The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 60

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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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60

[Ahhhhhhh!]
[Screeeeeech!]

After the music video dropped, time seemed to freeze before everyone on the timeline suddenly erupted into screams. The Noeul fans who had just arrived scrolled frantically in confusion, and then a link appeared.

[Hey guys, this is definitely an Apocalypse series, right? (link)]

I clicked the link and was taken to a post.

[Title: Ocean Trend Second Chance is definitely a series

Opinions are divided though
This is clearly a series, you know…

Just watch the music video
This Ocean Trend concept is literally The Dun members boarding a train heading toward the sea

(Screenshot of Seo Ho-yoon walking through the train)
(Screenshots of each member looking around)

But here’s the thing—when they’re walking through the train, did you notice the background sometimes distorts?? The train itself stays the same, but that part was weird, so I looked closer.

(Zoomed-in shot of the train’s background)

When you zoom in, the paintings hanging in the train are completely different. Each painting looks like a masterpiece, but they actually represent the cards Seo Ho-yoon was flipping in Second Chance. What really stands out is Seo Ho-yoon’s card—it was a spade before, but this time it’s revealed in much greater detail.

(Comparison of tarot cards and playing cards)

I think this is the ‘King of Swords’, which in tarot represents a tyrant who acts logically yet arbitrarily. That’s exactly like Seo Ho-yoon, who orchestrated every round of Second Chance.
Meanwhile, Sung Ji-won’s masterpiece is the King of Hearts holding a sword. The concept of regression still remains.

Alright, we’ve come this far, right? Everyone’s like, “Wait, this has nothing to do with anything. It feels like they just threw it in randomly,” haha. Like, why would guys with guns suddenly be on an ocean train, you know? Haha
(Haha, damn, I was thinking the same thing)
But what really got me about Dae Pa-sung is that they’re absolutely insane, haha hahahaha

Since ancient times, generation after generation…
The ocean…
Is a symbol of the unconscious mind…

(unconscious_drama1.jpg
unconscious_drama2.jpg
unconscious_film.png)
(Ocean Train music video—the train descending beneath the ocean)

This doesn’t represent each member’s reality, but rather each person’s unconscious mind… That’s why each background is different…
In other words, Second Chance’s background is reality, but Ocean Train is their unconscious…

…So then, what are they thinking in their unconscious? I was curious about that, so I carefully examined what was in the backgrounds
In what felt like 0.1 seconds, I spotted English text carved into the backgrounds
I compiled each person’s ideals

Seo Ho-yoon: In the end, it’s my way
Kang Yi-chae: If you can’t escape it, enjoy it
Kim Sung-hyun: I want to protect everyone
Sung Ji-won: It doesn’t matter how many times
Jung Da-jun: ???(Doesn’t appear)
(No matter how many times I watch Jung Da-jun, I can’t figure it out… It seems intentional, but what is it really?)

But right now, each person’s ideals are so different, right?? So when they all come together, the train itself shakes violently.

(Screenshot of members meeting and the train sinking)

The fact that fierce currents rush in when all the members finally meet means their individual ideals are colliding.
Sigh… That’s why even when the train sinks, they all just walk forward without a care in the world
Because each has their own conviction… Because they don’t doubt for even a moment…
(I swear, the way Sung Ji-won nonchalantly faces disaster is going to make my mind explode)

After that, the box Kim Sung-hyun pulls out is empty—there are several interpretations for that, so I won’t get into it

In conclusion, everything in this music video is each member’s subconscious, while reality still remains in the post-apocalyptic setting from Second Chance.
Since many fans were annoyed that we abandoned the previous album concept just to go for a refreshing vibe with Ocean Train, I’m clarifying things a bit.

You guys, go rewatch the music video.

After that post was shared, suddenly theories and interpretations flooded every SNS platform like a tidal wave.

[Damn Dae Pa-sung, explain yourself!]
[Dae Pa-sung, come out!
Come out and I’ll give you a bonus!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Come out and I’ll give you a bonus!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Lee Ji-hyun, who planned all of these settings, got goosebumps and trembled at the accurate interpretation.
And Lee Ji-hyun, who had orchestrated all of this narrative, trembled with chills at how accurately fans had interpreted it.
Regardless of how the fans were crying out belatedly….

.
.

