The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 43

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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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43

I’m sorry, but because I’m garbage, saying that you trust me is the greatest compromise I can make.
I couldn’t unconditionally embrace Kim Sung-hyun and tell him it’s fine. That would only make things worse.

“I’m saying this all under the assumption that everything you said is true.”
….

Kim Sung-hyun hesitated, and instead of nodding, he asked.

“What are you going to do?”
“Listen carefully.”

I told him every plan I was currently thinking of. It was something I would never normally have revealed.
After hearing the entire story, the members let out sighs.

“This is insane….”
“Hyung, you’re still human after doing that…?”
“I’m human.”

Everyone grew increasingly dizzy as they listened, holding their heads. Sung Ji-won spoke with a pallid, exhausted expression.

“The risk is too great.”
“There’s no other way.”
“What about the stress Hyun-sung will endure during all this?”
“Turn off your phone. Don’t look at the internet. Cut yourself off from the world entirely.”
“How can you do that when we have performances?”

Everyone tried to dissuade me, but I was resolute. I grabbed Kim Sung-hyun and asked.

“Kim Sung-hyun, your opinion matters. If you tell me not to do this, I won’t.”
….
“But if you say it’s okay, I’m going all the way.”

Kim Sung-hyun looked down for a moment in silence, then let out a hollow laugh.

“If this works out, it’ll be good for the team and good for me too.”
“And if it fails?”
“If it fails… I’ll crash and burn with no bottom in sight.”

That would certainly be the case. Kim Sung-hyun was cautious precisely because his own career was on the line. He bowed his head deeply and rubbed the back of his neck.

“The fact that you’re telling me this much means you’ve made a serious decision. Normally, you’d just push forward without saying a word.”

A direct hit.
I thought I’d packaged it well enough, but Kim Sung-hyun understood me far better than I’d anticipated.
I don’t know what expression I was wearing, but Kim Sung-hyun looked at me and smiled.

“Then I need to make up my mind too.”

I nodded. The decision was made.
At that moment, the Manager burst through the practice room door and came rushing in.

“Guys! Did you see what’s happening right now?! Gasp, Seo, Sung-hyun.”
“….”
“Should I send the others out and just talk with you and me? It might be an uncomfortable conversation….”
“No, it’s fine.”

Kim Sung-hyun answered firmly and took the bag from the Manager’s hand, pulling out a roll of kimbap and quickly unwrapping it before stuffing it into his mouth.

“We’ve already talked about it among ourselves.”
“Gasp! Oh, I see. Well, can you explain it to me too….”
“We’re not going to deny it, and we’re not explaining right now.”
“Huh?”
“We’re just going to practice for now.”
“Huh??”

Kim Sung-hyun pulled out another roll of kimbap and tossed it to Sung Ji-won. Sung Ji-won caught it and unwrapped it with a fierce expression on his face. Kang Yi-chae gently pushed the Manager toward the door while smiling.

“Well, since that’s settled, Manager. Please tell the CEO.”
“Guys!”
“Manager, if the company tries to announce it first, please let me know separately. I’ll talk to the CEO.”

I said this while stealing Sung Ji-won’s kimbap. Perhaps remembering the previous incident with the CEO, the Manager’s face turned pale. Clearly unwilling to get caught between the CEO and me, the Manager hesitated before hurrying toward the door.

“I’ll strongly advise against it.”
“Yes. Thank you for your help.”
“Hyun-sung! Fighting! I believe in you!”
“That’s a given!”

The Manager left noisily.
I noticed Kim Sung-hyun sniffling slightly while eating kimbap. I deliberately pretended not to see it.

***

[My goodness, what brings this lucky charm to actually answer the phone?]
“Kim Jae-yeon.”

I called Kim Jae-yeon while heading toward the tvK Broadcasting Station. His snickering voice came through the receiver.

[This is huge, absolutely huge. If Today explodes now, it’s definitely finished. Timing it now would be premature, right? If you’re calling because you’re worried about that, don’t be.]
“Kim Jae-yeon, you didn’t listen to what I said.”
[…Huh?]
“Who did you tell to contact Joo Woo-sung?”
[…What? What are you talking about?]

Kim Jae-yeon dropped his act. I unconsciously glanced across the smoking room to see if Kim Hee-young was there.

