Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 159

Bamboo Cup Liquor, So Good~

【Believe in yourself.】

【Yeah, Xixi, you have to firmly believe in your own choices.】

            

【Liu Yinxi, you can do it!】

【Psychological warfare is also a tactic. Xixi, you actively gave Huang Heshan a chance to compete, defeated her, and really took the wind out of her sails—that’s also a path to victory \^u^/】

【When two teams compete and one still has the capacity to help the other, it’s no longer about kindness or weakness—it’s about one side’s overwhelming superiority over the other.】

            

【Exactly, it shows the side offering help has plenty to spare and doesn’t see the other as a threat.】

【I noticed Huang Heshan’s demeanor seemed “lighter” after the competition, not as tense as before. Looks like she was genuinely humbled (sigh)】

【Who was it that first said Huang Heshan’s love brain wasn’t worth worrying about?】

            

【Anyway, all her attention is on Yu Yan now (frown)】

【Zero fighting spirit.】

【What if Huang Heshan just ignores Yu Yan? She could survive hunting alone for a long time anyway—just outlast Liu Yinxi and the others till they’re done for.】

            

【?】

【@You’re My Heartbeat Female Guest, whose fan are you? Who are you speaking for?】

【If anyone’s outlasting anyone, it’s Liu Yinxi outlasting Huang Heshan. Liu knows tons about plants, animals, and minerals—she can treat her own injuries and illnesses, and improve her living conditions through all sorts of methods. Can Huang compare? If Yu Yan hadn’t been there, Huang Heshan would’ve been eliminated after getting rammed by that wild boar piglet last time.】

            

【Really? I thought Huang knew some herbal medicine too.】

【Sisters, you haven’t been watching Huang-Yu’s stream carefully. By the river that time, Huang-jie told Yu Yan that she grew up in the Crescent region and only came back to the country last year. She only knows Crescent region plants, not domestic ones, let alone Jinzhou Island. That little book knowledge from before the competition isn’t nearly enough—once you’re out in the field, you’re completely lost.】

【Lots of people are betting on Nan Huaixu and Liu Yinxi to win today (laugh-cry)】

            

【Nan family stocks have gone up!】

【Even more ridiculous—the Luo family’s went up too, because Liu Yinxi’s contract is still with Ying Luoling’s entertainment company (allow me to grieve)】

【People buying Nan family stocks aren’t thinking straight. Nan Huaixu has already left the Nan family to start her own business—you should be buying concept stocks in Nan Huaixu’s new company (dog head)】

            

【Damn, thanks for the tip, foster mother!】

【I’m still bullish on Huang Heshan. Once they trade for medicine tomorrow and Yu Yan gets better, they’ll make a comeback!】

【Waaah, I hope Yuyu gets better soon QAQ】

            

【Thank goodness Manman has always supported Xixi. The two of them are so united—only a team with cohesion can win!】

【I’m not exaggerating—Manman’s inner core is incredibly strong and stable. She gives her teammate a full sense of security. She and Xixi trust and support each other. I believe they’ll definitely win the championship! (cheering)】

【Huai-Liu 3399!】

            

A gentle evening breeze blew, and from afar came the soft sound of rippling water.

The orange-red campfire danced in the darkness, crackling and popping.

Nan Huaixu held a plastic bottle in her hand, pouring clear liquor into a bamboo cup.

            

Liu Yinxi reminded her softly, “Teacher Nan, that’s enough.” This liquor was strong—they shouldn’t drink too much.

Taking advantage of the night’s cover—the cameras couldn’t capture a clear close-up of them—Nan Huaixu smiled and held up her index finger. “One last cup.”

Liu Yinxi stared at her peach-blossom smile, momentarily dazed. In that half-second opening, Nan Huaixu had already poured liquor into Liu Yinxi’s bamboo cup.

            

Both of their periods had passed, and neither was troubled by medication side effects, so they could safely have a little to drink.

Liu Yinxi took another sip. The mellow fragrance of the liquor lingered between her lips and teeth, lingering long after.

