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墨書 Inktalez
"If Brother Canlie gives me that ruby, I will never let go for the rest of my life, no matter what happens. So, Sister Anna, please remember that you are completely out of this relationship."
This was the last thing Jang Bo-Yeon said to Anna Zheng after filming wrapped up.
Without saying goodbye, she turned and got into her car.
Anna stood there in a daze for a long time, her mind blank, the words Jang Bo-Yeon had just said echoing in her head. It wasn't until Kwang-soo ran over that Anna snapped back to reality.
"What are you doing? Spacing out here?" Lee Kwang-soo looked at Anna with confusion in his eyes.
"Nothing." Anna glanced at him, noticing his casual suit, which was different from his usual attire, and asked, "Why are you dressed like this? Going on a blind date?"
"This is designer wear, okay? Sponsored," Kwang-soo replied with a grin.
"Who are you planning to trick with this outfit?" Anna teased.
"That's not what it is. It's just that two people happen to appreciate each other in that moment to pass the time," Kwang-soo explained.
Anna thought for a moment and said, "Simply put, it's just two lonely people unable to stand their loneliness."
Kwang-soo gave her a helpless glance and then asked with a smile, "Want to join me?"
Anna looked at him disdainfully and said, "No way. Not happening."
"The post-production team has dedicated people now. You have nothing to do tomorrow; why not go out tonight? We could go to Cat's Paw Bar?" Kwang-soo suggested.
"Who says I have nothing to do? First of all, I need to go home and feed Peter, then take him out for a walk, play with him for a bit, get to bed early, and tomorrow I have plans with Sister Jihyo to hit the gym," Anna replied with a smile.
"You two went to the gym again without inviting me?" Kwang-soo said.
"Why do we have to invite you just because we go to the gym together? Besides, you were out having fun tonight... you're so tired, will you even be able to get up tomorrow?" Anna teased with a mischievous smile, her eyes playfully sizing up Kwang-soo.
"Wow, Anna Zheng," Lee Kwang-soo crossed his arms and said, "When did you become so lewd? I'm just being innocent with those girls."
"Yeah, right. Innocent, like dating for a week or even just a couple of days, then innocently lying together, then innocently pretending not to know each other, and innocently breaking up," Anna replied.
"Forget it. In your eyes, I'm already like a 'kaleidoscope,'" Kwang-soo said with a helpless smile. "But what time are you going tomorrow? If I have time, I'll come find you."
"No, no, you're not a 'kaleidoscope,'" Anna said.
Kwang-soo happily replied, "Right? I'm not that kind of person."
"You're at most a little bee," Anna teased.
Kwang-soo instantly lost his smile and pouted, asking, "Alright, alright. By the way, what time are we going to the gym tomorrow?"
"Three in the afternoon. Sister Jihyo said she can't get up in the morning," Anna said.
"Okay, then I..." Before he could finish his sentence, Kwang-soo's phone rang. He picked it up and cautiously glanced at Anna's expression before stepping away a few paces to answer it quietly.
"Hello... Oh... I'll be there soon... I'm stuck in traffic... Yeah, wait for me, I'll be there shortly."
Anna vaguely heard part of the conversation and shook her head helplessly. She shot him a glance before ignoring him, packing her things and getting on the elevator. By the time Kwang-soo hung up and turned back around, Anna had already disappeared.
After arriving here, Anna initially couldn't understand why so many young female artists liked Lee Kwang-soo. Even now, she still hadn't figured it out. However, Anna believed that love is always reciprocal. She was confident that one day Lee Kwang-soo would meet a woman he couldn't resist; this woman would bring him enough pain to repay all the emotional debts he had accumulated before.
Ding~
A text message arrived regarding the viewership numbers for the last episode of Running Man, including re-broadcast ratings and premiere ratings summary data and analysis.
Anna let out a slight sigh; this was already the fourth consecutive time they had failed to maintain the top spot. This was not a good sign, as a show featuring top hosts like Yoo Jae-suk, along with Haha and Kim Jong Kook, consistently failing to keep its ratings meant that, under the immense pressure of public opinion and production costs, the show would ultimately struggle to survive.
After returning, shows often encounter such bottlenecks. Even if there are no interruptions in broadcasting, a program that has been on air for six years with little structural change can lead to audience fatigue, gradually losing their interest and anticipation. Moreover, many young people now prefer to watch online, which significantly impacts viewership, especially since Running Man's primary audience is young people.
