The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 89

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

89

[AHHHHHHH]
[What is this what is this AHHHHHHH]
(A meme of someone picking up food, catching fire, and then others eating it and also catching fire)]

The fan song teaser sparked quite an enthusiastic response. Every fan who saw the teaser was tearing their hair out in excitement.

[Oh my god prom oh my god high school]
[This this this is that right it’s the Shining Star Glow series from last time!!!! The cabinet!!!! The letter!!! The basketball!!! AHHHHHHHHH]
[Oh man and it’s got a 1980s concept too!!!]
This is for us aunties thank you]

While everyone was losing their minds, a making film dropped in rapid succession. The making film showed the members in a meeting at Dae Pa-sung Planning.

-We’ve decided to create a fan song.

Clap clap clap—the members’ faces flushed as they applauded. A hint of anticipation and excitement was evident.
Jung Da-jun raised his hand eagerly and asked a question.

-Are we making all of it ourselves?
-Yes. Except for props and staging, we’re handling everything from concept to composition to camera work.
-Ah, got it! Then I’ll do the guide recording with Yi-chae.
-Then I’ll… work on coordinating the movements.

Seo Ho-yoon led the meeting with practiced ease, and as the other members voluntarily divided up their parts, fans laughed while tears streamed down their faces.

[I like how harmless this is.. but wait.. I’ve been away from K-pop for a while so I’m a bit confused, but is this how it works these days? Do members have to handle composition and concept themselves?]
└Unexpected quality
└No it’s… only Dae Pa-sung is like this..]
[Revisiting Shining Star’s group project carry]
[Does Dae Pa-sung not have money? Didn’t they show some financial power last time??]

Truth be told, Dae Pa-sung had accumulated quite a bit of money. Even after the Jung Da-jun incident, thanks to Seo Ho-yoon’s sincere advice—which was really just periodic torrents of criticism delivered with genuine concern—the CEO, trembling from being blackmailed, had begun reorganizing the company structure. And Lee Ji-hyun was now freely expanding the concept she’d always wanted with a generous budget at her disposal.
However, whether money was abundant or scarce, Seo Ho-yoon and Lee Ji-hyun agreed on one crucial point.
It could be called their personal preference, but fan songs needed to possess a flavor that only fans and the artist could truly appreciate.
The idol had to demonstrate genuine affection for their fans!! That was the thing.
So Lee Ji-hyun quickly pivoted from her original concept.

[Ooh, it’s got that self-cam vibe]
[Ah… okay, okay, that works]

It was the ‘self-cam aesthetic produced directly by the members’ concept.
It paired perfectly with the beat Kang Yi-chae had just finished.
And throughout the making film, Seo Ho-yoon subtly dropped hints.

—I want to show it to Noel soon.

[So Ho-yoon was the one who suggested making a fan song first, huh]
[Kang Yi-chae seems a bit on edge today and even more of a rogue… he’s driving the girls crazy]
[Sung Ji-won, stop smiling so brilliantly
If you’re not going to marry us, don’t mess with our hearts]

The fans were overjoyed. After days of having their hair pulled out—and being pulled out quite relentlessly at that—the remaining fans were grinding their teeth so hard that this bait felt all the more welcome.
What do you mean Seo Ho-yoon doesn’t care about The Dun? And what nonsense is this about wanting to be an actor more than an idol! He’s even planning this directly for the fans!
While fans muttered curses and uploaded posts claiming ‘Seo Ho-yoon suggested making a fan song first, he cares about Noel more than anyone,’ inevitably, someone appeared with a direct attack.

[Yeah right~ Just a crazy bastard obsessed with solo activities~]

Of course, it was quickly deleted. Not only from the fan community, but also because B Live posts flooded in before the fan song even dropped.

[Aaaah the reason Kang Yi-chae made the fan song concept like this:
Got hooked binge-watching 1980s American movies
He’s genuinely a genius]
[I was eating fried popcorn while watching a movie with Dajun, but Jiwon got scolded for burning it. Ahㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Kim Sung-hyun rode the skateboard best on set even including the extra scenes… this setting-heavy guy is mine]

[Ah hahaha Seo Ho-yoon must always be teasing his younger siblings by sucking red ginseng on set hahahahahaha
Ho-yoon organized it himself
Person with the sharpest teasing impact: Kim Sung-hyun >> (way more) >>>> Jung Da-jun
Person who laughs and brushes it off: Sung Ji-won
Person who doesn’t take it and instead teases relentlessly: Kang Yi-chae
If you ask him that he’ll never let it go, saying he’s absolutely terrified that if he makes one slip of the tongue in front of Seo Ho-yoon, he’s done for—Jung Da-jun keeps grumbling about it next to him lolololol
└Kim Sung-hyun’s already trembling
Lol, Kim Sung-hyun really knows how to land a hit, it’s so satisfying lol

Moreover, the filming set kept churning out new material.
Every time some attention-grabbing moment appeared, suddenly another piece of gossip would spill out, then another story would unfold, then another photo would surface.
Noel fans were simply too busy devouring it all.