“I guess my words sounded like a joke. But I was serious.”
[Ha ha, so I don’t know what you mean. I’m starting to get uncomfortable.]
“Remember when you were digging into that XX Construction heir scandal and suddenly backed off?”
[….]
“They’re still grinding their teeth about it over there. They don’t even know it was you.”
[…Wow, geez.]

Silence stretched across the line as if he were dumbfounded. Then Kim Jae-yeon let out a groan.

[How in the world did you….]
“Are you questioning me right now? Don’t you know who should be apologizing?”

I pressed hard intentionally. Kim Jae-yeon seemed intimidated, and after a long silence with no response, he finally apologized.

[…It seems things really went wrong. I won’t touch it again from now on. I’m sorry.]
“Yes. I’ve accepted your apology. In exchange, do something for me.”
[I’ve never seen an idol like this before….]

I scratched at my ear. An apology was an apology, but there were other things I needed to receive as well.
This time it wasn’t a negotiation. It was blackmail.

“Kim Sung-hyun, find me the whereabouts of a friend from XX High School named Hwang Jung-gyu. As quickly as possible.”

I could hear Kim Jae-yeon grumbling something on the other end of the phone, but I didn’t care. I said I was asking for a favor and hung up, then strode into the tvK Broadcasting Station. The lobby had a massive Shining Star poster plastered across it.

“Isn’t that Seo Ho-yoon?”
“Yeah, it is.”

The whispers seemed unusually loud. I guess I’d managed to step out of the realm of complete obscurity after all.

Ding!

[Rather than unknown, you’re now an idol who defies hierarchy!]

Yeah, thanks a lot for that.
I took the elevator and walked toward where Kim Hee-young, the PD of Shining Star, was located. I grabbed a staff member I’d seen before and asked, and Kim Hee-young came rushing over. Looking at the dark circles under her eyes and the lifeless gaze in them, it seemed she’d come straight from an all-night editing session.
She quietly closed the conference room door and entered.

“Hello.”
“Yes, Ho-yoon.”

Kim Hee-young sighed. It seemed my face alone was enough to draw a sigh from her now—the thought made me smirk slightly.
It had been the same before, and it seemed nothing was different this time either.

“Did you come because you’re having regrets?”
“Sorry?”
“You got a thrill from giving Today a taste of defeat once, but now that some time has passed, you’re scared? You didn’t seem like that type.”

I just smiled without saying anything. Both Kim Hee-young and I knew it was a joke that didn’t quite land.
Kim Hee-young shook her head and wiped her face.

“Then Kim Sung-hyun?”
“That’s right.”
“Is the matter about leaving Shining Star still under internal review? I’d appreciate it if we could get an answer sooner.”
“You’re not even checking whether it’s true or false.”
“What difference would it make if I did? People only believe what they want to believe anyway.”

It was a fair point. In this regard, Kim Hee-young and I thought exactly alike.

“He’s not leaving. That’s not why I came here. You told me to rack up a debt, remember?”
“I did.”

I tapped the table rhythmically with my fingers.
I calculated the actual broadcast timing and the stages.

“Episodes one and two have already aired. From episode three onward, the Today stage and our first competition will be shown. That’s when what Today picked me for will also appear.”
“That’s true.”
“I came to ask for editing.”
“Editing?”

Kim Hee-young let out a short laugh, then ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

“Ho-yoon, I do owe you a debt, but there’s nothing I can do on this front. If I edit that scene, hell breaks loose from the higher-ups, and all I get are complaints on the viewer boards.”
“That’s not what I’m asking you to edit.”
“Then what? You want me to edit The Dun favorably instead? Show support, add narrative, that kind of thing?”
“No.”

That wasn’t it at all.

“Edit it maliciously.”
“…Maliciously?”
“Yes. Devil’s editing.”

Kim Hee-young’s eyes wavered. Then he quickly composed himself.

“I don’t think I’m hearing you right. You want me to edit Today maliciously, right? No, I can’t do that. The agency would raise hell. I said I’d repay the debt within what I can do.”
“No, PD.”

When did I ever say Today?
I spoke calmly.

“Hyun-sung.”
“….”
“Kim Sung-hyun, could you edit that part for me?”

Kim Hee-young’s expression was worth seeing.

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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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