Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 156
by Little PandaBring It On! Friction Fire
Take it?
Seize it by force?
According to the rules of 《Survivor》, contestants could compete for an Airdrop Crate before it was claimed, but once a contestant had secured it, the others could not overtly snatch it away.
Liu Yinxi stepped in front of Nan Huaixu, shielding her and the comprehensive medical kit behind her, and said to Huang Heshan in a warning tone: “Do you want to break the rules? Directly snatching an Airdrop Crate that another contestant has already claimed means immediate disqualification.”
Huang Heshan’s solemn expression loosened slightly at the word “disqualification,” a hint of nervousness entering her eyes. Her voice was low and slightly hoarse: “I didn’t want to snatch it. Haven’t you always refused to accept me? I’ll compete with you—if I win, the medical kit goes to me, and I’ll also give you a prey animal; if you win, the medical kit is yours.”
Liu Yinxi lifted her eyelids. “Goes to me” this and “is yours” that—the medical kit already belonged to Teacher Nan and her. Who did Huang Heshan think she was, to set terms here?
Liu Yinxi felt that Huang Heshan still hadn’t grasped the current situation.
“Huang-jie, you’ve got it wrong. It’s not that I’ve always refused to accept you—it’s that you’ve always refused to accept me.”
“Say whatever you want. I’ve never gone looking for trouble with you. It’s you who keeps pestering me. Every time you came to trade supplies with me, I traded—when have I ever backed out?”
【Every trade was initiated by Liu Yinxi. Honestly, I think Liu took advantage of Huang-jie a lot. The herbs at the beginning, the bamboo arrows later—those were all important supplies.】
【Liu Yinxi saying Huang-jie won’t accept her is pretty petty, isn’t it? Huang-jie has never gone looking for trouble with her (sweating)】
【Liu is just holding a grudge because Huang snatched her crate during the first airdrop, but that was within the competition rules. This time Liu deliberately rammed into Huang—doesn’t everyone think that’s going too far?】
【Huang-jie is so pitiful, begging for medicine for Yuyu, only to get bullied by Liu and Nan teaming up ToT】
【…】
【There was an airdrop before where Huang Heshan and Yu Yan teamed up to snatch Xue Yunshao’s crate—did you all forget? If Huang can do it, why can’t Liu?】
【Then let me ask you—did Huang-jie ram into Xue Yunshao? Huang-jie got it by her own rock-climbing skills!】
【Then let me ask you—did intercepting to grab an airdrop break any rules? Didn’t Xixi intercept using her own skills?!】
【Huang didn’t break the rules, and Xixi didn’t either, so what’s this about “bullying”? Stop moral kidnapping and confusing the issue!】
【Your beloved Huang Heshan is used to throwing her weight around in the competition. Not getting an Airdrop Crate means she’s being bullied? That’s not how you play the victim (eye roll)】
【No matter what, Huang-jie is doing this for Yuyu. Someone who seems so rebellious and indifferent to everything, yet willing to bow her head and apologize to an enemy for Yuyu’s sake—just for that alone, I’m on her side (teary eyes)】
【Right? I’m such a sucker for this contrast. Imagine someone who couldn’t care less about anyone else, but is so worried about me that she’s willing to bow and bend—she really loves her QAQ】
【I almost cried watching Huang Heshan chase the helicopter all by herself. How could she possibly catch up to a plane? She just wanted to get the medicine faster, not even knowing if there was any useful medicine in the Airdrop Crate (frowning)】
【The master is gone…】
【Doesn’t the medical kit have a lot of medicine and tools? Liu Yinxi could agree to the contest. If Huang-jie wins, she can go pick out the useful medicines for Yu Yan, and return the rest to Liu—wouldn’t that work? Huang-jie wouldn’t be taking it for free either; she’d give Liu a prey animal and yield the next airdrop. That’s a fair exchange. Yuyu is seriously ill—is Liu Yinxi really this heartless? Won’t her conscience hurt for going this far?】
【?】
【Manman and Xixi grabbed the Airdrop Crate—on what grounds should Yu get to pick from it?】
【Speechless2, this is 《Survivor》, not 《The Hunchback of Notre-Dame》. Fans of Huang and Yu, stop going on about true love and being moved—you’re about to get eliminated!】
【Heh, so the ones shipping Liu and Nan don’t get moved or believe in true love? A bunch of cold-blooded selfish ghosts actually have the nerve to call others bleeding hearts. If Nan Huaixu fell ill and fainted, and Liu Yinxi couldn’t get medicine and still got bullied, let’s see if you wouldn’t be anxious (skull)】
【Has your tongue ever licked a toilet? Why does everything you say stink so much? Who are you cursing!】
【Stop arguing! Stop fighting!】
【3Let it go, let it go, it’s not easy for anyone/fcnt】
Several cameras in the sky and on the ground were recording.
