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墨書 Inktalez
“Hogga's death, Anna, you seem to blame me a bit,” Jin Yu Cheng asked.
Anna remained silent; she could not deny it. She stood up and walked to the window, wiping away her tears. The sunlight outside was bright, filtering through the sheer curtains, soft and warm.
It really didn’t match her current mood…
Jin Yu Cheng was right; Anna Zheng didn’t understand her feelings for Hogga. Perhaps she had always known but pretended not to understand because it was inexplicable.
Only by remaining confused for a lifetime could her feelings for Park Chan-yeol make sense. Otherwise, it would truly be a joke.
Now, as Anna Zheng's self-deceiving lies were exposed by Jin Yu Cheng, her heart might slowly begin to change towards another realm she dared not step into.
“Hmm…” a small, muffled groan escaped.
Anna turned her head, seeing blood staining the white sheets, an especially glaring sight.
“What are you doing?” Anna exclaimed in surprise. She saw Jin Yu Cheng enduring the pain as he set down the bloodied dagger and pulled out a square object from beneath the tattoo that had been pierced through his flesh, which was ‘The Track of Establishing Governance’.
Jin Yu Cheng's face turned even paler, but he quickly made a shushing gesture to Anna. She sat back down on the chair beside the bed, anxious and whispering, “What exactly are you doing?” She picked up some medical gauze and cotton to bandage his wound, relieved that it wasn’t large and hadn’t hit any blood vessels.
“This thing is for you,” Jin Yu Cheng said as he handed The Track of Establishing Governance to Anna.
“Why?” Anna asked as she took it, her hands stained with crimson.
“Given your brother's personality, he will definitely come to get this himself because he wouldn’t trust anyone else with it. If he can’t find it on me, he will surely think I would give it to Miki. I cannot let my daughter take that risk,” Jin Yu Cheng explained.
Anna sighed, "You're really direct with what you say."
"And also, I think there are things between you and Andy that you want to resolve. Don't let Miki know about The Track of Establishing Governance. The pain of carrying this burden is unimaginable. I don't want Miki to bear it."
"What about Century Group?"
"I have already converted a large portion of the real estate into liquid funds deposited into Miki's Swiss Bank account. She can do whatever she wants with it. If I die, regarding The Track of Establishing Governance, you need to hand it over to someone named Wu Daming. He drinks coffee at seat G in Xiang Shu Cafe every Wednesday at four in the afternoon."
Anna lowered her head and raised the corner of her mouth, "The Track of Establishing Governance is a huge secret. If I hand it over to that person, then I will become someone who knows the secret, and Hogga's fate will become my fate as well, right?"
"I told you, you're very smart," Jin Yu Cheng said. "Don't worry, regarding The Track of Establishing Governance, when it was implanted in my body, we both knew that only when I die will this thing leave my body. And only someone extremely trusted can know how to hand this over, when, where, and to whom."
"You have many trusted people around you, Miki. I can understand why you don't want her to take this risk. But why choose me?"
"Because you have no desire for power. Once The Track of Establishing Governance is handed over to someone who has a desire for power, it will never return to where it should be."
"I guess I should take this as a compliment," Anna said with a wry smile.
"You could say that."
"But you said before that Hogga didn't tell Andy about The Track of Establishing Governance. Why does Andy know now?"
"Because... Nanya..."
"Nanya..." Anna repeated this name that felt both unfamiliar and familiar. She clearly had heard this name before but couldn't quite recall it.
Jin Yu Cheng then said, "She has another name, Cat."
"Cat?!" Anna could hardly believe her ears. "How could it possibly be her?"
"The hatred from Hogga's death has to find a way to be released. And I am the outlet for that woman's hatred because of Hogga's death," Jin Yu Cheng said. "After all, how could someone who has been so close for many years, someone they loved for so long, just let it go?"
"Cat wants to team up with Andy to take revenge on you," Anna said.
"I think, aside from this reason, I can't think of any other," Jin Yu Cheng replied.
Since Hogga's death, Cat had been silent without any news. Perhaps it was this quiet endurance that turned sorrow into longing, longing into complaints, and complaints into hatred. The sorrow that had no outlet could only be resolved through hatred; whether it ended in mutual destruction or complete ruin, it ultimately meant not being completely immersed in grief.
Oh Cat, Anna should have seen long ago the feelings she had for Hogga. The untold story between them.
"You think you can resolve the matter with Yoo Jae-suk on your own? If it weren't for Cat secretly protecting you according to Hogga's wishes, perhaps you wouldn't even be here talking to me," Jin Yu Cheng said.
