Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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—On Bangchui Island beach, a gentle sea breeze blows and the sun shines just right.

This creates a subtle contrast with the tense challenges that are about to unfold.

"All members, please come and collect your mission cards."

Director Wu Tong's voice came through the loudspeaker, interrupting the members' relaxed conversation after arriving at the new scene.

The appearance of Ma Su, the person who posted the task, brought some surprises—she herself made a cameo appearance in the movie "The City of Light," and the program team specially edited a VCR clip of her in the movie as an introduction.

"Hello, members of the Brotherhood!"

Ma Su stood behind the white wall, her smile bright, but her voice was somewhat hoarse, and her expression carried a hint of fatigue.

There was no other way; in order to record a video message to cheer on her favorite Magneto after he entered the finals of "The Rap of China," Ma Su practiced countless times to achieve her best performance, and she was quite tired.

"Today, I will be issuing the first task for you in your search for 'memories': the [Speed ​​Challenge]!"

Despite her dry mouth, she smiled and said, "You need to choose the distance you want to challenge on the track in front of you."

The camera then shifted to...

All the members turned around and looked back, their relaxed expressions freezing for a moment.

A 50-meter-long sloping running track is clearly visible. The slope is made of rough, non-slip material, about three meters wide, and has a distinct angle of inclination.

The "protective measures" on both sides of the runway are quite rudimentary—every 30 centimeters or so, there is an iron railing with a thin layer of foam and tape on it.

These iron pillars themselves don't look very sturdy; they're more like boundary markers than protective measures.

At the highest point of the slope, a huge sphere, estimated to be over two meters in diameter and painted in matte black, stands silently, like a meteorite waiting to fall, exuding a silent sense of oppression.

The ball is stuck on a platform at the top of the slope by a simple trigger mechanism. Simply press the start button and it will roll down and accelerate along the slope.

The rules for this task are as follows:

Ma Su continued reading, "Members choose their own distances and plant the target black flag in the corresponding positions."

After pressing the start button at the starting point, the large ball pops out and rolls down.

Challengers must run at full speed, successfully pull out the black flag, and return to the starting safe zone without being knocked down by the large ball to complete the challenge.

Each person has two attempts.

Task description complete.

"This……"

Deng Chao looked at the black ball high up, then at the smooth, steep slope and the seemingly useless "guardrails" on both sides. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

As an experienced actor and the core of the show, he instinctively sensed the potential risks of the game.

The impact of the large ball accelerating down the slope, the rough ground, the fragile side protection, and the various accidents that may occur as the members sprint and dodge with all their might.

But he swallowed his words and quickly put on the eager smile required by the show.

Gu Qing also frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping more carefully over the iron fences on both sides of the track.

He even quickly estimated in his mind the approximate speed the sphere might reach after accelerating to different distances. The conclusion made his heart sink slightly.

But when the camera panned over, he, like Deng Chao, quickly adjusted his expression.
He revealed the familiar curiosity and desire for challenge that belong to the members of "Running Man," and even stretched his arms and legs a bit.

"Please welcome our first challenger—Wang Zhulan!"

Wu Tong's voice broke the delicate atmosphere.

As the indispensable "atmosphere maker" of the show and often the "opening cannon fodder," Wang Zhulan took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and exuded confidence: "Watch me! I'll show you what 'small size, big energy' means!"

He took the black flag and began to strut around like a model, deliberately trying to lighten the tension with humor with every step.

"Wu Lan, you've got potential!"

Deng Chao immediately applauded and laughed heartily.

"Give us an example! Let's see where the limits are!"

Chen Chichi and the others joined in the commotion, their laughter echoing throughout.

"30 meters is actually close to the limit,"

Watching Wang Zulan walk further and further away from the monitor, Wu Tong suddenly remembered the horrific scene of staff being knocked over and thrown about during the earlier testing phase.
He quickly picked up the walkie-talkie to add a reminder, "Any further... it's basically impossible to complete."

His tone sounded like concern, but it was also telling all the members that thirty meters was their goal for successfully completing the challenge.

"Director, who do you think you are? It's only 30 meters."

Huang Zitao stood to the side, arms crossed, a disdainful expression on his face. He boasted that he worked out regularly and was in good physical condition, thinking that this "running and flag-pulling" game was a piece of cake.

"Brother Zulan, don't listen to the director, just send the one furthest away! Let them see the strength of our brotherhood!"