From some viewers’ perspective, Huang Heshan was acting out of deep devotion to save Yu Yan, while Liu Yinxi was opportunistic and cold-hearted. Even though, from a rational and logical standpoint, Liu Yinxi had done nothing wrong, everyone had different standpoints and ways of thinking—there would always be some viewers with strong sympathies who would be dissatisfied.
Furthermore, Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu were a team. One person’s actions would affect the other’s reputation. Cultivating a gentle, magnanimous, and positive image was very important for Nan Huaixu, who wanted to build her popularity.
Liu Yinxi pondered. In the later stages of the competition, the show’s viewership had risen. Public opinion was no longer just about winning or losing—it was also about the contestants’ personal charisma. Viewers on the outside often sympathized with the weaker side. A victory that took advantage of someone’s desperation held little appeal. So how to win in a way that demonstrated generosity and compassion, made the opponent concede wholeheartedly, and still looked spectacular—this was crucial.
Liu Yinxi wanted to create the best image for Nan Huaixu, to build momentum for their new company, and she very much wanted Huang Heshan to bow her head in genuine admiration.
Winning the competition and winning over a formidable rival’s heart—this was the victory Liu Yinxi pursued.
It was also the righteousness she pursued.
A thousand thoughts spinning through her mind, Liu Yinxi composed her expression and raised her head, her voice ringing like a bell: “Huang Heshan, there are a few points I need to make clear with you.”
“First, the medical kit was already ours to begin with. You have no right to demand that I use it as stakes to compete with you, and I have no obligation to agree.”
“Second, Teacher Nan and I are a team—we are one unit, and she is the Captain. If you want to challenge me, you must seek her consent.”
“Third, we can hunt our own prey. We don’t need any help from you. In other words, at this finals stage, I don’t need to make any trades—I just need to eliminate the two of you one by one, and that’s enough.”
With that, Liu Yinxi turned to look at Nan Huaixu, her tone softening: “Teacher Nan, am I right?”
Nan Huaixu nodded and said to Huang Heshan: “What Yinxi said is what I want to say.”
Huang Heshan’s expression grew even darker.
She yielded what she thought was a concession, this time facing both Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu: “Fine. I request both of your consent. As long as Liu Yinxi agrees to compete with me, regardless of win or loss, I will not contest the next airdrop.”
Yielding the next airdrop!
—This was a concession of remarkable sincerity, wasn’t it?
Huang Heshan thought that since she had yielded this far, Liu Yinxi would surely agree.
But Liu Yinxi just smiled and said: “Next time? Will Yu Yan even be able to compete next time? Huang-jie, there are two of us. I just need to hold you off while Teacher Nan grabs the Airdrop Crate—we won’t lose to you. Whether or not you contest the airdrop makes little difference to us.”
Huang Heshan could not refute: “…”
Liu Yinxi delivered the final point: “Huang Heshan, you have no qualifications to propose this contest. When you’re all alone, the outcome is already decided. So—do you still think you can win fighting solo, just like you did at the start of the competition?”
Huang Heshan hung her head, her upper teeth clamped tight on her lip. She fell silent for a moment, then slammed her fist hard against the tree trunk beside her: “In a fight against me, you can’t win.”
Liu Yinxi raised her voice: “Why do you still not understand? This is a survival competition, not a fighting competition. The strength you have can’t help you—it can neither get you the medical kit, nor save the person you care about. Have you never thought about how to use your abilities correctly?”
“…”
“Think about it yourself.”
Liu Yinxi took Nan Huaixu’s hand and led her slowly away from the spot.
They walked very slowly, as if in no hurry to leave.
After putting about a hundred or two hundred meters between them and Huang Heshan, Liu Yinxi whispered to Nan Huaixu: “Teacher Nan, she didn’t say what we’d compete in.”
Nan Huaixu sighed softly and glanced at her: “I knew it. If you don’t have a proper contest with her, you won’t feel satisfied. You keep saying she won’t accept you, but I don’t think you’ve ever accepted her either. When it comes to competitiveness, the two of you are exactly the same.”
Liu Yinxi averted her gaze, defending herself: “That’s not it. I just can’t stand how she always acts like she’s the best, always getting in my face about it. If she wanted to compete in fighting, I wouldn’t do it.”
Nan Huaixu thought for a moment, then asked: “Could you beat her in a fight?”
Liu Yinxi deflected: “Fighting is so childish.”
Nan Huaixu curved her lips, her eyes already seeing through everything.
How could she not know what Liu Yinxi was thinking?
If Liu Yinxi had no interest in engaging with Huang Heshan, she would have bolted long ago. When she was avoiding Yuan Fang, there had been no hesitation whatsoever.
