Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 40

Wild Mangoes, Jackfruit, and Vitamin Tablets

Bracelet Date: April 27.

Nan Huaixu awoke to the morning chorus of birds.

            

She gathered her long, loose hair, tied it into a simple ponytail with a grass-woven cord, and unzipped her hardshell jacket to let in some air.

Parting the leaf curtain of their shelter, she saw Liu Yinxi sitting by the campfire, boiling kudzu root¹. Liu Yinxi smiled at her, full of morning energy. “Good morning, Teacher Nan.”

“Morning.” Nan Huaixu covered a yawn, her sleepy brain gradually coming online.

            

It occurred to her that Liu Yinxi hadn’t called her “Nan-jiejie” in a while.

When had she started calling her Teacher Nan all the time?

Well… it doesn’t matter, she thought. The title “Teacher Nan” was easier on the ears.

            

Everyone called her that.

Nan Huaixu ducked out of the shelter, washed her face and rinsed her mouth, and by the time she sat down for breakfast, Liu Yinxi was already prepared to leave.

Holding a lunchbox filled with bracken fern soup that was steaming with hot white vapor, Nan Huaixu asked, “Leaving so early? Are you feeling alright?”

            

“The sooner I go, the sooner I’ll be back,” Liu Yinxi answered honestly. “I’m fine. It hasn’t officially started yet. I just have a feeling it’s coming soon, so I’m carrying my inhibitors with me.”

“Oh, alright.” Nan Huaixu lifted her lunchbox and sipped the soup.

No wonder she hadn’t smelled any obvious alpha pheromones last night or this morning. She had started to think Liu Yinxi had Weak Pheromones²—a glandular defect where one’s pheromones were so weak they could hardly attract anyone, even during a heat or susceptible period.

            

Before she left, Liu Yinxi apologized to Nan Huaixu.

Nan Huaixu gave her a questioning look. “What for? I didn’t say anything to you.”

Liu Yinxi scratched the back of her head, her eyes averted. “My singing last night… you didn’t like it. I must have disturbed your rest.”

            

Nan Huaixu’s pupils shifted slightly. She lowered her lashes. “You didn’t. You sang well. I just got sleepy all of a sudden. My tone wasn’t very good, so don’t overthink it.”

When Liu Yinxi heard Nan Huaixu’s explanation, her expression visibly relaxed. “That’s good. When I’m sleepy, I tend to speak without thinking. Teacher Nan, if you want to hear a song or something, just ask when I’m awake, okay? I’m heading out. See you tonight.”

Nan Huaixu waved her off, mulling over her words as she drank her soup.

            

Why did Liu Yinxi have to bring up last night specifically?

Was her tone when she told her to stop singing too cold? Did it scare her?

To be honest, it wasn’t just Liu Yinxi who was confused; sometimes, Nan Huaixu couldn’t even understand her own emotions.

            

She had never been this emotionally unstable since coming of age.

She would feel particularly impatient with Yuan Fang’s chatter. A nameless anger would flare up when she heard Liu Yinxi sing a sad love song. And she felt that Liu Yinxi’s rendition of 《Sweet as Honey》³ was perfunctory, leaving her with the disappointment of an unfulfilled expectation.

But why would a song leave her feeling disappointed? And what was she even expecting?

            

Nan Huaixu couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t put it into words.

She was discovering that Liu Yinxi could make her very happy, and Liu Yinxi could also make her very sad.

Nan Huaixu set down her lunchbox. She poked at the firewood in the stone stove with a stick, resting her chin on her hand in thought.

            

I’ve been detached from society for too long, she mused. That’s why my mood is being affected by the only companion I have.

This wouldn’t do. She refused to be led around by her emotions.

She had to be the master of her emotions.

            

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Nan Huaixu arrived at the beach a little after seven in the morning.

When Yuan Fang saw Nan Huaixu arrive alone again, she was greatly disappointed. “Teacher Nan, don’t you and Liu’er ever switch shifts? Is she really okay with you working so hard by yourself every day? Look how hot and sunny it is on this beach.”

Nan Huaixu, of course, wasn’t about to reveal their relocation plans. Done with being polite, she directly exposed Yuan Fang’s little scheme. “What difference does it make which one of us comes? How we divide our labor is none of your business. I’m the captain. All of our supplies are under my management, so no matter what tricks you try, you won’t find any loopholes. If you want to trade with us in the future, be a little more sincere.”

