Substitute Alpha Gets Confessed to by Her Ex’s Aunt on a Survival Variety Show – Chapter 10

Is That My Ex Who Fell in the Pit Over There

It was just after nine in the morning. The sun was perfect, and the rainforest vegetation was flourishing, like a vast emerald ocean.

A few beams of light shone into the courtyard formed by the tree canopies, where an orange-red bonfire crackled.

Nan Huaixu was lying on her side in the shelter, one arm bent under her cheek as a pillow, the other hand massaging her stomach in circles.

Her face was pale and her lips were white. She was completely listless.

Liu Yinxi heated up some coconut water and let it cool before giving it to her. Nan Huaixu took two small sips, then lay back down, her eyelids drooping.

Liu Yinxi placed the coconut water on the turnover box so Nan Huaixu could easily reach it. The remaining two packets of instant noodles and some other useful supplies were stored inside the box.

Nan Huaixu rubbed her stomach for a while, then raised her arm to look at her hand. The lines on her palm and knuckles were coarse and prominent, and dirt was lodged in her nailbeds. Building the shelter and shore foraging had left her hands covered in many tiny, almost unnoticeable cuts.

Actors have extremely high standards for their appearance and pay great attention to maintenance, which is why almost no stars participate in survival variety shows. A top-tier celebrity like Nan Huaixu joining 《Survivor》 had made this season explode in popularity.

Using a palm leaf broom, Liu Yinxi swept the ash and dirt from around the stone stove and added dry wood to the fire. She glanced over at Nan Huaixu, who was studying her hands. Nan Huaixu then scratched the red rashes on her arms and calves, not making a sound, and continued to massage her stomach.

For such a famous actress, she hadn’t complained once, no matter how unwell she felt.

Liu Yinxi now believed the news reports that praised Nan Huaixu for never using a stunt double and being a consummate professional on set, no matter how difficult the conditions.

Liu Yinxi opened her backpack, found the Montmorillonite Smectite¹ in the medical kit, and placed it in front of Nan Huaixu. Seeing the small packet of medicine, Nan Huaixu propped her head up.

Liu Yinxi sat on a rock next to the triangular shelter and asked softly, “Is the pain bad? Where exactly does it hurt, and what kind of pain is it?”

“It’s just cramps and diarrhea. I’ll be fine after some rest.” Nan Huaixu picked up the medicine and handed it back to her. “Keep yours. The competition has just started. If you use medicine for every little discomfort, what will you do later if you get food poisoning or dehydrated from diarrhea? We need to save food, and we need to save medicine, too.”

Liu Yinxi took back the medicine without argument. “You actors are always on diets, so your digestive systems aren’t great. You haven’t eaten or slept well these past two days, and you’ve only been drinking coconut water. It’s definitely Irritable Bowel Syndrome.”

Nan Huaixu grunted in agreement and lay in the shelter, too drained to speak.

Liu Yinxi looked up at the sky. Patches of azure peeked through the dense layers of green leaves. The vast rainforest was full of life and vitality.

The rainforest was lush and beautiful by day, but at night, it revealed another, more terrifying face.

Liu Yinxi thought for a moment, then bent down to tighten the laces of her hiking shoes. “Nan Huaixu, I have a plan to report to you.”

She had skipped the discussion and gone straight to reporting a decision already made.

Nan Huaixu lifted an eyelid. “Go on.”

“It’s 9:17 AM, still early. I’m going to head east to find a stream and gather some supplies on the way back.”

“By yourself?” Nan Huaixu was worried.

Liu Yinxi put on a pitiful expression. “This one doesn’t want to be alone either. It’s so lonely.”

Nan Huaixu fell silent.

Liu Yinxi smiled, then her expression turned serious. “The path I took yesterday was pretty smooth, and I marked it along the way. Based on the bearings I saw from the helicopter, we’re very close to a tributary of a large river. I think I can find fresh water, so don’t worry too much.”

Nan Huaixu had been led back by Liu Yinxi yesterday. If nothing else, Liu Yinxi’s sense of direction was definitely better than hers.

