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However, after taking a few steps, Anna turned back again, and surprisingly, the white dog followed her. When it saw Anna turn around, it also stopped in its tracks.
Anna looked into its eyes and said, "If you're going to follow me, then come home with me. You can be called Peter, okay?"
The Big White Dog seemed to understand, as it wagged its tail. Anna smiled slightly and continued on her way home, with the white dog quietly following behind her.
After giving it a bath, Anna checked the leftover dog food at home and found that it had already expired. She had no choice but to feed it some rice for now. The Stray Dog was always eager for the feeling of having a home, and even plain rice was devoured completely. It sat beside Anna, wagging its tail, its newly refreshed white fur looking adorable. If it gained a bit more weight, it would definitely be an even cuter dog.
If not for its unexpected arrival, Anna might never have chosen to raise a dog in her lifetime.
"Sleep now; from now on, this is your home," Anna said as she patted its head. "Sleep well, Peter."
Those who are meant to come will always arrive, and those who are meant to leave cannot be held back. It's best to accept it calmly.
Yet, it seemed that after all the twists and turns, she had somehow returned to the starting point, which was quite amusing.
The next morning, when she arrived at the recording site, Dong Wan and the others didn't know what to say upon seeing Anna. After a simple greeting, they all went about their own business without the usual playful banter.
"Zheng PD," Park Soo Eun approached and said. She had never addressed Anna like that before and clearly still harbored some resentment. "The props are ready; do you want to check them?"
Anna understood her displeasure; however, the situation was already a done deal and could not be changed. With just over an hour until the members and guests arrived, Anna didn't have time to explain much to her. She could only nod and get up to check the prop setup with her.
"Dong Wan, we need to use the tracking camera today; has the filming crew prepared everything?" Anna asked after finishing checking the props.
"Everything is ready," Dong Wan replied.
"Alright, I'll go check on the audio," Anna said.
"Okay, go ahead."
Anna was busy running around, and everyone saw that she seemed just as usual. Although they felt uncomfortable inside, it was more about reluctance and confusion.
"Hey, why are you leaving? The show is finally getting back on track after all the effort we put in, and you're just going to leave? Are you trying to take the easy way out?" Park Seok asked bluntly as he pulled Anna aside.
"What easy way out? I'm about to be unemployed, if anything. If there were an easy way out, with my current skills, I wouldn't just be unable to fly; I'd probably crash and burn," Anna joked.
"Everyone in the industry knows that since you and Dong Wan became PDs, the show has slowly started to improve. They must be eager to poach you," Park Seok said.
"Really? Am I that in demand?" Anna laughed. "I had no idea; no one has approached me yet." She patted Park Seok on the shoulder and said, "I'm just too tired. I want to take a good break. Look at me," Anna raised her arm and said, "I'm so thin I'm just skin and bones. If this continues, what will happen if I really get sick?"
Park Seok was startled. "Don't scare me! You’re not really going to end up like the female lead in a drama with some kind of cancer, are you?"
"Get out of here with that. You're cursing me," Anna rolled her eyes at him and said, "Hurry up and get back to work; your brother Kwon Ryeol is already adjusting the equipment."
"I've already finished adjusting it," Park Seok replied.
"Alright then, I'll give you credit for that."
"Anna! Anna!" Dong Wan called out.
"What’s up?" Anna asked. She noticed that the previously dull Production Team had suddenly become excited due to the arrival of one or two black SUVs, especially the girls who had put on dresses today; they looked both happy and shy.
"The guests have arrived; you should go over and brief them," Dong Wan said. "I still have things to take care of here. Take Yuanxiao with you so he can learn."
"Okay," Anna said, waving goodbye to Park Seok as she walked with Zhang Yuanxiao towards the guest lounge. Although it was called a lounge, it was actually a temporary tent set up for outdoor filming. The guests were TVXQ, who had just returned from military service and were making their comeback, consisting of Yunho and Shin Changmin. Anna had been a fan of theirs since high school, and now on the last day of her work on Running Man, she was thrilled that they were the guests.
"Anna sister, what are you smiling about? Are you that happy to leave Running Man? I thought you liked it here," Zhang Yuanxiao said with a sad and disappointed expression.
Anna then realized that she had been unconsciously smiling at the thought of getting to meet her long-time idols up close.
She playfully tapped Zhang Yuanxiao on the head and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? You don't know how long I've liked TVXQ. It's not every day I get to see them in person, of course I'm excited." As she spoke, she stuffed the materials in her hand into Zhang Yuanxiao's arms and added, "Here, when you talk to them later, I'll be listening nearby. If there's anything that needs clarification or correction, I'll step in. This is your test."
Zhang Yuanxiao scratched his head and replied, "It's just that you're too shy to talk to them yourself. Your face is all red."
