Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 155

The Twelfth Airdrop

Bracelet date: July 8th.

At 6:38 AM, the survivors competing for the championship had long been prepared to fight for the airdrop.

            

The lush meadow provided cover for the contestants; lying prone in the waist-high grass, they were hard for their opponents to spot.

The alpine meadow’s visibility was far more open than the rainforest at the mountain’s base. From far off, they could see the helicopter gradually flying closer, the sound of its rotors churning the air growing louder and louder—rumble rumble rumble—

The supplies in this airdrop were medicine. The announcement had not specified what kind of drugs or how much, but it was enough to make the contestants fight fiercely over them.

            

And some people desperately needed medicine.

The helicopter had barely cleared the dense forest canopy and not yet reached the center of the meadow when a figure burst from the southeastern bushes, sprinting to chase the helicopter’s shadow cast on the meadow.

Usually, when scrambling for airdrops, contestants would wait until the helicopter dropped the crate before starting to run. But this time was different. This contestant ignored her opponents entirely, chasing the helicopter directly, as if she did not take the other contestants into account at all.

            

The helicopter roared overhead while the drone in midair swiftly tracked the running contestant.

The camera cut to Huang Heshan sprinting with pumping arms. Sweat rolled down her forehead, dampening her lashes. Her gaze was absolutely resolute, locked on the helicopter carrying the airdrop.

【Awoo! Huang-jie is mighty!】

            

【Speed is of the essence in war!】

【Why isn’t she waiting for the airdrop to be released before running this time?】

【Because Huang Heshan probably thinks no one can stop her (thinking)】

            

【Huh? She’s not guarding against Liu Yinxi?】

【No idea.】

【Is Huang-jie’s real job being a bodyguard? Is she on the show to earn money?】

            

【In this competition, except for Nan Huaixu who’s here for exposure, who else isn’t here for the money?】

【It can also build her reputation so more bosses will hire her.】

【Out of all the contestants, Huang-jie is the most mysterious.】

            

【Which bodyguard company does Huang Heshan work for? What’s her annual rate? I want to hire her, I’m serious.】

【No idea. Does she have a personal account? Message her privately after the competition and ask?】

【Can’t find Huang Heshan’s account anywhere on the internet (open hands)】

            

【Huang-jie has to get the medicine. Yu Yan’s condition has been really bad since last night, and she couldn’t even be woken up this morning. I hope the airdrop medicine can cure her (praying)】

【What exactly is Yu Yan’s illness? She’s a medical worker herself—how has she not recovered after dragging it out this long?】

【Didn’t they say it’s endocrine disruption and chronic gastroenteritis?】

            

【Recovery isn’t that simple! The sanitary conditions in the wild are basically nonexistent, and there’s no pharmacy or diagnostic equipment. Relying on just some herbs is nowhere near enough.】

【But the helicopter hasn’t even confirmed the drop point yet. Huang Heshan chasing it back and forth like this is really draining her stamina.】

【If Yu Yan were here, she absolutely wouldn’t let her do this.】

            

【Sigh, Huang Heshan is just too anxious. It’s so easy to suffer losses like this…】

Perhaps for the sake of show drama, the production team knew the audience was all discussing Huang Heshan. The helicopter flew a more winding path than in previous rounds, making Huang Heshan chase it for two extra laps as if walking her on a leash, before finally hovering above a boulder in the center of the meadow.

Flutter!

            

The parachute carrying the airdrop crate opened, drifting slowly toward the back of the boulder in the direction of the wind. Orange-red smoke painted vivid, bright colors across the sky.

Huang Heshan was now about a kilometer east of the boulder. She quickly turned and raced toward it.

At the same time, Nan Huaixu, who had been moving positions while hidden in the grass, suddenly appeared, sprinting swiftly toward the airdrop crate from the west.

            

Nan Huaixu had spotted the exposed Huang Heshan long ago and knew her whereabouts clearly. But Nan Huaixu’s sudden appearance in her field of vision made Huang Heshan do a double take.

