Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 66
by Little PandaCalling for Outside Assistance, Redeeming Mosquito Nets
Nan Huaixu ignored the dazzling pearl and lifted Liu Yinxi’s right arm. “Let me see.”
Liu Yinxi looked down and finally saw the wound clearly—there was some seeping blood. Though the cut appeared long, it was a thin gash and relatively shallow. Not serious.
“It’s not a big deal. We can bandage it later.”
“How did this happen?”
“Scraped against some reef.”
Nan Huaixu frowned tightly and pressed down on her shoulder. “Sit.”
Liu Yinxi glanced at the large pearl in her hand. Nan Huaixu had seemed so happy when she saw the pearl earlier—why wouldn’t she accept it?
They sat in the shade of a coconut tree. Nan Huaixu pulled Liu Yinxi’s arm toward her, turning it so the wound on the inner side faced upward.
Nan Huaixu rummaged through Liu Yinxi’s pack. “Where’s the first aid kit?”
Liu Yinxi curled her knees and mumbled, “When I packed up this morning I put in the net bag and food—I didn’t bring the first aid kit.”
Nan Huaixu hurriedly opened her own bag, took out a medicine kit and purified water, and unscrewed the bottle to rinse Liu Yinxi’s wound.
Without hydrogen peroxide, they could only use purified water for now. It stung a little, but for someone accustomed to outdoor life like Liu Yinxi, it was nothing.
Liu Yinxi raised her arm, checking for debris in the wound. Once she confirmed it was clean, she tore open a pack of gauze, and Nan Huaixu helped bandage it.
“Thank you, Teacher Nan. Don’t wrap it too tight.”
“But it hasn’t stopped bleeding yet.”
“Tropical waters are high-risk zones for Vibrio vulnificus. The bacteria are anaerobic. Bandage to stop the bleeding first, then after a while let the wound open to air.”
Nan Huaixu’s gaze trembled. “The kind of infection where you have to amputate?”
Liu Yinxi nodded.
Nan Huaixu gently pressed Liu Yinxi’s arm to help stop the bleeding and spoke seriously. “Call for outside assistance1.”
Liu Yinxi gave her a reassuring smile. “No need to be so tense. Infection is conditional. There are countless people working at sea around the world—impossible for every small injury to lead to amputation. Whether the environment carries the bacteria, the strength of one’s immune system, whether post-injury treatment is proper—all these factors matter. Normally it wouldn’t matter, but we’re in a competition. No need to waste an opportunity over a small injury.”
Nan Huaixu remained uneasy. “But I’ve seen news reports about people who got pricked while eating seafood—didn’t even have a wound, didn’t bleed—and still lost their finger.”
Liu Yinxi leaned against the coconut tree and thought it over. If infection really did occur, it would be serious indeed.
Since they had two outside assistance opportunities, not using them meant they couldn’t leverage the advantage.
The first aid kit lacked the medical supplies needed for treating external wounds. Might as well take this opportunity to obtain medical supplies for reserves—it would also soothe Nan Huaixu’s worries.
“Alright.” Liu Yinxi was decisive. “Teacher Nan, did you bring the satellite phone?”
Nan Huaixu hurriedly dug out the satellite phone and pressed the button to turn it on.
Liu Yinxi was surprised. “You actually brought this along.” She usually left hers in the storage box at the shelter.
“I know you like traveling light when you go out—never bring a phone.” Nan Huaixu’s tone carried reproach, but her eyes were gentle. “If I didn’t bring one either, the day the two of us fall into a ditch, we’d have to wait for next season’s guests to come dig us up.”
“Dig us up…pfft. Teacher Nan, you’re too dramatic.”
Nan Huaixu quickly dialed the outside assistance line, and the production team dispatched a medical rescue team.
While waiting for outside assistance, Liu Yinxi’s hair and clothes dried, but after the seawater evaporated, her skin and clothing felt sticky and fishy—unsanitary. Back at the shelter, it would be best to wash her skin and clothes.
Half an hour later, the helicopter landed. Two medical personnel examined Liu Yinxi’s injury, administered emergency treatment, and gave her an injection.
Liu Yinxi kept all the remaining medical supplies from the treatment:
Hydrogen peroxide 50ml × 1 bottle
Iodine 30ml × 1 bottle
Mupirocin ointment 5g × 1 tube
Sterile cotton swabs 3-pack × 5 packets
Sterile gauze pads × 5 packets
Cefalexin capsules 100mg × 8 pills
Before the rescue team left, Nan Huaixu repeatedly confirmed with the doctor: “So Liu Yinxi’s injury really isn’t serious, right?”
