The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 83

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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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83

“Improvisation?”
“Yes.”

The Director’s eyes widened as he studied Seo Ho-yoon intently.

“You’ve read the script, so you’ll understand—PD Lee Jung-hoon is brilliant, but he’s got no manners whatsoever. He speaks bluntly, loves mocking others, and he’s the kind of guy with absolutely rotten character. And that’s not even all of it. Sometimes he doesn’t hesitate to use threats, regardless of the means.”
“….”
“In short, you could call him human garbage.”
“…Is it really that bad?”

Seo Ho-yoon murmured with a hint of reluctance. Yet no one contradicted the Director’s assessment. The Screenwriter even chimed in enthusiastically, “That’s right, complete garbage!” while giving an approving thumbs up.

“So, I want to see how close you can get to PD Lee Jung-hoon.”
“Understood.”
“Like I said before. PD Lee Jung-hoon is steeped in alcohol and cigarettes. Plus, his voice is rough and gravelly. He’s basically the kind of guy who does everything other people tell him not to do.”
“…Yes.”

Honestly, the drinking and smoking were just character flavor, so even if PD Lee Jung-hoon had those traits, I didn’t need to actually portray them to land the role.
But the Director simply wanted to see how far I’d go.

‘Let’s see what happens.’

I was curious to see how far this fearless idol—tall, sharp-looking, and bold—could actually take it.

‘He’s been intimidated by my presence!’

In reality, Seo Ho-yoon was already in a foul mood from the Director’s elaborate posturing, but the Director misinterpreted this as being cowed by his aura and spoke with satisfaction.

“To be honest, this might be a somewhat rough role for an idol to take on.”
“Yes, I’m fine with it.”

I wasn’t entirely without hesitation—wondering if I was trying too hard—but my answer came from two competing impulses: half hoping this eagerness might actually help me pass, and half wanting to stamp myself as a dedicated newcomer in the Screenwriter’s mind so I could extract what I really wanted.
Unaware of my true motivations, the Director felt a swell of genuine emotion.

‘Even if it damages the Idol’s image, they want to attempt this acting role… Impressive.’

The misunderstanding solidified further. A desire welled up to cast Seo Ho-yoon—this fearless, desperate Idol—in the role of PD Lee Jung-hoon. But the director quickly shook his head and spoke.

“…If you don’t mind, could you show me what it would look like acting as PD Lee Jung-hoon?”
“Pardon?”
“Profanity. Alcohol. Cigarettes. Everything PD Lee Jung-hoon enjoys.”
“Director!”

The Assistant Director beside him stared with wavering eyes, but it was futile against Director Yu’s resolve to cause a scene.

‘Hmph, he won’t be able to do it, will he?’

Yet Seo Ho-yoon merely tilted his head slightly.

“…Should I start with the profanity?”
“…Yes?”

While the production crew stood bewildered, Seo Ho-yoon seemed to contemplate for a moment, then dragged over the chair positioned in the center. He straightened his shoulders and sat up properly before asking.

“Who should I direct it at?”
“…Director Kook. According to the character setup, they don’t get along.”
“…I see.”

Seo Ho-yoon let out a soft laugh. He gently touched the corner of his mouth and looked up at the director for a moment.

“Directed at Director Kook.”
“Yes, just say whatever comes to mind naturally, however you’re comfortable.”
“Understood. But I’d appreciate it if everything I say here remains confidential. …I’m still an Idol, after all.”

What could be so impressive? The director was about to narrow his eyes when Seo Ho-yoon slouched from his proper posture, crossed his legs, and sat with arrogant ease while gazing upward at the ceiling.

“Hmm… Director Kook….”
“….”

Seo Ho-yoon twisted the corners of his mouth as if recalling something.

“Our Director Kook….”

And I opened my mouth.

“…(beep—) like (beep—) brain to (beep—) obsessed with ratings I know but shouldn’t show it (beep——) how dare you compare such a program to mine, comparing… (beep—) asked for more personnel (beep——) still not enough saying (beep—) work from other places (beeeeep) piling it on this side while (beep—) eating everything from the back (beep—) to eat and then shutting your mouth completely (beeeeep) pretending, (beep—) the mood of people watching (beeeeep——)….”
“….”
“….”
“…would that be enough?”

What on earth had I just heard?

“…y-yes, it was quite good actually.”
“Yes, I understand.”

The director was deeply flustered, but he pretended to be unfazed, picking up a bottle of water with trembling hands and drinking from it. Some water spilled because his hands were shaking, but he wiped his chin as if nothing had happened.

‘…well, I suppose it’s possible.’

Even without PD Lee Jung-hoon, one could curse quite well. It wasn’t thuggish—it actually sounded like genuine cursing that carried the desperation of some PD somewhere in Yeouido…. Anyway, it’s possible, yes.
Seo Ho-yoon quietly observed the trembling director, then wiped his chin.

“…if it’s not enough, how about we try a version where Director Kook is an abusive celebrity instead?”
“N-no, stop! That’s plenty!”
“Yes.”

Seo Ho-yoon cleanly closed his mouth. And after that, the director quickly decided to move on to the next difficult character.

“Lee Jung-hoon is also famous for his drinking skills! Not only is he a heavy drinker, but he’s someone who’s encountered all sorts of difficult people and knows how to handle alcohol!”
“…why does that suddenly have so many added details?”

