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

    Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 87

    by Little Panda

    Highly Rated Chilled Mango Puree

    β€œWhoa!”

    The person in front gave a massive shudder and nearly jumped out of her skin, half her soul scared out of her body by Liu Yinxi.

    Yuan Fang looked back and saw Liu Yinxi. Still recovering from the shock, she patted her chest and gritted her teeth, lowering her voice. β€œMy god, are you trying to scare jiejie to death?”

    Liu Yinxi cheerfully jerked her chin forward. β€œHow’s it going? How many days have you been tailing them?”

    She had the look of someone happily eating melons1 and watching a showβ€”all she was missing was a handful of sunflower seeds.

    β€œA few times now. This is the third. Nah, wait2—”

    Yuan Fang suddenly realized: why was she even answering this girl?

    She hastily turned to Nan Huaixu, who was standing behind Liu Yinxi, to seek justice. β€œTeacher Nan, she’s so reckless3, aren’t you going to rein her in?”

    Nan Huaixu cupped a hand over her mouth and whispered, β€œDoesn’t β€˜reckless’ mean brave? Being brave is good.”

    β€œ?”

    Yuan Fang looked at Nan Huaixu, completely bewildered. β€œSince when does β€˜reckless’ mean brave? Who taught you that, my good woman?”

    She hurriedly whipped her head back around to stare at Xue Yunshao, who was walking further away. β€œUgh, never mind. If I keep chattering4, I’ll lose my shot at the meat jerky…”

    Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu didn’t interrupt her meat jerky tracking. Instead, they very considerately and quietly followed right behind her, making absolutely no excess noise.

    After tailing them for a while, Yuan Fang looked back. β€œ?”

    Those two were still there.

    She gazed at Xue Yunshao’s back disappearing into the bushes. As she walked, she said to the two behind her, β€œWhat, you guys want to ambush them too?”

    Liu Yinxi reached out and pointed like a commander. β€œGo down into the dirt trench on the left. If you walk up there, it’s too high and you’ll be exposed. You’re so unprofessional, you’ll lose them in a second.”

    β€œHey, with my temper…” Yuan Fang laughed out of sheer exasperation. She had been frightened by Liu Yinxi, and now she was being lectured by her.

    β€œShh, shh, keep your voice down.”

    Yuan Fang shot Liu Yinxi a glare, turned around, and went down just as she was told, following the dirt trench to bypass Xue Yunshao and Luo Ling.

    The other two didn’t answer, but they kept walking along. Yuan Fang tacitly assumed they also wanted to steal the meat jerky, so she negotiated with them while tracking. β€œToday, we’re just casing5 Xue Yunshao’s shelter. When we make our move later, and whether or not we succeed, will depend entirely on our own abilities.”

    Liu Yinxi curled her lips, her bright eyes filled with a smiling glint. β€œWho’s β€˜we’ with you?”

    Yuan Fang nudged her arm with an elbow. β€œYou, Teacher Nan, meβ€”the three of us, casing the joint together and discussing stealing meat jerky. That’s β€˜we’.”

    Liu Yinxi furrowed her brows slightly, looking completely serious. β€œHey, no, no, that’s not how the logic works.”

    Yuan Fang was confused. β€œHow do you figure it, then?”

    Liu Yinxi broke it down for her in detail. β€œYou steal the meat jerky. If you can’t steal it, you can’t steal it. If you do steal it, you give me half.”

    Yuan Fang’s eyes went wide with disbelief. β€œWhat are you talking about?”

    Liu Yinxi repeated her proposal with perfect enunciation.

    Yuan Fang gave her a friendly smile, then immediately cursed in a low whisper, β€œScrew you.6β€œ

    Liu Yinxi said in a very even, pleasant tone, β€œOh my, Boss Yuan, don’t be angry.”

    Yuan Fang stared intently at her prey. β€œDon’t bother me.”

    β€œIf you don’t agree, I’ll stand up and yell, β€˜Xue Yunshao, there are people hereβ€”'”

    β€œYou’re impossible! Please just shut up.” Yuan Fang hurriedly reached out to cover her mouth, but Liu Yinxi dodged.

    Liu Yinxi’s smile was perfectly sweet. β€œHow about it? Consider sharing the meat jerky with me?”

    Yuan Fang lost her voice for two seconds. Catching her breath, she argued, β€œThis is way too shameless. You aren’t doing anything, yet you want to snatch the fruits of my risk-taking? That’s not how business is negotiated.”

    Liu Yinxi replied, β€œYou stealing things is also shameless. I am doing something: you steal from her, and I steal from you. Of course we have to negotiate like this, because this isn’t business.”

    β€œβ€¦Liu Yinxi, if you yell now, you won’t just expose me, you’ll expose yourself too. And I can always track Xue Yunshao next time.”

    β€œThat’s right. But I can also track you, and steal your things.”

    Yuan Fang: β€œ?”

    Thinking about how Liu Yinxi had silently tapped her shoulder just earlier, a chill ran down Yuan Fang’s spine.

    She felt exceptionally mentally exhausted today.

