The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 62

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

62

[Early Release/Legend Dark History Update Male Idol Check This Out]

“….”

I quietly closed YouTube while watching a video in the Practice Room. Then a messenger notification popped up above it.

[Seo Ho-jin: Hyung hyung hyung hyung]

What’s gotten into him.

[Seo Ho-jin: I’m in a bind]
[Me: ?]
[Seo Ho-jin: Did you see my major textbook from freshman year? I need it for an assignment]
[Me: No]
Seo Ho-jin: Ugh… Singapore… Singapore…

This bastard definitely made that up on purpose just to say it. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth, trying to contain the fury that rose to the tips of my hair.
In an instant, the variety show that aired nationwide branded me as the “legendary dark history idol boy.”
It was fine that my intellectual image flipped 180 degrees, but it wasn’t fine that my dark history racked up millions of views on YouTube.

[Is Seo Ho-yoon a cuteness machine or a robot? (Likes 113)
└Cuteness machine or is he a robot or Seo Ho-yoon?
└Robot or is he Seo Ho-yoon or a cuteness machine?]
[They say peak viewership was when Seo Ho-yoon grabbed Kang Yi-chae by the collar (Likes 2144)
Hahahahaha oh my god hahahahahaha
[Ho.Yoo.Ni.Do. Strength.Two.Ro. Huhng.Huhng (Likes 3155)
└Impeccable staccato
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
[I can see that the dog is really having a hard time. It’s even funnier that he really can’t show cuteness.. When I tell him to do it, he does it again even though he’s having a hard time haha. The image is like a dog hahaha.
└Honestly when he said “If the fans like it, isn’t that all that matters?” I screamed…. Yeah… my face is burning…. But if I live hard, that’s good enough!!]

Ding!

[Is all the embarrassment mine to bear?]

“It’s mine, not yours….”

I muttered quietly, pressing my hand to my head. Kang Yi-chae, who had casually exposed my dark history right beside me, was grinning and chuckling away like he was having the time of his life. Out of sheer irritation, I flicked him on the forehead.

“Calm down. You’ve got another fan sign event tomorrow anyway, so it’s not so bad.”
“What’s not so bad about it?”
“Think of it as practice for your aegyo~.”

Kang Yi-chae winked, acting like it was none of his business. I kicked the traitor away, and a Quest notification popped up.

[Quest Arrived!]
[Create cherished memories with fans at the fan meet!
A surprise gift from the system for the sulking Seo Ho-yoon.
Success: 2,000 points awarded.
Failure: SNS shared with reputation ‘Seriously, Fish Market Punk’]

Until not long ago, The Dun had been just a handful of fans, but we’d actually held a fan meet when our first album dropped.

A fan meet.
A chance to actually meet and talk with idols you’d only ever seen through video media.
Even though you only get to chat for a few minutes to a few dozen seconds depending on the number of members, it was such a ridiculous random draw event that you’d need to spend tens of thousands of won just to have a shot at winning a spot.

“How was it last time?”

Kang Yi-chae, who clearly owed me an apology, came rushing over eagerly.

“Are you talking about the fan sign from the Glow era? You mean fan sign cuts and stuff?”

Jung Da-jun suddenly jumped up with both hands raised.

“Me!”
“Yes, Da-jun. You only need to raise one hand.”
“The company didn’t tell us!”

That was the one thing Dae Pa-sung actually did right.
Probably because it contrasted so sharply with Jung Da-jun’s bright smile and his actual miserable personality.

“Let’s run through this once.”

Kang Yi-chae, looking excited, sat down in front of me and cupped his hands around his mouth before shouting.

“You’re so incredibly handsome, Ho-yoon!”
“Don’t use informal speech.”
“Come on, work with me here. Let’s try again.”

This didn’t feel like the kind of thing that would go away with a half-hearted answer. When I raised my eyebrow, Jung Da-jun jumped in from beside me.

“Let me try. I had tuna kimbap for lunch today!”
“Oh, really…?”
“…”
“…That was good?”

Everyone fell silent. Even Kim Sung-hyun, who’d been drinking water in the corner without much interest, looked at me as if he couldn’t believe my attitude. Kang Yi-chae cleared his throat a few times before asking brightly again.

