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墨書 Inktalez
"If what you said, Brother Jae-seok, is true, why didn't EXO, as the parties involved, think of this? It seems that in the end, everything has fallen on Park Chan-yeol alone. Moreover, the person who acquired S.M. stocks isn't Zheng Andy, but someone named Kim Mi-kyung, who is said to be the daughter of former chairman Jin Yu Cheng," Jung Kook said.
"EXO hasn't had any contact with the current Andy. The Mr. Zheng Andy they refer to is still the same as when they were trainees, so it's understandable that they wouldn't think of it. Besides, I'm just speculating. As for the stock issue and Kim Mi-kyung, I'm not too clear on that," Yoo Jae-suk replied.
At that moment, Anna felt a mix of emotions. She had considered that Andy might be involved in Yoo Jae-suk's situation, but she hadn't expected the connection to be so deep. Furthermore, she hadn't realized that Yoo Jae-suk had already quietly grasped most of the truth.
"Brother Jae-seok, since you knew about my relationship with Andy early on, why didn't you say anything?" Anna asked.
"After all, he is your close relative. Knowing would only make you feel worse. That incident has already passed; I originally didn't intend to bring it up again. It's just that this time, their methods are eerily similar to what happened back then—perhaps even more meticulous. It's really... sigh..." Brother Jae-seok sighed and didn't continue.
Anna smiled helplessly. "Yes, it's exactly the same, yet they still act so brazenly."
"So what you asked me earlier was for what purpose?" Jung Kook inquired.
"I want to open a password-protected door," Anna said.
Yoo Jae-suk expressed some concern and said, "Anna, although Mr. Zheng Andy is your brother, from my few interactions with him, if you really uncover some secrets, I'm afraid..."
Anna had certainly thought about what Jae-seok said; given Andy's current behavior, she wouldn't be surprised by anything he did.
"Don't worry, Brother Jae-seok. I know my limits," Anna smiled and said. "Before I truly become a program PD, I won't easily go down that path. Besides... he is still my brother."
"Wait a minute; the key point is that I know methods that may not necessarily be effective," Jung Kook remarked.
“Jung Kook, so you know the method,” Anna said. “I knew you would have a way, but why do you know so many strange and dark things?”
“Just read a few more books,” Jung Kook replied with a smile.
Anna lowered her head and muttered softly, “I thought you only worked out every day…”
Yoo Jae-suk heard this and Haha laughed.
Jung Kook said, “You all just look at people too superficially. Who says someone with muscles can't have depth? Those are two completely non-conflicting things. However, my method is something I read in a book; whether it works or not, I don't know.”
“Okay, tell me about it. I'll give it a try.”
“You need to buy some very fine aluminum powder, or iron powder will work too. Then apply a thin layer of grease on the object from which you want to collect that person's fingerprint, like a doorknob or a coffee table. This makes it easier to collect a more complete fingerprint. Then use a clean brush to lightly dust the metal powder over it; at this point, you should be able to see the fingerprint with the naked eye. After that, use clear tape to lift the revealed fingerprint and scan it. This is the simplest method, but I haven't tried it myself,” Jung Kook explained.
Anna carefully noted this in her mind and then asked, “Jung Kook, where can I buy that powder? Also, can you help me get a spice called Fir Balsam Resin?”
Jung Kook smiled helplessly and said, “Anna, I'm not a police officer, and what I mentioned might not even work. What is Fir Balsam Resin? I really don't know about that.”
“Jung Kook, if you spent less time on these strange things, you would have found a girlfriend by now,” Yoo Jae-suk teased.
“Bro, this has nothing to do with finding a girlfriend,” Jung Kook replied.
“Fir Balsam Resin is an ingredient used in perfumes,” Anna said.
"What are you going to get this time?" Jung Kook asked, puzzled.
"Reptiles and lizards are very afraid of that kind of smell," Anna said.
Jae-seok was shocked and said, "Anna, are you going to the tropical rainforest? Why do you need to guard against those things? What exactly are you planning to do?"
Anna smiled lightly and said, "Brother Jae-seok, don't worry, nothing will happen." Although, as Jung Kook mentioned, it might not be useful, she still wanted to give it a try.
"Well, now I finally understand why you've been a bit distracted lately, Anna. It's because of all this," Jung Kook said.
"Yeah, it's been affecting my work a bit. I'm really sorry," Anna replied.
Jung Kook chuckled and said, "Don't say that. If it weren't for you back then, Brother Jae-seok wouldn't know where he is now. Who knows if Running Man would even still exist?"
"That's right, Anna. You helped me so much back then... After this period, I believe you'll be fine again. If you need any help from us, you must let us know," Jae-seok comforted her.
Anna said, "I should say that if it weren't for Brother Jae-seok, I would be a lost soul under the Beijing Great Wall right now. If it weren't for Jung Kook, I wouldn't have made it out of that fire."
