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墨書 Inktalez
It was already late at night when I returned home. The warm and cozy room made me feel relaxed both physically and mentally. After taking a hot bath and changing into comfortable pajamas, I opened the closet to prepare the clothes for tomorrow. When I saw the red scarf, my heart skipped a beat, and I closed the closet door.
Lying in bed, snuggled under the warm covers, the words of Park Chan-yeol echoed in my mind.
I didn't know when I gradually fell asleep, but when I opened my eyes at dawn, I realized I had forgotten to turn off the lights throughout the night.
The sky remained gloomy, and the cold air was unbearable. The short distance from my home to the subway station was enough to make my nose turn red from the cold. Truly afraid of the cold, I had no choice but to drive to work until this winter passed.
"The weather outside is freezing!" Dong Wan said as he rubbed his hands and shrank his neck while entering the studio.
Miao PD and everyone else were already seated; only he was missing. Park Soo Eun seemed to be on a call, sounding quite displeased. After hanging up, she joined everyone at the table.
"What happened?" Miao PD asked.
"Bobby's manager said they can't adjust the schedule, so recording can't proceed," Park Soo Eun replied with a worried expression.
"Anna, when you signed the contract yesterday, didn't you clarify the specific recording time and details?" Miao PD inquired.
"I made it clear, and at that time, that manager also indicated there were no issues," I responded.
"What’s going on? Bobby can’t record? Why wasn’t this clarified when signing the contract?" Dong Wan asked in surprise.
"They said they suddenly received an invitation for a hip-hop exchange performance in America," Park Soo Eun explained.
"The contract has already been signed; this is a violation of the contract," Dong Wan said with concern.
"It is said that the performance is a national-level exchange event, and Bobby is representing the new generation of hip-hop in Korea. If we blow this up and hold someone accountable, we definitely won't be in a favorable position," Park Soo Eun said.
"That would indeed be difficult to handle," Dong Wan replied.
"What did Bobby's manager say about the breach of contract?" Miao PD asked.
"The manager said they are only willing to pay a quarter of the penalty," Park Soo Eun responded.
"That's not acceptable," Anna said. "Even if it's a national representation, we can't let this spread within the industry. If other artists see it as a precedent, anyone could use various more important reasons to violate contract terms in the future."
"Anna makes a valid point," Miao PD thought for a moment. "Then let's proceed with a compensation of fifty percent of the penalty, since they probably don't want to escalate the situation either."
"Okay, I understand," Park Soo Eun said as she took her phone and stepped aside to make a call.
"Now, we need to quickly consider selecting another person to perform," Miao PD said, glancing at the previous candidate list. "What about Shinee's Yunhao? Actually... with Gary leaving, we need someone to fill in. I've been considering either Yunhao or Yonghwa. If both come this time, it would be a good opportunity for comparison. I met Shinee's manager at an awards ceremony before, and he was quite interested in having a fixed role on Running Man."
"Yunhao..." Anna pondered, slightly furrowing her brow. It wasn't that Yunhao was bad; rather, after Song Joong-ki's time on Running Man, it had become evident that using such high-profile young idols often turned their looks into a burden. Just like Beckham—if he weren't so handsome, perhaps more attention would be focused on his skills. His extraordinary footwork and techniques often got overshadowed by his striking appearance. However, this could also be seen as a breakthrough; Song Joong-ki's moderate positioning on Running Man didn't necessarily mean that Yunhao or other young talents couldn't carve out a new path. It was just that this approach was risky, and no one dared to take that step lightly without careful observation.
"I think Yunhao is great," Zhang Yuanxiao said. "He has excellent physical abilities and performs very naturally in variety shows. As for whether he can be fixed..."
"Let's put off the discussion about fixing him for now," Miao PD suggested, focusing on resolving the immediate issue. He turned to Anna and said, "Anna, please contact Park Soo Eun and Yunhao shortly. If the timing works out, go sign the contract this afternoon. Make sure to communicate clearly with the manager, understood?"
"Understood," Anna replied.
"However, we should indeed consider carefully about filling the fixed member position," Dong Wan added.
"Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?" Miao PD asked.
Dong Wan seemed to really think for a long time before seriously saying, "Liang Shiheng... the Liang boy, his performance in Infinite Challenge is quite commendable."
"Liang Shiheng?" Liu Quan Town said, "But he is already appearing in Infinite Challenge, basically confirming his status as a fixed member. If he joins Running Man, then there will be three people overlapping with Infinite Challenge: Mr. Yoo Jae-suk, Mr. Heo Dong-hoon, and Mr. Liang Shiheng. From the audience's perspective, that might not be good."
