The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 58

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

58

“Hello.”
“Yes, hello.”

The drinking session at the Black Pork Restaurant had finally wound down, and when I stepped outside for a breath of fresh air, I ran into Min Ji-heon. I checked to see if he was smoking, but he wasn’t.
After an awkward greeting, I found myself tapping on my phone when I felt a piercing gaze. Rolling only my eyes to glance sideways, I saw Min Ji-heon staring at me intently.
As if he were observing some fascinating creature.

‘…What’s wrong with this guy?’

I didn’t really care if some rumor spread in front of the staff about how “I actually met Seo Ho-yoon and he was rude in front of his senior.” But the way he kept staring made it feel like he wouldn’t stop unless I said something, so I decided to strike first.

“Is there something you wanted to say?”
“No… It’s just fascinating.”
“What is?”
“Hmm….”
“….”
“You’re really unique and fascinating.”

Min Ji-heon simply shrugged his shoulders. Then, perhaps possessing some social skills despite his bluntness, he introduced himself first.

“I’m Min Ji-heon. We haven’t properly introduced ourselves yet.”
“Yes, I’m Seo Ho-yoon. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“So… it seems like we really are meeting for the first time. If I’d seen you before, I would’ve remembered you right away because you’re so fascinating.”
“….”

So what exactly….
I furrowed my brow slightly and looked at Min Ji-heon.
Min Ji-heon was an actor who had spent years in theater before being unexpectedly cast as a supporting male lead in a drama that became a massive hit, leading to his joining Korean Wave Star. He was someone who existed before I possessed this body, but unfortunately, I never encountered him during my time working as a PD. If I’d known him, I might have had some information, but Min Ji-heon was a mysterious actor who rarely appeared on variety shows or gave interviews.
He held fan meetings only sporadically, and there was almost no public information about him.
Fan meetings were held only very rarely, and there was almost no information revealed to the public.

“I think I understand why you’re pushing mysticism.”

If someone’s that dense, it ruins their image….
Every time I met someone new, I remembered how dialogue options would pop up like clockwork, so I always mentally prepared myself in advance.
But for some reason, things were unusually quiet.

‘Hmm…?’

This shouldn’t be happening. I frowned slightly, and Min Ji-heon turned his head, studying my face carefully.

“So… you’re an idol, right? In the same group as Jung Da-jun…. I think I remember seeing you on TV.”
“Yes. I haven’t been debuted for very long.”
“Really? You won’t last long then….”

What?

“….”

Was this territorial behavior?
I let out a hollow laugh, bewildered. I was about to run my hand roughly through my hair and ask what he meant when Kim Sung-chul, Min Ji-heon’s manager, suddenly rushed out of the store.

“Hey! Min Ji-heon, where were you!”
“I’m full.”
“Finally full? Should we stop ordering now?”
“No! I think I can still eat five more servings.”
“Min Ji-heon, you pig….”
“Whine, I’m human too, you know. My feelings get hurt.”

Min Ji-heon lowered his eyebrows and muttered dejectedly. But Kim Sung-chul, already accustomed to this, paid no attention and greeted me before quickly pulling Min Ji-heon along.

“Come on, let’s go.”
“Mm.”

Yeah, it’s better to get rid of this guy whose intentions I can’t read.

“Oh, Seo Ho-yoon, can I have your phone?”

Min Ji-heon, being dragged away by his manager, suddenly whipped his head around and spoke. Kim Sung-chul beside him looked at him with an expression that said, ‘Why is he suddenly acting like this?’

“…Yes. Here you go.”

First, I decided to comply and Min Ji-heon carefully punched in his phone number.

“This is my number. Later, when you’re back in Seoul… yes, please contact me. You seem to be in a hurry.”
“…What, what?”
“Huh?”
“Ji-heon. Did you eat something bad? What’s gotten into you? Why are you doing things you never do?”
“Come on, Sung-chul hyung. I have social skills too.”
“Did you drink too much? Should we go to the hospital?”

Manager Kim Sung-chul, bewildered, grabbed Min Ji-heon’s shoulder and shook it repeatedly. Min Ji-heon pouted and grumbled about what I was looking at him for, then handed my phone back to me.

“Anyway, please contact me later.”
“…Yes.”
“Seo Ho-yoon, I’m sorry! We’ll head out first!”

Min Ji-heon was eventually dragged away by Manager Kim Sung-chul. Watching his bewildered figure disappear, I quietly stared at the number written in my phone.

“…Something feels off about this.”

This didn’t require big data analysis. Min Ji-heon felt off. A warning signal blared loudly—I absolutely shouldn’t get entangled with him.
I added Min Ji-heon’s name to my blacklist, carefully saved his number, and then called Kim Jae-yeon.

[Hello?]
“Kim Jae-yeon, do you have time?”

It never hurt to have insurance in place.

“Just confirm one thing for me.”

***

“Oh! Seo Ho-yoon, The Dun! It’s been so long!”
“Hello, Director Jung.”

Greeting Director Jung, whom I hadn’t seen in a while since the Second Chance shoot, he flashed a warm, friendly smile and gently patted my shoulder.

