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墨書 Inktalez
Behind the scenes, Li Agent quietly watched Anna directing the dance shoot until it concluded, then slowly approached. His expression revealed no joy or anger.
“Miss Anna, how did you come up with this shooting technique?” Li Agent asked.
Anna was unsure whether he was happy or angry; she simply expressed her thoughts, saying, “For this EXO dance, I chose not to use many close-ups like last time because I've watched the MV for this song numerous times. The essence of this dance lies in the smooth transitions of the overall formation rather than individual shots. Close-ups can't capture that, so I specifically requested more overhead shots yesterday. I believe this will showcase...”
Before Anna could finish her sentence, Li Agent burst into laughter. Anna was taken aback and confused.
“Is there something wrong?” Anna asked.
Li Agent shook his head and said, “No, I just find it amusing.”
“What’s funny? Is it my idea?” Anna inquired.
“No, it’s just that this shooting technique is something even directors who specialize in live music recordings haven't thought of. Throughout these days of promoting the song, your directing style has been the only one that satisfied me. It’s surprising that it comes from such a young girl, especially one working as an FD on a variety show.”
Anna smiled and replied, “That’s not surprising.”
“Why not?”
“Because those directors who record live music have their fixed methods for shooting, while variety shows require adaptability in their filming approach. They rely on their experience, while I just researched this particular EXO MV extensively.” Anna explained.
Li Agent paused for a moment and said, “What you said may have some truth to it.”
“I wouldn’t dare to lecture you on reasoning,” Anna humbly replied.
Li Agent lowered his head and smiled, as if he had thought of something. He looked at Anna and said, "Actually, I've always felt a bit sorry about what happened between Miss Anna and Chan-yeol."
Anna stiffened and raised the corners of her mouth, not expecting Li Agent to suddenly bring this up.
"It's nothing, Li Agent. We're good friends now. The past is behind us," Anna replied.
"In fact, I've had some suspicions. For instance, the way Park Chan-yeol and S.M were able to suddenly overcome their crisis this time—could it be related to Miss Anna? I know that Zheng Andy is Miss Anna's brother. He's a trainee at S.M and was briefly the chairman of Century Group. After he stepped down, all the crises seemed to vanish inexplicably. But... everything happens for a reason; it can't just be a coincidence. Don't tell me you don't know anything and are just an observer," Li Agent said.
Anna smiled slightly and said, "Li Agent, no matter what, I can only exist as an observer in this matter. Please continue to think of me that way."
Li Agent confirmed the emotions and determination on Anna's face. After a long pause, he said, "I understand. But regardless of whether it's right or wrong, I have to say thank you, Miss Anna."
Anna did not respond, remaining noncommittal.
"Thank you all for your hard work; we're done for the day. Let's go get dinner," Park Soo Eun announced, having already made dinner arrangements.
After a tiring day, she could barely lift her arms. The hotel was located by the sea, and opening the window revealed the waves; however, the autumn sea breeze was quite cold. She couldn't hold out for long before closing the window. Just as she turned around, she saw Gary and Ji-hyo walking slowly along the coastline... Anna smiled knowingly and drew the curtains.
Ding~ A text message alert sounded. Anna picked up her phone to see a message from Park Chan-yeol.
"Come to the garden on the left side of the hotel."
After thinking for a moment, Anna replied, "Not going; it's too late. You should rest early."
"Are we not friends? Hurry up and come out, or should I knock on your door so everyone hears? Would that make you happy? You still have lingering feelings for me, right?"
"Of course not! How could that be?"
"Then hurry up."
Anna sighed, "Okay."
Anna felt a bit anxious as she checked her phone; it was already past ten at night. After a tiring day, she had planned to rest well, but now she couldn't shake off her sleepiness.
She put on a coat, slipped on her shoes, and just took her phone before heading out.
"It's so late, where are you going?" Unfortunately, she ran into Lee Kwang-soo, who was just about to head back to his room.
Anna smiled awkwardly and said, "I want to take a walk by the beach."
"By yourself? It's so dark! Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Lee Kwang-soo exclaimed.
"It's fine," Anna quickly waved her hand.
"Wait, let me grab a jacket and go with you," Lee Kwang-soo said.
"No need, Brother Kwangsoo..." Anna said, feeling a bit anxious.
Noticing that she seemed to have something difficult to say, Lee Kwang-soo quietly asked, "What's really going on? Aren't you going to be honest?"
"I... I need to find a friend and talk about something," Anna stammered, biting her lip.
"Who is it?"
"Park... Park Chan-yeol..." Anna hesitated.
"You all...?"
"Nothing at all. Right now, we are really just friends." Anna explained a bit agitatedly, unsure whether she was trying to clarify this to Kwang-soo or just emphasizing the fact to herself.
