The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 77

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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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77

“Hello, this is Yoo Ji-a, DJ of Visible Radio. Today’s guest is someone I’ve done a program with before.”

Near the end of this promotional cycle, I found myself appearing on a radio program.
While Yoo Ji-a and I hadn’t built a separate rapport, we were at least acquainted, so the members of The Dun seemed considerably more comfortable immersing themselves in the broadcast.

“Today’s guests are none other than the idol group rising like a comet—The Dun!”
“Hello! The Dun, the rising dawn!”

Visible Radio certainly had many advantages. Fans could catch glimpses of us in a more familiar and comfortable light than usual broadcasts allowed, generate what fans called “charm clips,” and even provide live verification.

[Ughㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’ve been waiting so long for today]
[Wow Seo Ho-yoon’s outfit is so bright today]
[The cardigan look is amazing]
[What, did you finally give up black clothes??]

‘No… I still prefer it….’

But there was no helping it.
The members were also aware of the fans’ pleas for me to wear colors other than black, so they’d insisted to the wardrobe coordinator multiple times that today was absolutely off-limits, and…
I’d ended up wearing something considerably brighter.
I couldn’t quite understand what was so appealing about it….

‘Well… if they say it’s good, then so be it….’

Yoo Ji-a smiled contentedly as she watched the chat messages flowing faster than usual. The radio program proceeded smoothly under Yoo Ji-a’s skilled guidance.

“That’s right~! And I heard you prepared a song—could we hear a verse or two?”

It was proper etiquette to prepare something to perform when appearing on radio, so I’d practiced thoroughly.

[You can’t find love here
but you can put your love in]

[Is this a dream…?]
[Am I really hearing “Put Love” coming from Sung Ji-won’s mouth…?]
[ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠI love you Jiwon ㅜ]

The song Sung Ji-won performed was from a foreign female artist. Despite the mellifluous voice and soft beat, it had gained attention for its lyrics, which carried distinctly nuanced layers of meaning.
As Sung Ji-won delivered the piece with such finesse, the chat window flooded with comments of rapturous appreciation.

“Thank you.”

Sung Ji-won had sung with complete immersion, performing as though it were effortless, but the moment the song ended, his face flushed crimson and he laughed with obvious embarrassment.
Jung Da-jun, adjusting his headset beside me, gave a thumbs up.
I finished my own carefully selected song and turned my head, only to lock eyes with Yoo Ji-a.

‘…?’

For a moment, I sensed something peculiar—but Yoo Ji-a smoothly transitioned to the next segment, moving past it naturally.
Perhaps it was the skill of an actress combined with years of experience honed through radio broadcasting; even the fans couldn’t detect anything amiss.

[Ho-yoon, your song selection is seriously incredible. How did you even think of having male idols perform this????
└A male idol performing a D*** medley… I’m going crazy
└Plus the personality is terrible, ugh
└└Ah, the nasty princess is the best]
[Ah, Dae Pa-sung is doing well these days]

After several more segments and corners proceeded smoothly, we wrapped up the radio broadcast successfully… and as if she’d been waiting for the cameras to cut, Yoo Ji-a approached me.

“Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Yes.”
“It’s heartwarming to see you getting along so well with your members.”
“It’s thanks to your consideration, senior, that we’re doing well.”
“My goodness?”

Even to such hollow pleasantries, Yoo Ji-a smiled brightly. Yet the way she gazed at me with that meaningful expression was unsettling. In the entertainment industry… and especially someone who’d spent years grinding away as a solo artist before transitioning to acting.

‘…She’s definitely dropping some kind of hint.’

“Is there something you wanted to say?”
“Ah.”

I had plenty of reasons to feel guilty, so I just laughed it off shamelessly and headed out. But Yoo Ji-a seemed different. She noticed something and smiled awkwardly.

“Hmm~, not yet, I see.”
“Sorry?”
“It’s nothing serious. Just be careful with the members.”

Yoo Ji-a left me with cryptic words and disappeared to talk with the staff. I stared after her uncomfortably when Kim Sung-hyun gestured to me.

“Let’s go.”
“…Yeah.”

Strange. As we headed toward the van, everyone trudged along, clearly exhausted.

“That’s the last schedule done. Now we can finally rest.”
“Huh? Rest?”