In contrast, Infinite Challenge never adhered to a fixed format; viewers never knew what the members would encounter next, even in the next second. For example, when they had to cancel the original Chase Battle due to heavy rain, they directly rented a studio on-site and invited the members' friends to record the show, managing to edit two excellent episodes from it. They could even travel to Alaska based on a casual comment made by one of the members in search of someone whose existence was uncertain, sustaining nearly three episodes of content. They could create classic comedic segments from trivial matters like comparing appearances. Additionally, their biannual music festivals and annual long-term project challenges kept things fresh.
However, that was Infinite Challenge. If other shows followed suit, they would lose their unique identity. Infinite Challenge's lack of a fixed format ensured its freshness, but it also carried high risks. Conversely, earlier shows like Xman and Family Birth, as well as the current Running Man, introduced small innovations and changes throughout their broadcasts. Once the production team identified a successful pattern, they would stick with it for a while to minimize risks. However, prolonged exposure to the same format could lead to aesthetic fatigue—a painful aftereffect that could become a fatal weakness for these shows.
Anna did not want to see Running Man decline due to such aftereffects one day.
She felt it was time to have a serious talk with Miao PD about whether it was time for some changes.
Upon entering the gym, Anna happily exclaimed upon seeing Jung Kook and Brother Gary practicing in front of the mirror: “Hey, Sister Jihyo, look! Jung Kook and Brother Gary!”
Ji-hyo initially laughed but then felt awkward upon seeing them; especially after Gary made eye contact with them—both looked somewhat uncomfortable.
What was going on? The two used to joke around every time they met... What conflict had arisen?
However, seeing Jung Kook for the first time in the gym left Anna in awe; his muscles were no joke.
“Wow, Jung Kook! That's amazing! Wow, those muscles! No wonder you don’t eat ramen! Wow!” Anna couldn't help but exclaim repeatedly.
Jung Kook smiled shyly and covered his chest with his hands: “Ah, Anna, you can't always look at me like this; you shouldn't learn from Ji-hyo.”
“I really envy you! You're smart, muscular, and can sing—truly a smart singing muscle!” Anna praised sincerely.
Jung Kook became even more embarrassed and playfully threw a clean towel over Anna's face while wrapping himself in a large towel to cover his strong arms.
“Hey now, you're so stingy!” Anna said as she removed the towel from her face with a smile.
The atmosphere was lively and bustling, but after greeting everyone, Gary just sat there doing dumbbell presses without saying a word. Ji-hyo also silently worked on stretching his arms and chest.
What was going on? Once Anna and Jung Kook fell silent, the awkward tension in the air became even more palpable, almost unbearable.
Anna thought for a moment and said to Jung Kook, "Can you teach me some combat techniques?"
"Why would a girl want to learn that?" Jung Kook replied.
Anna secretly gave Jung Kook a knowing glance. He understood, nodded, and stood up.
At that moment, Gary and Ji-hyo both stopped and nervously asked, "Where are you two going?" They spoke in unison, seemingly exchanging glances before quickly looking away.
"I want to go too!" they both chimed in together.
At this point, Anna was 100% certain that something had happened between the two of them. The air was thick with an awkwardness that felt suffocating. This was hardly the right environment for working out.
However, Anna pretended to be oblivious and asked, "What’s wrong with you two? You seem uncomfortable. Did something happen? Did you have a fight?"
"Not at all~" they both laughed and waved their hands dismissively.
Anna wanted to tell them that their smiles were far too forced; even a child could see through it. No wonder during these recent recordings, the two had barely exchanged a word.
"Hehe, as long as that's the case. Jung Kook and I are heading to the combat room; we'll be back soon." With that, Anna ignored Ji-hyo's attempts to hold her back and pulled Jung Kook along as they dashed into the combat room.
Once they saw that no one followed them, Jung Kook and Anna sat down on the floor and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness they didn't come along," Jung Kook said.
"Yeah, I was so awkward earlier I thought I might lose my mind," Anna replied. "What’s going on with those two?"
"I don’t know either. I asked Gary, but he wouldn’t say anything; he just said it’s nothing."
"Sister Jihyo is a bit strange. I suspect..." Anna said with a mischievous smile, raising an eyebrow.
