The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol-Chapter 291

After the world was left with only me and Seo Hojin, the days that followed were a mix of a truly desperate narrative and piercing emotions—if they had been broadcast as a program, it would have instantly become a ratings monster.

For a twenty-year-old to raise a ten-year-old was more difficult than one could imagine. Outwardly, I acted indifferent, but inside I was calling out for our parents every single day.

Well, at least back then, I was confident that I did everything I could so that he would not feel the absence of our parents.

Even in the midst of a busy life, I never once missed an event related to Seo Hojin, and there wasn’t a single thing other kids his age did that I didn’t let him try.

Not that I only spoiled him.

In elementary school,

“Hey, aren’t you going to eat your vegetables?”

“......”

“I’ll give you ten seconds. Unless you want to see nothing but eggs and ham again, eat it all.”

In middle school,

“How do you not know this?”

“...No, it’s just that...”

“I’ll call them right now, so you’ll start going to cram school tomorrow.”

In high school,

“Hyung, I think I don’t need English tutoring anymore...”

“They say all the kids at your school are doing it.”

“Just because everyone does it doesn’t mean I have to. The tuition is really expensive too...”

“What kind of brat worries about money? If you don’t want to study, then don’t, just figure it out yourself.”

“But...!”

“Shut up and take it.”

Maybe I was too forceful.

Anyway, back then he listened well. He couldn’t even get in a second rebuttal.

Compared to that, just look at him now.

“Get up.”

The kid who should be more grown up was the one causing trouble.

“Wait, wait...”

“......”

“Just! Give me a second!!”

When I looked down at him in silence, Seo Hojin, who was propping himself up on the floor, wiped the sweat running down his face and muttered,

“I went out to see Hyung’s stage and got bombarded with photo requests so much I’m exhausted...”

“You brought that on yourself.”

That’s what you get for ignoring your brother telling you not to come.

The members stood behind, giving him pitying looks.

Wearing a plump round bunny costume, slumping to the floor and panting, Seo Hojin looked rather pitiful indeed.

“Well? Let’s hear your excuse.”

Of course, none of that worked on me.

“You said you were going to the library, so why the hell are you here?”

“Ah, why! Can’t I come just to see Hyung’s face?!”

“Don’t make me laugh. If you want to see my face that badly, turn on the TV! Watch YouTube!”

“Are we strangers?!”

“You idiot, if you hate that, then open your photo album or something!”

“I don’t have any!”

I narrowed my eyes for a moment.

Panting, face flushed red, Seo Hojin burst out, then slowly lowered his gaze.

“I said I don’t. I thought there were some pictures of just the two of us, but no matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find any.”

He said that after I told him not to come to the festival, he went home and sorted through the photos.

But even though there should have been at least one, he couldn’t find a single picture of just me and him.

That’s why he asked a friend on the festival committee and pulled this stunt.

With my age twisted, all of the photos except solo shots of me had disappeared, but Seo Hojin had forgotten that.

“Phew...”

An undefinable feeling suddenly welled up inside me. Forcing myself not to get caught, I turned my eyes away from him.

“Hey.”

I handed my phone to the members.

“Take a picture.”

“Sure, sure.”

Kim Sunghyun came over and took my phone.

“Come on, get closer together.”

The image on the screen looked ridiculous.

Me, in heavy idol makeup and costume, and Seo Hojin in a bunny suit.

But Seo Hojin grinned ear to ear like it was the best thing ever.

“Happy now?”

“...Hyung doesn’t even appreciate his little brother’s devotion.”

Devotion, my ass.

“Send me those photos your friend took earlier too.”

“Huh?”

Since his face was covered by the bunny head, it would be fine even if they were uploaded online or kept.

Others might not know, but at least everyone here knew that bunny was my little brother.

Even while tilting his head, he obediently sent the photos. Beside him, Kang Ichae let out a sigh of admiration.

“Hyung really is serious about rabbits.”

I brightly ignored that comment and shoved the bunny head back on Seo Hojin.

Then, thinking of our poor manager who kept glancing nervously at the clock without saying anything, I told the members it was time to go.

“Hyung, bye.”

His voice was slightly muffled through the bunny head, but still clearly his. Turning my head, I saw the bunny waving. I looked at him straight and motioned.

“Seo Hojin.”

“Huh? Uh?”

“Come here.”

I walked forward without looking back. I didn’t need to check to know he was following me.

“You know Hyung isn’t the type to hold grudges.”

“...I’m not sure about that.”

“Depending on what you do right now, I’ll decide whether I’ll start holding grudges or not.”

Before leaving the building, I turned with a smirk.

“Since you’re already in that bunny suit, show me a killer cheer for Hyung.”

I brushed his shoulder lightly, then followed after the members who were already ahead.

Outside near the entrance, people were crowded around the van. As soon as we stepped out, phones were raised toward us all at once.

“Hoyun-ah!! Hoyun-ah! You were amazing today!!”

“Bye~~!”

I instantly put on my business smile, waving and greeting them.

When people’s eyes began drifting toward the bunny suit trailing behind us, I suddenly stopped before getting into the van and shouted,

“Thank you so much for coming today!”

