In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The pilot for 90 Days of Extreme Survival! is dominating the homepages of every major video platform.

Ahhh! I’ve lived long enough to see Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo in the same frame!! Fight! Fight!!!

Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo on the same show? Is that even allowed?

Ruoruo is so beautiful! Please don’t let her be bullied, ugh.

Sister Qin, blink twice if you were kidnapped to be here.

The production team even got Bai Qi and Song Yitong—who already broke up—on the same variety show. They’re really going all out for the buzz…

Most of the bullet comments were focused on two female stars: Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo.

It was strange; upon closer inspection, they didn’t look alike at all. Qin Sijing had the striking, glamorous look of a powerful lead actress, while Jiang Xunruo leaned more toward the fragile “white marshmallow” aesthetic.

However, from the moment Jiang Xunruo debuted, press releases claiming she “resembled her senior, Qin Sijing” flooded the internet.

The two were constantly compared in terms of looks, acting skills, and resources. Their fanbases fought tooth and nail, and the stars themselves never appeared together. On the rare occasions they were caught in the same frame at an event, if their eyes happened to meet, the media would write long, dramatic stories about it.

Nowadays, their popularity wasn’t what it used to be, and the fans had stopped clashing. Just when everyone thought these “look-alike enemies” would never cross paths again, a survival show—claiming to be 100% live, unedited, and “persona-free”—invited them both.

The production crew certainly knew how to create a spectacle. The pilot alone was filled with dramatic teasers: Qin Sijing’s cold face, Jiang Xunruo’s “green tea” remarks, the “best strangers” pair of Bai Qi and Song Yitong, and Ximen Ling, who stirred controversy with her ultra-short hair and androgynous style.

Five women in one play was the ultimate formula for traffic.

90 Days of Extreme Survival! Live Stream Start!

The camera cut to a gathering point by the sea. It looked quite primitive, with a dense, impenetrable jungle stretching out behind them.

“Welcome to 90 Days of Extreme Survival!!!”

An off-camera voice rang out at the host.

“This variety show is entirely live and unedited! No personas! Only real survival challenges! Our five guests will rely on their own strength to survive on this isolated island!”

Next, the core rules appeared on the big screen in bold black text:

90-Day Extreme Survival: Every episode is a live, unedited broadcast.

Daily Challenges: Rankings determine rewards and punishments. 1st place gets rewards (including survival points), while last place is punished.

Settlement: Survival points are tallied every 10 days and can be exchanged for vital supplies.

Team Selection: Guests can freely choose teammates (teams of 2). Someone may end up alone.

As soon as the rules were read, the bullet comments became impatient.

Who cares about the rules!! I want to see the “Asura Field” (drama)!!!

Exactly!! Hurry up!

The camera then panned across the five female guests.

Qin Sijing was dressed in a red windbreaker and wearing sunglasses, revealing only her red lips and a sharp jawline.

Standing next to her was Jiang Xunruo, wearing a white windbreaker with her hair flowing softly over her shoulders. She wore a gentle smile, looking as if she had a built-in soft-focus filter.

Bai Qi and Song Yitong both wore blue windbreakers provided by the sponsors; they kept their eyes lowered, expressionless.

Finally, there was Ximen Ling, sporting her sharp short hair and waving cheerfully at the camera.

“Welcome, teachers, to the island! Before we begin the 90-day journey, let’s start with a ‘small appetizer’: choosing your essential starting equipment. Everyone picks one item. The order will be decided by drawing straws!”

The order: Ximen Ling — Bai Qi — Song Yitong — Qin Sijing — Jiang Xunruo.

Ximen Ling chose a multi-functional shovel, Bai Qi chose a ferrocerium rod (fire starter), and Song Yitong chose the lightweight water purification bag.

When it was Qin Sijing’s turn, she chose the heaviest item: rope.

Jiang Xunruo stepped forward gracefully and, finally, chose a tiny sewing kit.

???? A sewing kit?

LMAO, is Jiang Xunruo doing this for comedic effect?

Sister, do you even know what a survival show is???

Everyone else chose practical stuff, and you picked a sewing kit? Typical Jiang Xunruo [sweat emoji]

Where’s the camera! Cut to Sister Qin! I want to see her expression!

The cameraman was very “sensible” and cut into Qin Sijing’s face.

Qin Sijing decisively turned her head to look at the endless sea, refusing to give the camera even a glance. It was a clear sign that she wanted nothing to do with Jiang Xunruo.

As soon as the equipment was distributed, the production team dropped another bombshell.

“Next is our first challenge—Operation Water Collection! The goal is to collect at least 1L of drinkable fresh water within three hours.”

“Please form teams of two freely. Note: one person will be left alone! The solo participant will have no teammate assistance and must face all difficulties alone!”

Free teaming?

Qin Sijing’s eyelid flickered; she had an ominous feeling.

She saw the executive director off-camera frantically signaling her, glancing toward Jiang Xunruo. They were hinting for her to choose Jiang Xunruo as her teammate.

Qin Sijing sneered inwardly.

Even with her eyes closed, she knew what the netizens and the crew were hoping for. They loved seeing the two of them forced into the same frame, didn’t they?

She refused.

Even if it were a direct order from the production team, she wouldn’t cooperate in this farce.

Amidst the crew’s expectant “troublemaking” gazes, Qin Sijing’s red lips curled slightly as she uttered six cold, clear words:

“I refuse to team with her.”

The whole world went silent.

The only sounds were the faint hum of the camera and the wind blowing over the waves.

The camera quickly cut to Jiang Xunruo. To everyone’s surprise, her gaze remained calm. She even maintained her gentle, soft-focus smile, appearing not the least bit offended.

Dope! Sister Qin really dares to say it!

This show is incredible. With drama at this level, who actually cares about survival?

Ruoruo is so emotionally stable!!! Ugh, my heart aches for her.

Isn’t Qin Sijing being too disrespectful?? Just because she’s a senior, she thinks she can bully Ruoruo?

So bold! Saying no to the hype! How satisfying! Keep that rival away, okay?

Serves her right! Remember how Jiang used to use Qin to boost her own publicity?

Stop the moral kidnapping. They’re rivals; why must they team up?

Hurry up and fight!! I love watching this!! [rubbing hands]

The split-screen showed Bai Qi, Song Yitong, and Ximen Ling all looking bewildered, their eyes darting back and forth between Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo.

Seeing the situation turning sour, the PD quickly jumped in to save the scene, coughing twice. “Uh, ahem, free teaming means freedom. We respect the guests’ choices.”

Just as the atmosphere hit a freezing point, a clear and steady voice rang out.

“Um… Teacher Jiang? I’d like to team up with you, if that’s okay?”

It was Ximen Ling.

Her face carried a hint of shyness, but her gaze was firm and sincere.

Jiang Xunruo blinked, then broke into a grateful and warm smile. “Of course, Teacher Ximen.”

Ahhh! Ling-Ruo for the win!!!

Ximen Ling is so warm!

I’m actually shipping them now, what’s happening…

The situation shifted instantly: Jiang Xunruo and Ximen Ling had successfully teamed up. This left Qin Sijing, Bai Qi, and Song Yitong as the three remaining un-teamed participants.