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墨書 Inktalez
This absurd farce ultimately concludes with another absurd event. In this circle, the most terrifying thing is always the opinions of netizens. These opinions can pave a golden path for you, leading you to the peak, or they can turn into sharp blades that leave one bloodied and bruised.
As three days passed, Anna saw that the online discourse had escalated into calls for Miao PD and Anna Zheng to be ousted from SBS.
For some unknown reason, Kim Jong Kook, who had come to California, arrived in New York and went to Mrs. Smith's house, accompanied by the long-missed Lee Kwang-soo.
"Jung Kook, Brother Kwangsoo, it's great to see you," Anna said, finally showing a smile for the first time in three days. Mrs. Smith felt a bit relieved seeing the three of them chatting in the yard and took Jack back inside.
"I said I would come to America to hang out with you; I can't go back on my word," Lee Kwang-soo said with a smile.
"But I'm not in the mood to take you to chase after American girls right now," Anna joked. "But still, thank you for coming."
"What do you think about the situation with Miao PD?" Jung Kook asked straightforwardly. "It's not just Miao PD; the Task Force is also under a lot of pressure, and even Miao PD's family is feeling it."
"I understand that, but honestly, I don't know what to do about this. Unless we catch the person behind the rumors, just clarifying without any basis won't be effective," Anna replied.
"The person behind the rumors?" Kwang-soo asked in confusion.
"Yes, otherwise how do you think those photos got circulated? Those photos clearly look like they were taken while working. In such ambiguous situations, anyone could easily be made the main character if someone has an agenda," Jung Kook explained.
"Jung Kook, what should we do?" Anna also found herself at a loss this time.
"I brought Kwang-soo to America to meet you because there's something I want to discuss with you," Jung Kook said.
"What is it?" Anna and Kwang-soo asked in unison.
"If you want to get out of this predicament, there's a way," Jung Kook said. "You two need to admit to being in a relationship."
"What?!!!"
The deafening sound of amazement made Jack think something was wrong, so he hurriedly squeezed through the dog door and ran to Anna's side.
Anna patted his head and said, "It's okay, Jack, just go back."
Jack wagged his tail and returned to the house.
"What are you talking about, Jung Kook? Are you joking?" Lee Kwang-soo asked.
"Wasn't there a photo released before of Kwang-soo with a girl by the car? It only showed the girl's back, and many people said that girl looked a lot like Anna?" Jung Kook said.
Anna recalled that photo; indeed, Haha Brother had joked at the time, asking if that girl was Anna.
"So what?" Kwang-soo still didn't understand.
"This makes things easier. If you both admit to being in a relationship now, it will definitely be credible," Jung Kook said.
Anna, who had been silent, understood Jung Kook's intention. "As long as everyone believes I'm with Brother Kwangsoo, then the rumors with Miao PD will fall apart on their own. All the malicious speculation will no longer hold. Plus, Kwang-soo is a member of Running Man, and there were previous photos that raised suspicions."
"Exactly. Once it's public, as long as Kwang-soo speaks up and expresses his trust in your character and proves that you have good relationships with everyone, it will be fine," Jung Kook said.
"But this isn't fair to Brother Kwangsoo," Anna said.
Kwang-soo smiled and said, "Oh well, I don't mind. At worst, I'll just take responsibility for you."
"What kind of joke is this at a time like this?" Anna shot him a glance and then turned to Jung Kook. "But what happens after? Even if the crisis passes, what do we do then?"
"This matter can't be known by too many people. This is the result of my discussion with Brother Jae-seok. He couldn't come because he has work, so I'm here to talk to both of you about this," Jung Kook said. "It would be best if you could tacitly acknowledge your relationship for at least six months. Once the heat dies down, you can announce a peaceful breakup."
"But..." Anna still hesitated. She had to consider not only how unfair this was to Brother Kwangsoo but also how she would explain it to Park Chan-yeol. Would he understand this approach?
"Anna, just half a year. If the topic fades quickly, it could even be shorter. Brother Jae-seok and I really can't think of any other way to help you and Miao PD resolve this chaos. Kwang-soo, what do you think?" Jung Kook said.
Kwang-soo looked at Anna, who was clearly hesitating with her head down, and said, "Let me talk to Anna alone."
"Okay," Jung Kook replied.
"Why are you unwilling?" Lee Kwang-soo asked.
