In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The first day’s water retrieval mission was a total chaotic mess—refusals to team up, ex-lover drama, and a trending list smothered in hashtags related to the cast.

Watching the show’s popularity skyrocket, the production team couldn’t stop grinning. This was exactly the effect they wanted.

However, while the data was exploding, the tension between these two “teachers” wasn’t quite heavy enough!

No, they needed to force more interaction.

The production team held an overnight meeting and decided to squeeze in a temporary “Guest Icebreaker Session” before announcing the next day’s mission.

Early the next morning, the Program Director (PD) lugged out a large box and invited the five guests into a makeshift thatched shed.

“Good morning, everyone! The production team understands that the first day of adjustment wasn’t easy, so we’ve prepared a light little segment to help everyone increase their mutual understanding!”

The PD pointedly emphasized the words “adjustment” and “increase understanding.”

Qin Sijing lifted her eyelids, looking lazy and disinterested, saying nothing.

Jiang Xunruo wore no makeup, her hair draped simply over her shoulders, her face still wearing that same gentle smile.

Bai Qi and Song Yitong were separated by Ximen Ling. One looked at the sky and the other at the ground; the atmosphere was even more frozen than their night watch yesterday.

Five blank slips of paper were handed out to the guests.

The PD read the rules to the camera: “The activity is simple. We’ve prepared some slips of paper, and we need the teachers to follow a specific order to write down their first impression of another teacher!”

“Of course, this order will be decided by drawing lots!”

“The production team is starting trouble again! [Rubs hands together]”

 “So exciting!! Please let Bai and Song be paired up!!!:”

 “Pfft, production team, you really understand variety shows hahaha”

After the draw, the rules were announced:

Qin Sijing → Bai Qi

Bai Qi → Song Yitong

Song Yitong → Ximen Ling

Ximen Ling → Jiang Xunruo

Jiang Xunruo → Qin Sijing

The moment the results came out, the bullet comments exploded.

“Hahahahaha so much drama ahhh”

“Production team, you really know how to cause trouble” 

“Making Bai Qi write about Song Yitong? Their heads are made of iron.”

“I’ll give everyone five minutes to think!” The PD rubbed his hands, his eyes already sparkling.

Qin Sijing unscrewed her pen cap and thought. Write a first impression of Bai Qi? Honestly, she didn’t have much of one. Judging by yesterday’s interactions, she was quite cold and looked like she spent time at the gym. She wrote: “Aloof, likes fitness,” then folded the paper and handed it to the PD.

Bai Qi stared at her slip of paper. How could the history between her and Song Yitong be summed up on a single slip? After a moment of silence, she moved her pen and wrote a single word: “Good.”

Song Yitong glanced at Ximen Ling and quickly wrote her evaluation: “Gentle and reliable, hope we have a chance to team up next time.”

Ximen Ling was also very straightforward. Her evaluation of Jiang Xunruo was high: “Beautiful, gentle, generous, very adaptable. I hope to learn from you.” After writing it, she rubbed her ear sheepishly.

Finally, it was Jiang Xunruo’s turn. She didn’t put pen to paper for a long time. She looked at Qin Sijing across from her who looked like she just wanted to finish and go home and her lips curved into a subtle arc.

“Is Jiang Xunruo brewing some ultimate move??” 

“Provocation? This is definitely a provocation to Sister Qin!” 

“Qin fans are searching for drama again. Ruoruo is just meticulous; what’s wrong with thinking a bit longer?”

 “Write it already! I can’t wait!”

As time was nearly up, Jiang Xunruo furtively wrote a few strokes, folded the paper, and handed it to the PD.

“Time’s up!” The PD rubbed his hands excitedly. “Now, let’s see what the first impressions are. Let’s start with Teacher Ximen’s!” After all, the troublemakers had to be saved for last.

“Teacher Ximen wrote for Teacher Jiang: ‘Beautiful, gentle, generous, very adaptable. I hope to learn from you.'”

Jiang Xunruo gave a gentle smile. “Thank you, Teacher Ximen. You flatter me.” Ximen Ling rubbed her ear, looking a bit embarrassed.

“I ship it!!! Ling-Ruo is scoring points!!!”

 “Such a fair evaluation! Thanks Ximen for praising our Ruoruo~”

“A stream of pure water in this ‘shura field’ (battlefield)? Don’t be like this, I’m starting to ship you two…”

The PD continued pulling slips. “Next is Teacher Songs for Teacher Ximen: ‘Gentle and reliable, hope we have a chance to team up next time!'”