"Not at all, you little rascal. Let's go," Anna said, touching her face as she and Zhang Yuanxiao approached the tent where the guests were.
"Hello," Anna greeted Yunho and Shin Changmin, who were touching up their makeup.
The two quickly stood up politely in response. "Hello."
"I'm Zhang Yuanxiao from the Running Man production team. I'm here to discuss the upcoming schedule with you," Zhang Yuanxiao said.
"I'm Anna Zheng from the Running Man production team. If there's anything you need us to pay attention to, feel free to communicate with me," Anna added.
"Great, thank you for your support," Yunho and Shin Changmin replied.
Anna couldn't help but sigh; they looked even more handsome in person. She remembered a time when she visited S.M. Entertainment and felt so nervous in the elevator that she couldn't even look at them—what a shameful memory.
The four of them sat down together as Zhang Yuanxiao reviewed the schedule and mentioned important points for the first recording. "In half an hour, the Running Man members will arrive. The reason we asked you to come early is for confidentiality. You should have seen the giant watermelon-shaped box at the recording site earlier; it's actually an elevating platform inside. You two will need to hide inside it and wait until we start filming. After the members finish their opening remarks, we'll play TVXQ's summer title track for your comeback, and you can make some simple cool dance moves as you make your entrance."
"Got it, understood," Yunho said with a smile.
"Well, okay," Shin Changmin agreed.
"Do you two have any special things to pay attention to?" Zhang Yuanxiao asked.
"How will the groups be divided?" Yunho inquired.
Zhang Yuanxiao momentarily forgot and looked down at the materials. Anna added, "While you two are waiting in the watermelon box, the members will choose between watermelon juice and cut watermelon. Those who choose watermelon juice will be grouped with Mr. Shin Changmin, and those who choose cut watermelon will be grouped with Mr. Yunho."
Zhang Yuanxiao smiled a bit sheepishly.
Yunho looked at Anna, whose face turned red. Yunho chuckled and said, "Miss Anna Zheng... you are the sister of our company’s Chan-yeol mentioned in the news, right?"
Anna thought to herself that it seemed everyone really did know. She smiled slightly, nodded, and said, "Yes."
"It's nice to meet you. Your brother Chan-yeol is doing very well now; you must be very happy," Yunho said.
"Yes, I am very happy to see him doing well," Anna replied.
By the time the recording ended, it was already late at night. When Anna informed Yoo Jae-suk that they would be leaving SBS for good the next day, the members were silent for a moment before expressing their comfort and understanding.
The farewell dinner for everyone was hastily decided to take place at a barbecue restaurant that had not yet closed down. Park Soo Eun and Dong Wan, who had previously been saying harsh words, completely softened up at this moment. Park Soo Eun drank a bit and hugged Anna while crying exaggeratedly.
"It would be fine if we just met often," Anna said with a smile.
"Are you silly? Why didn't you leave when Running Man was struggling? Now that it's doing better, you're leaving? Is your head filled with water?" Park Soo Eun cried as she spoke.
"I can only feel less guilty about leaving if I do my best to help Running Man get back on track. God knows how much I love Running Man, but I've caused too much trouble for Running Man and SBS; this is my way of redeeming myself a little," Anna said.
"Anna's words must have been held in her heart for a long time," Haha said.
Anna nodded with a smile and said, "I've been holding it in, but now that I've said it and done it, I feel much lighter inside."
"What are your plans next?" Yoo Jae-suk asked.
Anna thought for a moment and replied, "First, I want to take a break and go out for some fun. I inexplicably brought home a Stray Dog yesterday, so I want to take good care of it. If possible, I’ll take it out to play too."
"How do you always end up in these situations?" Ji-hyo exclaimed. "I want to raise a dog too, but I'm allergic to dog hair, so I can only envy others."
Anna smiled, and everyone laughed. However, as Anna continued to smile, tears began to fall. She quickly turned her head to wipe them away, thinking no one saw, but everyone noticed. Each person understood how much everyone had sacrificed over the past six months for the show’s revival, especially Anna. Yet, everyone chose to look the other way—not out of insensitivity, but because they couldn't bear to let the final memories be clouded by tears and sadness.
"Why isn't Kwang-soo saying anything today?" Jung Kook joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm hungry; I'm just eating," Kwang-soo said while stuffing his mouth with meat.
"Kwang-soo, don’t you have anything you want to say to Anna?" Yoo Jae-suk asked meaningfully.
Kwang-soo swallowed his food, stretched his neck to look at Anna, and smiled as he said, "Take care."
"Thank you," Anna shot him a glare.
"Hey, you little brat," Ji-hyo playfully slapped him on the head.
"Sister, can't you not hit me? I really don't know how Gary lives with you every day; I truly sympathize with him," Kwang-soo said.
