High-Altitude Worker, Unfortunately a Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role - Chapter 19

”

Zhao Ke shrugged. “Fine.”

Emmm, why is Zhao Ke acting like this?

What do you mean “acting”? Qiao Shuxue has her completely figured out. What kind of attitude should she have?

Qiao Shuxue’s heart sank slightly. From yesterday to today, no matter how she treated Zhao Ke, the other woman remained indifferent.

Qiao Shuxue clenched her fist secretly and took a deep breath.

Noon arrived quickly. When Zhao Ke reached the Huang Yu Group’s campsite, a cast-iron pot was already suspended over the fire. Qiao Shuxue stirred the pot while chatting animatedly with Yu Huizhou beside her.

As the guests gathered, the Production Team set up cameras in the clearing.

In the main live stream chat:

I’m getting really angry. Xiao Yu, stop talking to her!

This is the first time I’ve seen someone burn bridges and still have the nerve to act so shameless.

Snow Treasure didn’t burn any bridges! The audience thinks Yu Huizhou’s acting is bad—what does that have to do with our Snow Treasure?

Get lost, you snowflakes! Can’t you stop pissing everywhere like dogs?

Zhao Ke walked straight over and sat down. “Qiao Shuxue, after the drama you and Xiao Yu starred in aired, were you aware of the online criticism of his acting?”

??? Direct attack!

Oh my god, Zhao Ke is so blunt!

Baby, take it easy!

Zhao Ke stared directly at Qiao Shuxue, her eyes calm. Rather than defending someone else, she seemed to be scrutinizing Qiao Shuxue herself.

Qiao Shuxue’s eyes flashed with momentary hostility before quickly softening under control. She frowned, as if trying to recall. “How could such a thing happen? Teacher Yu’s exceptional acting is universally acknowledged, isn’t it? At the time… I remember I was in seclusion preparing for my next role and didn’t pay attention to the internet.”

Zhao Ke blinked lightly and nodded. “I see. Thank you.”

She stopped questioning and began processing the bamboo rat she had hunted.

A dark unease settled in Qiao Shuxue’s eyes. She couldn’t believe Zhao Ke had let her off so easily.

But then she realized Zhao Ke had already achieved her goal. Her hasty explanation had already cleared Yu Huizhou of the “bad acting” label.

Yet Zhao Ke, who had clearly caught her in a lie, hadn’t retaliated or exploited the situation. Qiao Shuxue savored this feeling of being dismissed, a burning, bone-deep humiliation.

Qiao Qinglu approached with two meager twigs, sat beside Qiao Shuxue, and draped her arm around her sister’s in a show of sisterly affection.

“Sister, it’s been so long! How have you been? Life in these mountains has been rough.”

Qiao Qinglu, are you serious? You haven’t lifted a finger this whole time—you’ve relied entirely on others!

Ahhh, get your filthy hands off Snow Treasure’s arm, you b1tch!

Qiao Shuxue glanced at their intertwined arms and smiled faintly. “I’m doing well, just busy filming. If it’s so tough here, why not leave the show? I’ll have Xiao Gu send you some tonics.”

The mighty head of the Gu family, worth countless fortunes, is just “Xiao Gu” to Snow Treasure? I’m shipping this!

Qiao Qinglu shuddered, the memory of being kicked to the ground by a man flashing through her mind, her ribs aching faintly.

Before Qiao Qinglu could reply, Qiao Shuxue turned to Zhao Ke. “Ke Ke, have you met Xiao Gu? I’ll have him send you some tonics too.”

Zhao Ke shot Qiao Shuxue a withering look.

She knew perfectly well that Qiao Shuxue’s boyfriend had acquired her entire family fortune.

Zhao Ke scoffed, her tone ambiguous. “We’ve met once, by coincidence.”

“But what’s even more coincidental is that I’ve saved both of you sisters. What a twist of fate.”

With that single sentence, both women’s faces turned ashen.

Why am I feeling inexplicably satisfied?

It’s just saving someone. What’s the big deal?

I’ll mention it if I want to. What’s it to you?

With all eight participants assembled, Qiao Shuxue stood up proactively. “First, I’d like to thank the Four Frames of Life production team for inviting me to join the show as a guest. Before coming, I did my research and learned that fresh Golden Silk Fir soup is incredibly flavorful. Please try some—consider it my welcome gift to everyone.”

“Thank you, Shu Xue! Welcome to our little ‘hardship’ adventure! Hahaha!” The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

The broth shimmered with a golden sheen of oil, its earthy aroma filling the air. Even the production team members nearby couldn’t help but swallow their saliva in anticipation.

Zhao Ke had just picked up her bowl when a pained wail erupted from Qiao Qinglu beside her. “This soup is poisoned! Don’t drink it, everyone!”

All eyes turned to Qiao Qinglu, who was clutching her stomach, her face contorted in agony, as if she were about to vomit.

Qiao Shuxue’s expression instantly shifted to one of hurt. “Sister, I understand your usual mischief, but this Golden Silk Fir soup was a heartfelt gift. Don’t slander me like this.”

Qiao Qinglu’s eyes burned crimson as she glared at Qiao Shuxue. “You’re the one spreading lies, Qiao Shuxue! Can’t you see I’m in real pain?”

Qiao Shuxue looked down at Qiao Qinglu. “Everyone else has already drunk the soup. Why are you the only one having a reaction?”

Qiao Qinglu will die if she doesn’t stir up trouble, right?

Ugh, she’s so annoying! Can’t she just get kicked off the show already?

