Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 167
by Little PandaThe Competition Ends
100-day survival challenge: Success!
At seven in the morning on July 17th, the survival bracelet broadcast an announcement:
Congratulations to Nan Huaixu and Liu Yinxi for successfully completing the 100-day survival challenge on 《Survivor》!
You will receive the three million yuan champion’s prize from 《Survivor》 and the one million yuan 100-day completion bonus, for a total of four million yuan.
Congratulations!
The helicopter will land on the south shore of Jiganbu Lake at nine AM. Please prepare for departure.
Today was a brilliant sunny day.
A cloudless sky stretched endlessly, radiant sunlight pouring over the vast rainforest, the jade-green lake shimmering like emerald.
Birds trilled from the branches, dappled light shifting beneath the canopy.
Liu Yinxi packed all the natural items—bamboo tubes, woven vine fans—into a bamboo basket to leave behind, then checked the area around the shelter for any non-degradable waste, collecting it into an eco-bag to carry out.
After cleaning up, she rinsed her hands with clean water and looked up to see Nan Huaixu tying her hair, studying her reflection in the water basin.
Liu Yinxi hurried over, positioning herself behind Nan Huaixu, and took the braided cord from her hands. “Let me, let me.”
Nan Huaixu gazed at their reflections in the water, pressing her lips together with a smile. “You’ll do it? Can you tie it nicely?”
Liu Yinxi held up her own ponytail at the back of her head to show her. “Does this look bad?”
Nan Huaixu studied it with great care. “Mmm… the braid itself is quite ordinary, but the person wearing it isn’t bad-looking at all.”
Liu Yinxi couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from lifting. She cleared her throat lightly. “As long as the person’s not bad, that’s fine.”
There were leftover banana core and fruit from breakfast. Nan Huaixu placed the fruit under a tree far from the shade canopy, and before long, a few small birds fluttered down to eat.
Nan Huaixu watched them hopping about and pecking at the fruit flesh for a while, then waved at them. “We were neighbors for a whole month. I used to always chase you away and not let you steal our food. But today we’re leaving, so here’s a little something for you. Bye-bye.”
Liu Yinxi smiled as she watched her bid farewell to the birds, then saw her rummage through her backpack and pull out a woven vine necklace with a round, lustrous pearl pendant.
It was the pearl Liu Yinxi had retrieved from the seabed and given to her.
Nan Huaixu picked up the necklace to put it on. Liu Yinxi quickly stepped behind her. “Let me.”
Nan Huaixu opened her palm, cradling the pearl and offering it to her. “Quite eager today, aren’t you.”
Liu Yinxi answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Thank you for the praise, Teacher Nan.”
As if—Teacher Nan had delivered an important directive last night. How could she not be eager? Did she have no sense for reading the room at all?
Everything was ready. They only had to wait for the right time to head to the lake shore and board.
Liu Yinxi checked the time on her bracelet—still over an hour to go. Another half hour of rest before walking to the shore would be just right.
Nan Huaixu lifted her backpack and adjusted the shoulder straps. It had felt a bit loose yesterday.
She got it fitted, slung it on, and tested it. Liu Yinxi sidled over and gently tugged at her pack. “Let me carry it.”
Nan Huaixu looked at her, those bright eyes sparkling with anticipation, and couldn’t help but smile. “This is my ‘Survivor’ badge, you know. The champion has to appear before the audience carrying her own survival pack.”
Liu Yinxi pulled her hand back and hurriedly said, “Right, understood.”
Nan Huaixu patted her shoulder and said in a low voice, “You like carrying bags? Once we get back, I’ll have plenty of bags for you to carry.”
Liu Yinxi sat up ramrod straight and answered with a perfectly serious face, “It’s my duty.”
Carrying her girlfriend’s bag—an obligation beyond question.
Nan Huaixu saw her stiff, proper posture and wanted to laugh. “Alright, I’ve never seen anyone so happy about doing manual labor.”
Liu Yinxi lifted her chin proudly. “It’s not manual labor at all.”
Nan Huaixu took the opportunity to pat her ponytail. “Mmm, it’s not bitter ‘labor,’ it’s choco-‘late.'”
Liu Yinxi was tickled by that. “Teacher Nan, when did you learn to tell cold jokes too?”
Nan Huaixu smiled brightly and tilted her chin at her. “Can’t help it. Spend every day with you, and it rubs off.”
Liu Yinxi ducked her head, embarrassed, scratching the back of her head. Ah…
She watched the swaying tree shadows on the ground and thought of a question she had wanted to ask for a long time.
It wasn’t all that important anymore, but it was time to uncover the answer.
Liu Yinxi turned to face Nan Huaixu. “Teacher Nan, you said you’d tell me on the hundredth day—what wish did you make under the Ancient Banyan Tree King?”
