In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“Good morning, teachers! Seeing everyone in such high spirits brings great comfort to the production team!”

Five pairs of “Where exactly do you see high spirits?” death glares shot toward the PD in unison.

Hahahaha, everyone’s expressions are spectacular.If Sister Qin’s gaze could kill, the PD would have died a thousand times already.Is Ruo-Ruo feeling better? [Worried] Can she really participate in the challenge?The distance between Bai and Song could fit an entire galaxy.

The PD’s gaze swept over Jiang Xunruo, who was sitting below, and he gave two dry coughs.

“Ahem! Considering everyone’s physical and mental health, especially since our Teacher Jiang needs quiet recovery, today’s task will focus on wisdom and collaboration! Deserted Island Mystery!”

The camera cut to a map of the island, flashing the rules for the challenge.

There were five areas on the island where the production team had placed code boxes. Each box contained a fragment of a clue. The first team to collect all five fragments and successfully piece together the complete treasure map would win a “Luxurious One-Night Reward” sponsored by the program! (The specifics of this reward are determined by the production team!)

【Luxurious one-night? How luxurious?】 【If you can trust the production team’s word, the sun could rise from the west!】 【They are stingy beyond belief; the reward is probably just a tent [Sweat].】

A luxurious one-night reward? Qin Sijing’s interest was piqued. This time, she was determined to take the MVP.

The PD added with a smile, “The rewards are very generous! A soft large mattress, five-star chef cuisine, and a bathtub! Of course, the right of final interpretation belongs to the production team!”

Because the injury on Jiang Xunruo’s back hadn’t healed, making it difficult for her to move, the PD gave her and Qin Sijing each a walkie-talkie for remote collaboration.

“Teacher Jiang, rest well. As for the puzzle-solving and the physical labor of running around, leave that to your teammate, Teacher Qin!”

“Task start! GO!”

…

The MVP Path

Qin Sijing secured her walkie-talkie and bolted the moment the PD announced the start, running faster than the other two groups.

The first and second code boxes were easy to find, and the codes were surprisingly simple; all three groups cracked them successfully.

The third box was hanging from a tree. Considering the safety risks, the crew provided safety harnesses so the guests wouldn’t fall while climbing. After retrieving the box, Qin Sijing stared at the hint pasted on it:

“Facing the sea, count the rings of the nearest three circles.”

Fearing the guests might pick the wrong tree, the crew had put a sticky note on the specific coconut tree: “Count this one!”

Qin Sijing squatted before the trunk. The side facing south gets more sunlight, so the growth rings are wider—meaning she didn’t have to wander blindly around the trunk. The outermost ring was the widest, corresponding to 5; the middle ring was medium, corresponding to 3; and the innermost was 2. Exactly three rings.

5, 3, 2.

Qin Sijing pressed the numbers on the box. With a “clack,” it opened.

Ximen Ling: ??? Bai-Song: ???

【??? Sister Qin, you’re a beast!】 【? Are you still Qin Sijing?】 【How did she find the sea-facing side so fast?】 【Is it possible she cheated? Did the crew leak the answer?】 【Don’t eat random food, and don’t speak random words. You’re just claiming she cheated?】

…

The Final Puzzle

Qin Sijing was already racing toward the fourth box while Bai Qi and Song Yitong were still in a stalemate.

Song Yitong sighed and looked up. “Bai Qi, let’s put everything else aside and… finish this task together.”

Put it aside? How simple she made it sound. Silence reigned for a few seconds, but seeing the fast-scrolling comments, Bai Qi didn’t want people to keep watching them like a comedy act. “Fine.”

They finally cooperated, and after some time spent guessing and reasoning, they cracked the third box. Meanwhile, Ximen Ling watched them race past, left alone in the dust.

Qin Sijing, acting as if she had a cheat code, reached the fifth box. The first two were easy, the third a bit tricky, the fourth medium difficulty, but this last one was… hard. It was placed inside a deserted wooden shack. The light was dim, with only a few rays of sun peeking through the gaps in the boards.

The note was simple: “Listen to the Wind’s Song.”

The PD reminded them via the monitor: “The fifth box is very difficult and requires teammate assistance!”

Qin Sijing stared at those words until her eyes blurred. Did this have to do with numbers? The sound of the wind? No, if the code was numeric, it had to be music.

At that moment, Jiang Xunruo’s voice came through the walkie-talkie: “Teacher Qin, look at the box.”

Qin Sijing obeyed immediately. Turning it over, she saw a mechanical lock resembling the internal structure of an instrument, with three metal strips like tuning forks.

“It looks like the internal mechanism of an instrument…” Jiang Xunruo’s soft voice came through.

“Yeah, let me try and see.” Qin Sijing flicked a strip. A “Ding” sound rang out.

She input 1, 2, 3, and the lock clicked open.

【Wait, how did she get 123? Did I miss something?】 【It must be that when Sister Qin touched the strips, she heard ‘Do-Re-Mi’?】 【Qin Sijing’s reflexes are so fast!!!】

…

The “Reward”

Qin Sijing sprinted to the finish, being the first to collect the fragments and piece together the map.

“Time’s up! Congratulations to the Qin-Jiang team for winning the MVP! Each member receives 4 survival points and our Luxurious One-Night Reward!!” the PD announced excitedly.

The staff brought out a box covered in red cloth. The PD took a deep breath and whipped it off.

A gaudy slip of paper with the words “One-Day Roommate Experience Voucher” lay there.

“The reward is! A one-day roommate experience for Teacher Qin and Teacher Jiang! For the next 24 hours, you will share the luxurious sea-view roommate suite meticulously crafted by our production team!”

The sea breeze seemed to stop blowing at that moment. Qin & Jiang: ??? Their expressions froze simultaneously.

【One-day WHAT?】 【I knew the production team lacked a conscience!!!!】 【Get it straight, you’re a survival show, not ‘Let’s Fall in Love’ or ‘Let’s Get Married’!!!】 【Is this a reward or a punishment?】 【Sister Qin: I won, but at what cost?】

“Let us applaud this hard-earned fate!” The PD’s lonely, awkward applause echoed in the silence.

Qin Sijing snapped out of the shock and tried to struggle: “Can we trade the reward? Like for food or something else?”

The PD was iron-faced. “No, Teacher Qin. Rules are rules!”

Jiang Xunruo took a breath. “PD, I’m injured…”

“Don’t worry, the medical team says sleeping is fine. Plus, the bed in the suite is larger and softer perfect for your recovery! And having a roommate is great; you can look after each other!”

“So annoying!!” Qin Sijing was about to explode, but she glanced at Jiang Xunruo, who was sitting quietly in thought, and her anger dissipated slightly. It didn’t seem… entirely unacceptable.

“Fine,” Qin Sijing said, resigning herself to fate.

The PD stood up, beaming. “Tonight, please enjoy your roommate time, teachers!”

【Qin actually accepted it? That’s out of character.】 【Qin: I’m tired, whatever.】 【Qin-Jiang: Why did I join this godforsaken show?】