He shouted loudly, seemingly trying to demonstrate his "courage" and "support for his brother" in this way.

"Great! I've made something of myself!!"

Wang Zhulan was put in a difficult position, and wanting to create a good effect, she really struggled to continue going up.
As it gets closer and closer to the bottom of the black ball, its posture has changed from "walking" to almost "crawling".

"Brother Lan, come back—"

Seeing this, Gu Qing cupped her hands around her mouth and raised her voice, shouting, "Being successful and being realistic are sometimes two different things!"

"It's Wong Cho-lam,"

Li Chen quickly chimed in, pointing to a relatively flat area about twenty meters below him, "The fact that you can stand here already makes you a 'giant'! Really!"

The two of them, one praising and the other echoing, made everyone burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright, listen to advice and eat your fill."

Wong Cho-lam readily accepted the situation and breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Gu Qing and Li Chen were preparing a way out for him.

He stopped, thinking about what the director had just said, "Then I'll... try the 30-meter challenge first!"

He retreated to the vicinity of the 30-meter mark and forcefully inserted the black flag into the small hole reserved on the side of the track.

Back to the starting point,

Wang Zhulan patted his chest and took a few deep breaths.

Wang Zhulan's first challenge, 30 meters away, preparation:

Three, two, one…

"Snapped!"

Wang Zhulan slammed the red start button beside him, and a cloud of white smoke billowed out.

At the same time, a "click" sound of machinery being released came from above.

The huge black ball began to roll slowly, then its speed increased visibly as it rushed down the slope!

Wang Zhulan mustered all her strength and began to run wildly!
He was short, but walked at an extremely fast pace, his short legs almost leaving afterimages.

"Zulan sped up! Is this the legendary 'Shadowless Kick'?!"

Chen Chichi immediately switched to passionate commentary mode, trying to ease the tense atmosphere with humor.

"I think it's more like... a two-legged corgi sprinting at full speed!"

Zheng Kai's perfect comedic timing elicited a burst of laughter.

Wang Zhulan gave it his all. Under immense psychological pressure and physical exertion, he actually managed to bend down and grab the black flag 30 meters away at the last moment before the black ball rolled to the ground!
Success is at hand!

however,
Just as he picked up the flag and tried to turn around and speed away, the inertia of his body, the steep slope, and a moment of relaxation caused his foot to slip suddenly!
He cried out in surprise, lost his balance, and fell forward.

Almost at the same time,
The accelerating black sphere crashed over his body!

With a muffled "bang!"
Accompanied by Wang Zhulan's short, painful cry.

The sphere rolled over his back, the immense force sending him tumbling half a circle.

Even the wig he wore for the role was knocked off and rolled to the side.

The scene froze instantly.

Chen Chichi and Zheng Kai, who were just joking around, froze on their faces.

Chen Chichi's mouth was wide open, but no sound came out; Zheng Kai's eyes widened in shock.

"what--!"

Liu Shishi and Dilraba both screamed in terror at the same time. The two girls covered their mouths with their hands, their faces turned pale, and their eyes were full of worry.

Gu Qing was at the bottom of the slope. Almost the instant the black ball rolled over Wang Zhulan's body, his expression changed, and he stepped onto the track.

While everyone was still in shock,

Wang Zhulan, who was lying on the track, suddenly moved.
To avoid worrying everyone and maintain the comedic effect of the show, he lay down on the track with his arms outstretched, making a very effective pose.

He moved with an extremely slow and dramatic gesture, spreading his limbs out in a "T" shape, his face pressed against the track.

"puff--"

The tense atmosphere was broken by this unexpected, professionally funny act.

The crowd then snapped out of their shock and realized that Wang Zhulan still had the energy to joke, so he must not have been seriously injured.
But the sheer danger of what just happened still left everyone feeling shaken.

Laughter resumed, but it carried a clear sense of lingering fear and relief.

"Wu Lan! Are you alright?"

"My God, that scared me to death."

"That was amazing! We were so close to succeeding!"

Chen Chichi, Zheng Kai, and others quickly surrounded Wang Zhulan, patting his back and buttocks with their hands and feet.

Gu Qing didn't speak. First, she carefully looked at Wang Zhulan's face and posture to make sure he wasn't in excruciating pain. Then, she silently bent down and picked up the hood that had rolled to the side.

