In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Good morning, everyone~”

The PD looked at the five faces, each wearing a different expression, and intentionally drawled out the greeting.

“Today’s task is building the raft! This is the final step to crossing the strait~ Now, Captain, please start making arrangements!”

Qin Sijing, leaning on her crutch, nodded and began today’s direction.

“We’ll build the frame first. Teacher Bai, Teacher Song, please support these two logs.”

Bai Qi and Song Yitong stepped forward to hold the logs, maintaining zero eye contact throughout the process.

Jiang Xunruo stood beside Qin Sijing, rope in hand. “Captain Qin, should this rope be tied with a clove hitch?”

“Mm.”

[? Qin and Jiang only had one sentence of dialogue today]

[What a cold ‘mm’. Sister Qin, don’t be so cold to Sister Jiang, ahhh!]

[I feel bad for Ruoruo; she took the initiative to find a topic and got the cold shoulder.]

[Here comes the persona-building to clout-chase again. Sister Qin is seriously looking at the structure and has no time to mind her, okay? This is proof of Sister Qin’s professional work ethic!]

[What kind of ‘work state’ involves not even turning your head? Hilarious. Who is she putting on a show for?]

The PD shot a confused look at Qin Sijing, then a confused look at Jiang Xunruo.

Had she missed some good drama?

Why did both their faces scream, “Already divorced, don’t cue us”?

She pushed the camera in, specifically giving Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo a split-screen close-up.

The two stood neither too far nor too close, slightly better than Bai Qi and Song Yitong.

Qin Sijing stared intently at the raft frame while Jiang Xunruo organized the rope nearby. The picture was beautiful, but the atmosphere looked… very stiff.

Seeing that things were ready, Qin Sijing nodded. “Teacher Jiang, give me the rope.”

Jiang Xunruo handed the rope over.

Their fingers brushed against each other during the handoff, and both quickly retracted.

The PD, never one to shy away from excitement, immediately held up the microphone and came over.

“Teacher Qin, how is Teacher Jiang tied? Give us a critique?”

“Mm, very sturdy.”

Jiang Xunruo gave a gentle smile to the camera. “Teacher Qin overpraises me.”

[?????]

[Suspected regression from a couple to ordinary colleagues…]

[Why did these two suddenly become so polite?]

[The divorce cooling-off period (not)]

[Hahahaha, these two really give off a ‘divorced’ vibe.]

[Could it be that they had a fight?]

This won’t do.

The PD looked at Bai Qi and Song Yitong working in silence, then at Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo with “Already Divorced” written all over their faces, and her own face began to wrinkle.

Out of the five people in this livestream, there were only three CP (couple) pairings in total—and two of them were in a cold war!

She was crying out to the heavens in her heart; was there really a jinx on this show?

If this continued, what would the audience watch? A pantomime?

“Ahem! Dear viewers, we are currently at the Moon Island coastline, witnessing our five teachers collaborate to build a raft!”

The PD turned the camera toward Bai Qi and Song Yitong.

The two stood at opposite ends of the raft, one tying knots and the other fixing parts. Though silent, their coordination was quite tacit.

“Let’s look at the progress. Teacher Bai and Teacher Song have already completed the base frame, truly the duo with the strongest hands-on skills!”

[These two still have such chemistry, I’m crying.]

[The hands: We know how to do it. The mouth: We aren’t familiar.]

[Best silent-film partners of the year…]

“Let’s go see Teacher Jiang and Teacher Ximen’s side—”

The camera cut away. Ximen Ling was carrying a bundle of vines toward Jiang Xunruo, a bright and sunny smile on her face.

“Teacher Jiang, are these okay?”

Jiang Xunruo took the vines and inspected them carefully. “They’re fine.”

“Then I’ll go move some more!” Ximen Ling laughed, turned around, and ran back into the jungle.

[These two are so healing, woo woo woo.]

[Ling-Ruo is the number one official CP, right?]

[Where is Sister Qin? Why isn’t she speaking?]

[Don’t cue Sister Qin, she’s working hard.]

[Ling-Ruo is so sweet, I’m dying, ahhh!]

Qin Sijing was indeed working seriously. Her leg hadn’t healed yet, so she spent most of her time directing and assisting, but she carefully inspected every step.

Jiang Xunruo occasionally walked over to hand her tools or ask a question.

“Teacher Qin, is it okay to lay the waterproof cloth like this?”

“Move it a bit more to the left.”

“Okay.”