“I really enjoyed watching ‘Hyperfocus Master’ this time. It was so entertaining.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“My daughter is a fan of Kim Sung-hyun, but Cha-e says she’s a fan of Seo Ho-yoon… She told me I’d be kicked out of the house if the music video doesn’t turn out pretty….”
“…I see.”

Director Jung greeted us with exaggerated warmth, his demeanor noticeably cheerful.
After exchanging a few more words, I glanced around and saw the teal waves glimmering as they reflected the sunlight.
This music video was going to be filmed primarily at the sea. Our song was already playing along the beach.

“The song is great. It’s Lim Hyun-sung again this time, right?”
“Yes, we asked her again.”
“That arrogant Lim Hyun-sung is famous for refusing to compose even when people bring stacks of money. How on earth do you manage to get her to prioritize your songs?”

Blackmail works.

“We were fortunate.”

Director Jung chuckled softly before turning his gaze toward the beach.

“Wow, the weather is perfect today. Ideal for shooting a refreshing concept, don’t you think?”
“It really is.”
“We’re going in the water later.”
“Yes… yes?”
“I want to get home too.”

I wanted to ask him to clarify, but Director Jung simply hummed and walked away. I considered pretending I’d misheard, but Jung Da-jun gently tugged at my sleeve beside me.

“The water’s still cold though….”
“Perfect for catching a cold….”
“…Do we have a hair dryer?”
“We’ll let the sun dry it, no big deal~.”

Sung Ji-won passed by and spoke with casual indifference.

“…Sometimes I think he’s the one among us who fears nothing.”
“Agreed.”
“Hyun-sung, how’s the sandwich?”
“Oh, really good.”

Jung Da-jun plopped down beside Kim Sung-hyun, who was taking a bite out of an appetizing sandwich. Then he propped his chin up with both fists.

“I still can’t believe I got that autograph yesterday. It feels like a dream.”
“Whose? Min Ji-heon’s?”

‘Min Ji-heon?’

Despite not wanting to hear it, my ears perked up reflexively. Jung Da-jun’s plump cheeks flushed crimson.
After living in the dormitory, I’d come to realize that Jung Da-jun was a drama fanatic—a true drama otaku. That’s why his admiration for actors with strong performances was particularly intense.

“You like him that much?”
“Of course! He’s such an amazing actor!”
“Is that so?”

Everyone was responding half-heartedly, clearly uninterested, but Jung Da-jun became even more animated, chattering away like a madman.

“I watch a lot of dramas and thought I knew most of the popular actors these days. But Min Ji-heon is different. When he acts, the only word I can use is ‘divine’!”
“Yeah, yeah, I see….”
“You should’ve seen him in theater! He’s mainstream now, but back then he took on experimental roles. Like a mad scientist who fell in love with a frog, for example…!!”
“…Right.”

He did roles like that?
Even as my responses grew increasingly tired, Jung Da-jun continued endlessly listing Min Ji-heon’s accomplishments. Just as I was about to cover my ears from boredom, Sung Ji-won suddenly spoke up.

“Didn’t Ho-yoon talk to that senior yesterday?”
“Yeah.”

I frowned, and suddenly Jung Da-jun leaned in close.

“What?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“…Huh? We just said hello, that’s all.”
“Hyung… could it be…!”

What is this?
Jung Da-jun suddenly sprang to his feet.

“Are you also a fan of ‘Cider Please’ that Min Ji-heon appears in, Hyung?!”
“Sit back down.”

I was a fool for paying attention, wondering if Jung Da-jun had figured something out or caught on to anything.
Jung Da-jun whined on and on about how “Min Ji-heon is undoubtedly the pinnacle of South Korean actors, and with his versatile acting that transcends genres from romance to thrillers, he’s simply a god.”
I stuffed a sandwich into Jung Da-jun’s mouth to shut him up.

‘…But there’s something off about Min Ji-heon.’

My instincts were telling me that guy was suspicious. It was better to avoid crossing paths with him as much as possible. Borrowing Jung Da-jun’s words, Min Ji-heon definitely had a different grain to him.

‘Today is different from these small-time nobodies.’

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but something felt oddly unsettling. After my call with Kim Jae-yeon yesterday, he must have investigated all night because he called me at the crack of dawn.
But when I recalled our actual conversation, there was nothing concrete to glean from it.

-There’s nothing. It’s not mystique—there’s genuinely nothing.

“Talking nonsense.”

I chugged an ion drink.
There’s no way a person without something shady exists. There’s no way someone like that could exist in this world….

“Um, did I talk nonsense?”

…Maybe there could be.

I turned my head away from Jung Da-jun, who looked so pure and innocent without a blemish.
Anyway, that wasn’t what mattered… Now I needed to start the conquest strategy.

“Kang Yi-chae, that looks amazing on you!”
“Really?”

Kang Yi-chae had his head shaved and was generously applying pomade, brushing it back with a comb. Two stylists were hovering beside him, murmuring commentary.

“We want to give Kang Yi-chae a delinquent vibe.”
“How so?”
“Since the color is fading from his dyed hair, there’s this raw, summery beauty that emerges….”
“Ha, I look raw?”