Huang Heshan only cast a hurried glance, not caring at all about this enemy who had invaded her territory. With Nan Huaixu’s speed and stamina, she had no right to compete with her.

She seemed very certain there was no second enemy on this meadow.

            

【Go Manman!】

【Run, Manman, run!】

【It doesn’t matter if we can grab it or not, we can’t lose this fight!】

            

【Wait, why is only our Manman running? Where’s Liu Yinxi?】

【Liu Yinxi… huh? Right, where did Liu Yinxi go?】

【Xixi and Manman got up and set out together this morning. How did she suddenly disappear?】

            

【Pfft, last night Liu Yinxi said she’d let Manman go grab the airdrop. I thought she was joking.】

【No but seriously, what is Liu Yinxi doing? She’s just ignoring such an important airdrop?】

【Everyone, don’t panic. Don’t you know what kind of person Xixi is? This is definitely her strategy.】

            

【She’d better be (frowning)】

【And don’t underestimate Manman either. Look, Manman is running fast too! Plus, the boulder where the airdrop crate landed is lower on the west and higher on the east. Manman running from the west is on flat ground, while Huang Heshan coming from the east would have to either go around or climb up. Manman still has a chance!】

【Wow wow, that’s true!】

            

【I told you Manman and Xixi had a strategy! Their ambush route was meticulously planned, taking the meadow’s terrain and topography into account (hands on hips)】

【Go Manman! We’re definitely going to win!】

Grass stems blocked the way, and the wind sweeping down from the mountain constantly increased the resistance as they ran.

            

Whether from the stamina consumed by chasing the helicopter earlier, or because she deemed her opponent too weak to warrant going all out, Huang Heshan’s speed had slowed somewhat.

Huang Heshan adjusted her running direction while keeping track of Nan Huaixu’s position. Her gaze was focused, her expression one of absolute certainty.

Her eyes locked onto the airdrop crate that had landed steadily on the boulder. Almost there—about three hundred meters to reach the boulder.

            

Though the rock rose a certain distance above the ground, its surface slope was gentle and easy to climb.

Five minutes. Just give her five more minutes!

No, just three minutes and she could—

            

Bam!

With a violent crash, Huang Heshan’s vision spun. She felt a dull impact against her front, then fell backward, face tilted up toward the lofty blue sky as she crashed to the ground.

Almost the instant she fell, years of combat experience triggered a reflexive response—she immediately pushed off the ground and sprang back up.

            

Huang Heshan rose and looked up. When she saw who had just slammed into her, her eyes widened instantly.

“Good morning, have you eaten, Huang-jie~” Liu Yinxi had stood up a beat earlier than her, blocking Huang Heshan’s path with a smile.

Huang Heshan furrowed her brows fiercely. Like a vicious wolf, her gaze pinned onto Liu Yinxi like knives, as if she wanted to tear her apart bone by bone.

            

Huang Heshan immediately tried to sidestep her and run toward the boulder, but the moment she took a step, Liu Yinxi latched onto her. Huang Heshan had no time to tangle with her, but Liu Yinxi was like a strangler fig coiling around a tree, entangling Huang Heshan at every step, dragging her down.

Huang Heshan repeatedly looked toward the airdrop crate containing the medicine. Desperation flared in her chest, her face flushing red.

She roared at Liu Yinxi in fury: “Get out of my way!”

            

Liu Yinxi tilted her head slightly, smiling radiantly.

She knew her smile was sweet and innocent, very approachable.

But sometimes, in someone else’s eyes, it was infuriating.

            

Like right now, to Huang Heshan.

Blocked by Liu Yinxi, Huang Heshan could only watch helplessly as Nan Huaixu snatched away the medicine that might cure Yu Yan right before her eyes.

The livestream chat boiled over like churning magma.

