In a Survival Variety Show, My Lookalike Rival and I Got a Happy Ending - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Qin Sijing currently felt that her brain must have been caught in a door back then for her to agree to participate in this survival variety show.

She wished she could travel back in time and chop off the hand that signed the contract.

If she hadn’t participated, she could be living her life comfortably, instead of picking up firewood here with her so-called rival!

Rivals shouldn’t even be on the same show.

The moment she thought of Jiang Xunruo, Qin Sijing felt exceptionally stifled.

She had debuted as a child star, and the audience had watched her act since she was little. Before the age of twenty, her path could be described as smooth sailing.

In the year she turned twenty, she had just finished filming a modern idol drama and needed to film a commercial art film to transition her image.

She had already chosen the script and even spent three months preparing for the character. In the end, her studio told her that the role had been snatched away by someone else.

A newcomer of similar age, who had gained attention right from her debut through marketing press releases claiming she “closely resembled Qin Sijing,” had so easily intercepted her role.

That wasn’t all; afterwards came an overwhelming flood of press releases.

#Newcomer Jiang Xunruo Crushes Senior with Strength, Secures Female Lead in “Floating Light”!

#The New Wave Arrives! Jiang Xunruo’s Pure Temperament Surpasses Qin Sijing, Poised to Become the New Generation’s Acting Starlet!

The accompanying photos were even similar pictures of the two of them, and the discussion levels had exploded.

That was simply the beginning of Qin Sijing’s nightmare. It wasn’t just a struggle for resources, but a trampling of her dignity.

She, having debuted as a child star and worked her way through the entertainment industry for over a decade, had become a stepping stone for someone else to “blood-suck” by claiming a resemblance. From then on, never appearing in the same frame was the bottom line she drew for herself.

And now?

She seriously suspected she was possessed by a “ghost” to have joined this program where Jiang Xunruo was present.

Stay away from her.

Thinking this, Qin Sijing directly turned around, intending for each to pick up their own firewood—no one delaying anyone, no one annoying anyone.

“Cough, cough… cough, cough…”

A burst of clearly suppressed coughing came from behind her, and Qin Sijing froze in her tracks.

Under the halo of the flashlight, Jiang Xunruo’s face looked somewhat translucent, her slender shoulders trembled slightly, and there were several obvious red bumps on her wrist.

Forget it, forget it.

In the pitch black, if something really happened to Jiang Xunruo, the trouble would be even greater.

The two walked forward side-by-side in silence. Before they had gone far, a rot-like smell blew in with the wind, making one’s nose sting.

“Cough, cough!”

Jiang Xunruo was exceptionally sensitive to smells; she bent over and couldn’t stop coughing violently, her eyes turning red.

Qin Sijing froze for a few seconds; she actually saw tears flickering in Jiang Xunruo’s eyes under the flashlight beam. So, she was choked to tears?

Her first reaction was to feel very irritable, but she didn’t know what to do. Irritated, yet also a bit unable to bear it.

Qin Sijing rummaged through her bag for the portable first-aid kit she carried, took out a protective mask and a small bottle of medicated oil (Fengyoujing), and stuffed them into Jiang Xunruo’s hand.

“Take these.”

Jiang Xunruo took the items pushed upon her and looked up at Qin Sijing, a flicker of complex emotion crossing her eyes. “Thank you, Teacher Qin.”

“No need to thank me,” Qin Sijing emphasized, “I just don’t want to drag down the progress.”

Not long after heading deeper into the forest, a smell of decay mixed with damp soil filled the air.

Jiang Xunruo frowned slightly, and after a moment, started coughing violently again.

Qin Sijing: “…”

Looking at Jiang Xunruo coughing to tears in front of her, she once again fell into a daze of “Who am I, where am I, what should I do?”

She didn’t know; no one had ever taught her how to get along with a rival.

“You, you…” Qin Sijing was at a loss, only able to stare at her blankly while looking her up and down. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, let’s keep picking up firewood.” Jiang Xunruo seemed very embarrassed about delaying the progress and endured it, walking ahead first.

On the way, the two crossed a ditch that wasn’t very wide but was very slippery. Qin Sijing was looking down to observe when a soft reminder came from behind.

“Teacher Qin, step on that stone to your front-left with the moss on the edge. That one is very stable and won’t slip.”

Qin Sijing subconsciously did as told, and indeed crossed over steadily.

Right then, a bright beam of light approached from a distance, and the sound of footsteps grew closer.

“Teacher Jiang! Teacher Qin! I’ve come to help!”

It was Ximen Ling’s voice.

A bright smile hung on her face as she briskly and neatly helped pick up the firewood on the ground, but anyone with clear eyes could see she had come specifically for Jiang Xunruo.

With Ximen Ling joining in, efficiency greatly improved. The three quickly finished gathering the firewood, perfectly completing the punishment task.

How could the production team miss an opportunity to stir things up?

As soon as they returned, the PD appeared with a beaming smile. “The three teachers have really worked hard! Why don’t we take a photo today to commemorate this!”

The three of them: “…”

Without allowing for discussion, the photographer began directing on-site. “Come, the three teachers, please stand a bit closer.”

“Teacher Qin, don’t stand so far away, you can get a bit closer.”

Qin Sijing moved awkwardly, her shoulder pressing against Jiang Xunruo’s.

“Right, yes, that’s it!”

“Last one, teachers, please feel free to express yourselves!”

The three of them, who started acting goofy during the “free expression” shot, attracted Bai Qi and Song Yitong who had come over to see what the commotion was about.

Though they didn’t quite understand what was happening, seeing the weird yet joyful scene in the photography area, they couldn’t help but be infected by the atmosphere.

The PD had a sudden inspiration and made a snap decision: “Come, come, come! Since all five teachers are here and the atmosphere is so good, let’s take a five-person group photo!”

The staff quickly set up a simple background. The five of them, with bare faces and wearing windbreakers, looked toward the camera.

Though they had no exquisite makeup or magnificent clothes, they carried a natural, vibrant vitality.

Qin Sijing had her arms crossed, her lips twitching slightly. Jiang Xunruo stood beside her, smiling gently.

As for Bai Qi and Song Yitong, they still didn’t stand together, but both were smiling at the camera. Ximen Ling stood between them, happily making a peace sign.

“Click”

The frame was frozen.