Kang Yi-chae squinted his eyes in amusement and grinned widely. The Makeup Artist called out to me.

“Seo Ho-yoon! Come over here.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You’ve always gone for that sharp, sexy concept, right? I want to give you a different vibe this time. Since it’s summer, how about that first-love-of-the-nation kind of feeling?”
“Wait a moment! But it would be such a shame to lose the half-length look!”
“Sexy or pure and innocent!”

Even as the Hair Stylist and Costume Designer engaged in a heated debate over my hair, the sun blazed relentlessly and the waves rolled in with refreshing vigor. Amid their bickering, I watched the members playing around and continued thinking.

‘Just three more to win over, and once I make it to the first team, mission complete.’

Everything was unfolding exactly as I’d orchestrated. Even if a variable like Min Ji-heon threw a wrench in things, the ending was already predetermined.

‘Escape this game, return home, go back to my life.’

It was simply what had to be done.

“What do you think—”

…There were things I still needed to verify.

“Seo Ho-yoon!”
“…Yes?”
“What’s wrong? That’s not like you—you’re completely out of it.”

Suddenly all eyes turned toward me. Caught in my distraction, I laughed awkwardly.

“Ah, my apologies.”
“…”
“…”

A brief silence settled over us. The staff members tilted their heads at each other and began whispering.

“Seo Ho-yoon, what were you doing before you became an idol? I’m genuinely curious.”
“Why did you even come to Dae Pa-sung in the first place? I mean, you must have received plenty of offers.”
“Pardon?”

Then, as if they’d suddenly unified their opinions, they bustled around me busily.

“There’s no choice but to go with pure and sexy!”
“Agreed. It’d be a shame to give up on both with that face. Instead of letting the bangs down, I’ll apply some wax for a slightly wet look.”

The Hair Stylist rattled off her words and quickly finished the styling. Glancing at the mirror, it looked decent.
I thanked her and rejoined the members, and not long after, the MV shoot began.

“Hey! That’s good, a bit more energetic!”

Director Jung continued to give strange directions, and throughout it all, I kept my composure. Even for a simple scene of walking along the beach with gentle waves lapping at my ankles, it took several retakes before I finally got the okay.

“Break time!”
“Thank you.”
“Ho-yoon’s really photogenic today, huh? The vibe is insane~.”

Vibe or whatever—I didn’t need to keep drawing my own conclusions and slouching around. There was nothing complicated about this.

‘Just talk to one person.’

I glanced around.
Okay, let me have one serious conversation. Everyone else was doing individual shots right now… and the only one standing apart was Kang Yi-chae.

“What’s he doing?”

Ding!

[…Building sandcastles?]

Yeah, he looks happy and that’s nice….

I walked over to Kang Yi-chae, who was enthusiastically building sandcastles by himself, and tapped him lightly.

“Kid.”
“Whoa, you startled me.”

Mindful of my outfit, I crouched down carefully beside him and asked with a serious expression.

“Got any worries?”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you do, spill it all. Your hyung will listen.”

Ding!

[What are you doing right now?]

Since I’d managed to get Kim Sung-hyun to open up this way, couldn’t I coax Kang Yi-chae into spilling all his worries too if I played my cards right?

Ding!

[…I think I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t something that’ll work that easily!]

You never know until you try. It was worth a shot.
Kang Yi-chae swept his gaze over me from head to toe with a look that screamed, “Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“…What?”
“Never mind. Just tell me something.”
“Hmm….”

Kang Yi-chae brushed the sand off his hands and let out a chuckle. Then he lowered his voice deliberately as he spoke.

“Hyung, actually I’ve got something on my mind. I haven’t been sleeping well because of it lately.”

Oh!

“What is it?”
“Will you listen?”
“Of course.”

I flashed what I thought was a trustworthy smile. My signature move—the “irresistible cast member disarming smile.” Behind the scenes, people cursed me out for being a terrible personality or a ruthless producer, but the moment they saw this smile, even the most guarded guests would lower their defenses and spill their guts. I’d earned a reputation as a master interviewer. Internally, I was celebrating.

Ding!

[Is it… is it really working?]

Even the system was taken aback.
But my opponent was Kang Yi-chae.

“I want to be better at aegyo.”
“….”
“I want to do it for my fans, you know? I’m wondering how I can do it as well as you do, hyung… Ack! Hyung!!”

Frustrated, I kicked at the sandcastle and destroyed it, then strode away with long steps. Behind me, I could hear Kang Yi-chae deliberately making fake crying sounds, but I ignored him. Sure enough, Kang Yi-chae soon came rushing over and lingered awkwardly beside me.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been acting strange since yesterday, haven’t you?”
“There’s nothing to know.”
“We came all the way to Jeju Island—lighten up a bit.”

Kang Yi-chae kept needling me gently. After I flicked him on the head, he quieted down a bit. As I was about to turn the corner around a building with a cafe on the first floor, I heard voices from inside.

“Honestly, The Dun isn’t really the kind of group that would blow up like this, is it?”
“Yeah, I agree.”

It was staff members gossiping.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————