“......?”

I was speaking to the fans, but it was also a sign for Seo Hojin.

“Your support gave me great strength!”

= Cheer. Now.

The bunny ears trembled, showing his fluster.

Even though his face was hidden, it was obvious he was thinking, “Is this Hyung insane?”

I only kept smiling and waited.

Even the students who had been taking photos glanced over, following my gaze toward him.

“...For....”

The bunny swayed uncertainly, then a shrill voice burst out.

“...For... for The Dawn, fighting!!!”

It cracked badly.

The members clenched their teeth, choking on laughter.

“Ah, thank you so much~.”

But I burst into loud laughter and got into the van.

***

[Title: Seo Hoyun bursting into laughter at a male fan shouting today

SeoHoyun_SUniversity_Festival_Exit.avi

LOOOOOOLLLLLL omg I’m dying HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I was watching because Seo Hoyun looked handsome as always, but when the male fan’s cheer cracked so hard, he laughed really loudly

└Wow that’s so cute

No but seriously why is it so cute

└Why does Seo Hoyun look like he’s in a youth drama today lol he must’ve been in a really good mood

└Seo Hoyun’s genuine laugh hahahahahaha]

[Title: Seo Hoyun uploaded a photo with the bunny suit

With_Bunny_TheDawn.jpg

Our Hoyun... he’s really sincere....

└lmao we may be obsessed with moe fan art but we can’t beat the actual person..

└But seriously that S University group chant was insane... I didn’t expect them to be that good

Jung Dajun was flying around

└Exactly!! The reactions were amazing, I’m so proud...

└└Of course, because the IRIX track was a hit

└└I’m listening to the song right now going T..D..W (The Dawn) and doing the hand sign lol]

I was skimming through reactions to the S University festival stage, just in case rumors about Seo Hojin spread again.

I even asked Lee Jihyun to double-check, but thankfully it seemed quiet.

‘Good, that’s fine.’

I sipped my iced chocolate latte through the straw, sprawled in the lounge next to the practice room, enjoying the mood.

That was when,

“Hyung, hi~.”

A voice I didn’t want to hear hit my ears.

Lifting my eyes, I saw Min Jiheon, looking even shinier, walking in as if scattering flower petals.

“Bye.”

“Wow, so consistent. Really admirable.”

I hadn’t seen him for a while and was glad, but of course we had to meet now.

Even though I waved him off coldly, he just plopped down on the sofa across from me with a smile.

“You know, the WH Entertainment cafeteria is no joke. Since the acquisition, it really impressed me—”

He clearly had nothing to say, just filling the air with nonsense. I clicked my tongue, about to get up.

Ding!

[WARNING!]

A red-tinted system window popped up.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Hm?”

I froze and stared at Min Jiheon.

Because whenever this kind of thing happened, he was usually involved.

“What? Why? ...Why are you looking at me like that again?”

But no.

He was just like usual.

“Min Jiheon.”

He didn’t look like he was up to anything.

“Want me to beat it out of you or are you just gonna—”

Ding!

I considered dragging him somewhere quiet and shaking him down, but then another warning flashed.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding-ding!

Drawn by the pulsing red light, I turned my head—

“...Huh.”

Someone I had seen countless times through monitors and sets back when I was a PD—

“Unbelievable.”

—Jeong Cheongyeon was walking down the hall through the system screen.

The last trainee I saw before coming to this world.

The one who cursed me.

‘Why is she here?’

Was she a WH Entertainment trainee now?

She used to belong to a smaller but stable agency.

The system warnings and her sudden appearance made my chest stir uneasily.

‘Well, whatever. Nothing serious should happen.’

She shouldn’t remember me anyway.

“PD-nim.”

So when I heard that voice right next to me, I stayed calm. Unless it was paranoia, there was no one in this place who would call me that.

“...PD-nim?”

The nonsense kept ringing in my ears. I frowned slightly. Min Jiheon blinked rapidly, looking between me and behind me.

“...Uh.”

“......”

“She’s calling you PD.”

Fuck.

So I didn’t mishear.

My head turned stiffly like it was forced.

“Knew it....”

[WARNING!]

[WARNING!]

[WARNING!]

[WARNING!]

[WARNING!]

“Seo Hoyun PD-nim.”

Jeong Cheongyeon’s faint °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° smile twisted into a look of shock.

“No... but why... do you look younger...”

[E R R O R]

My red-tinted vision flickered.

[You are facing the speaker of the last Infamy Point.]

[Trigger activated.]

As the new message appeared, something surged inside. My throat burned, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.

“Urgh!”

My body tilted, vision wavering. In the corner of my sight, Min Jiheon flinched in shock, while Jeong Cheongyeon kept staring only at me, the scene dragging out like a stretched videotape.

[The world’s ■■ trembles.]

[The ■■ world weakens.]

[Selecting world setting....]

[...Selection complete!]

Even through that, more new windows popped up, making me laugh bitterly.

[‘Actor’ has been selected!]

Oh, fuck this...

[Congratulations, Seo Hoyun-nim! You’ve been chosen as the player of Nobody-Knows Actor Tycoon.]

...Another new pattern.

And then I lost consciousness.