"I didn't say anything. Why are you so worked up?" Lee Kwang-soo said with a smile.
"I..."
"Alright, then you can go." Lee Kwang-soo said.
"Okay. Brother Kwangsoo, please don't tell anyone else. I don't want others to overthink it." Anna said.
Kwang-soo nodded with a smile, his playful demeanor fading slightly. "Don't worry... But, Anna, that day when I called you and asked you to come out, you said you had something going on. What was it?"
Anna didn't know how to respond. She worried that if she told Kwang-soo it was also about Park Chan-yeol, the clarification she had just made would become tangled again.
"I couldn't make it because we had unexpected guests at home. I'm really sorry, Brother Kwangsoo."
Kwang-soo seemed thoughtful and murmured, "It seems like they were very important guests."
"What?" Anna didn't catch that.
"Nothing."
"By the way, Brother Kwangsoo, why did you want to see me that day?" Anna asked.
Kwang-soo raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and smiled as he said, "I started dating a new girl and wanted to invite you to hang out with us."
Anna was surprised. Kwang-soo had never mentioned that he would introduce his girlfriend to his friends, so it seemed that this time he was serious.
"Really? Should we meet next time?" Anna asked.
"No need."
"What?"
"Because we only dated for three days before breaking up."
"I see." Anna felt that Kwang-soo was a bit sad and didn't know how to comfort him.
"Don't worry, there will be new ones next week. When have I ever lacked women around me?" Lee Kwang-soo said with a smile.
Anna could clearly see a hint of loneliness in his eyes that she hadn't noticed before, but seeing him trying to act carefree, she couldn't bring herself to expose it. He really seemed to have met someone he truly loved, just as Anna had predicted. But the ending seemed to be quite dismal. Emotional debts are always fair; whatever you gain, you will eventually have to pay back.
"Well, if you like someone next time, I will definitely come to meet her, no matter if there's a typhoon or hail," Anna said with a smile.
"Then it's settled," Lee Kwang-soo replied. "Go on now."
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, although the moon wasn't full yet, the moonlight was exceptionally cool. The light scattered in the garden made it hard to distinguish whether it was from lamps or the moon. The sound of crickets mixed with the waves made everything feel even quieter.
"What did you call me for?" Anna asked.
Park Chan-yeol, who had been sitting and playing games on his phone, looked up when he saw Anna arrive. He smiled lightly and patted the spot next to him on the bench, saying, "Come sit."
Anna looked around to ensure no one was watching before sitting down.
"What are you doing, sneaking around like a thief?" Park Chan-yeol teased.
"Isn't that the truth? Back in the day, we could do whatever without being photographed. Now, if we get caught, it feels like we're being pressured," Anna replied with a self-deprecating laugh. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Do I need a reason to call you out?"
Anna looked at him and said, "So there's nothing going on? If that's the case, I'm heading back." As she stood up, Park Chan-yeol pulled her back down.
"Is it going to kill you to sit with me for a while?" Park Chan-yeol said. "You claim we're good friends, yet you're so ungrateful."
"I'm tired after a long day; don't you want to rest?"
Park Chan-yeol smirked and said, "Seeing you makes me feel energized."
Anna rolled her eyes. "What nonsense are you talking? Making jokes like that now? Didn't we agree to just be good friends? Let's not say things like that anymore."
"We're good friends, but who says good friends can't become lovers?"
"Wait?" Anna looked at him in surprise. "What did you just say?"
"Nothing," Park Chan-yeol said. "Just remember that we're good friends for now."
Whoever said that an ending is a permanent conclusion might just be overlooking the possibility of a new journey beginning.
Anna nodded.
The two of them simultaneously looked up at the moon. A long silence ensued, but the sounds of the wind, the waves, and the pleasant chirping of insects filled the air, preventing any awkwardness from settling in and instead creating an inexplicable warmth.
"The little restaurant we went to before is also called Moon Restaurant. You even got drunk there," Anna said, unconsciously smiling.
Moonlight, waves, a garden, and a bench—this somewhat clichéd scene began a familiar yet heartfelt conversation. There was no deliberate arrangement and no burden of identity; it felt as if they had truly become old friends, reminiscing about stories long forgotten. Everything was devoid of intention; it was simply this moment, this tranquility, this moonlight that nurtured buried warmth and vulnerability. Not expressing these beautiful feelings would be a disservice, allowing them to take flight like shimmering wings, swirling in the night.
Park Chan-yeol smiled and glanced at Anna before returning his gaze to the moon.
"If we had sat down quietly like this before and talked, maybe it wouldn't have ended up like that," Park Chan-yeol said.
Anna seemed to ponder this, pursing her lips as if she were both smiling and sighing.