Zhao Ke sat in her seat, her hand holding the bowl tilting slightly. The soup inside sloshed over the edge, dripping onto the grass in a steady stream.

The grass blades turned scorched yellow under the rising steam.

But Qiao Qinglu really does look like she’s in pain. Her face is completely pale.

Who are you going to believe? Her or me, Qin Shi Huang?

Qiao Qinglu is really betraying Snow Treasure’s sincerity. She was just saying she’d give her a gift. I guess that’s not necessary anymore.

“When you were gathering the Golden Silk Fir, were you near the lake?” Zhao Ke asked, turning to Qiao Shuxue.

Qiao Shuxue froze, confused. “Yes, why?”

Zhao Ke’s pupils were dark and unreadable.

Using her chopsticks, Zhao Ke picked out a slender mushroom and held it up for inspection. “This isn’t Golden Silk Fir. It’s Golden Umbrella Fir—poisonous.”

“Qiao Qinglu, did you skip breakfast this morning?”

Clutching her stomach, Qiao Qinglu nodded frantically, forcing out a weak reply, “I barely ate anything last night either.”

Guan Muya slowly began to realize something was wrong. “Excuse me, I think my stomach’s starting to hurt too.”

No way, is it actually poisonous?!

What’s wrong with Qiao Shuxue? You can’t just pick poisonous mushrooms willy-nilly! People could die!

Why are you blaming Snow Treasure? She didn’t do it on purpose!

Zhao Ke stood up and strode past the group, heading into the forest. Her voice carried back, “Golden Silk Fir only grows in swamps. The ones by the river are poisonous Golden Umbrella Fir.”

Zhao Ke’s eyes scanned the undergrowth. She remembered a type of moss that could neutralize the Golden Umbrella Fir’s toxins.

Qiao Shuxue trembled at Zhao Ke’s words.

She had done her research, of course. She knew Golden Silk Fir grew in swamps. But the swamp was filthy, and Qiao Shuxue didn’t want to get her clothes dirty. So when she saw similar-looking Golden Umbrella Fir by the river, she had picked them without hesitation.

Who knew they were poisonous?

To make matters worse, Qiao Qinglu hadn’t eaten in a long time, making her reaction to the mushroom’s toxins even more severe. The effects hit her almost instantly, slapping her across the face.

Qiao Shuxue’s nails dug into her palms as she bit her lower lip, frantically searching for a solution.

The camera couldn’t capture her face clearly, concealing her frantic expression.

If only Qiao Qinglu could just die here.

Zhao Ke quickly returned, cradling a clump of moss she had uprooted, her hands covered in mud.

She stood before the group. “Eat one piece each. It’s an antidote.”

The others looked hesitant, but seeing Qiao Qinglu’s pain, they could only grimace and tear off pieces of moss from Zhao Ke’s hand.

This stuff is an antidote? Is Zhao Ke just making things up?

A local just chimed in! Zhao Ke’s right. Back home, when kids accidentally eat Golden Umbrella Fir mushrooms, we use lichen as an antidote.

Qiao Shuxue’s expression is terrifying.

Qiao Shuxue had also drunk the soup. With a stiff hand, she took the moss from Zhao Ke, her voice low and barely concealing her resentment. “Why didn’t you drink my soup?”

Zhao Ke raised an eyebrow. “We have a history, don’t we?”

The veil of pretense was abruptly torn away. Qiao Shuxue realized that Zhao Ke, initially the weaker party, had somehow seized control of the situation.

Qiao Shuxue swallowed the moss in large gulps, as if she wanted to devour Zhao Ke whole. The Beauty System softened her venomous gaze, and for a moment, no one noticed anything amiss.

Zhao Ke approached Qiao Qinglu, who was writhing on the ground in agony, yet stubbornly insisted, “I’d rather die than eat dirt.”

Qiao Qinglu, why don’t you channel that stubbornness into something productive?

Zhao Ke is kindly helping you detoxify. Wouldn’t you rather accept her help than die in pain?

Zhao Ke was speechless, but too lazy to argue. She simply grabbed Qiao Qinglu’s chin, pressing her thumb and forefinger against her cheeks to force her mouth open.

“Enough talk,” she said, shoving the remaining moss into Qiao Qinglu’s mouth with her other hand. She then pushed Qiao Qinglu’s jaw shut, preventing her from spitting it out.

Qiao Qinglu’s face was covered in mud and tears, her entire face flushed crimson.

To make matters worse, Zhao Ke was standing while Qiao Qinglu was sitting on a low stool, forcing her to look up at Zhao Ke.

Why does this look exactly like how I give my dog medicine?

Zhao Ke is so rough!

If Qiao Qinglu keeps resisting, she’ll die! Who has time to worry about being gentle?

Ahhh, I want to be pinned down like that too!

Zhao Ke is so rough, I love it!

Zhao Ke watched Qiao Qinglu expressionlessly until she saw her swallow. Only then did she slowly release her grip.

“Cough, cough.”

Qiao Qinglu collapsed to the ground, her gaze fixed on Zhao Ke, brimming with venomous resentment.

Zhao Ke remained unfazed, even raising an eyebrow in a mocking gesture.

“Everyone, I’m truly sorry,” Qiao Shuxue’s voice trembled with emotion, her eyes glistening with tears as she addressed the crowd. “It was my carelessness. I didn’t properly identify the fungal strain. I apologize to you all.”

She bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, tears splashing onto the grass with the movement. Her slender shoulders trembled incessantly, betraying her deep anxiety and remorse.

Ahhh, my heart aches for Snow Treasure!