Everyone watched them bicker and laughed happily.
"I am very gentle with Brother Gary, okay?" Ji-hyo said.
"Then why can't you be a little gentle with me, sister?" Kwang-soo asked.
"Gary is my husband, and you are not," Ji-hyo said with a mischievous smile.
Kwang-soo was left speechless in anger, took a sip of Soju, and ended up coughing.
It's nice to have meals together like this; I wonder if there will be another time. Anna took a sip of the Soju she hadn't had in a long time. Soon, her stomach felt a bit uncomfortable, so she quickly put down her glass and drank a large cup of warm water to ease the discomfort.
The gathering continued until dawn. Although Anna wasn't drunk, she still couldn't remember exactly what everyone had said to her. She only knew that it seemed like everyone was holding her hands and giving her many caring words.
"Anna, how are you getting back?" Yoo Jae-suk asked.
"I'm going to find a designated driver; it will be fine," Anna said.
"At this time, it's not safe for a girl like you to find a designated driver alone. My manager is still here; just take my car. You can drive yours tomorrow since you'll be unemployed anyway and won't have much to do," Kwang-soo said.
"No..." Anna wanted to refuse.
Yoo Jae-suk encouraged her, "Just take Kwang-soo's car; it's safer."
"Yeah, besides, my manager is here too. You can ride with me," Haha Brother said.
"No, no, Haha Brother, thank you." Anna couldn't take Haha's car for two reasons: one was that it wasn't on the way, and the other was that he was already married. It would be terrible if any scandal arose. Anna said, "Then I'll just go with Brother Kwangsoo."
"Okay, that's fine," Yoo Jae-suk said.
The agent drove up to the front, and Brother Jae-seok and Jung Kook walked over together. While waiting for the agent to pull up, Anna and Kwang-soo said their goodbyes and turned to get into the car.
Yoo Jae-suk said, "Anna, make sure to rest well. I'll call you to discuss some things."
Anna could roughly guess what Brother Jae-seok was referring to. She smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, thank you, Brother Jae-seok."
"Take care on your way," Yoo Jae-suk said.
After closing the car door and settling into the comfortable leather seat, the fatigue from a long day hit her like a wave. This would be the last time she felt this exhaustion with the Running Man team.
Not long after getting in, Lee Kwang-soo fell asleep, snoring softly. The agent glanced at him through the rearview mirror and smiled. Anna smiled back.
"It must be tough being Brother Kwang-soo's manager," Anna asked quietly.
"It's much better now than it was six months ago. He used to go to nightclubs all the time, and I was always on edge, worried he would cause some scandal. But now he doesn't go anymore. I don't know how it happened; he said he wanted to quit completely. He even had me buy two piggy banks for him to save coins…"
Anna's heart skipped a beat. "What…"
Big White Dog Peter had only been home for a few days, but he was already looking much better. His eyes were bright, and he no longer looked as emaciated as before.
At dusk, Anna would take Peter to Han River Park for walks like she used to. The dog owners she often met recognized her and greeted her warmly. Peter got along well with other dogs; he was older now and not as hyperactive as the previous little Peter. He was gentle, smart, and preferred to stay close to Anna.
It had been almost a week since she lost her job. Besides sleeping, eating, and walking, there wasn't much else for her to do. Park Chan-yeol had returned from China and initially said he would come see Anna right away. However, due to his busy schedule with various press conferences and EXO group activities, when he called to explain his situation, Anna listened calmly.
After all those times when she needed him most but couldn't reach him by phone, Anna had gradually gotten used to it.
Now, Anna didn't know what kind of feelings she had for Park Chan-yeol; the longer time passed, the more unclear it became. Miki said that everything was in the past and that they shouldn't give up on the chance to be together. When Anna saw that line in Miki's email, she didn't know how to respond.
She knew in her heart that although everything had passed, neither she nor Park Chan-yeol could return to the way things were before.
Anna was no longer the kind and flawless Anna that Park Chan-yeol once knew. She was smart and ruthless enough to watch her own brother die right in front of her. So many people had left, yet she still clung to life in this world.
Every night, lying in bed and reflecting on herself, Anna had to admit that from beginning to end, she was a thoroughly selfish person. Caught up in this whirlpool, she managed to escape unscathed, leaving behind no one precious—only herself remained.
On a summer night, the cicadas were somewhat noisy. As the wind picked up in the late hours, it seemed it would rain soon. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and the curtains were blown up. Peter, who had been sleeping on the floor, sat up and licked Anna's hand; he probably thought she was asleep. Anna got up to close the window but found she could no longer fall asleep.
She had long been accustomed to such insomnia—falling asleep without knowing when and waking up without knowing when.
As for what Lee Kwang-soo's manager said after the farewell dinner, Anna dared not think too deeply about it because if she did, she wasn't sure if she had done something wrong again.
