Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 168

Return to the City

Champion Arrival Scene

Nan Huaixu intercepted Ying Luoling before she could embrace Liu Yinxi.

            

Ying Luoling stopped in her tracks, startled by Nan Huaixu’s sudden intervention. “Aunt?”

Nan Huaixu, as the elder, warmly inquired after her niece. “Luoling, I heard you were trapped in a fire earlier. How is your recovery coming along?”

Under the glare of countless cameras, Ying Luoling maintained her gentle smile. “Thank you for your concern, Aunt. That day, thanks to Xixi rushing into the fire to save me without regard for her own safety, I wasn’t hurt at all. I’ve long since recovered.”

            

Liu Yinxi stood to the side feeling inexplicable pressure. How did they end up discussing fire rescue the moment they stepped off the helicopter?

From across Nan Huaixu, Ying Luoling said to Liu Yinxi, “Xixi, I never properly thanked you for saving me that day. Don’t worry—I remember everything.”

Liu Yinxi smiled politely. “It’s fine. Anyone passing by would have called in the fire. The forest rangers put it out—you should really be thanking them.”

            

Ying Luoling stepped forward, trying to close the distance between them. “But you’re the one who carried me out of the fire. If you hadn’t come to rescue me, I would have been burned before the fire was extinguished.”

Liu Yinxi gave a small smile and didn’t take the bait.

Nan Huaixu said to Ying Luoling, “Then you really should thank Yinxi properly.”

            

Liu Yinxi wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but she noticed that while Nan Huaixu wore a smile on her face, there was not a trace of warmth in her eyes. She was clearly angry.

Based on three months of experience with Nan Huaixu, Liu Yinxi knew that saying too much only led to mistakes. The best way to handle Ying Luoling was to pretend she didn’t exist.

So Liu Yinxi took Nan Huaixu’s hand and walked forward along the red carpet. “Teacher Nan, the host and the other guests are up ahead. Let’s go on over.”

            

Nan Huaixu flashed a radiant smile. “Sure.”

Ying Luoling hastily turned and caught up with Liu Yinxi. She wanted to say more, but Liu Yinxi had no time to spare for her.

Up ahead, reporters and production team members lining both sides of the red carpet enthusiastically engaged the two champions.

            

“Teacher Nan, over here! Wow, that shot is gorgeous!”

“Liu Yinxi, how do you feel about winning the championship this time?”

“Nan Huaixu, will you be collaborating with Liu Yinxi in the future?”

            

“Xixi, you’re amazing! Look at me, take a photo with me!”

At the end of the red carpet stood the entrance to the hotel’s welcoming lobby, where a massive 《Survivor》 poster was erected. Under the host’s guidance, the eight guests gathered in front of the poster for a group photo.

After the photoshoot, there was a ten-minute interaction period.

            

Seeing several familiar guest faces again after days apart, Liu Yinxi felt a surge of emotion.

She and Nan Huaixu were the champions, standing at the center of the group photo, with Yu Yan on the other side.

Seeing Yu Yan’s healthy complexion, Liu Yinxi felt relieved and asked, “Xiao Yu-jie, is your health all better now?”

            

Yu Yan nodded. “I’m all better now, thank you for your concern. By the way, Yinxi, when you’re not busy later, I have something to discuss with you. We’ll all join a group chat soon—I’ll contact you later.”

Liu Yinxi looked surprised and replied, “Oh, okay.”

Yu Yan smiled and turned to chat with Huang Heshan.

            

“Hey, Liu’er, looks like your skin tone darkened another shade—you’ve gone from milk curry to chocolate curry.” Someone behind her was talking to Liu Yinxi.

Liu Yinxi recognized that punchable voice without even turning around. “Boss Yuan, how has a crooked merchant like you not been arrested and sent to tread a sewing machine¹ yet?”

