Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 85
by Little PandaHope These Words Bring Her Peace of Mind
【Lu Yiqi was eliminated?!】
【That was too fast!】
【Fast? You must be new to the previous seasons. Being able to hole up1 in 《Survivor》 for a month is already pretty good. In previous seasons, there were always contestants who couldn’t even last the first five days.】
【Boo-hoo, Senior Lu QAQ】
【Lu Yiqi should have withdrawn from the competition the moment her outside assistance arrived. She missed the golden window for treatment, delayed for so long, and still ended up eliminated. (sighs)】
【To go off-topic2 for a second, does Lu have to pay her own medical bills for getting injured on the show?】
【It mainly relies on the insurance the production team bought for the contestants. Generally speaking, the production team pays for it.】
【Oh, oh, that’s a little better then. After watching Lu and Yuan’s stream these past two days, I only just realized how difficult Lu’s financial situation is. It’s good as long as the production team covers the medical costs.】
【What a pity. If only Lu hadn’t tried to escape by the river back then. Getting caught by Liu wouldn’t have been a big deal.】
【A contestant left just like that. I’m going to miss her. (pitiful)】
【In every competition, not long after the airdrop points shift a long distance, the contestants quickly get eliminated one after another.】
【Because migration consumes too much physical energy. Once the environment changes, finding a food source becomes a huge problem. With no food and poor rest, naturally, a lot of people will be eliminated very quickly.】
【Can’t they just stay in one shelter the whole time? Just go ambush the airdrop in advance every time, and if they really can’t get it, then so be it. That’s still better than blindly tossing about.】
【They really can’t survive without the airdrops. They’re all amateur survivalists; relying purely on primitive resources in the wild won’t sustain them for long. Leaving aside everything else, a lack of salt alone is enough to make a person be done for3 several times over. Except for someone on Liu Yinxi’s level. I feel like if you give her enough time, she could develop a second tribe in the reserve. (laugh-cry)】
【Trivia4: Why did the production team design a moving airdrop line? It’s because the route along this line is the most resource-rich and relatively safest survival area within the competition zone.】
【Huh?】
【Look quickly, everyone, the 《Survivor》 main livestream channel has started an off-site broadcast.】
【They are interviewing Lu Yiqi right now. She was evacuated from Migna Tropical Forest Park and is at Mulang City Hospital in Jinzhou.】
The main livestream channel split into five panels.
The left and right sides displayed the live feeds of the four groups of contestants, while a new sub-channel livestream opened in the center. Lu Yiqi lay in a hospital bed, a microphone clipped to the collar of her hospital gown. On the bedside table sat fresh flowers, fruit, and a set of 《Survivor 5》 commemorative badges.
The host sat beside the bed and poured a cup of warm water for Lu Yiqi. “How are you feeling now, Yiqi?”
Holding the cup with both hands, Lu Yiqi replied, “Much better.”
The host asked, “What are your thoughts on withdrawing from the competition? Could you share them with everyone?”
Maintaining a poised smile, Lu Yiqi lowered her eyes to think for a moment before saying, “It’s very regrettable.”
“Participating in 《Survivor 5》 has been an incredibly wonderful experience for me. Every fellow contestant gave me some new realization. This experience might just be the turning point that changes my future.”
“It broadened my horizons, letting me see that I’m not the only one walking a solitary path ahead.”
Lu Yiqi looked up to face the camera. “Finally, I wish my fellow contestants who are still fighting out there to have meat to eat every day.”
The host laughed. “Viewers always wish them good luck, but Yiqi wishes the contestants meat. Truly worthy of being a survivalist this season; she knows exactly what the contestants want most.”
“So, Yiqi, one last question. Who do you think will seize the championship, claim the title for this season of 《Survivor》, and walk away with the three million?”
Lu Yiqi picked up the tablet by her pillow and pointed at one of the active live feeds for 《Survivor 5》.
“Alright, thank you, Yiqi…”
After the interview crew left, the hospital room returned to quiet.
Outside the window was the hospital garden, where golden sunlight illuminated the colorful moth orchids, rendering them breathtakingly beautiful.
Lu Yiqi gazed at the orchids outside the window for a long time. Then, she picked up her phone and, pressing deliberately, dialed an unfamiliar string of numbers.
Beep.
Beep.
The line connected. “Hello, this is Yuan Chi.”
