Chapter 22
Daeun, conscious of Hye-yeong standing next to her, glanced at the members of Run, People!
“Alright, everyone! Today we have an indoor shoot after a while.”
While giving the opening lines, Yoo Hong-seok talked about recent updates and explained the concept of today’s episode to the Run, People! members.
Today’s shoot was a challenge inside the broadcasting station: teams would complete missions, use the hints they found to locate a key, and unlock a safe to win.
Since having more team members was advantageous for finding multiple mission sheets, it was essential to tear off the opposing team’s name tags to reduce their numbers.
“Let’s introduce today’s guests! A drama that’s been very popular lately.”
As the regular members of Run, People! cheered, Daeun stepped into the camera frame.
Watching Hye-yeong run around cheerfully, Daeun calmly moved to her designated spot.
“The stars of We Must—Jung Si-won, Kang Daeun, and Noh Hye-yeong, welcome!”
Daeun and Hye-yeong bowed politely in response to Yoo Hong-seok’s introduction. The clapping members added comments:
“Oh, these two really have similar vibes. They almost feel like twins.”
“Right? But they’re not actual twins, so you can tell apart, right? The makeup is impressive though. Which shop is that?”
“Ah, why do you ask about the shop? Are you a professional or something?”
The playful banter among them made the atmosphere even more lively. Yoo Hong-seok smoothly led the broadcast.
“Shall we divide the teams?”
Based on the guests, Daeun and Hye-yeong, the teams were formed:
[Daeun Team]
Daeun, In-soo, Ji-guk, Ara, Je-ho
[Hye-yeong Team]
Hye-yeong, Hong-seok, Si-won, So-jin, Sang-wan
Hye-yeong stood next to Yoo Hong-seok, showing exaggerated excitement.
“Wow! This is amazing. I’m such a big fan of this senior! Did you know? He’s really handsome!”
“You call this guy handsome?”
Je-ho, always trying to keep Hong-seok in check, complained sharply.
“He only looks handsome because he’s popular. Objectively, he’s not really that good-looking!”
“No, bro. I’m actually handsome.”
Yoo Hong-seok took off his glasses for the camera, smiling to show his double eyelids.
The Run, People! members groaned, quickly telling him to put his glasses back on.
While watching and laughing, a sketchboard from the production team instructed the PD to focus. It seemed the game was about to officially begin.
“First mission.”
The main PD handed the mission sheet to Yoo Hong-seok:
“Find the largest broadcasting station logo in the building!”
The broadcasting station had 15 floors above ground and three basement levels. The basements were parking areas, so the possible logo locations were limited.
“The first thing that comes to mind is the first-floor lobby…”
“Does it include outdoor areas?”
When Daeun asked, the members focused. There was a fairly large electronic billboard in front of the station, displaying the station logo. Tension filled the air, and the PD answered:
“Yes.”
As soon as the PD answered, the Run, People! members shot off like rockets.
Ultimately, there were no mission sheets at the outdoor logo.
After failing there, the name tag hunting began fiercely. Sang-wan from Hye-yeong’s team tore off In-soo’s name tag.
[Daeun Team: Kim In-soo eliminated]
Afterward, everyone scattered. The likely next location for a mission sheet was the rooftop.
Daeun entered the building to head to the rooftop. She assumed everyone else was lingering near elevators, escalators, and stairs to go up.
She hid to observe the situation, checking the escalator, elevator, and stairs from the lobby to the third floor.
“Ah! I lost Yoo Hong-seok!”
Hong-seok barely defended his name tag in front of the elevator and headed up to the 15th floor. Meanwhile, Ji-guk from Daeun’s team spotted Hye-yeong and So-jin at the stairs.
“Kya!”
So-jin sent the guest Hye-yeong toward the escalator and lured Ji-guk up the stairs, only to meet Si-won and Sang-wan from Hye-yeong’s team on the second floor, reversing the situation.
Observing the situation quietly, Daeun saw the elevator stop at the 15th floor and rushed to press the button.
At this time, Hong-seok from Hye-yeong’s team was already on the 15th floor, and Hye-yeong was on the escalator, being chased by Ara and Je-ho from Daeun’s team.