"Ifs and maybes are just assumptions. I've made those assumptions many times too, but now I understand that they are useless. Assumptions will always remain assumptions; what has happened in reality and the choices we've made have already become established facts that cannot be changed or undone," Anna said.
"Cannot be undone, but we can start anew," Park Chan-yeol replied.
Anna smiled lightly and asked, "Like being friends like this?"
"It seems you're more comfortable being friends this way. It looks like my previous role as your boyfriend was a failure," Park Chan-yeol said.
"Actually, I was the one who failed. If I were good enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, I wouldn't always worry about dragging you down..." Anna said.
The atmosphere began to drift toward an uncontrollable direction. Realizing this, Anna quickly closed her mouth after saying that and smiled, changing the subject. "So what have you been doing in Australia? You must have rested thoroughly. That's why you looked so energetic recording today, right? You even tore off Brother Kwangsoo's and Jung Kook's name tags—impressive!"
Park Chan-yeol chuckled helplessly and said, "During my time in Australia, I saw my father and... my mother. They should be returning home soon because they're about to move their business back to the country."
When Park Chan-yeol mentioned "mother," he seemed to hesitate for a moment. Anna did not notice this small yet fleeting detail.
"And he also wants me to help him manage his work."
"What about your singing career?" Anna asked.
"So we had a big fight, and I didn't agree," Park Chan-yeol said with a nonchalant smile. "We've been arguing every time we meet since I was little, so I'm used to it."
Although Park Chan-yeol claimed that he always argued with his father, Anna could sense from his words that his father cared for him. His father expressed a somewhat authoritarian love in his own way, which naturally provoked Park Chan-yeol's resistance. Everyone is an individual with independent thoughts.
"Your father cares about you," Anna said.
"He does care, but he never asks me what I want. By the way, it seems like your father wasn't good to you."
"My father?" Anna sighed lightly and said, "He passed away six years ago..."
Park Chan-yeol suddenly remembered that he had never heard Anna mention her parents before.
"When Andy and I were born, our mother left without a word. Our father drank every day because he blamed our mother. After our grandmother died, Andy and I had to work to pay for our tuition. So compared to us, you lived like a 'young master'; you should be content," Anna said with a smile.
"Have you ever looked for her?"
"Who?"
"Your mother."
Anna shook her head and said, "I've never seen her, have no memories of her, and don't want to look for her. Everything related to her at home, including even a single photo, was destroyed by my father. So Andy and I have always considered her dead; it makes us feel a bit better."
Feeling Park Chan-yeol's sympathetic gaze, Anna quickly put on a smile.
"What's wrong? Do you feel sorry for me? Hehe, now you know how happy you are, right?" Anna said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, I guess I never asked you these things. Seeing Andy make so much money, I thought you were doing well all along."
"I believe that everyone's path is predetermined. If you think this part has been particularly tough, then when you reach the end, there will definitely be a huge gem waiting for you. Such a big gem wouldn't be easily obtained, so all this hardship is inevitable," Anna said.
A faint sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation. Anna quickly pulled Park Chan-yeol behind a tree. Before long, they saw Ji-hyo and Gary walking over, both wearing smiles that revealed an unmistakable happiness.
"Isn't that..." Park Chan-yeol's eyes widened.
"Shh!" Anna quickly hushed him.
They waited until the two walked further away before stepping out from behind the tree.
"Are they really...?" Park Chan-yeol asked Anna.
Anna smiled and said, "How would I know? Just look for yourself."
"Brother Gary canceled the engagement; it can't be because of Sister Jihyo, right?" Park Chan-yeol was surprised.
"Marriage is because of love; not getting married is obviously because of a lack of love," Anna said, yawning. "I'm so tired; I need to go back to sleep."
"Okay, let's go," Park Chan-yeol said as he prepared to follow Anna.
"Hey, wait." Anna grabbed Park Chan-yeol's arm and pointed to another small path. "You go this way, and I'll go this way."
Park Chan-yeol looked at her helplessly.
Anna could only say, "Big star, this is for your own good."
"Thank you! Goodbye," he said, walking towards another path pointed out by Anna. "The change in attitude is really fast; just a moment ago everything was fine, and suddenly it's like a different person... Women are so fickle, without exception..." Park Chan-yeol muttered as he walked away.
Anna found it amusing and smiled slightly before turning to leave.
At seven thirty in the morning, it was time to wake up the Members of Running Man and the EXO members. The Task Force personnel had already woken up before six to prepare for filming and assign tasks.
Anna felt sore all over and somewhat inexplicably cold. It might have been due to being too tired yesterday and waking up early today, so she didn’t pay much attention to it.
However, a sharp-eyed Park Soo Eun noticed Anna's lackluster appearance and asked, "What's wrong? You look unwell."
"Huh?" Anna smiled and replied, "It's nothing; I probably just didn't sleep well."