The tone of their conversation had also become polite and formal, like ordinary colleagues collaborating for the first time.

[Help, have these two really gone BE (Bad Ending)?]

[Heavens, they are even more polite and stranger than on the first day they arrived.]

[What exactly happened? Did they really fight?]

[Was it because of that promotional video thing the other day? (Just my guess, don’t flame me)]

[Help, this suffocating atmosphere is almost catching up to Bai-Song.]

Halfway through the raft construction, the PD started stirring things up again.

“Teachers, the viewers in the livestream are very concerned about your collaborative progress. Next, let’s do a random interview!”

The five of them: “???”

The PD held the microphone in front of Bai Qi and Song Yitong. “May I ask both teachers, are you satisfied with your current partner?”

Bai Qi: “…”

Song Yitong gave a polite smile. “It’s fine.”

[??? Is this something the PD is allowed to ask?]

[Hahahaha, the PD is so bold. Quickly throw this question at Qin-Jiang, I want to see their reaction!]

[Would it kill them to say one more word?]

[Interviews with these two are always so stingy with words.]

[Mm, Bai-Song just love giving their mouths a vacation.]

The PD nodded and turned to Jiang Xunruo and Ximen Ling. “Teacher Ximen, what does it feel like to partner with Teacher Jiang?”

Ximen Ling’s eyes instantly lit up.

What did it feel like?

It felt like partnering with an idol.

“I feel it’s wonderful! Teacher Jiang is gentle and very meticulous. She has a great temper and is very cooperative. She’s a fantastic partner~”

Jiang Xunruo smiled at the camera. “Teacher Ximen overpraises me; actually, you are great too.”

Qin Sijing: “…”

Seeing the expressionless Qin Sijing nearby, the PD hurried to hand her the microphone. “Teacher Qin, do you think our raft can successfully cross the strait?”

“Of course.”

Qin Sijing blurted it out almost instantly.

She looked at Jiang Xunruo and Ximen Ling working in front of her, then at Bai Qi and Song Yitong.

“Our team has two pairs of teammates who are so serious and cooperate so well. I believe in my teammates, and more importantly, I believe that with everyone here together, any problem can be solved.”

[Sister Qin is starting to show high EQ too.]

[High EQ: Praise. Low EQ: You guys can all go off in your little pairs.]

[But why do I feel like she’s being sarcastic?]

[I feel it too, especially since Sister Qin looked at Jiang and Ximen’s direction first before saying those things…]

[Do you guys have a delusional disorder? Does everything Sister Qin says or does have to be tied to Jiang? Can you let Sister Qin go?]

[Sister Qin is clearly jealous.]

[Give it a rest. Qin just can’t stand seeing others doing well; she’s sour because she couldn’t film the promo video with her leg injury.]

[But the promo video was the PD’s arrangement, what does it have to do with Ruoruo?]

Three long hours passed, and the raft was finally finished.

“Finished!” the PD announced excitedly. “Congratulations, teachers! Tomorrow, we can rely on it to cross the strait!”

The five of them were exhausted and were dragged by the PD to take a group photo. “Such a historic moment, how can we not commemorate it?”

The five moved over and stood in their usual positions.

Qin Sijing,Jiang Xunruo,Ximen Ling,Bai Qi,Song Yitong.

[Ling-Ruo is so sweet ahhh.]

[Ximen has become the dividing line…]

[Hilarious. Except for Ximen smiling in the middle, the remaining two pairs of CPs have ‘Already Divorced’ written all over their faces.]

[Such a hard life out of three CPs, two have gone BE.]

“Alright, the livestream ends here. Everyone, take a break!” The PD turned off the stream.

Qin Sijing walked over to a tree to rest, leaning on her crutch. Jiang Xunruo was about to follow her when she was called away by the PD.

Inside the tent, the PD’s expression was uncharacteristically serious. “Teacher Jiang, there’s something I need to tell you in advance. For the next episode, we will be inviting everyone’s managers to the island, and there will also be a ‘Fan Wish’ task.”

Jiang Xunruo nodded, indicating she was listening.

“But as you know, your manager and Teacher Qin’s manager had a bit of an unpleasant fallout over resources before. We’re worried…”

“I understand, PD. Don’t worry. We know where the line is; we won’t let personal grievances affect the program.”

The PD breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good, that’s good. I believe you can all handle it well.”

The PD chatted with Jiang Xunruo about a few more details. By the time Jiang Xunruo stepped out of the tent, everyone was already preparing to eat.

