Lovely Runner 2: Finding Grandma

Chapter 14: Ji Na

In their van, Sun Jae and Im Sol pull up to a large marble mansion. At the top of the stairs stands Park Ji Na with flowing blonde hair, a tight pink mini dress, and a bright smile. Eying her from the passenger window, Im Sol cringes at the sight.

"That's Ji Na...?" she asks, wishing it weren't true.

With his jaw wide open, In Hyuk sits in the back seat holding a bouquet of twenty roses. "That's Ji Na!" he exclaims, in awe of her beauty.

In the driver's seat, the unimpressed Sun Jae sighs, rolling his eyes behind his thick black sunglasses. With one glance at her, he shakes his head, wanting to be anywhere else but here.

They stop, and get out of the car. Sun Jae helps Im Sol up the stairs, carefully and strategically holding her hand. As the three approach, Ji Na bolts down the stairs towards them with arms wide open.

"Annyeonghaseyo!!" she shouts. But her foot buckles under her. In Hyuk reaches out to catch her, hoping to be her knight. Im Sol watches in shock. Neither of them stops her, and she falls into Sun Jae's arms, knocking off his glasses. When their eyes meet, her fangirl dreams come true.

Sun Jae stares blankly at her, unsure of what to say or do. It feels like a weird dream, the type you want to forget about.

"Oh! Omo!" Ji Na says, acting disturbed and standing up straight. "Gamsahabnida!" She laughs, playfully tapping Sun Jae's shoulder. When she meets Im Sol's simmering eyes, Ji Na chuckles, brushing it off.

"So cute!" she says, wrapping Im Sol in a hug. "Sun Jae-ah's wife, right?"

"Yes," Sol replies seriously, grabbing hold of Sun Jae's hand so tight it makes him nervous.

"Ah! Ha! Ha!" Ji Na continues her awkward laugh. "Let's go inside!" She turns, running back up the stairs.

Trailing behind, In Hyuk stands dejected. "Aish! I do all the work... He always gets the attention..."

In the recording room of Ji Na's house, there's a table set with snacks and drinks.

"You can sit there," she tells Im Sol and In Hyuk, gesturing to seats.

"Sun Jae-ah and I will be here." She gestures to a pink plush couch set up with studio lights and a homey backdrop. The camera stands in front of it to record.

"I hope you don't mind..." Ji Na slips a sheet of paper into Sol's hands. "I changed your questions a little."

"Oh..." Sol hesitates, but before she can speak or even look through them, Ji Na is onto the next thing.

"Another thing..." Ji Na continues her rambling. "Your assistant." She gestures to In Hyuk, who still holds the roses, though some have already lost petals.

Confused, he blinks, stunned that she even spoke to him. "M-me?"

"Yes." Ji Na says, turning her head back toward the camera, her thick hair smacking In Hyuk's face. Staring back at him, Sol can't believe what happened. But In Hyuk's face is glowing, a dopey grin on his face.

Hand on her hip, Ji Na stands next to the camera, tapping it. "You can handle this?"

Glancing from Ji Na to In Hyuk, Sol is still speechless.

Giving a slow nod, In Hyuk moves toward Ji Na as if in a trance, passing the roses to Sol, who stares down at them and then back at In Hyuk.

"Nae, Ji Na-ssi!" In Hyuk says, like a soldier in the military, taking charge of the camera, even though Sol knows he's never done it before.

"Ah... In Hyuk!" Sol says, setting the giant bouquet on the table, rushing to his side.

Behind the camera, Sun Jae sits stiffly on the couch, arms crossed. His sunglasses miraculously back on, his only defense from Ji Na's heart eyes.

"Omo!" Ji Na says, coming to join him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He backs away.

"Sun Jae-ah!" She tries to brush his arm again, but he dodges. "I can't believe my favorite idol is here."

Spearing her eyes at Sol and In Hyuk, she clears her throat, annoyed. "Are we ready back there?"

"Nae!" In Hyuk says, still in a daze.

"No, we're not," Im Sol says through her teeth, already aggravated. She adjusts a wire on the camera. "We're rolling!" she announces.

Immediately, Ji Na's expression shifts to a honeyed smile, flicking her hair back. In Hyuk's eyes glaze over watching her on the camera monitor, accidentally zooming in on her eye.

"You crazy?!" Sol reprimands him, adjusting the frame. "We're live on this..." She shakes her head.

Standing uncomfortably close to Sun Jae, Ji Na greets her followers. "Thanks everyone for coming! I'm so excited to be joined by Ryu Sun Jae! And yes—" She giggles, her face blushing. "He's even more handsome in person!"

"Aish! That girl—" Sol simmers, her face turning red. She tears off her headphones, heading straight towards Ji Na, fuming with jealousy.

"Stop the live!" Sol shouts, turning all eyes toward her.