The fact that Liu Yinxi had patiently explained so much to Huang Heshan meant she was willing to compete—and wanted to win beautifully.
Nan Huaixu whispered to Liu Yinxi: “No matter what the contest is, are you really willing to stake the medical kit?”
Liu Yinxi whispered back: “I’m giving Huang Heshan a chance. She wants to treat Yu Yan’s illness so badly that she even bowed to me. She’s gone that far—there’s bound to be some viewers online supporting her right now. If I come across too cold and ruthless, I might attract hate.”
Nan Huaixu had navigated the entertainment industry for years and naturally understood the rights and wrongs involved. She was surprised that Liu Yinxi had actually thought this through.
But honestly, she didn’t care.
Compared to public opinion, she held more of a grudge over what Yu Yan had done.
Nan Huaixu murmured in a low voice: “You’re giving Huang Heshan a chance, but when Yu Yan poisoned you, she never considered your health.”
Liu Yinxi’s expression faltered for a moment, the light in her eyes trembling slightly, before she revealed a pure smile: “Mm, that’s what makes me different from them. It’s also the reason you’re willing to trust me, isn’t it, Teacher Nan?”
Because of this capacity to let go of past grievances, this bold yet shrewd confidence.
Nan Huaixu took a deep breath, a smile overflowing in her eyes, and admitted with helpless resignation: “Yes.”
Liu Yinxi held Nan Huaixu’s hand, squeezing tightly with her fingertips, her expression calm and steady: “I stopped losing a long time ago. With Nan Huaixu’s ‘yes,’ Liu Yinxi wins no matter what.”
“Nan Huaixu, Liu Yinxi.” A shout came from behind.
They turned around. Huang Heshan had caught up: “You said this is a survival competition, not a fighting competition. Then I’ll compete with Liu Yinxi in the most fundamental survival skill—friction fire. How about it? Whoever ignites theirs first wins—”
“Fine.” Liu Yinxi didn’t even let her finish, agreeing boldly. “Friction fire. I’ll compete with you.”
The two gathered resources on the spot and began their friction fire simultaneously, with Nan Huaixu serving as referee.
Fire-making was the most fundamental and important skill in outdoor survival. With modern technology and convenient fire rods, very few people still used the primitive friction fire method.
Friction fire sounded simple, but in practice it was extremely difficult. Even experienced survivalists couldn’t guarantee success every time.
Liu Yinxi used a knife to whittle a slender stick straight for her drill. Only when the drill was straight and thin enough could kinetic energy be efficiently converted into heat. Beyond that, the tinder placed at the pressure point of the fireboard was also crucial. Liu Yinxi climbed a tree and extracted two empty bird nests—the palm fiber and spider silk that birds gathered from all around were easier to ignite than the dry grass Huang Heshan had found.
Huang Heshan bent a branch and added grass stems to make a simple fire bow, using it to rotate the drill. Liu Yinxi, however, did not make a fire bow—she used the most primitive method, gripping the drill between both hands and spinning it rapidly at high speed.
Using a fire bow, Huang Heshan was much faster than Liu Yinxi, who was spinning the drill by hand. After more than ten minutes, Huang Heshan’s tinder was already faintly producing smoke, while Liu Yinxi’s hands moved so fast they blurred into afterimages, yet her tinder showed no sign of activity whatsoever.
Nan Huaixu, watching from the side, was so nervous that her back was drenched in sweat. She furrowed her brow: Liu Yinxi, you must win.
【Liu Yinxi is such an idiot! You need a fire bow for friction fire—how can she not know such basic knowledge? She deserves to crash and burn!】
【Ugh… Xixi really shot herself in the foot this time @~@】
【What a mistake! Make a fire bow! If Liu Yinxi is being foolish, why are you going along with it, Manman? Just grab the Airdrop Crate and run—why compete with Huang Heshan at all!】
【I can’t bear to watch anymore. Liu could have won, but now she’s foolishly handing over the medical kit and the championship to her opponent (allow me to grieve)】
【Oh wow, Liu Yinxi is definitely going to lose.】
Snap.
The sound of Huang Heshan’s friction drilling abruptly stopped.
The fire bow’s string had snapped.
Footnotes
- 雀食 (queshi): Internet slang pun for 确实 (queshi), meaning 'indeed' or 'truly.'
- 乌鱼子 (wuyuzi): Internet slang pun for 无语子 (wuyuzi), meaning 'speechless' or exasperated.
- 蒜鸟 (suanniao) is internet/dialect humor for 算了 (suanle, 'forget it'); 都不涌易 is dialect pronunciation of 都不容易 (dou bu rongyi, 'not easy for anyone').
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