Lu Yiqi took a deep breath and opened her lips. “Hello, President Chi. I am the auditor recommended by President Yuan…”
The sun was shining brightly.
Someone’s competition had ended.
But her radiant path had only just begun.
Bracelet date: May 21.
It was another clear, cloudless day at Migna Tropical Forest Park.
The campfire burned bright beneath the treehouse.
Liu Yinxi had freshly prepared a bowl of insect-repelling herbs, using a small wooden spoon to portion the mixture into shells.
Nan Huaixu had checked the traps alone that morning and returned with a woven fish basket of small fish and shrimp, along with a wood mouse.
They were going to boil sea salt that afternoon, planning to replenish enough stock before moving their shelter next time.
Liu Yinxi stored the shell ointment away on the storage rack and scooped water from the fermentation barrel to wash her hands. “Teacher Nan is back.”
“Mhm.” Nan Huaixu set down the catch and sat to the side, resting her chin on her hand, looking glum.
Liu Yinxi saw the wood mouse and asked her, “Are you unhappy because you only caught a mouse?”
Nan Huaixu shook her head.
Liu Yinxi fell silent for a moment before saying, “Still thinking about Xiao Lu?”
Nan Huaixu leaned back, resting against the storage rack. “Even though I felt she was too heavily injured and should withdraw, when I received the elimination notice, it still felt so sudden.”
Liu Yinxi, on the other hand, didn’t feel much about it. She had only just begun to develop a bit of emotional attachment to this book world, let alone the people in it. Nan Huaixu was the only one she had any desire to form a deep bond with.
Besides, a competition inherently meant eliminating people. Sooner or later, only the two championship-winning contestants would be left in this competition area.
Liu Yinxi comforted Nan Huaixu, “Xiao Lu has gone to get her injuries treated. She’ll be reunited with her family soon, eating big mouthfuls of meat and desserts.”
Nan Huaixu paused. As if envisioning a delicious feast, she couldn’t help but part her lips. “I want to eat that too.”
Liu Yinxi said, “I’ll make you a chilled coconut egg tonight.”
Nan Huaixu dragged out her words. “I want to eat ice cream.”
Liu Yinxi thought about it. Making ice cream required cream. If they could catch a nursing wild hare or something similar, she might be able to hand-whip the milk froth to make some, but she couldn’t guarantee it would taste good.
So she thought of similar cold desserts and asked Nan Huaixu, “Would chilled fruit puree work?”
Nan Huaixu replied, “Mhm! I love eating that too.”
“Alright then, we’ll make a portion of chilled mango puree tonight.”
After chatting about delicious food for a bit, Nan Huaixu’s spirits lifted slightly.
However, once they finished lunch, Nan Huaixu was back to sitting on the small stool, staring blankly up at the leaves above.
Liu Yinxi prepared the tools for boiling salt, picked up a small honey-fried crispy fish from the banana leaf plate, and held it right in front of Nan Huaixu’s eyes. This was Nan Huaixu’s favorite wilderness snack.
Nan Huaixu raised her eyes, saw the honey-fried crispy fish, took it, and popped it into her mouth. “I’m fine. It’s just a little hard to adapt to. Because there were only eight of us in this pristine rainforest. Last month, Yuan Fang and I were boiling salt every day, and later Xiao Lu started coming over often too…”
Liu Yinxi listened earnestly as she poured her heart out. “Mhm-hmm.”
Gazing at the leaves, Nan Huaixu murmured, “We’re going to boil salt this afternoon too, but Xiao Lu is no longer in the rainforest.”
Hearing Nan Huaixu say all this, Liu Yinxi finally understood where her thoughts were coming from.
To Liu Yinxi, Lu Yiqi—or any other contestant for that matter—was just a person participating in the same variety show.
But for Nan Huaixu, who was experiencing survival for the very first time, she viewed everyone in the pristine rainforest as her “surviving kin,” even if they were competitors. To use an imperfect analogy: if the Earth went through a devastating catastrophe and only a few human shelters remained, even though people would fight each other for resources, just knowing that others of their kind still existed in the world would keep the loneliness at bay.
Liu Yinxi gently patted Nan Huaixu’s shoulder. “Me, Yuan Fang, Yu Yan, Huang Heshan, Xue Yunshao, Luo Ling—we’re all still surviving right alongside you.”