Anna didn't know how to respond to the turmoil in her heart.
"If you think it's unfair to me, there's no need for that because it won't restrict me at all. I will still date as I please. Don't you know me by now?" Lee Kwang-soo said with a smile, patting Anna on the shoulder.
"But if we publicly acknowledge our relationship during this time and someone catches you dating outside, there will be a lot of backlash," Anna said.
"Then I simply won't date. When the time comes for us to announce our breakup, then..."
"That would make me feel even more sorry for you. This matter has nothing to do with you," Anna interrupted him. She could clearly guess who was behind this incident, but she couldn't rashly return home without any evidence. After all, it was just her speculation. Even disregarding Kwang-soo and Park Chan-yeol, she didn't want to resolve this matter in such a way.
"How does it have nothing to do with me? Aren't you my friend? Isn't Running Man something we all share?" Lee Kwang-soo looked into Anna's eyes.
Anna was speechless.
Lee Kwang-soo smiled and said, "Also, if it's because you're worried about that person's feelings, I believe that as long as you explain it in advance, he will understand."
Anna was completely stunned by Lee Kwang-soo's words. "Brother Kwangsoo? How did you know?"
Lee Kwang-soo proudly replied, "I can see right through your little thoughts in your heart, okay?"
"Once this matter passes, everything will be fine. Everyone just needs to endure a little bit. I'm willing to put myself in a difficult position and pretend to date you; what else are you unwilling to do?" Lee Kwang-soo said.
"This matter, originally..."
Lee Kwang-soo interrupted Anna, "If you say it has nothing to do with me again, I will really get angry."
Anna sighed; it was the first time she felt so powerless and helpless.
"Although the one-month learning period isn't over yet, let's organize our thoughts over the next couple of days and head back to Korea. We need to resolve this matter together so everyone can feel at ease to pursue what they want to do," Lee Kwang-soo said. "Also, let's go shopping later and have Jung Kook take a few photos. They should come in handy."
"Thank you, Brother Kwangsoo," Anna replied.
"Now you know how good I am. If you fall in love with me during this time, I won't take responsibility," Lee Kwang-soo teased.
Anna finally smiled and said, "Don't worry, that won't happen. I promise it won't affect your beautiful dates."
Lee Kwang-soo gently patted Anna on the head, smirking, and fell silent.
Anna wondered whether she was lucky or unlucky; she always encountered various inexplicable events but also received unexpected help to resolve them.
When they returned to the front yard where Jung Kook was sitting, they saw him standing at the gate, stretching his neck as if looking for someone down the road.
"Jung Kook, what are you looking at?" Kwang-soo asked.
Jung Kook snapped back to reality and walked over to the wicker chair to sit down again.
"Nothing much. A car passed by earlier, and I thought I recognized someone inside... never mind, I can't remember. How did your conversation go?" Jung Kook asked.
"Let's proceed with this plan. Once Anna gets everything sorted out here, we'll head back to Korea together and make a public appearance," Kwang-soo said.
Jung Kook glanced at Anna, who nodded and said, "Let's do it that way, Jung Kook."
"You all have figured it out, which is good. Anyway, this matter will pass quickly. We really owe it to Kwang-soo this time," Jung Kook said with a smile as he put his arm around Kwang-soo's shoulder.
"By the way, hyung, can you take a couple of photos for us later? It would make things easier," Lee Kwang-soo suggested to Jung Kook.
"That makes sense," Jung Kook thought for a moment and then said, "Anna, you should prepare a bit. You need to try to act like a star later."
"I understand, Jung Kook. Just wait for me a moment; I'll be right back," Anna replied.
Anna could now somewhat understand the mindset when Park Chan-yeol and Jang Bo-Yeon were rumored to be dating. If it was truly just a tactic by the company to boost the newcomers' popularity as Jung Kook had said, it was indeed more helpless than Anna's current situation.
When she told Park Chan-yeol about this matter, there was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, but when he spoke, his tone was unexpectedly calm. "It's okay, I understand." This was probably the best support and understanding Park Chan-yeol could give Anna; nothing felt more reassuring than an unspoken agreement without any doubts.
"Thank you, Park Chan-yeol," Anna said.
After explaining to Allen that she would temporarily return to her home country, she got up early that morning to prepare breakfast for Mrs. Smith and then went out to the yard with Jack to weed.