"I haven't finished yet." Dong Wan struggled to interject due to Liu Quan Town's rapid speech. "What I meant was, Liang Shiheng's brother, Mr. Liang Shizhan. He has been performing very well on many variety shows lately. I discussed him with Brother Jae-seok, and he also seems to have some interest."
"Liang Shizhan... Whether his style can fit the atmosphere of Running Man is one thing; we still need members who can bring a fresh feeling to Running Man. We need to consider this. If there are any upcoming projects that could allow him to participate, we can try him out first before discussing anything else," Miao PD said. "Anna, what about you?"
At this moment, Anna's mind was a bit blank. After listening to their lengthy discussion, she was suddenly surprised when her name was mentioned. She smiled awkwardly and said, "Me? I think..."
"Miao PD, it's already been arranged," Park Soo Eun suddenly walked in, interrupting Anna.
Everyone's attention turned to Park Soo Eun.
"What did Yunhao's manager say?" Miao PD asked.
"They said there’s no problem," Park Soo Eun replied.
"That's good." Miao PD felt relieved and said, "Anna, then you can go finalize the contract this afternoon. Thank you for your hard work."
"Okay." Anna nodded with a smile.
She went to S.M. Company but didn't see Park Chan-yeol or anyone familiar. After signing the contract smoothly, she thought about tomorrow being a day off. Anna took out her phone and looked again at the message from Park Chan-yeol containing the address of Han Yoon-soo's current residence. Anna bit her lip and sighed before putting her phone back in her pocket.
The bond of blood cannot be severed.
No matter how entangled or hesitant she felt, on her day off, Anna still found herself standing in front of Han Yoon-soo's door. She didn't know how long she had been standing there before she finally mustered the courage to raise her hand and press the doorbell.
The door opened to reveal a rather haggard-looking Han Yoon-soo, dressed in a lazy and simple manner, completely different from the poised and beautiful woman she used to be.
"Anna... cough cough..." Han Yoon-soo smiled in surprise but immediately began to cough due to the sudden cold air that rushed in from the hallway. "Cough cough, come in quickly, it's cold outside."
Anna felt a pang in her heart but tried her best to maintain a calm demeanor as she stepped inside.
"Sit down, sit down." Han Yoon-soo pulled Anna over to the sofa, looking extremely happy as she continued to smile. Her hair had turned slightly gray and was a bit disheveled; she quickly tidied it up. "I really didn't expect you to come here."
Anna glanced around at the simple and tidy furniture in the approximately 70-square-meter apartment, which had great lighting and ample heating.
"I heard you weren't feeling well," Anna said.
"Oh dear, it's an old problem. I always cough when winter comes; no amount of money can cure it," she replied. Although it was a frustrating issue, her lips remained upturned as she spoke to Anna, not out of pretense but genuine joy. "By the way, how did you know I wasn't feeling well? Did Chan-yeol tell you?" Han Yoon-soo asked cautiously.
Anna nodded. "Yes, I ran into him at work, and he told me."
Han Yoon-soo's gaze trembled slightly as she sighed. "When I first married Park Anqing, Park Chan-yeol's biological mother had just passed away less than two years prior. He has never been able to accept seeing his father love another woman besides his mother. He doesn't like me; I know that. The way his relationship with his father turned out is partly due to my presence." Han Yoon-soo continued, "But... Anna, ever since Anqing died, he arranged for me to live in this apartment close to his dormitory, saying it was for convenience in taking care of me. He is changing little by little; as for why, I think you understand better than I do." Han Yoon-soo said as she went to get a cup of warm water and placed it in front of Anna.
"Our situation isn't that simple," Anna replied as she picked up the cup to warm her icy hands.
"Cough cough..." Another fit of coughing interrupted them.
Anna looked at her, wanting to say something but hesitating. She lowered her head and then raised it again, saying, "You should take good care of yourself."
"Yes, yes, cough, I will," Han Yoon-soo replied with a smile. She glanced at Anna and cautiously asked, "I made beef bone soup. Would you like to stay and have lunch with me? I'll go cook."
"No, thank you," Anna said.
Han Yoon-soo's smile froze on her face as she awkwardly replied, "Ah, okay."
Anna smiled and said, "I mean, you don't have to cook." Anna stood up.
