High-Altitude Worker, Unfortunately a Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role - Chapter 42

Yan Huaixu chuckled, his eyes sparkling like stars as he looked at Zhao Ke.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ke was too preoccupied with her own questions to notice Yan Huaixu’s barely suppressed amusement. All she wanted to know was why the cat was making that noise—was it broken?

“It likes you,” Yan Huaixu said.

“Huh?” Zhao Ke turned abruptly. What’s this guy saying?

“The cat likes you,” Yan Huaixu clarified, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he added the subject.

“Oh, right,” Zhao Ke said, scratching her head. This cat sure has a strange way of showing affection.

Carrying the cat carrier, Zhao Ke walked Yan Huaixu downstairs, who carried the dry food and litter.

“Just contact me if you have any problems,” Yan Huaixu said, leaning against the car window and looking down at Zhao Ke.

Zhao Ke gave him an OK sign. “Don’t worry, boss. I guarantee this cat won’t lose a single gram.”

Yan Huaixu pressed his lips together for a moment before breaking into a smile. He straightened up and waved goodbye.

Zhao Ke nodded and drove out of the residential complex.

The pre-holiday roads were clear. Zhao Ke’s car stopped first at the crosswalk, and she idly watched the red numbers count down.

Wait a minute…

Zhao Ke suddenly froze. Didn’t the novel say Yan Huaixu was from City A?

The Yan Family of City A—one of the city’s top elite families.

So when he said he was going back to his hometown, where exactly was that?

Zhao Ke’s mind short-circuited.

She stiffly turned her head to look at the cat carrier in the passenger seat, frowning.

Could Yan Huaixu be planning to abandon her, treating her like a sucker to take his place?

With the New Year behind her, Zhao Ke began working on the job Liu Tiande had secured for her: Faraway, a documentary-style travel variety show featuring self-driving adventures.

At the airport, Zhao Ke handed her pre-chilled down jacket to Wang Ran.

“Are you sure you don’t need a warmer coat, Sister Coco?” Wang Ran asked, her face etched with concern.

Zhao Ke shook her head. “Isn’t it summer in Africa right now?”

Since it was summer in Africa, Zhao Ke traveled light, bringing only a small suitcase.

“Xiao Ke, maybe we should reconsider this,” Liu Tiande said anxiously from the side.

Faraway had approached Liu Tiande after Four Frames of Life ended. After careful consideration and thorough research, he had chosen Faraway from numerous variety show offers.

But he never imagined that the day after Zhao Ke signed the contract, Qiao Shuxue would also announce her participation in the show.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Tiande was beside himself with frustration. Overseas travel, self-driving, scenic landscapes, cultural immersion—isn’t this exactly the kind of “new era” female lead narrative Qiao Shuxue loves? How could my Zhao Ke be so unlucky to get stuck with her again?

Zhao Ke smiled, offering Liu Tiande a comforting pat. “Don’t worry, it’s not just the two of us.”

People can’t even empathize with their own selves from just a day later.

Zhao Ke stood in the unfamiliar airport terminal, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of faces from different cultures. Only she and Qiao Shuxue locked eyes.

Qiao Shuxue smiled brightly. “Looks like we’re the only ones who landed in Johannesburg.”

The Production Team had stirred up drama by splitting the four guests into two groups. One group landed in Johannesburg, while the other landed in Durban, at opposite ends of eastern Africa. They would simultaneously embark on a self-driving journey to Cape Town’s iconic Cape of Good Hope in the west.

With only a one-third chance, why did Zhao Ke have to get stuck with this? My heart aches for Snow Treasure!

As if anyone would want to be paired with Qiao Shuxue! If she hadn’t pushed Keke to go rock climbing, Keke wouldn’t have gotten injured and nearly died!

Are you out of your mind? That was Qiao Qinglu’s malicious scheme to harm others! Why drag Snow Treasure into this?

Following the Production Team’s instructions, Zhao Ke and Qiao Shuxue obtained local driver’s licenses and rented a four-seater off-road pickup truck, officially beginning their cross-African road trip.

“You drive, Keke,” Qiao Shuxue said, standing beside the truck with her phone in hand. “I’ll navigate. The landmarks here are all in English, so it’s easy to get lost.”

Zhao Ke bent down to lift the suitcase into the trunk, nonchalantly replying, “Sure.”

As expected of Snow Treasure, a seasoned traveler who frequently goes abroad—she’s so thoughtful!

Snow Treasure is beautiful inside and out!

I’m going on a trip with Snow Treasure! I can’t wait!

Wait, why is Qiao Shuxue just standing there talking? She has three or four suitcases of her own, but she’s making Zhao Ke carry them all by herself!

Qiao Shuxue smiled and slid into the passenger seat.

It was summer in Africa, and the air shimmered with heat.

This was Zhao Ke’s first time driving a right-hand drive car, and she was understandably clumsy. She released the handbrake, stepped on the accelerator, and the car lurched forward before stalling immediately.

Zhao Ke nearly slammed her head into the steering wheel from the sudden stop.

“Sorry,” she apologized reflexively.

Qiao Shuxue remained good-natured. “No problem. You must be new to this type of car. I used to drive right-hand drive vehicles when I studied abroad. Why don’t I take over?”

Before Qiao Shuxue could finish speaking, Zhao Ke had already restarted the engine and smoothly steered out of the parking lot.

“It’s fine,” she said.

The sun was bright, so Zhao Ke took off the sunglasses hanging around her neck and put them on, casually remarking, “I’ve never heard you mention your study abroad experience before.”

If Zhao Ke hadn’t read the original novel, she might have actually believed her.

Years ago, Qiao Shuxue had been switched at birth by the Qiao Family’s nanny and later abandoned in a remote rural village. She remained there until she was twenty, when Liu Tiande, who happened to be passing through, brought her to the city.

