Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 61
by Little PandaDiving and Pearls
Outside the treehouse, birdsong trilled melodiously. The diurnal creatures of the rainforest were welcoming a new day.
Liu Yinxi lay on the mattress, one hand pillowed behind her head, turning a grass-woven βfishβ over and over in her hand.
No matter how she looked at it, it still looked like a fish.
But Nan Huaixu, who had woven it, said it was a majestic mosasaur1.
If it didnβt look like one, then it didnβt look like one. We should respect facts, improve our craft, and make it look right next time β in the past, Liu Yinxi would have told Nan Huaixu exactly that.
She was someone who valued facts and didnβt like saying hypocritical pretty words. Her mother had taught her that kind lies, once exposed, only revealed bloodier truths. Rather than covering up surface wounds, it was better to remove the root cause early.
This was even more true with friends.
In front of ordinary people, she could still make up a few words, play along with the scene. But with people she was close to, even if it would sting briefly, she wouldnβt deceive them.
But when Nan Huaixu wove her one small animal after another, each one not quite right, she couldnβt bring herself to say a single word of βno.β
In her heart she felt it didnβt look right, but when the words came out of her mouth, they were all βit looks rightβ β and this hypocritical process didnβt hurt at all.
Completely unlike the pain of lying before.
Simply because she wanted to do it.
Liu Yinxi lowered her head, gripping the small grass-woven mosasaur, and pressed her hand to her chest.
She pressed against the jade pendant and asked her mother silently: Mom, Iβve discovered a problem.
What you said isnβt entirely right either.
Maybe my understanding when I was young wasnβt correct either.
People canβt just care about facts and right or wrong. We also have to ask our hearts.
Otherwise, why is it that when something is clearly done right, the heart isnβt happy?
If the right thing makes me feel worse and worse, does that mean itβs actually wrong?
In any case, Liu Yinxi wasnβt willing to say things that might hurt Nan Huaixu for the sake of her own principles, or do things that might hurt Nan Huaixu.
Giving up brown rice for tomato beef rice before was like this.
Cooking instant noodles after the fish trap broke was like this.
Exhausting herself to carry barrels from the beach, making a screen, letting Nan Huaixu take a clean bath β that was like this too.
Judging by Liu Yinxiβs former principle of efficiency above all, these were all wrong.
But she just wanted to.
What could be done.
Liu Yinxiβs principles could change.
But Nan Huaixuβs happiness only lasted a moment.
She simply chose the more precious one.
The wind chime on the shelter roof swayed slightly, chiming once.
The sunlight in the partition dimmed at one corner. Liu Yinxi hurriedly put down the grass-woven dinosaur, sat up, and looked toward the entrance.
βYouβre going to check the traps and fish traps today?β Nan Huaixu sat outside, one hand resting on the wood. In the light, her hair glowed with a pale golden sheen.
βMm, Iβm leaving at seven.β Liu Yinxi checked her bracelet, faintly catching the scent coming from Nan Huaixu. βTeacher Nan, how are you feeling today? Any discomfort?β
Nan Huaixu rubbed her stomach. βItβs fine, thanks to making preparations.β
Liu Yinxi showed a relieved smile. βThatβs good. Later Iβll go down and dress the water monitor lizard, portion out the meat, and at noon you can just roast it and eat. Remember to drink more honey water, replenish your sugar.β
βIβll just roast itβ¦ youβre not coming back at noon?β
βMm, the round trip is a bit far. I plan to go further, scout the route to the upstream Toa River.β
The airdrop points went upstream along the river. Sooner or later theyβd have to go there to compete for airdrops. Since things were stable now, she could explore as much as possible.
Nan Huaixu immediately understood her intention and agreed. βAlright. I canβt go out these two days, and our materials are used up anyway. Iβll stay at the shelter weaving vine ropes, sharpening the axe, and collecting leaves and ferns nearby.β
Saying this, she climbed down the ladder.
Liu Yinxi emerged from the partition and called down, βOkay, but Teacher Nan, please donβt go too far, and donβt go near the river. Just stay within our usual walking range.β
Nan Huaixu added firewood to cook breakfast. βUnderstood. Iβm very careful with my life. In a bit Iβll walk with you β you go check the traps, Iβll just wander nearby.β
βOh! Okay!β Liu Yinxi tucked a small grass dragon into her pocket, patting her bag with a smile.
After breakfast, packing water bottles and food for the road, Liu Yinxi took Nan Huaixu out.
