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墨書 Inktalez
Anna did not know what kind of existence she had with Hogga, as all she knew now was that "Hogga" was the name of a type of alcohol, which had become the man's code name.
From the initial fear and wariness, she gradually let down her guard, and now there was even a sense of trust.
This time, Anna wanted to linger and see how Hogga left each time they parted, but Hogga simply smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Let's go."
Thinking back, Anna realized she had never seen Hogga's departing figure.
"Take care," Anna said. She chose not to say "goodbye." For this inexplicably helpful person, she only hoped he would be safe wherever he was.
Anna turned around and walked down the stairs step by step. By the time she looked back again, Hogga had already disappeared.
The encounters and separations between people come so suddenly, like unexpected events that catch one off guard.
When she got home and lay on her bed, Peter jumped up beside her without hesitation, shamelessly snuggling close to her as he fell asleep. Seeing his innocent expression, Anna thought to indulge him occasionally, so she gently tapped his nose and didn't scold him further.
She had expected Park Chan-yeol to call her but waited in vain. He probably thought she had fallen asleep and forgot about it. She wondered if he had taken a break; it had been a long time since they had gone out on a proper date. Anna still held some anticipation in her heart, so she picked up her phone and typed a message: "Has dinner ended? I’m off next Friday to Sunday. Do you have any free time?"
To her surprise, the reply came quickly: "Just finished. Coincidentally, I’m free next Friday. Wait for me at home; I’ll come pick you up."
Anna smiled happily at those few words, feeling sweetness wash over her instantly. A smile crept onto her face as she placed the phone on the nearby cabinet, covered herself with a blanket, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Although it was still four days until Friday, Anna felt extremely excited. Her face was always beaming these days; she seemed cheerful about everything as if she had endless energy. She even took Park Soo Eun shopping for several new outfits that looked completely different from before.
"Did you win the lottery or something?" Kwang-soo asked, looking at her in confusion.
"What?" Anna replied, puzzled.
"It's strange; you’ve been like you’re on cloud nine these past few days. Did something good happen?" Kwang-soo said.
"I don't have any," Anna said.
"Look at your glowing face," Kwang-soo insisted.
"Hey... Kwang-soo..." Yoo Jae-suk grabbed Lee Kwang-soo's arm and said disdainfully, "You can't say that. Anna has her own secrets too, and just like when a girl meets someone she likes, why should she tell you?"
"Really?!" Kwang-soo exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise as he pointed at Anna. "Wow, Anna Zheng, have you met someone you like? Who is it? Tell me quickly."
"Why should I tell you, brother?" Anna replied helplessly.
"Well, it seems true. Wow, Anna Zheng, how old are you to start dating? You're just a kid who doesn't know anything..." Kwang-soo said.
"What?" Anna put her hands on her hips and looked at him. "I'm already this age; even if I were dating, so what? Brother Kwangsoo, do you have any say in it? Didn't you start hanging out with pretty sisters right after elementary school?"
"You still remember that little thing from so many years ago? And just because I've been through it, I have to tell you that you're still too young to understand," Kwang-soo replied.
Yoo Jae-suk was trying to mediate the argument, but unexpectedly, it escalated.
"Yeah, yeah, I don't have as much experience as you, Brother Kwangsoo. Recently, I saw Miss Han who was drinking with you. Ah... she's from a newly debuted group, right? Her experience is indeed rich," Anna mocked.
Yoo Jae-suk was laughing uncontrollably on the side while Lee Kwang-soo hurriedly waved his hands at Yoo Jae-suk to deny everything.
"Brother, if you annoy me again one day, I'll expose all your dating history!" Anna said as she picked up a box from the ground and walked towards another studio.
"Hey, Anna Zheng!" Kwang-soo wanted to rush over but was grabbed by Yoo Jae-suk.
Anna stuck her tongue out at him playfully and disappeared at the door.
"This is really ridiculous..." Anna muttered softly.
Sorting through the latest game proposals designed by the writers, she picked out some that had higher feasibility. Later, she would discuss them with Miao PD and everyone else to refine the game. This was the most basic part of making the show. The PDs would use the game designs proposed by the writers to initially construct how the game would actually look when implemented, allowing them to provide appropriate guidance during filming.
It takes years of experience to know when it is appropriate to intervene in a game to make it run more smoothly and interestingly.
“How are the ratings for this episode?” Dong Wan asked.
“It just returned not long ago, and the ratings have dropped a bit; we didn't maintain first place,” Anna said while flipping through the data.
