Ch.102No, Donghu! You’re an actor!

Let’s go back in time for a moment.

[Ji Seoksam out, Ji Seoksam out]

At the moment when the trusted starter Ji Seoksam’s out signal echoed through the SKS broadcasting station.

Haha Hyung had already secured two tapes with his quick judgment.

‘Where should I store the tapes from the 6th and 8th floors?’

The reason Ji Seoksam said “we’ve found almost all of them” over the radio was because Ji Seoksam and Haha Hyung were together.

After receiving Kangsu’s radio call, Ji Seoksam waited on the 6th floor. Haha Hyung, sensing something fishy, immediately headed to the 8th floor.

And now back to the present.

“Wow, did you see that? I almost got my nametag ripped off if I had been there?”

“…”

After sharing his near heart-dropping experience with the VJ’s camera, Haha Hyung immediately started thinking about what to do next.

“If we just collect five tapes, we win immediately, right?”

The VJ shook his head.

“Ah… right, that’s it! We need to go to the 7th floor… and hand over all the tapes.”

So I need to go to the 7th floor with the ones I’ve collected. Having reached this conclusion, Haha Hyung immediately used his radio.

“This is Haha Hyung, Haha Hyung over. I’ve currently secured two tapes and I’m letting you know I’ll be taking them to the 7th floor in advance.”

Static noise.

-Th-this is K-Kim Sujin over…! Letting you know I’ll join you on the 7th floor!

“Oh yeah, Sujin, you’re good with the radio. Is Kangsu there with you?”

-Ah, Senior Kangsu said he was going to the 19th floor, so we’re currently separated!

“I see, okay.”

After assessing the situation, Haha Hyung was about to head to the 7th floor when suddenly.

[Cheon Suyeon out, Cheon Suyeon out]

The announcement of Cheon Suyeon’s elimination, the only female participant until now, rang out.

Static noise.

-Hey! Hey! The 13th and 16th floors are hell, absolute hell! Don’t come here! Absolutely don’t!

Yu Jiseok’s urgent radio message came through. His voice was filled with terror, like a scream of someone completely frightened.

“What, what’s going on? What’s happening?”

Feeling goosebumps, Haha Hyung hunched his shoulders.

+++++

About 2 minutes after Kim Donghu’s declaration on the 13th floor.

Despite the previous standoff, Kim Donghu quickly caught up to Cheon Suyeon’s back,

Riiiiip!

And cleanly tore off her nametag.

When, how,

Ignoring all such questions.

Like a cheetah, he had flattened his body to the ground. Then moving stealthily, minimizing even the bell sound, he tore off the nametag with assassin-like movements.

“But I didn’t hear the elevator!”

Cheon Suyeon cried out, feeling wronged.

“I came up the stairs, after getting off at the 12th floor.”

For Kim Donghu, this wasn’t something to worry about. Watching the scene, Yu Jiseok exclaimed in disbelief:

“Donghu! Are you some kind of hitman?! Why do you need to go this far!”

“Senior! I really wanted to try ripping off a nametag!”

“Look at his eyes! His eyes! Why are they so clear?!”

The 13th floor was gripped with fear.

Even Kim Gukjong, who was on the same team, felt a slight fear toward Kim Donghu.

‘We’ve really got a proper entertainment rookie here.’

This was a thought shared by both Yu Jiseok and Kim Gukjong. The entertainment industry is always thirsty for new faces.

But they don’t just want any new face. They crave rookies who bring a completely different dimension of personality and entertainment!

But that doesn’t just happen easily.

Even with a good character, some people don’t fit with broadcasting, and some fit with broadcasting but have mediocre characters. That’s why people say the entertainment cast members are becoming fixed.

‘But with Donghu…’

‘…it’s perfect, absolutely perfect.’

Though they couldn’t directly say it, his face was exceptionally handsome, to the point where it didn’t need mentioning.

Or rather, if Kim Donghu is the standard, he would be the only one considered truly handsome. On top of that, he had a straightforward personality, was respectful, good at his main job, popular, and even good at variety shows?