Nan Huaixu tilted her head, her smile radiant. “You want to know that badly?”
Liu Yinxi nodded several times in quick succession. “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
Nan Huaixu leaned toward her. “Then you already know.”
“I know? I don’t know…”
“My wish already came true.” Nan Huaixu lowered her brows, trying to hint with a deep, meaningful gaze. “Think more carefully.”
Liu Yinxi sat in place, puzzling it over.
She knew.
Already came true.
Ah—could it be that Nan Huaixu had already fallen for her back in the bamboo forest?
Liu Yinxi’s heart hammered wildly, her cheeks warming. She couldn’t wait to coax that bubble-sweet answer out of her girlfriend. “Nan—”
“Nan! Liu!” A high, ringing shout echoed through the trees.
Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu looked up in surprise. “Fei Tuoma?”
Wearing a feather crown and bark clothing, Fei Tuoma came sprinting over with several wolf-dogs, throwing her arms wide and pulling them both into a hug, one on each side. “Yesterday, Mommy told me the tribe received notice that the show’s filming has ended. You’re leaving!”
The little black dog spun in circles at their feet. “Awo! Woof!”
Liu Yinxi patted her back. “Fei Tuoma, I can’t breathe.”
“Oh, sorry!” Fei Tuoma immediately released them, smiling to reveal gleaming white teeth.
Nan Huaixu smiled. “It’s fine. Fei Tuoma, your timing is perfect—we’re about to leave.”
Fei Tuoma’s face fell with obvious reluctance. “So soon? I wanted to invite you to my home as guests!”
Liu Yinxi said, “The helicopter is coming at nine to pick us up. Thank you, Fei Tuoma, but we need to go home.”
Fei Tuoma’s eyes filled with regret. “Sigh…”
She quickly brightened up, excitedly telling her two soon-to-depart foreign friends, “Nan, Liu, thank you. My mother wrote to me. She has a phone, and I can go near the edge of town where there’s signal and video chat with her.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.” Nan Huaixu was genuinely happy for her.
Fei Tuoma smiled like a fuzzy sun. “And the nature reserve staff arrested Luma. The quarry’s logging team was caught too. The forest is protected now. On behalf of Mother Earth, I thank you.”
With that, she pressed a fist to her chest and bowed to them both.
Nan Huaixu said, “The people who hurt the forest were caught? That’s good. But we didn’t do anything—it should be the environmental department that the production team helped contact.”
Fei Tuoma was utterly sincere. “Still, it was your arrival that brought the aid. Thank you so much.”
Liu Yinxi checked her bracelet and reminded, “Teacher Nan, it’s time. We should go.”
Nan Huaixu slung on her pack. “Alright.”
Fei Tuoma followed them. “It’s a shame I can’t invite you to my home, but I’m glad I made it in time to see you off. Where are you catching the helicopter?”
Nan Huaixu pointed toward the lake. “The south shore.”
Fei Tuoma’s eyes lit up again. “I haven’t seen a helicopter in so long. Nan, Liu, let me take you to the shore!”
“Let’s go. Off we go.”
Liu Yinxi held Nan Huaixu’s hand and turned for one last look at the shelter where they had lived for a month.
The small bamboo stilt house.
The shade canopy.
The corn and sweet potato field.
The transplanted nameless flowers.
The little fish pond.
Goodbye!
The jade-green lake.
The forest.
The distant mountains.
The wind crossing sky and sea.
Goodbye!
They walked forward, and the scenery slowly fell behind them. Perhaps they would never return to this forest, but everything they had seen during these three months in the primeval rainforest would stay in their hearts, never to fade.
Wind swept across the shore. The helicopter sat on the sand and gravel. The production team’s staff welcomed them with smiles, congratulating them on their victory.
Fei Tuoma placed a flower garland necklace around each of their necks and hugged them farewell. “Take care!”
Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu exchanged a glance, then untied the braided cords from their hair and placed them in Fei Tuoma’s hands. “We painted a mural next to the abandoned cabin.”
Fei Tuoma was surprised. “A mural?”
Liu Yinxi smiled and gave her another hug. “A broken mirror can be made whole again2, and a carved-away painting can be restored with fresh pigment. As long as there is love, it is never too late. Fei Tuoma, when your mother and mommy reunite, please take them to see our mural.”
Fei Tuoma seemed to understand something. Moisture welled in her eyes, and she nodded firmly, her eyes red. “Mm!”
Liu Yinxi beamed. “Fei Tuoma, take care.”
Liu Yinxi waved at the robot dog on the ground and climbed into the helicopter.
Inside, Nan Huaixu was already seated, waiting for her.
They sat side by side. The aircraft lifted off slowly, air currents flowing around them.