Anna nodded weakly and said, "Yes, given your way of doing things, how could you possibly keep me around? I thought of that myself."
"However, it's also thanks to them; otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to help me reclaim Century Group at that time. Even if Andy hadn't taken me out, the people in Congress would have found me, and I would have met the same fate," Jin Yu Cheng said.
"Everything really seems like it was arranged by fate; everyone had no choice," Anna said. She looked at her blood-stained palms and the cold object resembling a small USB drive—the Track of Establishing Governance. She raised her head and looked at Jin Yu Cheng, calmly asking, "Mr. Kim Yoo-chung, I want to ask you something. Please tell me the truth."
"Go ahead."
"This." Anna lifted the Track of Establishing Governance in her hand and asked, "If I hand this over to that gentleman, will I really be able to live peacefully?"
Jin Yu Cheng was silent for a moment before smiling again. He nodded and said, "I can't be sure."
This answer, which Anna had anticipated, left her with no choice but to accept it, just as she had accepted so many helpless situations before. This time was no exception.
"I understand," Anna said as she stood up, intending to leave the room.
"But Anna," Jin Yu Cheng said. Anna paused but still faced away from him. "You need to understand that everything is fair. The Track of Establishing Governance will be the condition for your negotiation with Zheng Andy today. I have given you something of value, and you need to provide an appropriate return. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Anna replied emotionlessly and left the room.
Everything was shrouded in a magazine; no matter how beautiful it once was, it would become dull and lifeless. Anna wiped the small object clean of blood and tucked it into her pocket.
Dong Wan's phone rang again, likely urging her to go to work. Anna turned off her phone and did not respond.
"You're here so early," Miki said as she arrived.
"Yeah," Anna replied.
"I'll go check on my father," Miki said.
"Okay," Anna responded.
Miki entered the room, but before long, she ran out crying.
"What happened?" Anna realized something was wrong.
"Dad... Dad can't hold on anymore..." Miki held Anna's hand.
"Come in quickly." Anna hurriedly entered Jin Yu Cheng's room with Miki. The doctor rushed in as well to perform emergency treatment. Miki cried uncontrollably, having just lost her mother, and Anna understood the pain of that experience.
After more than half an hour of struggle, the doctor walked out with a pale face.
"Say what you need to say quickly; we have done our best," the doctor said.
Miki collapsed to the ground, and Anna quickly supported her. "Miki, pull yourself together. Whatever it is, go talk to Mr. Kim Yoo-chung."
Miki swayed as if she had lost her soul and walked to Jin Yu Cheng's bedside. Fortunately, he was still quite conscious. Anna had never believed in the phenomenon of a dying person's last words, but now she was witnessing it. Perhaps the things Jin Yu Cheng had said to her were thoughts he had kept hidden for a long time. The significant relationship known as 'The Track of Establishing Governance' was what had allowed him to hold on until now. With this major concern finally set aside, it felt like he was releasing a breath he had held for too long. The belief in survival also dissipated.
"Dad..." Miki cried loudly, unable to speak through her tears as she embraced Jin Yu Cheng.
Jin Yu Cheng's voice was faint. "Miki... Miki... After I leave, you must leave Korea... and never come back."
"No, Dad... don't die... don't leave me..."
"Tonight, resolve the matters that need resolving... then... leave forever..."
"No... I don't want to... Dad... please."
"Miki... go call Anna over... I have something to say..."
Miki was somewhat surprised but nodded and waved to Anna outside the door. After a moment of thought, Anna walked in.
Even at the moment of death, when looking at the person one loves, the eyes are filled with love. When gazing at those who are useful but unrelated, there is never any emotion. Even at this time, Jin Yu Cheng's gaze at Anna and his daughter was still so different.
"Anna... you must remember what I said..."
Anna nodded, her expression blank. She couldn't force herself to appear sad; perhaps that would be better for Miki.
"I know, Mr. Kim Yoo-chung," Anna replied.
"Miki... Andy will definitely come today... you must not interfere... let Miss Anna handle things... from now on... how to proceed, leave it to her... just arrange it... give Miss Anna a gun... she should be able to use it..."
"Dad... what do you mean?" Miki asked through tears.
"Listen to me... Miss Anna... you should understand too," Jin Yu Cheng's voice grew fainter.
Anna nodded, while Miki's cries grew louder and more painful, as life slipped away, unable to be grasped or held onto.
In this world, everything that is sought but unattainable brings such sadness and pain.
Ultimately, Jin Yu Cheng breathed his last, yet Anna suddenly felt an unprecedented calmness. Standing at the door, she instructed all the doctors to stay in one room while Jin Yu Cheng's men confiscated their communication devices, forbidding them from stepping out tonight.