"I've suspected it too, but Gary has a girlfriend. She's a girl from his company," Jung Kook replied.
Anna's deductions were instantly overturned by Jung Kook's words, leaving her somewhat disappointed.
"When did Brother Gary get a girlfriend?" Anna asked in confusion.
"They've been dating for six months, very discreetly. I only found out by chance and have only seen her once. She's very beautiful, but she's not in the industry."
"Well, I thought their on-screen romance was going to become real."
"That's unlikely because neither of them wants to date someone in the industry. Dating someone in the industry brings too many complications..." Jung Kook said, glancing at Anna with a smile. "You should understand this as well."
Anna paused for a moment, then lowered her head and smiled lightly, saying, "Yeah, especially when it's not blessed... But if Brother Gary and Sister Jihyo could be together, they would definitely receive everyone's approval and blessings."
"That’s something only they can consider," Jung Kook said. "By the way, Anna, do you still want to learn self-defense?"
Anna perked up and nodded vigorously, saying, "Of course! Ideally, I want to learn something like using just one finger to take someone down or being able to knock someone away with a single palm strike."
Jung Kook chuckled helplessly and said, "This isn't a martial arts movie. You can't expect to fly over rooftops. If you could knock someone away with one palm strike, you'd really end up in jail. Get up."
Jung Kook stood up first, and Anna followed suit.
Jung Kook stood there smiling and said, "Come on, hit me."
Anna was at a loss and asked, "How do I hit you?"
"Uh... you can choke me."
"Oh." Anna nodded, and as her hand just touched his neck, she felt it being firmly grasped. Jung Kook bent down and leaned to the side, causing Anna to suddenly lift off the ground and, somehow, end up lying on the floor with stars filling her vision.
Seeing Anna's distressed expression, Jung Kook found it quite amusing and said, "So, are you okay?"
Anna forced a smile and nodded. Jung Kook pulled her up and said, "It's fine... Hehe."
"Alright, this time it's your turn to throw me down, just like the last move. Can you remember?" Jung Kook asked.
Anna couldn't recall it at all but was afraid of being thrown again, so she nodded and said, "I remember."
"Good." Jung Kook said as he reached out to grab Anna's neck. Following his lead, Anna mimicked the motion but lost her balance. Jung Kook didn't fall this time, but she ended up on the ground again...
"Ugh..." Normally she wouldn't notice her chest, but this time it hurt from the fall.
The others practicing nearby couldn't help but laugh. When Anna looked over, she was surprised to see Choi Min-ho, who had just finished recording a show... Yunhao smiled and greeted Jung Kook, who returned the smile.
"What are you guys doing?" Lee Kwang-soo appeared just in time to see Anna sprawled on the ground. Jung Kook laughed as he helped Anna up.
"Oh, Kwang-soo! What brings you here?" Jung Kook asked with a smile.
"Sister Jihyo and Brother Gary told me you two were here, so I came to check it out. What happened? Jung Kook, did you beat up Anna?"
"What are you thinking, you brat? But you're just in time; maybe I'm too heavy for Anna to throw me down. How about this: I'll teach her the move while you help her practice by letting her throw you down. It should be easier," Jung Kook suggested.
Anna happily nodded and said, "Sounds good!"
"Hey now, bro, I just got here; why do I have to do that? How about you two practice first while I step out for a bit?" Kwang-soo said as he tried to leave.
Jung Kook quickly grabbed him back...
"Why did I come to the gym today...!" Kwang-soo shouted in despair in the fighting room.
Wearing a black dress with no embellishments, Anna went to the flower shop to buy a bouquet of white Chrysanthemums. She sat in the last row of the bus heading to the cemetery, a row that was rarely occupied. She opened the window, and a few petals fell onto her skirt. Anna pinched them and let them drift out of the window with the wind.
Today is the anniversary of her father's passing. She had originally planned to call Andy, but in the end, she didn't have the courage to dial that number. The morning had been somewhat overcast, but now it had cleared up, shining through the bus window and making it hard to open her eyes.
The path in the cemetery was still so quiet, only occasionally interrupted by the desolate calls of crows. Standing in front of the tombstone, her father's photo forever captured him in his forties. Regardless of whether he fulfilled his responsibilities as a father, Anna and Andy carried his blood within them, an unbreakable bond no matter what happened. Anna placed the Chrysanthemums in front of the tombstone and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the thin layer of dust on the photo.