As the liquor passed down her throat, a hint of sweetness surfaced at the root of her tongue.

            

Liu Yinxi savored the liquor’s aroma. Despite Yuan Fang being unreliable in every possible way, her taste in alcohol was actually quite good.

Perhaps because Nan Huaixu had poured this drink for her, it tasted even better.

Nan Huaixu raised her bamboo cup with a smile, then set it aside and lay flat on the wooden floor. She turned her head to gaze out at the fields beyond—some trees blocked her view, preventing her from seeing the full star-studded night sky.

            

A few mosquitoes circled around them, their wings buzzing with an annoying drone. Liu Yinxi got up, fetched mosquito-repellent grass leaves from the crate, and lit them to produce smoke, driving away the pesky insects.

She was careful to keep the smoke away from Nan Huaixu, so it wouldn’t trigger her rhinitis.

Nan Huaixu lay there scratching her arm. “When we camped on the meadow the past couple days, I got so many bites.”

            

Liu Yinxi said, “I’ll get the ointment.”

Nan Huaixu’s cheeks were flushed pink. She half-closed her eyes, the cool evening breeze feeling pleasant on her face. “Liu Yinxi, if I turned into a big mosquito, would you still be my fan?”

Liu Yinxi froze for a moment.

            

Huh?

Liu Yinxi frowned and looked down in thought. Judging from the rosy flush on Nan Huaixu’s cheeks, she was probably a little tipsy.

Teacher Nan in her sober state could never ask such an adorable question.

            

Liu Yinxi, who considered herself perfectly sober, answered Nan Huaixu, “Of course I would. I’d even buy lots of fresh blood curd¹ and set it out on the table.”

Nan Huaixu tilted her head. “Blood curd? Why? Do you like eating blood curd?”

Liu Yinxi’s eyes curved into a smile. “For my Big Mosquito Goddess to drink blood, of course.”

            

Nan Huaixu reached out and tugged at her sleeve. “No, I want to bite right here, and give you a big bump².”

Liu Yinxi pretended to be itchy and scratched. “Ah, I’ve been bitten.”

Nan Huaixu muffled a laugh, her whole body trembling slightly. She adjusted her posture, brought her hand to her lips, and asked, “If I turned into a small pebble, would you still be my fan?”

            

“I would.” Liu Yinxi gestured with her hands. “I’d drill a little hole in a Wushi pendant³, set you into it, and wear you on my chest every day.”

Nan Huaixu laughed so hard her whole body shook.

Liu Yinxi suddenly turned to her. “Oh no, do you think your fans would surround and attack me if I did that? Denouncing me, saying I’m not allowed to hide their goddess away?”

            

Nan Huaixu offered her a brilliant solution. “Shh, then don’t tell them. We’ll keep it secret.”

Liu Yinxi nodded solemnly. “Okay.”

Liu Yinxi sat down and lay beside Nan Huaixu. In the depths of the night, there were insect chirps, frog calls, and the wind traveling from distant mountaintops.

            

She gazed up at the sky and blinked. She wondered what kind of scenery one could see from above the mountaintops.

“Liu Yinxi, tell me—are we friends now?” Nan Huaixu’s voice was soft and languid as she asked.

Liu Yinxi thought Nan Huaixu must be getting a little sleepy.

            

Liu Yinxi asked, “Can I be your friend?”

Nan Huaixu smiled and patted her shoulder lightly. “Guaranteed⁴.”

After a moment, Nan Huaixu asked again, “Then tell me, would you say we’re good friends?”

            

Liu Yinxi paused, patted her own face, and said, “I want to be.”

Nan Huaixu nodded. “Mm!” She raised her hand and wiggled her fingers as if calculating something. “Then what number do I rank among your good friends?”

Liu Yinxi raised her right hand high, holding up one index finger. “Number one.”

            

“Okay~” Nan Huaixu smiled like a blooming flower, quietly leaning her lips close to Liu Yinxi’s ear. “You are too.”

“Number one in my book.”

Liu Yinxi grinned from ear to ear.

            

Nan Huaixu’s voice was really so beautiful.