Qiao Shuxue remained unfazed, smiling serenely as she enjoyed the gentle breeze. “That was quite a while ago. I skipped a grade in high school, so I started university earlier than most.”

“I see,” Zhao Ke replied noncommittally.

With the backing of both the Qiao and Gu Families—two powerful aristocratic clans—obtaining a foreign university diploma would be a trivial matter for Qiao Shuxue.

Wow, this is the first time I’ve heard Snow Treasure talk about studying abroad!

University must hold such wonderful memories.

Snow Treasure is every sapiosexual’s dream!

“Hello?”

Qiao Shuxue suddenly answered her phone.

Zhao Ke steered with one hand, her other arm resting on the car window. Behind her sunglasses, her eyes slanted sideways, glancing at Qiao Shuxue.

Qiao Shuxue’s gaze remained lowered, her expression unreadable.

“Alright, Mother. I understand.”

Qiao Shuxue seemed to fall into a long silence, only occasionally responding with a respectful acknowledgment.

A few minutes later, she hung up, the screen went dark, and Qiao Shuxue let out a long sigh.

Noticing Zhao Ke watching her, Qiao Shuxue forced a smile. “Sorry about that. I had to take a call.”

“No need to apologize,” Zhao Ke replied without much reaction.

But the bullet screen instantly exploded.

Why is that old woman calling again?

When will Snow Treasure finally escape the dampness of her family?

Are the Qiao Family threatening Snow Treasure again?

Qiao Shuxue looked like she wanted to say something but couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Perhaps the vast, empty fields on either side of the road stirred her desire to confide. Her eyes glistening with tears, Qiao Shuxue turned to Zhao Ke. “Could you… could you just listen for a moment? I… I feel like I can’t breathe.”

Zhao Ke: “…Go ahead.”

Qiao Shuxue gave her a grateful smile, then gazed blankly out the window.

“I’ve always envied you, Keke. Being able to live freely on your own, without having to worry about the expectations of those closest to you.”

Zhao Ke turned to look at Qiao Shuxue, a strange expression on her face. If she remembered correctly, the original owner of this body had lost her family and fortune, partly due to her own self-destructive tendencies, but Qiao Shuxue had also played a role in pushing her over the edge.

Qiao Shuxue didn’t notice Zhao Ke’s gaze, still lost in her self-pity.

“Ever since the Qiao Family found me two years ago, it’s like I’ve been shackled by invisible chains. These are the family I’ve longed for my entire life, my own bl00d relatives, yet they cruelly want to clip my wings and force me to become some so-called ‘proper young lady.'”

“Your biological parents don’t want you to act?” Zhao Ke asked.

“Yes,” Qiao Shuxue said, her voice choked with emotion. “They… they think being an actress or entertainer is beneath them.”

Bullshit, Zhao Ke thought inwardly.

If the Qiao Family truly believed that, Qiao Qinglu would never have entered the entertainment industry in the first place, let alone thrived with their vast resources.

“This Qiao Family… it’s not what I want at all. Money, status—these are chains that bind the soul’s freedom. Keke, if only I could be like you, with nothing to lose.”

Qiao Shuxue looked directly at Zhao Ke.

Heartbreaking for Snow Treasure

Snow Treasure’s spiritual realm is too lofty; I’m ashamed of my own inferiority.

The Qiao Family are arrogant bullies! Get lost!

Wait, have you all been brainwashed? Isn’t this just Versailles-level boasting?

Zhao Ke removed her sunglasses and met Shuxue’s gaze.

“You’re still so young,” Zhao Ke said calmly. “Don’t define yourself so early.”

“Yes, Keke, you’re right. I have a long life ahead of me. I’ll definitely become a better person,” Qiao Shuxue replied with a radiant smile.

Zhao Ke, you hypocrite, trying to comfort her? Don’t flatter yourself.

Only Snow Treasure would be nice to her. Zhao Ke ruined her family and drove them into bankruptcy. Her family has nowhere to cry, yet she’s here basking in self-satisfaction.

Being cursed with a jinx like Zhao Ke is the worst luck imaginable for her family.

The first stop on their road trip was Gold Reef City, a gold mining museum and theme park on the outskirts of Johannesburg. It served as a testament to Africa’s 19th-century gold rush and a promotion of the Witwatersrand Basin’s current gold mining industry.

Following the guide into the old mine tunnels, the earthy, damp smell of the soil filled their nostrils.

Zhao Ke, wearing a hard hat and carrying a flashlight, explored the abandoned gold mine.

Only one thought occupied Qiao Shuxue’s mind: The gold mined from this place must be worth a fortune.

Her gaze swept over the abandoned mining equipment and ore samples within the mine. She listened attentively to the guide’s explanations, even exchanging a few words with him in English.

Snow Treasure really knows her stuff! If it weren’t for the real-time subtitles, I wouldn’t have understood a word she said.

Does the Qiao family have mining interests? Snow Treasure seems so familiar with this.

Wait, didn’t President Gu invest in coal mines?

“The Witwatersrand Basin? Is that where we’ll be driving through?” Qiao Shuxue’s eyes lit up.

Zhao Ke nodded. “Yes, we’ll rest here tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll likely pass through the gold mining area.”

“Fantastic!” Qiao Shuxue clapped her hands. “To see gold mining firsthand—what a stroke of luck!”

Zhao Ke looked puzzled. “You’re really interested in gold mines?”

Qiao Shuxue blushed slightly, a little embarrassed. “Well, it’s gold, after all. Who wouldn’t be interested in gold?”

That’s so true!

Haha, the gold-loving gene is hardwired into every Chinese person’s DNA.

Snow: Honesty.jpg

Zhao Ke: …Wasn’t she the one who was crying about how money is a burden on the way here?