Sung Ji-won echoed Kang Yi-chae’s words with a puzzled tilt of his head. Even I found it a bit frightening.
Even I found this a bit scary.

“….”
“Aren’t we releasing the next album?”
“Aren’t you releasing the next album?”

Everyone trembled nervously. Kang Yi-chae nearly clung to Sung Ji-won in desperation.
Everyone was trembling with fear. Kang Yi-chae clung to Sung Ji-won almost pleadingly, startled out of his wits.

“Be grateful and work harder. That’s what I mean.”
“Why is everyone becoming like Seo Ho-yoon?”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Hey, what does that mean?”

Once all the members were in the car and before the engine started, the Manager handed me something from the passenger seat.
Before all the members got in the car and the engine was started, the Manager handed me something that had been in the passenger seat.

“Huh?”
“Yes?”

I accepted it without thinking and looked down at it.

‘…Wow, seriously?’

It was a script—something anyone who’d worked at a broadcasting station had seen before.
The title was “Please Camera,” and it was clearly a spinoff of the recently popular “Cider Please.” The Manager grinned slyly as he spoke.

“It’s a script by Kim Sook-hee, the writer who’s been killing it lately.”
“And?”
“Huh, the writer of Cider Please?!”

Jung Da-jun suddenly popped up and excitedly stretched his hand toward the script. I pushed his forehead back and glared at the Manager. Through the rearview mirror, I could see the Manager flinch in surprise.

“Ho-yoon, you know this.”

The Manager’s head turned as if I could hear him carefully gauging my reaction, trying to persuade me somehow.

“Your talent is too precious to waste.”
“What talent do I have?”
“…Your face?”

After rolling his eyes around in a full circle and pausing for a long moment, that was the answer he came up with. Even with a question mark attached.

‘That’s nonsense.’

That said, I couldn’t entirely dismiss the CEO’s reasoning.
If a work I appeared in became a hit and I gained public recognition, the group would naturally benefit as well—in the long term, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
But we were rookies. More than that, I was practically a foreign element who’d joined midway, and it hadn’t even been a year since our debut.

‘…It’s still too soon.’

No matter how finished our album activities were, wouldn’t reckless individual projects risk tearing the fanbase apart?

“There’s a character named Lee Jung-hoon here, and the CEO said this role is perfect for you, Seo Ho-yoon. He really wants you to read it at least once!!”
“I said no….”
“Hyung! Come on! Just read it, it’s by Kim Sook-hee!!”

My forehead was pushed back as Jung Da-jun leaned forward again with exaggerated excitement, gripping the seat back while gauging the mood. Kim Sung-hyun, who at least had some consideration, covered his mouth and dragged him away, giving me a meaningful look.
Take it slow, he was saying. Yeah, thanks.

“Just read through the script once. It’d be such a waste not to.”
“Hmm….”
“If you do well, you might actually pass and land the role.”
“I just need to read the script?”
“Yeah, of course!”

Reading a script wasn’t difficult to begin with. I’d deliberately dragged my feet simply because I needed to show some reluctance first.
I hummed to myself while watching my Manager nervously tap his fingers against the steering wheel.

“Then could you do me one favor?”
“Huh, what is it?”
“Set up a meeting with the Planning Team.”
“What?”

Through the rearview mirror, my Manager’s puzzled gaze met mine.

“I have a project idea I want to pitch.”
“…But your next album’s coming up soon? Where are you going to find the time??”

Of course, album promotions are the heart and soul of being an idol. But if idols only did that, it’d feel limiting.

‘It’s better not to have gaps in activity.’

Prolific idols typically make comebacks three times a year—roughly once every four months.
Including preparation, four months flies by, but the time fans actually see us perform is just one month of activity.

“Time is something you have to make.”

Regardless of whether fans were willing to wait, consistently feeding them content through our own projects was genuinely crucial.
The reason Lee Ji-hyun had hit a wall was also related to communication issues.

‘Strike while the iron’s hot.’

“Could I ask for it by tomorrow?”
“Sure… yeah, of course! I’ll bring it up on my end first.”
“Thank you.”

I could already picture the Planning Team grinding their teeth and muttering ‘Seo Ho-yoon’s creating more work again’…

‘I’ll give you money, you guys!’