[Wow, this group’s content is so generous]
[Agreed]
[Non-stop activities and material since early this year.. Do these guys have three bodies?]

For any real spark to ignite, both sides need to engage—but with everyone so distracted, the stage for conflict never even materialized.

[The Dawn – Will You Go To Prom With Me?]

Not long after, the fan song MV dropped.
The video came out beautifully, capturing that nostalgic sensibility as if it were a 1980s film itself.
With Lim Hyun-sung finding the beat refined enough to feel deflated, combined with the tasteful self-cam aesthetic that Lee Ji-hyun had conceived, there was no way it could be anything but excellent.

Jung Da-jun, who had been smiling brightly and waving enthusiastically at someone, now hummed a tune as he walked past a hallway lined with long lockers crowded with students. He stopped in front of one, hoisted his sports bag once, and opened the locker wide.

[Damn]

A letter lay in the center.

[Oh Jung Da-jun starts by receiving a letter ahhh]
[Written by Glow]
[I’m losing it… I’ve lost it… Thank you for not forgetting Glow]

In the Shining Star version of Glow, Jung Da-jun receives the letter and the story ends with an open ending, but Will You Go To Prom With Me begins from that final scene.

Jung Da-jun’s mouth fell open, and after staring blankly for a moment, he urgently pulled out the letter and read it. His cheeks flushed slightly as he pressed his forehead against the locker and murmured.

[Oh, what do I do….]

The bustling surroundings quickly fell silent, and the prelude composed by Kang Yi-chae began to play.
A bright and clear piano prelude that bounced cheerfully yet gently set the mood.
Soon the screen darkened, and a figure riding a skateboard down a narrow path came into view. Kim Sung-hyun stopped in front of a small, cozy-looking house, opened the gate, and stepped inside. He set his skateboard down in the entrance and looked awkwardly at the mirror hanging above the shoe rack, scrunching his nose once.

[Yeah, okay.]

In that moment, instead of the fresh piano melody, a distinctly 1980s upbeat tempo began. The steady drum beat and electric guitar melody enriched the song further.

[Will, will you go to prom with me?
I keep practicing, but it’s not coming out the way I want
Ah, let me try once more
With me, you and me, maybe, ah, really!]

Kim Sung-hyun’s annoyed expression reflected in the mirror as the camera angle shifted.
With a sharp pang, pang sound, an old motorcycle zoomed past the side of a yellow school bus.
In what appeared to be a university parking lot, Kang Yi-chae with vibrant red hair stopped the motorcycle, planted one foot on the ground, and crunched on a piece of candy. Then he pulled out an old camcorder from his bag and scanned the campus.
As Seo Ho-yoon briefly appeared passing by, the screen switched and followed him—now dressed in a baggy hoodie like a real student.

[Hi, what you doing today,
I tried talking to you, but you’re prickly again today
Actually, that’s what I like about it
When I see your face, I just start to laugh]

As if Kang Yi-chae were teasing while filming and giggling, the camera shook. Seo Ho-yoon grew slightly irritated and covered the lens with his hand, and then Jung Da-jun with dark brown hair appeared.
He held the letter he’d gripped at the opening tightly in his hand, sighing in front of the flower shop.

[What— what did you say?
What are these flowers?
Rose? Lilies? Freesia? Okay, whatever
Just give me all of them]

Carrying an armful of flowers so large he could barely hold them all, dropping a few petals as he left the flower shop, the camera shifted to Sung Ji-won sitting at an outdoor café table nearby. As the thin brown hair caught the sunlight, it shimmered beautifully.
Sung Ji-won, who had been twirling a thick pen, nodded his head and smiled brightly. His gentle eyes crinkled warmly at the slightly downturned corners.

[Buy a bouquet of flowers and in a sketchbook
Carefully and earnestly write it all down
With any luck, By this prom…]

Sung Ji-won set down his sketchbook with satisfaction, having finished jotting down his ideas.
The next cut showed the members standing before doors of different colors, their expressions tense with anticipation. Like any high school romance film, the trembling nervousness just before a confession was palpable in every frame.
A single shot captured all five members in their prom suits knocking on the doors,

[Words I’ve practiced countless times
Now I want to tell you
I will open your door and give you—]

The music paused in perfect timing as the door creaked open—squeeeak—and Jung Da-jun’s astonished face was captured in close-up.
As if the sight of the other person shining so brightly had made him forget every word he’d memorized.

