Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 69
by Little PandaPartition Dismantled, Beds Merged and Mosquito Net Hung
After her shower last night, Liu Yinxi had folded her dirty clothes into a small basin and set it on the sandy ground beside the large white barrel, intending to wash them first thing in the morning.
She slept straight until broad daylight, lured downstairs by the fragrant scent of roasted cassava, only to find that in the span of one night, both the clothes and the basin had vanished.
In this desolate wilderness, with only the two of them around, Liu Yinxi asked Nan Huaixu about it.
Nan Huaixu smiled as she answered. “I saw them. I washed them.”
Liu Yinxi didn’t react at first. “Ah?” Then, belatedly, she realized what had happened.
She blinked rapidly a few times, silently mouthing several syllables, but couldn’t string them into a sentence.
Wait—previously, Nan Huaixu had insisted that alpha and omega were different, and that she couldn’t let her wash her clothes.
And now Nan Huaixu was willing to wash her underwear and shorts for her?
Liu Yinxi suddenly understood why Nan Huaixu had been so embarrassed back then. They were in the wild; they had no change of clothes, nor proper washing facilities. Their clothes and pants carried the scent of their bodies—especially the undergarments worn right against the skin. How could she let someone else touch those?
Liu Yinxi grabbed her hair and walked out past the screen.
Nan Huaixu had actually washed her clothes?
The cameras had caught that?
—National Goddess Omega Scrubs Underwear for Amateur Alpha in the Wilderness!
Liu Yinxi could already imagine the trashy headlines those unscrupulous entertainment marketing accounts would come up with.
At this very moment, she was probably being torn to shreds by Teacher Nan’s fans in the livestream chat.
Liu Yinxi touched her cheek. Turning her back to Nan Huaixu, she asked quietly, “Teacher Nan, where are my clothes now?”
Nan Huaixu saw her flustered look, and her smile deepened. “On the big rock in the outer campfire area. This morning I added warm water and plant ash1 to the basin to soak them. I only added water—I didn’t touch your clothes.”
“Oh, oh. Thank you, Teacher Nan.” Liu Yinxi let out a breath of relief, and her steps toward the outer campfire area became much lighter. “I’ll wash my clothes first, then we’ll dismantle the partition and hang the mosquito net.”
Nan Huaixu watched her retreating figure and smiled.
This woman—sometimes she was actually pretty fun to tease.
But she felt that Liu Yinxi was more easily embarrassed than before.
Nan Huaixu rested her chin on her hand, watching her shoo the robot dog2 aside and squat down to wash clothes.
Suddenly, Nan Huaixu sat up straight. A flame seemed to kindle in her eyes.
Had one of her seven apertures finally opened?
【Hahahahaha, Manman can flirt now~】
【Liu Yinxi’s emotional intelligence… I suspect what kind of relationship she had with Luo Ling? (Confused)】
【Platonic (dog head)3】
【Be precise—substitute Platonic (dog head)*2】
【If I went a month without changing my underwear, I would die =_=】
【They’re wearing outdoor-specific, antibacterial quick-dry fabric. It’s more hygienic. Don’t judge them by our normal standards.】
【What’s the big deal? There are foreign survival competitions where people go naked and don’t bring anything. 《Survivor》 is already low difficulty.】
【I predict there will be clothing supplies later (thinking)】
【Tonight Xixi and Manman are sharing a bed again (peeking)】
【So true—at the old shelter they slept together, then after moving to the riverside they each got their own single rooms, and now for the mosquito net they have to squeeze together again.】
【With the partition dismantled, the second floor of the treehouse is more than spacious enough for two people. That mosquito net is huge too.】
【Both of their bonding periods4 have already passed, so no partition doesn’t matter.】
【Yahoo~ Manman never has to worry about ghost stories ever again~】
【y( ‘ w ` )Y~~ Click to watch #VegetableTeam# super sweet edits [heart][honey] Island War God Liu Xixi × Fallen Big Star Man Manman~~ Superbly in progress~~ “Nan-jiejie, turns out what I feel for you is love” “Man’er don’t be afraid, hold me tight” fanfiction explosively serializing~~】
【???】
【What the hell just floated by?! (Terrified)】
【Speechless. Another one trying to leech off our Manman’s clout.】
【Save me, who on earth is shipping this cursed couple?!!】
【Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu are living their best little life, but they’ve completely screwed over our Sister Huang and Yuyu QAQ】
【Pat pat, sister who came from Sister Huang’s livestream, what happened?】
【Sister Huang suspected Yuyu of snitching about the coral gully7 location. Yuyu was wrongly accused and felt wronged. Now they’re giving each other the cold treatment again QuQ】
【Sigh, personally I feel Yu Yan is too idealistic, a bit of a holy saint type. After all, this is a competition—you shouldn’t be too nice to the other guests (worried)】
A corner of the river bend in the middle reaches of the Toa River.
