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墨書 Inktalez
The relationship between people, love and hate, what kind of intense chemical reaction has to occur for such a complete transformation? Clearly, it was so friendly before, and the smiles and words exchanged were so sincere.
How did it change?
Or perhaps, as Li Agent said, there was no real change; it was just that Anna's experience was too shallow to see a person's true nature.
"What’s wrong? You seem bored being out with me. Why do you look so listless?" Park Chan-yeol asked, glancing at Anna, who had been sighing in the passenger seat for quite some time.
"Nothing," Anna replied. "But I have good news: I'm going to America in a week."
"What?! I just got back, and now you're leaving? No way," Park Chan-yeol exclaimed. "How long will you be gone?"
"Um... a month..." Anna said. "The Running Man Production Team selects someone every year to go to America for training, and this year it's me."
"I'll fake a trip to Australia and sneak away with you," Park Chan-yeol said with a mischievous grin.
"What would you go for? I'm going to study; I won't have time to play with you," Anna replied.
"American men are really good at charming women. What if you get tricked over there?" Park Chan-yeol warned.
"That would be great! I could get an American citizenship and then I wouldn't have to come back," Anna joked.
"Wow, Anna Zheng, when did you start having such terrifying thoughts? You need to cancel that plan. Korea is better; you understand it here, so you must come back. No dating random guys over there," Park Chan-yeol insisted.
"Mind your own business," Anna teased.
"I can definitely mind it. I said we should take a break, but that doesn't mean we can't start over. Even though we're friends now, you're destined to be with me in the future."
Anna was surprised. "What nonsense are you talking about? Why are you starting to ramble?"
"If you dare to date a boyfriend over there, I will immediately announce our relationship here in Korea."
"Are you crazy?! I haven't even gone yet, and you're already talking about an American boyfriend. Besides, if you publicly date me, your career as an artist will be over, finished," Anna Zheng said.
"What are you afraid of? I'm not scared at all, and the fans who truly like me will definitely understand," Park Chan-yeol said.
"Ugh... I can't be bothered with you. I'm hungry; let's go eat," Anna said.
Park Chan-yeol smiled and said, "Okay, we're almost there."
After dinner, Ji-hyo called and invited them to Cat's Paw Bar to hang out. Since Park Chan-yeol had to wake up early for work the next day, he dropped Anna off at the bar entrance and left.
The atmosphere today was clearly different because Ji-hyo and Brother Gary were actually dancing together. Anna smiled knowingly and then bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
When Anna looked up, she was surprised to see Zhao Yincheng... In an instant, she felt flustered; it was her first time meeting him in person, and her crush potential surged uncontrollably. Zhao Yincheng smiled slightly and continued walking away.
"When will I get to record a show with him..." Anna murmured to herself.
"Who are you hoping will record with you?" Lee Kwang-soo suddenly appeared behind her, startling Anna. He handed her a cocktail, and after taking a moment to compose herself, she accepted it.
"What made you think of calling me over? You all seem to be having a great time; I see Brother Gary and Sister Jihyo dancing so energetically," Anna said.
"You're the one who called me here, not me. Sister Jihyo said she heard you're going to America, so she asked you to come celebrate," Kwang-soo said as he sat down with Anna.
Today, it was rare that Sister Jingeun actually came with Brother Jae-seok. It had been a long time since they last met, and Anna was extremely happy.
"Sister Jingeun, you look so beautiful today," Anna exclaimed. Usually, she saw her in ordinary home clothes, but today she was made up and wearing a stylish dress that was truly eye-catching.
"Not at all," Sister Jingeun smiled shyly.
"I told you, you should wear more clothes like this regularly, but you never listen," Yoo Jae-suk said with a smile.
"I don't go out much at home; I can't just dress like this all the time at home, that would be too much," Jingeun replied.
"But, Brother Jae-seok, is it true that Sister Jihyo and Brother Gary are dating now?" Kwang-soo asked.
"Ah, Kwang-soo, when it comes to things like this, they know what it's like themselves. When they're ready to tell us, they'll naturally let us know," Yoo Jae-suk said.
