Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 164
by Little PandaLet Me Dye Them and We’ll Be Best Friends in the World
Bracelet date: July 14th.
Several days had passed since the victory. The blood blisters on Liu Yinxi’s palms had mostly healed. Having finished the provisions in the mini fridge over the past few days, Liu Yinxi would go out to net some fish in the mornings and gather needed supplies in the afternoons.
With only two days left until the challenge was complete, Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu did the math and decided to spend their final two days in this rainforest consuming all their accumulated supplies.
Six or seven in the morning was the coolest time of day. Liu Yinxi moved all the supplies from the shelter out to the flat ground outside the shade canopy for one last inventory.
The sun shone bright and clear, clean sunlight filtering through the leaves to dapple the neatly arranged boxes.
Liu Yinxi picked out only the most essential items and gathered them in one place, setting aside everything else. They were all made from natural materials and would naturally degrade later.
The main food items remaining were:
Tomato beef freeze-dried rice × 1
Shrimp fish cake noodles × 1
Extra-small bottle of coarse sea salt × 1 (nearly empty)
Protein energy bar 30g × 1
Liu Yinxi brought the freeze-dried rice and instant noodles she had treasured for the entire season into the shelter, setting them on the small table beside the fire pit.
Nan Huaixu saw them and pointed at the shrimp fish cake noodles with a laugh: “This is the true god. It survived from the first airdrop all the way to the 100-day challenge.”
Liu Yinxi picked up the instant noodles, weighed them in her hand, and held them up to Dog 4’s camera lens, joking with the livestream audience: “Everyone, please behold—this is the 《Survivor》 true god certified by Teacher Nan. Anyone who wants to compete in 《Survivor》 in the future, please eat a cup of shrimp fish cake noodles1 for good luck before entering.”
Nan Huaixu laughed and took the instant noodles from her, setting them down: “In that case, I’ll save it until the 17th—the hundredth day—and eat it right before boarding the flight home. That way it’ll have even more divine power.”
So today’s lunch was freeze-dried rice, grilled fish, fruit, and half a protein bar each.
Most of the meal was consuming their stockpile, and with no more need to scramble for survival, both of them were relaxed, with plenty of time each day for idle chat.
Nan Huaixu cradled her lunch box, lost in fantasy: “I’ve already decided what dessert I want to eat first when I get back.”
Liu Yinxi took a bite of rice and asked: “Oh? What do you want to eat most?”
Nan Huaixu smiled radiantly, her fair face blooming with spring: “Cupcakes. You can make all kinds of flavors—orange sponge, chiffon cream, cherry berry, vanilla Baileys, chocolate buttercream… I could try so many flavors at once.”
“Wow.”
Given Liu Yinxi’s track record of pouring cold water on things, Nan Huaixu preemptively raised a slender finger in warning: “Don’t you dare tell me I’ll get fat.”
Liu Yinxi had long since learned not to go there. She waved her hands repeatedly: “I won’t, I won’t. Teacher Nan, you’re way too slim right now. You need to replenish your sugar.”
Nan Huaixu’s eyes curved into crescents, her lips hooking up: “That’s more like it.”
“Liu Yinxi, what flavor do you like?”
“What flavor of what?”
“Little cakes, of course.”
“Me…” Liu Yinxi wasn’t picky about sweets. She’d eat them if they were around but wouldn’t go out of her way to buy them. “Teacher Nan, are there flower-flavored ones?”
“There are—rose, osmanthus.”
“Then… is there locust flower?”
Nan Huaixu froze for 0.01 seconds, her eyelashes fluttering.
The moment Liu Yinxi said it, she realized she’d been tactless.
Although locust flower was a common food—brewed into tea, scrambled with eggs, tended by bees for honey—for Nan Huaixu, it was a factor tied to her pheromones.
She’d been so fixated on raising favorability that her head was full of locust flowers—locust flowers, Huaixu—locust flowers were sweet too, so when asked about flavors, she’d instinctively wanted to try it.
Liu Yinxi hastily apologized: “I’m sorry… um, I think I’d like osmanthus flavor instead.”
Nan Huaixu looked up and gave a soft hum: “Osmanthus? So now you want osmanthus again?”
Liu Yinxi sensed that Nan Huaixu’s mood had dipped slightly. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what she’d said wrong, but at the critical juncture of 69% favorability, she absolutely could not afford mistakes, so she said: “I’m fine with anything. As long as Teacher Nan thinks it’s good, I’ll like it too.”
Nan Huaixu spoke seriously: “Locust flower tastes better than osmanthus. It’s just not commonly used in desserts, but it can absolutely be made. Once we’re back, I’ll make some for you to try.”