Liu Yinxi raised her head, faced the camera directly, and smiled with composure.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Liu Yinxi.”
“It’s been a great honor to win this season of 《Survivor》 alongside Teacher Nan.”
“Thank you all for supporting me and Nan Huaixu!”
【Great joy!】
【Congratulations to Manman and Xixi for winning the championship!】
【Congratulations to Manman and Xixi for successfully completing the 100-day survival challenge! (applause)】
【Aooo, Liu Yinxi, Nan Huaixu, I will always support you!】
【Joy joy joy group photo joy joy joy】
【What’s Xixi planning to do after this? You have to resume livestreaming first!】
【Is Manman preparing the first project for her new company? A movie or a TV drama? What genre? I want to see it so badly!】
【Will Manman collaborate with Xixi?】
【Collaborate on what? It feels like they will go back to their own lives and won’t cross paths again. If they do collaborate, that’d be so fun, I want to watch! ^o^】
【Go home and get some good rest first.】
【Liu Yinxi got so tanned. Manman was probably already really fair, so by comparison she looks okay?】
【Manman survived with Xixi, and their food, drink, shelter, and living conditions were the best overall. She was the best protected, so her condition is better.】
【I know, I know! It’s because Xixi took such good care of Manman ~O(∩_∩)O~】
【Sisters, did you notice? Today Xixi held Manman’s hand the whole time from the shelter to boarding the helicopter!】
【You’re such a Leeuwenhoek3, sister!】
【I have more to ship4 again, awsl5】
【Huai-Liu! Huai-Liu! Huai-Liu!】
【Camping here for an official announcement (peeking)】
The helicopter soared over rolling mountain ranges and vast forests. The landscape below shifted, gradually giving way to towns and cityscapes.
At noon, they landed in Mulang City, the capital of Jinzhou Island.
At the Mulang International Hotel helipad, the cabin door had barely opened before the dense barrage of camera flashes stung Liu Yinxi’s eyes.
She stepped off the aircraft and greeted the media enthusiastically. “Hello, everyone! Please make sure to photograph Teacher Nan and me nicely!”
A welcome red carpet was laid out on the ground. As Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu stepped onto it—crack! Colorful confetti burst from both sides of the carpet.
Lu Yiqi, Yuan Fang, Xue Yunshao, Yu Yan, and Huang Heshan—all holding confetti poppers—waved at the champion duo. “Congratulations!”
Liu Yinxi raised both hands and waved. “Thank—”
“Xixi!” A figure rushed toward her. Ying Luoling threw her arms open, running excitedly toward her.
Nan Huaixu’s brow lifted ever so slightly. Without hurry, she stepped from behind Liu Yinxi to stand squarely in front of her.
The author has something to say:
Sorry for updating so late.
My freestanding air conditioner was damaged during cleaning. Repairs will cost 1,500. I asked the cleaning worker for compensation—the damage was caused by improper use of cleaning agent that corroded the evaporator. The cleaning worker threatened to come to my house and drink the cleaning agent right in front of me. If he didn’t die6, then I’d have to pay him compensation for reputational damage. He said he recorded our phone call, that he’d call the police as soon as he arrived at my house, that he wasn’t afraid of dying, and that otherwise it’d be white knife in, red knife out7. He said he’d bring his buddies, that he had friends in both the underworld and the legitimate world8, and went on and on about all that.
The dispute still isn’t resolved. I wrote this in a hurry, so please forgive any typos and such (bow)
Footnotes
- 苦力 / 巧克力 | ku li / qiao ke li | Chinese pun: 苦力 ('bitter labor') and 巧克力 ('chocolate') share the final character 力 (li). Nan Huaixu playfully reinterprets 'labor' as 'chocolate.'
- 破镜重圆 | po jing chong yuan | Chinese idiom: 'a broken mirror made round again,' meaning reconciliation or reunion after separation or estrangement.
- 列文虎克 | lie wen hu ke | Chinese internet slang comparing someone to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, meaning they notice incredibly minute details others miss.
- 嗑 | ke | Chinese internet slang for 'shipping'—enthusiastically following and enjoying a couple's romantic dynamic.
- awsl | a wo si le | Chinese internet acronym for 啊我死了 ('ah, I'm dead'), expressing overwhelming excitement or emotion.
- 嘎 | ga | Chinese internet slang for 'to die' or 'to be killed,' used euphemistically in casual speech.
- 白刀进红刀出 | bai dao jin hong dao chu | Chinese violent threat: 'white knife goes in, red knife comes out,' meaning to stab someone.
- 黑白两道 | hei bai liang dao | Chinese phrase: 'the black and white paths,' meaning both the criminal underworld and legitimate society.
Holy Author and Cleaner fight, It was the cleaners fault no?