"You just sit here and rest today. I'll cook. It might not taste great, but the intention will be good," Anna said.
"Anna, um... cough..." Han Yoon-soo was extremely surprised but felt a lump in her throat. She quickly turned her face away to compose herself and said, "Okay, okay. You can cook. No matter how it turns out, I will love it."
"Good."
Anna went to the kitchen. She glanced back at Han Yoon-soo, who was happily bringing fruit into the living room, smiling and peeling it, though her hands trembled slightly due to intermittent coughing.
A tear fell from Anna's eye and splashed on the ground. She quickly turned back and took out usable ingredients from the fridge to prepare. Han Yoon-soo had aged. After Park Anqing left and with Anna's appearance, she suddenly seemed much older. This was due to sadness, longing, guilt, and self-blame. Anna could probably imagine how much Park Anqing, who was seen as irredeemable by others, had cherished her. After his departure, this woman gradually lost her luster and became dull and ordinary. She could also understand that as a mother, there was an instinctive emotional bond with her child. This emotion might be hidden but would never be buried.
If time could rewind to those years, if she, Anna Zheng, were in Han Yoon-soo's position back then, would she have had the courage to give birth to a child? Would she endure living with a man like her father?
The answer gradually became clear and negative as time settled...
Now, she slowly wanted to call her 'Mom.' What a warm call that would be; she longed to call out in her dreams. Yet, Anna still couldn't bring herself to say it. Because after being awkward for so long, it formed a habit that became a kind of inertia.
Ding dong~~
Another ring of the doorbell snapped Anna back to reality as she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Han Yoon-soo went to open the door.
"Chan-yeol." The unexpected address left Anna momentarily stunned before she resumed her task of chopping vegetables.
"Who’s in the kitchen?" Park Chan-yeol's voice came through.
"Oh, it's Anna," Han Yoon-soo replied. "Hand me that, and you go see if there's anything you can help with."
"Okay."
Footsteps gradually approached, and Anna let out a long breath, steadying her emotions.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Park Chan-yeol asked as he walked over.
Anna glanced at him, then looked away and said, "Wash those two potatoes clean and peel them."
"Sure." Park Chan-yeol smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and began washing the potatoes. He had taken off his jacket and was now wearing a gray sweater, looking extremely warm in the soft sunlight that filtered into the kitchen.
"You, how come you're here?" Anna asked.
"I come here often," Park Chan-yeol replied. "But I'm not here just to see you." He grinned mischievously.
"I never said that," Anna said as she added the chopped vegetables to the hot oil in the pan and started to stir-fry.
Han Yoon-soo peeked outside the door, smiled with relief, and then went to cut some fruit.
"Anyway, thank you for taking good care of her," Anna said softly to Park Chan-yeol, her back turned to him.
"You said it yourself; she's my mother too, so of course I have to take good care of her," Park Chan-yeol replied.
"That's true," Anna said. "I almost forgot."
"I haven't seen her this happy in a long time. It seems you can come by more often; it's much more effective than those pills. The weather is cold, and her asthma can't handle the cold wind. She misses you but can't come see you. So please visit often," Park Chan-yeol smiled.
"How long has she had this illness?"
"The doctor said it's hereditary asthma and can't be cured. It can only be managed with medication. She has never been as severe as this winter since my father was around," Park Chan-yeol said helplessly, raising the corner of his mouth. "After my father passed away, I really have to admit that she did love him."
"Yes, I have to admit that too," Anna said with a bitter smile.
"Has she asked about Andy?" Park Chan-yeol inquired.
"I lied and told her Andy is working abroad," Anna replied.
Park Chan-yeol stopped peeling potatoes in surprise. "He... he wouldn't have already..." After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said, "No, Hogga's will said not to let you find him, which means he's still alive."
"That's right; he's alive, but he's not working abroad. He's trapped in Italy by some method that Hogga used," Anna explained.
Hearing this, Park Chan-yeol felt a wave of bitterness wash over him, just like when they first saw that will. He realized he hadn't been mistaken; Hogga had made thorough plans regarding Anna's situation until the very end.
"He is afraid that Andy might do something bad to you," Park Chan-yeol murmured.
Anna did not catch what Park Chan-yeol was saying and continued, "I don't know exactly where he is, nor do I know how to contact him. To be honest, I had planned to wait a few more years until everything calmed down before looking for him to see how he was doing. But after everything I've been through, I think I will choose to follow Hogga's advice."
