In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“Good morning, teachers!”

The PD held her megaphone, wearing that familiar wicked smile once again.

The five people below collectively revealed an “here we go again” expression.

“After yesterday’s Fan Wish vote, today we are responding to the fans’ wishes with something stimulating!”

Today, the PD didn’t waste words with nonsense and projected the rules directly onto the large screen.

[The five must collaborate within two hours, using limited materials provided by the crew, to build a viewing platform by the sea. Furthermore, it must pass the PD’s ‘heavyweight’ inspection.]

“If the mission is successful, everyone is rewarded with 2 survival points. If you fail, not only will the team get 0 points, but tonight you can only drink wild vegetable soup.”

[Heavyweight? Is the PD going up there to do disco?]

[Hahahaha just thinking about it is hilarious!]

[Ah, I don’t want the sisters to drink vegetable soup.]

Qin Sijing stared at the words “limited materials” on the screen and asked, “Where is the material list?”

A staff member pushed up a small cart.

On it were five logs of varying lengths, a bundle of vines, a few ropes, a saw, and a box of chalk.

Song Yitong couldn’t help but point at the box of chalk. “Does this mean we’re supposed to draw pictures on the viewing platform?”

“Wrong! It’s for you to make marks on the wood to prevent sawing mistakes. Isn’t our production crew very thoughtful?”

Qin Sijing laughed. “One saw for five people to use; very thoughtful indeed.”

[Hahahahahahaha what a mental production crew.]

[PD: This is called a sense of ceremony! Do you understand!]

[One saw five people, fine, fine, fine. I’ll see which CP shares the saw first today.]

Qin Sijing turned around, looked at the four others, and began the assignments.

“Teacher Bai, Teacher Song, you are responsible for organizing the vines.”

“Teacher Ximen has great strength; you are responsible for fixing the main structure.”

“Teacher Jiang is responsible for the overall planning and connections.”

Only after arranging everyone did she mention herself. “I’ll see the wood.”

“Teacher Qin, but… your leg is inconvenient.” Song Yitong spoke cautiously. “How about I do it?”

Qin Sijing knew she was saying this out of guilt, but it was no big deal.

It was just an injured leg, not like her whole body was immobile.

“It’s okay, I can do it.”

Jiang Xunruo watched from the side, wanting to say something, but seeing that Qin Sijing had already sat down with the saw in hand, she swallowed her words.

She helped Qin Sijing secure the wood, and Qin Sijing began to saw.

[Sister Qin: No one will stop me from being a carpenter today!]

[That helpless look from Ruoruo, ahhhhh.]

[Sister Song: I want to atone. Sister Qin: No need.]

At first, it went smoothly. Although sitting made it inconvenient to apply force, Qin Sijing sawed steadily and straight.

[Wow! Sister Qin is this powerful?]

[She must exercise a lot usually.]

[Even sawing wood while sitting looks so elegant; if it were me, I’d have gone crooked ages ago.]

By the time she reached the back main beam, Qin Sijing’s arms were starting to feel sore. The correct move would have been to stop and rest, but she pursed her lips and continued.

“Teacher Qin, do you want to rest a bit?” Jiang Xunruo reminded her softly from the side.

“No need.”

Just as she was about to continue sawing, the wood let out a “crack” and snapped completely, and the chain of the saw got stuck in the wood.

The entire scene fell silent instantly.

That piece of wood was supposed to be the main beam, but now, because of her mistake, it was unusable.

Qin Sijing’s face turned pale bit by bit.

[???????]

[The production crew’s wood is even more fragile than my ex’s heart.]

[Sister Qin’s face turned white; my heart aches.]

[Don’t feel bad now, quickly think about how to cook vegetable soup so it tastes good!]

The bullet comments began a chaotic battle at this moment.

[Why does she have to try so hard to be brave???]

[I told you seeing her acting all tough made me uncomfortable, and you guys still scolded me!]

[You can’t entirely blame Sister Qin; her leg is injured.]

[If she’s injured, let others saw. No one would say anything, okay? Since she took the job, she should do it well.]

[? Are we really drinking vegetable soup tonight?]

[Everyone don’t be too harsh. Sister Qin did it because her leg is hurt; she must feel even worse.]

Jiang Xunruo blinked, walked to Qin Sijing’s side, lightly touched the back of her hand, and then looked at the PD. “PD, this saw… is there a quality issue?”

“Yeah, yeah!” Ximen Ling also reacted. “Was it bought at a wholesale market? Is it a scam?”