            

Her tone was much colder than usual, making it clear she had no desire to entertain Yuan Fang.

Seeing her business partner was displeased, Yuan Fang quickly put on a placating smile and admitted her fault. “Yes, yes, Teacher Nan is right to criticize me. I shouldn’t run my mouth, spouting all that nonsense. I was just joking last time, just for fun. My apologies. Besides, even though Liu is a tease, she’s not that kind of person, right, Teacher Nan?”

Nan Huaixu, focused on boiling salt, spared a moment to reply, “I’m not her.”

            

The subtext was clear: I don’t speak for Liu Yinxi, so don’t ask me.

Yuan Fang was long used to Nan Huaixu’s aloofness, but today her temper was even colder. Yuan Fang tactfully cut back on the chatter, knowing better than to be annoying when someone was in a bad mood.

At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky.

            

Though the two of them didn’t get along, they still had to cooperate on basic survival tasks.

Nan Huaixu and Yuan Fang worked together, one gutting fish while the other grilled them. They freed up two lunchboxes to cook a meal. Yuan Fang took the initiative to make small talk, and as long as she wasn’t being too ridiculous, Nan Huaixu would exchange a few words.

The fish had just finished cooking, but before they could eat, a figure emerged from the coconut grove.

            

The main river was a long way off, so Liu Yinxi was unlikely to show up. Both Nan Huaixu and Yuan Fang assumed it was Lu Yiqi, coming to bring them water and freeload a meal.

But as the person drew closer, both of them wore expressions of surprise.

“Good afternoon. Sorry to bother you.” Xue Yunshao’s hair was neatly combed and her clothes were tidy, but she looked a bit drained.

            

A smile played on Yuan Fang’s lips. “Well, a rare guest. Is Teacher Xue here for some beachcombing at this hour?”

“The sun is too strong at noon, and there are no fish or shrimp washed up by the tide. I’m not here to beachcomb,” Xue Yunshao said gently.

She turned to the other side and offered a modest greeting. “Teacher Nan.”

            

Nan Huaixu gave her a nod of acknowledgement and gently blew on the piping hot grilled fish in her hand.

“I’ve passed by the beach twice and seen you both busy. I assume you’re extracting sea salt. Teacher Nan, Boss Yuan, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Though Xue Yunshao said she wanted to discuss it with them, her face was turned toward Nan Huaixu the entire time.

            

“Lingling has a good sense of taste and has been sensitive to the texture of food since she was little. Teacher Nan should know about this.”

Nan Huaixu said, “Why should I?”

Why should I know the eating habits of Nan Lingxuan’s illegitimate child?

            

Xue Yunshao paused for a moment, the look in her eyes shifting, before she quickly put on an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, that was presumptuous of me. It’s like this: we don’t have any seasoning, and Lingling finds the fish and shrimp from the beach have a strange taste she can’t get used to. So she’s been mainly eating fruit and the oatmeal she brought. After so long, her salt and protein intake might be insufficient. Lingling has developed localized edema, dizziness, and fatigue. She desperately needs to replenish her salt.”

Yuan Fang’s expression was playful. She just smiled and said nothing.

She had paid with water purification tablets and banyan fruit, toiling under the wind and sun every day to get that salt. Did they think they could get it just by casually saying someone couldn’t stomach fish?

            

Nan Huaixu ate her fish with unhurried elegance, as if Xue Yunshao were no different from any other coconut tree in her eyes.

Xue Yunshao waited for two minutes. Seeing that Ying Luoling’s aunt wasn’t responding, she maintained her smile and stepped forward to ask again, “Teacher Nan, I understand that extracting sea salt is very difficult, and that salt is extremely precious. I certainly won’t take it for free. I’d like to trade some of our supplies for a little salt.”

Nan Huaixu still didn’t react.

            

Xue Yunshao was at a loss. She could only stand behind her and wait.

Yuan Fang, off to the side, clicked her tongue. A thousand-year-old fox, what kind of Liaozhai are you acting in⁴? Nan Huaixu ignoring her was a clear rejection. Xue Yunshao was just pretending not to understand, waiting there like a complete rookie, determined to get an answer.

How boring to let the stalemate drag on.

            

Yuan Fang twirled a strand of hair around her finger, walked over to Xue Yunshao, and bumped her hip against her waist. “Teacher Xue, you mentioned supplies. What did you want to trade with our Teacher Nan?”