Walking out of the defensive fence, Liu Yinxi lowered the gate.
βWhatβs the date?β Liu Yinxi shouldered her backpack.
Nan Huaixu didnβt check her bracelet, but kept the date clearly in mind. βThe 6th.β
Liu Yinxi: βAh, so thereβs only one day until the airdrop.β
βThatβs right. I thought you calculated carefully, but it turns out you go by feeling?β
Liu Yinxi fished out a grass-woven hair tie from her bag and tied back her shoulder-length hair. βI remember an approximate number. When itβs about time I check carefully.β
Nan Huaixu was much more relaxed than at the start of the competition. She didnβt complain about Liu Yinxi being unreliable, just said, βThat works too. The day before an airdrop thereβs a reminder chime. Besides, you have me β we wonβt miss it.β
They gripped their walking sticks, walking on the grass where sunlight filtered through leaves.
Nan Huaixu cut suitable leaves and ferns she saw along the way, putting them in her backpack.
βI wonder what supplies will be in the next airdrop.β
βWhat does Teacher Nan want?β
βI feel like Iβm living very well right now. I can live for a long time.β
Liu Yinxi laughed twice, tapping brush and grass with her wooden stick. βWeβve just reached a competition point, exactly when people get eliminated, and Teacher Nan has no fighting spirit at all, looking so peaceful.β
Nan Huaixu smiled. βWhat fighting spirit should I have? Go fight, eliminate others first?β
Liu Yinxi actually thought about it seriously and answered, βCompetition rules donβt allow it. If we could really eliminate guests through fighting, the competition would end very quickly.β
βEnding with both of us defeated by Huang-jie?β
βTeacher Nan, you canβt say things that boost othersβ morale and diminish our own prestige.β Liu Yinxi was frustrated. When could she find an opportunity to save face?
Nan Huaixu quietly glanced at Liu Yinxiβs worsening expression and said seriously, βUnderstood, I take it back.β
Further ahead, the terrain became complex and rugged, the road harder to walk.
Liu Yinxi stopped. βTeacher Nan, this is as far as you go, you canβt go further. Iβll be back in the afternoonββ
Behind them, the bushes on the high slope shook with a rustling sound. Liu Yinxi suddenly pulled Nan Huaixu back, hiding behind a tree to observe.
A red figure on the slope rose from low to high, turning toward them.
Liu Yinxi let out a breath of relief. Nature wouldnβt have such a large patch of red β that was the color of a hardshell jacket.
The person opposite also recognized them, their clear voice carrying over to greet them. βTeacher Nan, Xiao Liu.β
Liu Yinxi walked out from behind the tree. βGood morning, Xiao Yu-jie. What are you doing here?β
Nan Huaixu followed her, smiling and waving.
Yu Yanβs small body was wrapped in an oversized hardshell jacket, looking like a porcelain doll in a big red padded robe. She raised the plants in her hand. βIβm looking to see what edible wild vegetables are around here.β
Liu Yinxi climbed up the high slope, then helped Nan Huaixu up, walking to Yu Yanβs side. βHuh? Doesnβt Huang-jie pick wild vegetables when she goes hunting?β
Before, the herbs they traded were all picked by Huang Heshan, who had also brought gathered wild vegetables.
Yu Yan answered, βMm, we changed shelters, sheβs not familiar with the plants around here yet. Iβll find some first, then teach her.β
Liu Yinxi was a bit surprised. βSo youβre the one who taught her. I thought she knew everything.β
βIn the places sheβs lived, she definitely would know. But sheβs never been to a tropical region before, doesnβt know this area.β
βOhβ¦β
Yu Yan put away the wild vegetables and looked at them. βWhat about you two? Also out gathering resources?β
Liu Yinxi spoke vaguely. βYes, Teacher Nan is foraging in this area, Iβm going further. We were just about to split up.β
Yu Yan asked, βWhich way are you going?β She pointed east of the high slope. βIβm heading east. If itβs on the way, we can go together.β
That was the direction of the traps.
Liu Yinxi instinctively looked at Nan Huaixu first. Nan Huaixu noticed her gaze and answered Yu Yan, βYinxi is going that way.β
Yu Yan nodded and asked Liu Yinxi, βWant to go together?β
Liu Yinxi still looked at Nan Huaixu first. Nan Huaixu understood and said to Liu Yinxi, βGoing together is safer, and you might learn some herbal knowledge from Xiao Yu.β
Only then did Liu Yinxi say, βXiao Yu-jie, letβs go together.β
βOkay.β Yu Yan smiled.