‘We’ve really got a proper blue chip here.’

While the situation still needed to be observed, if things continued like this, it wouldn’t be strange to fully invest in him.

Anyway, after organizing their thoughts briefly, Yu Jiseok and Kim Gukjong said,

“Donghu! Let’s just finish this quickly! We don’t need to drag this out!”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Hey, hey, hey! Donghu! Wait, wait! Let’s try something called negotiation!”

They immediately coordinated and developed the situation. Then, suddenly thinking it would be good to create a scene, Yu Jiseok said,

“Kim Donghu, no leg usage!”

He used the “no leg usage” item again, which he had previously used on Kim Gukjong. Of course, it wouldn’t actually work, but this was entertainment about deceiving and being deceived.

“Oh!”

For a brief moment, Kim Donghu froze in place. Normally, it would have ended there, but,

Swish.

“No way, he’s actually walking on his hands!”

Without hesitation, Kim Donghu attempted to move forward by doing a handstand.

“Donghu! It’s a trap! That guy already used it all!”

“What?!”

Kim Gukjong belatedly informed him of the situation, but it was too late.

“Give me the camera! Please help here!”

“What?!”

“Just a moment, please help! We’ll meet again later!”

Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Jiseok used the VJ as a substitute to block the door and without hesitation, ran past Kim Donghu to escape.

Tap tap tap tap tap!

Urgently pressing the elevator button, Yu Jiseok dramatically escaped.

Watching the situation quietly, Kim Gukjong smiled at Kim Donghu.

“Donghu, how could you fall for that? I told you not to believe everything that comes out of Jiseok hyung’s mouth!”

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“No, it happens. Let’s go to the 16th floor for now, we still haven’t gotten one from there.”

“So we’ve got everything else except that?”

“Yes, but… we just need to protect the 16th floor, so it’s basically over.”

With those words, Kim Gukjong and Kim Donghu headed to the 16th floor. The outcome of the entire match would be decided there.

++++++

The decisive moment when everyone was gathering on the 16th floor.

‘Hmm, Sujin really doesn’t look like she could do a bungee jump.’

Kim Donghu was contemplating how to get Sujin out of the penalty.

She would obviously be terrified, and if that happened, she would hesitate a lot before the bungee jump.

‘Viewers don’t like it when people get exempted more than once or twice.’

He was worried she might be criticized for causing trouble. While thinking about how to prevent that…

Ding!

With that sound, the elevator doors opened, and right in front of them were:

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Uhhhhh!”

Sujin and Kangsu. A critical situation.

“Kim Donghu, no leg usage!”

Kim Sujin made the best judgment she could, and hearing that judgment, Kim Gukjong immediately sensed victory.

“Ha! Our Donghu can just do a handstand anyway!”

Thinking they could eliminate these two in succession and then deal with the rest, Kim Gukjong turned to Kim Donghu with a victorious smile.

“Oh… the no leg usage worked.”

Breaking everyone’s expectations, Kim Donghu stopped in his tracks.

“Hey! Kim Donghu, you!”

“…Senior, I’m sorry.”

Kim Donghu remained stationary. Despite his confusion, Kim Gukjong grabbed Kangsu’s leg and said,

“Why are you weak against your childhood friend!”

“…”

He tore off the nametag.

[Kangsu out, Kangsu out]

With this, the number of surviving team members was reduced to just three.

But perhaps because all personnel had gathered on the 16th floor? Thanks to Giri’s efforts, who was waiting in advance:

[Haha Hyung out, Haha Hyung out]

In an instant, the numbers changed from 3:6 to 3:2. The pursuing team now had a numerical advantage rather than a disadvantage.

Moreover, since everyone was gathered on the 16th floor, it wouldn’t be strange if they were surrounded. Here, Yu Jiseok’s unpredictable idea shone once again.

“Sujin, do you know how to hold a camera?”

“What?”

“You hold a camera… like this.”

“Uh, uhhhhh?”

Yu Jiseok actively utilized the VJs beside them. He quickly turned the 3:2 situation into a 3:4 and attempted to escape.