“Uyu Bank! I’m Joo Woo-seong, the bank president! Early summer is approaching!”

Woosung Joo focused his gaze on the camera and showed a business smile.
Joo Woo-sung fixed his gaze on the camera with practiced intensity, flashing a business smile.
Today, YuYu Bank had brought in Joo Woo-sung from Black Call and Han Chae-ri, the vocalist of White Cherry, as special MCs.
In the audience seating visible behind the camera, inverted triangle-shaped lightsticks stood out distinctly. It was The Dun’s comeback day, after all.

“Songs as refreshing as summer are pouring out. What do you think, Mr. Charlie?”
“We’re hearing such refreshing songs, like summer itself. What do you think, Chae-ri?”

The White Cherry member showed great professionalism and continued his eloquent speech. But the meaning behind it was this.

‘Keep your eyes down when you say something nice.’
‘Keep your eyes down while saying nice things.’

Today again, the broadcasting station was a jungle itself.
The broadcasting station was a jungle today as well.

‘Hehe.’

Even though Joo Woo-sung knew that, and couldn’t do anything more since they had already broken up, he just smiled even wider as if nothing was wrong.
Even knowing this, Joo Woo-sung—who could do nothing more now that they’d already broken up—simply smiled even more brightly, as if it were nothing.

“Sometimes, when I see the shameless Mr. Woosung, I just go, ‘Wow, I’m amazed. He’s a true professional, a professional. Huh? Shameless?”
“Sometimes when I see how shameless Woo-sung is, I’m just like, wow, I’m in awe. He’s a real pro, a real pro. Huh? Shameless?”
“Isn’t that why he’s good?”

Han Chae-ri was sitting down on one of the two chairs provided for people to sit under the stage, and Joo Woo-sung also sat down on the chair. And then I turned my attention to the stage of The Dawn.
Han Chae-ri plopped down into one of the two chairs set up below the stage, her expression deeply irritated, and I brushed past her as Joo Woo-sung casually settled into his own chair. Then I turned my eyes toward The Dun’s stage.

“…They are the candidates for today’s first place, right? Seo Ho-yoon? They’ve been friendly lately, right?”
“…They’re candidates for first place today, right? Seo Ho-yoon, was it? I heard you two have been getting close lately?”
“Well… yeah.”
“The kids seem nice. Good manners too. I don’t know why they hang around with you, Woo-sung.”

Joo Woo-sung remembered his first meeting with Seo Ho-yoon and trembled. No matter how you look at it, Seo Ho-yoon was not a nice person, and he could bet all his profits and the building in Seoul that he was more delicate and kind compared to himself.

“He’s not normal.”
“He’s not ordinary.”
“Pardon?”

‘Does this mean he’s even more of an asshole?’

Han Chae-ri seemed to be in trouble, but Joo Woo-sung had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding. If Seo Ho-yoon found out, he would be shocked.

‘He’s really weird.’

I felt it at first, but there was something about Seo Ho-yoon. They were not the type of people that abound in the entertainment industry, who entered the industry with a face and a little bit of talent and filled the void with hard work.
I’d felt it from the beginning, but there was something about Seo Ho-yoon. He wasn’t like the others flooding the entertainment industry—people who entered this world on the back of a face and a tiny bit of talent, filling in the gaps with effort.

‘But if you want to go higher, you’ll probably need more skills.’

Because I don’t have enough dancing right now.
Right now his dancing is lacking.

[The sun is shining on your back
[The sun is shining on your back

“Oh~, this place is a great live music restaurant.”

Han Chae-ri rested her chin and muttered. Although it is said that performing live using AR is taken for granted these days, MR removal and live verification have become established as a checkpoint that must be passed in the idol version. Meanwhile, the voices of The Dawn members performing live soared through the sound source, so no matter who heard them, they could not help but say that they performed well.

“It would actually be beneficial for them to get rid of MR.”
“They’d actually benefit from removing the backing track.”

It’s not a bad talent. It’s in tune, and the pitch is accurate. It’s much better than those who miss half a beat just because they’re trying to show off.

‘But dancing… .’

Joo Woo-sung groaned when he remembered Seo Ho-yoon, who was bouncing around like he was dancing in that shabby agency practice room.
Joo Woo-sung let out a groan, recalling Seo Ho-yoon mechanically churning out movements like a robot in that dingy Agency Practice Room.