Looking at the still weeping Miki, Anna spoke in a calm tone: "Miki, if you don't want tonight's plan to fail, stop."
"Anna... how can you say that?" Miki shot her a confused and resentful look.
"Because only by doing this can you live a stable life as Mr. Kim Yoo-chung said. If Andy finds out that Mr. Kim Yoo-chung died before he arrived, what will happen? You should understand the consequences."
Miki looked at Anna in disbelief, her brow furrowed as she stood up. "Anna, you've changed. You weren't like this before."
"Yes. I have changed," Anna replied, looking into Kim Mi-kyung's eyes. "Because over the past two years, I've lost so much. It made me realize that for things that cannot be undone, there's no point in dwelling on them. We should focus on preserving what we still have around us. Just like now, I want to protect you for your father's sake."
"Anna, you're really frightening," Kim Mi-kyung said.
"That's right," Anna said. "If you had gone through what I have—finally finding your mother only to have her poisoned by your own brother—you would understand why I've become frightening. Mr. Kim Yoo-chung has already made plans for you, and honestly, I've always felt guilty towards you. I think that no matter the outcome today, I will pay with my life to at least repay you somewhat."
"Anna... Andy... killed his own mother?" Kim Mi-kyung couldn't believe it.
Anna patted Miki's shoulder and said, "According to Mr. Kim Yoo-chung, get me a gun. Then ask those doctors who can get Cantharidin the fastest. I need some."
"Cantharidin?"
"It's a poison."
"Anna, you?"
"Don't worry, I'll give you a satisfactory answer," Anna said.
Miki wiped her tears and said a few words to Jin Yu Cheng's body before leaving the room and closing the door. Anna sat in the living room and brewed a pot of tea.
The sun had set, and the sky was growing darker. Miki soon returned with Cantharidin and a Colt M2000. She placed them on the table, and Anna glanced at them before slowly hiding the handgun behind her waistband.
"Anna, what exactly are you planning to do?" Miki asked with concern.
"Miki, find a few people to guard in Mr. Kim Yoo-chung's room. You can stay inside as well. As for this place, let me handle it alone. Before Mr. Kim Yoo-chung's door is opened, you must not come out or make any noise, okay?"
"Just you alone?"
"Don't worry," Anna said. "I just have some things I need to say to Andy and Cat. It will be fine. If the door opens and it's not me, you can shoot from inside."
"If something really happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to Brother Canlie?" Miki said.
Anna raised the corner of her mouth. Hearing Chan-yeol's name, she didn't know what the right thing to do was anymore.
"Chan-yeol doesn't know about this. I don't want him involved any further," Anna said. "He's living well now, and he should continue to live a good life."
Both of them fell silent. They had once fought so fiercely for him, disregarding everything, only to realize later that Park Chan-yeol did not belong to either of them.
Anna looked outside; it was completely dark now. "It's getting dark... Let's prepare," Anna said.
Miki left. Anna knew that only by thoroughly cleaning everything up would the day truly brighten and spring finally arrive.
The phone's battery was flashing red, with only seven percent remaining. Anna glanced at the brewed tea on the table, poured it into a cup, and steam was still rising from it. Outside the open door, the moon had risen high at some point, shining exceptionally bright and clear.
It was so quiet; in this season, even the insects were silent, with only the occasional passing wind causing the leaves to rustle lightly.
She added a few drops of Mantis into the teapot. Anna sniffed it; there was no unusual smell, just the fragrance of tea. Cantharidin was indeed a potent poison for ending lives. She wondered if drinking it would cause prolonged suffering.
Anna covered the teapot and picked up her phone again.
She didn't know whether it was Andy or herself who walked out of there today.
There were still some words to say.
For the first call, Anna hesitated for a moment but still dialed Park Chan-yeol. However, until the voice prompt of "The user you are trying to reach is busy, please try again later" came through her phone, Park Chan-yeol never picked up. Anna felt a bit bitter; in the end, they really did succumb to fate.
For the second call, the name Lee Kwang-soo appeared in her eyes, and Anna pressed the button.
"Hello? Is that you, Anna..." Lee Kwang-soo's voice sounded deliberately lowered on the other end.
"Brother Kwangsoo..." Anna slightly raised the corners of her mouth.
"I'm recording a show right now. What's up?" Lee Kwang-soo said.
"Recording a show?" Anna asked.
Lee Kwang-soo chuckled proudly, "I made an excuse to go to the bathroom; I need to hurry back."
"Is that so? Thank you, Brother Kwangsoo."