The three of them laughed lightly. Ji-hyo seemed a bit tired as well and walked over to sit next to Anna.
"What are you guys talking about?" Ji-hyo asked while pouring herself a glass of wine and downing it in one go.
Anna looked at her in surprise and said, "Wow, sister, your alcohol tolerance is still impressive!"
"Hey! Isn't that Gary? And his girlfriend!" Brother Jae-seok suddenly looked towards the door and said with a smile.
Ji-hyo's expression stiffened for a moment, but fortunately, the flickering lights here meant that no one noticed this fleeting emotion.
"Hello, my name is Jung Eun-hee."
Jung Eun-hee, Gary's girlfriend, was someone Anna was meeting for the first time. She was exceptionally gentle, her smile very warm. Dressed in a white dress with long black hair, fair skin, and a slender figure, she wore just a hint of makeup and was truly beautiful. Her demeanor and speech exuded grace. Even in such a noisy environment, she appeared calm and composed, a tranquility that was not feigned but rather a reflection of her cultivated nature over the years.
It was wonderful; Anna couldn't think of any words other than "beautiful" to describe her feelings upon seeing Jung Eun-hee. Such a woman was genuinely likable.
Anna secretly glanced at Ji-hyo's expression, which seemed natural. It appeared that she and Jung Eun-hee were quite familiar and were chatting happily, while Brother Gary seemed somewhat awkward, occasionally glancing at Ji-hyo.
Brother Jae-seok smiled and patted Gary on the shoulder, saying, "Gary, what a coincidence! I didn't expect you guys to come here too."
Gary nodded with a smile that was clearly stiff and said, "Yeah, yeah."
As if noticing everyone had gathered to sit down, Kwang-soo bid farewell to Lisa and came over, plopping down next to Anna. Anna shot him a disdainful glance and shifted closer to Jung Kook.
"Hey, Anna, am I really that scary?" Lee Kwang-soo complained. Then he saw Gary and Jung Eun-hee smiling and said, "Hello there, Brother Gary and Miss Jeong Eun-hee. What a coincidence that you guys are here too."
"Yeah, what's blowing in the wind today? Did everyone secretly agree to meet up?" Jung Kook said with a laugh.
"Hey, with so many people today, let's get some drinks and play a game of Truth or Dare," Lee Kwang-soo suggested.
Ji-hyo slapped him on the head and said, "Hey, you're all grown up now, what are you playing Truth or Dare for?"
Jae-seok laughed and said, " Ji-hyo, since there are so many people, let's just play together."
"Exactly," Kwang-soo added, "Sister, do you have some secret that you don't want anyone to know? That's why you're so opposed."
"Secret? I don't have any secrets... Alright, alright, let's play. You get some more drinks," Ji-hyo said with a carefree attitude.
Anna looked at her state; although she appeared relaxed, there was still some concern in her heart.
Soon, the waiter placed four bottles of liquor on the table.
"I'm sorry, but I really won't play anymore. I can't drink," Jung Eun-hee said with a troubled expression.
"It's fine, with Brother Gary here, let him drink for you," Kwang-soo said with a mischievous smile.
"Yeah, it's okay. Don't worry, I'm here too," Gary gently told Eunhee.
This was a side of Gary that Anna had never seen before. Usually on shows or during gatherings, Gary never acted this way towards anyone. His simple words revealed a tenderness and understanding that was truly admirable.
"Wow, brother, you're really nice to Miss Jeong Eun-hee," Kwang-soo remarked.
"Why are you talking so much?" Gary shot him a glance, clearly taking a moment to look at Ji-hyo's expression again.
Is it something to care about, or just a habitual unconscious behavior? No one can say for sure.
"What should I do then? I don't drink alcohol, so I'll just replace it with soda," Jae-seok said with a smile.
"That's not how it works, brother. If you can't drink, then just tell the truth or accept the punishment," Ji-hyo replied.
Jae-seok smiled, knowing he couldn't avoid it, so he didn't struggle. After all, it had been a long time since so many people played games together, and he was happy about it.
"Alright, let’s go over the rules," Jung Kook said as he placed an empty bottle on the table. "Whoever the bottle points to must choose between a dare or truth. The first person pointed at will designate someone to ask questions or propose dares. After that, the person from the previous round will assign tasks. If you don’t want to answer a truth or do a dare, you have to drink half a glass of alcohol. How does that sound?"
"Okay, let's do that." Everyone nodded in agreement. However, Anna was so excited that she didn’t think about her situation; ever since her alcohol poisoning incident, her stomach could no longer handle alcohol. After agreeing, Anna realized this but was afraid of ruining the mood, so she kept quiet, thinking she might not have to drink after all.
In the first round, the bottle pointed to Kim Jong Kook.