‘I have to be prepared to be criticized this time too. what… Even if he gets criticized, he won’t care.’

Joo Woo-sung, who accurately understood Seo Ho-yoon’s shit my way personality, crossed his arms and looked at the stage seriously.
Having accurately gauged Seo Ho-yoon’s stubborn, independent nature, Joo Woo-sung folded his arms and scrutinized the stage seriously.

[The sea train crosses the sun
[The ocean train cuts across the sun
Even as the waves crash over us

‘hmm… ?’

And as the song progressed, Joo Woo-sung’s eyes got bigger.

‘what?’

Good job.
He was good.
Seo Ho-yoon.
That mechanical guy!

Seo Ho-yoon.

Not only could she keep the beat, but she could also do the wave!

“Oh, he can dance a little.”
Hurry and get on this train]

“What? What is he?”

Come on, board this train]

“What? Who is that?”

How could this be? In such a short span of time, how could he accomplish so much…?
Joo Woo-sung’s eyes continued to follow Seo Ho-yoon, completely unaware of Han Chae-ri’s complex and subtle feelings.
“Whoa, why are you doing this? Sit down.”
So, Seo Ho-yoon… .
Joo Woo-sung bolted upright and started moving toward a spot with a better view of the stage, but Han Chae-ri calmed him down and pulled him back into his seat. She would have loved to let this trash of a person get caught on camera and scolded by the Camera Director, but she didn’t have the heart to be that cruel.

Seo Ho-yoon maintained eye contact with the camera throughout the entire performance, commanding the stage.

…appeared to dance so well.

Woosung was in serious trouble.

You are my key]

Woo-sung fell into serious contemplation.
Seo Ho-yoon was just a sincere hard worker who planned well and received a little help from the system.

***

Seo Ho-yoon was simply a diligent worker who planned well and received a modest boost from the system.
“Good job, good job.”

I was on my way back with the members after pre-recording twice. I’m exhausted, but the young guys are still wandering around.
“Wow, that was amazing.”

“hey.”
After finishing two pre-recorded takes, I was heading back with the members. I was exhausted, but the younger guys were still bouncing around energetically.
I was thinking about drinking the red ginseng Sung Ji-won had given me in the waiting room when I spotted Joo Woo-sung striding toward me from a distance.

“Hey.”
“Hello.”

“Doping?”
At this point, Joo Woo-sung appearing out of nowhere like some kind of Pokémon had become routine, so the members greeted him without tension. Only Joo Woo-sung had a serious expression on his face.
And as always, the moment we crossed paths, he spouted something ridiculous.
“…I sometimes wonder what’s in Joo Woo-sung’s head?”

“Pardon?”

“…I sometimes wonder what’s going on inside Joo Woo-sung’s head, you know?”

Even with my genuine admiration, Joo Woo-sung showed no signs of letting it go, just raising his eyebrows slightly. I couldn’t exactly tell him it was thanks to the System Window’s item shop….

‘Wait.’
“Oh, really?”
Was “doping” even the right word, or was that just crazy talk?

“Getting this good in such a short time—no matter how I think about it, something’s off, right?”
“Ah, is that so?”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”

I had gotten better at dancing.
Of course, not as good as Kim Sung-hyun or Joo Woo-sung… but at least now I could move my hips and groove without looking completely stiff.

Seong Ji-won laughed and joined in.

“Ho-yoon practiced really hard.”

Sung Ji-won chimed in with a smile.

“Right. He practiced almost 24 hours straight, you know? I thought Ho-yoon was going to die.”

Perfect. The other members noticed my awkwardness and threw in their own comments to Joo Woo-sung. Only at times like this did Joo Woo-sung’s intuition seem almost supernatural—he scratched his chin and muttered.

“…That’s not something you can achieve with just practice, though?”

A natural talent….

“Is that all you needed to see?”
“Thank you, senior!”

Kim Seong-hyun, who respects Joo Woo-sung, was startled and lowered his head with a flushed face. Joo Woo-sung also received the greeting with some trepidation.

“Thank you so much, senior!”
“What will you do if you don’t?”
Kim Sung-hyun, who admired Joo Woo-sung, startled visibly before bowing his head with an excited expression. Joo Woo-sung accepted the greeting with a somewhat awkward air.