Clear river water flowed over the shallow rocky shoal. Yu Yan lathered soapnut soap8 into foam, evenly worked it through her hair, massaged it, then rinsed it clean with fresh water.
The weather that morning was fine. After washing her hair, she sat on the grass to sunbathe.
Warm, gentle sunlight spilled across her face. Yu Yan narrowed her eyes in contentment.
A soft breeze drifted from the river, gently stirring her long hair.
From the grass beside her came a faint rustling sound.
Yu Yan gazed at the shimmering river water, not turning her head.
The swishing of the grass blades grew closer, until the person’s shadow touched the edge of her feet.
The quiet atmosphere held for a moment before Yu Yan spoke. “I didn’t say it means I didn’t say it. I have a clear conscience.”
Huang Heshan followed her gaze toward the river.
After a moment, she quietly lowered herself to her knees, kneeling beside Yu Yan, and cautiously pressed her cheek against Yu Yan’s knee.
The river water chimed as it flowed, like music plucked from heartstrings.
Yu Yan felt a rough hand timidly touch the back of her hand. She curved her lips slightly and lowered her right hand onto the crown of Huang Heshan’s head.
Even without words, she could read this person’s heart.
A stubborn, proud child.
Yu Yan gently stroked Huang Heshan’s hair, then turned her hand to interlace their fingers.
Birdsong echoed through the forest canopy in varying tones.
Several dismantled wooden partition planks lay spread across the sandy ground of the outer camp.
On the second floor of the treehouse, Liu Yinxi looked up, using a stone hammer to drive wooden peg hooks into the ceiling. Following the positions corresponding to the large mattress, she placed two hooks each at the front, back, left, and right. Then she took the mosquito net Nan Huaixu handed up to her and looped the fastening cords over the hooks.
The white netting fell naturally, draping over the palm bark9 and banana leaf mattress. Nan Huaixu straightened the curtains, smoothing them so they hung evenly.
“Phew—” Liu Yinxi set down the stone hammer and sat at the edge of the mattress to catch her breath. Now enclosed on all sides by the white mosquito net, she gazed through a layer of gauze at Nan Huaixu—the view was hazy and indistinct.
Nan Huaixu held the curtain in her hand, met her eyes for a second, then smiled and looked away. “Why are you looking at me?”
Liu Yinxi belatedly shifted her gaze, fiddling with the new mosquito net. “No reason. I was spacing out.”
Nan Huaixu nodded. “Mmhmm.”
Liu Yinxi tried lying down. Above her head, an expanse of white gauze reflected the underside of the ceiling. All around, she was surrounded by the curtain. In this desolate primeval rainforest, she somehow felt like she was sleeping in a fairy-tale princess’s dream.
On one side, the white gauze was lifted from outside. Nan Huaixu ducked in and lay down beside her with curiosity, bringing with her a faint fragrant breeze.
Liu Yinxi caught the clean scent of herbal soap, mingled with a thread of tranquil floral fragrance. She turned her head slightly and saw Nan Huaixu’s gentle, lovely profile.
Liu Yinxi’s heartbeat quickened by half a beat for no reason. She looked up at the ceiling. “Teacher Nan, how’s this mosquito net?”
Nan Huaixu lay flat, her chest rising and falling slowly with her breath. “Very good. Clean and tidy. At night we won’t have to worry about being woken by mosquitoes, turning on the bracelet light to swat them.”
Liu Yinxi curved her eyes happily. “Mmhmm!”
They lay resting for a while, returning to the feeling from when they used to nest together in the little triangular shelter.
Only this time, there was no backpack between them serving as a divider.
“I wove a necklace using three different colors of vine grass,” Nan Huaixu said.
“Three kinds?”
Nan Huaixu fished the braided cord from her pocket—there was green, apricot white, and purplish-red.