“In the equatorial region, the sun rises at six in the morning and sets at six in the evening. I’ll be back before sunset. Rest for a bit. If your stomach feels better later, go shore foraging and catch some fish and shrimp for dinner. Remember to check that sand crab trap I showed you. If you still feel sick, just rest more. And if it gets really bad, take the medicine. Your health comes first, okay?”

Nan Huaixu was quiet for a few seconds, then nodded.

Liu Yinxi snapped her fingers to signal their agreement and pushed herself up from her knees.

The shadow at the edge of the shelter moved. Nan Huaixu thought she was leaving and sat up to see her off, but Liu Yinxi walked back. She placed an oval-shaped stone on the leafy bed. On one side, a smiley face was drawn with black charcoal, and on the other, a large character for “Xi” was written.

Nan Huaixu looked at her, puzzled.

Liu Yinxi introduced the oval stone. “My double.² It will represent me and keep you company.”

Nan Huaixu frowned and pushed “Stone Xi”³ away. “You’d better be back before sunset, or if you get lost—”

“I know, I know! I’m off, see you tonight~”

Liu Yinxi hated the silent treatment, and she also hated being nagged. She had no desire to listen to Nan Huaixu’s eighteen different admonitions. Slinging her pack over her shoulder, she set off, quickly disappearing into the lush rainforest.

Nan Huaixu watched Liu Yinxi leave. A moment later, she quietly retrieved the oval stone and turned it over in her hands.

She tapped Stone Xi on the head with her finger, then poked its arched eyebrows and starry eyes.

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The trees in the primeval rainforest were exceptionally tall, their dense branches and leaves blocking out the sky. Vines coiled around their trunks, and moss crept over their buttress roots.⁴

Moving alone, Liu Yinxi didn’t have to accommodate Nan Huaixu’s pace and walked quickly. In just over half an hour, she reached the spot she had marked yesterday.

After heading southeast for a while longer, she noticed that the undersides of the leaves on a cluster of bushes were facing up, which went against the natural growth pattern of plants. Normally, the underside of a leaf faces down, as its prominent veins and greater number of pores allow it to respire and dissipate heat, while the smooth upper surface protects the leaf and carries out photosynthesis.

Upturned leaves indicated that a small animal had passed by. Liu Yinxi probed the surroundings with a wooden stick and found some small animal droppings in the grass at the base of a tree.

Areas with animal activity usually have a fixed water source. She was getting close to the stream.

Besides animals, plants were also excellent indicators of water. The closer one got to a water source, the denser and greener the vegetation became. Although this was less obvious in a rainforest with abundant rainfall than in other climates, it still served as a useful reference.

Liu Yinxi tracked the animal signs and, factoring in the density and orientation of the plants, searched eastward for another ten minutes or so. She felt a faint coolness in the air. She quieted her mind and listened carefully, and she could faintly hear a subtle gurgling sound.

Water!

It was the sound of a stream!

With fresh water, Nan Huaixu wouldn’t have to drink coconut water anymore. This would reduce the burden on her stomach and kidneys, helping her recover. They could also wash their hair and skin, which would make them feel much fresher.

Following the sound of water, the soil under her feet grew progressively wetter, and the moss and grass became more lush. Liu Yinxi quickened her pace, hacking away at the leaves and vines blocking her path with her knife.

After pushing through a patch of waist-high grass, a stream several meters wide appeared right before her eyes. Sunlight sparkled on the water’s surface, and where the stream flowed over rocks, it kicked up fine splashes, the tiny droplets refracting the light like scattered silver.

Woohoo! Hooray!

They had water!

Liu Yinxi crouched down to observe, confirming there were no other animals around before slowly making her way to the stream’s edge, leaning on her wooden stick. The bank was slippery and required extra care. One careless slip on the jagged rocks could mean a fracture, not just a scrape like on the soft sand.

The stream was very clear, the sand and stones at the bottom plainly visible. There were some decaying leaves, but it wasn’t a major issue.

Liu Yinxi took the two-liter bucket from her pack, which she had washed by the sea earlier. She filled it with flowing water, then stepped onto a large rock and cupped her hands to wash her face.

