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The night was already deep, and Anna was sound asleep when a sudden scream jolted her awake. She opened her eyes, thinking she had misheard, but the sound of Peter scratching at the door made Anna realize the source of the scream.
She opened the door to find Peter clutching her leg, trembling in fear. Anna picked him up.
"What happened? What's going on?" Anna asked as she walked over to the railing, glancing into the living room where only Andy had just returned and was drinking water.
"Andy?"
Andy set his cup down on the table and said, "I accidentally stepped on his foot."
"Oh, is that so? Be more careful next time. It's late; you should get some rest," Anna replied, carrying the still terrified Peter back to her bedroom. She noticed a small spot of blood on the back of her hand and felt a chill run down her spine. Looking closely at Peter, she realized that blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth...
Stepped on his foot...? Anna felt a shiver run through her as she quickly grabbed a cotton swab to tend to his wound.
After checking and confirming there were no other injuries, Anna placed Peter on the bed and tried to soothe him. Peter looked at Anna and eventually fell asleep peacefully.
Was it Andy who did this? Was it really him...?
Anna dared not think further and lay back down in bed, holding Peter close. Before she knew it, she drifted back into sleep.
In the morning, she was awakened by a phone call from Miao PD.
"Hello, Anna. Please come to SBS Running Man's second studio for a meeting at 10 o'clock."
"Okay. Got it."
Anna got up, washed up, and after getting ready, she glanced at Peter who had been sitting by her feet. After some thought, she decided that although he might be uncomfortable, it would be best to leave Peter in her bedroom before she left.
It had been a long time since I last visited SBS. Whether it was due to Anna's bad luck or the narrow paths of fate, as soon as I entered the lobby from the parking lot, I saw Lee Joon-seok walking in at the same time.
Upon seeing him, Anna politely greeted him, but Lee Joon-seok smirked arrogantly like a victorious rooster.
"What's this? Have you come to your senses? Looking for a new Task Force to start a fresh life?" Lee Joon-seok mocked.
"How is your new life going? I certainly want to learn from your experience," Anna replied.
"Naturally, it's going well."
"Is that so? I think so too. Mr. Lee Joon-seok's previous job was so troublesome and exhausting. Now, all you have to do is run some simple errands. Of course, that's enviable." Anna smiled as she glanced at the heavy box in his hands.
Lee Joon-seok frowned and said displeased, "Anna Zheng, don't get too smug! Just wait until Yoo Jae-suk can't come back; then we'll see what you do."
"You misunderstand. Brother Jae-seok not being able to return doesn't stop the world from turning. But what I said is the truth. Oh! The elevator has arrived; I have to go now." Anna said quickly, not giving Lee Joon-seok a chance to respond as she hurried towards the elevator.
When she arrived at the conference room, many people were already there. Anna sat down next to Dong Wan, whom she hadn't seen in a while. Soon after, the other members began to arrive one after another.
When Miao PD announced that everyone was present, there were still significantly fewer people than last time. Those who were missing had naturally found their own paths and were no longer a concern.
"Everyone must already know about Mr. Yoo Jae-suk's situation. What we are doing now is holding on for those who can help Mr. Yoo Jae-suk and Running Man return, but given the current situation, everyone is aware of what lies ahead. What are your thoughts on how we should proceed?"
After his words fell, silence filled the room. Miao PD had no choice but to continue, "We're here today to discuss how we should move forward... Jung Kook, why don't you start?"
Kim Jong Kook sighed deeply, thinking for a long time before saying, "What if we few continue doing Running Man?"
His words shocked everyone present; they all looked at Kim Jong Kook in disbelief, knowing just how risky and bold this proposal was.
However, this seems to be the only way to keep Running Man going in the current situation.
"Are you kidding? Who will host?" Park Soo Eun asked.
"Brother Stone," Kim Jong Kook said.
Suddenly called out, Chi Seok-jun was a bit taken aback. "Me?"
"If not, then we all host together," Kim Jong Kook said.
"Jung Kook, I understand what you mean, but this is too risky," Chi Seok-jun said.
"Exactly, since it's already like this, there's no point in messing around. Just go to another production team and start over," Li Zhen said.
"No way. Even if it's difficult and we face criticism, it's still better than letting Running Man, which we've worked so hard to build, disappear. Even if it's not on weekends or during prime time, as long as it exists, we'll definitely put in the effort," Kwang-soo said.
And... if Miracle really appears when Running Man is still around, Brother Jae-seok will have a place to return to... Anna thought.
"But just the salaries of the remaining members, plus production costs—if the show can't maintain its weekend prime time slot, such high costs won't be sustainable," Park Soo Eun said.
