In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Predictably, Jiang Xunruo’s “blank paper” speech trended once again, and screenshots of Qin Sijing’s bewildered expression were turned into a variety of memes.

The fans of both sides, who had been weary from constant bickering, found their fighting spirit reignited by the trending topic and resumed their verbal warfare in the comments section.

The production team watched the data feedback with grins that practically reached their ears.

They had to keep the trouble coming to maintain the heat!

On the third day, under a scorching sun, the five female guests were gathered once again under the thatched shed.

Gone was the refined elegance of the first day; they all now sported heavy dark circles under their eyes. After all, the conditions on the deserted island were harsh, and nobody had slept well.

“Good morning, teachers!” The PD held a microphone, his energy high. “After yesterday’s familiarization, I believe everyone is now well-acquainted with one another!”

Qin Sijing twitched the corner of her mouth in a forced smile.

Hardly acquainted.

She and Jiang Xunruo were actors, while Bai Qi and Song Yitong came from the musical theater world. As for Ximen Ling, she was an independent singer. Before this, none of them knew each other.

“Today’s mission is” The PD intentionally drew out his voice for suspense. “The Fire-Starting Relay!”

The rules were that each team had to successfully start a fire at two different locations: first on the dry sand, and then at a much more difficult high-wind point. Both fires had to burn for more than one minute to count as a success. Rankings would be based on the total time taken.

The first and second-place teams would receive rewards, while the last-place team would be punished with gathering firewood for the camp.

“Ahem, according to our newly established rules,” the PD’s gaze landed on Qin Sijing’s face, “Teacher Qin, as the MVP of the previous mission, will have the priority to choose her teammate for this task.”

Qin Sijing: “I’ll be a team of one.”

How could the production team let her have her way?

“Oh, Teacher Qin, this is a teamwork-based variety show! Mutual aid is the point! How about this—to keep things fair and just, you’ll be the first to draw a lot to choose your teammate!”

The moment he finished speaking, staff members immediately brought out a drawing box.

“Drawing lots? More like it’s rigged, hahahaha”

“Sister Qin, you’re being set up! Run!”

“It’s definitely going to be Jiang Xunruo!

Hahahaha Production Team: Want to go solo? No way!”

“Production team, be human for once!! Say no to forced pairing!! Let our rivals walk independently, thanks!”

“Qin fans really love making a scene. Our Ruoruo doesn’t want anything to do with your sister either, okay?”

Qin Sijing gave the PD a skeptical glance and reached into the box to pull out a slip.

When she flipped it over, her face darkened instantly.

The name written on the slip was: Jiang Xunruo!

“Hahahaha as expected! I’m dying laughing”

“Sister Qin, you really were set up hahahaha”

“Even passersby feel bad for her. Is Sister Qin here for a trial by fire? Why do they have to be tied together every day?”

In the livestream, the long-standing grievances between the two fanbases were ignited.

“Can Jiang just walk on her own? She’s been a ‘blood-sucking’ parasite since her debut. She even intentionally wore the same outfit on the red carpet back then. Truly disgusting.”

“There goes the revisionist history again. Our Ruoruo was wearing a brand of haute couture. It was the Qin fans who bought press releases every time calling Ruoruo a copycat!”

“Doesn’t a certain child star realize how much she’s faded since her debut? How dare she say Ruoruo is blood-sucking?”

As the bullet comments began to spiral out of control, a strange silence fell over the set.

Qin Sijing laughed out of pure anger and looked at the PD. “Creating trouble is your middle name, isn’t it?”

The PD gave a dry laugh, trying to control the scene. “Hahahaha, Teacher Qin, you really know how to joke! It’s destiny!”

In contrast to Qin Sijing’s fiery reaction, Jiang Xunruo appeared much more understanding.

She stepped forward with a humble expression, her voice gentle. “It is my honor to be on a team with Teacher Qin. I will work hard not to hold us back.”

That feeling of stifled frustration rose up in Qin Sijing again. She would rather see Jiang Xunruo act aggressive than this; it truly felt like punching a bale of cotton.

“Destiny has spoken, Qin Sijing, just accept it hahahaha”

“Fans, stop fighting! Look at Qin Sijing’s frustrated face, I’m dying laughing”

Now that Qin Sijing had her teammate, it was Ximen Ling’s turn. She drew Song Yitong.

Song Yitong gave her a gentle smile, and Ximen Ling immediately showed her little tiger teeth, her eyes lighting up. “Teacher Song, please look after me.”

“Please look after me as well,” Song Yitong replied with a smile.

The two of them huddled together, chatting and laughing, looking unexpectedly harmonious.

That left Bai Qi all alone, automatically forming a single-person team.

Bai Qi’s usually expressionless face was now covered in a layer of frost that could have turned the surrounding air into ice.