“That incident with Brother Jae-seok caused many from the Task Force to leave, so we are a bit short-staffed now,” Dong Wan said.
“Are those people coming back?” Anna asked.
“Lee Joon-seok did reach out to Miao PD, asking to return, but Miao PD declined. Miao PD plans to bring in some newcomers to add a fresh atmosphere to the show,” Dong Wan replied.
Anna thought for a moment, nodded, and said, “Yeah, I think that's better.”
Looking at herself in the mirror, her face, which had gained some weight during her recovery period, had slimmed down again recently. Both she and Park Chan-yeol had been too busy lately. This morning, when EXO came to SBS to record a program, she caught a glimpse of them from afar. Anna wanted to greet them but was drowned out by the screams of other girls around her, so she silently lowered her hand.
Every time she called Park Chan-yeol, she could hear his breathless and tired voice, yet he still spoke happily with her. Anna wondered if her calls interrupted his work or training, so she always hurriedly exchanged a few words before hanging up.
To have a quiet moment to talk, Anna would keep her phone close until late at night, just so she could chat with him before bed, which brought her much peace.
“Are you tired?” Anna asked softly.
“Not really,” he replied, his voice clearly a bit hoarse.
“Where are we going on Friday?” Anna asked.
“Friday?” Park Chan-yeol seemed unaware and thought she was asking about his schedule. He then said, “On Thursday night we’re going to the U.S. to shoot a music video for our album; we won’t be back until Sunday.”
Anna's heart sank. She knew that Park Chan-yeol had already forgotten their previous plans; perhaps it was due to his busy schedule or last-minute changes... In any case, this long-awaited date was once again going to be canceled amidst their hectic schedules.
Anna forced a somewhat stiff smile and said, “The U.S.? That sounds great.”
"What's wrong?" Park Chan-yeol noticed that Anna seemed to be feeling a bit off.
"Nothing..." Anna pouted slightly, then whispered, "I just miss you a little..."
Park Chan-yeol smiled indulgently. "Silly, in a little while, things will settle down. You should take a break too, and we can go travel abroad together. That way, no one will recognize me, and we can have a lot of fun."
"Okay." Anna nodded repeatedly.
"I'll take you to Palau; I've always wanted to see those yellow jellyfish there," Park Chan-yeol said, but his voice grew increasingly heavy.
"Okay," Anna replied. She just wanted to tell Chan-yeol that as long as she was with him, it didn't matter where they went.
After chatting for a while, the line gradually fell silent. Anna called out a few times and realized that Park Chan-yeol had fallen asleep from exhaustion. She then said goodnight and hung up the phone.
Seeing Peter dozing off nearby, Anna decided to take a shower and get some rest. However, just as she got up to head toward the bathroom, her phone rang again. Checking the number, it was Park Chan-yeol calling.
Anna smiled as she answered, saying, "What's up? Did you wake up from your dream?"
"Anna sister." A strange girl's voice came through the receiver, and Anna froze instantly.
"Oh... it's me..." Anna stammered.
"Brother Canlie is asleep. I just wanted to let you know not to call again," the girl said.
"I understand, but who are you...?"
"That's good to know. Well then, goodbye. Sweet dreams."
Before Anna could say anything else, the girl hung up the phone.
Left standing there alone, Anna fell into a long daze. A million dramatic scenarios flashed through her mind slowly. She told herself not to think about it, but they burrowed into her brain like disobedient insects, leaving Anna feeling anxious and unsettled.
Noticing that Anna's emotions were off, Peter stood up and walked over to her, nudging her hand with his wet, cool nose.
Anna slowly crouched down, forcing a bitter smile as she stroked Peter's head and said, "I shouldn't think about bad things, but... I should trust him."
There was a bug called 'doubt' that, once it burrowed into the heart, would dig deeper and deeper, corroding the fabric of one's being and causing immense pain.
Perhaps it was just a simple friendship with Simple, or maybe it was just that other artists or trainees from the same company were closer to him.
When did she start becoming so suspicious?
After coming out of the bathroom, Anna curled up under the covers, hiding deeply within. When did she start looking forward to receiving calls from Park Chan-yeol every day? When did talking to him become the happiest moment of her day, regardless of how long they spoke? Every break turned into an opportunity to meet him?