He walked over to Wang Zhulan, gently took his arm, and pulled him up from the ground.

"Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?"

Wang Zhulan steadied himself on Gu Qing's arm and continued to play the role of "amnesia" and "confusion," looking around blankly. With his messy hair and slightly disheveled clothes, the comedic effect was off the charts.

"Haha, you almost tumbled over with that ball just now, that was hilarious."

Huang Zitao burst into carefree laughter, even putting his hands together and mimicking the rolling of a ball and the tumbling of a human body, laughing so hard he was doubled over.

Gu Qing carefully tidied Wang Zhulan's messy hair before picking up the wig again and putting it back on for him.

"Really? Is it that exaggerated?"

Wang Zhulan was just giving Huang Zitao some polite replies.
At the same time, his hand, which was resting on Gu Qing's arm, subtly and gently squeezed Gu Qing's wrist.

He was told not to be too nervous or worried.

Wang Zhulan has been in the entertainment industry for many years. What hardships hasn't he endured? What situations hasn't he experienced?
He knew perfectly well that in these kinds of variety shows, sometimes embarrassing moments and thrilling scenes were part of the show's effect and one of his responsibilities as the "comedy lead."

He could sense the unspoken concern from the youngest member of the Running Man team, and the suppressed anger at the unreasonable game settings that might be hidden beneath that seemingly calm young face.

But this was the only way he could respond and appease.

the other side,
Old Deng, wearing sunglasses, stood silently to the side with his hands on his hips, a forced smile on his face.

His silence itself is an attitude.

"director,"

With a seemingly relaxed smile on his face, Zheng Kai crossed his arms and made a "stop" gesture towards the production team.

He said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I think... Zulan has already contributed enough 'shocking' material to our game. How about... we stop here and switch to something gentler?"

"Come on, get ready. Wong Cho-lam, you have a second chance to challenge me!"

Wu Tong's voice came from behind the monitor, but he didn't understand what it meant; his face showed obvious satisfaction and excitement.

Looking at the thrilling footage he had just captured and the subsequent hilarious effect, he felt the impact was explosive and gave his "genius" idea countless thumbs up.

Is game innovation difficult?
With just a few moves, he creates memorable moments in the history of variety shows!
As for safety?

Nothing serious happened, right?
That's what he was thinking.

"Understood, Director."

Wang Zhulan responded and patted Gu Qing on the back to indicate that he was really fine.

He picked up the black flag again, and looking at the black ball that was once again high above him, the lingering fear in his heart was real.

He rubbed his back and shoulders where he had been bumped and said, "It... this ball rolls down the slope really fast. But I've noticed that if you can get to the vicinity of the flag, the slope ends there, the ground flattens out, and the ball's speed slows down noticeably."

He shared his experience, hoping to provide helpful tips to the other guys and reduce their risk of injury.

"Brother Zulan, lower the bar this time, safety first."

Gu Qing spoke, her voice not loud, but very clear.

"Yes, Wong Cho-lam,"

Deng Chao chimed in, using his usual tone that was a bit sarcastic but actually concerned, saying, "Don't push yourself. It's not shameful to not finish 30 meters. Our show relies on brains, not brute force, right?"

"Then... I'll go with 28 meters."

Wang Zhulan stopped insisting, took two steps back, and planted the black flag at the 28-meter mark.

Judging from the sprint speed he just demonstrated, as long as he doesn't make any mistakes in the start and picks up the flag smoothly, he has a high probability of completing the distance, and the outcome of the game won't lose its suspense.

The second challenge begins.

Gu Qing deliberately changed his position this time. He quietly moved from the inside, which was closer to the starting point, to the outermost position, which was also the closest to where the black ball would roll down.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed intently on the black ball that was about to roll down above him.

Fortunately, Wang Zhulan was well-prepared this time, had a decisive start, and sprinted rapidly, successfully pulling the flag at the 28-meter mark.

Although he stumbled a bit when he turned and ran back, he managed to get back to the safe zone before the ball caught up with him.

"Wow! Well done, Woo-lam!"

"Success! 28 meters!"

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause.

"The best result so far is Wong Cho-lam's 28 meters!"

Wu Tong announced with some dissatisfaction, "Please welcome the next challenger!"

Deng Chao stepped forward, took off his sunglasses, and casually placed them on Gu Qing's nose.