When you realize that a joke has been taken seriously as a genuine promise by someone, that realization can catch you off guard.
Knock knock knock~~
Just as dawn broke, there was a knock at the door. Looking outside, it had rained heavily all night; now, aside from a bit of standing water in the flowerbed's depressions, there were no signs of it left—only the air felt fresher.
Rubbing her eyes, she got out of bed, tousled her hair haphazardly, and walked to the door.
"Who is it?" Anna asked.
"It's me," came the reply from outside.
Anna recognized that it was Park Chan-yeol's voice.
When she opened the door, Peter, seeing Park Chan-yeol for the first time, sniffed cautiously at his scent. Once he sensed no ill intent towards Anna, he relaxed and wagged his tail.
"Why are you here so early?" Anna said, closing the door after Park Chan-yeol came in.
Park Chan-yeol placed the breakfast he bought on the coffee table and then sat on the sofa. Peter smelled the delicious food and came over. "I was filming around here yesterday, and it only wrapped up early this morning. I didn't go back to the dorm; anyway, today is a rare day off," Park Chan-yeol's voice was tired and hoarse from not sleeping all night, and a hint of stubble was visible on his face. He patted Peter's head and asked, "Didn’t you say you weren’t going to keep a dog anymore? What’s this little guy doing here?"
"I ran into him by chance. He's very well-behaved, so I named him Peter," Anna replied. "I'm going to brush my teeth. You can eat first."
Park Chan-yeol smiled and fed Peter a shumai.
"I originally planned to come find you as soon as I got back, but I've been too busy," Park Chan-yeol said.
Anna opened the congee and shumai, eating as she spoke, "It's okay. At this age, being busy is a good thing."
"Listen to how you talk; you always sound so mature now. The day before yesterday when I saw Senior Yunho at the company, he mentioned that he saw you while recording Running Man," Park Chan-yeol said.
Anna took a sip of congee, feeling much better in her stomach. "Yeah, Mr. Yunho knows I'm your sister."
Park Chan-yeol, who had been eating, paused at her words. A fleeting emotion crossed his face, seemingly elusive yet understood deep down. "Mother Yoon and my father's engagement has been annulled. I think we should issue a statement clarifying our true relationship."
"That's not a good idea," Anna quietly shook her head.
"What's wrong?"
Anna looked at Park Chan-yeol and asked, "Chan-yeol, what kind of person do you think I am?"
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"Six months ago, Mom and Andy suddenly died. Do you know what happened?" Anna asked.
Park Chan-yeol met Anna's gaze, and for a long time, they just stared at each other. Park Chan-yeol lowered his head and smiled, "It seems you won't avoid my eyes like before. Every time I looked at you, you would shyly turn away. You don't know how beautiful that was. Maybe it's because we've known each other for too long, too familiar now; I really don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Six months ago, I asked you about it, but you wouldn't tell me. Do you want to talk about it now?"
"Because six months ago, I was afraid you wouldn't accept that side of me. But now, although I'm still scared, I have the courage to accept it."
"Is that so?"
Anna stood up and opened the window. After a stuffy night, the cool morning breeze rushed in, refreshing her spirit. The air carried the unique scent of summer after rain.
"Andy mixed a trace of poison into the medicine for Mom. If taken for a long time, it would lead to death. And Mom knew there was poison in it, yet she still took it. Do you know why? Because it was the medicine from her son, whom she owed for a lifetime. And she also knew that her existence made our situation so difficult... No matter how many wrong things Andy has done, he will always be my brother; we are connected by blood. But do you know? I poisoned him with my own hands..."
Anna had long anticipated what expression would appear on Park Chan-yeol's face, but seeing that expression for real still made her heart ache for a long time. Even though over the years, some people left this world because of her for various reasons, this time it was truly something she ended herself, and it was her closest kin; this feeling had completely changed.
"Let's leave after we finish eating." Anna picked up a cigarette from the corner of the table. She had bought it a long time ago but had never opened it until today. This morning, she suddenly wanted to try smoking one to see how it felt. She lit it and inhaled like Cat and Hogga did but was met with a rush that irritated her throat and nose, causing her to cough and tear up. Anna chuckled self-deprecatingly; this thing really wasn't as simple as just doing it right. She extinguished the cigarette after taking just one puff. Peter saw Anna's discomfort and came over to sit quietly beside her.
There were no more words exchanged. Anna didn't blame him; after all, even she had struggled to accept this version of herself for a long time. The more beautiful things had been before, the harder it was to accept when that beauty was shattered.
Park Chan-yeol left, and Anna closed the door behind him, leaning against it as she sat down. It was midsummer outside, but the floor inside was still cool. Peter nestled beside Anna; that warmth kept her from completely losing herself in the chill around her.
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