“Sometimes I can’t believe Hyun-sung and Seo Ho-yoon are in the same group.”

“Hyun-sung, fighting!”
“Just words?”
Joo Woo-sung clenched his fist and shouted. It was obvious he was trying to be encouraging.
“I have to vote.”

“Just words?”

“You need to vote.”
“Yes. They say it’s normal.”
I tapped my phone with a smirk. The gesture was clear: show some sincerity by casting at least one vote instead of empty words. Joo Woo-sung, looking fed up, groaned in annoyance.

“I’m curious about something too. Have you ever taken an MBTI personality test?”

“Bastard….”

Joo Woo-sung grumbled about seeing me later and walked away. Watching his retreating figure, I let out a quiet laugh.
The request to vote was half-joking and an expression of greed for first place.

Sure enough, we confidently went up to the final ending stage, but we did not receive first place. Woosung Joo was handing the trophy to the first place winner along with congratulations.
Even when we put together special broadcasts like today, the Music Broadcast Studio only gave the MC position to top-tier idols—and only the hottest ones at that. And these were the Three Major Broadcasters, no less.
My request for votes was half a joke and half an expression of my desire for first place.

As expected, we took the stage confidently for the final encore but didn’t win first place. Joo Woo-sung was handing the trophy to the winner with congratulations.

I wondered if anyone might be disappointed.

“Hey….”
“Grandpa, how many times have we heard that?”
But it was needless worry. The moment we returned to the waiting room, Kang Yi-chae was goofing around and bickering with Jung Da-jun.

“Back in the day, when I’d walk two steps, someone would come up and ask what some unknown group was doing here….”

“Ahem! That’s the point.”

‘Idiots….’
“…Am I doing this?”
…His mental state seemed surprisingly intact. Soon enough, Kang Yi-chae finished cracking jokes with Jung Da-jun and sauntered over to my side, smoothly shifting the conversation.

“Chef! I’d like to order kimchi stew for dinner tonight, please.”

“Hyung! We’ve already checked out the whole menu!”

Jung Da-jun nodded vigorously up and down.

‘If only they’d focus on first place instead of kimchi stew….’
Let’s take first place on The Dawn’s first music show!
Even Sung Ji-won was laughing beside me, which made it clear they weren’t even imagining the possibility of winning first place. It was good that their morale had improved, but… I sighed and glanced at the System Window.
In case of failure: If you do not win first place by the end of Ocean Train music broadcast activities, settlement will fail♡]

Claim first place on The Dun’s first music broadcast!
Success: 5,000 points awarded

“…Okay, let’s eat kimchi stew.”

You’re not messing around with money, are you?
When our eyes met, he pointed at my cell phone and gaped.

… ‘It’s a waste. I voted’?

When our eyes met, he pointed at his phone and opened his mouth in a grin.

…’What a waste. I even voted’?

‘Man… what a sucker.’
“…yes??”

Anyway, there was no number 1 music room in my plan.

***

After all, first place on this music broadcast was never part of my plan.

***
After a long period of hard work, both the recorded and live stages were completed, leaving only the announcement of first place.
“Today The Dun is a first place contender~!”
Unlike other broadcasts, this broadcast program only allows singers who appear on the same day to be nominated… This means that there is a very good system for such a rookie.
Look. As soon as we come out, they’re pushing us right through.

An empty house sweep.

I bowed my head slightly to the ballad singer who had been nominated alongside us for first place, someone who had recently been gaining some popularity.
The MC smiled in this direction and said the given message.

“Before the announcement, can I hear your pledge first?”
There was no way we could lose the vote.

Seonghyun Kim took the microphone and looked for the camera quite familiarly. But it was still far from foolish.

“Uh… yes, yes!”
“Ah, changing parts! I’m so excited.”

It was one of the main repertoires of the encore stage that fans were delighted with.
“If, if we become a candidate… no, I mean! If we win first place, we’ll swap the Ocean Train part and do an encore stage!”

“How about changing the part with the #1 pledge?”

Of course, it wasn’t chosen carelessly….

“What do you think about swapping parts as a first-place promise?”
“Wow!! Hoyun hyung’s part is mine!”
It was naturally calculated.