    How on earth had she ever ended up calling such a shameless, bottom-of-the-barrel woman her sister?

    Liu Yinxi condescendingly spread her palm open toward Yuan Fang, the afterglow of the setting sun casting her shadow over Yuan Fang’s face.

    β€œBoss Yuan, you’ve gotten one thing wrong. What you have to give me isn’t a cutβ€”it’s protection money.”

    As the competition progressed, the relationships between the various teams were shifting. What began as peaceful exchanges was gradually evolving into snatching and stealing, and Lu Yiqi’s elimination had undoubtedly accelerated this process. In a period of multi-party conflict, the balance would be broken starting with a drastic weakening of one side’s strength. Everyone wanted to swallow the largest resources using the least amount of effort.

    Yuan Fang stared at Liu Yinxi with both anger and worry for a moment, occasionally lifting her head to look at Xue Yunshao ahead. She could lose them if she wasn’t paying attention; she didn’t have much time left.

    On one side was the Man-eating Willow with a dagger hidden behind her smileβ€”someone she couldn’t afford to offend. On the other side was the meat jerky, complete with both salt and sugarβ€”something she couldn’t bear to part with. Yuan Fang’s heart twisted as if stabbed by a knife. How was she supposed to choose? What mistake had she made to deserve such torment?

    Racking her brains, Yuan Fang carved out a third path.

    She turned to the ever-proper Nan Huaixu for help. β€œTeacher Nan, we’re all contestants on the same show. We should be surviving together in harmony. Liu Yinxi acting like this is damaging to your reputation. The whole country is watching.”

    Nan Huaixu smiled gently. β€œThe whole country is hoping I win the championship. Winning requires being decisive and ruthless. Everyone will understand.”

    Yuan Fang froze.

    Nan Huaixu, just like Liu Yinxi, held out a hand to demand protection money. β€œI want to eat meat jerky.”

    β€œβ€¦β€

    Yuan Fang swore that when she and Nan Huaixu had boiled salt together last month, Nan Huaixu was absolutely not the kind of person who could utter such scoundrel-like words.

    What happened to that aloof, noble National Goddess? What happened to the dignified and reserved Nan family daughter?

    She had definitely been corrupted by Liu Yinxi.

    Now, these twoβ€”one omega and one alphaβ€”were teaming up to bully her, all alone.

    Too. Much.

    The two hands held out in front of Yuan Fang curled their fingers in unison. Forced into a corner, Yuan Fang bit the bullet and said, β€œHalf is too much. Make it less.”

    Liu Yinxi flexed her fingers. Her eyes seemed to brook no room for negotiation.

    Yuan Fang let out a light scoff, throwing caution to the wind as she debated. β€œYou’re talking to me about protection money because you also want to save energy while getting supplies. But if you want the horse to run, you have to let the horse graze. If you force me into a dead end, I might as well just give up. I only joined this competition to advertise my family’s mink anyway. Winning isn’t as important to me as it is to you.”

    Liu Yinxi just smiled, not falling for her trap. Winning the championship is important to everyone. Since she’s already here, has already suffered and endured the hardships, are a few million really something she could just throw away?

    Stick to the issue at hand, don’t drag things so far off-topic.

    Liu Yinxi’s goal wasn’t to force Yuan Fang’s hand. But Yuan Fang was a businesswoman, so making a deal with her required a method. She had to propose a price higher than expected to leave room for maneuvering; otherwise, if she stated her target price directly, the other party would gain the upper hand.

    Liu Yinxi asked Yuan Fang, β€œWhat’s your offer?”

    Yuan Fang said, β€œWhen we boiled salt, Xiao Qi-mei and I contributed both supplies and effort in exchange for one-fourth of the salt. Right now, you two aren’t contributing anything. If I succeed, giving you one-fourth of the meat jerky is perfectly reasonable.”

    β€œDo you think it’s appropriate to slash the price that much? In that case, I think it’d be great if you just gave up. Cough, cough, Xue—”

    β€œWait.” Yuan Fang hurriedly steadied her, cold sweat pouring down her back. β€œOne-third. How about I give you one-third? Really, I can’t give any more. I can’t possibly steal all of it, and there isn’t much to begin with.”

    Liu Yinxi sought Nan Huaixu’s opinion with a glance. Nan Huaixu nodded. Liu Yinxi pried open Yuan Fang’s reluctant palm and happily high-fived her.

    β€œDeal.”

    After finalizing the agreement, Yuan Fang continued tailing Xue Yunshao and Luo Ling alone.

    Liu Yinxi and Nan Huaixu sat down to rest for a moment. As Nan Huaixu prepared to stand up, Liu Yinxi gently tugged her sleeve.

    Nan Huaixu turned her head. β€œWhat is it?”

    Liu Yinxi placed her other hand on her ankle. β€œTeacher Nan, I twisted my ankle a little. Let’s sit for a bit longer.”

    Nan Huaixu checked the time. β€œIt’s past seven.” The sky had already darkened.

    Liu Yinxi turned on her bracelet’s light. β€œJust for ten minutes.”

