The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol

Woosung eventually gave up on his beloved kimchi fried rice and left abruptly. Judging by his passport-related grumbling, it seemed like he was heading overseas… I didn’t care to know and just hoped that he wouldn’t become B.F.F with Lim Hyeonsu or (especially) Kim Heeyeon.

“Hello~.”

“Ah! Seo Hoyun.”

On the other hand, the shooting went smoothly. Everything else was not going my way, so I headed to the shooting site in a bad mood. At least the staff welcomed me warmly.

“You came today, too! You don’t have any shooting today, do you?”

“Haha, there’s one scene. I came a bit early to study as well… That must be heavy, let me help you.”

When I took half of what the staff was carrying, they were obviously happy. Yeah, I know, I’ve moved a lot of these… They’re really heavy.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“You bring happiness just by showing your face, Hoyun…”

“…Ahaha.”

I often showed up at the filming set, so the staff seemed to be a bit more open to me, and I took the opportunity to throw in a bait.

“Min Jiheon-sunbae is filming today, right?”

At this point, I should be able to hear the staff’s gossip about the stars and their bad behavior.

Pretending to be innocent, I cleverly baited the question, but the staff just gave me a bright smile and a thumbs up.

“Yes! Today was also a huge success! Min Dajung did what Min Dajung does.”

“…Min Dajung?”

“He’s so nice that she got that nickname![1] Even after he’s done filming, he would ask the staff how they were doing…”

I decided to cut off the conversation as it wasn’t going anywhere productive.

Ding!

[Unlucky, huh?]

I admit that.

I was about to leave after simply chewing on the message, but Min Jiheon was approaching me with an unusually bright expression.

“Hey!”

“…”

I had an ominous feeling and tried to quickly escape, but I failed. Darn it.

Ding!

[Have a nimble day!]

Alright, got it.

The system window was well aware of Min Jiheon but couldn’t take a picture, yet it was so good at nagging me.

The staff who had been moving the props had already gone off to their next tasks, so no one was around. Min Jiheon just grinned as we spoke openly. I even felt like there were sparkles around him, and, though I didn’t know why, I could tell he was in a great mood.

“Why are you so happy today? It’s annoying.”

“Um…well, you see.”

He held a different kind of hotdog in one hand, a total of five, and a cup of coffee in the other.

As I stared at him, Min Jiheon scanned me up and down and then blurted out nonsense.

“Are you a rabbit??”

“…What the fuck?”

I asked back in disbelief, but Min Jiheon just took a big bite of his hotdog and continued his nonsense with a “Don’t you think you look like one?”

Somehow, I quickly pushed Min Jiheon aside and walked briskly towards the crowd where the manager greeted me in a fuss.

“Hoyun, surprise~!!”

“…?”

“Here! Take this!”

“Manager, what on earth is this?”

“Hurry up, stand over here!”

Feeling bewildered, I took the coffee. As I looked down, I saw a huge picture of my face on the cup holder, and below it was a sentence.

“’Please take care of our rabbit’…?”

And at the very bottom, in a corner, I saw small letters that read “From, the kids.” I muttered, feeling a bit unsettled.

“I don’t remember getting married and having kids.”

“The members used the money they got from the settlement to send a coffee truck! Isn’t it amazing?”

Instead of feeling any other emotions, my mind quickly calculated the cost of the coffee truck.

Well, if they each chipped in, it wouldn’t have been that much… But why bother sending this?

“Leave this kind of thing to the company.”

“The kids kept insisting. They said they’d use their own money.”

“They’re still so naïve… This is the time to brazenly use the company’s money.”

“Hey, I can see you’re already feeling proud.”

Feeling embarrassed by my manager’s words, I touched the corner of my mouth.

Well, it was touching.

I took a picture in front of the coffee truck and sent it to the group chat.

– Me: Why are you all doing this?

It hadn’t been long since I sent the message when I got a reply.

– Kang Ichae: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋSeo Hoyun must be so embarrassed, right?

– Kang Ichae: He can’t be honest today either, can he?

– Jeong Dajun: ㅋㅋ Oh ㅠㅠ Hyung… At times like this, we have to revive your spirit with “money”ㅠ

– Kang Ichae: We’re not lacking in attendance, but money~~

– Jeong Dajun: ↑ This one too ㅠ

– Kang Ichae: Jun, I’ll wire you money with my playful sideㅜ

I ignored their bickering. Soon, a more productive message came from my same-aged friends.

– Seong Jiwon: We split the cost, so it didn’t cost much!

– Seong Jiwon: Is the coffee okay? Does it taste good?

– Kim Seonghyeon: ㅋㅋㅋ Let’s just say thanks

I sent a message saying it tasted good. I hesitated a bit, but I also added a thankful emoticon and closed my phone.

