The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 402

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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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402

The evidence Seo Ho-jin had painstakingly gathered proved its worth.
The moment I stepped out of the apartment, I contacted the Manager and headed to WH Entertainment’s legal department to hand over the materials. The staff members processed everything with surprising efficiency, their expressions businesslike. From their perspective, resolving the matter before any controversy erupted was the top priority, so they wrapped it up swiftly.
I made sure to mention other relatives just in case, but according to what I was told later, they were living ordinary lives in a world completely separate from mine.
Still, I couldn’t find peace of mind and demanded multiple confirmations.

‘…I’ll need to stay vigilant about this going forward.’

But there was a problem gnawing at me far more than this.

Partial RESET
An opportunity to initialize certain sections
Required Points: 300,000

Ever since meeting Seo Ho-jin, even as I threw myself into year-end stage preparations and immersed myself in advertisements and personal activities for days on end, my attention kept drifting to the System Window sitting in the corner of my vision.
Was the process of recovering my memories truly for my younger brother’s sake?

Looking at it simply, the truth was useless—that the older brother I thought was an idol was actually a disgraced PD, or that this place I believed to be reality was actually inside the Obscure Idol Tycoon game. It was information better left unknown.
And on top of that, Seo Ho-jin, who had completely forgotten his childhood.
Ever since I brought my younger brother back from my maternal uncle, hadn’t I prayed and yearned for this countless times?
When all the Quests were complete and it was time to return to the original world, I had planned to bring Seo Ho-jin from this place with me no matter what. I had reasoned that the important things could be conveyed briefly in that moment.

Yet as I listed the reasons why the reset was unnecessary, I found myself unable to reach a conclusion and hesitated instead.
Even setting aside my own selfishness, the memories buried in that oblivion were equally precious.
I gazed blankly out the car window, which reflected a landscape full of Christmas decorations, and reviewed the missions the System Window had casually thrown at me not long ago.

[Quest Arrived!
Complete the beauty line fragrance advertisement shoot for a luxury brand, then conduct an interview at the Flagship Store.
Success: 15,000 Points
Failure: Permanent Stamina Debuff]

[Quest Arrived!
Break the all-time pre-order sales record for a magazine featuring a luxury brand beauty line perfume advertisement in which The Dun participated as a model.
Success: 15,000 Points
Failure: Significant decrease in Charm stat, making future advertisements for this brand unavailable]

A penalty drastically reduced for an easily achievable task.
The System Window seemed to be trying to ease its awkwardness in its own way, but perversely, noticing this only dampened my mood further.
I exhaled a small sigh and composed my expression, only to realize I had already arrived at the schedule location.
I stepped out of the van and entered the building. Simultaneously, a kaleidoscope of fragrances stimulated my sense of smell.

“Seo Ho-yoon, this way!”

The space had been set up as a popup store for the luxury brand’s beauty line perfume collection.
Before opening to the public, The Dun—who had become the advertisement model for the brand—was given priority access so that interview footage could be filmed for upload to YouTube.

“Thank you for making time despite your busy schedule. I heard you have another appointment this afternoon, so we won’t take up too much of your time.”

A staff member from the luxury brand’s marketing department spoke smoothly.
Whether they had deliberately set their sights on conquering Korea, the store emphasized both glamour and refined elegance throughout. The display arrangement of fragrances positioned strategically around the space was equally impressive, and above all, the layered scents that drifted subtly through the air harmonized beautifully with the atmosphere, enhancing it further.

“Wow… why does it smell so delicious? I’m hungry.”
“Oh, this one smells like rice!”

Though cameras were already following the members as they explored the popup store, since we had been informed beforehand that those portions would be used as introductory and interstitial footage with background music, everyone chatted comfortably without filters.
However, once the formal interview began, they eloquently expounded on their impressions of the fragrances as though they were perfumers themselves.

“This fragrance personally seems to carry a particularly strong winter scent. With a sweet vanilla base, the coolness of sharp spices blends in, and the addition of deep woody notes gives the whole composition a weighty presence.”

Kang Yi-chae was especially shameless among them.
When the interview staff member asked him to describe the introduced fragrance in one word, the corners of his eyes crinkled with delight.

“It’s a fragrance that evokes a nostalgic winter I had forgotten about.”