As dawn broke, she saw an Asian woman weeding in the yard, surprising the newspaper boy as well.
"Jack... I'm going to leave for a few days... Although it's just temporary, I don't know if I can come back," Anna said with a smile at Jack, unsure if this American dog could understand Korean. "But regardless of whether I can come back this time or not, I will definitely visit you and Mrs. Smith whenever I have time in the future."
If it weren't for all these events happening, Anna really enjoyed life here.
Perhaps unlike those who loved the hustle and bustle of America, during her time with Mrs. Smith and Jack, Anna experienced more tranquility and simplicity.
The sun rose high in the sky, brightening everything up. The neighbor's wife had already gotten up and taken her Chihuahua out for a walk. Anna had met her a few times and politely greeted her. Jack ran to the gate, wagging his tail and eager to join in on the fun, but because he was too big, the little Chihuahua always bared its teeth in fear whenever it saw him.
"Anna, why are you up so early? And you've even prepared breakfast! Wow, the yard looks tidy now. What's going on?" Mrs. Smith asked while still wearing her sleep cap.
"It's nothing, Mrs. Smith. Just wanted to express my gratitude before leaving," Anna replied with a smile.
"What? Leaving? Where are you going? Aren't you supposed to stay here for a month? It's not time yet," Mrs. Smith exclaimed in surprise.
"I'm going back to Korea to take care of some matters, and I don't know if I'll be able to come back," Anna said with a helpless smile.
Hearing this, Mrs. Smith was taken aback, not understanding what it meant. "Anna, are you going back to Korea to do something dangerous? Will you not come back? Will you die?"
Anna shook her head with a smile and said, "It's not that I'll die; it's just that I might not be able to continue my studies in America for a while. But I promise I will come back to visit you whenever I have the chance."
Mrs. Smith couldn't help but feel a bit reluctant. No matter how cheerful a person is, at a certain age, one always hopes to have someone by their side.
"Well, these days, there have been some unfamiliar people coming to see you, and you always seem so troubled. I can guess that something important must have happened," Mrs. Smith said.
"Yes, indeed, there have been some tricky situations."
"Does Mr. Hojia know about your departure?" Mrs. Smith asked.
"I haven't told him," Anna replied. "But don't worry; he'll find out on his own without me having to say anything."
"It seems like he knows you very well?"
Anna could only nod and said, "Yes, it seems he knows even more than I do."
"When do you plan to leave?" Mrs. Smith asked.
"The flight is at three this afternoon. I need to get ready and eat something soon; then I'll be heading to the airport," Anna said.
"Then I'll go see you off," Mrs. Smith said as she took off her sleeping cap and planned to go back inside to change her clothes.
"No need, Mrs. Smith, thank you, but I'm afraid if you come to see me off, I'll cry because I'll miss you too much," Anna said as she held onto Mrs. Smith's arm.
Mrs. Smith looked at Anna with reluctance and said, "During this time, it has truly been a joy to have you to talk to."
"Don't worry, I will definitely come back to visit you," Anna replied.
Just as Anna had said, she did not let Mrs. Smith see her off at the airport. However, as she carried her luggage out of the yard, she waved goodbye to Mrs. Smith and Jack, who were standing at the door, then quickly turned away, unable to look back. Jack followed Anna all the way to the taxi before slowly returning to Mrs. Smith's side.
This American trip was shorter than expected but filled with many events; let’s just forget the unpleasant ones. In just under twenty days of being together, Anna experienced what it felt like to have a mother for the first time. In a home with a mother, there is always the aroma of food, someone reminding you to rest early, and a figure bustling about. Perhaps this is one reason why Anna felt so reluctant to leave Mrs. Smith's home.
Anna had never met her own mother, but in her imagination, a home with a mother was mostly like her time spent with Mrs. Smith.
Until she boarded the plane, there was no news from Hogga. Checking the time, it was already 3:10 PM; usually at this time, Hogga should have arrived at Mrs. Smith's door. What would his reaction be when he learned she was returning to Korea? Anna couldn't figure it out because all she knew about him was his appearance and his name; beyond that, she couldn't piece together any other details.
"Jung Kook, I'm back," Anna texted Kim Jong Kook.
"Okay, I've already had someone post your and Kwang-soo's photos from America online. Just wait for your return; tomorrow Kwang-soo will hold a press conference to confirm your relationship," Kim Jong Kook replied.
