In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“Teachers, as you can see the situation now… well, the road is gone.”

For the first time since the start of the live variety show, the PD’s face was wrinkled like a bitter melon.

The mountainside had collapsed, and trees lay crisscrossed in a chaotic mess, sealing the path tight.

“There was a rainstorm last night, and the road ahead is blocked. But this is our only route to the Moon Island coastline.”

[Did it really collapse?!] [Wait, production team, did you buy insurance?! Did the sisters buy insurance?!] [Heavens, it’s too dangerous. Can’t they just take a detour?] [Take the detour, safety first!!]

The PD’s expression was somber, as if the sky had fallen.

“Now, there are two choices! One: we provide basic equipment for you to try and clear the passage, with safety monitoring throughout. Two: take a detour, but the detour is expected to add two days to the original eight-day plan, and the risks are unknown.”

The PD added a statement that sounded like a total “flag”: “Of course, the team will do its best to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Pausing, she looked at Qin Sijing. “Captain Qin! Please decide!”

All eyes focused on Qin Sijing.

“…This landslide wasn’t something you guys dug out with an excavator overnight, was it?”

“Ahem! Captain Qin! We are a serious survival show!!!”

She glanced at the collapsed debris, then back at her teammates, who had varying expressions.

Two extra days? The dry rations and water they prepared were only enough for eight days. Two more days meant they would run out.

“Let’s clear the passage,” she said. “The detour has too many unknown factors and consumes too much energy. Since the production team dares give us the first option, they must be able to guarantee our safety.”

The PD slapped her thigh. “Captain Qin understands me! Safety is absolutely guaranteed! We value our own lives, and we value yours even more!”

…

The task was set; next came the division of labor.

There were three zones. The Upper Zone was the core danger area, requiring two people to clear loose rocks. The Middle Zone also required two people to saw logs and move them. The Lower Zone needed one person to support passing tools and, most importantly, coordinating the whole scene.

The most dangerous spot usually goes to the captain. Qin Sijing picked up a safety rope without hesitation. “I’ll go up to clear the rocks.”

Just as she finished, another safety harness was picked up.

“I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Xunruo didn’t hesitate for a second. She didn’t even look at Qin Sijing; she just kept her head down, seriously checking her carabiners.

“Wait, it’s dangerous up there…”

“Does Captain Qin not trust me?” Jiang Xunruo blinked.

[???? They’ve teamed up just like that???] [Jiang-sister, what’s your reason! At least say ‘I believe in the Captain’!] [Ruo, don’t go! Mommy doesn’t allow it!] [Jiang: Do I look weak? No, I’m super brave.]

Bai Qi watched the two of them finish checking their belts and wordlessly picked up a saw. “Fine, then I’ll go saw wood.”

The moment she turned around, Song Yitong followed her. Their steps were perfectly in sync; even the direction their hair swung was identical.

Ximen Ling: ???

She looked left at Qin-Jiang, then right at Bai-Song. “What about me?”

PD: “Teacher Ximen, you are responsible for supporting passing tools and water. In short, the ‘Team Mom’.”

Ximen Ling: “…Fine, Mom it is.”

[This damn sense of chemistry ahhhh!] [Mommy, Bai and Song’s movements are so synchronized, I’m shipping it.] [Qin-Jiang and Bai-Song are all in pairs. Ximen: So I should leave?]

…

Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo moved slowly toward the top of the collapse, one behind the other. The higher they went, the stronger the wind blew. Qin Sijing’s legs felt weak, but she bit the bullet and pressed on.

The working platform was very narrow. Jiang Xunruo caught up quickly, and the two were almost body-to-body, able to hear each other’s breathing clearly.

“Top left, that piece,” Jiang Xunruo looked up to remind her.

Qin Sijing followed her gaze; there was a rock hanging precariously above them. “I’ll secure it, you step back a bit.”

Jiang Xunruo didn’t step back at all. Her hand hovered lightly over the safety rope behind Qin Sijing’s waist, as if ready to pull her at any moment if she lost her balance.

Qin Sijing stiffened. “…You don’t have to hold me.”

Jiang Xunruo: “I’m not. I’m holding the safety rope.”

Qin Sijing: “…”

[That hovering hand ahhhhh!] [Heh, Ruo is just kind-hearted like that. She’d hold anyone!!!] [She’s holding her waist? Where is her hand?!] [They aren’t even making eye contact, yet I’m shipping it…]

Soon, the rock was secured. Qin Sijing was drenched in sweat. Jiang Xunruo unclipped a water bottle from her waist, unscrewed it, and naturally held it to Qin Sijing’s lips.

Qin Sijing lowered her head and took a sip directly from Jiang’s hand. Only after drinking did she realize something was off. “…”

[INDIRECT KISS!!! THIS IS AN INDIRECT KISS!!!!] [The drinking action was so natural, how close are they in private?!] [Qin Sijing, wake up!!!]

…

Down below, Ximen Ling was not idle either, weaving through the zones to provide warmth.

“Who needs a saw?” “Who needs gloves?” “Teacher Bai, do you want water?” “Teacher Song, water?”

[Ximen: It’s a movie for five, but I never get a name…] [I’m dying, the professional third-wheels: Ximen and the PD.]

Ximen Ling delivered the logs Bai Qi and Song Yitong had cut to the designated spot. On her way back, she instinctively stopped.

In front of her were Bai Qi and Song Yitong. Song Yitong steadied the trunk while Bai Qi sawed fiercely. When Bai Qi stood up, tired, Song Yitong would silently hand her a pre-opened bottle of water.

“…Thanks.” “…Mhm.”

[They spoke! They spoke! Ahhhh!] [Bai-Song, remarry today! Just for me!]

Ximen looked up at Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo’s position. Their area was tiny; they were practically pressed together. Qin Sijing drinking water from Jiang’s hand looked like a scene from an idol drama.

How should she put it? No one was looking at her.

Everyone was busy, everyone was cooperating with tacit understanding, fighting side-by-side for a common goal. She was responsible for coordination below; she did a great job, and everyone needed her. But that specific chemistry born from danger and shared tasks? It didn’t exist between her and anyone else.

…

After four hours, the five finally cleared the passage.

“Wow! Everyone passed!” The PD showed her usual brilliant smile. “No sleeping on the beach today!”

Five people: “…”

Bai Qi, whether because she was exhausted or because Song Yitong had given her water today, shook her head and uncharacteristically started to complain: “I’m exhausted. I’ve never sawed so much wood in my life…”

Song Yitong glanced at her. Bai Qi looked back. They didn’t continue the conversation, but they both looked away with a mutual understanding.

“Good work today, everyone!” Qin Sijing said. “Ximen was great today too, supporting us the whole time!”

Ximen Ling chuckled, bending over to pack up the tools on the ground. “Captain Qin flatters me. It’s what I should do!”

The live stream ended, and the others huddled together. The PD was saying something to the group, but Ximen Ling didn’t join in. She just kept packing silently.

She kept her head down, her movements very, very slow. Her voice was barely a whisper, as if speaking to no one.

“I’m pretty capable too… how come I don’t have a fixed teammate?”