Everyone was too focused elsewhere to notice the elevator.
Daeun took the elevator from the first floor to the 15th floor. Hong-seok might have already found the mission sheet on the rooftop.
“Where are you?”
Arriving on the 15th floor, Daeun looked around for Hong-seok. Though she felt awkward being followed by a personal cameraman, she acted naturally as instructed.
“Uh…?”
Searching for the stairs to the rooftop, Daeun stopped her cameraman and hid behind a corner.
She spotted Yoo Hong-seok just coming out of the stairwell. His expression suggested there was no mission sheet on the rooftop.
It would be perfect to take off his name tag now.
Daeun thought carefully, then had a brilliant idea.
She looked at the camera, winked, and let down her tied-up hair.
At the same time, her expression completely changed, as if she were a different person.
“Gasp!”
The cameraman following Daeun instinctively swallowed. Could facial muscles really change someone’s appearance this much?
“Senpai Yoo Hong-seok~!”
Laughing and waving, Daeun perfectly imitated Noh Hye-yeong.
From her voice with a slight nasal tone to her slightly bouncy walk, everything changed instantly.
The stunned cameraman quickly snapped out of it and followed her.
“Ah, Hye-yeong!”
From a distance, Hong-seok naturally called her Hye-yeong.
“Wow, senior! It’s chaos downstairs! I was just with So-jin earlier, and then suddenly Ji-guk appeared in front of me…”
Daeun, pretending to be Hye-yeong, chattered while walking closely beside Hong-seok, making sure he wouldn’t notice her name tag on her back.
Seeing Hye-yeong go with So-jin outdoors, Hong-seok had no reason to doubt her story.
“But, senior… nothing on the rooftop?”
“Ah, exactly! There’s nothing!”
Hong-seok frowned in frustration. Daeun tugged his arm and whispered:
“Then maybe it’s on the 9th floor?”
“Huh? 9th floor?”
“There’s the sky garden on the 9th floor.”
It was a small garden on the 9th-floor rooftop for broadcasting staff. Thinking of the broadcasting station logo attached to the building exterior, Hong-seok’s eyes lit up.
“Right! 9th floor! Let’s go, Hye-yeong!”
Hong-seok dashed toward the stairs, excited. Daeun followed, and quickly removed his name tag while he ran.
“What? Wait…?”
Hong-seok, shocked, turned toward Daeun. The camera captured his face closely.
“No, Hye-yeong… the rules…”
He suddenly realized, checked her back, and froze, letting out awkward laughter.
[Hye-yeong Team: Yoo Hong-seok eliminated]
The building’s announcement system sounded. Daeun smiled shyly and apologized.
“Sorry, senior.”
“Wow… seeing it now, it’s clearly Daeun. Why did I fall for it earlier? I completely thought it was Hye-yeong!”
Two staff members approached the still-dazed Hong-seok.
“Let’s go.”
“To the eliminated contestants’ room.”
“No, wait! What? This isn’t fair!”
Daeun made a V-sign for the camera and headed for the stairs. Taking the elevator was risky since the positions of other contestants were unknown.
The escalator only went up to the third floor, so the emergency stairs were her best option.
There had been no mention of other eliminations, so most of Daeun’s team was still in the game.
While going from the 15th to the 9th floor, the broadcast system announced:
[Daeun Team: Shin Je-ho eliminated]
[Hye-yeong Team: Lee Sang-wan eliminated]
Daeun quickly descended the stairs, moving faster than expected. Her cameraman was out of breath.
Around the 11th floor, she encountered So-jin from Hye-yeong’s team coming out of the emergency exit on the 10th floor.
“Uh…!”
“So-jin, what’s going on?”
Hye-yeong appeared behind So-jin.
It was 2 versus 1.
Seeing So-jin slowly close the distance, the cameraman behind Daeun tensed. The way forward was blocked, and trying to run up would likely exhaust her quickly.
“I’ll run for now.”
Feeling the air freeze, Daeun whispered to the cameraman and moved swiftly.