"I heard that Anna is going to America to study," Jingeun said.
"Yes," Anna smiled.
"You won't be back for a month; I'll come find you to hang out then," Kwang-soo laughed.
"Please don't come; I won't have time to help you pick up girls," Anna complained.
"Hey, Lee Kwang-soo, when did you become so free?" Yoo Jae-suk asked. "But, Jung Kook has been going to America often these past few years. Recently during the filming of Infinite Challenge in America, I even ran into Jung Kook in California; it was totally by chance."
"Oh? Then if I have something going on, I can look for Jung Kook," Anna said. "By the way, why isn't Jung Kook here today?"
"He has been composing recently, so he hasn't been going out much," Yoo Jae-suk said.
"Not going out much, but why did he travel all the way to America?" Lee Kwang-soo wondered. "Could it be that Jung Kook is secretly getting married in America?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Anna shot him a glance.
It seemed like there was really nothing holding her back in the country. While packing her luggage, Anna didn't feel like there was anything she was particularly worried about. This was her first time going to America, and she felt a bit anxious.
Anna estimated that she wouldn't be able to watch the live broadcast of EXO's recording this time and would have to rely on the internet to catch it from America.
Brother Jae-seok, Brother Kwangsoo, and Sister Jihyo came to see her off. Seeing so many people outside the car, Anna didn't let them get out. Brother Jae-seok wore a hat pulled low, helped Anna take down her luggage, exchanged a few greetings, and then Anna walked into the airport lobby by herself.
Although she couldn't see the people in the car, Anna still waved goodbye, imagining they were also bidding her farewell.
Feeling warm inside, Anna suddenly felt a bit teary. She sniffed and then chuckled self-deprecatingly, wondering why it felt as if she wouldn't be coming back.
The sky began to fill with clouds again, turning dark. She hoped it wouldn't rain.
As the crowd surged around her, Anna recalled that the last time she was in an international departure lounge was when Park Chan-yeol was leaving. She instinctively turned her head, feeling as if the person she missed might suddenly appear.
Time passed quickly, and before long, she heard the boarding announcement.
Anna stood up, adjusted her suitcase, and prepared to embark on an unknown yet anticipated journey.
She jumped when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. Turning around, she saw Park Chan-yeol's face beneath the low brim of his hat. Her heart raced with both excitement and reassurance.
"Come with me."
Quickly arriving at a corner that few people noticed, Park Chan-yeol's breath had not yet calmed down, indicating he had run in haste.
"Why did you come?"
"How could I not come?" Park Chan-yeol smiled and said, "I had to come."
"Why?"
"Because I have something to say."
"What?"
At that moment, looking into his eyes, her heart, which had already returned to calmness, suddenly raced.
"Last time I said we would take a break. So this time, when you come back, we will start anew," Park Chan-yeol said.
Anna smiled. After going through so much, she no longer avoided him like before. They had finally made it to this point. At this moment, Anna just wanted to hold him tightly and say goodbye properly.
Thus, the longing that had been suppressed for so long transformed into the gesture of an embrace.
This journey finally brought with it a deep expectation and a heartfelt wait. What seemed sudden had actually been foreshadowed long ago, waiting for an opportunity to declare true feelings.
Perhaps at that time, only by resetting everything could they start anew without any worries.
"Okay," Anna said.
What they embraced was the happiness they had finally waited for.
The last one to board the plane, Anna sat in her small seat, her chest filled with a warm feeling.
No matter how much anticipation and warmth there was, the journey was always unknown. No one could predict what would happen in this short month, and Anna did not expect that just after leaving the airport, as she was about to take a taxi to the pre-arranged work address, she would catch a glimpse of Andy's figure...
By the time she looked closely again, that figure had already vanished.
Anna broke out in a cold sweat. Could it be that Andy had come to America?
The staff member welcoming Anna was a young white man named Matthew, who looked to be in his twenties and worked as a live director for the show "gonnago" at ABS Television Station.
"Hello, Anna. My name is Ellen Heber. You can just call me Ellen." Ellen was tall and wore glasses, giving him an air of refinement. The typical American boy's sunny disposition and cheerfulness were indeed quite different from Asian boys.