This shouldn't be happening. Suddenly, Anna realized she was bound by something called 'Park Chan-yeol.' How could love be a binding force? It shouldn't be. It wasn't Park Chan-yeol who trapped her; it was Anna Zheng who had confined herself. Gradually, outside of work, Anna subconsciously transformed her social circle to include only Park Chan-yeol. He became the sole color in her life. This was terrifying; if this continued, she would become a second Kim Mi-kyung, existing solely in dependence on Park Chan-yeol. This would not only be a burden for Anna but also for Park Chan-yeol.
"Brother Kwangsoo, I'm going on a trip with you guys, but can I bring Peter?" Anna asked.
Kwang-soo happily replied, "Of course! I'll drive over to pick you up on Friday morning."
Anna suddenly remembered that she hadn't told Kwang-soo about her moving yet and said, "No need; I..." But then she thought about how she didn't have a car now and how she could take Peter along.
"It's okay; I'm passing by anyway," Kwang-soo said.
Anna lowered her head and shyly said, "Brother Kwangsoo, it's mainly because I... moved."
"Ah? Where did you and Andy move to? Did Andy buy a bigger house again?" Kwang-soo asked with a smile.
"It's not me and Andy; it's me and Peter who moved out," Anna clarified.
"What?! Why?" Kwang-soo exclaimed in surprise.
Anna shrugged with indifference and said, "Andy doesn't like dogs, so I took the initiative to move out. Plus, I moved back to my old house; I wanted to live there again."
"This bastard! Even if he doesn't like it, he should move out! That little brat," Kwang-soo cursed angrily.
"No, it's really me who wants to move out," Anna said.
Seeing the pleading look in Anna's eyes, Kwang-soo had no choice but to relent. He sighed and said, "Fine, do as you wish. But where are you living now?"
"I'll send you the address in a message. Thank you, Brother Kwangsoo," Anna replied with a smile.
"We're about to start filming, all departments prepare!" Miao PD's voice rang out.
"Let's go shoot first, we can talk after," Anna said.
Kwang-soo nodded and returned to his position. Anna sat next to Miao PD, confirming the game process one last time, checking each hint board and discussing with the writers. Once everything was clear of any issues, she informed Miao PD that they could start filming at any time. Miao PD then relayed the message to all staff to begin preparations, while the junior FD went to clap the slate, marking the start of a new round of filming.
As spring arrived, the weather grew warmer, naturally bringing back the classic mud pit challenge. Today's guest was a very famous veteran actor, Mr. Li, who had been one of Anna's favorite actors. When she heard he would be recording for the show, Anna was thrilled for quite some time. However, before the mud pit flag-snatching game even began, all her fond impressions of him crumbled instantly.
And Anna happened to be in charge of directing this game.
"Ah! What is this crap? The contract didn't say anything about such a game before I came here. It's disgusting!" A complaint laced with curses immediately silenced those around her.
The originally cheerful atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
Anna, who was setting up filming in the distance, didn't notice this shift; it was Kwon Ryeol who overheard and quietly approached her to explain the situation. Only then did Anna realize something was off with the mood.
"Hyung, this is really fun~" Yoo Jae-suk tried to ease Mr. Li's mood and lighten the atmosphere by patting his shoulder. "Hyung, you love cleanliness so much, but don't you want to experience what it's like in a mud pit? I guarantee you'll love it."
Anna understood Brother Jae-seok's intentions and pretended not to know anything for now, hoping he could calm Mr. Li down.
Mr. Li frowned and shook his head. "No way! Going down there will kill me. It's filthy; I'm not doing it. What is this…"
Jung Kook and Haha exchanged glances behind him, planning to jokingly push him into the mud so he wouldn't be able to refuse.
But just then, Jung Kook walked by, and Mr. Li exploded in anger, saying, "Get lost! What do you want?"
Everyone present was stunned. This was also the first time Running Man collaborated with Mr. Li, and it was said to be his first time participating in an outdoor variety show. No one expected that the polite and gentlemanly Mr. Li from dramas and movies would act like this.
Seeing this, Gary also got angry and walked over, only to be stopped by Jung Kook.
This was the most outrageous guest appearance in the history of Running Man recordings.
"Where's my manager?! Manager! I'm not filming anymore, hurry up!" Mr. Li shouted.
The manager was a young woman wearing glasses, looking timid and clearly someone who couldn't take charge.
"Mr. Li!" Anna quickly approached him and said with a smile, "Hello, I would like to ask you to spare a few precious minutes for us to talk privately."
"Who are you?" Mr. Li looked Anna up and down.