“Ho-yoon! When are you planning your next comeback??”
“Wouldn’t it depend on how the song turns out first?”
“…What do we do about this?”

Everyone murmured anxiously. Until just now it had been a joke, but this time I’d answered with genuine sincerity and care—yet the reaction was still poor. According to the members’ explanation, what mattered wasn’t this kind of serious, overly detailed TMI, but rather appropriate enthusiasm and the right amount of playful tension.
I mean, theoretically I understand it…
Feeling awkward, I turned my gaze away when Sung Ji-won suddenly jumped to his feet.

“Wait a moment.”

He then grabbed an employee who was passing by the practice room.

“Lee Ji-hyun, sorry to bother you, but could you help snap Ho-yoon back to his senses?”
“Yes, what…??”

It was Lee Ji-hyun, an otaku who’d been caught off guard while passing by. After hearing the whole story, Lee Ji-hyun scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“So you’re asking me to describe the ideal fan sign event that I’d want…? But that’s difficult. It’s been a while since I quit being a fan, and now I mainly follow 2D characters…”
“That’s fine. Just help snap Ho-yoon back to his senses.”
“Hmm… ‘Oh, really…?’ is a bit much. I understand.”

And so Lee Ji-hyun’s fan sign event review suddenly began. Starting slowly from a fan sign from years ago, Lee Ji-hyun suddenly accelerated again five minutes later.

“…Wait, actually, now that I think about it, that’s kind of annoying?”
“Pardon??”
“I mean, why did he have to make such a big deal out of it at the Fish Market? What’s he saying at the fan sign events? That he wants to live a normal life now. If this lunatic wants to live a righteous life, shouldn’t his bank account be normal too?!”
“….”

This was an emergency.
As cold sweat dripped down watching Lee Ji-hyun rage wildly, all the members’ eyes turned toward me.

“…You saw that, right? Let’s do this well.”
“Yes….”

***

After the sudden emergency training (or rather, brainwashing as they called it) from the members began, Seo Ho-yoon entered the Fan Sign Event Hall with a fair amount of confidence. Everyone screamed when they saw him in the blue jacket matching this concept, having shed the shadow look.
But for Seo Ho-yoon, it was an emergency from the very start.

“Ho-yoon! Do you have a favorite animal? Like a rabbit?”
“…Yes?”

I blinked, confused by the sudden question, then answered. It didn’t matter what animal I preferred, but I had a feeling I needed to pick one to make them happy, so I answered while hiding my complete indifference to such things.

“I… like cats.”
“…W-wait, think again. Inside there.”
“…Rabbits?”
“That’s it!!”

…That’s it?
Watching Noel pass by with clenched fists and a happy expression, Seo Ho-yoon was utterly bewildered. And only then did it dawn on me.

‘Wait, could it be….’

And then a post like this appeared on SNS.

[Hey guys, Ho-yoon apparently prefers being called a rabbit
Bang bang
It’s official
If you disagree, photo card roulette]
[Damn, where did the cat faction go]
[Seo Ho-yoon definitely has that cold, pretty-boy vibe, but…
The fans keep calling him a rabbit, so he seems like one
If you keep shouting on Tamla that he’s your husband
Even if you’re hesitant at first, eventually you’re like… oh right, that’s my husband
└Oh… Seo Ho-yoon was a rabbit]

It was manipulation and fabrication.
I’d seen reactions like “Seo Ho-yoon rabbit genius idol” floating around, but having lived thirty-two years as barely a B-lister, I never imagined that a PD known for impeccable character and integrity like myself would be called a rabbit. Seo Ho-yoon, still in shock, greeted the next fan.

“There’s talk about you liking sweet things and also liking Sol X eyes at the same time…”
“That’s right. How did you know?”

As I opened the album and signed while chatting, the fan hesitated for a moment before speaking. It was something Kim Sung-hyun had told the fan in the previous turn.
Noel, who found Ho-yoon cute but absolutely despised that particular preference, squeezed her eyes shut, and Ho-yoon seemed to realize his mistake as he gently steered the conversation.

“I’m not picky about drinks, so I just eat whatever’s available at the time. If I had to choose, I prefer sweet things more.”
“…So you like mint chocolate too?”
“I hate that.”

