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墨書 Inktalez
"Hello everyone, I'm back, thank you." This was the first sentence spoken by Yoo Jae-suk as he stepped through the door. Everyone present fell silent, watching the visibly worn Yoo Jae-suk. Park Myung-soo, who had just been making playful and sharp remarks, turned away and secretly wiped away his tears.
"Hey, Mingxiu Brother, it's a good thing you're back. Why are you crying?" Yoo Jae-suk joked nonchalantly, putting his arm around his shoulder and smiling.
"How could I be crying? My eyes are just uncomfortable," Park Myung-soo stubbornly denied.
Through the crowd, Yoo Jae-suk spotted Anna sitting alone on the sofa, unable to get up to greet him. He smiled and nodded slightly, without saying a word; this small gesture conveyed everything.
"Thank you all for waiting for me to come back. I really appreciate it," Yoo Jae-suk said again, bowing deeply.
The welcome did not last long and was not overly exuberant because at that moment, Jae-seok still needed ample rest and adjustment. Everyone left quietly yet comforted.
Kim Jong Kook and Kwang-soo were responsible for taking Anna home.
A month later, the forsythias in Seoul began to bloom one after another. People finally shed their heavy clothing, and some fashionable and brave young girls started wearing skirts with bare legs. The branches were filled with dense green buds, and Running Man finally resumed filming during this long-awaited season, with all seven members present. They wore sportswear of various colors and ran through the streets of Seoul once again.
"Wow! It's Yoo Jae-suk!" People began to scream in excitement when they saw Yoo Jae-suk running by, their faces filled with joy.
Meanwhile, Anna, who still had over 30 days before her cast could be removed, could only carefully move to the edge of the sofa to watch them running and laughing on TV. Even so, she felt content and full of happiness. At that moment, she just wanted those 30 days to pass quickly so she could remove the cast and return to this long-anticipated family.
Lee Ji-hyun was sentenced to 9 years and 7 months of confinement and expelled from the party. Those police officials who were complicit with him—the chief of police, deputy chief, and head of the criminal investigation team—were also subsequently sentenced. With their positions vacant, Jin Jong-in's brother Jin Zhongxi was naturally promoted to head of the criminal investigation team.
The members often came to visit her, especially Sister Jihyo and Brother Kwangsoo. Knowing she had difficulty moving around, they always brought a lot of delicious food with them. Of course, many of the treats they brought were homemade by Sister Jingeun. Brother Jae-seok sent some texts expressing his efforts and gratitude. Anna could only think that his plan to take Zhihao to the amusement park had fallen through again. Peter was not temporarily brought back to Anna because taking care of herself was already a struggle; how could she care for him? However, whenever Park Chan-yeol had time, he would bring Peter to see Anna.
Unfortunately, Andy had completely disappeared this time; there was no response to texts or calls at all. Kim Mi-kyung was Jin Yu Cheng's daughter; Anna wondered if Andy had already learned about Kim Mi-kyung's situation.
Excited and urgent barks came from outside the door, instantly energizing Anna. She limped toward the door, dragging her heavy plastered leg, just as Park Chan-yeol raised his hand to ring the doorbell, and the door swung open.
"What are you…"
Before Park Chan-yeol could finish his sentence, Anna scooped Peter into her arms. He had grown quite a bit, and holding him with one arm was clearly becoming a struggle.
"I missed you so much," Anna said, allowing Peter to snuggle against her.
"Hey, there's still a living person here," Park Chan-yeol said, feeling ignored.
Anna smiled slightly and replied, "Yes, a very much alive person. Come on in."
Park Chan-yeol's mood instantly dropped as he supported Anna and stepped inside. Sitting on the sofa, he glanced at the abundant food spread across the coffee table and remarked, "There's so much to eat."
"Yes, it was all made by Sister Jingeun. Sister Jihyo and Brother Kwangsoo often bring it over. This was delivered this morning; I haven't had a chance to put it in the fridge yet," Anna said while playing with Peter.
"Sister Jingeun? She's Brother Jae-seok's wife?" Park Chan-yeol pondered for a moment.
"Of course! Who else could it be?" Anna replied. "Sister Jingeun is an amazing cook. I'm so envious of Brother Jae-seok. Look, these are pumpkin balls, seafood pancakes, fish cakes, sesame porridge, and steamed oxtail. Are you hungry? You should try some." Anna happily introduced the dishes.
"I think I'll leave it for you," Park Chan-yeol said with a smile as he saw her serious expression.
"It's fine; I eat this every day," Anna said proudly and happily.