"I'll figure something out. Mr. Yoo Jae-suk had the highest salary before, and with only half of the staff left, the finances should be manageable," Miao PD said. "Now it depends on whether you're willing to give it a try."
"I'm willing. Anyway, no dramas have been looking for me lately. If we lose Running Man now, it would be really tragic," Ji-hyo said.
"I'm also willing. Both Kiseong Jeong and I were brought into the variety industry by Brother Jae-seok; we can't let it end so simply," Gary said.
"Of course, I follow 'loyalty.' If you don't let me go, I won't leave either," Heo Dong-hoon said.
"I have no objections."
Everyone expressed their agreement. This outcome might be the most merciful consolation from above. In such a difficult time, this unexpected unity brought tears to their eyes. A faint smile finally appeared on Miao PD's face.
"Alright then, everyone go home and think of some creative ideas. Send them to me via email, and I will notify you all about the time and place for filming," Miao PD said.
"Okay."
This was the only time during this period when everyone's expressions were no longer so serious at the end of the meeting, because they had regained hope and some expectations, even though they anticipated that the road ahead would be very difficult.
"Are you leaving again?"
Seeing Andy and his suitcase reappear in the living room confirmed what he had said; after just two days, he would be leaving once more.
"Yes, is there anything left to handle? I should be able to return quickly this time. Dear Miss Anna, don't miss me too much," Andy joked.
It was only during these rare moments of banter that Anna felt he was truly Andy.
At other times, the indifference, decisiveness, and even a hint of coldness that he unconsciously revealed were completely at odds with Anna's impression of Andy.
"Make sure to take care of yourself."
"Don't worry," Andy smiled, grabbed his suitcase, waved goodbye to Anna, and said, "I'm off."
"Goodbye."
Only after confirming that Andy had completely left did Peter, who had been cautiously watching from upstairs, dare to run down to Anna's side. During this time, he had grown quite a bit.
The phone rang, and Anna picked it up to see it was a call from Park Chan-yeol. She recalled their previous agreement.
"Hello, Park Chan-yeol."
"You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Of course not. I was just worried you might still be filming, so I thought I'd wait a bit before calling you."
"I'll pick you up around five o'clock?"
"Sounds good."
"Alright, then I'll hang up."
"Goodbye."
Glancing at the time, it was almost four in the afternoon. Thinking that she could wait a little longer until their agreed time, Anna decided to watch a TV show while waiting to head out.
Just as she turned on the television, she suddenly received a message. Anna looked at it; it was from an unknown number.
While she was puzzled, she opened the message to find a picture and a line of text below it. The text contained an address: 19-901 Shuangshui Road, please come alone.
The black-and-white image initially didn't register with Anna. It depicted a long corridor with doors on either side, resembling a hotel. In front of one door stood a thin man being restrained by someone behind him wearing a hat and mask.
The image was small, and Anna couldn't see clearly, so she saved it and clicked to enlarge it.
Anna couldn't believe her eyes; the person was unmistakably Yoo Jae-suk, and the door in front of him had the number 709. Most importantly, the time and date displayed in the bottom right corner of the image were December 24, 2015, at 21:32. On a decorative item by the wall were four letters that confirmed everything: KIER. Chill Hotel.
Anna's mind was like a thunderclap!
Brother Jae-seok said that the police investigation revealed that the Closed-Circuit System was damaged on Christmas Eve, so there was no video. In hindsight, it seemed very likely that the police were colluding with the mastermind behind this to lie; that video was neither damaged nor lost, but simply taken away.
Anna looked at the picture.
Could it be just a fake? Did Miracle really appear so quickly? Who exactly sent this picture to Anna?
Anna pressed the unfamiliar number, intending to speak with that person, but the call never connected. She instinctively thought about calling the police, but given the police's gray attitude towards this matter, Anna wasn't sure if they could protect her if there really was a video left and it fell into their hands.
Moreover, why did the other party want her to go alone? If it was for money, they should have informed her in advance about how much to prepare. If they wanted to help Brother Jae-seok, why not approach someone more obvious and close to Brother Jae-seok, like Kim Jong Kook or Heo Dong-hoon?
Anna didn't know if she should discuss this matter with someone.
Just as Anna was feeling at a loss, Park Chan-yeol called again, but this time his voice sounded a bit low.
"Hello."
"Anna, I'm sorry. I have to cancel again."
"It's okay, maybe next time," Anna replied.
"Alright, goodbye."
