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br> I took the contract and ran around all day, and finally came to the gate of SM Company. The receptionist at the front desk had met Anna several times, and this time Simple asked skillfully, and then registered. Anna got on the elevator and went to the corresponding location. After signing the contract with Girls' Generation's agent, I took the elevator and went to find Li Agent who had not been masked for a long time. I have been to the quiet corridor and familiar scenes many times. What's amazing is that my mood is so different every time. "Anna." A familiar call. Anna turned around and saw KAI. They both bowed and said hello. "Long time no see." Kai came over. "Yeah, long time no see." "Chan-yeol is back, and you're back to runningma. It's like everything is back to square one." KAI said with a smile. "After going around in a circle, we are back to the starting point, but in the process of going around, there have been too many changes." Anna said. "After Chan-yeol came back, he trained by himself until late every day. We all went to bed before he returned to the dormitory. Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night and he hadn't fallen asleep yet. I don't know what was going on in his mind. "What?" "He has his own ideas. Everyone has their own ideas, whether it is work, dreams, or relationships. They are always different. There is no way to guess what he will do on Monday. "Go and record runningman?" "Yeah, I just came to sign the contract with Mr. Li Agent" Anna smiled. "You want me to tell Chan-yeol that you are here? He is in the dance studio over there." "No need." Anna quickly refused and said with an awkward smile: "I can do it after signing the contract. Let’s go, there are other things to do, which will happen naturally during recording.”
KAI smiled slightly and said, "Alright then. You go ahead, I'm going to find Chan-yeol."
"Okay, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Seeing KAI enter the dance studio, Anna took a couple of steps closer and caught a glimpse of Park Chan-yeol's back before retreating and continuing on to Li Agent's office.
Knock knock~~.
"Come in," Li Agent said.
Anna opened the door, and upon seeing her, Li Agent paused his work and gestured for her to sit down. Anna nodded in thanks and sat down across from the desk.
"Long time no see," Li Agent smiled.
"Yes, I’m here to sign the contract for Park Chan-yeol's appearance on Running Man next Monday. Please take a look," Anna said as she took out the contract and handed it to Li Agent with both hands.
Although he had participated in Running Man many times, Li Agent still carefully examined every detail of the contract. After confirming everything was correct, he took out a pen, signed his name, and returned it to Anna.
"Miss Anna seems to be looking quite tired lately," Li Agent remarked. "I don't know if my intuition is correct, but this time Park Chan-yeol's return to EXO—did you play any role in that? I've noticed all the changes in Chan-yeol during this time. If he used to be that cheerful and carefree big boy, now he has taken on much more responsibility and composure. A boy can only transform into a true man after experiencing real pain and persevering through it."
Anna smiled bitterly, "For him, this is also a good thing."
"When I went to Busan yesterday, I happened to run into Miss Han Yufei."
"You remember her?" Anna was surprised.
"I have no other talents, but I have a good memory for people. I think I wasn't wrong back then; she isn't suited for survival in a group like Running Man. When I saw her, she must have already been working at a branch of Century Group."
"Century Group?" This was a name that Anna hadn't encountered in a long time, and unexpectedly, Han Yufei had gone there again.
"Seeing her when she spoke to me, I think Miss Anna should be a bit cautious when she meets her again in the future," Li Agent said with a light smile.
"I know, thank you, Li Agent." Anna put away the contract and stood up. "I won't disturb you any longer. I'll see you on Monday for the recording. If there are any special matters, feel free to contact me at any time."
"Alright, goodbye."
As she walked out of the office, a sense of foreboding crept into her heart. Han Yufei left SBS because her lies were exposed; with her personality, she should have been furious. Yet the reality was that everything was surprisingly calm. For so long, Anna had been preoccupied with thoughts of Hogga and Park Chan-yeol, never taking the time to consider why Han Yufei was so unexpectedly unbothered.
She entered Century Group. Was this really just a coincidence?
"What are you daydreaming about?"
The unforgettable voice appeared beside her. Anna snapped back to reality and saw Park Chan-yeol in his Simple sportswear, sweat dampening his short Bangs. She glanced at him, lowered her head, smiled lightly, and said, "Nothing... I came to sign a contract with your manager regarding your appearance on Running Man next Monday."
Park Chan-yeol checked the time; it was already past six in the evening. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Are you going back to the company?"
"Yes, I need to return and drop off the contract with Miao PD," Anna replied.