"I understand," Anna responded.
She never expected that as a behind-the-scenes worker who had been with Running Man for less than two years, she would already be the main subject of two press conferences.
"Anna, Kwang-soo, can you come here for a moment? I need to talk to you," Yoo Jae-suk quietly called Anna and Kwang-soo into an empty room.
"Brother Jae-seok," Anna called out this name with a sense of trust behind it.
"Jung Kook should have explained everything clearly to you both, but I still want to say that for everyone's sake, this matter cannot be known by more people, including Miao PD," Yoo Jae-suk said.
"We understand," Lee Kwang-soo replied seriously.
"Kwang-soo, we really owe this matter to you. This is the most effective and simplest way to resolve it," Yoo Jae-suk said as he patted Kwang-soo on the shoulder.
"I understand, Brother," Lee Kwang-soo said firmly as he shook Jae-seok's hand.
"Anna, you put in so much effort for me back then, and now I can only come up with such a clumsy method. I'm really sorry. I apologize to you and to Kwang-soo," Jae-seok said, his face filled with guilt as he lowered his head, clearly feeling dejected.
"Brother Jae-seok, please don't say that. I know you are trying your best for everyone," Anna replied.
Jae-seok sighed and said, "If you two go public with your relationship, as long as there are no further reports, the attention will fade quickly. However, during this time, please make sure everyone believes that you are genuinely in love. Otherwise, if it gets exposed again, it will be even more troublesome."
"I know, Brother. Trust me," Kwang-soo said with a smile.
"Kwang-soo..." Brother Jae-seok nodded repeatedly. Having been in this industry for so long, he had probably become accustomed to everything, but thankfully, his steadfastness had never changed.
"Let's go," Kwang-soo said, reaching out his hand to Anna. "For now, let's hold hands."
Anna smiled and took Kwang-soo's hand. "Let's go."
Yoo Jae-suk watched their backs as they held hands and felt a sense of relief. This lie was destined to fade away one day; at least for now, it looked very beautiful.
As they walked out of the room holding hands and looked up, they happened to encounter Dong Wan and Han Yufei coming towards them. Anna glanced at Han Yufei and smiled slightly.
"Wow, how sweet! You two look great together. If it weren't for this scandal, were you planning to keep it a secret?" Dong Wan teased happily, as if he were witnessing their wedding.
"Yeah, although Brother Kwang-soo and Anna usually seem to have a good relationship, I really didn't realize you two were already together," Han Yufei said with a smile.
"I only occasionally discuss work with Miao PD; some people think we're being flirtatious. Kwang-soo and I joke around every day—Yufei, how did you not notice?" Anna looked at Yufei and smiled slightly.
Han Yufei chuckled but didn't say anything.
"What about Miao PD?" Kwang-soo asked.
"The company has some matters to attend to, he should be on his way here. Miao PD is very pleased to hear about your situation. First, he feels that the truth has finally come to light, and second, he is happy for both of you," Dong Wan said. "However, since he doesn't need to be here for this press conference, the focus is on both of you, so don't worry about him."
"Wow, you're saying that about Miao PD when he's not here," Park Soo Eun approached and lightly patted Dong Wan on the shoulder.
"Well, he can't hear it anyway, so just pretend I didn't say anything," Dong Wan said with a mischievous smile.
"Go get ready; it's about to start, and the reporters are already waiting," Park Soo Eun said to Kwang-soo and Anna.
"Okay, got it," Anna and Kwang-soo replied in unison.
Park Soo Eun and Dong Wan started teasing, "Oh~~~ we didn't notice, you two actually have such great chemistry."
Anna lowered her head and smiled but didn't say anything further.
"I'll try to answer the reporters' questions myself; I'm a pro at lying," Lee Kwang-soo said proudly to Anna.
The more Kwang-soo boasted, the guiltier Anna felt. "Thank you, Brother Kwangsoo."
"If you're really thanking me, then treat me better in the future. Don't always learn from Sister Jihyo, hitting me at every turn," Lee Kwang-soo said. "But don't actually fall in love with me."
"Don't worry, I won't," Anna replied. "I promise it won't affect your chances with girls." Anna made a gesture as if taking an oath.
Kwang-soo smiled and said, "Alright then, I'll take your word for it."
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