Lee Kwang-soo grinned mischievously and said, "Brother, let me do it. I promise I won't harm you."
Jung Kook shot him a glance and replied, "I must be out of my mind to believe you." He then looked at Brother Jae-seok and dismissed that option as well; after all, Jae-seok knew him too well—who knows what explosive secrets he might reveal? " Ji-hyo then; I trust you. I choose dare."
Ji-hyo smiled happily as if she had been waiting for this moment. She thought for a moment and then said, "Brother, take off your shirt and dance."
"What?!" Kim Jong Kook was both amused and exasperated.
Everyone burst into laughter at once.
"Sorry, I’m blushing," Kim Jong Kook said. " Ji-hyo, how can you do this when I trust you so much?"
"Take it off, take it off, take it off, take it off, take it off..." Brother Jae-seok led the others in a quiet chant.
Jung Kook gritted his teeth, willing to accept the bet. He closed his eyes and took off his shirt. His wheat-colored muscles were truly enviable. As he walked to the dance floor, the short distance drew a wave of screams. Many people from the Entertainment Circle recognized Jung Kook at a glance. Unable to handle it, Jung Kook lowered his head, danced awkwardly for a moment, and quickly ran back to put on his clothes.
People continued to look over and applauded.
"Wow, look at that! His face is all red from excitement," Kwang-soo joked.
Jung Kook felt both shy and amused. This time, he struck a pose and spun the bottle again.
The second spin landed on Brother Jae-seok.
Remembering that he had been the one to start the chant earlier, Yoo Jae-suk quickly grabbed Kim Jong Kook's hand and pleaded.
"Jung Kook, am I good to you?"
Jung Kook nodded and smiled. "Yes, but this is a game."
Yoo Jae-suk felt an ominous premonition in his heart.
"Brother, is it truth or dare?" Jung Kook asked with a mischievous grin.
Yoo Jae-suk thought for a moment and really didn't dare to choose a dare, because he didn't know what bad idea Jung Kook would come up with. So he said, "I choose truth."
Jung Kook asked, "Hmm... if you had to replace one member of the current Running Man cast, who would you choose?"
Anna was a bit surprised. Did Jung Kook know something that made him ask this? However, seeing the expressions of the others, she took it as a joke, and Brother Jae-seok didn't seem nervous at all. It seemed that the matter wouldn't come up so easily. It was just a game, and Anna felt she was overthinking.
Jae-seok paused for a moment and said, "If I had to replace someone, I hope that person is me or Dong Hoon."
"Why? Brother, is it because Brother Dong Hoon isn't here? Be careful, I might secretly tell him," Ji-hyo joked.
Jae-seok shook his head and said, "I can still work with Dong Hoon on Infinite Challenge; it's hard for the others to continue doing shows together."
"Are you answering like it's a press conference? Your answer is so thorough," Lee Kwang-soo teased.
"Ah, it's sincere," Yoo Jae-suk said with a smile. "Alright, alright, I'm going to spin." Yoo Jae-suk stood up and continued to spin the bottle.
In the third round, it was Lee Kwang-soo's turn.
"Dare," Lee Kwang-soo quickly said without hesitation.
"How many secrets do you have that can't be known by others? You're so eager," Ji-hyo mocked.
Yoo Jae-suk thought about how to deal with Kwang-soo. He knew about Kwang-soo's usual flirtatious nature and said, "Kwang-soo, go confess to a girl, and no matter how she reacts, you can't laugh. If you laugh, it's considered a failure."
Originally, everyone thought Lee Kwang-soo would go for a female idol or actress, and they were all waiting to see Kwang-soo's awkward expression and the bewildered look on the girl's face.
Who would have thought, Kwang-soo smiled and said, "This is simple." With that, he directly grabbed Anna's hand.
"What are you doing?" Anna was startled and tried to pull away, but was pulled back again. Anna realized that Kwang-soo didn't want to embarrass himself, so he held onto her, meaning that even if he made a fool of himself, only they would know.
Looking at Kwang-soo's suddenly serious expression, Anna smiled and said, "Brother, I will definitely make you laugh; you better be ready."
"Go for it, Anna," the others began to cheer again.
"Anna, ever since you were little, you've liked to chase after me everywhere." Lee Kwang-soo stared intently at Anna without a hint of a smile. Anna thought to herself that he really was an actor; he was doing such a good job at holding back his laughter.
"It was chasing after you and other pretty sisters everywhere..." Anna retorted.
Everyone burst into laughter, but Lee Kwang-soo remained unfazed.
"I know that in your heart, I've long become a playboy. The truth is, I only seemed like one because I never met a girl I truly liked. You might not know how lost I felt when you suddenly moved away because I had gotten used to you always chasing after me and following behind. Later, when we met again, you have no idea how happy I was..." Lee Kwang-soo's voice became exceptionally soft, his eyes shining with light. Somehow, the teasing smiles on everyone's faces slowly faded away...