"Did you drive here?"
"Yes."
"Alright, wait for me a moment. I didn't drive today. I'll hitch a ride with you to SBS; I have something to take care of."
"What is it?" Anna hesitated.
"Is it inconvenient?"
"No," Anna said awkwardly.
"Then wait for me for ten minutes; I'll go change," Park Chan-yeol said as he walked toward the changing room.
Anna watched his back and sighed silently, rubbing the cold sweat in her palms. She stood in front of the changing room door, waiting. Their calm conversation was unexpectedly devoid of any turbulence. Both of them were avoiding certain matters, grappling with unresolved feelings, choosing to close their eyes and ignore it. Yet, they both knew that the issue remained, difficult to reconcile.
In the deep winter season, by this time, the sky had completely darkened, and the warm streetlights could not brighten their moods. Opening her hands, Anna noticed the fine lines on her palms, faintly visible; she always saw a dirty crimson within those lines.
Jiang Yan, Jiang Zhenyuan... Those people had vanished from this world, but their names had turned into a deep red, etched into Anna's life. Every time she thought of them, it felt like sin, a pain that was deeply engraved in her heart. Hogga's gaze before his death—his misfortune and suffering—made Anna feel even more empathetic as time passed after his departure.
The more she longed to be with Park Chan-yeol, the clearer that pain became.
The changing room door opened, and their eyes met; Anna still avoided his gaze.
"Let's go," Anna said as she walked toward the elevator.
Park Chan-yeol clenched his fists; how could he not understand that pain? He sighed, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stepped toward Anna. The awkward atmosphere spread infinitely, almost suffocating. Anna cracked open a window slightly; the cold air rushed in, sending a shiver through her.
"Isn't it cold?" Park Chan-yeol asked.
"It's fine; I'm just tired. I need some fresh air to wake up," Anna replied as she closed the window again.
Inside the car, only endless silence remained.
"Mom... has she come to see you recently? She hasn't been well since Dad passed away," Park Chan-yeol said, still struggling to adapt every time he mentioned "Mom."
"She hasn't come to see me lately. Is she really unwell?"
"Yeah. Since the day she married my father, her health has been fragile. With the cold weather and Dad's passing, it's been a huge blow to her," Park Chan-yeol said.
"Oh, I see," Anna thought, feeling a bit confused.
"She now lives not far from our dorm. If you have time, I can take you to see her."
"No need..." Anna interrupted Park Chan-yeol, then felt it was a bit rude. She smiled awkwardly and said, "I mean, you don't have to trouble yourself. Just tell me the address, and I'll go by myself when I have some free time."
Park Chan-yeol chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Alright, I'll text you the address."
"Okay, thank you."
"I'll be going to Germany next month."
"Really?"
"He has already been buried. There was no funeral, but I still want to see where his grave is. To pay my respects."
"Have you been keeping track of these things?"
"Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't be able to find peace." Park Chan-yeol smiled bitterly. "It was Kim Mi-kyung who helped me find out because for some reason, Mr. Kim Yoo-chung is also very concerned about this matter. With his capabilities, it seems like nothing is impossible for him... Do you want to go together?"
"I..." Anna certainly wanted to go. She regretted countless times that she had never taken a moment to sit down and have a good talk with Hogga about how he viewed himself. She wanted to discuss the emotions he felt when he appeared before her in the snow. She also wanted to tell him that although she was scared, she had never held any resentment. Despite her resistance, a strange trust had already formed.
"I think he would want to see you more than me," Park Chan-yeol sighed.
"Maybe," Anna said. "When in the next month?"
"On the 4th. If you decide to go, arrange your work and let me know. I'll help you book the flight."
"Okay," Anna agreed. "How is Miki doing now?"
"She underwent full-body skin graft surgery. Although her appearance cannot return to its original state, she can live a normal life without much issue. She plans to recover a bit more before returning to live in South Korea. She seems much brighter now; although her beauty is gone, she is living much happier than before."
"Miki she..." Anna wanted to say something, but all her words ultimately turned into a sigh. Although they never intended to hurt Kim Mi-kyung, she still lost the beauty that all girls cherish deeply. They could never make up for it and could only hope that her future life would go well.
"Miki told me that there is a boy who treats her very well. That boy is quite ordinary, but she is happy to be with him."
"Really?"
"Yes, hearing her say that, I know she has truly let go of everything and started anew," Park Chan-yeol said with relief.