[…Okay, I forgot.]

From that playful scene, the screen deliberately faded to black, as if taking a deliberate pause.
Moments later, drums thundered—boom boom boom boom—and the scene shifted to the School Auditorium bathed in dark purple lighting.

[♩♬♪♫]

As each member took up drums, guitar, bass, and piano, layering notes to create a rich harmony, Seo Ho-yoon stood at the front gripping the standing microphone, his brow slightly furrowed against the brilliant lights even as he smiled. Then the music erupted in a burst of melody.

[Will you go to Prom with me?]

They’d borrowed the band imagery commonly seen in high school films.
Seo Ho-yoon, who’d been in casual clothes just moments before, now had his hair up and wore a crisp double-breasted suit as he snapped his fingers. Behind him, Jung Da-jun (who was merely pretending to play) lifted the drumsticks high in his hands.

[Say Yes!]

Beside him, Sung Ji-won (who was actually playing) pressed the keys with his long, pale fingers and leaned toward the microphone mounted on the piano.

[Will you go to Prom with me?]

And Kim Sung-hyun, holding the electric guitar beside him, also leaned his upper body slightly toward the standing microphone with a smile as he spoke.

[Say Yes!]

Watching him, Seo Ho-yoon chuckled softly and tilted the microphone forward.

[Ah— Babe Please answer me
I’ve been waiting so long]

Next, a full-group shot was captured.
An American band concept? The Noeul fans could only weep, wondering if the official was really spoon-feeding them this kind of content.
True fans always found their tear ducts activating at the mere sight of their idols smiling brightly, but seeing them grin so radiantly on stage like a cherished memory from the past was enough to drive them mad.

[Will you go to Prom with me
(Say Yes!) Dance with me—]

As the chorus ended, Kang Yi-chae’s rap section began.
The camera suddenly rewound, then focused on Kang Yi-chae sitting outside the Prom Party Venue, nervously gnawing on the edge of a red plastic cup.

[Ah, I know I shouldn’t be like this]

He flicked the cup toward the trash bin like taking a shot, then stood up. Beneath his playful demeanor lay a subtle blend of excitement and anxiety.

[In front of you, I want to act irrationally
I wanna grab your arm and dance, my love
I wanna put my hand on your waist, my everything]

Kang Yi-chae’s rap delivery, slightly syncopated against the beat, was noticeably sharper than before.

[I want to cling to you desperately and pour out such words
I have to hold back—What can I do?
I don’t wanna get ditched, Babe]

Kang Yi-chae swept his hair back and released a soft sigh—an expression rarely seen before, brimming with an almost boyish charm that had fans fidgeting throughout.

[I want to look good in front of you]

Then the chorus resumed, and beneath the dim lighting of the School Auditorium, the members danced freely as if truly enjoying the party.

[Will you go to Prom with me? (Say Yes!)
Will you go to Prom with me? (Say Yes!)]

Jung Da-jun playfully grabbed Kim Sung-hyun and bounced, while Seo Ho-yoon swayed beside him, sipping a drink; Sung Ji-won laughed and filmed the scene with an old-fashioned camera; and Kang Yi-chae sat perched on the auditorium stage, swinging his long legs.

[Ah, Babe, please answer me
I’ve been waiting so long]

A playful trumpet sound rang out over the upbeat melody, and the camera zoomed in on Seo Ho-yoon, who leaned against the auditorium wall with his head tilted back and gaze lowered. Meeting the camera’s lens, he offered a resigned, languid smile as he sang the final verse.

[Yes Babe, I’m asking you]

The drum’s rhythm gradually slowed. Beneath the violet lighting, everyone’s silhouettes came into view as laughter rippled through the air, and the final group verse rang out.

[Will you go to prom with me!]

As everyone rushed out of the School Auditorium, the sound of a motorcycle engine roaring to life echoed through the space.

Vroom—.

The motorcycle’s engine exhaust reverberated as it sped toward some distant destination, and like a film’s credits rolling, the video came to an end.

Hastily produced as a fan-made song with a shoestring budget, it carried that homemade charm—yet somehow that very quality emphasized the fresh, youthful innocence of classic high school romance.

[….]

The Noel fans fell silent for a moment after watching it all.

[I…]
[I… I’m just going to support Noel forever]
[If you leave Noel, you’re done for, got it]

When overwhelmed by emotion, devoted fans lose all eloquence. The Noel supporters, who could only sputter praise, had to watch the music video a second time before they could finally articulate their genuine impressions.