"You say I won't love; I am someone who submits to instinct and constantly destroys love. I know you’ve never noticed my gaze upon you because maybe I was too foolish and too late to realize that your heart had already gone far away. By the time I wanted to chase after it again, it was already too late. In your eyes now, my existence is no longer visible. I really regret being overly cautious and missing all the opportunities. I want to tell you that I'm willing to wait—wait until you can see me again, wait until your heart gradually returns from afar..."
Anna gazed into his eyes; she felt as if she had never looked so closely into Kwang-soo's eyes before. Listening to his words stirred an unusual feeling reflected in her gaze. Everyone seemed to be drawn into Kwang-soo's emotions; it felt so real that Anna slowly began to feel scared.
Just then, Kwang-soo suddenly laughed, released Anna's hand, and waved his hands saying, "No way, no way! I can't keep this up. Ahh, I couldn't hold it in."
Anna breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile returned to her face.
"Wow, you're still a professional actor. You can't even act this out," Yoo Jae-suk joked.
The previous silence among everyone disappeared, and laughter filled the room again.
"However, Mr. Kwang-soo's performance at the beginning was really good; I was moved," Eunhee said with a smile.
"You can't trust Kwang-soo," Gary laughed as he replied to Eunhee.
"Alright, alright, I admit defeat. I'm drinking," Kwang-soo said as he picked up the half glass of brandy on the table and downed it in one go.
"How many girls has this trick fooled?" Jung Kook exclaimed.
Kwang-soo smiled but didn't respond. He placed the empty glass back on the table and said, "It's my turn now; I'll spin."
The bottle spun again for the fourth round, landing on Gary.
"Brother, truth or dare?" Kwang-soo asked.
Gary hesitated for a moment and said, "Dare."
Kwang-soo laughed and said, "Looks like everyone has a lot of secrets they don't want revealed."
Ji-hyo slightly raised the corners of her mouth but did not respond.
Kwang-soo whispered a few words to Anna, then walked in front of Gary and covered his eyes. Anna quietly called Eunhee over to one side, and then she and Ji-hyo walked up to Gary, each extending a hand. Ji-hyo was somewhat reluctant, but fearing that being too resistant at this moment would make things awkward, she complied.
“Brother Gary, there are two hands in front of you. Feel them and guess whose they are. If you guess wrong, you have to drink,” Kwang-soo said with a smile.
“Ah, how could I possibly guess this?” Gary complained, but still obediently reached out to feel.
Based on everyone’s understanding of Gary, he would surely be confused and guess randomly, so drinking was a certainty.
However, when Gary grabbed Ji-hyo's hand and called her name, everyone was genuinely surprised.
Especially when Gary grabbed Anna's hand but called out Jung Eun-hee's name instead…
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward; no one knew what expression was appropriate at that moment. Not only was Kwang-soo taken aback by Jung Eun-hee's stiff expression across from him, but Gary himself also lost his words upon realizing the truth before him.
Yoo Jae-suk chuckled, stood up, gestured for everyone to sit down, then patted Gary on the shoulder in an attempt to ease the tension and said, “Hey, Gary, did you think today was Monday?”
“Yeah, looks like I drank too much,” Gary laughed as he picked up a drink from the table and took a big gulp.
Just then, a phone rang. Ji-hyo answered the call and spoke a few words, indicating it was urgent.
“Sorry everyone, I have to leave first. I have something urgent to attend to,” Ji-hyo said.
It was so late, and after such an embarrassing incident just happened, everyone interpreted Ji-hyo's behavior as an excuse to escape, but they could all understand.
"It's too late, and you've had so much to drink. How about..." Gary's worried expression was evident.
Jung Eun-hee could no longer smile; the atmosphere had never been this awkward.
Anna stood up and said with a smile, "It's fine, I haven't had any alcohol. I'll take Sister Jihyo home, don't worry, you all enjoy yourselves."
"I'll go with you, that way you can drop me off too," Kwang-soo said with a smile.
Yoo Jae-suk glanced at the time and exchanged a look with Jung Kook, then smiled and said, "It's late; let's all head back together. Ji-hyo, I'll leave it to Anna and Kwang-soo to take you home. I still need to take Jung Kook back."
"Alright."
They dispersed in different directions, destined for different conversations.
In front of the person one likes, emotions can inadvertently surface without one even realizing it, yet they can cause some harm—something that doesn't need further explanation and has no reason to clarify.
Anna looked through the rearview mirror at Ji-hyo, who was sitting in the back seat with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Jung Eun-hee, it was nice like that, but whether it was good or bad had nothing to do with liking someone.
As Jung Kook said, some seemingly obvious connections are merely personal fantasies; not everything necessarily has a causal relationship.
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