"Hello, Ellen," Anna said with a smile as she shook his hand.
"It's too late to work today, so you will stay at my neighbor Mrs. Smith's house for this month. Her son works in Los Angeles, so it's just Mrs. Smith and her dog Mr. Jack at home."
"Thank you, Mr. Ellen," Anna replied.
"No need to thank me. Let me take you to Mrs. Smith's house; she should have dinner ready by now, although I'm not sure if you'll like our local flavors," Ellen said with a smile.
"Let's give it a try then. Let's go," Anna said.
Mrs. Smith's house was a two-story building, like many ordinary American homes, with grass in front and a swimming pool in the back. However, since it was autumn, the pool had long been drained. Mrs. Smith appeared to be in her fifties, with short curly blonde hair, dressed casually in a sweater and jeans. She was plump and always wore a smile, making her seem particularly friendly. Mr. Jack was a large black dog who watched Anna warily for a long time before approaching her once he sensed no hostility.
"Jack, this is our guest Miss Anna; you need to take good care of her this month," Mrs. Smith said as she patted Jack's head.
Anna thought of her Peter.
"Please take care of him, Mr. Jack," Anna said as she bent down and extended her hand.
Jack sniffed and looked into Anna's eyes, confirming something, and then finally wagged his tail and extended his paw to shake hands with Anna.
"Oh, it seems he really likes you," Mrs. Smith said with a smile.
"Yes, I'm honored," Anna replied happily.
"Better than me! The first time I came to Mrs. Smith's house, Jack gave me quite a lesson," Alan joked.
"Alright, let's hurry up and eat. I've prepared a simple dinner," Mrs. Smith said.
Unlike the spicy, sweet, and salty flavors of Korean cuisine, American recipes at home mostly consist of simple bread, beef, lettuce, milk, and the like, which indeed lack flavor. It's not that Mrs. Smith's cooking is bad; it's just that these dishes don't appeal to Asians. To not disappoint Mrs. Smith's kindness, Anna made an effort to finish all the food on her plate.
"It seems Mrs. Smith's cooking has gained Anna's approval," Alan remarked.
Anna smiled and nodded without saying anything.
Mrs. Smith was indeed very happy to hear this.
"By the way, Alan, what time are we leaving tomorrow? Do I need to prepare anything?" Anna asked.
"We'll meet at Mrs. Smith's house at eight in the morning. Then we'll have three days of shooting in Alaska because you happen to catch the Alaska special of the show 'Gonna Go.' We're going to look for reindeer with Jamie Stanford."
"Jamie Stanford? Is he that famous movie star?" Anna exclaimed in surprise.
"That's right, it's him."
Anna was extremely excited, not expecting to encounter such an international superstar right at the beginning.
"Is there anything I need to prepare?"
"I have discussed with Mr. Miao Hengze from Korea and have a general understanding of your situation, Anna. For this month, you just need to work with me. If there's anything you're interested in, feel free to ask me. There are many things to engage with on the variety show set, and the most important thing is to grasp the atmosphere of the program. As long as Miss Anna follows these points while working with me, it will be fine."
"What points?"
"No high heels, no skirts, and don't expect special treatment for women during work," Allen said half-jokingly and half-seriously.
"Of course, I understand, Allen. I promise no high heels, no skirts; I will be Mr. Anna," Anna said with a smile.
"You need to dress warmly for Alaska tomorrow," Mrs. Smith said.
Anna then realized that she had only brought autumn clothes and was completely unprepared for winter. Moreover, Alaska's extreme cold indeed required specially prepared clothing.
Seeing Anna's troubled expression, Mrs. Smith smiled and said, "After we finish eating, let's go get my old winter coat from when I was young. I still have it in the closet; we'll find it later. When I was young, I had quite a figure; it should fit you perfectly."
Anna smiled reassuringly and looked gratefully at Mrs. Smith, saying, "Thank you, Mrs. Smith."