Liu Yinxi smiled. “So there really are three. Your hands are so clever.”
Nan Huaixu bent it, clasping the two ends. “Look—if you weave these two ends into a mesh knot and fold them outward, then flip it over, it becomes a little pouch. You can set the pearl right inside.”
“Wow, it’s really pretty.”
Nan Huaixu tucked the grass-woven necklace back into her pocket. “The flaw is that this grass will wither. It’ll slowly lose its color and become rough, uncomfortable against the neck.”
Liu Yinxi said, “That’s fine. After the competition ends, take it home and find a jewelry designer to make it into a beautiful piece of jewelry.”
“Then this will be my most special piece of jewelry. I watched it get pulled from the sea myself. It has great commemorative significance.”
“That’s true.”
Nan Huaixu turned her head to ask her, “Can this pearl be taken away? It seems like coral stones aren’t allowed to be taken.”
Liu Yinxi thought about it. In the original book, although the Jinzhou pearl oyster10 was native to this area, its population was abundant and it didn’t belong to any special protected species. For pearls obtained personally by chance, in small quantities and not for commercial trade, there shouldn’t be any problem getting through customs.
So she said, “It can.”
Nan Huaixu stretched her arms. “Mm, I’m relieved.”
“After lunch, we’ll go check the traps?” Nan Huaixu asked.
Liu Yinxi nodded. “What are we eating for lunch today?”
“The new brown rice, mixed with white rice and cooked together.”
“We’ve just about finished the meat.”
“Yeah. Hope the traps have something in them—even a small lizard would do. After we go home this time, I don’t think I’ll want to eat fish, shrimp, shellfish, or crab for a year.”
Liu Yinxi couldn’t help laughing. “That much damage?”
Nan Huaixu lifted the corner of her lips. “Mm. Evolution didn’t give me such a powerful stomach just so I could eat fish every day.”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Braised beef brisket, roast suckling pig, lamb soup—anything with meat is fine. And desserts.”
“A cheat meal?”
Nan Huaixu’s smile gradually faded.
Right. Her profession didn’t allow her to eat and drink so indulgently.
Nan Huaixu cleared her throat and said seriously, “During holidays and festivals I can eat a bit more. And after the competition ends, I need to eat well to nourish my body.”
Liu Yinxi listened, her gaze going distant. “Actually, I’ve been thinking—the beauty on screen shouldn’t have only one form. Whether tall or short, fat or thin, as long as you’re confident and have presence, vividly embodying the character’s temperament—just being able to bring that image to life, making the audience feel that they’re a real, living person—that’s impressive.”
Nan Huaixu moved closer to her. “Are you trying to say that if I want to eat meat or sweets, I can indulge a little and not worry too much about my figure?”
Liu Yinxi admitted frankly, “If I’m speaking from a friend’s perspective, I just want you to be happy. As long as it doesn’t affect your health, do whatever makes you happy.”
“That’s easy to say. But if you were a fan—would you still like me if I got fat?”
“I would. Even if you turned into a caterpillar, I’d still like you.”
Footnotes
- Plant ash (cǎomù huī) is used to create an alkaline solution for washing clothes, a traditional method for cleaning and degreasing.
- The robot dog (jīqì gǒu) is a camera drone that follows contestants, capturing footage for the show.
- The dog head (gǒutóu) emoji is widely used on the Chinese internet to indicate sarcasm, joking, or to soften a statement.
- A bonding period (jiéhé qī) is an Omegaverse term for a shared mating period between an alpha and omega pair.
- My eyes! (Mài ài sī) is a phonetic transliteration of the English phrase 'My eyes!'—a common internet expression of horror or disgust, often used when seeing something one wishes one could unsee.
- 9494 is internet slang for 'exactly' or 'that's right,' a phonetic approximation of 'jiùshì jiùshì.'
- The coral gully (shānhú gōu) is a crescent-shaped shallow trench in the seabed where coral grows—a key foraging location.
- Soapnut soap (wúhuànzǐ zào) is a soap made from soapnuts, a natural cleansing agent.
- Palm bark (zōnglǚ pí) is used as mattress material for bedding in their treehouse shelter.
- The Jinzhou pearl oyster (Jīnzhōu bèi) is a species of pearl-bearing oyster native to Jinzhou Island, found in shallow waters near coral reefs.
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