"That's great, really great."
The car drove into the parking lot in front of the SBS Building, and the two got out.
"When will you finish? Do you want me to wait for you?" Anna asked.
"Soon," Park Chan-yeol checked the time and said, "It should be about twenty minutes until I'm done. I'm here to discuss some matters with the producer of Music Bank, so it won't take long."
"Okay, then I'll wait for you in the car."
"Alright."
The elevator arrived, and Anna suddenly realized she had left something in the car, so she told Park Chan-yeol to go ahead while she returned to the parking lot. Just as she turned around, unexpectedly, Lee Kwang-soo appeared in the now sparsely populated lobby of SBS.
"Brother Kwangsoo? What are you doing here?" Anna was surprised; at this time, there were hardly any variety shows being recorded.
Lee Kwang-soo seemed stunned for a moment before he smiled and said, "I'm here to record Late Night TV."
"Ah, I see." Anna nodded; after all, that show is recorded at night, and she just hadn't thought of it.
"Why are you still here so late? Working overtime?"
"No, I spent the whole day running around signing guest appearance contracts. I'm just about to put the contract on Miao PD's desk and then I can leave," Anna said. "But doesn't Late Night TV start preparing for recording after 11 PM? It's only a little past six; why are you here so early?"
"I haven't had dinner yet," Kwang-soo said. "Do you want to go eat dinner together later?"
"I..." Anna initially wanted to agree, but then remembered she had just said she would take Park Chan-yeol home.
Noticing Anna's hesitation, Lee Kwang-soo smiled and jokingly asked, "What's wrong? Do you have a date later? No way, who would be bold enough to ask you out?"
"I'm not going to eat anyone," Anna shot him a glance as she walked toward the parking lot.
"Hey, where are you going?" Lee Kwang-soo asked.
"I left something in the car; I'm going to get it."
"Then I'll go with you," Lee Kwang-soo said as he followed her.
"Why are you following me? Aren't you afraid I'll eat you?" Anna pretended to be angry.
Lee Kwang-soo stretched his neck and shamelessly smiled, "Always at your service; bring it on."
"Ugh..." Anna gave him a disdainful look and quickened her pace.
The document she had forgotten in the car was the one signed with Nam Taehyun. Since it was the first contract signed with his manager, she had placed it in the back seat and completely forgot about it when she got out of the car.
"You spent all day running around just for these contracts?" Lee Kwang-soo asked.
"This is the hard work of us behind-the-scenes staff; how could you possibly understand?" Anna replied.
"We're also having a hard time."
"Brother, your monthly income is equivalent to my three years' worth of earnings. It's worth it, isn't it?"
"Speaking of which, I remember that movie actor with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Mr. Li. He thought we were a couple and even said he could recommend you for acting. If you really think the income is good, why not give it a try?"
"I don't want to," Anna said decisively. "I have my own path to follow. One day, I will become a real program PD."
"Alright, alright, aiming high is admirable," Lee Kwang-soo said with a hint of sarcasm.
The two continued their banter as they returned to the lobby. Anna was completely unprepared for Park Chan-yeol's quick return. As he stepped out of the elevator, their encounter felt strangely awkward among the three of them.
"Hello," Lee Kwang-soo greeted first with a bow.
"Hello," Park Chan-yeol replied.
Park Chan-yeol looked at Anna and asked, "Haven't you delivered the items yet?"
"I'm on my way up now; I didn't expect you to be back so soon," Anna responded.
"Okay, then hand me the car keys. I'll wait for you in the car," Park Chan-yeol said.
Anna took out the car keys and handed them to Park Chan-yeol.
After saying goodbye to Lee Kwang-soo, Park Chan-yeol went to wait in the car.
Anna remained silent, glanced at Kwang-soo, and entered the elevator, with Lee Kwang-soo following her inside.
"You two came together? Ah, so that's why you said you couldn't have lunch together," Lee Kwang-soo remarked.
"What? He didn't drive. He agreed to give him a ride out of friendship," Anna said.
"Is it really that simple?" Lee Kwang-soo looked at Anna suspiciously.
Anna nodded, "Of course, it's that simple. What else could it be..." She lowered her head and murmured, "There won't be anything between us anymore."
"What?" Kwang-soo didn't catch her last sentence.
"Nothing, why are you so nosy, brother?"
"I'm not! Just look at your expression; you can't hide anything from me."