“Teacher Nan, do you remember the pre-competition briefing the production team gave us? The few of us aren’t the only ones in this pristine rainforest. There’s also an indigenous tribe.”
“If we broaden the scope even further, the rainforest we’re in is located within a forest park on Jinzhou Island. There are many cities on this massive island, with local residents and tourists alike. Once the competition ends, we’ll be able to return to a bustling city and see all sorts of people.”
Nan Huaixu nodded, the sorrow between her brows gradually dissipating.
Liu Yinxi abruptly stood up, scooped up robot dog number four, and placed it right in front of Nan Huaixu. “Furthermore, there are tens of thousands of viewers across the whole country keeping you company. Teacher Nan, go ahead and say hi to everyone.”
Pressing both hands to her cheeks, Nan Huaixu looked at the robot dog, slowly curled the corners of her lips upward, and waved at the camera. “Good afternoon, my dear viewers. I’m sorry for being a little down this morning; I’ll cheer up very soon. Please continue to support Yinxi and me.”
【Good afternoon, Manman!】
【Manman, Manman! Look at me, look at me!】
【Liu Yinxi is right, we Huai fans will always be with you~ (cute)】
【When are they finally going to add a bullet screen display feature to the robot dogs?! Even if they don’t let the contestants interact with us, at least let them see our messages, alright?!】
【Boo-hoo, Manman, you have to stay strong. With Xixi by your side, don’t be afraid 0w0】
【My gentle and kindhearted Man. Even though she acts full of fighting spirit toward her opponents on the surface, she still cares about them in private.】
【She really does care deeply about everyone around her.】
【Yeah. One time we went to visit Manman’s film set in the winter, and we completely underestimated the temperature there. Manman had her assistant buy every single one of us a down jacket QAQ】
【One year on my birthday, I made a wish in Manman’s Weibo comment section saying I wanted to see her wear fluffy cartoon loungewear because she’d definitely look cute. The very next day, she actually took a photo wearing a cartoon onesie and replied to tell me happy birthday QAQ】
【Hahaha. One time I went to get an autograph from Manman, and she heard me say I also liked Teacher XX. Teacher XX happened to be at that same ceremony, so Manman helped me find the teacher so we could get both autographs together (happy)】
【Alright, that’s enough. No more talking. Any more and it’s just plain rude. It’s not that I’m feeling bitter or anything, it’s just that I have a friend who’s never been noticed5 by Manman, and seeing all your stories is making them tilted6. (smile)】
【The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Why isn’t it me enjoying this two-person wilderness world exclusively with Manman? (going crazy)】
【Let me tell you why: that person is—Liu, Yin, Xi. (devil’s whisper7)】
The sun was at its peak, making it the perfect time for boiling salt.
They shouldered their packs and set off.
The two of them walked in front, with two robot dogs following closely behind.
Liu Yinxi raised her hand to shade her brows, gazing ahead. “Teacher Nan, regardless of whether the other contestants leave or stay, I will always be by your side. Whether it’s boiling salt, foraging, or scouting the path.”
She hoped these words would give Nan Huaixu more peace of mind.
Color finally returned to Nan Huaixu’s face as she asked, “Even in the future?”
Even after the competition was over?
Liu Yinxi flashed a radiant smile. “Always, for you.”
Footnotes
- An internet slang term (gǒu), literally 'dog,' meaning to survive by lying low, hiding, or just barely scraping by, often in a difficult or competitive situation like a video game or survival show.
- Internet forum slang (wāi ge lóu) meaning to go off-topic. In Chinese forums, a thread is called a 'building' (lóu), and going off-topic is 'skewing' it.
- An internet slang term (jì), literally 'to send.' It is a censorship-evading homophone for GG (Good Game), used to mean 'it's over,' 'game over,' or 'doomed.'
- Internet slang (lěng zhīshì), literally 'cold knowledge', referring to trivia or little-known facts.
- An internet slang term (fānpái), literally 'to flip a card,' originating from the historical practice of an emperor choosing a consort for the night by flipping over her name tag. It is now used when a celebrity notices, responds to, or interacts with a fan.
- An internet slang term (hóngwēn), literally 'red temperature.' Originating from gaming, it means to get angry, tilted, or flustered, as if one's face is flushed red with emotion.
- An internet slang term (èmó dīyǔ), a common internet meme format for a comment that is tempting, malicious, or triggering, often enclosed in parentheses.
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