Even Kim Sook-hee, the screenwriter who had been watching with interest, gently tried to stop him from the side, but Director Yu remained steadfast. The assistant director glanced at the director with a fed-up expression.
There was no way they’d suddenly ask him to drink during an audition to prove it—how was he planning to demonstrate this?
But the director was truly an unrelenting eccentric.

“Come on! Seo Ho-yoon! Show us your drinking skills!!”
“Y-you’re a difficult customer!!”

What was he saying to an idol right now!
The assistant director was shocked and tried to stop the director.
But Seo Ho-yoon was Seo Ho-yoon.
Hearing those words, he calmly stood up and picked up the carbonated plastic bottle in front of him.

“I’ll borrow it. Do you have paper cups?”
“…Yes? Um… yes.”
“This should work, though… the height is a bit short, but it’ll do. Hold the paper cup.”

Seo Ho-yoon casually opened the carbonated bottle, then executed a brilliant wrist snap, pouring the beverage into the paper cup from a considerable distance away.

“…!!”

‘What the—??’

Pure astonishment. Director Yu stared at the paper cup in his hand, eyes wide. Seo Ho-yoon tilted his head slightly and murmured.

“Hmm, the height is still too short. If it were a soju bottle, I could do it more cleanly.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I’ll do it again. Here’s your cup.”

And even the Assistant Director and Screenwriter found themselves bewildered, successfully receiving the beverage in their paper cups through that dazzling pouring technique—or rather, carbonated beverage technique.

‘What on earth is this??’

An idol who knows pouring techniques??
Everyone drank from their cups with expressions of ghostly enchantment, but Seo Ho-yoon simply closed the cap calmly. He didn’t even drink any.

‘…A detail? Could this be a detail representing PD Lee Jung-hoon’s character—someone who learned pouring techniques because he didn’t want to get drunk?’

He simply didn’t feel like drinking, but the director, now utterly captivated by Seo Ho-yoon, was misinterpreting things on his own.
However, given the effort spent staying up all night yesterday, the director couldn’t easily accept this.

‘That’s it!’

Since I’ve already prepared this material, I might as well use it—waste not! The director squeezed his eyes shut.

“S-Smoking! PD Lee Jung-hoon is a complete chain-smoker, going through a whole pack a day…!! His lungs are as black as his personality!!”
“Director!!”
“…That hurts a bit.”

Seo Ho-yoon murmured softly, but everyone was too excited to hear him. The Assistant Director, exasperated, jabbed the director’s ribs repeatedly.

“Smoke here?? Are you insane? We’re indoors!”
“No, just pretend! Just act it out!”
“Sigh… Well, fine. Seo Ho-yoon, you’ve shown us everything else so far… you can manage a little pretend smoking, right? Here, borrow my cigarette.”
“….”

Despite it being the easiest request yet, Seo Ho-yoon stared at the lollipop the Assistant Director held out with an oddly hesitant gaze.
And he fell silent, looking somewhat troubled.

‘…Huh?’

It was strange for Seo Ho-yoon, who had never once refused until now. He deliberately averted his eyes from the cigarette the Staff Member offered and asked.

“…Um, could I… instead of a real cigarette, use candy as a substitute?”
“Pardon?”
“I have candy.”
“…Well, sure.”

Wouldn’t a real cigarette produce smoke more easily? Did he dislike cigarettes perhaps?
Either way, it didn’t matter. It was his choice.
Just as the Assistant Director was about to put the cigarette pack away, Seo Ho-yoon approached and asked.

“Could I just borrow the lighter?”
“Sure. Here you go.”

Seo Ho-yoon bowed his head slightly, rummaged through his pocket, and pulled out a genuine lollipop. Then he exhaled a long sigh and spoke.

“I’ll begin.”

Gulp.

Everyone swallowed hard.
Why were they so tense watching someone else smoke? And this person was a 23-year-old idol, not even with a real cigarette, holding a lollipop in one hand and a lighter in the other!
Yet all eyes were drawn to Seo Ho-yoon as if enchanted.

“Hmm….”

Regardless, Seo Ho-yoon showed no sign of nervousness as he gripped the lighter the Assistant Director had given him in one hand, flicking it—click, click—before growing irritated.

“Damn thing won’t work….”

He shielded the lighter from the wind with his hand and pretended to ignite it again. Only then, once the flame caught, did Seo Ho-yoon draw deeply on the lollipop stick, his cheeks hollowing with the effort, before collapsing into the chair and tilting his head back.

“….”

For a moment, he stared blankly at the ceiling, exhaling in long, deliberate breaths as if releasing cigarette smoke.

‘…cigarette smoke?’

In that instant, the Director, Assistant Director, and Screenwriter all witnessed what appeared to be cigarette smoke emanating from the lollipop in Seo Ho-yoon’s mouth.
It was as if they’d fallen under the same spell as audiences who swear they see a divine aura surrounding handsome actors in certain domestic occult films.
Mesmerized, they watched as Seo Ho-yoon casually brushed away ash—ash that couldn’t possibly exist on a lollipop—and muttered under his breath.

“Life really is….”
“….”
“Consistently a mess….”

‘…he’s insane.’

It was simply PD Lee Jung-hoon.
There was nothing more to see.
This was… simply PD Lee Jung-hoon.

In the minds of every judge watching him, the image of Seo Ho-yoon as an ‘Idol’ was completely erased, leaving only PD Lee Jung-hoon with his impeccable character intact.
And there was only one thought left: he absolutely had to pass the first round.

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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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