Anna shot him a glance and said, "I can't be bothered with you."
After putting away the contract and knowing that Park Chan-yeol was still waiting downstairs, Anna quickened her pace a bit. Seeing Park Chan-yeol sitting in the driver's seat, Anna knocked on the car window. Park Chan-yeol, who had been staring blankly at his phone, rolled down the window upon hearing the knock.
"What's up?"
"I'm driving," Anna said.
"Do you even know where our dorm is? It seems like you've never been there."
"You can give me directions."
"I don't feel like giving you directions. I'll drive; just get in," Park Chan-yeol said as he rolled up the window.
Anna shrugged helplessly and went around to the passenger seat.
"Do you think Brother Kwang-soo has someone he likes?" Park Chan-yeol asked.
"What?" Anna exclaimed, surprised. She thought carefully and said, "Well, he has so many admirers every day. I doubt he can even count them himself."
"That may not be the case. When he meets someone he truly likes, it won't be like that," Park Chan-yeol replied.
"I really hope he can focus on one person soon," Anna said.
Park Chan-yeol raised the corner of his mouth and did not continue on that topic.
"Chan-yeol..." Anna began.
"Yes?"
"Why do you remember that time I came to find you and urged you to give up on Park Group? You clearly didn't want to. Later, why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Park Chan-yeol smiled slightly, glanced at Anna, and said, "Back then, I told you I hated you. Do you know why I hated you?"
"I do," Anna replied. "Because you thought Mr. Park Anqing's death was related to me."
"No."
"What?" Anna was surprised.
"I never believed that my father's death was related to you. I just felt that you deceived me. When I saw those photos of you with Hogga and recalled some of my encounters with him, seeing the trust and reliance in your eyes when you looked at him—that expression truly hurt me. At that moment, I only had one thought: you had already fallen for him." Park Chan-yeol paused for a moment before continuing, "Since my father's health started to decline, Park Group has been falling apart, left with nothing but an empty shell. Hogga should be aware of this too. What he wants is not this nearly dead company but to see my downfall. On the day of the negotiation, when I saw you appear at his house, I realized that more than losing to him, I didn't want to lose you..." Park Chan-yeol bitterly smiled and sighed, "But in the end, I still lost. You will never forget him; whether or not you've already fallen for him, he's like a drug—slowly creating a deadly dependency that lingers in your heart even if you try to quit."
Hearing Park Chan-yeol say these words suddenly brought relief to Anna. All along, she had thought that Park Chan-yeol believed she had conspired with Hogga to cause Park Anqing's death. It turned out she had underestimated the trust they shared. However, Hogga—a name that would long stand solidly between them—was not only a knot in Anna's heart but also in Park Chan-yeol's. Anna could not deny her strange trust and reliance on Hogga back then; she could not deny the emotions stirred by Hogga's thoughts about her even in the face of death. This deep-seated pain was unforgettable for Anna, and Park Chan-yeol—the only one who understood everything between them—would subconsciously make comparisons and feel pressure, leading him to hesitate and remain stagnant.
Both of them felt this way—distant from each other, unsure if there would ever be a day they could draw closer again.
"I'm going to Germany next month; please book me a ticket as well," Anna slowly said.
"Okay," Park Chan-yeol said.
"I noticed you haven't been wearing the ruby around your neck lately," Anna remarked.
"I don't want to wear it for now."
"How is Jang Bo-Yeon's health? How is her leg recovering?"
"Her leg was injured, affecting the bones and some nerves. She can walk without much issue, but she can't dance anymore. So she's planning to become an actress; she's already signed with a company. I hope she can develop well."
"If Jiang Baoyan still loves you that much, maybe you should try to accept her," Anna suggested.
Park Chan-yeol frowned and remained silent for a moment. "Is this what you want?"
"This is the best outcome," Anna replied. "Send me Ms. Han Yoon-soo's address; I'll visit her when I have time."
"Lady...? You still won't call her 'Mom'..."
Anna smiled coldly, "She is your mother, and she is my mother too."
"Yes, that's a fact we have to face." Park Chan-yeol chuckled helplessly. The car didn't head straight back to the EXO dormitory but instead went to a nearby small restaurant. "Alright, let's not talk about things that can't be resolved. We'll deal with the future when it comes. I'm hungry; let's get something to eat."
"Okay," Anna said, raising the corners of her mouth.
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