ghost possessed by concept design. She quickly brushed her hair back and spoke rapidly.

“A competition program is the perfect place to break away from the main agency’s direction and try something fresh, don’t you think? The glow concept from last time was amazing! I want to talk about who came up with that concept too. Since Jung Da-jun is taking the lead, it’s similar to that post-apocalypse concept song from before, so if we just continue that position while creating a different universe concept….”

It had begun.

“U-um….”
“Y-yes….”

The other members were mesmerized, hanging on Lee Ji-hyun’s every word.
Just as the concept discussion was about to heat up, I quietly raised my hand. At this point, Lee Ji-hyun and the rest of the members would handle things well on their own anyway.

“I’m going to step out for a bit. Can I leave the rest to you?”
“Oh, sure.”
“Where are you going?”

Kim Sung-hyun grabbed me. He was suspicious again—worried I might do something reckless on my own.
But I answered without blinking an eye.

“I promised to meet my younger brother for a bit.”
“Your younger brother?”
“Oh, the one you saw at the hospital back then.”
“Have a safe trip~.”

Jung Da-jun waved cheerfully. After quickly asking Lee Ji-hyun to cover for me, I slipped out of the practice room and spotted the scammer’s number on my phone—the one I’d been in contact with until just moments ago. To be safe, I brushed my bangs down and flipped my cap backward.
With my recent rise on YouTube, more people had started recognizing me. Ignoring the lingering glances, I got into a taxi and made the call.

“Yes, I’m on my way.”

I listened to the voice on the other end of the line. Through the taxi window, I watched a Shining Star advertisement bus pass by across the street. The members of Today were plastered across it in massive letters. At the same moment, Kim Sung-hyun’s anxious expression flashed through my mind.
Hyun-sung, I’m sorry.

“It’s reliable information, I assure you.”

Yeah, I’m definitely doing something crazy.

“You won’t regret it.”

***

Paparazzi isn’t a common profession. However, as the Korean Wave boom swept across all of Asia and tabloid journalists from China began circulating, paparazzi became a rather lucrative career.
When it came to sniffing out scandal, there was nowhere—north, south, east, or west—that they wouldn’t venture. Though the job involved prying into celebrities’ private lives, for Kim Jae-yeon, who lacked ethical restraint, it was deeply satisfying work.

Though Kim Jae-yeon had observed countless stars up close, he was intensely focused on the man before him now.
Seo Ho-yoon was a man who had recently risen to prominence.
Dae Pa-sung Planning, an entertainment agency for actors, had launched a new idol group, but it had failed spectacularly.
However, ever since Seo Ho-yoon joined, public opinion had reversed. The robbery incident, the egg incident, and now his bold moves at Shining Star.
The timing was too perfect to be coincidence. In every incident, Seo Ho-yoon had moved in directions no one could predict.
Well, it didn’t matter to Kim Jae-yeon anyway.
Not until Seo Ho-yoon suddenly reached out to him—someone with no prior connection to him.

“Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Yes, Jae-yeon.”

Kim Jae-yeon flinched in surprise. Until now, I had been operating under an alias, yet he knew my real name.

“…How you found out my name is beside the point, I suppose.”
“Yes.”
“How exactly did you contact me?”

The man in question flipped through the menu and ordered a lemonade. Then, resting his chin casually on his hand, he suddenly began saying something bizarre.

“I wrote numbers on rose petals and scattered them on the ground… and your number came up.”
“…Pardon?”

Then he suddenly clenched his fist and struck the table. He muttered something about “the script” and “damn system” a few times—he seemed absolutely unhinged.
Kim Jae-yeon’s frown deepened, but Seo Ho-yoon sighed and spoke as if nothing had happened.

“The rose petals nonsense—well, it’s a common method, really. I doubt it’s much different from the methods you’re familiar with.”

Sweat beaded on Jae-yeon’s back. This wasn’t just some idol. Seo Ho-yoon’s gaze swept over him.

“How I know about you doesn’t seem particularly important right now.”
“….”
“What I know—that seems to be what you’re really curious about.”

Jae-yeon’s leg bounced anxiously. When the lemonade arrived, Seo Ho-yoon accepted it and slowly stirred the straw.

“…Is this reliable information?”
“Look into it yourself.”

Seo Ho-yoon smirked.

“Today. A drug scandal.”

‘Jackpot…!’

Jae-yeon covered his mouth in excitement. Today was an idol group that was thriving even in China these days.
They were also a fairly major entertainment company. Once he dug into this, information would likely pour out. The moment Jae-yeon’s mind began calculating, Seo Ho-yoon’s expression turned cold.

‘Ugh, paparazzi.’