            

【Liu Yinxi!!!】

【Way to go, Xiao Liu! What a beautiful intercept kill!】

【I was wondering where you sneaked off to—so you went to set up an ambush!】

            

【Waaah, did our Xibao get hurt from the collision? Come here, Jiejie will hug you and rub it better (sneaking a kiss)】

【Don’t snatch Xixi, Xixi is mine (angry)】

【Great! We snatched the airdrop from Huang Heshan’s hands!】

            

【Two against one, total victory! Y(∩o∩)Y】

【Special Guest · Lingling: That was so exciting! Keep going, Yinxi! I’ll always be supporting you in the livestream~】

【Here she comes again (curling lips)】

            

【Little President Luo, aren’t you busy with work? How come you’re slacking off in Manman and Xixi’s livestream again?】

【Luoling, are you really going to go back to pursuing Liu Yinxi?】

【Luoling, what do you think about your aunt’s relationship with Liu Yinxi?】

            

【Alright, stop asking. She never replies anyway, playing dead (eye roll)】

【Just focus on watching the competition.】

【Oh no, I’m starting to feel bad for Huang Heshan. She was so desperate today because she wanted to get medicine for Yu Yan. Now there’s no medicine—she must be so heartbroken QAQ】

            

【No medicine? Then call in outside medical help. If that doesn’t work, withdraw from the competition. Winner takes all—being sad won’t help.】

【It’s really weird when you think about it. Huang and Yu haven’t used a single outside assist. Calling in outside help for Yu to get treated wouldn’t eliminate them, so why is Yu Yan so stubborn about not requesting one?】

【Maybe she’s wary that Liu and Nan still have one outside assist opportunity too.】

            

【I have a feeling this airdrop will decide the winner.】

Liu Yinxi had seen fire go out many times.

Every time she extinguished the campfire.

            

Every time she shut off the stove.

This time, it was in Huang Heshan’s eyes.

She watched the conviction in Huang Heshan’s expression gradually crumble, as if a puppet had suddenly had all its strings severed, collapsing onto the stage as the spotlights scattered one by one, leaving only darkness to slowly consume her.

            

Liu Yinxi had not expected this.

She had imagined Huang Heshan would furiously fight her.

She had imagined Huang Heshan would brutally snatch the airdrop crate from Nan Huaixu’s hands.

            

But none of that happened.

Huang Heshan only clenched her fists and lowered her head, sinking into remorseful self-blame.

Huang Heshan had actually learned to restrain her violent impulses.

            

After nearly three months of competition, Huang Heshan had changed from when she was grabbing crates on the beach at the beginning.

This change was subtle, minute—like a thick block of ice silently melting in slowly rising temperatures.

If Liu Yinxi guessed correctly, Yu Yan was the warmth melting this thick ice.

            

Over by the boulder, Nan Huaixu had secured the airdrop crate. She called out Liu Yinxi’s name loudly and waved to her.

Liu Yinxi called back to her, then turned to look at Huang Heshan.

Liu Yinxi moved her lips, hesitated briefly, then asked her: “Why did you come alone?”

            

Only Huang Heshan’s heavy breathing filled the air: “…”

“There are two of us, and you’re only one. If Yu Yan had come, you might not have lost.”

“…”

            

In the silence, Nan Huaixu ran over carrying the airdrop crate.

The crate wasn’t big and was already open. Nan Huaixu took out the supplies inside to show Liu Yinxi: “A comprehensive medical kit. There are many different types of medicine, plus empty syringes, thermometers, and tools like that.”

“I’m sorry!”

            

Huang Heshan suddenly apologized loudly. Both Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu looked at her in surprise.

Huang Heshan walked up to Liu Yinxi, her eyes reddening: “I know I’ve treated you terribly. You’ve always hated me. Now I’m very sincerely apologizing to you. Liu Yinxi, I’m sorry.”

With that, she bowed deeply under their stunned gazes.

            

Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu were both astonished. Someone as proud and aloof as Huang Heshan was actually bowing and apologizing to them?

Huang Heshan’s brow and eyes darkened: “Yu Yan is sick. I really need this medical kit.”

Her tone was heavy. With every word she spoke, she stepped closer toward Liu Yinxi.

            

Almost touching toe to toe.

“Liu Yinxi, I’m going to take it from your hands.”

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