"Look at how happy you are," Park Chan-yeol said, and taking advantage of Anna's moment of distraction, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned back on the sofa.
The sudden movement left Anna momentarily stunned, her body stiffening. Sensing her discomfort, Park Chan-yeol gently rested her head on his shoulder and said, "Let's just watch the TV show like this; it's nice."
In an overly intimate position, Anna felt somewhat at a loss, but soon the calm and stable sensation enveloped her.
Peter also stopped making a fuss, lying on the nearby sofa as if they were watching a television program together, his eyes fixed on the screen, occasionally wagging his tail.
Jung Kook had torn off Brother Jae-seok's name tag and had also ripped Brother Jae-seok's clothes, leaving them both in a messy state. They laughed in sync, and this feeling was truly blissful.
Before long, a faint snoring sound emerged. Anna lifted her head and realized that at some point, Park Chan-yeol had slowly fallen asleep. Given his already tight schedule, he must have been exhausted. Anna gently got up and fetched a blanket to cover him.
Sitting back down beside him, Anna looked at Park Chan-yeol's peaceful sleeping face. After going through so much, Anna could finally confront her own feelings. She could finally acknowledge the emotions that had arisen because of Park Chan-yeol. She didn't know if this decision was right or where their relationship would ultimately lead them, but at this moment, the genuine sense of happiness was enough to dispel all her uncertainties…
Even though she knew he was someone she shouldn't love and that this path might be incredibly difficult. This relationship might forever remain in the shadows; it was so foolish and reckless. But what could she do? Just love wholeheartedly without thinking about the outcome… Anna touched the ruby moon hanging around her neck with her fingertips, sighed softly, but smiled faintly…
On the day of the cast removal, Brother Kwangsoo accompanied her. She watched in horror as a balding, shiny middle-aged doctor walked out with a hammer in hand; Anna felt half of her soul almost escape.
"Doctor, there are blood, flesh, and bones under this cast. Please be careful; I beg you not to wrap it again before removing it," Anna trembled as she spoke.
The doctor adjusted his old-fashioned glasses and glanced at Anna before lifting her leg. Whether it was intentional or not, he swung down with all his might.
Anna could almost see his expression as if he were constipated from exerting himself.
"Don't look!"
Just as Anna was about to shout, Kwangsoo's large hand blocked her view completely, and he himself was startled, baring his teeth. He accidentally applied too much pressure and nearly popped Anna's eyeball out.
With a loud crack.
If it weren't for the lack of pain, Anna would have thought her leg had broken again.
"Alright," the doctor said expressionlessly.
"Wow, that's amazing," Kwang-soo exclaimed with his mouth wide open.
Anna quickly tried to pry Kwang-soo's hand away to see her long-hidden leg, which was pale but had a hint of pink. Anna said, "I feel like my leg has been reborn; it doesn't hurt at all. You're really impressive. Hehe."
"Lie down, arm," the doctor pointed to Anna's arm, which still had the cast on.
This time, Anna obediently lay down and cooperated. Indeed, it ended without any pain.
After being bound like a sandbag for three months, she finally felt relieved. Once Anna confirmed that her hands and feet were fine, she jumped up excitedly and grasped the doctor's hand with tears of gratitude, saying, "Doctor, thank you! I will be grateful to you for a lifetime."
"Oh, okay," the doctor replied without any expression, then pulled his hand away, slipped on his slippers, and turned to leave...
Anna stood frozen in place while Kwang-soo laughed at her from behind, holding his stomach. Anna shot him a glance and twisted his ear, saying, "Let's go!"
"Ah... be gentle," the two of them playfully bickered as they exited the hospital.
"Now that you're finally free, how about we celebrate tonight? We can invite Sister Jihyo, Brother Jae-seok, Jung Kook, and the others?" Kwang-soo suggested.
"Sounds good! But where should we go?" Anna asked.
Kwang-soo thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to Cat's Paw Bar; it's a place where we can have fun without any worries."
Having not thought about that place for a long time made Anna's heart skip a beat. However, she figured it didn't matter since everything was in the past.
"Okay, let's go there," Anna agreed.
"Alright, let's find a place to eat something good, and then we'll call them," Kwang-soo said.
Watching Brother Jae-seok dance always gave a sense of embarrassment... Brother Jae-seok's dance moves were truly hard to look at... Would Sister Ji-hyo and Kwang-soo be any better? Anna glanced over... Well, she was just overthinking it... After not moving for a long time, Anna couldn't hold back anymore. Even though her dancing was awkward, she felt as if she were on drugs and excitedly joined their chaotic dance.