Bai Qi and Song Yitong sat on either side, with two empty seats in the middle—likely reserved for Ximen Ling and the PD.

However, Ximen Ling was not in her seat. Neither was Qin Sijing.

Jiang Xunruo hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Qin Sijing’s tent.

Meanwhile, Qin Sijing, who was drinking water outside her tent, felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

She only wanted to go back to her tent for a drink of water, but then she saw a very familiar object hanging in front of Ximen Ling’s tent.

It was the small bear plushie she had once given to Jiang Xunruo.

Now it was soaking wet, hanging on a clothesline. Its fur was clumped together in strands clearly, it had just been washed.

Qin Sijing froze on the spot.

“Captain Qin?” Ximen Ling noticed her first. “Aren’t you going to eat yet?”

Qin Sijing pointed at the little bear. Instead of answering the question, she asked, “Why is that little bear with you?”

Ximen Ling let out an “ah,” then smiled. “Is Teacher Qin talking about this? I saw that this little bear was getting a bit damp, so I washed it while I was at it. Teacher Jiang is busy talking to the PD today and doesn’t have time to eat, let alone deal with these things…”

Qin Sijing couldn’t hear anything she said after that.

While I was at it.

Help.

Teacher Jiang doesn’t have time.

Each word was like a knife, accurately stabbing into Qin Sijing’s heart.

It was all so “matter-of-fact.”

Had their relationship already reached such a “matter-of-fact” level?

Fragments of these past few days regarding her and Ximen Ling slowly began to connect in her mind.

Ximen Ling’s excessive enthusiasm toward her; her relaxed and natural conversation with Ximen Ling; the smiles; the natural interactions.

Even her manager’s words opportunely echoed in her mind: — “Once the camera is on, it’s all her highlight moments!”

Yes.

Being gentle and considerate in front of the camera, smiling away old grudges with a rival, and showing perfect chemistry with a new partner.

Then what did being her partner before count as?

Probably all for the sake of the show’s effect to resolve the so-called past grievances with her “rival.”

Now that the goal had been achieved, even the gift she gave her could be handed over to someone else to handle.

“Captain Qin?” Ximen Ling looked at her pale face in confusion. “Are you… okay?”

Qin Sijing shook her head and turned to leave.

Jiang Xunruo walked to Qin Sijing’s tent but didn’t find her. After walking a bit further, she found her on a reef.

“Teacher Qin?” Jiang Xunruo walked over, her voice softening. “Didn’t you go to eat?”

Qin Sijing turned her head. Jiang Xunruo was stunned.

She looked… so incredibly lost.

Long ago, the Qin Sijing that Jiang Xunruo saw was always high-spirited. Even though she had seen many different sides of her in this survival show, she had never seen her looking this dejected and fragile.

When Qin Sijing saw her, her gaze immediately turned cold.

Just like the first time they met offline at the Moonlight Awards.

The way she looked at her now was that same icy stare.

“Do I need to send a new little bear?”

“What?” Jiang Xunruo was confused by the sudden mention of the bear.

“Ximen is helping you wash that little bear.”

Jiang Xunruo understood immediately. Too many things had happened recently; while she was talking to the PD, Ximen Ling must have… taken the initiative to touch her things.

Probably, they all assumed she wouldn’t lose her temper.

She indeed practiced restraint and wouldn’t throw a tantrum, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t get angry.

“Teacher Ximen probably saw that I was tired, so…”

“So she washed it for you?” Qin Sijing directly finished the sentence for her. “Even something so personal can be handed over to someone else to handle? Or is your relationship already so matter-of-fact?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize to me. How you handle that bear is your own business.”

She looked at Jiang Xunruo. “Jiang Xunruo, seeing me struggle and waver this past month even seeing me change my view of you and prepare to ‘smile away old grudges’ with my rival does it give you a special sense of accomplishment?”

Those words were too heavy.

The gentle expression Jiang Xunruo always maintained could no longer be held; her face turned white bit by bit.

Did she think all her interactions with her these days were just for the sake of building a persona?

“Teacher Qin, do you not trust me?”

It was the same question she had asked back when Qin Sijing’s leg was injured and she wanted to carry her.

“Why should I trust you?”

Qin Sijing knew that answering with a question would heighten the confrontation, but so what?

They were rivals to begin with; they were supposed to be on opposite sides. It was supposed to be like this.

“We’ve only spent a little over a month together. Jiang Xunruo, I know nothing about you.”