"Why are you suddenly saying such things? It's strange. Did something happen?"
"No." Anna replied, "It's just that we're recording next Monday. Pay more attention; you were cut out of a lot last time."
"Oh, is that all? Don't worry." Lee Kwang-soo said.
"Well, okay, you focus on recording the show," Anna said.
"Alright, I'll call you after I'm done," Lee Kwang-soo replied.
"Okay."
For the third call, Anna chose to call Brother Jae-seok.
"Anna, what's wrong? Is something happening so late?" Yoo Jae-suk asked, worried because he knew about Han Yoon-soo's situation.
"Nothing," Anna said. "Brother Jae-seok, my phone is about to die. I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Brother Jae-seok, if I don't call you by ten o'clock tomorrow morning, please contact Park Chan-yeol for me and have him handle my mother's affairs."
"Anna, what's going on? Where are you?"
"I'm fine, Brother Jae-seok..." Anna said. "I really want to see Running Man thrive again. I want to see it become as popular as it used to be. I hope that one day I can create a show myself. If that day comes, Brother Jae-seok, will you host it?"
"Anna, why are you suddenly saying this?" Yoo Jae-suk felt an ominous premonition.
"Brother Jae-seok, my phone is about to die. Please remember what I said," Anna urged. Before Yoo Jae-suk could respond, she looked at her phone screen and saw it had completely gone black.
If she could, Anna actually wanted to call Hogga and have a proper conversation with him. They had never talked calmly; every meeting was filled with fear and concealment, shock and confusion. If Jin Yu Cheng hadn't told her about Hogga's illness, Anna would never have understood why Hogga always wore those gloves or why he refused to let her try to understand him until the very end.
Anna wanted to ask him: when waiting at the subway entrance on a snowy day, did those words have anything to do with love?
The answer seemed to be on the tip of her tongue, yet she chose to avoid it. Because she couldn't bear the weight and guilt it carried.
The unique sound of high heels approached gradually from the stone path in the courtyard. Anna didn't expect Cat to come with Andy. She had been gone for a long time, yet Cat was still as stunning as ever. Dressed in black, with tall black boots, she resembled a mysterious and proud cat. Cat seemed slightly surprised as well, but then smirked lightly.
"No wonder it's so quiet here; it seems we were deceived by Miss Anna." Cat's red lips were particularly enchanting.
"My sister, I really underestimated you." Andy said angrily. "You always side with outsiders against me; it's so predictable."
"We've been played..." Cat laughed disdainfully.
"You came looking for Jin Yu Cheng for just one thing." Anna said steadily, pouring the long-simmered tea into two cups.
Upon hearing this, Andy's eyes flickered for a moment, but he quickly smiled dismissively.
"Oh? What is it that you're talking about?"
Anna dipped her finger in the tea and wrote on the table, 'The Track of Establishing Governance.'
This time, while Cat showed no reaction, Andy's expression changed drastically.
"This old man actually told you about this; you really are impressive. It seems I've been outsmarted by my own sister so many times; it's no surprise." Andy sneered.
"I'm not interested in this; tell me where Jin Yu Cheng is?" Cat demanded.
"Sister Cat, please wait a moment. Regarding Jin Yu Cheng, I will give you a satisfactory answer. But for now, I want to resolve some matters with my younger brother," Anna said calmly.
The clouds obscured the moonlight, making it particularly dark outside.
"You have quite the attitude. What do you plan to use to negotiate with me?" Andy scoffed.
Cat lowered her head and smiled, leaning against the wall as she lit a cigarette, choosing not to speak further.
Anna pointed to the words 'The Track of Establishing Governance' on the table and met Andy's gaze. "Because what you want is in my hands."
Andy hesitated slightly. "Do you think I would still believe you?"
Anna glanced at Cat, knowing she had no choice but to take a gamble. She placed The Track of Establishing Governance on the table and then drew a handgun from behind her, pressing the barrel against the small square object. "If you don't believe me, I'll destroy it with one shot!"
"Don't!" Andy shouted as he pulled out his own gun, aiming it at Anna. "If you dare to destroy it, I will definitely kill you!" Although this was the choice Anna had anticipated from Andy, it still pained her slightly. At that moment, the silent Cat also drew her gun, pointing it at Andy's head and calmly said, "If you dare to kill her, I will make sure your head explodes."
Andy was furious but felt cornered on all sides, suppressing his anger and refraining from making any rash moves. He glared at Cat with malice. "You crazy woman!"
But Anna knew that at least in this round, she had won her gamble.
Cat would not harm Anna because she was someone Hogga protected with her life.
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