The next second, Liu Yinxi suspected she was drunk and hallucinating.

Liu Yinxi lowered her eyes, pondering how to respond to Nan Huaixu’s words, when she suddenly felt a weight against her neck and a faint warm breath brushing against the base of her ear, one puff after another.

            

Liu Yinxi turned her head. “Teacher Nan…?”

Liu Yinxi lowered her gaze. Nan Huaixu was leaning against the crook of her neck, eyes closed, fast asleep.

The warm firelight tinted Nan Huaixu’s eyelashes with a layer of pale gold. This close, Liu Yinxi could see them very clearly.

            

Huu… huu…

Nan Huaixu’s breathing was very light. Each exhale carried the sweet fragrance of locust flowers.

Listening to Nan Huaixu’s gentle breathing, Liu Yinxi yawned. Drowsiness crept over her and quickly engulfed her entire body.

            

Liu Yinxi recalled everything that had happened today from morning to night—scrambling for the airdrop crate, intercepting Huang Heshan, the friction fire competition, trekking through the forest back to the shelter…

This day felt extraordinarily long.

Liu Yinxi told herself she would lie down for just a moment, then get up to wash, and wake Nan Huaixu to go upstairs to sleep. But her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before she knew it, she had fallen into dreamland.

            

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The next morning, the alarm went off twice.

When Liu Yinxi went to silence the alarm for the third time, she startled awake. She raised her left hand to check her bracelet.

Bracelet date: July 9th.

            

Current time: 7:34 AM.

Liu Yinxi rubbed her messy hair a few times, forcing herself to wake up quickly. She sifted through her jumbled memories for yesterday’s agreement: eight o’clock tomorrow morning at Shuangxikou, the southeast corner of the lake.

There were only about ten minutes left until the appointed time.

            

Liu Yinxi hurriedly sat up and found her arm was pinned underneath something—and it felt very numb. She turned to look—Nan Huaixu was still pillowed on her arm.

Liu Yinxi carefully pulled her arm out and called softly to Nan Huaixu, “Teacher Nan, wake up. Teacher Nan!”

Nan Huaixu murmured something in her sleep and waved her hand as if swatting a mosquito. “Mmm… annoying.”

            

Liu Yinxi dodged her hand and gently shook her shoulder. “Nan Huaixu, wake up. We need to go find Huang-jie to trade for game.”

Nan Huaixu rolled over, turning her back, and curled up to keep sleeping.

Just like a little kitten.

            

Liu Yinxi pulled out the wooden comb from her pocket, combing her hair as she said, “Then you keep sleeping. I’m heading out first. Being late isn’t a good habit—I need to keep my word.”

She stood up, walked to the covered porch to grab some water, and peeled a banana core, planning to eat it on the go.

By the time Liu Yinxi had packed the medical kit, slung on her bag, and secured her gear ready to set off, Nan Huaixu—who had been sleeping on the first-floor floor—suddenly sat up.

            

“Liu Yinxi? Liu Yinxi, where did you go, Liu Yinxi.”

Liu Yinxi hurried over and leaned against the edge of the elevated first-floor platform. “Teacher Nan, I couldn’t wake you just now. I need to go find Huang-jie. It’s already late.”

Nan Huaixu immediately grabbed a bottle of water, snatched up her backpack, and jumped down. “Let’s go.”

            

Liu Yinxi was surprised. “Teacher Nan, you boot up this fast?”

“Not as fast as you.”

“Here, this is for you.”

            

“What?” Nan Huaixu glanced at the banana core Liu Yinxi was offering, then deftly caught it. “Thanks.”

The morning sunlight was bright, and the calls of water birds drifted from the lakeside.

The two of them strode quickly through the woods.

            

“I didn’t say anything strange last night, did I?” Nan Huaixu suddenly cleared her throat and asked.

“Huh? No.” Liu Yinxi shook her head firmly. “Nope.”

After all, the entire internet already knew she wanted to bite her and give her a big bump, and that she’d be worn on her chest.

            

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The author has something to say:

Happy Children’s Day to all my big and little friends!

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