"Does Mother Yoon not know about these things?" Park Chan-yeol asked.
"Yes, I haven't told her. Of course, you know it's better for her not to know."
"But Andy is also her child; sooner or later she will become suspicious and find out the truth."
"Well, we'll deal with that when the time comes," Anna said with a gentle smile.
The meal was ready, and the two of them brought the steaming soup and rice to the table. Han Yoon-soo's face was filled with happiness as she quickly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"It's so good, really delicious," Han Yoon-soo said.
Anna smiled slightly; she knew that her cooking was far from Han Yoon-soo's skill, and she understood that no matter how it turned out, Han Yoon-soo would always enjoy it.
"We've known each other for so long, and this is the first time I've eaten your cooking," Park Chan-yeol joked.
"How could I easily show my skills?" Anna pretended to say proudly.
Seeing them laugh and joke made Han Yoon-soo extremely happy, her smile wide.
After the meal, Han Yoon-soo and Anna went to the kitchen to wash the dishes while Park Chan-yeol stayed outside, talking on the phone with someone.
Her hands were covered in foam, and one plate after another became neat and shiny. Han Yoon-soo's smile never faded; sometimes, while smiling, her eyes would turn red, but then she would calm herself and feel joyful again.
"Thank you, Anna," Han Yoon-soo said as she wiped a plate.
"What’s there to thank? Haven't you made me a lot of delicious food? Besides... your health isn't great, so you should take care of yourself," Anna replied, holding back some words she couldn't quite express.
Faintly, they could hear Park Chan-yeol talking on the phone in the living room. Han Yoon-soo hesitated for a moment and cautiously said, "Actually, no one knows that I am your mother and also Park Chan-yeol's stepmother. You two..."
Anna smiled bitterly. "How can no one know? Sooner or later, everyone will find out. Brother Kwangsoo knows, and Brother Jae-seok knows too."
"You told them?"
"Brother Jae-seok only knows you are my mother; he doesn't know about your relationship with Park Chan-yeol. Brother Kwangsoo knows everything. But if we really want to move forward together, it won't be a secret forever."
Han Yoon-soo sighed. "Anyway... now that Anqing is dead, I've thought about it. I want to dissolve the marriage; that way, you won't be dragged into it either."
Anna raised the corners of her mouth and looked at Han Yoon-soo. "That's one issue, but not really a problem. After all, there’s no blood relation between me and Park Chan-yeol. However, there are still many difficulties we need to resolve."
Hearing this, Han Yoon-soo realized that given her current position in front of Anna, she had no right to ask too many questions. Although she felt confused and worried, she ultimately chose not to say anything more.
Seeing Han Yoon-soo's somewhat lonely expression, Anna smiled and said, "Time will heal everything. Aren't we doing well now? I will come to see you often in the future. It's cold outside, so you should move around less."
Han Yoon-soo didn't expect Anna to say such things; she was extremely delighted and kept agreeing. "Okay, okay."
"Are you done tidying up? Let me help," Park Chan-yeol said as he finished his call and rolled up his sleeves to enter the kitchen.
In this place, only one last plate was being wiped. Anna said, "You don't need to anymore; we've already cleaned up."
"So fast," Park Chan-yeol muttered.
Laughter began to fill the room, a mix of unrelated helplessness and concealment.
As he stepped out from Han Yoon-soo's place, the weather had turned gloomy again. The weather forecast indicated that it would snow tomorrow, and it seemed they were not lying.
"We have recording tomorrow, and it really looks like it will snow," Park Chan-yeol said while looking at the sky. Due to the cold, his breath formed white puffs as he quickly wrapped his scarf tighter.
Anna also put on her hat and scarf, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "Tomorrow there are many outdoor activities. Make sure to wear more layers and bring extra warmers. Don't let the perfect idol image get you frozen; that would be troublesome."
"Of course, an idol needs to maintain their image, but I don't want to rely solely on my looks to survive in this industry. I hope people will see my talent more than my appearance," Park Chan-yeol said with a smile.
"Alright, but if you wear clothes like an old man or woman, your fans will still think you're handsome," Anna teased with a laugh.
"Hey, when did you start having such high praise for my looks?" Park Chan-yeol leaned in closer, his eyes bright.
Anna turned away and stopped looking at him. "I can't be bothered to talk to you anymore. Let's go; it's too cold," she said as she walked toward her car.
Park Chan-yeol chuckled and replied, "You're so stingy." He also took steps toward his own car. "See you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
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