The doctor patiently communicated with her. “Please rest assured. Ms. Liu’s wound is very shallow, and your emergency treatment was excellent. The bleeding has stopped. Take medicine and change the dressing on time, keep the wound exposed to air, maintain dryness and hygiene, and observe the wound’s condition. Normally it should heal within a week. During this time, avoid getting water on the injury—especially seawater.”
Nan Huaixu, considering the worst-case scenario, asked, “What if there’s a deterioration? We used an outside assistance opportunity this time—what if the treatment wasn’t thorough?”
The doctor answered calmly. “Teacher Nan Huaixu, our treatment follows established emergency protocols. Ms. Liu’s current condition is just a minor external injury without infection. Treating it according to standard wound care procedures reduces the risk of infection. If you’re truly worried, you’d need to go to a hospital for various tests, but based on the current situation, that’s unnecessary. Trauma is a risk included in the competition. Contestants being eliminated due to injury is part of Survivor rules.”
Nan Huaixu’s fingers tightened. “So you can’t guarantee it either?”
The doctor’s eyes showed helplessness. “Teacher Nan, in medicine, there are no absolute certainties.”
“Then for follow-up treatment—”
Liu Yinxi packed the supplies into her backpack, ensuring nothing would tip over or spill, and hurried over. “Thank you, doctor. I’ll take the medicine and change dressings on time, maintain personal hygiene, and I’ll be fully recovered in a few days. As long as there’s no drainage or pus and swelling, it’s normal, right?”
Nan Huaixu looked at her with concern but didn’t argue further with the doctor.
The doctor finally relaxed—clearly, she preferred communicating with Liu Yinxi. “Yes. Rest well these next few days, don’t overexert yourself.”
Liu Yinxi shook her hand. “Okay, okay, thank you very much. Take care.”
The helicopter rumbled away into the distance.
Nan Huaixu frowned as she looked at the bandaged gauze on Liu Yinxi for a while, then gently adjusted the edges of the gauze. “Does it hurt?”
Liu Yinxi smiled and shook her head. “It really doesn’t. Thank you for your concern, Teacher Nan, but you’re being a bit overly nervous.”
Nan Huaixu also felt the string in her mind had been pulled too tight earlier. “Yes…”
Liu Yinxi’s tone was light. “Why so nervous?”
Nan Huaixu’s lips moved. She shifted her gaze and said, “If you were gone, who would help me win the competition? We agreed on four million.”
Liu Yinxi: “.”
So she was just a tool, huh.
Nan Huaixu saw through her expression change and couldn’t help but smile. “Just kidding. Regardless, getting injured at sea carries a lot of risk. Any partner would be worried if this happened.”
Liu Yinxi thought about it from her perspective and agreed. “That’s true.”
She placed the large pearl into Nan Huaixu’s palm. “I’ve already bled, already had the shot—might as well keep the trophy.”
Nan Huaixu cupped the pearl with both hands and brought it close, whispering to it. “You’re a bad pearl.”
A pearl that makes people worry.
She hadn’t yet asked what Liu Yinxi meant earlier about doing it for Teacher Nan.
But that was fine. Let some questions ferment in time. Wait until they swelled large enough that some people would have to face them.
“Ah!!!”
Liu Yinxi suddenly jumped to her feet. “Crap! The mosquito nets! Teacher Nan, our mosquito nets!”
Nan Huaixu: “!”
Originally, Liu Yinxi was the first to surface from pearl-diving. If they hadn’t waited for outside assistance, they would’ve been the first team to return to the vending machine and buy supplies.
Nan Huaixu grabbed her bag, took Liu Yinxi’s hand, and ran along the river. In the rushing wind, a smile emerged—one she thought the other hadn’t noticed.
【Hurry hurry, there’s still a chance! Xue Yunshao and Lu Yiqi are still at sea. Huang-jie came ashore not long ago and is drying clothes on the beach.】
【Our Xixi is the best (kiss)】
【Seeing Nan Huaixu care about Xixi like this, I’m relieved (kindly)】
【I feel Manman was too nervous. The doctor is a professional—should just treat it however needs treating (chin rest)】
【Manman was afraid Liu’s wound would get worse and waste a rescue opportunity.】
【I think it’s a waste too. From what we see, it’s just an ordinary injury. If infection symptoms appeared, then call outside assistance—it wouldn’t be too late.】
【If they waited for infection, it’d be too late! Look at how tough Liu was with the production team when Manman had her incident—what’s wrong with Manman asking the doctor a few questions for Liu?】
【Some people, don’t be so double standard2 (pouty face)】
【Sorry for being KY3, but I want to share something: Don’t casually gift pearls on Jinzhou Island. I was posted for work in Jinzhou for two years. Locally, giving pearls means a romantic confession.】
【Huh??? (system crashed)】
【They’re not locals, doesn’t matter! I’ve said it so many times—Manman and Liu can’t possibly have any relationship! Liu fans please have some self-respect! Don’t try to claim credit for everything! They’re just competition partners, our Goddess Manman doesn’t like Liu’s type!】
【@IsThisPunishmentFromFate, sister, your ID looks familiar 0v0】
On the way to the vending machine, Liu Yinxi was grateful the injury was on her arm, not her leg—otherwise it would’ve hindered their trek.
Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu pushed themselves, rushing to the great river mouth as fast as they could. Under the shade near the vending machine sat two people. Seeing someone approach, they came over to check.
“Oh, it’s you.” Yu Yan looked surprised, glancing behind. “Where’s Heshan?”
Like Liu Yinxi would know.
Perfect—they were still first.
She walked quickly to the vending machine and registered her fingerprint to open the purchase interface.
“Welcome to the Happy Vending Machine! Please select your favorite products~”
Luo Ling stood nearby, watching Liu Yinxi operate the touchscreen, her brow furrowed tight.
Liu Yinxi glared at her, shielding the screen the way one blocks their PIN at an ATM. “What are you looking at? We’re not on the same team.”
Luo Ling’s eyes showed indignation, her lips pressed tight—but then something seemed to occur to her, and she didn’t get angry. Instead, she put on an aggrieved expression. “Yinxi, you wouldn’t have acted this harshly with me before.”
Liu Yinxi clicked her tongue and turned to call for help. “Teacher Nan, your niece is acting strange.”
Nan Huaixu walked over and pulled Luo Ling aside. “Don’t touch her right arm.”
Luo Ling didn’t understand and could only follow Nan Huaixu’s direction to stand to the side. “Gugu…”
Nan Huaixu’s voice was distant. “Luo Ling, this is a survival competition. We’re opponents. The rules are first come, first served. You have to wait for your teammates to return before redeeming supplies.”
Luo Ling blinked her watery eyes, full of grievance. She sniffled and sat back in the shade.
While they talked, Liu Yinxi deposited a small, irregular pearl. The purchase succeeded, and she retrieved a mosquito net from the vending machine’s lower pickup slot.
Luo Ling heard the sound of the vending machine dispensing goods and hurried over. Seeing the mosquito net packaging Liu Yinxi handed to Nan Huaixu, she exhaled.
Her gaze fell on Nan Huaixu’s hand taking the mosquito net. Though Nan Huaixu’s skin had darkened after a month of wind and sun exposure, her hands had no cracks, and her nails were neat and rounded. Even her hair was fuller and softer than hers by comparison.
Luo Ling’s mouth opened slightly, eyes filled with disbelief. She was so much younger than her gugu—since the competition began, Yunshao had taken such good care of her. How could her skin and hair condition be worse than her gugu’s?!
Could it also be because of Liu Yinxi?
But Liu Yinxi had never told her she knew outdoor survival, or how to boil sea salt, or dive for pearls…
Luo Ling secretly clenched her fists, stealing glances at Liu Yinxi. This woman who’d lived off her for three years, who ended things with her unilaterally, who’d hidden so much from her and never showed a shred of gratitude—why was she so attentive to her gugu? Like hell it was about chasing stars. The real aim was swindling money.
She and Nan Huaixu were flesh and blood—family. No matter what, at crucial moments, her gugu would side with her.
“Gugu.” Luo Ling wanted to warn her family member to watch out for Liu Yinxi’s ulterior motives. “Life here is just a variety show for entertainment. You can’t truly know someone’s heart. Be careful that someone has bad intentions—don’t let them trick you out of your sympathy and resources.”
Liu Yinxi was right beside Nan Huaixu: “?”
It had been a while since she’d performed. Liu Yinxi picked up her acting skills again, her aggrieved expression appearing even more pitiable than Luo Ling’s, conveniently clutching her injured right arm. “Nan-jiejie… I didn’t…”
Such clumsy acting, in the eyes of a Best Actress winner, appeared utterly sincere.
Those innocent spirited eyes. Those pure lips. That obedient voice—
Nan Huaixu spoke in a low rebuke. “Enough, Luo Ling. Who’s right and who’s wrong—I can see for myself.”
Footnotes
- 'Outside assistance' (wàiyuán) is a game mechanic allowing contestants to call for emergency help, consuming one of their limited rescue opportunities.
- Internet slang (shuāng biāo), short for 'double standard.' Used to call out someone who judges or treats others differently from themselves or their preferred group.
- Internet slang derived from the Japanese phrase 'kuuki yomenai' (KY), meaning someone who cannot read the room or kills the mood.
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