Liu Yinxi quickly seized the lifeline Teacher Nan had offered: “Yes, yes, yes.”
Nan Huaixu’s lips curved up as she scooped a spoonful of rice: “I remember my niece mentioning before that you like strawberry cream. I’ll make a few extra of those too.”
“Thank you, Teacher Nan.”
That was what the original owner liked. Liu Yinxi didn’t love strawberry as much as the original owner had—she preferred orange.
This did remind Liu Yinxi that there were certain fundamental aspects of the original owner’s persona she needed to maintain. Beyond background and education, there were also physiological preferences and aversions.
If she could permanently stay in this transmigration world, she wondered if there would ever come a day when she could confess her true identity to Teacher Nan…
Liu Yinxi snapped back to the present and heard Nan Huaixu murmuring as if to herself: “I’ll make a portion for Sister too. I remember she used to like nama chocolate2. It’s been so many years, and she already has two daughters now. I don’t even know if her tastes have changed.”
Nan Huaixu lowered her head and sighed softly: “I suddenly realized I haven’t kept up with understanding them for a long time.”
Liu Yinxi asked: “Your family?”
“Mm. I’m thinking about what flavors to ask the bakery to make once I get back.”
“For President Ling? I think just go with nama chocolate. Even if she doesn’t love it as much as she used to, it won’t be a miss.”
Nan Huaixu smiled again: “Right.”
Liu Yinxi finished her freeze-dried rice and drank from her bottle. Seeing that Nan Huaixu’s bamboo tube was empty, she refilled it with sweet root water.
Just 1% short of the favorability needed to guarantee a successful confession. Liu Yinxi had racked her brains for days trying to increase the points, but nothing had worked, and she was growing anxious.
Since talking about Nan Lingxuan had untangled one of Nan Huaixu’s emotional knots and increased favorability, Liu Yinxi wanted to learn more about Nan Huaixu’s family affairs, so she asked a few more questions.
“Teacher Nan, do Aunt Nan and Aunt Zeng live together now?”
“Maybe one or two months out of the year. My dad likes to travel and live in different places. She also goes to visit her ex-wife. But I heard Aunt Lin hasn’t been in good health lately. I’d thought about finding time to visit her this year… we’ll see.”
“Then… have you gone to visit Aunt Nan?”
“Rarely. Dad and Sister are closer.”
There was a rumor within the Nan family that the Nan family head originally hadn’t wanted a second daughter. She was already nearly forty when she got pregnant, and was persuaded by the elders to have the child. Unfortunately, during her postpartum confinement3, crises struck both the family and the conglomerate, leading to postpartum depression. For years, she had been neither warm nor cold toward Nan Huaixu.
“Would you go visit her too?” Liu Yinxi asked, both hands gripping her water bottle, eyes wide and innocent.
Nan Huaixu didn’t answer directly this time. She let out a soft breath and met those bright eyes directly: “Liu Yinxi, you’ve been very interested in my family matters these past few days.”
Her tone carried unmistakable displeasure.
Liu Yinxi immediately sensed Nan Huaixu’s resistance.
She understood that as someone still in the “friend” stage, bringing up family matters with Nan Huaixu was crossing a boundary.
She had pushed too hard, too fast.
Liu Yinxi’s fingers tightened around the plastic bottle. She lowered her eyes and murmured: “Mm… my parents abandoned me, and my grandma is gone too, so I… I’m just curious about how other families interact, how they are together.”
Her voice grew softer and softer. Finally, she rubbed her nose and sniffled, moisture shimmering in her eyes: “Teacher Nan, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I won’t ever again.”
Nan Huaixu’s brow creased slightly, tenderness welling in her eyes. She parted her lips, then reached around behind Liu Yinxi and patted her gently: “It’s okay. I just didn’t understand your intentions, so I asked. Actually, it’s like most families—not much different. If you want to know something, just ask.”
Liu Yinxi stole a glance at her. Nan Huaixu was watching her with genuine concern.
How could Teacher Nan be so gentle.
Liu Yinxi’s heart softened. She smiled and nodded at Nan Huaixu.