Yuan Fang cheerfully punched her on the back. “Sorry to disappoint, but yours truly runs an honest business, diligently pays na.shui, and just hired a brilliant new accountant. Your wicked wish won’t come true in this lifetime.”

            

“Pfft.”

Yuan Fang laughed heartily, then spotted Nan Huaixu and pounced on the superstar for a photo before greeting every reporter in a people-fueled frenzy.

Liu Yinxi answered a few simple questions from the reporters—her thoughts on winning, future plans, her opinions on each guest, and so forth—when she suddenly heard a question posed to Nan Huaixu, who had drawn a massive crowd of reporters and fans:

            

“Teacher Nan, many netizens have been supporting the chemistry between you and Liu Yinxi, and they’ve given you an adorable nickname—’Huai-Liu CP.’ How do you feel about this nickname, and could you share your thoughts on Liu Yinxi?”

Liu Yinxi’s heart lurched. Could the audience have overheard her and Nan Huaixu’s confession last night?!

Liu Yinxi watched Nan Huaixu anxiously, unsure how she would handle the reporter’s tricky question.

            

But she trusted Nan Huaixu would handle it—Teacher Nan was a top-tier celebrity. Dealing with this was small potatoes.

Amid the flashing lights, Nan Huaixu gracefully accepted the reporter’s microphone and smiled into the camera. “Huai-Liu CP? Which netizen is so clever, coming up with such an adorable CP name for Yinxi and me?”

The crowd erupted. A fan in the back stood on a stool, hoisting a light sign high. “Manman! You said the CP name is adorable—does that mean you acknowledge being a CP with Liu Yinxi?!!!”

            

Nan Huaixu looked up, gazing past the crowd at her, and laughed. “I like the CPs that everyone likes. Thank you all for recognizing Yinxi’s and my performance on 《Survivor》. Heart fingers~ Please keep following news about us and 《Survivor》 in the future!”

A masterful answer—satisfying the fans, boosting the show’s popularity, and protecting her personal privacy all at once.

Liu Yinxi gazed at Nan Huaixu from afar, exhaling in relief as a smile spread across her face.

            

That was her girlfriend alright. Seriously impressive.

The host invited all the guests into the welcoming lobby and bid farewell to the fans and media. “Thank you all for coming to the 《Survivor》 champion arrival event. Nan Huaixu and Liu Yinxi have safely arrived at Mulang International Hotel. The two guests will rest briefly before undergoing comprehensive physical examinations. We will update everyone on their health status, so please rest easy.”

“Tonight at seven o’clock sharp, the 《Survivor》 Season 5 Championship Award Ceremony will be broadcast live. To all our viewers in the livestream—see you there!”

            

【Liu Yinxi is only the second person in 《Survivor》 history to complete the 100-day challenge!】

【This season was way better than previous ones. Liu Yinxi is the strongest amateur survivalist in my heart.】

【With survival skills like Liu’s, she’d rank high even among professionals.】

            

【Can’t wait for Xixi to enter a professional survival competition next! (cheering)】

【When Nan Huaixu’s name appeared on the contestant list, I mocked her ruthlessly. Who knew she’d get lucky and team up with Liu Yinxi, getting carried all the way (laugh-cry)】

【Nan Huaixu struck gold joining this variety show. She gained several million followers in just three months.】

            

【Nan was already famous. Gaining that many followers isn’t surprising.】

【Anyway, Manman’s buzz is blazing right now. Six of the top ten entertainment trending topics are about her and Liu Yinxi. The momentum is built, her goal is achieved. Now it’s up to her new company to deliver quality work and carve out a place in the film and TV industry (fist pump)】

【Manman doesn’t just act well—her directing skills are top-notch too. Her new project is bound to be amazing! (starry eyes)】

            

【Sisters, did you hear that?! Manman said the Huai-Liu CP name is adorable! Aah! Her acknowledging the CP name means she’s acknowledging her pairing with Xixi!】