After finishing up the dishes with Mrs. Smith, they sat on the sofa while Mrs. Smith poured two glasses of juice. Jack lay quietly by Mrs. Smith's feet, not making a sound like Peter would have. After all, he was already eight years old and had lost the playfulness of a puppy but gained much valuable steadiness and shrewdness.
"Gonnago" is a program on ABS Television Station in America that has been running for nearly twenty years. If there is a spirit of challenge, perhaps "Gonnago" truly embodies that challenge. They have tracked great white sharks in deep seas, climbed over canyons, challenged stage plays, and applied for many Guinness records. Of course, they have also done social work and specialized in rescuing stray pets—various themes that even Korea's "Infinite Challenge" might hesitate to try. The reason for this program's success lies in its fearless spirit; if they want to do something, they just go for it.
Listening to Allen talk about some stories related to this program during dinner filled Anna with anticipation. She took out her phone, changed her SIM card, and began editing messages to ensure her safety.
"Are you contacting your loved ones back home?" Mrs. Smith asked with a smile; her gaze was always kind and calm. Time had given her wrinkles but also depth of character. Loneliness had made her strong while providing her with a serene composure. This elderly woman living alone might seem somewhat desolate in her country but had created her own unique flavor of brilliance through her life experiences.
"Sorry," Anna shook her head and said, "not yet, not quite a lover."
"Oh? But you look so happy," Mrs. Smith said. "People only have that kind of happy expression when they are talking to their lovers."
Anna looked at the text message she was editing, a message meant for Park Chan-yeol, which was just two words short of completion. Hearing Mrs. Smith's words, she smiled thoughtfully.
"It's too late; I'm going to my room to sleep now. Good night."
"Good night, Mrs. Smith," Anna replied.
The severe time difference had taken a toll on Anna; she hardly slept all night. By dawn, she finally managed to fall asleep, but just as she drifted into dreams, the alarm clock went off.
As if afraid Anna would oversleep, Jack ran to her door and called out twice. Dragging his tired body, Anna got up and opened the door to find Jack sitting at the entrance, waiting for her to wake up.
"Thank you for waking me up, Jack," Anna said while yawning and rubbing her swollen eyes.
Mrs. Smith was already in the front garden clearing weeds; there were many fallen leaves. With some time before work, Anna got ready and ate a piece of bread before heading to the yard to help Mrs. Smith with the cleaning.
"What can I do to help you?" Anna asked, unsure where to start since she had never done this before.
With her straightforward American personality, Mrs. Smith thought for a moment and pointed to a large pair of scissors set aside. "Anna, just help me trim the grass that's grown too tall."
"Okay," Anna agreed and picked up the scissors to start working.
"Thank you, Anna. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Not bad; I slept for about an hour," Anna joked.
"Oh, how unfortunate, but you'll adapt in a couple of days," Mrs. Smith said sympathetically.
"Yes, I think so too," Anna replied with a slight smile.
There was hardly any time to introduce Anna to the other staff before they hurried onto the plane bound for Alaska. Sensing Anna's surprise, Allen, who sat next to her on the plane, explained, "When working in the United States, everyone focuses solely on work and not on personal relationships. As long as it's a normal work requirement, everyone cooperates, regardless of who it is. So here, you don't need to engage in as much personal networking as you do in Korea."
Anna nodded but found it incredible that Allen knew so much.
"How do you know all this?"
Allen smiled and said, "Because I've spent a long time in Korea and China. In your country and China, many times it's all about personal connections. When I didn't understand this back then, I wasn't accepted very well; people thought we Americans were too proud."
Anna felt a bit ashamed and said, "I see."
"So by the end of this job, you might only know me, and I might be the only one who knows you," Allen joked.
Anna shrugged and laughed, "I guess it has to be that way." Before she could finish her sentence, fatigue hit her again, and she yawned.
"Is it because of the time difference?" Allen asked.
"Yeah, a little," Anna replied.
"Then you should take a nap. Filming will be tiring, and I won't have time to take care of you."
Anna nodded, adjusted into a more comfortable position, and closed her eyes. The roar of the airplane engine couldn't drown out the overwhelming drowsiness that washed over her as she shut her eyes.
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