Nan Huaixu was about to say goodbye when she noticed a bright white round bead on a woven cord around Yu Yanβs neck. She approached with surprise to look. βXiao Yu, is thisβ¦ a pearl?β
Yu Yan lowered her head and lifted the bead at her neck. βTeacher Nan, you mean this? Itβs a pearl gathered from the shallow sea here.β
Liu Yinxi watched the bead from the corner of her eye, listening carefully to their conversation. Hearing Nan Huaixuβs excited tone, she felt it wasnβt simple.
The bead in Yu Yanβs palm was round and crystalline, giving off a pure white luster, very lovely.
Nan Huaixu leaned closer to examine it. βYes, itβs so beautiful. Xiao Yu, can I touch it?β
βOf course. I like it a lot too.β Yu Yan generously took off the pearl and handed it to her to examine.
Nan Huaixu admired the pearl carefully, her expression softening. She returned it to Yu Yan. βI didnβt expect to find pearls in the shallow sea here. We donβt have diving skills, weβve only beachcombed at the shore, we donβt even know what the seawater looks like underneath.β
Liu Yinxi suddenly frowned. No diving skills? No one had asked herβ¦
βMmβ¦β Yu Yan hummed, putting on the pearl. βHeshan found a diving respirator on the beach. She discovered pearl oysters while spearfishing underwater and gathered this for me. Iβll talk to her when I get back β if we find pearl oysters again, Iβll get one for you at the airdrop. But I canβt guarantee weβll find one this round.β
The drone gave the pearl a close-up, and the livestream audience all saw it.
γWow! So round! Even though itβs small, finding a perfectly round pearl in shallow sea is really hard!γ
γYou didnβt watch Huang-jieβs stream so you donβt know, she searched for so long in the ocean for one this round, just because one day Yu Yu joked while eating roasted scallops asking if there were pearls QAQγ
γHow is Huang-jie so romantic QvQγ
γDonβt ask, born romantic TuTγ
γOur Manman also wove a dinosaur for Xixi (heart eyes)γ
γ???γ
γWait, why is Manman competing over something like this?γ
γRight, these two things put together is so weird!γ
Nan Huaixu quickly said, βNo need, no need, thank you for the kind offer. The pearl is beautiful, but this is a survival competition β I didnβt expect survival to involve pearl gathering, so I was surprised, not that I wanted one. She gave it to you, thatβs how it should be. I canβt trouble you.β
Yu Yan thought quietly for two seconds, then answered softly, βMm-hm. Actually itβs fine. Itβs easy for Heshan, if you like you can trade supplies for it.β
Nan Huaixu smiled, then suddenly realized something. βOh right, Yu Yan, we want to discuss a supply trade with you.β
Liu Yinxi quickly added, βRight, right. Xiao Yu-jie, you know we have compensation supplies?β
Yu Yan: βI know, the bracelet sent a broadcast notification. The Siamese crocodile is really dangerous, good thing youβre okay. You must be more careful in the future.β
Nan Huaixu: βYu Yan, we have rice and mixed beans, we want to trade for some brown rice.β
Yu Yan clasped her hands together, looking troubled. βThisβ¦ Heshan is the captain, I can only go back and ask her first. Or the airdrop is coming soon, you can ask her directly then?β
Nan Huaixu curved her lips, her gaze meaningful, and whispered in her ear, βShe gave you such a round pearl. Do you think Iβd believe you canβt make decisions?β
Yu Yan raised her eyes, her earlobes turning pink. βShe said it was easy. How about this β Iβll go back and talk to her, and bring it to trade at the airdrop.β
Nan Huaixu settled the trade amounts with Yu Yan, and they said goodbye. She called to Liu Yinxi, who was standing there in a daze. βLiu Yinxi, time to go.β
βLiu Yinxi? What are you spacing out about?β Nan Huaixu patted her shoulder when she didnβt move.
Liu Yinxi suddenly withdrew from the Book Transmigration Reading System. βOh!β
The system interface stayed on the description of Huang Heshan diving in the original text:
γIn this warm coral reef, beautiful pearls can be found.γ
Haha mc really wanting her omega to see her as the alpha here.
While yes being truthful is good sometimes you just gotta accept little things like that to keep someone happy, what’s the point of diminishing their care for you for no reason or benefit?