[Seo Ho-yoon says he doesn’t have any particular drinks to choose from, and he enjoys all of them… . They say it’s different every time. (The truth of Sol . I don’t know your standards.
└He seems a bit picky and that’s exciting
└└This is right]
You’re always eating sweet stuff, man… ugh, it’s killing me.

The next sticky note read like this.

[Raising five-year-old Jung Da-jun vs raising five Jung Da-juns]

“Ah, this one’s a bit…”
“Hyung!!”
“Ahahaha!!”

As I answered honestly and circled the “vs,” Jung Da-jun let out a sharp cry beside me, but the fan burst into laughter as they walked away.

[Seo Ho-yoon’s Balance Game Results.
Raising five-year-old Jung Da-jun vs(○) Raising 5 Jung Da-juns
=Seo Ho-yoon coloring in the vs
Happy memories vs Happy 7.1 billion won(○)
This was seriously without a moment’s hesitation lol
Idols must be handsome(○) vs Must have a hot body(○)
=He got serious saying Idols need both]

[Seems pretty confident in his body, this guy
You don’t even need to mention your face.

Even after the Balance Game ended, the gossip kept pouring in.
As Seo Ho-yoon struggled with the hair ribbon that kept falling every time he bowed to sign, earnestly answering fans’ questions, the members beside him—especially Kang Yi-chae—were bouncing around like fish in water.

Lee Chae remembers me… My name, my major, where I live, everything we talked about back then. She said we should see each other often going forward, and Jung Da-jun was bouncing around happily next to her too. He really hasn’t changed…

[I just showed Kim Sung-hyun a marriage registration form and he was about to sign it so casually that I had to stop him;;
That aunt had a conscience, right?
└Wow, her patience was seriously insane
└She put all her strength into her brain]
Your aunt had a conscience, didn’t she?

I pressed hard on my brain.

As Sunset was eating the rice cakes pouring down, Kang Yi-chae was smiling and seeing off the fan who had just finished signing autographs.

“Sister~, be careful when you go in~! I guess I can just end it on a good note after seeing Hoyun’s cuteness!”
While Noeul was eagerly scooping up the pouring gossip, Kang Yi-chae smiled and was seeing off a fan who’d just finished getting their signature.

“Aha! Will do!”
“….”

***

“Thank you for your hard work~!”
***
“I wish we had just one more room, right?”

“Where should we put the gifts?”

“I was worried, but you said you were doing well.”
I returned to the dormitory with dark circles etched beneath my eyes and my mind half-gone, and without thinking, I began sucking down the ginseng extract that Sung Ji-won had prepared for me. Kang Yi-chae laughed as if he’d never tire of it.
“Leave me alone, Seo Ho-yoon has lost his mind now.”
“I was worried, but you did great~.”

“Leave me alone. Seo Ho-yoon’s mind is completely fried right now.”
“Thanks….”

Aside from my mental state, the fan sign event had gone without incident, but once it ended and I returned, even my fingertips felt too heavy to move. I collapsed onto the sofa like a wilted plant, my body stretched out limply.
I could see Sung Ji-won and Jung Da-jun quietly trying to slip into their rooms, clearly wanting to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. But then Kang Yi-chae suddenly blocked their path.
“Instead of answering so harshly, can’t you be at least half as kind to us as you are to the fans?”
“Hyung, I’m heading to the convenience store. What should I grab for you?”
“Bar X bar.”

“That’s quite the demand from a traitor.”
“Geez, Seo Ho-yoon really is a handful~!”

Kang Yi-chae spouted nonsense and dragged Sung Ji-won and Jung Da-jun along to buy ice cream. Since I’d already finished monitoring everything on the drive back, there was no need to check anything else.

I barely won by standing in line and spending money to buy dozens of albums. They even bought me gifts and even took care to only say good things about me.

‘Trembling like that… ‘Am I worth loving?’

As for the rest of the members, I guess it’s because they are growing so well these days… .
‘Am I really worth being loved like that?’

As for the other members, well, they’re growing so much lately and doing so well that I suppose that’s different….

The manager said he would take it to the company soon.
“….”
Everything went smoothly, like a ship with sails in a favorable wind.

The first-place promise hadn’t gotten a bad reaction either. Good song, first-place debut, decent streaming numbers, good variety show response.

Tiring!