“Whoa!! Ho-yoon hyung’s part is mine!”

….

Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun genuinely thought it was a good idea and agreed enthusiastically, but Sung Ji-won offered a quiet smile while Kang Yi-chae looked at me and snickered.

‘Those quick-witted guys….’

“If I win first place, I’ll sing while doing a handstand!”

The ballad singer followed with their promise. The MC laughed brightly and raised the microphone.

“Yes! We’ve checked the campaign promises from each of our first-place candidates. So, shall we see who will have the honor of claiming Lucky Music’s number one spot this week? Let’s start with the digital score!”
2,430 points

I calculated quickly. The moment a smile appears, boom! A voice was heard.

2,430 points

I calculated quickly. The moment a smile formed, there was a loud pop sound.

“Today’s number one is The Dun!!”

‘Oh~.’
Congratulations on winning first place on your first music show!
Glittering paper flowers scattered down onto the members. At the same time, a quest completion message appeared.

[Quest Complete

5,000 points have been awarded.]
Besides, I was just robbing an empty house, of course.
Thanks.

What was Shining Star’s viewership rating?

Since this wasn’t one of the Three Major Broadcasters and only singers appearing that day could be nominated, I’d anticipated a first-place finish at the music show known as the gateway for rookie debuts. So I turned toward my members with my usual expression, but it seemed they weren’t the same.

“Um…”
“Thank you, everyone. …ugh.”

‘What the hell.’

“Th-thank you. Everyone. …huh.”

‘Well, well.’

With an impassive expression, I waited for their comments while brushing the colorful paper scraps from my hair, but no one picked up the microphone. Not even Kim Sung-hyun, who was supposed to give his remarks.
Seong Ji-won’s tears are flowing like a faucet, and Jeong Da-jun is sobbing loudly.

‘… … this.’

Sung Ji-won’s tears streamed down his face like a faucet, while Jung Da-jun had already surrendered to full-blown weeping.

‘…This is rough.’
‘No, my brother goes first.’

I quickly took over the microphone and, as idols often do, started with the not-so-thankful representative.

‘Nah, you first, hyung.’

I quickly took the microphone and, as idols typically do, started with the people I wasn’t particularly grateful to.
It is true that the original order sheet is placed at the end of the sentence, and the people I really want to express my gratitude to are the people who are speaking now.

“Thank you to my family who is always by my side. And I am also grateful to our members who worked hard.”

The real truth was that the most important gratitude should come last in a sentence—the people I truly wanted to thank were the ones I was about to mention.

“To my family who’s always been by my side, thank you. And to my hardworking members, thank you as well.”

I took a deep breath after saying that.
what… No matter what.

“Thank you very much. We will show you a good performance in the future.”

Well… despite everything else.
Kang Yi-chae took over the microphone and smiled broadly and waved.

“Noel, I love you!”
First place was first place, after all.
Kang Yi-chae took the microphone next, flashing a bright smile as he waved to the crowd.

“Noeul, we love you!”

“Thank you~!”
“Brother, it hurts, wow….”
The members who had been crying finally pulled themselves together and bowed respectfully to everyone around us. I approached Jung Da-jun, who was still crying torrentially, put my arm around his shoulder, and gently pressed both his cheeks with my other hand.

“What’s wrong?”
“Hyung, it hurts, sob….”
“Get it together, you bastard.”

Some people might think that debuting so recently and already claiming first place meant life was easy for us, that we were scheming masterminds, that we rode the coattails of a survival program—but I could only smile. I didn’t want to diminish this moment with such words.

Sung Ji-won approached and ruffled Jung Da-jun’s hair repeatedly. Tears still streamed down his own face, not fully wiped away, and his eyes seemed to shimmer with a thousand emotions. Yet he flashed me a brilliant smile.
I decided not to disturb Seong Ji-won’s moment.
“Ho-yoon, we… we got first place.”

For me, it was a triumph after six months. For Sung Ji-won, it was a light he hadn’t seen in far too long.

For those who had spent years in anxious youth, betting everything on an uncertain future….
Seong Ji-won quickly wiped away the tears that flowed down his cheeks and his hands were shaking.

“okay.”

Sung Ji-won hastily wiped away the tears streaming down his cheeks, his hands trembling.

“Yeah.”

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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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