[Kang Yi-chae motorcycle oh my god motorcycle oh my god motorcycle oh my god
└shove that delinquent on a bike into my mouth
└yes!]
[Sung Ji-won oh piano oh piano oh
└shove that elegant piano beauty into my mouth
└damn yes!]
[Kim Sung-hyun skateboard… oh… this guy really knows no fear… I’m literally watching his skateboard tricks three hundred times]

Within minutes of the video going live, SNS flooded with reactions from ecstatic fans.

[I thought if a fan song came out, it would be more of a K-pop ballad style, but “Your My Everything”… and then they go with a 1980s American high school band concept? What are they doing?]
[No… Guys… How can I release a fan song in unison ㅠㅠㅠAhㅠㅠ Besides, it’s perfect… And what is Kang Ichae’s rap? Are you kidding?
He wants to dance while holding my arm
He wants to put his hand on my waist
Ah
Ah, I’m going crazy
└I could even give up my spine for this
I can’t provide a reliable translation for this text. It appears to contain informal/slang Korean characters and symbols that don’t form standard words, making it unclear what the intended meaning is.

First came the praise for the fan song concept. Soon after, the comments shifted to gushing over the members.

[Jung Da-jun is so cute when he opens the door and is speechless ㅠㅠㅠ Ah ㅠㅠㅠ He really looks like a gangster, what should I do ㅠㅠ Also, say yes! [It’s crazy to lift the drumsticks while playing]
[Our bunny killed it
Our bunny’s suit is insane
Ah
I’m so frustrated
Why are you so mad? lol
[Seo Ho-yoon’s smirk is seriously driving me crazy. The one who seems least likely to do it calls me “Babe”—I want to sue him]
[Hyun-sung, how are you doing? I went to your house to dance with you.. but you panicked and called the police on me..
└Ah, is that prison warm?
└└The food is pretty good though]

Screenshots from the fan song’s MV were already flooding SNS.
In particular, short clips of Kang Yi-chae’s rap were gaining traction on TikTok within just a few days, and the comments were filled with people who didn’t know it was a fan song asking what the song was.

[Title: A Fan Song Produced Entirely by a Small Entertainment Company Idol

That’s none other than The Dun (ta-da-!)
Will You Go to Prom With Me..
(Basically something like “let’s go to a party together”)
It’s an 80s American high school prom concept, and the members handled everything from songwriting and lyrics to filming themselves lol

It’s a bit low-budget, but they used that limitation really well
Self-cam shots are scattered throughout, and honestly, without them, they couldn’t have captured this aesthetic

It definitely has that 1980s vibe, but the beat is incredibly polished.. I checked who composed it and it was The Dun’s rap member

I’m still in the sampling phase, but I’m getting into The Dun

└Rap member Kang Yi-chae. Thanks for the attention.
└His name is Kang Yi-chae. Thanks.
└These guys… they’d survive on a deserted island without breaking a sweat..
└└Like, if they got stranded, Seo Ho-yoon would calmly find shelter right away while Kang Yi-chae would be fishing beside him
└└And Jung Da-jun would write SOS in stones, but the next day the waves would wash it all away and he’d just collapse in despair
Haha I’m going crazy just imagining it

The Community response was good, the fan response was good. The appeal that “the members made this directly for Noel” landed quite well.

‘Good.’

I’d worked hard, and we’d had fun filming it in our own way. I buried myself in the van seat, checked several websites, then let out a relieved sigh and put my phone down.

“….”

Even now, getting in a car still made me slightly nauseous, but I deliberately listened to music or did monitoring, trying to distract myself and pass the time.
Making the fan song—honestly, I did well. With barely a moment to breathe from how busy things were, the hyperventilation symptoms hadn’t returned since then.
And today was… an important day.

“Ho-yoon, fighting!!”

When I went upstairs, there would definitely be the Screenwriter and Director I’d seen before, as well as the actors.

“Don’t, don’t get nervous! You got praised at the audition! You can do a script reading like this easily! Don’t chicken out!”
“Do I look nervous?”
“…Uh, no.”

I stared at my Manager, who was even more anxious and fumbling, and he ended up adding one more unnecessary comment.

“…M, Min Ji-heon will be there, so he’ll take good care of you.”
“Iya….”

I covered my mouth and laughed.

“I’m so excited.”

Then I got out of the van and scanned the building.
Today, more than any other day, my fighting spirit was at its peak.

‘I’ll figure it out no matter what.’

What that lunatic Min Ji-heon did to me.

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