    Nan Huaixu sat back down. β€œAlright, roll up your pant leg and let me take a look.”

    β€œIt’s nothing, just a slight twist. It’ll be fine after sitting for a bit…”

    The forest was immersed in the gloomy twilight.

    Liu Yinxi suddenly looked toward the heavily shaded branches and leaves, her gaze profound.

    In the distant canopy, a human figure dropped down agilely.

    Beneath the tree, Yu Yan passed something over, and Huang Heshan slung the compound bow over her shoulder.

    Yu Yan walked beside her. β€œWhat’s the situation?”

    β€œThe mice are holding a meeting.”

    Yu Yan didn’t understand. β€œHuh?”

    Huang Heshan paused, took Yu Yan’s bag, and strapped it onto her own back. β€œThe rabbits got away. We’ll catch the rats another day.”

    【That was too close, thankfully Liu Yinxi realized there was someone behind them (waterfall sweat7)】

    【Too terrifying. If they were targeted, their entire base would be wiped out (screaming)】

    【How did Liu spot Huang?】

    【Listen closely, the surrounding bird calls suddenly stopped for a bit. This is exactly the time when birds return to their nests.】

    【Oh my god ~0~】

    【Yuan Fang is so pitiful. The moment Lu Yiqi leaves, everyone bullies her QAQ】

    【Xue and Luo didn’t bully her. She’s the one who wants to steal their meat jerky (speechless)】

    【Yuan just wants to survive. What did she do wrong?】

    【So our Yunshao just deserves to be stolen from? You three fanbases don’t send any food, you just stare at our Yunshao and fleece her to death. How despicable.】

    【Insult.ing netizens is strictly prohibited in the livestream! Please speak civilly!】

    【I hope Yuan Fang succeeds, so she can spare some meat jerky for Xixi to eat.】

    【Did she discover Xue and Luo’s shelter yet?】

    【She’s almost there, but Xue Yunshao seems to have noticed something.】

    【Too late (sigh). As long as she tracks them to the vicinity of the shelter, she’ll find it just by carefully searching for traces of human activity.】

    【The atmosphere with our lifestyle players8 is still the friendliest. Let’s all go watch Xixi make chilled mango puree for Manman~ ^o^】

    【You call Liu Yinxi a lifestyle player?】

    【Mother Heaven bless us. If your Xi doesn’t go around collecting protection money, we’ll thank the heavens and the earth (praying)】

    Chime, chime, chime.

    The evening breeze gently rustled the wind chimes of the treehouse.

    Liu Yinxi sat on a small stool. She spread banana leaves and pandan over the large box, peeled and diced the large mangoes she’d freshly picked that evening, placed them into a mess tin to mash, and repeatedly stirred them into a fine puree.

    Nan Huaixu stood guard by the mini fridge. Waiting until the ice cubes were frozen solid, she took them out, crushed them, and mixed them into the mango puree. After putting it back into the fridge to chill for a bit longer, it would be ready to eat.

    The chilled mango puree made from the large mangoes was very sweet. Paired with crushed ice that resembled frost and snow, it melted in the mouth, filling her entire mouth with a sweet, delicious flavor.

    Chilled mango puree

    Nan Huaixu ate spoonful after spoonful, her eyes curving happily. β€œIt’s so good. I declare that chilled mango puree has surpassed the chilled coconut egg to become my number one favorite survival dessert.”

    β€œTeacher Nan, it’s still too early to declare the number one dessert.” Liu Yinxi was washing rice. Hot water was boiling over the Dakota fire hole, and on the box beside them sat the empty young coconuts drained of their water, along with sliced coconut meat and mango chunks.

    Nan Huaixu’s eyes lit up. She leaned in close. β€œAre you saying you’re going to make a lot more desserts for me?”

    Liu Yinxi looked up to see a beautiful face right before her eyes.

    Her gaze fell to Nan Huaixu’s lips. Smiling, she used the pad of her finger to wipe away the fruit puree at the corner of her mouth.

    If Nan Huaixu were a stray cat, she would definitely be very easy to lure home with sugar.

    Footnotes

    1. Internet slang (chī guā). Literally 'eating melons'; means watching drama unfold or gossiping.
    2. Internet slang (bΓΉ er). Literally 'no, son' but used as a drawn-out 'no, wait' or 'nah'.
    3. Dialect slang (hΗ”). Literally 'tiger'; means reckless, foolhardy, or fierce.
    4. Dialect slang (dΔ“ de). Meaning running one's mouth, chattering, or nagging.
    5. Slang (cǎi diǎn). Literally 'step point'; means casing a joint or scouting a location.
    6. Dialect slang (gΗ”n dΓΊ zi). Literally 'roll calf'; means beat it or screw you.
    7. Internet slang (pΓΉ hΓ n). Literally 'waterfall sweat'; means sweating profusely, similar to an anime sweatdrop.
    8. Gaming slang (shΔ“nghuΓ³ wΓ‘njiā). A 'lifestyle player' or 'crafting player' who focuses on non-combat activities like gathering, crafting, and base-building.

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