Ximen Ling very humbly pressed her hands together in thanks, her ears turning red. “Thank you, Teacher Song. You are the one who is gentle and reliable.” Song Yitong smiled.

“Song Yitong is so nice!! Gentle big sister wuuuuu” 

“With this evaluation, Ximen Ling looks so shy hahaha”

The next was Qin Sijing’s for Bai Qi: “Aloof, likes fitness!” This was objectively true. Bai Qi gave Qin Sijing a polite, slight smile in acknowledgement.

“Why is this group all just corporate flattery? I want to see them snatching each other’s hair out.” 

“Bai Qi: Thanks for the praise, Sister Qin? (Unsure)”

Next, the main event arrived.

The PD pulled out the slip Bai Qi wrote for Song Yitong. The camera zoomed in to reveal only one word: “Good.” “Uh… Teacher Bai wrote ‘Good’ for Teacher Song?”

?????????? 

“Just one word? Bai Qi, is that all you have to say?”

“Hahahaha everyone’s expressions are cracking, this is wonderful.”

The PD immediately seized the chance to fan the flames. “Teacher Bai, what does this ‘Good’ mean? Can you elaborate? Does it mean your first impression of Teacher Song was very good?”

The camera instantly cuts between Bai Qi and Song Yitong. Ximen Ling, sitting between them, was also caught in the shot.

Bai Qi looked up, her cold eyes sweeping over the camera. “Mhm. It means exactly what it says.” Writing one word was already enough; was the production team ever going to stop? Didn’t they notice Song Yitong had been staring at her? She could barely stay seated.

Song Yitong quickly lowered her head, her slightly curled hands relaxing just a bit.

“Bai-Song is so tragic. What exactly happened between them? Why is it so awkward?” 

“I love this drama!!!” 

“The production team really knows how to stir things up hahahaha” 

“Is this ‘Farewell My Lover’ [Desert Island Survival Edition]?”

Seeing the live viewer count surging, the PD’s smirk was uncontrollable as he held up the final slip. “The last one! Teacher Jiang’s for Teacher Qin!”

Everyone’s gossipy gazes focused.

Jiang Xunruo remained composed, a flawless smile hanging on her face. Qin Sijing had felt uncomfortable ever since she saw that smile. What is she trying to do? What scheme is she cooking up?

The PD cleared his throat, glanced at the skyrocketing online numbers, and read in his most exaggerated tone: “Let’s see Teacher Jiang’s first impression of Teacher Qin…”

He unfolded the paper and held it close to the lens.

It was completely blank.

Yes, the slip was blank. Not a single word.

The PD stared awkwardly at the white paper, clearly not expecting this situation. If I’d known, I would have arranged a script beforehand!

Qin Sijing was also stunned when she saw the blank paper. She didn’t write anything? What does she mean? She’s not even going to pretend to act?

“Te-Teacher Jiang? It’s blank? May I ask what the meaning behind this is?” The PD’s back was nearly soaked with sweat.

Jiang Xunruo stood up, meeting the gazes of Qin Sijing and the PD. “This blank space is my evaluation of Teacher Qin.”

She looked calmly at the already frowning Qin Sijing and gave a pure, harmless smile.

“Because to me, Teacher Qin is an unknown, just like this blank slip of paper.”

“A ‘first impression’ is too thin. Past labels or rumors aren’t the real her. But here, I really hope that in the next eighty-nine days, I can experience real survival challenges with Teacher Qin, and piece by piece, hand-write the contents of this blank paper together.”

Jiang Xunruo gazed quietly at Qin Sijing. “What this paper finally says, I believe, will be the result of what we create together.”

????????????

 “Jiang is so ‘tea-ish’ (manipulative), what kind of essay is she reciting?”

 “Help, how can she say that with a straight face? So cringe…”

“Hahahahaha so dramatic, one thing after another, I love watching this [Rubs hands]”

“…Is it just me or is this kind of romantic?”

“I SHIP IT!! ‘Writing together’? Jiang Xunruo, are you confessing??”

 “Can everyone stop forced shipping? Jiang’s level is too high, Sister Qin ran!!”

“Can the haters stop pretending to be passersby to ship them? So disgusting.”

The camera cut to Qin Sijing.

Qin Sijing’s face was a masterpiece of shock, confusion, disbelief, absurdity, and… dazed bewilderment.

Her lips moved. She wanted to curse the other woman for being pretentious and sentimental, but looking into Jiang Xunruo’s eyes—which appeared purely sincere—she couldn’t say a word.

For the first time in her life, Qin Sijing felt a powerful sense of suffocating helplessness.

Blank? Unknown? Writing together?

Why are you acting all literary and artistic in a survival show!