Chapter 34: Running Man Debut – Shen Lang Threatens the Director, Douban Backlash!
Early the next morning, Shen Lang met with the Running Man cast and guest stars to get acquainted before filming began.
Deng Chao grinned and said, “Shen Lang, your concert last week was amazing!”
Shen Lang chuckled. “That was Zhang Liangying’s concert—I just piggybacked off it.”
“Piggybacked off it?”
Deng Chao’s eyes lit up as he turned to Lu Han. “Xiao Lu, when you hold a concert, can I tag along too?”
Lu Han sighed. “Of course! Everyone’s welcome to join. But… haha, I don’t even know when my concert will happen.”
Chen He waved his hand dramatically. “Doesn’t matter! Just invite us whenever you do.”
“Yeah, we should explore new avenues—like concert freeloading!”
After some banter and introductions, the group split up for filming at a local school.
This episode’s theme was soccer, riding the hype of the 2018 World Cup. Guest stars included former national team players Fan Zhiyi and Li Yi.
Shen Lang had been a last-minute addition—though he didn’t know whose spot he took, he didn’t care.
While Deng Chao and Chen He handled the opening, Yang Mi and Shen Lang chatted.
“Xiao Lang, is Teng-ge really your uncle?” Yang Mi asked skeptically.
“Teng-shu just looks older than he is, but yeah, he’s my uncle.”
“You won’t end up looking like him, will you?”
“No way!” Shen Lang replied confidently.
Soon, the guests were called out to join Red, White, and Blue teams:
White Team: Deng Chao, Angelababy, Lu Han, Shen Lang
Red Team: Chen He, Zheng Kai, Yang Mi, Fan Zhiyi
Blue Team: Li Chen, Wang Zulan, Du Jiang, Li Yi
Once teams were set, filming began.
The director announced the first challenge: “To test everyone’s skills, we’ve prepared a special goalkeeper—Tianba! Each of you will take turns shooting. Let’s see who can score!”
“Who wants to go first?”
Deng Chao immediately shouted, “Fan-ge and Li Yi-ge should go first! If they score, we cheer. If they miss… well, Xiao Lu, your time to shine!”
He then turned to Shen Lang. “Xiao Lang, how’s your soccer?”
Shen Lang smirked. “I know absolutely nothing!”
Deng Chao clutched his head. “Help! Our team only has one amateur—this isn’t fair!”
Chen He grinned. “It’s perfectly fair!”
Li Chen agreed—this was the fairest team division in Running Man history.
After some teasing, Li Yi (Blue Team) took the first shot… and missed.
Deng Chao erupted in laughter. “Hahaha! Li Yi-laoshi, you missed too?”
He spun to Lu Han. “Xiao Lu, your chance is here!”
Then to Shen Lang: “Even if we know nothing, maybe we’ll get lucky!”
Shen Lang nodded. “Chao-ge, trust me—my luck is insane.”
“Mine too!” Deng Chao grinned.
“Together, our luck multiplies!”
Their back-and-forth sounded like a comedy skit.
Li Yi took his second shot—GOAL!
He smirked. “Chao-ge, that first miss was just acting.”
Deng Chao gaped, then turned to Shen Lang. In unison, they yelled: “LUCK! Pure luck!”
Li Chen teased, “Chao-ge, you’re just jealous!”
Deng Chao dramatically chanted: “Just wait—our team will score every shot! Divine luck, hear me!”
Chen He countered, “Fan-ge, show them what real skill looks like!”
Fan Zhiyi (Red Team) scored effortlessly.
Deng Chao refused to accept it. “Xiao Lu, you’re up! I’m blessing you with my luck!”
Shen Lang added, “I just heard the gods whispering—today, our luck is unstoppable!”
“Yeah, we’ll beat you with pure luck!”
Lu Han groaned. “Chao-ge, Xiao Lang, stop—you’re making me nervous!”
“Relax, just kick like usual—”
Under their “encouragement,” Lu Han missed his first shot.
The other teams howled with laughter.
“This is your ‘unstoppable luck’?”
“Chao-ge, Xiao Lang, you two should do stand-up comedy!”
Lu Han took a deep breath and nailed his second shot, roaring: “WHO’S NEXT?!”
Deng Chao quickly claimed, “First shot was a warm-up—that was the real deal!”
“Nah, that was luck!”
Not backing down, Deng Chao stepped up—and missed.
“Ohhh, so much for luck!”
“One plus one equals… zero luck?”
“Your team’s doomed today!”
Deng Chao, undeterred, missed again and joked, “My hand’s broken—that’s why! Xiao Lang, you go! Show them luck!”
Shen Lang cracked his knuckles. “Time to teach you all what luck really means!”
He kicked—and the ball flew out of bounds.
“WOW, such amazing luck!”
“Tianba didn’t even need to block that!”
Shen Lang shrugged. Missing made for better TV anyway. His second shot also went wide.
“Must be the field. Or the ball. Right, Chao-ge?”
“ABSOLUTELY!” Deng Chao hugged him. “Xiao Lang, you get me!”
“I hereby announce—the ‘Chao-Lang Alliance’ is born!”
The others groaned in unison.
“Chao-ge, your team has no skill AND no luck. Just admit defeat!”
“Just wait—next game, we’re winning!” Deng Chao vowed, then yelled at the director, “Move on already! This segment’s over!”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Shen Lang added, “Director, hurry up—or when this airs, I’m leaving a one-star Douban review!”
“Dude… you’re threatening the director?!”