Wait, weren’t you just saying it smelled delicious a moment ago?
Kang Yi-chae, who had been muttering things like “makes me crave ice cream” and “I’m so hungry” while sampling the fragrances, now flashed a captivating smile as though he had never said such things, his expression as enchanting as the fragrance he was promoting.

‘How smooth-talking.’

As I shook my head in exasperation, Kim Sung-hyun, Jung Da-jun, and Sung Ji-won let out exclamations of genuine admiration, offering heartfelt applause.
Kang Yi-chae’s interview had wrapped up without any major issues, and it was my turn next. After finishing the interview without anything particularly standing out, I wandered through the store while waiting for the other members’ turns, when a Marketing Department staff member approached me.

“When we launched our brand’s beauty line, collaborating with The Dun felt like a masterstroke. With so little of the year left, it’s truly the best decision we’ve made.”
“Haha, I was the one honored to be part of it.”

Even though the beauty line hadn’t officially launched domestically yet, public anticipation was already soaring based on the brand’s reputation alone, and with rumors spreading that The Dun was the model, there was a growing trend of people purchasing early through overseas websites.
With success virtually guaranteed, the staff member’s smile never faded.

“We were genuinely shocked at how precisely you captured exactly what we wanted! The master perfumer who directed this entire line was also astounded when he saw the final advertisement. He couldn’t believe how you perfectly captured the winter atmosphere he envisioned. Oh, look, it’s playing now.”

Following the staff member’s gaze, I saw a simplified advertisement edited for the popup store being projected across an entire wall.
In the dim blue light of dawn, I stood leaning against the railing of the entrance steps, wearing only a coat over a black knit, looking up at the sky while snow fell around me. Despite the carefully coordinated outfit, a hint of anxiety showed through my worn-in Converse sneakers.
As if timing something, the index finger holding the perfume in my right hand stopped its steady tapping, and at the moment white breath spread across my red lips, I wrapped myself tighter in my coat, my gaze shifting as though reaching toward someone beyond the camera.
Then the perfume’s name appeared, and the video looped back to the beginning, repeating endlessly.

“The theme was waiting for someone you loved with a fragrance you yearned for, right? Rather than spelling out every detail, I thought it would be better to leave it to you. I just asked if you could add longing and poignancy to the quiet scene, with just a touch of weariness… but how did you capture it so perfectly!”

My mind had been turbulent and my schedule packed, so I’d actually been sprawled out in the waiting room before heading to the shoot.

“That indescribable, troubled expression! Just that single frame fills in all the missing narrative on its own!”
“My face isn’t red right now, is it? I’m embarrassed at how much you’re flattering me.”
“Pfft, you look so pale you’re practically translucent. You’re truly impeccable professionally, and your personality is wonderful too.”

Honestly, that advertisement wasn’t professionally impeccable at all.
My mind had been in such a terrible state back then that I could barely remember how I’d gotten through it.
I only vaguely recalled the staff members marveling at how great it was after filming wrapped.
The Marketing Department staff member mentioned they were preparing another new product and asked me to review it positively, to which I offered a smile.
After wrapping up the conversation and walking toward where the members had gathered, I caught sight of my reflection on the wall, and Kim Sung-hyun and Kang Yi-chae were whispering about it.

“—That scene behind you where Ho-yoon was doing a wide stance in an old man pose got cut. That was the highlight….”
“Tell me about it. That’s what completes Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Hey, turn off the provincial broadcast.”

Concerned about the luxury brand representatives’ attention, I clenched my teeth and conveyed my disapproval through ventriloquism, while Kang Yi-chae deliberately shrugged his shoulders and pretended to be scared.
Whether I clicked my tongue internally or not, the interview progressed smoothly.
The last person to stand in front of the camera was Sung Ji-won.

“Well, I liked this fragrance called ‘Oblivio’ the best. The perfumer said he was inspired by the famous saying that forgetting is a blessing from the gods—.”

The beginning had been smooth enough. Yet as Sung Ji-won’s story continued, something about it increasingly grated on my nerves.

“Wow….”

Even the members beside me, who had been playfully teasing moments before, gradually fell under his spell and dropped their jaws in awe.

“There goes the legendary Ji-won….”
“Really… I’m embarrassed I was even trying to joke around….”
“Huh?”

Watching the sheepish members add their own comments, Sung Ji-won simply wore a serene smile.

.
.
.

