The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 98

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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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98

I’d just run into Han Chae-ri, and I’d almost mentioned that my ex-girlfriend was worried about me. But then I noticed that the self-proclaimed “female beauty” Joo Woo-sung looked not just fine—he looked positively radiant. So I dropped it.
When I turned my phone off again, the System Window spoke up.

[Why the long face?]

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Just as I was about to cut off my trailing thoughts and move on, the System Window, which had been silent for a moment, suddenly surfaced again.

[So how does it feel?]

“Huh?”

[The treatment is clearly different from when it was the PD.]

I stared at the shimmering text rippling across that blue System Window… and let out a soft laugh.

‘It’s really testing me.’

Lately, it feels like I’m playing push-and-pull with the System Window.
It’s clear that Min Ji-heon has become a trigger, revealing something. But I still couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the System Window was observing, what it was revealing, and why it was reacting so sensitively.
Right now, it wanted to paint the ‘PD’ era in a negative light, and it seemed particularly keen on emphasizing the inexplicable kindness I was receiving.

‘Then maybe I should dangle some bait of my own.’

Watching its reaction, I chose my words carefully.

“…In the old days, I would’ve just gotten cursed out on the Internet and that would’ve been the end of it.”

I held back from saying things like ‘I’m always grateful’ or ‘I want to stay here because it’s such a fresh experience’—too obvious.

“It’s kind of new, isn’t it?”

[Hey there.]

The System Window suddenly popped up before me.

[Don’t even think about it]

“Ugh….”

I maintained the smile on my lips while gazing at the rippling blue window. The System Window typed out its characters irritably, as if hammering them in.

[I can see exactly what you’re thinking, and no matter what you say or what bait you dangle, I’m not answering from this moment on.]

“But you just tried to read me a second ago. That’s pretty hypocritical.”

[…I’m different!]

“How so?”

I scoffed. And moments later, the System Window’s words and mine overlapped simultaneously.

[I’m different—]

“You were about to say you’re different, weren’t you? Like some cheesy production line?”

[Aaaaargh]
[So annoying]
[Forget it]

And just like that, the System Window vanished. Truly a creature with sharp reflexes.
Watching it disappear, I became certain of one thing. The System Window hadn’t been lying just now.
I tossed the empty can into the trash and walked toward the Drama Set, organizing my thoughts.

‘There’s a high probability that what it said about looking out for me was genuine.’

It’s mischievous and the penalties are steep, but ultimately the Quests progress in my favor, and it’s sensitive to how others perceive it. Sure, I’ve had a tendency to ignore it sometimes because I dislike the coercive nature of things, but regardless.
So what’s left then….
As I stepped into the set, Min Ji-heon, who had been checking the script, suddenly lifted his head and called out to me.

“Ah, Seo Ho-yoon.”
“Yes, Min Ji-heon.”

‘So it’s important to discern what’s false rather than what’s true.’

I don’t need to look far. I just need to corner this bastard standing right in front of me. He knows my situation better than anyone else right now.

“This is our first shoot together. I’ve been looking forward to it. Please take good care of me.”
“Not really.”
“Ha, still prickly today?”

Min Ji-heon closed his script and laughed. I maintained a safe distance while observing his wrist.
Good. He’s not wearing a bracelet.
Min Ji-heon followed my gaze and let out a scoff.

“Hyung, are you scared?”
“….”

‘I really just want to punch him once.’

But thoughts are one thing, actions are another.
Still, after clashing with him quite a bit on the Filming Set, I could easily maintain a poker face against this level of provocation. I was about to ignore him and move on since we had a scene to shoot soon, but I paused for a moment.
There’s no one around.

“…Hey.”

Waiting for him to answer without doing anything didn’t sit right with me.
I turned around and approached Min Ji-heon, who was reading through his script again.

“What are you scheming?”

In cases like this, a direct approach was the answer.

“Huh?”
“Are you helping me or trying to obstruct me? If you’d just tell me straight, why are you going around in circles like this? Why are you so interested in me in the first place?”
“…Ah~. Ha ha. So we’re starting our heart-to-heart talk now. Alright, let’s do it.”

Min Ji-heon laughed awkwardly, then turned his gaze toward the Filming Location where Staff Members bustled about in the distance, resting his chin on one hand as he began speaking without preamble.

“Do you think people can change, Hyung?”
“…What?”
“I don’t think so.”

‘Whatever.’

Min Ji-heon flipped through the script with a rustling sound, then snapped it shut with a decisive thud.

“I believe people are fundamentally selfish. And I also believe people can’t be fixed or rewritten.”
“It’s my fault for asking you. I’m leaving.”

Talking to him always felt like wandering through fog. I clicked my tongue and stood to leave, but Min Ji-heon turned his head. His eyes weren’t focused on me. Once again, his gaze pierced through me toward something beyond.

‘…Behind?’

The thought sent goosebumps crawling across my arms.

“But looking at you, Hyung… someone bet everything on the idea that ‘people can change.’ That’s why I was curious at first. Whether it was worth that much.”
“….”
“Of course, now not just me but many people like you. But I’m still curious.”

Min Ji-heon lowered his eyelids, then opened them again. His gaze was far too composed compared to the words spilling from his lips.

“Are you worth that much, Hyung….”

I stared into his eyes for a moment, then ran my hand through my hair.
I felt his gaze persistently follow that gesture as I spoke slowly.

“Whatever.”
“….”

Ah…..
Good.
Thinking it to myself felt suffocating, but saying it aloud felt liberating. Watching Min Ji-heon stand there speechless and dazed, I smiled gently at him.

“Let’s get back to filming, Senior Min Ji-heon.”

It was my signal to shut up and get back to work.
Min Ji-heon pressed his palm to his forehead with an exasperated laugh, lowered his head, then soon chuckled softly.