Well, it was okay to accept this much. After all, it’s just one day for the food truck, and the coffee truck would only cost a few hundred thousand won.

…That was a mistaken belief.

I was speechless as I looked at the coffee truck that came every other day.

***

[OMG guys, Seo Hoyun got a food truck

(Seo Hoyun is standing in front of the food truck, holding coffee)

(Seo Hoyun frowning on purpose while looking at the cup holder)

(Cup holder message: Please take care of our rabbit -From, the kids <ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ>)]

[It’s so funny to see the post on Twitter >> “They’re not a kid anymore” << Is the rabbit okay~?!!!

└Seo Hoyun seems to have given up already]

At first, they were just pleased. It meant that the members were close to each other as they sent food trucks to one another during the drama shoot.

Noeul fans smiled warmly and shared the post.

[It’s so nice to see our rabbit happy]

[The fact that this is posted on their official Twitter page… Seo Hoyun subtly wants to brag about his kids = Showing off the care they received = They must have received a lot of money = They’re not a kid anymore = (Ichae must have written the message) They’re close enough to bicker

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋAh, why is there no like button on Twitter, only hearts?]

But the real trouble started after that.

[Food truck sent by Joo Woosung – Add one more kimchi fried rice for the annoying guy]

[Hot dog truck sent by Cheongbeom – I can’t believe I’m sending a food truck, eat well you food-chaser]

[Seo Hoyun’s Trash-Talking Club (Anonymous) – All out shit]

[Huh?]

Two completely mismatched people sent some too, leaving Noeul fans shocked. They still thanked them for taking care of their kids, but it felt a bit weird.

[Joo Woosung and Seo Hoyun are real close friends… I thought he had no interest in others and was only doing cliquey stuff/taking care of his juniors, but he’s only like that with Hoyun

└ How did they even get to know each other? A mystery of the century

└└ What, they’re neighborhood friends… Still can’t believe it]

He was blackmailed.

[I can’t believe I’m seeing Cheongbeom send a food truck in my life

└ Where did the grumpy big sister go? ㅜㅜ Unnie ㅜ…Being grumpy is her charm

└└ She’s still very grumpy

└└ But how did they even get to know each other? Unnie was only ever at her studio]

She was blackmailed. (2)

Everyone didn’t know what “Seo Hoyun’s Trash-Talking Club” was or how it worked, but they all agreed that no one would send a food truck so publicly if they weren’t really close.

Moreover, this wasn’t even posted on Twitter and was more like a picture snapped as a sighting. They assumed that it came from a non-celebrity friend.

[Wow, I thought Seo Hoyun would be a loner with no friends… but he actually has friends

└But the people he hangs out with are always the same, so he’s still a loner

└└Even that is fine

└└Plus, all the friends he hangs out with are loners

└└I like it even more]

Everyone tried to laugh it off and move on.

But then, the members… sent food trucks every other day.

Seo Hoyun gave up on posting on Twitter every time a food truck came, and instead uploaded short vlogs on their official YouTube.

[(Video of Seo Hoyun making a phone call)

– Seo Hoyun: “Do you guys really want to do this?”

– On the other side: (No reflection) “Yep~!”

– Seo Hoyun: “Save your money… Don’t spend it on things like this.”]

– Across the way: (Still not reflecting)(Innocence) “Yep~!”

– Seo Hoyun: “…”

The manager zooms in the camera while laughing like a boiling kettleㅋㅋㅋ

– Manager: “Got fooled onceㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

– Seo Hoyun: “ㅋㅋEnough…. It’s enough.”]

[Are these guys family?

└Yeah, they swore loyalty under a cherry tree.

└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Originally, Seo Hoyun used to have the upper hand over the other members… But these days, the members have become a lot stronger and don’t get pushed around.

└Ah, so Hoyun has kind of given upㅋㅋㅋ

└└Probably learned from watching someone.]

[Title: My sister’s friend is a staff on the set and says Seo Hoyun’s nickname is “Emperor of the Food Truck.”

└He’d really hate that nickname.

└└He actually does hate it.

└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└└Laughing so hard I nearly got a stitchㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

***

“Hey, didn’t I tell you to stop sending those?”

– “Ah, we really stopped sending them!”

Scolding Jeong Dajun, I walked towards the set.

The staff members, having become accustomed to this scene, sent me warm glances as they sensed the situation upon hearing my voice.

What’s with… these looks?

“Then what’s with that food truck over there?”

– “Seo Hoyun, we seriously didn’t send it! Isn’t it from Joo Woosung-sunbae?”

“No, it’s not. I already asked him.”

– “Hey, why are you selling the sunbae behind us?”