"I'll do it, I'll do it."

He could tell the director was dissatisfied.

Deng Chao laughed and took the black flag, striding towards the track.

Without much hesitation, he walked straight to the 30-meter mark.

Standing still, Old Deng struck a smug pose, then turned around and grinned, giving off a funny vibe reminiscent of Darlie toothpaste.

Is gaming dangerous? Yes, it is.

Deng Chao knew this better than anyone else.

But since it's a TV show recording, as an actor and as the captain of Running Man, he must set an example in order to achieve better program results and live up to the audience's expectations.

This relentless dedication was one of the key reasons why "Running Man" was able to resonate with audiences in its early days.

"Go, Chao Ge!"

"Captain, it's up to you!"

"Old Deng, charge!"

Gu Qing adjusted his slightly oversized sunglasses and cheered loudly with the other members.

"Deng Chao's challenge distance: 30 meters! Ready—three, two, one! Go!"

"Aaaaaahh ...

Deng Chao let out his signature shout and charged out with all his might!
His starting explosiveness is still good, his stride is long, and his momentum is fierce.

However, time waits for no one.

At 38 years old this year, his peak physical fitness and explosiveness have long passed.

When the sprint reached about 25 meters, there was a noticeable lack of stamina, and the speed began to decrease.

And ahead, the rumbling sound of the black ball rolling was already very close!
Deng Chao made a decisive move, abandoning his charge to capture the flag. He turned sharply, faced the incoming ball, and quickly lay down on the track.
At the same time, he subconsciously stuck out his buttocks, covered his head with his hands, and used what he thought was the best posture to cushion the impact.

"boom--!"

A dull thud rang out. The black ball slammed solidly into his upturned buttocks, then relentlessly crushed his lower back.

The immense force sent Deng Chao tumbling forward before he finally came to a stop.

"Brother Chao!"

Another gasp of surprise rippled through the room.

Chen Chichi frowned and grimaced as if he had been hit by the impact, and was speechless for a long time.

Gu Qing forced herself to stand still, not rushing forward immediately like she had done with Wang Zhulan before.

He understands his brother Chao; everything must be done with the sake of the show's effect in mind.

If the final result is unsatisfactory, it will be necessary to re-record, which may actually make you more susceptible to injury.

"Hahaha--!"

Amidst a worried silence and sporadic calls of concern, Huang Zitao's highly recognizable, carefree laughter rang out once again.

"Did you guys see that?! Brother Chao caught the ball with his butt... haha, with his butt! He got knocked flying!"

Huang Zitao laughed so hard he bent over, pointing towards the slope, "Brother Chao, is your butt okay? Are you alright? This pose is so ugly, Brother Kai, don't you think?"

He laughed as he nudged Zheng Kai with his elbow, trying to get his approval.

"Yes...yes..."

Zheng Kai's expression was stiff, but he still managed a forced laugh and gave a vague reply.

Having recorded so many episodes,

He also gained a clear understanding of Huang Zitao.

This young man isn't really bad, he's just really stupid.

Low emotional intelligence and unreliability are almost entirely evident in his personality.

He didn't harbor any ill will towards Deng Chao, nor was he deliberately trying to antagonize him; he genuinely found the scene ridiculous and laughable.
Furthermore, they were completely unable to empathize with the pain and embarrassment that Deng Chao might be experiencing, nor could they perceive the subtle changes in the atmosphere at the scene.

If you find it funny, then laugh. That's all.

"I don't agree!!"

Deng Chao got up on his own, dusted himself off, and although his movements were a little slow, he still had a defiant smile on his face. "If Zu Lan can run 28 meters, how could I not surpass him?"

"Let's try again! This time it'll definitely work!"

He chose 30 meters again.

The second challenge yielded almost the same result.

The black ball rolled down, and Deng Chao sprinted with all his might, but he still ran out of energy at around 20 meters and was forced to lie down for protection again. The black ball ran over his body once more.

Challenge failed!

"A real man has to challenge 30 meters, right? Director, I want to challenge 30 meters too!!"

Guo Jingfei, as a guest, was very approachable.

He rolled up his sleeves, strode forward, showing no fear on his face, and was completely at ease in his variety show persona.

However, his physical abilities are not top-notch.

On his first attempt at the 30-meter challenge, he gritted his teeth and sprinted. He finally managed to bend down and reach the black flag. Just as he gripped the flagpole and before he could even turn around and exert force, the black ball was already upon him!