All I needed to do was squeeze out a spectacular performance as a bonus so I could leave, so what did it matter? Once I got some financial therapy, my anger would fade away soon enough.
Having said my piece, I waved the script back and forth.

“Then I’ll give it a read.”

My Manager nodded eagerly, worried my mind might change. Watching him obey so well these days, I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
One more road manager would be added soon, Lee Ji-hyun was hard-carrying the Planning Team, and I’d heard they were even creating a dedicated A&R Team, wanting to keep up with the major conglomerates.

‘People really do need to have occasional outbursts to keep things moving.’

I smiled with satisfaction. I’d pushed once using Jung Da-jun’s contract issue as leverage, and every time we met I’d made a fuss—and now the company was taking proper shape, which felt incredibly gratifying.
And one more thing.
I glanced sideways at my Manager.

“Mm-hmm, I’m in a good mood today too~.”

‘…How innocent.’

How much longer could I use this?
I tilted my head slightly, studying my Manager. If he were just endlessly innocent like this, I would’ve fired him long ago….
Pondering this, I casually asked.

“Manager, you mentioned having family, right?”
“Yeah! My beloved and respected wife~ and Grace Roze~.”
“Grace Roze?”
“That’s our Shih Tzu’s name.”
“….”

He had better naming sense than Joo Woo-sung, who’d named his pretty cat “Kitty.”

“But Ho-yoon, why are you asking that??”
“Ha-ha, just curious.”

Well, anyway, it was good.
For what I’d be asking of him going forward, someone unmarried with no one to answer to was less suitable than someone with a wife and a dog daughter named Grace Roze.
I chuckled and turned my gaze toward the window.
After arriving at the Dormitory, I flopped down on the Sofa to compose myself, but Jung Da-jun kept hovering around me.

“…Hey, Ho-yoon, brother.”
“Just read it.”
“Kyaaah! What an honor!”

Jung Da-jun grabbed the script and rushed into the bedroom. Under Sung Ji-won’s enthusiastic insistence, we’d decided to handle our individual tasks first before heading to the Practice Room together, so the other members quickly scattered to their rooms.
I remained alone in the now-quiet Living Room and spoke in a whisper.

“Hey.”

[You want your stats?]

“If you understand, show me.”

At my age, did I really have to call out “stats” to thin air?

[Seo Ho-yoon
A genuinely rude idol who always does whatever he wants.
Singing: A
Dancing: B+
Entertainment: A-
Acting: B-
???: ???
Charm: B+]

‘So my Entertainment stat went up a bit…’

This activity itself had been a decent achievement. Compared to other members’ stat growth, it was actually impressive progress.
Dancing could wait for now, and that mysterious question mark still hadn’t appeared. I had no intention of raising Acting anyway.

‘Maybe I should shower first?’

“Ugh!”

I’d have to shower again after the Practice Room anyway, but feeling uncomfortable, I decided a quick shower was necessary and lifted my head—only to find Jung Da-jun staring down at me from right in front of my face.

“…Brother.”
“Wow, damn it, you scared me.”

Apparently he’d already read through it all, because Jung Da-jun clutched the script reverently and dropped to his knees before me with a dazed expression.

“Why, why are you like this? Back off.”
“No, this is Jung-hoon. It’s Lee Jung-hoon….”

What is he talking about?
Who is Lee Jung-hoon?
A warning bell chimed in my head that ignoring this would be better for my well-being, and just as I was about to dismiss it and head for a shower, Jung Da-jun grabbed hold of my pant leg and refused to let go.

“PD Jeoooong! You’re absolutely peeerrrfect!!”
“What are you saying?”
“Hyung, listen. I watched up to the middle, and I swear on the heavens, the person in this show is exactly like you. Your personality, your way of speaking—it’s just you.”
“Get lost.”
“Argh! You’re so alike! Look at this, okay? I got goosebumps on my arms??”

Jung Da-jun held up his arm to show me, but I didn’t want to see it, so I just pushed him away.

“Please, just act! This is such a waste of talent!!”

‘What is he talking about?’

I had no intention of acting anyway.
But the next words that came out startled even me.

“PD Lee Jung-hooooon! Please!!”

What?

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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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