Chapter 95: Survival S (2)

Let's take a moment to introduce the 6 MCs.

First up is Lee Hwan, the only male MC.

He was a failed idol who transitioned to acting and struggled with minor roles before finding success on 'Survival S' as the jealous younger brother character.

Although he didn't make a big splash as an idol or an actor, he found his niche in variety shows, playing the role of a protective and jealous younger brother to the sometimes immature female MCs.

Next is Hong Eunjeong, the main MC and host of 'Survival S.'

She always wears a red suit on broadcasts and is known for her excellent hosting skills and wit, earning her the title of a national MC. She has a massive fan base and is a familiar face on numerous variety shows.

Third is Tae Hee Kyung, a former world judo champion.

After retiring from judo, she transitioned to broadcasting thanks to her quick wit and humor. On 'Survival S,' she plays the role of a reliable and strong older sister. Her athletic prowess makes her a top contender in physical challenges.

Despite retiring from competitive judo, Tae Hee continues to maintain her physique through rigorous workouts, resulting in a muscular body that is both impressive and healthy-looking.

Fourth is Shin Youngju, the oldest MC at 50 years old.

A former comedienne who enjoyed immense popularity about 30 years ago, she now plays the role of a silly, old-fashioned elder on the show. Her comedic timing and ability to take a joke make her a beloved figure among viewers.

Fifth is Na Younghee, an actress who joined 'Survival S' as a guest and later became a regular member due to her exceptional variety show skills.

Although she is a beautiful actress, she struggles to find leading roles and often plays supporting characters. On the show, she is known for her acting skills and tendency to trick the other members, earning her the nickname "the con artist."

Lastly, there's Gong Jeongseon, who is the polar opposite of Tae Hee.

She is tall but very thin and often struggles with physical challenges. However, she is incredibly intelligent and often teams up with Na Younghee to outsmart the other members.

Hong Eunjeong, Tae Hee, Shin Youngju, Na Younghee, Gong Jeongseon, and Lee Hwan—these six unique personalities are the driving force behind the success of 'Survival S.'

Jackie, the leader of our team, started picking team members, and soon two teams of six were formed.

**Team A:** Jackie, Tae Hee, Kang jun, Nam Eungyu, Shin Youngju, Gong Jeongseon

**Team B:** Hong Eunjeong, Hae-sol, Lee Hwan, Woo-yeon, Na Younghee, Kang Gyeong-tae

I was on Team B, and personally, I thought Team B had a better lineup.

Team A had Gong Jeongseon, who struggles with physical challenges, and Shin Youngju, who might have difficulty due to her age.

Before the game started, each of us was given a toy gun.

The game involved finding bullets hidden in a building and shooting the opposing team members to eliminate them.

We boarded a bus to travel to the game location.

"Uh, Woo-yeon is such a clingy kid," Lee Hwan said, looking at Woo-yeon sitting next to me.

He often mentioned my good looks during the opening, playfully teasing me. Although there was some genuine envy, it was all part of the show.

"Woo-yeon is still young," I replied.

"I'm not a kid! I'm a grown-up 18-year-old!" Woo-yeon protested.

When I first met Woo-yeon, he was 17, and after two comebacks, he turned 18. I, too, had aged from 20 to 21. Having experienced life up to the age of 30, both 17 and 18 seemed equally young to me, and 20 and 21 felt similarly youthful.

"It's not about age; Woo-yeon just relies on Hae-sol a lot," Lee Hwan explained.

"Please, speak comfortably with me, senior," Woo-yeon said, addressing Lee Hwan respectfully.

Although Lee Hwan's idol career wasn't successful, his experience in the entertainment industry was valuable. When Woo-yeon addressed him as "senior," Lee Hwan's face lit up.

"Uh…senior?" Lee Hwan stammered.

"Oh, does it make you uncomfortable if I call you senior?" Giwon asked.

"No, it's just that it's been a while since an idol called me senior," Lee Hwan explained.

Lee Hwan had failed as an idol and struggled as an actor before finding success in variety shows. He had experienced rejection and criticism from both idols and actors, making Woo-yeon's respectful address particularly meaningful to him.

Although the cameras were rolling, Lee Hwan comments were unlikely to be aired. Hong Eunjeong, sitting next to Ihwan, playfully poked him in the ribs.

"Are you at it again with that routine? Isn't it getting old?" she teased.

"You don't understand the delicate feelings of a man!" Lee Hwan retorted.

"Don't take him too seriously. He just likes the attention," Hong Eunjeong explained to us.

Lee Hwan had overcome his sensitivity and now joked about his past struggles openly. His perseverance in the face of failure was truly admirable.

Woo-yeon, who had been clinging to me, gradually opened up and started chatting with the MCs. He and Ihwan hit it off particularly well, both being high-energy individuals.

'I'm exhausted. My ears are ringing.'

Listening to Woo-yeon excited chatter throughout the ride was tiring, but the cameras were focused on their lively interaction.

'Woo-yeon is definitely a natural for variety shows.'

Although initially shy, Woo-yeon quickly warms up to people and brings out their charms, making him a great fit for variety shows.

'I hope this opportunity helps him establish a strong presence in the variety show scene.'

Woo-yeon might not be actively pursuing a career in variety shows yet, but he is the most enthusiastic among us about these opportunities.

The bus arrived at our destination after a reasonable amount of time.

"Wow, is this where we're filming?"

"The entire shopping center is our set."

"Survival S is on another level."

We had arrived at a four-story shopping center. Although filming might disrupt business, the publicity would benefit the shop owners, so the location for 'Survival S' often changed.

Our task was to find the bullets hidden among the shopkeepers in this bustling shopping center.

'I've watched enough variety shows to guess where the bullets might be.'

However, I wondered if filming would be possible with so many people around.

'Maybe it's okay since most of the people here are older?'

Most people here would recognize the MCs from 'Survival S' rather than us. We needed to leverage the MCs' fame to blend in.

After a brief gathering to review the rules, we blew whistles to signal the start of the game.

Beep­!

"Start!"

The crowd parted as Team A and Team B dispersed to begin the game.

"Uh, what do we do now?" Woo-yeon, Gyeong-tae, and I were at a loss, unsure of how to proceed.

Hong Eunjeong took the lead, guiding us.

"First, we need to find where the bullets are hidden."

"Should we just split up and search?" I asked.

"Since there are four floors, let's pair up and search one floor each. Then we'll all gather to search the last floor together," Hong Eunjeong suggested.

"Sounds good!"

With everyone in agreement, we quickly organized our plan.

'This is why a leader is important.'

I briefly recalled the nightmare of group projects in college and shivered. I paired Woo-yeon with Lee Hwan and Gyeong-tae with Hong Eunjeong, leaving me with Na Younghee.

"Oh, did you choose me?" Na Younghee asked, flattered.

"Please take care of me," I replied.

I chose her not for her looks but for her acting skills and variety show experience. Ihwan and Giwon were a natural pair, and Hong Eunjeong was best suited to help the reserved Kyungtae.

Na Younghee and I headed to the second floor, which was filled with clothing stores.

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