After dancing for a while, feeling a bit tired, Anna and Kwang-soo went to the bar to order drinks. Even though it was the same bartender who had chatted with Anna so much before, he now acted as if he had never seen her. Anna, who originally wanted to greet him, felt awkward and withdrew all her words.
Turning around, she vaguely saw Cat in a red dress standing on the second floor watching her. Seeing Cat's half-smiling expression sent a chill down Anna's spine. She placed her drink back on the bar and told Kwang-soo she was going to the restroom, then secretly headed towards the second floor.
It seemed that Cat noticed Anna following her; without looking back, she walked into the room where they had their first conversation. It wasn't until Anna entered the room that Cat stopped, sat down in a chair, and turned to look at Anna.
This time, she didn't let Anna sit down but smiled and said, "Miss Anna, your wish has finally been fulfilled."
"Yes, so I wanted to thank you," Anna bowed respectfully.
Cat raised the corners of her bright red lips and said, "No need to thank me; I wasn't in the mood to help you with those matters."
"But I should still thank you," Anna replied.
Cat sneered and said, "Just fulfilling someone else's request."
"Someone else's request?" Anna asked in confusion.
"I said you don't need to know that yet; you'll find out in due time," Cat replied.
"Who is this person?" Anna asked.
"I told you, you'll know later," Cat said.
"But..."
"Alright," Cat interrupted her, turning away and saying, "You've expressed your thanks, now please leave. I hope our connection ends here. Close the door behind you."
Anna watched her back, realizing that Cat would not say anything more. She bid farewell and left the room.
Now she finally understood why the bartender pretended not to know her. Her connection with Cat ended here, which meant her ties with everyone at Cat's Paw Bar were also over. Anna sighed helplessly, but who was the person Cat mentioned?
"What's wrong? Did you come back from the restroom feeling down? Did you lose your spirit in there?" Kwang-soo teased.
"No, I'm just a bit tired. You all go ahead and dance; I'll rest for a bit and join you soon," Anna replied with a smile.
"Alright then, hurry back," Kwang-soo said as he returned to the dance floor.
"Anna, it's your first day back at work, and I have an important task for you!" Miao PD said to Anna, who had just returned.
Anna stood up excitedly and said with a smile, "I'm ready for any task!"
Park Soo Eun looked at her excited expression and teased, "This workaholic is finally back to work."
"This spring outing special will mainly take place in Chuncheon. You and Dong Wan will head out shortly to scout the game locations and contact the venue managers. Here are some games and props we've prepared for this special," Miao PD said, handing Anna a stack of printed A4 papers. Anna happily accepted them.
"Miao PD, it's only Anna's first day back, and you're already giving her such a tough job... Besides, I just got back from Yeosu yesterday..." Dong Wan complained.
"You little brat, Anna hasn't said anything, yet you're already complaining. Are you worried about Anna or just trying to avoid going?" Miao PD joked.
"Of course I'm... worried about Anna... Alright, let's go," Dong Wan said.
"Promise to complete the mission," Anna said, pulling Dong Wan's arm.
"By the way, I have some good news to share. Kwon Ryeol and Park Seok will be back in a couple of days. Although the money from China is substantial, they are still keeping their promise to return to our team. Our viewership has slightly declined compared to before, but it has been trending upward again in recent episodes. Let's all keep up the hard work," Miao PD said.
"That's great! We definitely will," everyone replied happily.
On the train to Chuncheon, there weren't many people in this carriage. Anna sat by the window, and the spring scenery outside was becoming more vibrant. In a little while, when they arrive in Chuncheon, they might catch the cherry blossoms in full bloom for the first time.
"Hey, the snack vendor is coming over. Do you want something to eat? It's on me," Dong Wan said.
"I... I want squid strips and banana milk," Anna thought for a moment before responding.
Dong Wan nodded in agreement and ended up buying a lot of snacks piled on the small table in front of them, swaying slightly with the gentle motion of the train.
"What good food is there in Chuncheon? There's a game that requires us to work in a restaurant; only winning teams get to enjoy the food," Dong Wan said while chewing on squid strips. "And there can't be too many people; it has to be unique."
"I know a place," Anna said while sipping her banana milk.
"Where?"
"There’s a special Fried Chicken Restaurant near Green Gull Bay in Chuncheon. It's quite secluded but really delicious, and the Boss Lady is very nice."
"Have you been there?" Dong Wan asked.
Anna had indeed been there; it was about half a month ago when Park Chan-yeol drove her and Peter there. Although she was still wrapped in plaster at that time, the chicken there was incredibly delicious.
"Ah... I stumbled upon it when I came here for a trip before," Anna said.