Xue Yunshao politely stepped back, maintaining a proper social distance. “I was planning to trade mangoes, jackfruit, and ten vitamin tablets for salt.”

Yuan Fang’s eyes slid to the side as she sat back down to enjoy her lunch.

            

Obviously, salt was more important to her than fruit and vitamins. Those supplies weren’t enough to make her trade. After all, the rainforest wasn’t lacking in wild fruit, and vitamins and fiber could be supplemented with fruits and wild vegetables.

Xue Yunshao could see Yuan Fang wasn’t interested. She didn’t seem to mind and continued to wait for Nan Huaixu’s response. “Teacher Nan, Lingling is very concerned about you. Even though she’s been lying down unwell, she still reminded me to see if you needed any help.”

Nan Huaixu let out a breath and finally turned to look at her.

            

A pleased look appeared on Xue Yunshao’s face. “Teacher Nan…”

Nan Huaixu’s voice was cold. “Ying Luoling is low on salt?”

“Yes.”

            

“If Ying Luoling is low on salt, tell her to come trade for it herself.”

“But she’s already sick…”

With one hand, Nan Huaixu drew her knife. With a sharp crack, she split open a coconut, the keen blade glinting coldly where it was embedded in the shell.

            

“…” Xue Yunshao glanced at the knife, took a few shuffling steps back, and forced a strained smile. “Okay, I’ll go back and tell her. Are the supplies we offered acceptable?”

Nan Huaixu carved away the top of the coconut and drank the juice inside. “They’re not very valuable. I can only give you two bottle caps’ worth of salt.”

Xue Yunshao was delighted. “Okay, thank you, Teacher Nan! I’ll go get Ying Luoling right now.”

            

Nan Huaixu pulled her knife free, wiped it clean on the coconut husk, and put it back in her bag.

Yuan Fang, still eating her fish, silently scooted a little farther away from her. The way she’d chopped that coconut just now looked like she was about to chop someone’s head off.

Heaven only knew what was wrong with Nan Huaixu today. It was like she’d eaten a pack of explosives⁵. Could it be that Liu’er had pissed her off?

            

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In the evening, twilight settled over the island.

Liu Yinxi, with the small light on her bracelet turned on, walked out of the woods and back to the shelter.

She stood in front of the campfire, brushing off the grass and leaves that had stuck to her clothes.

            

Nan Huaixu returned with an armful of firewood. Seeing Liu Yinxi, she lifted the corners of her mouth. “You’re back.”

Liu Yinxi turned her head and smiled. “Yeah, just got back. Let me grab a drink of water, and then I’ll show you the lizard I caught today. It’s so fat.”

Nan Huaixu eyed her bag. “Where is it?”

            

Liu Yinxi pointed to the air-hole box. “I just put it in there. Are we eating it now?”

Nan Huaixu peered through one of the holes in the box. A plump lizard was lying inside.

She turned to Liu Yinxi. “Let’s save it for tomorrow. I brought back fish and fruit today.”

            

“Fruit?” Liu Yinxi finished her water and wiped the droplets from her lips. “Did you go into the forest?”

Nan Huaixu brought over her backpack and took out the wild mangoes and jackfruit, arranging them on a banana leaf plate.

“No. Your ex’s teammate brought these to trade for salt.”

            

Liu Yinxi’s lips pressed into a thin line. She did a quick calculation in her head and asked, “Xue Yunshao came to you for salt?”

“I gave them two mineral water bottle caps’ worth,” Nan Huaixu replied. “Do you think that’s fair?”

Liu Yinxi thought it was a loss.

            

Just then, Nan Huaixu pulled a small plastic bottle of vitamin tablets from her pocket. “And these.”

Liu Yinxi’s brow furrowed slightly. Vitamins. While not a rare resource, they were still good to have. After all, the trace elements from wild fruits were limited and not comprehensive.

The trade was barely acceptable, she supposed.

            

Suddenly, Liu Yinxi slapped her thigh and stood up, walking to the back of the shelter.

She lifted a small bucket down from the low wooden rack and carefully unwrapped the banana leaves sealing it.

Nan Huaixu quietly walked up beside her. Liu Yinxi looked up, her nose brushing against Nan Huaixu’s hair.

            

Nan Huaixu’s bright eyes gazed at her. “Liu Yinxi, I want to see.”

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