The PD laughed. “Yes, yes, yes, it’s a scam! This wood is a scam too!”

Bai Qi picked up the wood. “This piece can’t be used, so let’s see if there’s a replacement.”

Song Yitong heard this, turned to rummage through the materials, and found a slightly thinner log. “Can this one be used?”

Bai Qi nodded. “Yes.”

[Ruoruo’s reaction was so fast hahahaha.]

[Ximen also immediately caught the cue.]

[Bai-Song’s cooperation is so tacit, ahhhh, can’t they talk after all!]

[Ruoruo touched Sister Qin’s hand ahhhhh screen-capped.]

Qin Sijing sat where she was, her head buzzing. Those bullet comments from just now were still drifting through her mind.

Jiang Xunruo stood right beside her, gently stroking the back of her hand over and over, trying to soothe her.

The teammates didn’t say anything more and were all re-planning the structure.

Qin Sijing struggled to stand up with her crutch, wanting to continue helping, and Jiang Xunruo quickly supported her.

“Teacher Qin.”

Her voice was very light, offering her a way out.

“Will you help organize the vines? Teacher Bai and Teacher Song need you.”

“…Okay.”

For the rest of the task, Qin Sijing was unusually quiet.

[Is Sister Qin unhappy?]

[She must be blaming herself, sigh.]

[Ruoruo keeps stealing glances at Sister Qin. I counted; she looked four or five times in one minute.]

[? Enough. Ruoruo is looking at the vines. What are the CP fans imagining now?]

With the efforts of the five, the viewing platform was finally built.

“Alright, next, we begin the first level of the test: the Sea Breeze Test!”

As soon as the PD’s excited words fell, two staff members brought up a huge industrial electric fan.

“Come, come, come, simulate the high-wind environment by the sea to see if your viewing platform is sturdy!”

The PD immediately turned the fan to level one, and the platform remained motionless.

Then she turned it to level two. Ximen Ling stood nearby, and her hat was blown away. “My hat!”

The PD was getting addicted. “Now switching to level three!”

This time the wind became much stronger, and the viewing platform began to sway slightly.

Bai Qi and Song Yitong reached out at the same time to hold key pivot points. Their tacit understanding caused their fingers to touch, but Bai Qi quickly withdrew her hand.

[PD laughs like a villain.]

[Bai-Song touched? Ahhhhhhh!]

[Today is the day Bai-Song CP fans are fed the most.]

[Bai Qi, why did you pull your hand back so fast!]

Ximen Ling finally managed to retrieve her hat, only for it to be blown away again. “Enough, PD. If you keep blowing, my hat is really going to run away from home.”

How could the PD let them have their way?

“Ten more seconds! Ten, nine, eight…”

No one knew how long she counted, but the countdown finally ended. The viewing platform passed the test.

“Finally, it’s the heavyweight inspection!” The PD walked up holding a scale given by the staff. “I’m going up.”

“So that’s what heavyweight meant?!” Ximen Ling was dumbstruck.

The PD stood on it, and the platform didn’t collapse.

She hopped twice with force; the platform shook slightly but still didn’t collapse.

“Congratulations to the five teachers!” the PD announced. “The inspection passed; everyone adds 2 survival points!”

Just as everyone was about to cheer, the PD added: “Ahem, but the livestream bullet comment vote just now showed that over sixty percent of the viewers want to see Teacher Qin hop up on one leg for a group photo.”

Qin Sijing: “…My leg isn’t healed.”

The PD flattered her. “This is the Captain’s exclusive medal.”

[Can you let Sister Qin off ahhhh.]

[Can’t you feel bad for Sister Qin.]

[Production crew: Hello, no.]

[Believe in Sister Qin; she can do it.]

[PD: As long as I’m wicked enough, missions will always have extra rounds.]

Jiang Xunruo said softly, “Do what you can.”

But that stubborn streak in Qin Sijing rose up again. She nodded; if the viewers wanted to see it, she would do it.

She handed the crutch to Jiang Xunruo and began hopping up on one leg.

Five steps she successfully hopped up.

Standing on the viewing platform, the sea breeze blew her hair. Behind her was the endless sea, and before her were the looking-up, smiling faces of her teammates.

Ximen Ling took the lead in applauding. “Very cool!”

Jiang Xunruo stood below, with smiles in her eyes, but also worried.

The mission was successfully completed, but the number of livestream viewers began to slowly drop.