I exhaled sharply.
Kim Jae-yeon was a man I’d had some connections with even back when I was a PD. In his mid-thirties with a clean-cut face, anyone would believe him if you told them he was a businessman.
This is what paparazzi are like. They sink their teeth into someone, methodically extract information bit by bit, and once they’ve wrung out every last drop, they discard them without hesitation.
When I gradually extracted club information from the Marz Vocalist, naturally the talk of drug dealings at that place came up. There was no way Today, who came and went as if the place were his own home, wouldn’t know about it.

“If we dig around the places you mentioned last time, we’ll find something quickly. But Seo Ho-yoon, why aren’t you digging into the sponsorship issue too?”
“That’s already well-known.”

A lie. I simply didn’t want to drag Sung Ji-won into this.
If things went wrong, scandal could befall Sung Ji-won, who had been with Today’s agency and was on the verge of becoming the center position.
I jabbed at the thinly sliced lemon floating in my drink with the straw I’d been stirring.

“Even if we expose it, it’ll be shut down quickly anyway. If that’s the case, we should focus on areas where Kim Jae-yeon can really shine. A celebrity drug scandal is absolutely juicy.”
“…You know that too?”
“There’s plenty I know.”

A news story would break soon enough.
Kim Jae-yeon looked pleased but continued to eye me suspiciously. Then he shrugged.

“The timing is when I say it is.”
“That’s a bit difficult for us. Our principle is to break things as soon as possible.”
“The best flavor should be saved for last.”
“Ha! That’s true too.”

When I spoke firmly, Kim Jae-yeon laughed as if amused.
It wasn’t a bad deal for him either. Not all information is better simply because it’s faster.
When the story breaks at the most opportune moment—when Today’s stock price is climbing most steeply—the value of the information Kim Jae-yeon passes along becomes that much higher.

“It’ll take some time to investigate anyway. It’s not a bad condition. I’m in.”
“Yes.”
“That’s strange though. I’m happy you’re telling me all this so readily. But isn’t the risk too great for you personally to come forward? Doesn’t your company know about this?”

Kim Jae-yeon kept probing, clearly intrigued.

“What’s the point of exposing Today’s drug scandal anyway?”
“You don’t need to know unnecessary details like that, Kim Jae-yeon.”
“What if I end up revealing that you’re my information source? You’d go down with me too.”

I burst into laughter. Now that’s what I call paparazzi work. Since they were always ready to stab me in the back, I had to keep at least one chain around them.
This was clearly blackmail disguised as something else.

“Let’s see what happens.”

How adorable.

“Unless you want to go down with Kim Jae-yeon.”

Now, let me explain Seo Ho-yoon’s method for handling paparazzi:

First, dangle some juicy bait in front of them.
Second, sweet-talk them a little.
And the most important third step!
If they bite the hand that feeds them, give them a sharp knock on the head!

“Kim Jae-yeon, you’ve been working so incredibly hard all this time. Don’t you think it’s about time you took a nice long break in prison, hmm?”
“Excuse me?”

Kim Jae-yeon’s expression froze solid, his mouth twitching as if something was caught in his throat, before he suddenly gulped down his Americano in large, desperate swallows.

“…I didn’t hear that.”
“And I didn’t hear what I just said either.”

We calmly buried each other’s weaknesses like landmines. Then we shook hands and stood up.

“Well then, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes. I’m… honestly grateful. What can I say?”

Kim Jae-yeon’s expression had returned, and he grinned widely. He must be thrilled. The table was already set; all he had to do was pick up his spoon. He’d definitely help himself generously.
Just as I was about to leave with a shrug, Kim Jae-yeon’s expression twisted into an unpleasant smile.

“Oh! But.”
“Yes?”
“This isn’t a threat or anything—just a genuine favor. Since I’m grateful, let me give you a bonus tip.”

What is it? I raised my eyebrows.
In moments like these, it’s always…

“It’s Kim Sung-hyun.”

Kim Jae-yeon approached quietly and whispered in my ear.
After hearing what he was saying, my eyes narrowed. I slowly turned the information over in my mind, calculating.
Kim Sung-hyun—innocent yet meticulous. I matched what I’d just heard in that whispered confession against what I knew of him.

“Is this speculation?”
“Huh? Why are you like this? It’s unlike you to be so naive.”
“What’s your source?”
“I’m certain. I verified it before meeting Seo Ho-yoon, just in case. So it would be better if you prevented it beforehand.”

I nodded. Even though it seemed like he’d said everything, Kim Jae-yeon didn’t back away—he just stood there staring at me blankly.

“What is it?”
“Seo Ho-yoon and Joo Woo-sung are close, aren’t they? Could it be that Joo Woo-sung….”
“….”
“…I get it, I get it. Never mind.”

My cold glare must have worked—he quickly retreated, afraid sparks might fly.
I drained the lemonade, frustrated, and tilted my head back.

“Try to stop one thing and everything else comes tumbling out….”

What should I do?
Kim Sung-hyun.
An incident from high school.
School violence.
And withdrawal.
Words that didn’t fit him at all swirled chaotically through my mind.

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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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