"Dad, Andy and I are doing well now. Every time I said I wanted to be a producer for a variety show with Mr. Yoo Jae-suk, you never believed me. But now I've finally succeeded, and I'm really happy. Dad, you left so suddenly. Sometimes I think if you had waited for us for two more years, we could have lived well together, and you would have seen us succeed. How wonderful that would have been..."
"Waiting two more years would just mean he would still be drinking and throwing tantrums," Andy's voice suddenly came from not far away, approaching the tombstone step by step.
Anna frowned; she found Andy's smile glaringly irritating. Although she knew he would come, she hadn't expected to see him.
Andy reached the tombstone, bowed slightly, then squatted down, lighting two cigarettes—one placed in front of the tombstone and one in his mouth. He took a puff and slowly exhaled the smoke. Seeing the bouquet of Chrysanthemums, he smiled and said, "It's always like this; every time I tell you that compared to flowers, our old man probably prefers smoking and drinking more. So save the money for flowers and buy him a bottle of liquor instead."
Andy chuckled as he looked at the photo on the tombstone and said, "Dad, look at your two kids; they're doing well now. Everything they have doesn't trouble you even a bit. You've lived comfortably your whole life—drinking when you want, cursing when you want, taking your frustrations out on us without having to earn money for a family or pay for our education. When we got sick, we just toughened it out without bothering you at all. And when you had enough of living, you simply chose to lie underground... Oh wait, except for that little trouble of giving us life; thanks for that, Dad."
"Andy, Dad is already dead; please don't say such things anymore," Anna said.
Andy nodded with a smile and replied, "Yeah, he's dead; death is paramount."
Anna didn't want to engage with him further; she bowed goodbye to her father's tombstone and planned to leave first.
Andy stood up and called after Anna's retreating figure, "When are you coming home?"
Anna stopped in her tracks—not out of emotion—but because she had long understood that it wasn't her who left home; it was Andy. He had gone too far away to reach now...
Anna didn't turn back; she smiled slightly and said, "I don't know... Who knows?"
"You've been angry for so long, and you still haven't calmed down."
"I'm not angry, Andy. Family doesn't hold grudges overnight."
"Then would you rather live with a dog in that small, dilapidated old house than move back?"
Anna smiled helplessly. Just when she had managed to soften her heart a little, Andy's words pushed her back to her original state. She didn't respond to him and resumed walking away from the cemetery.
Andy was now seen as a successful person in the Republic of Korea, but human desires are endless. He gained power and wealth, yet there were still familial bonds, love, and dreams that he either hadn't obtained or had lost. Perfection is something everyone knows is impossible, yet it remains a hope. The more unattainable it is, the more precious it seems. Once one gains something, they want even more, an endless pursuit. Ordinary people might give up when they can't achieve something, but someone who holds money and power will find ways to obtain what they desire. And if they can't get it... well, that's a thought that can be quite frightening.
Andy's car sped past her. Anna glanced at it and continued walking slowly. This was the pace she liked and was familiar with—steady and unhurried. Life is like walking on the road to the underworld; there's no need to rush. Anna didn't not want to return home with Andy; it's just that the home he referred to wasn't the home in her heart, and the home in her heart was one Andy could no longer find.
The bus was still sparsely populated, filled with people who had just finished paying their respects to loved ones, their expressions tinged with melancholy. Andy might be right; she understood his grievances toward their father. But what could be done? He would always be their father—a fate neither she nor Andy could change. Ultimately, their father was simply lost in deep sorrow and betrayal, unable to escape it, which left him oblivious to her and Andy.
Every little link in life is interconnected; if one small part goes wrong, the entire direction of life can change dramatically. Everyone has their own helplessness and sadness. If they blame their father for being irresponsible, what about their mother whom Anna and Andy had never met since birth? Where had she hidden for over twenty years? Anna only knew that at least their irresponsible father hadn't disappeared without a trace or abandoned them. Thanks to him, they knew their names and origins. As a child, she used to imagine that one day their mother would suddenly return or that they would unexpectedly encounter her on the street. But later on, both Anna and Andy silently accepted that their mother was likely dead; this realization brought them peace as it eliminated any expectations.
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