Chapter 36: The Second Game – The Unstoppable 1997 “Chao-Lang” Duo!
After more playful banter, the director announced the start of the next game.
The Running Man production team adored Shen Lang’s variety show instincts, so much so that they considered making him a permanent cast member.
For this round, the director explained the rules by introducing cuju, the ancient Chinese precursor to soccer. Even FIFA acknowledged cuju as soccer’s origin.
Yet, ironically, while soccer remained China’s eternal heartbreak, table tennis, originally a Western sport, had become China’s national pride.
After a brief cuju demonstration, the three teams prepared for the challenge:
Teams lay on mats, passing a water-filled “cuju ball” using only their feet.
The last member had to kick the ball into a small net (“wind-flow eye”).
The team with the most water transferred within the time limit would win.
Once the rules were announced, the director called, “First up, Blue Team!”
Deng Chao immediately chimed in, “We, the White Team, volunteer to help them fill the water!”
Shen Lang smirked. “I love volunteering.”
Li Chen (Big Black Bull) protested, “No thanks, we don’t need help!”
“How are you gonna fill water while lying down?” Shen Lang countered. “I swear we won’t sabotage you. We’re all about teamwork!”
“Exactly! Teamwork!” Deng Chao echoed. “That’s the Running Man spirit!”
The others nodded in agreement.
They couldn’t shake the feeling of impending chaos.
The Blue Team lined up: Du Jiang, Wang Zulan, Li Yi, and Li Chen.
As they began passing the cuju ball, Deng Chao cheered, “Du Jiang! All those gym sessions led to this moment! You got this!”
His “encouragement” only made the Blue Team more nervous.
Li Chen suddenly sat up. “Du Jiang, why are you wearing those socks?”
Chen He teased, “He’s gonna scare you with his foot muscles!”
Shen Lang whispered, “Or maybe it’s athlete’s foot… Zulan-ge, you might wanna, ”
“NO! SAVE ME!” Wang Zulan wailed.
Du Jiang defended himself. “I don’t have foot fungus! Want proof, ?”
“OH NO, STOP!” Chen He cut in. “The more you explain, the worse it gets. Just start the game!”
Shen Lang nodded, exchanging a look with Deng Chao.
“Alright, let’s begin!”
Deng Chao filled the cuju ball with water and placed it on Du Jiang’s feet, but “accidentally” overfilled it.
“Oops, my bad! I just wanted you to win!”
“Chao-ge, be serious!”
Shen Lang “helped” but tripped on the mat, “accidentally” spilling the entire ball.
“SHEN LANG!!!” Li Chen and Zheng Kai yelled.
Shen Lang pointed at the mat. “I’m filing a complaint! This mat is a safety hazard!”
Deng Chao coughed. “Not his fault. Blame the props team!”
After resetting, the Blue Team rearranged by height (Li Chen, Li Yi, Du Jiang, Wang Zulan).
Deng Chao grinned. “Big Black Bull, you’re first? How… convenient.”
Before Li Chen could react, a wave of water drenched him.
“Wasn’t me! Chen He bumped me!”
Li Chen growled, “Just wait till your turn…”
Despite the sabotage, the Blue Team finished with 750ml.
Before the director could announce the next team, Shen Lang declared, “Chao-ge, as champions, we deserve the final slot!”
“Agreed!” Deng Chao said.
Li Chen vetoed. “No way! White Team goes next!”
Shen Lang pulled out his phone. “I insist we go last.”
Deng Chao added, “And call me Xiao Chao, I was born in 1997!”
Ignoring their protests, the director called the Red Team (Yang Mi, Chen He, Zheng Kai, Fan Zhiyi).
Deng Chao and Shen Lang high-fived, their scheme had worked.
As Chen He lay down, he begged, “Chao-ge,
“Xiao Chao,” Deng Chao corrected, dumping water on him.
“Fine, Xiao Chao, please focus!”
*”I am focused. Today, my Lang-di and I are a team, the 1997 Chao-Lang Alliance!”*
The game began, but Yang Mi’s aggressive passing left Chen He soaked. Shen Lang “helped” by filling the ball to the brim early on, then barely adding water later.
The Red Team finished with 900ml, temporarily taking first place.
Now, it was the White Team’s turn, and the other teams vowed revenge.