“Bai-Song is split? Xi-Jiang is split? What am I even shipping anymore [Crying]”

“Bai Qi’s face is even colder. Is she jealous?”

With the groups settled, they began discussing their fire-starting strategy.

Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo stood on an open patch of ground, keeping a noticeable distance between them.

This was actually the first time Qin Sijing had looked at Jiang Xunruo from such close proximity. In the past whether at awards ceremonies, galas, or events she had always wanted to be as far away as possible to avoid being “compared and suppressed” by the other’s press releases.

When she first received the invitation for this variety show, she was resistant. Since she had already “faded,” couldn’t they just let her rot in peace?

But her studio didn’t agree. “Why pass up a chance to become popular again?” “You were a child star; your acting reputation is still there. Why are you so afraid of running into her?”

Qin Sijing remembered what she said at the time: “Because I hate being used for comparisons. I hate being measured against her.”

She had debuted as a child star and tasted success early. She had her moments of high spirits. But ever since she was linked with Jiang Xunruo, her career has been filled with pain. Every time she crossed paths with her, nothing good happened. Either people said Jiang’s acting crushed hers, or during outfit clashes, they claimed the “Little White Flower” (innocent) temperament was superior.

But now, putting aside the annoying press releases and labels, Jiang Xunruo really did have good skin, long eyelashes, and soft, pretty eyes.

Wait, why am I admitting she’s pretty!

Qin Sijing looked away.

Jiang Xunruo smiled slightly. “Teacher Qin, I’ll go to the high-wind point to start the fire, and you go to the sand pile. How does that sound?”

Starting a fire at the high-wind point was the hardest part. The wind was strong, and it was difficult to keep a flame burning for a full minute. Moreover, this mission affected the MVP count; getting more than two MVPs would lead to extra advertising resources.

Whether it was her competitive streak taking over or her desire not to owe Jiang a favor, Qin Sijing immediately rejected the proposal.

“No, I’ll go to the wind point. You go to the sand.”

Jiang Xunruo blinked and gave a tender smile. “Alright, then I’ll listen to Teacher Qin.”

The mission officially began.

Ximen Ling and Song Yitong turned out to be an unexpectedly powerful duo. One was responsible for finding materials and the other for starting the fire. They coordinated perfectly at both the sand and the wind point, taking the MVP title without suspense.

Although Bai Qi was alone, the rules stated that as long as the flames at both locations totaled over a minute, she would pass. She easily took second place.

Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo, however, were a classic case of “two positives making a negative.”

Jiang Xunruo repeatedly failed at the sand pile. Her movements were slow and deliberate; she dawdled for a long time before finally getting a spark. By the time she brought the fire starter to Qin Sijing, the flame was so weak it was nearly extinguished.

Qin Sijing had also overestimated her ability to start a fire in the wind. The gusts were so strong she could barely keep her eyes open. Every time the fire caught, it was immediately blown out. The more anxious she got, the less she could light it.

They were a frantic mess at the wind point—one trying to block the wind, the other trying to light the fire. Their hair was blown upright by the wind; they looked incredibly disheveled.

“Hahahahaha, Qin and Jiang are so funny like this”

“Two powerhouses together making a total loss, I’m dying!”

Screenshots taken! Day 1: High spirits. Day 2: Independent MVP. Day 3: Disheveled in the wind with blank stares. Dying laughing

When all was said and done, they predictably took last place. Looking at the successful fires of the other groups and then at the heap of failed ashes before her, Qin Sijing’s eyes went completely dull.

“I told you Jiang shouldn’t get involved! Is she dragging her down this blatantly?”

“Stop acting like it’s all Ruoruo’s fault. If Qin is so great, why didn’t she win MVP herself?”

“Ruoruo offered to go to the wind point first. Qin was the one who insisted on swapping, okay?”

The PD announced the results. “The last-place team, Team Qin-Jiang, is punished with going into the jungle tonight to gather enough firewood for the camp to use all night!”

As night fell, the jungle grew dim, and many insects buzzed around them. Qin Sijing and Jiang Xunruo, each wearing a headlamp, silently picked up branches from the ground.

Finally, Qin Sijing couldn’t hold it in. She leaned close to Jiang Xunruo’s ear and lowered her voice: “Jiang Xunruo, did you do that on purpose today?”

Jiang Xunruo stopped. Under the light of the flashlights, her eyes looked exceptionally clear, even carrying a hint of innocence. “No, you’ve misunderstood me.”

The two were standing extremely close. The image of them whispering into each other’s ears in the dark jungle, captured by the night-vision lens, looked dim and strangely intimate.

“Wait? What are these two doing?”

“[Ear] Is there something being said that we VIP users aren’t allowed to hear?”

“You guys… isn’t the distance a bit too close?”

“Ahhhh why does this whispering scene make me ship it??”

“This eerie chemistry… (Fans don’t hit me)”