Droplets of water trickled down from her eyebrows and the tip of her nose. She looked at her reflection in the water. Her hair was a mess. The production team didn’t allow accessories, not even hair ties. Before the competition, she had specifically cut her hair short, just to her shoulders. It wasn’t too long, could shield her from the sun and insect bites, but it also stuck out easily.

What a disheveled beauty.

Liu Yinxi smiled at her reflection in the water.

Hello, Liu Yinxi.

It’s good to see my ten-years-younger self again.

Liu Yinxi played with the cool stream water, tilting her head back to bask in the warm sunlight and listen to the breathing of the great green earth. Suddenly, a vision of the moment before the avalanche flashed through her mind—the wind like a sharp blade, whipping up countless cold snowflakes to bury her whole body… She frowned deeply, then slowly relaxed her brow, a faint smile gracing her lips.

—It’s good to see the sun again.

Such a warm sun.

It was 11:25 AM. A clear little stream had been found, approximately five kilometers southeast of the shelter.

After filling the bucket, Liu Yinxi chose a large Great Island Banyan that was bent like an archway as a landmark. She stacked three small towers of stones at the base of its buttress roots and stuck crossed branches on top, marking the way back to the shelter.

Carrying the bucket of water was heavy, so she couldn’t stray too far.

Liu Yinxi left the bucket at the foot of the banyan tree and scouted the area along the stream. On a small slope upstream, she discovered several climbing vines with branches growing in a “Z” shape.

They had broad, heart-shaped leaves. Liu Yinxi plucked one, crushed it, and sniffed. It had a faint, spicy aroma. It was long pepper.⁵ Its dried fruit husks could be used in medicine to treat abdominal pain and vomiting, and to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the season for the long pepper to bear fruit. Liu Yinxi searched the ground, hoping to get lucky, and she actually found a few dried-out husks.

Soaking this in water for Nan Huaixu to drink would help ease her stomach pain.

Near the stream, by a thicket of bushes, Liu Yinxi found another vine with thin, leathery, shuttle-shaped leaves.

This vine had small white flowers, and when she broke the stem, it released an unpleasant fishy smell. It was fish poison vine.⁶ It could be used as an insect repellent and to reduce swelling, and it was also somewhat effective for eczema and bruises.

Applying the fish poison vine to her skin would help Nan Huaixu’s rashes heal faster. The only problem was its awful smell. Liu Yinxi didn’t know if Nan Huaixu would be able to tolerate it. Girls all like to smell nice, after all.

Liu Yinxi packed away the long pepper and fish poison vine, planning to look for a few more useful things.

CRASH!

A sudden noise came from behind the earthen slope.

Liu Yinxi swiftly ducked into the bushes, holding her breath and watching intently for any movement.

Was it an animal?

Grandma Heaven protect me,⁷ please don’t let it be something aggressive like a wild boar or a monitor lizard.

“Ah! It hurts… Hiss! My foot—it hurts like hell.”

A person?!

Liu Yinxi parted the leaves to look. An arm reached out from behind the slope. Judging by the cuff, it was a professional hardshell jacket.

Which contestant had gotten hurt?

Time for a friendly inquiry.

Liu Yinxi took out her whistle and blew a sharp note.

The person on the other side went quiet for a moment, then called out in delighted surprise, “Hey! Is someone there! I’m a contestant on 《Survivor》! I fell down the slope and sprained my ankle. Can you help me get back to my shelter?”

Liu Yinxi brushed the dirt off herself and walked over. She took a closer look and pursed her lips. “Oh, my. Is that my ex who fell into the pit over there?”

A woman with a delicate and pure face was sprawled in the mud pit, her pretty features smudged with dirt. “Liu Yinxi?!”

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The author has something to say:

This is a work of fiction. The descriptions of plant medicinal properties are fabricated. All survival content is purely fictional, please do not take it seriously!

PS: Today is the Winter Solstice!⁸ Is everyone eating dumplings, tangyuan, or lamb soup?

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