The brief conversation ended, but Anna's thoughts remained tightly locked on that picture. She pondered how she should proceed; no matter how she thought about it, the only way to find out was to go and see for herself; otherwise, everything would be in vain.
Anna bit her lip, picked up her phone, scrolled through her contacts, and after much consideration, she dialed Kim Jong Kook's number.
“Jung Kook?”
“What’s wrong, Anna?”
“I received a picture, it’s a screenshot from the video about Brother Jae-seok.”
“What?” Kim Jong Kook was surprised but lowered his voice, knowing this matter was serious.
“Brother, don’t tell anyone yet.”
“I know. But is it confirmed to be true?”
“I’m not sure, so I need to go check it out.”
“Where? I’ll go with you.”
“It’s at 19-901 Shuangshui Road, but that person said I can only go alone.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Jung Kook, besides this matter, I have two other things to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“It’s almost five o’clock now. If I haven’t called you by Midnight, please find Brother Kwangsoo, Haha Brother, and Brother Gary to go look for me. Of course, it’s better if there are more people you trust. And most importantly, you must remember, do not call the police.”
Kim Jong Kook suddenly realized and said, "You mentioned before that the police wouldn't find anything. Is it because you already know something?"
Anna sighed and said, "Sort of. Brother, you must remember what I just told you."
"But Anna, I can't shake the feeling that this is a trap."
"Who says it isn't? But there's no choice, which is why I need you to be my strong support. Just remember to come find me when the time comes."
Kim Jong Kook thought for a moment and said, "Okay, don't worry."
"Alright, thank you, Jung Kook."
After settling Peter, with a heart full of anxiety, Anna drove towards No. 19 Shuangshui Road. This was a newly built simple villa area with not many residents yet. It was completely dark outside; there were almost no lights on in the villa area, resembling a ghost town.
The last unit, No. 901, was located at the very end of the villa area, with a pitch-black hill behind it.
With no lights on, she cautiously lifted her feet. The eerie environment made Anna feel cold all over. She pressed the doorbell, and almost immediately, the lights inside the room suddenly turned on.
After a while, the door opened, and the warmth from inside rushed out.
As their eyes met, Anna widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Miss... Kim Mi-kyung..." Anna said.
Kim Mi-kyung was wearing a white dress that seemed out of place with the biting cold outside. The exquisite diamond earrings sparkled with dazzling charm, making her the center of attention like at a grand ball.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Anna. Please come in," Kim Mi-kyung said with an unusually bright smile as she invited Anna inside.
The room was beautifully decorated, yet it lacked a sense of liveliness. Looking in the direction indicated by Kim Mi-kyung, there was a table full of delicious dishes, expensive red wine, and exquisite silverware along with crystal wine glasses.
Anna didn't know what she wanted to do, but she understood that everything must have a reason. Whether this was a warm hospitality or a trap was uncertain.
"Please have a seat," Kim Mi-kyung said with a smile.
It was hot inside; the fire in the fireplace burned brightly and warmly. Anna took off her coat and hung it on the back of a chair before sitting down. She looked at the beautiful Miki in front of her with suspicion and confusion.
"Miss Kim Mi-kyung, was that picture sent by you?"
Miki took a sip of red wine, looked at Anna, smiled slightly, and said, "Yes."
"Do you have the complete video?" Anna asked eagerly.
Miki pouted slightly in a feigned grievance and leisurely cut a piece of steak. The steak seemed to be less than medium rare; when Miki took a bite, there was even a hint of blood at the corner of her mouth, which looked particularly strange.
"I prepared all of this myself. Aren't you going to try any, Miss Anna? I've been preparing for quite some time," Miki said.
Anna thought about it; since she entered the room, she hadn't even greeted anyone, which was indeed very rude. However, dealing with such an unusual Kim Mi-kyung made it impossible for Anna to relax.
Picking up her knife and fork, Anna cut off a piece of steak that was still red and bloody inside. This was definitely not to her taste, but she forced herself to put it in her mouth. After chewing just a couple of times, she quickly swallowed it.
"How is it? Is it good?" Miki looked at Anna with eager anticipation.
"It's okay," Anna replied stiffly.
Miki lowered her head and chuckled softly, saying, "Cut it out; you're lying. You don't like this kind of dish at all. Your expression has already betrayed you."
"No... it's fine," Anna said.
Miki rolled her lively eyes, lifted a piece of steak that had already been cut and waved it in front of her, saying, "Fine? Heh, of course, the meat of a little puppy is delicious, tender and smooth."
Anna felt a wave of nausea in her stomach and almost dropped her knife and fork.
Seeing Anna's reaction, Kim Mi-kyung chuckled, chewing on the steak again, and said, "I was just kidding; you actually believed that."