The PD let out a surprised sound. “Eh? Why are people leaving? Wasn’t it quite lively just now?”

The speaker was careless, but the listener was attentive.

Qin Sijing lowered her eyes.

Was it because of her?

Perhaps the viewers preferred to see their exciting confrontations and equal matches, rather than watching a captain on a crutch causing trouble and dragging everyone down from the sidelines.

On the way back to camp, she didn’t speak.

Jiang Xunruo looked at her several times and lightly touched the back of her hand. “Does your leg hurt?”

“…Mm.”

Actually, her chest hurt; her heartbeat felt wrong, and her hands began to shake uncontrollably.

She knew this was bad, but when the somatization reaction flared up, she had no way to control herself.

Upon returning to camp, that suffocating feeling became even more apparent.

“Teacher Jiang, could you help me pour a glass of hot water?”

“Okay.”

Taking advantage of Jiang Xunruo going to pour the water, Qin Sijing thought she’d take a quick shower and then let herself rest early.

When Jiang Xunruo returned after getting the water, she found Qin Sijing gone.

She had just put down the cup when she heard a “thud” from the bathroom.

It was the sound of Qin Sijing falling.

Without a second thought, Jiang Xunruo rushed straight in. She realized she was so panicked that she hadn’t even thought about the issue of boundaries.

Qin Sijing collapsed on the floor, her bath towel half-undone.

Jiang Xunruo instantly closed her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t open my eyes, I didn’t see anything. I hope Teacher Qin doesn’t mind.”

Guided by memory, she walked to Qin Sijing’s position, quickly wrapped the towel around her, and then picked her up with one arm.

Only after confirming she was properly covered did Jiang Xunruo open her eyes.

“Where did you fall? Does it hurt?”

She looked down to check, only to find Qin Sijing trembling violently. Her heart was beating very, very fast, and her face was as pale as a sheet of paper.

“Teacher Qin, look at me. Can you hear me speaking?”

Qin Sijing nodded.

“Breathe. Follow me. Slowly. Deep breath.”

Jiang Xunruo frowned slightly; she noticed Qin Sijing’s complexion had become even worse.

It seemed… She wasn’t like this because the fall hurt.

Rather, it was like some kind of panic or anxiety symptom.

Could it be… anxiety?

Jiang Xunruo placed Qin Sijing on the bed. Then she circled her into her own embrace.

“I can’t control it, I can’t control it anymore,” Qin Sijing spoke brokenly.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.” Jiang Xunruo also repeated two comforting phrases, following her lead.

She understood now.

No wonder her heartbeat was always so fast. No wonder she always pushed herself to win and to do well; her demands on herself were too high.

Time passed minute by minute.

In the tent, only their interlaced breathing remained.

Qin Sijing’s breathing slowly leveled out, and her tense body softened bit by bit, leaning into Jiang Xunruo’s arms.

At this moment, she really wanted a hug.

Really, really.

“It’s okay,” Jiang Xunruo said. “You can lean on me.”

“It’s okay.”

“You can rest if you’re tired.”

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Sijing had calmed down. Jiang Xunruo thought about getting up to get the water, but Qin Sijing reached back and grabbed her wrist. “I want to… keep hugging.”

“Okay.”

The two just hugged quietly like that.

Qin Sijing closed her eyes and could hear Jiang Xunruo’s heartbeat—steady, powerful, and reassuring.

She could smell that clean and warm coconut fragrance on her; it felt as if she were being embraced by both Jiang Xunruo and her scent simultaneously.

After a while, Jiang Xunruo spoke softly: “Go get your pajamas, okay?”

“Okay.”

Jiang Xunruo took out the pajamas for her and stepped out.

Only after Qin Sijing had changed did she return to the tent, take her own pajamas, and go to the bathroom to shower.

By the time she finished and lay back on the bed, the night was already deep.

“Teacher Jiang.”

“Mm?”

“Can I sleep leaning against you tonight? I mean, I feel like I can sleep more soundly that way.”

Jiang Xunruo didn’t answer.

She turned directly onto her side, reached out to pull Qin Sijing into her arms, and let her head rest in the crook of her neck.

Jiang Xunruo’s hand gently patted her back over and over, the rhythm very slow.

“It’s okay, you can hug me.” Their breath brushed past Qin Sijing’s ear.

Qin Sijing didn’t hesitate either and wrapped her arms around her waist.

Thus, her entire person was enveloped by that coconut fragrance.

Smelling this scent that provided a sense of security, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally found a place to land.