After finishing the schedule at the Popup Store, the moment I arrived at the filming location for the Gayo Star Championship, I had to dive straight into pre-rehearsal without a moment’s rest.
We meticulously checked every detail to ensure not even the smallest error would occur, and I had barely stepped into the Waiting Room when an alert chimed.

Ding!
Ding!

[Quest Success!
The magazine featuring the luxury brand’s beauty line perfume advertisement with The Dun as the model has achieved record-breaking pre-order sales figures.
Success: 15,000 points awarded.]

[Quest Success!
You have successfully completed the luxury brand’s beauty line perfume advertisement shoot and conducted an interview at the Flagship Store.
Success: 15,000 points awarded.]

As the quest completion notifications settled and points were tallied, a new window appeared.

[Quest Arrived!
Before December ends, generate an explosive public response through an article about Seo Ho-yoon.
Success is measured by the article’s view count.
Success: 15,000 points awarded
Failure: Dance stat slightly decreased]

When I desperately wanted something, the system played hard to get, yet now that I hesitated, it showered me with points as if urging me forward.

‘Well, whatever. I’ll use it if I need to.’

I stared at the rectangular box emitting a blue glow with a lukewarm expression, when Jung Da-jun suddenly pounced on me from behind, his face flushed with excitement as he shouted.

“Wow! Hyung, hyungs! We’re performing last today!”
“You’re just finding out now, Da-jun?”
“You didn’t check the cue sheet?”
“Huh?! You hyungs already knew?!”
“Of course….”

The maknae, receiving lukewarm glances from the members, looked flustered as he glanced around in all directions.
The cue sheet had been leaked, and various communities and SNS were full of curses calling it WH Entertainment’s festival. It was because The Dun was the final act, with High Five’s performance right before it, and even the special stage was made up of Chae Jung-woo from Black Call, who hadn’t been active for over a year.

“…But hyung.”

Jung Da-jun, who had been cautiously shrinking his body behind me while reading the mood, asked while hanging from my arm.

“Is today Ho-jin hyung’s birthday?”

Curious how he knew, I raised one eyebrow and looked at the maknae, but the answer came unexpectedly from Kang Yi-chae, who was sitting askew on the sofa, crunching on snacks.

“I saw it pop up on the chat too. I sent a gift.”
“Today’s Ho-jin’s birthday? Oh, then maybe when Ho-yoon went to the department store last time, was that to buy a gift for his younger brother?”

No, that wasn’t a birthday gift.
But when I met Sung Ji-won’s bright, sparkling eyes, I suddenly felt too lazy to explain and simply closed my mouth.
Kim Sung-hyun, who had been stealing Kang Yi-chae’s snacks from across the way, added in agreement with Sung Ji-won’s words.

“Seo Ho-yoon is surprisingly good at handling these kinds of events. He’s the type who remembers important dates well.”
“Hmm… But I won’t be able to go to hyung’s place today. The Gayo Star Championship won’t end until after midnight.”
“It’s fine.”

After becoming an adult, I had fewer memories of actually preparing for Seo Ho-jin’s birthday on the actual date.
To me, a birthday was nothing more and nothing less than the day I was born. I simply continued to follow the rule my parents had set before they passed away—’always celebrate birthdays’—and acted accordingly.
Today was no different in that regard.
Still, thinking I should at least contact him, I turned on my phone, and a message from Seo Ho-jin appeared on the lock screen.

[Younger brother: Hyung, I’m thinking of you]
[Younger brother: Last time]

I went ahead and clicked the preview, then switched to the messaging app—but several lines had already been deleted.

[Younger Brother: (Deleted message)]
[Younger Brother: (Deleted message)]
[Younger Brother: Nah lol]
[Younger Brother: Just wondering when you’re coming home again]

‘Tsk.’

His behavior made it clear he’d picked up on the fact that I was hiding something.

[Me: Can’t make it today]
[Me: Sorry]

I considered just ignoring him, but instead I jotted down what I’d originally intended to send and hit send.
After that, I fooled around with the members and practiced here and there, enduring the long, tedious wait, when suddenly—

“Whoa….”

The third part of the Gayo Star Championship finally began.
And the star of that first performance was none other than Chae Jung-woo.

【Ah— Tell me,】

It was his first official stage appearance in nearly a year and a half.
A roar nearly deafening in its intensity reverberated all the way to where I stood.
Watching Chae Jung-woo smile brilliantly, I swallowed a gasp.

【that this is my christmas present】

Black Call really was Black Call.

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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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