Anna frowned and said, "Miss Kim Mi-kyung, thank you for your hospitality, but I really want to know if you have that complete video."
Kim Mi-kyung glanced at Anna and said, "No need to rush; let's finish eating first."
Understanding the implication she wasn't saying outright, Anna had no choice but to grit her teeth and quickly finish the piece of beef on her plate. Unable to bear the bloody atmosphere any longer, Anna took a sip of red wine to mask her discomfort.
As if completing a task, Anna let out a long breath and said, "I'm done eating; can we talk now?"
"Just wait a bit longer; it's not time yet," Kim Mi-kyung replied with a smile.
Anna suddenly felt dazed under Kim Mi-kyung's gaze; her head felt heavy. She wanted to press her temples but found her hands lacked strength. When she lifted her head again, Kim Mi-kyung's smiling face appeared terrifying due to the distortion of her vision. Anna shook her head vigorously and realized that Kim Mi-kyung had drugged the food...
Kim Mi-kyung looked at Anna Zheng, who had collapsed unconscious on the table. She took out a mirror and touched up her lipstick that she had accidentally smudged, proudly curling her lips into a smile. When Anna opened her eyes again, she found herself tied up in the center of the living room on a heavy mahogany chair.
Just as she tried to lift her head, a splash of cold water hit her face, instantly waking her up.
Kim Mi-kyung was sitting not far from her side, with two men in black suits appearing on either side without her noticing.
"You... you really... that picture was fake?" Anna lamented helplessly about being deceived by Kim Mi-kyung.
Kim Mi-kyung smiled and said, "Of course it's not fake. It's just..."
"What is it just?"
Kim Mi-kyung glanced at the time; it was almost eight o'clock. She said, "Just wait a bit longer, the time isn't up yet."
Anna noticed that the main door was slightly ajar. Was Kim Mi-kyung waiting for someone...?
However, the next moment, Anna's suspicion was immediately confirmed.
"No need to wait anymore, I'm here." Park Chan-yeol pushed the door open, and cold air filled the room.
"You've come, Brother Canlie," Miki called out with a smile.
"Park Chan-yeol..." Anna finally understood why Park Chan-yeol had stood her up today; it turned out that both of them had been involved with Kim Mi-kyung.
Seeing Anna drenched and in a sorry state, Park Chan-yeol stared at Kim Mi-kyung and said firmly, "Let her go!"
"She wanted to come here herself; I didn't force her," Miki said, looking aggrieved at Park Chan-yeol.
Not intending to say anything more to Kim Mi-kyung, Park Chan-yeol walked straight over to untie Anna.
"How did you end up here?" Anna asked.
"Let's talk outside first."
Kim Mi-kyung watched with a slight smile and did not stop anyone. She simply opened a video on a laptop that Suit Man had brought.
Kim Mi-kyung sighed loudly on purpose and said, "Ah, what a pity. Just like this, leaving without taking anything. Dear Mr. Yoo Jae-suk, this is how it ends for a lifetime."
Anna looked over at the video, where Yoo Jae-suk was seen walking alone to room 709. Just as he was about to knock on the door, the Masked Man who had been following him covered his mouth and nose, rendering him unconscious. The Masked Man then opened the door and dragged Yoo Jae-suk inside. After that, Gao Yingmei and the Masked Man exchanged some low whispers before Gao Yingmei entered the room...
The video recorded this entire process. Even if it couldn't reveal who was behind the scenes, it could be concluded that Brother Jae-seok was wronged!
“Chan-yeol, wait a moment,” Anna said to Park Chan-yeol, signaling him to watch that segment of the video.
Kim Mi-kyung cooperatively replayed the footage.
After watching the video, Park Chan-yeol's expression grew increasingly serious.
“Kim Mi-kyung, what do you want?”
“I don't want anything in particular; I just have a method that could benefit everyone, and I can share it with you,” Kim Mi-kyung said as she took out a USB drive and toyed with it in her palm.
“Speak.”
Kim Mi-kyung smiled and reached out to take Park Chan-yeol's hand, but he quickly pulled away. Her smile stiffened for a moment, then she lowered her head and bitterly smiled, saying, “As expected, ever since returning to Korea, you’ve always treated me this way. When we were in Australia, you were so good to me…”
“Miki, I have always regarded you as my sister. When we were in Australia, you were unwell, and since we were both in a foreign land, I took care of you like a sister. After returning home, I realized your feelings for me. Since I couldn't accept them, I kept my distance. I've told you this many times already; why won't you listen?” Park Chan-yeol said helplessly.
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