Park Soo Eun reached out to touch Anna's forehead and exclaimed, "Sister, can I call you that?"
"What's wrong?" Anna touched her own forehead and realized her temperature was a bit off.
"What's wrong? You're burning up like this and asking me what's wrong? What did you do last night? Don't tell me you went swimming in the sea. Hurry and ask Miao PD for leave; I don't want to carry you out at the end," she said, pulling on Anna's arm to find Miao PD.
Over there, Miao PD was busy giving instructions to the VJs and other Camera Crew staff while holding a notebook, completely occupied. Anna quickly pulled Park Soo Eun back.
"No way! I've already asked for leave so many times. If I ask again at such a critical moment, Miao PD will explode."
"But you can't work with such a high fever; are you trying to kill yourself?"
"It's fine; don't you have some fever-reducing medicine? I'll take some first. I'll hold on until tonight," Anna said.
"What's wrong?" Han Yufei happened to walk over.
Anna quickly smiled and shook her head, saying, "It's nothing, let's get back to work." With that, she immediately ran off to the location for the first recording of the day, holding the process book.
Park Soo Eun watched her retreating figure, hands on her hips, muttering angrily, "Fine, I'll go get you some medicine. You reckless girl, don't you care about your life? Let's see how you manage a whole day on just one pill. If you collapse, it's not my problem."
Han Yufei glanced at Park Soo Eun and then headed in the direction Anna had gone.
"Anna, you and Yufei go wait at the pool for the flying chair game. Once we finish waking everyone up here and complete the first game, we'll head straight there. It's on the top floor of the hotel, so it won't take long to get there. Make sure to be ready."
"Understood."
Miao PD looked at Anna's expression with some concern and asked, "Anna, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine; I probably just didn't sleep well last night. I'll be okay after a while," Anna replied.
Miao PD nodded and said, "Alright, then hurry up."
"Okay. Got it."
The two of them agreed and hurried over. At the pool area, they were still setting up the filming equipment. Anna joined in to help adjust the positions of the filming machines while Han Yufei checked the necessary wiring.
"Has the flying chair been tested?" Anna asked.
"It was set up last night and tested; everything is fine," said Cheon Doohyun from the props team.
"Dou Hyun, let's test it again just to be safe," Han Yufei suggested.
"Yes, let's test it again. Thank you, Brother Douxian," Anna said.
"Okay," Cheon Doohyun replied, demonstrating to Anna and Han Yufei, "Press this red button, and the chair will pop out. Press the red button again, and the chair will slowly retract."
The two nodded, feeling relieved once they saw everything was functioning properly.
Anna walked over to the chair to set up the windproof recording device and a small camera. She squatted beside the pool; the water was temperature-controlled, but at this time of year, getting wet and then coming out would likely be quite chilly.
"Bath…"
Before she could finish saying "towel," Anna felt a sudden push from behind, losing her balance and plunging into the water. Caught off guard, she swallowed a mouthful of water and choked on it. Fortunately, the water wasn't deep, and Anna quickly regained her balance and surfaced.
A group of people had gathered around upon seeing what happened, but everyone was busy with their own tasks and didn't notice who had pushed her in; they assumed Anna had fallen in by herself.
"What's wrong, Anna? Just trying out the water temperature?" several staff members joked.
Anna didn't see who had pushed her, and hearing their comments made her realize that no one else had seen it either; it might have just been an accidental bump.
"Come on up," Zhang Yuanxiao and Cheon Doohyun quickly pulled Anna out. The cold wind hit her, making her shiver. This was just adding insult to injury.
"Hurry up and change clothes," Han Yufei wrapped a thick, soft towel around Anna.
"I don't have any clothes to change into!" Anna exclaimed in frustration. "I'll just wrap myself in this towel for now. When Sister Jihyo arrives, she should have some spare clothes I can borrow."
"You'll be waiting for a while," Zhang Yuanxiao said.
"It's fine, it's fine. Everyone just get back to work," Anna said as she returned to her tasks. The others understood her intentions; after all, the shooting schedule was tight and couldn't afford any delays. Since neither Han Yufei nor Zhang Yuanxiao had the ability or experience to independently direct a shoot at that moment, they silently quickened their pace, hoping to finish the preparations as soon as possible.
Zhang Yuanxiao thought for a moment and then took another towel to replace the one that was already soaked on Anna.
"Thank you, Yuanxiao," Anna said with a smile.
"Sister Anna, you don't look too well," Zhang Yuanxiao said with concern.
"I'm fine, don't worry, just go ahead and do what you need to do," Anna replied.
Zhang Yuanxiao hesitated for a moment and said, "Alright, but if you can't hold on any longer, you must let me know, Sister Anna."
Anna nodded and said, "Don't worry."
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