【Manman didn’t say ‘please don’t project this onto the actors themselves’ this time!】

【Ahhh yes! In every past interview, whenever a reporter ky²‘d about her online CP shipping, Manman would say ‘have fun with it, but please don’t project this onto the actors themselves, don’t go too far.’ But this time she didn’t say it! So Manman is implicitly confirming she has something going on with Xixi! (teary-eyed) (spinning) (howling)】

            

【@QuanJunChuJi³, aren’t you the most powerful gossip intel account on the entire internet? You can even photograph a celebrity’s pet dog cheating. Hurry up and find evidence of Nan Huaixu and Liu Yinxi getting together!】

Over lunch they had a refreshing Southeast Asian meal, and in the afternoon the production team arranged for Nan Huaixu and Liu Yinxi to undergo physical examinations at the hospital.

Aside from minor skin and gastrointestinal issues and a few nutritional markers below standard, both were in the clear.

            

At half past three in the afternoon, they returned to their respective production-assigned rooms to rest, chatting in the small group chat created over lunch.

The group chat had originally been mandated by the show’s investors and executives—there was already a large group with guests, staff, and media contacts. Later, Yuan Fang had pulled the eight contestants into a smaller private group.

——Jinzhou Island Savage Valley

            

Lu Yiqi: …

Ying Luoling: What kind of group name is this? Change it to something nicer.

Xue Yunshao: How about ‘Survivor Friendly Exchange Group’?

            

Nan Huaixu: [Digital version of guest group photo]

Yu Yan: I think this group name is quite fun ^.^

Huang Heshan: Fun.

            

Yuan Fang: @Ying Luoling, only an interesting soul can appreciate the essence of this group name!

Liu Yinxi finished reading the chat history, typed a few words, and sent them: Hahahahaha!

Yuan Fang: @Liu Yinxi, you’re not interesting—you’re just dumb.

            

Liu Yinxi sent a disdainful emoji back, exited the group chat window, and noticed a small red dot in the new contacts section.

Yu Yan has requested to add you as a friend.

Liu Yinxi remembered Yu Yan mentioning during the group photo that she would reach out, and tapped confirm.

            

Two new messages popped up in the chat list.

Yu Yan: Are you free to come to Heshan’s room for a bit? We’ll wait for you.

Teacher Manman: For tonight’s award ceremony and banquet, which gown pairs better with the pearl you gave me? [Photo][Photo]

            

Liu Yinxi opened Nan Huaixu’s chat first, zoomed in on both photos to examine them carefully, and sent back the photo of the moon-white⁴ evening gown.

Teacher Manman: Do I not look good in wine red? [Close-up photo of red gown]

Liu Yinxi: You look gorgeous!

            

Teacher Manman: You chose the moon-white one.

Liu Yinxi: I think it pairs better with the pearl ∩w∩

Teacher Manman: Let me see your gown.

            

Liu Yinxi didn’t have her own styling team. Her gown had been prepared by the production team—a mint-green tulle dress.

She snapped a photo and sent it over.

Liu Yinxi checked the time on her phone, thought for a moment, and replied to Yu Yan: What’s it about? How long will it take?

            

Yu Yan: Just a few minutes. It won’t take too long.

Liu Yinxi: Okay, I’ll head over now.

She memorized Huang Heshan’s room number, slipped her phone into her pocket, and headed out the door.

            

A new message had just come in, but she’d already missed it.

Teacher Manman: That gown makes you look dark. Hold on, I’ll bring you a gown over.

Liu Yinxi counted the room numbers along the corridor, found Huang Heshan’s room, and knocked lightly on the open door before stepping inside.

            

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The author has something to say:

The survival arc of the story has concluded here. From this point on, it’s city life, tentatively divided into a few sections: 【Return to the City】【Hongdu Lovers】【Documentary Film】【Married Life】—these will be indicated in the chapter titles~

Good night 🪷

            

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