Although Kim Seonghyeon was furious, he didn’t correct it, and instead looked around. Finally, Seong Jiwon chimed in, admitting he had sent it and laughed gently. But I still wished they would stop now.

Tsk.

As I finally reached the truck, I heard a strange sound.

“Ssssuuuunbaeeeenimmmm!”

It wasn’t a stretched-out cassette tape, and, for a moment, I couldn’t understand what was being said.

I turned my head towards the familiar voice and saw someone approaching Min Jiheon, who was chatting with Yu Jia.

“I didn’t know our shooting locations would overlap like this! When I heard about it, I was so touched by this incredible coincidence!”

As always, Lee Kangseok was living his life to the fullest today.

“I heard you like carrot cake, sunbae, so I made it myself. Yu Jia-sunbae too! Your first broadcast is coming up soon, right?”

“…Oh, um, thank you. But you really didn’t have to.”

“No, it’s just a natural thing between fellow actors.”

Excluding me, his way of speaking to others was still friendly. Lee Kangseok even brought an elegant-looking spoon.

Wow… this guy is really something.

Was it even appropriate for a supporting actor from a drama airing at the same time as ours to fawn over our lead actor like this?

It wasn’t just a snack truck. The fact that Lee Kangseok personally baked a cake for Min Jiheon sent shivers down my spine.

I couldn’t help but sigh at the impressive words written on it: “To my respected sunbaes, always admiring, your hoobae, Lee Kangseok.”

Even when I was trying to butter up my director day and night with my passionate dreams for a program, I never did this much.

Watching Lee Kangseok carefully offer the spoon, Min Jiheon gave a very awkward smile. Standing next to her, Yu Jia seemed unfazed, probably having seen many people like him during her long entertainment career.

“Umm….”

Min Jiheon, it’s spine-chilling, isn’t it?

Jiheon always got on my nerves so seeing him in a difficult situation was quite satisfying. However, being a naturally nosy person, I walked happily towards him as soon as I spotted the,.

“I don’t know if it’ll be tasty, but… Ah, Yu Jia-sunbae, what about you?”

“…Ah, well.”

The arrow spun towards Yu Jia. Her eyes expressed a slight disdain. As she awkwardly scratched her cheek, suddenly,

“Wow!”

I snatched the spoon held by Lee Kangseok from his hand and exaggeratedly took a bite. The sweet taste of the cake filled my mouth.

It was really delicious. Spine-chillingly so.

“…!!”

Lee Kangseok’s eyes widened. Nevertheless, I praised him while chewing the cake.

“You did well~. It’s delicious.”

“But, but, but why did Seo Hoyun eat that?”

“But there’s a lot of carrots in it. Did you put too much?”

“…”

Even being able to criticize him!

The “respected sunbaes” next to us gazed at us. Despite that, I scraped up the slightly heavy cream with a spoon and ate it all.

“This was made for the sunbaes…”

“Yes, you said it was for fellow actors.”

I put down the spoon.

“I’m a hoobae, too… The first broadcast is soon so… Please look forward to it?”

“…”

“By the way, I prefer plain whipped cream cake.”

As I said it with a slight squint, Lee Kangseok’s face turned pale, and he trembled. I stood there smiling, and Kangseok disappeared without saying anything.

Min Jiheon looked back and forth between the direction Kangseok had disappeared and me, before finally opening his mouth.

“Is there a school that teaches how to give people a taste of their own medicine in Korea?”

“Dr. Seo’s school! A guy who got a Ph.D. in hitting the right buttons.”

It wasn’t something I wanted to hear from Jiheon, but I played along. Jiheon couldn’t help but laugh. Yu Jia chuckled beside me, then leaned her forehead on her hand and trembled.

“Seo Hoyun is really… Wow, this is talent…”

“…”

“Even Ms. Composer would like it, really.”

“But she told me to get lost.”

“Ahahaha!!”

Even though I said something obvious, Yu Jia burst into laughter, wiping tears from her eyes. At that moment, a staff member called her over to touch up her makeup for the next scene.

“Ah, it’s hilarious. Anyway, thank you, Seo Hoyun.”

“You’re welcome.”

I nonchalantly responded to her gratitude for getting rid of an annoying presence, and Yu Jia smirked before walking away. Meanwhile, Min Jiheon crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

“…Why did you come here? You hated seeing me so much, didn’t you?”

“I wanted to cheer up Lee Kangseok for once.”

“Wow… You’d even endure seeing me just to give Kangseok a taste of his own medicine?”

Whether I raised an eyebrow or not, Min Jiheon genuinely marveled.

“I sometimes admire you, hyung. You show me a side of you I’ve never seen before.”

“So do I, you crazy bastard.”

[1] Min Dajung = 민다정. The term “다정” in Korean can mean “affectionate” or “sweet.”