Boarding the farthest elevator, they quickly left the 16th floor and set the 7th floor as their destination! If they gathered all the tapes at the tape altar on the 7th floor, they would win.

“How can you use the VJs! Does that make any sense?!”

“Ah, we fell for it again, again.”

Just as Kim Gukjong and Kang Giri were panicking at suddenly being at a disadvantage again:

“I’ll go finish this.”

Kim Donghu, who had already been immobilized for 3 minutes, ran toward the stairwell.

“How are you going to finish anything…?”

Leaving the pursuing team with dumbfounded faces behind:

‘Please… save me, please.’

VJ Park Sangryeol looked at the stairs with a face of despair. The stair hell was about to begin again.

++++++

“It’s fortunate that Donghu is weak against you, childhood friends are definitely good.”

“And, and I’m also… kind of his senior at school! I’m in second year.”

“Really? That’s right, at this age, a one-year difference is the most intimidating.”

The two of them, Yu Jiseok and Kim Sujin, were chatting in front of the elevator as if they had already tasted victory. They got off at the 7th floor while having a casual conversation.

Now they just needed to go to the integrated control room on the 7th floor and place all the tapes on the tape altar to finish. The gap was already too big to catch up, so they could take their time.

Or so they thought.

Jingle jingle jingle jingle.

If only they hadn’t heard that frantic bell sound from far away.

“You absolutely, absolutely cannot go!”

“Donghu! You’re an actor! How can you get here from the 16th floor faster than the elevator!”

Too shocked to respond to Yu Jiseok’s astonished words, Kim Donghu rushed toward Yu Jiseok and Kim Sujin’s nametags.

With no more “no leg usage” items left:

“I’ll handle this, Sujin, go ahead!”

“Yes!”

Yu Jiseok sent Sujin ahead and volunteered as the gatekeeper. Kim Donghu continued straight ahead without slowing down even once.

At this rate, they might collide in the worst case.

“Donghu, Donghu, be careful…!”

Just as Yu Jiseok closed his eyes in surprise at the excessive speed:

Thudududududu.

The harmony of boxing talent bestowed by God. The fusion of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson’s talents.

Swish swish swish.

Muhammad Tyson’s footwork made him pass by Yu Jiseok like a ghost.

Rip!

And tearing off Yu Jiseok’s nametag from behind was just a bonus. Now only Kim Sujin remained.

“Hiyaaaaaaah!!!”

Kim Sujin ran like crazy.

3km in 15 minutes, exceptional for a woman and good by general standards, Kim Sujin was a fast runner.

Pabababababa!

And Kim Donghu, who simply possessed speed in the top 5% of humans. The chase between these two, due to the incredibly close margin:

[Mission successful, Mission successful]

“Haaaaaah!”

Ended with Kim Sujin’s victory. The difference was literally just one finger joint.

And so, Kim Donghu and Kim Sujin’s first variety show ended successfully.

++++++

“By the way, we’re going to do the bungee jump before we leave. Since the chase ended quickly… we’re a bit short on content.”

“What?!”

The bungee jump filming was a bonus.

“Donghu, how could you choose your childhood friend over victory… Don’t tell me you did it so Sujin wouldn’t have to bungee jump?”

You’re not just an ordinary man, but a real man?

Hearing the whole story, Kim Donghu lowered his head shyly at Ji Seoksam’s words.

“Seoksam hyung, why are you bothering the kids while they’re having fun?”

“Should I leave?”

“You should have left earlier, ah…”

“That hyung never knows the timing.”

“Hyung! We were about to have an ending moment, and now we have to create another ending because of you!”

“…Even you, Kangsu?”

Teasing Ji Seoksam was a souvenir. Watching the situation, Kim Sujin quietly moved next to Kim Donghu.

“Did you really do that for me?”

“You said you were scared of bungee jumping.”

“…Kim Donghu, you’re really crazy.”

Kim Sujin quickly lowered her head.

Because she was going crazy,

‘Stop making my heart flutter so much!’

Her heart was pounding so hard she thought she might go crazy.