With a muffled thud,
Guo Jingfei was also knocked sideways and flew into the air, losing his balance. His knee slammed hard against the base of the low protective wall next to the track, which was covered with thick sponge!

Even with the foam cushioning, that impact was still quite severe.

This time, Gu Qing didn't just stand by and watch.

Just as Guo Jingfei lost control and was about to crash into a nearby iron pillar, he quickly stretched out his arm and steadily supported Guo Jingfei's shoulder and upper arm.

"hiss--!"

Guo Jingfei landed, gasping in pain, his face contorting in agony.

He hugged his knees and paused for several seconds.

"Brother Jingfei, are you alright?" Gu Qing helped him up.

Guo Jingfei waved his hand, a thin layer of sweat already forming on his forehead from the pain, but he forced himself not to complain about the game settings, only gritting his teeth and squeezing out the words:

"No...it's nothing, I just bumped into something, I'll feel better after a while."

If Gu Qing hadn't reacted quickly, the impact would have been much more serious.

After resting for a while and moving my legs around, I was relieved that I hadn't broken any bones, just some stiffness and pain.

For his second challenge, Guo Jingfei did not insist on 30 meters, but pragmatically chose 28 meters.

This time he was better prepared, started more decisively, and finally completed the challenge by barely grazing the edge of the rolling black ball.

"Xiao Gu, you're behind me."

Seeing Gu Qing straightening his clothes and preparing to step forward, Zheng Kai suddenly grabbed him, "Brother Kai will set an example for you first and scout out the way."

Throughout the filming of the second season of Running Man,

Gu Qing, who impressed audiences in the first season with his speed as a "wind-like youth",
In the second season, he had many exciting speed battles and name tag ripping chases with "Little Cheetah" Zheng Kai.

The two men were almost identical in terms of physical fitness and speed, but Zheng Kai had a slight edge in strength due to his age and weight advantage.

If he can run 30 meters successfully, Gu Qing can certainly do it too.

If he himself can't do it,
"You should learn from Brother Chao and climb down in advance to protect yourself."

Zheng Kai patted Gu Qing on the back and whispered a word of advice.

After all,

"I'll do it! I'll do it!"

Zheng Kai entered the stage laughing, jumping around a few times to fully warm up his joints.

"Zheng Kai is challenging the distance: 30 meters! Ready—Go!"

At the command, Zheng Kai's starting posture was extremely professional, and his explosive power was tremendous. His speed in the first twenty meters clearly surpassed that of all the previous challengers, truly living up to his name "Little Cheetah"!
However, the problem still occurred during the step of bending down to pick up the flag.

Today he was wearing a rather tight denim jacket and jeans. The series of movements—bending over, grabbing the flag, and then getting up and running back—were not so smooth and free due to the constraints of the tight clothing.

That delay of less than a second determined success or failure.

"Clang—!"

The black ball caught up with him and slammed into his back side!

The enormous impact caused Zheng Kai to completely lose his balance, and he was sent flying sideways!
Even worse,

He flew out into the uninhabited area on the left side of the runway, with no one to protect him. His entire back slammed solidly and violently into the row of iron railings that served as "guardrails"!

With a loud "bang!",
The seemingly sturdy iron railing was actually knocked outwards by Zheng Kai's body weight and the force of the impact!

Zheng Kai's body bounced back from the railing and fell onto the track.

He didn't move immediately, but lay face down, hands on the ground, his back heaving violently, emitting heavy and suppressed breathing.

His face was buried in his arms, so his expression was not visible, but his flushed neck and taut muscles showed that he was enduring great pain and trying his best to bear it.

At this moment, the entire venue fell silent.

Even Huang Zitao, who is usually carefree and enjoys gloating, froze completely with a smile, which then slowly disappeared.

He swallowed hard, looked at the bent iron railing, then at Zheng Kai lying there motionless, and for the first time, a clear look of lingering fear and disbelief appeared in his eyes.

Isn't this game a bit too dangerous?
The scenes from just now kept replaying in his mind:

Wang Zhulan's head was run over, Deng Chao's waist was thrown off balance, and Guo Jingfei hit his knee.

Zheng Kai's back has now slammed into the metal railing and bent it out of shape...

They were all injured.

Is this an attempt to kill someone?!
……

...(End of this chapter)