“Hyung asked me, and when I answered him, he does this. He really treats me too harshly….”
“….”
“And even elementary school kids don’t use words like that these days. Only we do, only us….”

Muttering something about it being ridiculous, I moved forward.

***

“Wow, this is my first shoot with Min Ji-heon.”

Min Seung-tae, the character assigned to Min Ji-heon, is a third-generation chaebol heir in the drama who loves Yoo Jung-hwa with deep devotion.
However, because his father falsely accused Yoo Jung-hwa’s father and caused his unjust death, he despises his own father and seeks to uncover the truth behind all the incidents, yet he cannot act easily for fear of being rejected by Yoo Jung-hwa, portraying a character tormented by anguish.
Meanwhile, Yoo Ji-a’s character, Yoo Jung-hwa, unaware of these facts, follows her righteous father and aspires to become a PD who produces “fair broadcasting,” joining the Broadcasting Station, but ends up assigned to the Entertainment Department by chance.

“This scene is quite light, where they probe each other, but I’d appreciate it if you’d act with care.”
“Yes.”

The scene where I first synchronized with Min Ji-heon was not the protagonist’s first meeting with PD Lee Jung-hoon.
Around episode three, it was a scene where PD Lee Jung-hoon notices the past entangled between the protagonists and tests Min Ji-heon.
The Director pointed to the script as he spoke.

“This is where Lee Jung-hoon’s character traits really stand out. He catches wind of the clue to the incident and subtly ridicules Min Ji-heon, but he’s not righteous enough to expose it himself.”

After all, that’s me.
Min Ji-heon acknowledged that too.

“Right. Well, that’s the kind of person he is.”

I admitted my own worn edges too.

“He’s someone who’s been hit head-on by the harsh realities of society. Sometimes he’s so utterly lacking in manners that you want to grab him by the collar and shake him!”
“….”

But this bothers me a bit?
After reviewing the script once more, I stepped into the area where the camera was set up. Min Ji-heon, already standing there receiving final touch-ups from the Makeup Artist, held a script in his hand that was just as worn at the edges as mine.

‘Acting with Min Ji-heon.’

I felt slightly nervous.

‘I’m bound to fall behind.’

Yoo Ji-a was the same way, but Min Ji-heon was particularly the type who drained the energy from his scene partners while acting. He didn’t just overwhelm them—he had the power to shift the atmosphere in his favor.

“I look forward to working with you.”

After taking a deep breath and bowing, Min Ji-heon turned his gaze toward me.

“I’m excited… shooting together like this.”
“…Min Ji-heon, I’m also very much excited.”
“Aha.”

With the camera rolling, I couldn’t exactly be sarcastic, so I played along. Min Ji-heon smiled and did a final script check. We synchronized our movements and waited for the slate when Min Ji-heon suddenly leaned in close.

“Seo Ho-yoon.”

At least he used my proper name in front of the camera. It might just be my imagination—though watching everyone else call me Min Da-jeong, it seemed like 100% the case—but Min Ji-heon’s provocations weren’t new (I’d started calling them “Min-gro”), so I simply watched him. Then Min Ji-heon’s lips curved slightly upward.

“Want to try something fun?”
“What?”
“I’m curious about you, Seo Ho-yoon. What were you originally like? What kind of person are you?”

“Ready—, action!”

Before I could ask what he meant, the slate clapped with the action call.

‘…What now?’

No, focus first. I stood outside the camera’s frame and watched Min Ji-heon.
On the rooftop, Min Seung-tae finished his call with his father and cursed in frustration.
I’d arrived on the rooftop earlier and stood at the edge, fidgeting with a cigarette pack. I glanced sideways at Min Seung-tae.
The camera zoomed in on me. Min Seung-tae, noticing me belatedly, startled before his expression shifted to a smile as he greeted me.

“Hello.”
“Yeah.”

I deliberately drew out the end of my response and rested my chin in my hand. My gaze swept over him openly, top to bottom. Min Seung-tae, who’d heard about Lee Jung-hoon through Yoo Jung-hwa beforehand, frowned slightly before quickly returning to his habitual, practiced smile.

“You’re here again. I think you were here last time too. You must come up to the rooftop often.”
“Yeah, well.”

I gave a half-hearted response, but Min Seung-tae’s gaze remained relentlessly fixed on me—searching eyes that probed whether I’d taken the call. I stared directly at him and asked.

“Seonghoo Corporation’s son?”
“….”
“Wow, one of the major conglomerates. Which one are you? The second son?”

At my words, the smile plastered on Min Seung-tae’s face crumbled in an instant. His mask collapsed entirely.
I tapped the cigarette pack against the rooftop railing and added in a flat voice, though I couldn’t quite suppress the sarcasm underneath.

“Your childhood friend still doesn’t seem to know, though….”
“….”
“If there’s any scraps you’re planning to throw her way, give me a heads up. What’s so great about seniority and junior relationships anyway, huh?”

I let out a snort of laughter and tucked the cigarette pack into my jacket, moving to pass by Min Seung-tae. My part in this scene ended there—after this came only the close-up of his flustered face.
But the moment I tried to slip past him, Min Seung-tae’s eyes gleamed with something ominous.

‘What the—?’

Min Seung-tae’s arm blocked my path. His gaze wavered with anxiety about his beloved childhood friend discovering his secret… but simultaneously held a cold smile intent on eliminating uncertain variables.

“Are you going to tell?”
“…What?”
“Jung Hoon. Our PD.”

Min Seung-tae didn’t just block my path with his arm—he stepped forward and let out a low chuckle. His shadow fell across my face.
His eyes looked menacing.

“I’m asking if you’re going to tell her.”

This crazy bastard…

“Want to have some fun with me?”

I improvised.

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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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