"I am Anna Zheng from the Running Man Production Team," Anna said with a bow.
Mr. Li sneered and asked, "Anna Zheng, huh? How old are you?"
"24 years old," Anna replied.
Mr. Li glanced at the expressions of those around him. He probably didn't want to escalate things in front of so many people and felt that Anna was young, so he contemptuously said, "Fine, I'll talk to you, but my manager will join as well. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good if you found some loophole in the contract."
Anna smiled and said, "That's only right. However, since I'm young and may not understand many social nuances, Brother Jae-seok, could you please come over as well?"
Yoo Jae-suk nodded. Anna exchanged a glance with him; their long-standing tacit understanding allowed Jae-seok to instantly grasp Anna's intention.
"Manager, doesn't the contract state that if there are health reasons, one can refuse to participate in the game?" Mr. Li confidently smirked at Anna.
The manager adjusted her glasses and nodded, saying, "Yes, that's correct."
Anna smiled and said, "Then please provide a medical certificate for your discomfort, and we can consider it as not breaching the contract."
"I have psychological issues, so I don't have any proof."
"Oh really? That makes things complicated. I wonder when Mr. Li started to have a psychological barrier against mud."
Mr. Li sneered and replied, "I've had a cleanliness obsession since childhood."
"I see," Anna said with a slight smile. "Mr. Li, did you know that I've been your fan since your first movie? I've watched all your films, including several war-themed ones that had scenes in the mud."
"So what?"
"If this news gets out, people will think it's strange that you don't mind getting dirty for movies but suddenly have a cleanliness issue while filming a variety show. What do you think the public will think? Your carefully maintained image of justice would surely collapse."
"Are you threatening me? Hmph, you're just a kid. If you have the guts, go ahead and sue me for breach of contract!" Mr. Li said angrily, trying to walk away.
At that moment, the purpose of Brother Jae-seok accompanying Anna became clear. He grabbed Mr. Li and said, "Mr. Li, while we may not be friends, we've met many times. I know your personality; you wouldn't just give up halfway like this. Otherwise, you wouldn't have so many fans. Anna is young and may not understand the weight of her words, but some of what she said is indeed true. If you walk away angry today, not only will the rumors be bad, but the penalty for breach of contract is tenfold. It's not worth getting upset over a little girl." Yoo Jae-suk said.
With those words, the focus shifted from Mr. Li's aversion to mud to his anger towards Anna. What had previously seemed like an insurmountable obstacle now had a way out.
Anna quickly understood Brother Jae-seok's intention and smiled apologetically, saying, "Mr. Li, I truly am your loyal fan. My earlier comments were offensive; it was my fault. Please forgive my youthful ignorance and don't hold it against me. I believe many people are looking forward to seeing your performance on your first reality show as much as I am. I'm really sorry for offending you."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Li's expression softened considerably, but he still maintained his pride and said, "Hmph, that's more like it. Young people shouldn't be so reckless. Why would I stoop to her level? Let's go."
"Aren't we filming anymore?" the bewildered manager asked.
"Why wouldn't we film?!" Mr. Li snapped back, glaring at her fiercely.
The manager cautiously lowered her head to avoid Mr. Li's gaze.
"Running Man, second scene, first take, 3, 2, 1. Start!" The clapper was withdrawn, and the camera began filming again. The earlier incident seemed like a fleeting memory as Mr. Li resumed his polite smile, and the atmosphere on set became harmonious once more.
After working in the Task Force for so long, Anna increasingly understood the survival tactics of these artists. While she comprehended their struggles, accepting them was another matter entirely.
Jung Kook secretly gave Anna a thumbs up, and she smiled and nodded in response.
It was uncertain how many more such incidents they would encounter in the future, but dealing with each situation as it came was always the best choice. After the Mud Pit project concluded, everyone was exhausted. Mr. Li's anger seemed to dissipate along with his physical fatigue, and he wore a smile on his face.
Once everyone had showered and were waiting to head to the next venue, Anna made a point to approach Mr. Li and handed him a clean towel to dry his still damp hair.
Mr. Li hesitated for a moment before taking the towel and carelessly placing it on his head.
Anna smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Li. I will continue to be your fan just like before."
Mr. Li smirked and replied, "You little girl, so sharp-tongued at such a young age. Alright, alright, I won't argue with you." He then pulled two tickets for his new movie from his bag behind him and handed them to Anna, saying, "Here you go."
Anna happily accepted them with both hands, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you so much! I will definitely go see it!"
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