[What is our rabbit thinking? Haha]
Ding!
Choice 1 a]

[Being called a rabbit vs being called a cat

This bastard, I’m sure he’ll get hit someday… .
“….”

One of these days, I’m definitely going to punch this bastard.
I took a deep breath and turned my gaze toward Kim Sung-hyun.

“Why aren’t the kids coming?”
“Well, I… I don’t know?”

Kim Sung-hyun’s eyes darted away as he stammered. He was just lifting himself up from where he’d been sprawled across the sofa, scratching his head as if he was about to change clothes.
I needed to get to the company soon to discuss settlement details with the CEO.

“Seo, Seo Ho-yoon!”

Kim Sung-hyun, who had been fiddling with his phone in the distance, suddenly came rushing over, threw the blanket draped across the sofa at me, and wrapped me up like a roll. It was heavy—the winter blanket I’d put out to wash.
“What…”

“You’re tired, right? Should our Kimbap take a nap?? All warm and cozy!”

“It’s very cold!!”

It’s summer, you idiot.

“Come out.”

Before swearing.
“Get off.”
Kim Seong-hyun, who didn’t know what to do even though he couldn’t see, was good. I was fidgeting and taking advantage of the slight loss of strength in my hands, I pulled the blanket off. And I glared at Seonghyun Kim.

Sensing that my voice had turned sinister, Kim Sung-hyun flinched. Normally he would have apologized and gotten down immediately (though he wouldn’t have pulled this stunt in the first place), but he was being stubborn despite his confusion.
Unable to see anything, Kim Sung-hyun grew anxious. As he fidgeted and his grip loosened slightly, I yanked the blanket away. Then I glared at Kim Sung-hyun.

“Kim Sung-hyun. You must have a reason for suddenly bringing up kimbap, right?”
“….”

I narrowed my eyes and pressed him, but Kim Sung-hyun, who had zero talent for acting, just rolled his eyes with an awkward expression.
This bastard definitely has something going on.

“What did you do wrong?”

“There’s an estimate, tell me.”
Nothing my ass. Acting like a puppy caught making a mess right now.
“…what?”

“I said there’s nothing! It’s just… what if you tried speaking the way you normally do—kindly, thoughtfully, and gently?”
“…What?”

Just as I was about to seriously ask what the hell he’d eaten, I suddenly noticed Kim Sung-hyun’s phone on the other side.

Why is that there now… .

“No, what do you mean by kimbap….”

Paang!

It was that moment. The front door opened and paper fireworks suddenly exploded.

“Wow~!! Congratulations on winning first place~! You’ve completed your Ocean Train music activities safely… ni….”
That was the moment. The entrance burst open and suddenly confetti exploded everywhere.

“Woo~!! Congratulations on first place~! You’ve successfully finished your Ocean Train music activities… wait….”
“…!!”
A chilly atmosphere, two people strangely giggling, matted hair, and a stream of water on my forehead. Anyone who saw it had the nuance that something had happened.

Kim Sung-hyun and I stood awkwardly around the sofa, frozen mid-motion. To anyone watching, we looked incredibly suspicious.

Jeong Da-jun mumbled in a daze, and his eyes gradually opened wider.

“Are you two fighting over food?!”
Jung Da-jun muttered blankly, then his eyes grew wider and wider.
“Congratulations… hmm?”

“Hey~, congratulations… huh.”

“You got into a fight over food?”

Why on earth do you come to that conclusion?

“We didn’t fight… no, anyway.”

I think I know what it is, but why do I… Is this a surprise? Why am I the one who doesn’t seem to have the most fun teasing… .
“We didn’t fight… well, anyway.”
I had a headache, so I put my hand on my forehead and asked.

No, wait—never mind all that.

If it’s recorded, you can still do some cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Just edit it somehow… . But all the members avoided their eyes.

“……uh….”
If it was just a recording, there was still hope—we could edit it somehow. But every member’s eyes darted away from mine.
“…Live broadcast?”

“B Live….”
“…Live broadcast?”

They all nodded grimly.

The manager who came in late was unable to understand the situation and came in with a happy expression on his face and setting off paper firecrackers.

“Seo~prize~!”
The Manager, arriving late and oblivious to the situation, burst through the door with an expression of pure delight, setting off a paper popper.

“Sur~prise~!”
“….”

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