Chapter 81: You call this a punishment

[Ding]

[Congratulations to the host for redeeming the primary calligraphy copying ability.]

[Current remaining points: 3000]

After hearing the metallic chime, Lin Yu instantly felt a change in his fingers. It was different from the lock-picking skill he had acquired before; when lock-picking, his tactile sensitivity increased, but this calligraphy copying involved more changes in the strength of his wrists and fingertips.

So there was so much nuance to it. No wonder the ancient Calligraphy Saint Wang Wang Xizhi could write with such depth; it seems the strength in his hands was extraordinary.

"Lin Yu, you can make your choice."

Seeing Lin Yu frozen at the stairwell, Director Yao hurried to urge him to choose between the stairs and the elevator.

"Hey! Why did you run back to the prop truck?"

Soon,

Lin Yu returned carrying a plastic bag of props.

"What are you doing? I told you to go upstairs, you're acting like you're on a spring outing."

Director Yao was so angry he laughed.

He had no idea what Lin Yu was up to.

"What's the rush? If you have something to do, you go first."

Lin Yu, on the contrary, got temperamental and snapped at Director Yao.

"....."

Director Yao moved his lips but couldn't say a single word.

I go first?

If I weren't the director of Running Man, I would have left long ago!

The live stream was also filled with laughter.

"Hahaha, I've watched variety shows for so many years, this is the first time I've seen someone talk back to the director like this, and so righteously. Lin Yu is too bold."

"Director Yao, the day Lin Yu goes out of style, I'm going to spend money to hire someone to beat him up. It's so frustrating!"

"I wonder what kind of tricks Lin Yu wants to pull now?"

"It's useless! Didn't you hear Baby's strategy just now? This will definitely ensure Lin Yu doesn't end up in the minority. He won't get any dice points this round."

"Exactly! There are three girls taking the elevator. Even if Lin Yu takes the elevator, it's a tie. If Lin Yu takes the stairs, the girls will split the six dice points."

"Besides, I heard Sha Yi and the others already discussed it. This round, let the girls take the dice points, and next time help Sha Yi and Li Chen get theirs. This looks like an individual battle, but it's clearly an alliance, a 7-vs-1! Lin Yu is bound to lose, no matter what props he uses."

"Although I'm a die-hard fan of Lin Yu, he definitely won't get the dice points this round. Let's think of other ways for the next round! Can't the production team do something? Lin Yu is already facing everyone else."

"Holy crap! Why is Lin Yu flirting with girls again...?"

"......."

In the footage,

Lin Yu was chatting happily with a young lady, occasionally letting out bursts of laughter.

This made many of the older male staff members envious enough to want to kneel and become his apprentice. Lin Yu wasn't just handsome; many handsome guys had been here before, but these young ladies hadn't been this lively and excited. It was mainly his high emotional intelligence and art of conversation—that was Lin Yu’s ultimate skill for flirting.

"Alright!"

After reaching a deal with the staff member,

Lin Yu took out a few more items from his prop bag.

"Huh?"

Director Yao adjusted his glasses, expecting something strange, but upon closer inspection, it was just a bottle of mineral water and a few mission banners and small flags from the logistics department. Nothing else.

"Fine, if it's these props, you can use them."

"But don't dawdle, I'll only give you three minutes."

Director Yao could be unprincipled, but he couldn't have no bottom line. If he followed the rules too strictly, the ratings would inevitably drop again. If Lin Yu wasn't causing too much trouble, let him be!

Besides, the leadership had specifically talked to Director Yao before. Lin Yu is currently the hottest person in the industry; he couldn't be pressured too hard. Other TV stations were eyeing him, waiting for him to be available! He couldn't afford to drive him away!

"OK."

Three minutes was more than enough for Lin Yu.

After speaking, Lin Yu leaned against the wall and began his copying.

"Hmm?"

The production team members looked over suspiciously.

Not climbing the stairs, not taking the elevator, what is he doing?

Do you want to write a poem like the ancients?

Others write poems at the Yellow Crane Tower, Tengwang Pavilion, or Yueyang Tower; you're writing at the Yanji West Market, isn't that too absurd?!

"Uh... this is"

"Damn."

Slowly, as Lin Yu’s hand speed increased, everyone went quiet.

That familiar image, the mission banner that had followed Running Man for ten years, was actually being copied right before everyone’s eyes.

Except for the still-wet ink, it was exactly the same as what the production team made.

"Holy crap! Lin Yu must have been a printer in his past life."

Seeing this, Director Yao couldn't believe his eyes.

Who needs a prop team in the future? They aren't even as fast as Lin Yu writing alone.

[Please do ten push-ups on this floor's staircase.]

What does that mean?

Director Yao: ???

Production team: ???

The young lady holding the sign: ???

What is he trying to do!

Lin Yu quickly wrote a few more mission banners; even the prop team couldn't tell the difference. It was a perfect imitation.

Is he already at this level?

Lin Yu was also a bit surprised looking at his own work.

This was only primary calligraphy copying. If he reached intermediate, would he be able to copy the works of masters? Like Xu Beihong’s horses or Qi Qi Baishi’s shrimp.

Lin Yu even felt that once the skill was maxed out, copying banknotes wouldn't be impossible!

"I choose to take the stairs!"

After saying that, Lin Yu ran upstairs like a decorator, carrying his big bags.

He didn't forget to wink at the young lady holding the sign as he left.

"Then..."

"Please ask the next guest to get off the bus."

At this moment, there was a lot of discussion on the bus.

"What is Lin Yu doing?"

"Aren't there only two options, stairs or elevator? Why did it take so long?"

"Whatever, let's stick to the plan."

The first to get off was Yang Ying.

After walking to the stairwell, she saw two mission stickers.

"Hello, please choose between the stairs or the elevator."

"To reach the mission point on the fifth floor of Yanji West Market."

The young lady holding the iconic Running Man mission sign said with a smile.

"I choose the elevator."

Yang Ying had been very anxious the whole way.

Is it that simple?

There are only two straightforward choices.

There’s absolutely nothing to struggle with?!

What is going on?

Why did Lin Yu take so long?

"Lin Yu, what did you choose? Elevator or stairs?"

Yang Ying arrived at the mission point, saw Lin Yu, and asked curiously with wide eyes.

Immediately after, Bai Lu and Cheng Xiao also arrived at the fifth-floor mission point by elevator according to the plan.