"Oh, I see. Well, let's go take a look first; planning the route is also important," Dong Wan said.
"It's fine. After we finish eating at that restaurant, the beach at Green Gull Bay is very smooth and delicate. Plus, there's a wide lawn not far away, making it very convenient for a route," Anna said as she hesitated and put a piece of food in her mouth.
Dong Wan exclaimed, "Wow, you really came at the right time; you know this place so well."
"It was just a coincidence. However, the last item is the Chase Battle; we need to find an indoor venue, which will take some time and effort," Anna said.
"That's true. But if we can finalize the three places you mentioned earlier, it will save us a lot of time."
"Yeah," Anna nodded.
The three locations that Anna knew were quickly settled. For the final indoor venue, Anna and Dong Wan narrowed it down to two options: S Mall and D University. Ultimately, due to the high costs at S Mall exceeding their budget, they decided on D University.
On the train, they consolidated their plans. Upon returning to Seoul, they first delivered the proposal to SBS Miao PD's desk. By the time they left the company, it was already close to midnight.
Having not gone home all day and thinking about how Peter must be starving at home, Anna quickened her pace. Her phone rang; seeing it was Park Chan-yeol calling made her heart warm, and she answered the call.
"Hello."
"How does it feel to be back at work on your first day?" Park Chan-yeol asked, his voice slightly hoarse and sounding quite tired, but he still smiled as he spoke.
"Not bad. How about you? You've had a busy schedule lately; are you exhausted?"
"No, I just needed a good sleep to recover. It's just..." Park Chan-yeol said.
"Just what?"
"Have you missed me after not seeing me for two days?" Park Chan-yeol asked with a mischievous smile.
Anna blushed and replied, "No."
"Really? Oh, that's so sad," Park Chan-yeol pretended to be upset.
"But I think Peter must have missed you," Anna teased.
"Peter? Right, I should finish up these tasks quickly and go see my Peter who has been thinking about me," Park Chan-yeol joked.
"Okay..." Anna's words were cut off by a distant voice from the phone, "Chan-yeol, are you still in the bathroom? I need to use the toilet..." Although Anna couldn't tell whose voice it was, she could guess that Park Chan-yeol was hiding in the bathroom talking on the phone.
"I'll be right out," Park Chan-yeol said. "I have to hang up now. I'll come see you when I have time."
"Okay."
After the call ended, Anna felt a bittersweet pang realizing what their relationship was like. Even though she had known it would be secretive, experiencing it firsthand brought a sense of loneliness.
Feeling inexplicably downcast, Anna lowered her head as the subway arrived at her station. She put her phone back in her bag, entered the train car, and found a seat.
Two high school girls next to her were wearing headphones and watching a video on their phones, occasionally breaking into excited smiles but quickly covering their mouths to stifle their reactions since they were on the subway. Anna accidentally glanced over and saw that it was a scene from a new movie featuring Park Chan-yeol and a Chinese actress. The moment they saw Park Chan-yeol on screen, the girls became ecstatic, but after a while, they looked sad and angry because Park Chan-yeol kissed the actress in the film...
Knowing it was just acting, Anna couldn't help but think how they would react if they knew that the real-life girlfriend of Park Chan-yeol was sitting right next to them.
"That was really good acting," Anna said.
The two high school girls were lost in their emotions but were interrupted by Anna's comment. They turned to glare at her, and Anna awkwardly smiled and said, "Hehe, I'm also a fan of Park Chan-yeol."
"Big sister, you clearly aren't in true love, are you?" one of them looked at Anna with disdain.
"What? Me? Big sister?" Anna widened her eyes in surprise.
"If you really liked Brother Canlie, you'd be jealous of all the other women around him, right?"
"That's not true. If you really love someone, isn't it enough to see them happy? If one day he finds his own partner, we should bless him, right?" Anna replied.
"Ugh... how outdated... what era are we in that we still wish someone happiness?" the high school girl scoffed.
"W-what?" Anna said.
"Ugh, so boring. Let's go," said the two girls as they picked up their bags and moved to another compartment.
Anna felt a bit dejected; it seemed her thoughts were indeed old-fashioned. It was the first time someone had looked down on her like this... If these fans ever found out about this situation, she would surely suffer greatly.
No wonder Park Chan-yeol had to hide in the bathroom to call her secretly. Every time he came to see Anna, he was fully armed, and they always went to secluded restaurants with hardly anyone around. This was completely different from the way Anna had imagined romance. But what could she do? Who told her to fall for someone like him? For his sake, she had to accept all these disparities, and she was willing to do so.
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