【She’s acting again.】
【Tch (side-eye)】
【Liu Yinxi is so fierce when she’s chopping trees, so how come she always plays the tearful little delicate a in front of Nan Huaixu (eye-roll)】
【Isn’t she already a little delicate a?】
【Watching the competition all this time, I completely forgot she even had a娇a persona (laugh-cry)】
【What’s wrong with that? Can’t my Xixi be delicate and pretty?】
【Exactly, Xixi can rock whatever style she wants.】
【Didn’t expect to hear Nan family gossip here (eating melon4)】
【Old President Nan is around the same age as my grandma.】
【Those wealthy dynasty families maintain themselves well. With dyed hair she looks like she’s in her forties or fifties.】
【She and Manman’s mommy are an old-O, young-A combo?】
【That’s right, Zeng Mulin—she was a famous beauty pageant champion back in the day, then went into high-end PR.】
【Manman is beautiful, and Manman’s mommy is beautiful too. Beauty really is genetic! 0o0】
【Liu Yinxi is so KY5, asking about Nan Huaixu’s family affairs like that counts as invading her privacy :(】
【Xixi’s question was indeed impolite. Manman can choose not to take offense, but Xixi should still observe basic etiquette.】
【Nan Huaixu didn’t even blame her, and you’re still blaming her.】
【The main thing is Manman is a public figure from a prominent family—she’s not an ordinary person. Xixi casually asking about someone’s privacy really isn’t good.】
【Xixi asked the question, netizens ate the gossip, and Xixi’s the one who gets scolded =.=】
【I think Xixi was just concerned about Manman.】
Past four in the afternoon.
Liu Yinxi returned with freshly gathered fruit and banana leaves, and saw that Nan Huaixu was also back.
“Teacher Nan.” Liu Yinxi set down the fruit and leaves and stepped into the first floor of the shelter. “What did you bring back?”
Nan Huaixu sat on a grass mat, her left hand resting on the small table. Her right hand held a slender banana core, carefully applying something to her left hand. On the table sat two small tin cans containing liquid.
Liu Yinxi sat down beside her, puzzled: “What are you doing?”
Only when she drew closer did she see clearly—one tin held clear water, the other held an orange-red paste.
Nan Huaixu held a small banana core with one end frayed into soft fibers. She moistened it with water, dipped it into the orange-red paste, and was dyeing her nails a beautiful red.
Nan Huaixu happily showed Liu Yinxi her two finished hands: “Do they look nice? I found an annatto tree6 today. There were so many red berries fallen on the ground. I gathered them and mashed them into this red paste.”
Nan Huaixu’s fingers were long and slender. She had always been exceptionally fair-skinned, and even after three months of sun exposure, she was still stunningly beautiful.
Liu Yinxi admired sincerely: “Gorgeous! Teacher Nan, this color really suits you.”
A glint of mischief flashed through Nan Huaixu’s eyes. She grabbed Liu Yinxi’s hand and pulled it toward her: “You like it? I’ll paint your nails too.”
Liu Yinxi looked troubled and slowly tried to pull her hand back: “I’d better not. You worked so hard making that paste. If you use it on me, you won’t have enough for your toenails.”
Liu Yinxi had never had a manicure. At most, back in college, her mom had talked her into applying a little clear nail strengthener.
Ahem, that is—her mommy had educated her that alphas don’t get manicures…
Nan Huaixu tightened her grip on Liu Yinxi’s wrist: “Are we still best friends or not?”
Liu Yinxi was trapped—neither able to flee nor willing to submit: “Of course we are.”
Nan Huaixu met her shy gaze with sparkling, smiling eyes: “Liu Yinxi, let me dye them and we’ll be best friends in the world.”
Liu Yinxi suddenly looked up and decisively offered both hands.
She didn’t know about anything else.
All she knew was that Teacher Nan said they’d be the very best of friends.
Huh.
Watching Nan Huaixu enthusiastically dye her nails, Liu Yinxi suddenly had a brilliant idea.
The author has something to say:
Wishing all the little angels taking the college entrance exam smooth sailing and great results! 🙌
Footnotes
- 鲜虾鱼板面 | xianxia yuban mian | A popular Chinese instant noodle variety featuring dried shrimp and fish cake slices, widely considered budget comfort food.
- 生巧 | sheng qiao | Nama chocolate, a Japanese-style fresh cream chocolate confection with a soft, melt-in-mouth texture distinct from regular tempered chocolate.
- 坐月子 | zuo yuezi | Traditional Chinese postpartum confinement practice of one month's rest and recovery after childbirth, with specific dietary and lifestyle restrictions.
- 吃瓜 | chi gua | Chinese internet slang literally meaning 'eating melon,' equivalent to 'eating popcorn'—watching gossip or drama unfold as a spectator.
- KY | KY | Chinese internet slang borrowed from Japanese abbreviation for 'Kuki Yomenai' (can't read the air), meaning someone who says inappropriate things or can't read the room.
- 胭脂树 | yinzhi shu | Annatto tree (Bixa orellana), a tropical tree whose seeds produce an orange-red pigment used traditionally as body paint, dye, and food coloring.
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