Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 10

After turning in her phone, Ming Nuo kept glancing at her wristwatch. Watching the second hand tick away, her heart tightened at the thought of their impending meeting at the “Temporary Home.” Her palms, resting on the map, began to sweat.

The staff member had said they’d lead her to the house soon. Would Ning Xueqing and Mengmeng already be inside, waiting for her to push the door open? Or would she go in first and wait for Ning Xueqing to enter?

Ming Nuo fell into deep thought. If she were the one entering, what posture should she use? What should her first words be?

If she were the one waiting, should she sit or stand? Should she greet Ning Xueqing first, or say hello to Mengmeng?

And her expression? Would a faint, polite smile be better, or a more enthusiastic welcome?

“…”

The more she thought, the more nervous she became. Even facing off against veteran legends on the grand stage of a singing competition hadn’t made her this anxious. Losing a singing match didn’t stop her from releasing a new album, but she only had one chance to make a good first impression on Mengmeng!

She traced the routes and activity points on the map with her finger dozens of times, her mind racing through countless scenarios, coming up with a plan only to discard it, discarding it only to start again…

“Teacher Nuo.”

“Teacher Nuo!”

Ming Nuo snapped her head around. “Eh?”

The staff member pointed toward the door with a smile. “The Temporary Home is ready. It’s time to go meet your partner.”

Ming Nuo’s heart gave a violent thud. Forgetting she was still clutching the map, she stood up and took it with her.

The staff member laughed apologetically. “I’m sorry, Teacher Nuo. As I mentioned before, you have to familiarize yourself with the town’s routes during the allotted time. You can’t take the map with you.”

Ming Nuo remembered the rules and had already memorized the map, but the moment she heard she was meeting Ning Xueqing, everything else vanished from her mind.

She awkwardly put the map back. “Right, sorry.”

“This way, please.” The staff member led her out onto a pebble path surrounded by lush green grass. “Try to relax, Teacher Nuo.”

Ming Nuo felt a bit sheepish. Was her nervousness that obvious?

The staff member remarked, “I get the feeling Teacher Nuo is the type who takes everything very seriously.”

Realizing they were trying to help her relax, Ming Nuo took a deep breath and smiled. “I suppose so.”

The path was full of greenery, with green hills and farmlands visible in the distance. The fresh air gradually soothed Ming Nuo’s agitation. The town wasn’t large, and its functional zones were clearly defined. Having traced the map hundreds of times, she could have drawn it from memory on a blank sheet of paper.

She deduced her current location based on the path. According to the map, a Temporary Home was nearby.

Sure enough, the staff led her to a house with white walls and grey tiles next to a peach orchard.

Deep in the orchard, branches swayed gently. Two silhouettes—one tall and one small—were visible. The graceful tall figure was standing on tiptoe, reaching up to pick a pink, enticing peach from a branch.

Ming Nuo’s pace slowed as she watched. The staff member whispered, “Teacher Nuo, go into the house first. We’ll give Teacher Ning and Mengmeng a surprise in a bit.”

Worried that a stranger appearing out of nowhere might scare the child, Ming Nuo asked, “Will you notify them that the special guest has arrived?”

“We will. Once you’re inside, a floor manager will tell Teacher Ning.”

Only then did Ming Nuo feel at ease.

The door to the tile-roofed house wasn’t locked; a turn of the handle was all it took to enter. It was a simple one-bedroom, one-living room setup with modest furnishings. A blue cloth curtain hung at the bedroom doorway. The living room had a deep-red sofa, a wooden dining set against the wall, and a vintage green refrigerator adorned with a calendar featuring a waterfall and a greeting pine.

Noticing two suitcases—one large, one small—next to the fridge, Ming Nuo placed her own suitcase beside them, leaving a polite distance. She left the door slightly ajar so Ning Xueqing would know someone was inside.

Behind the living room was a kitchen connected to a small bathroom. It was an old-fashioned dry toilet. Worried it might be unsafe for a child, Ming Nuo found two wooden planks to place over it and opened the small window at the top of the wall for ventilation.

She washed her hands and realized there was no soap. After rummaging through the cupboards, she found a bar of soap in the top cabinet. She placed it on a small saucer, then washed the knives and several sets of bowls and chopsticks, wiping down the table and cabinets.

Next, she checked the bedroom. She swatted two mosquitoes and frowned. This place was buggy, and both Mengmeng and Ning Xueqing had delicate skin. She opened the creaky old wardrobe, and a strong scent of mothballs billowed out. Fanning her nose, she pulled out incense coils, a lighter, and a bottle of floral water from the bottom drawer. She lit the mosquito coil in the corner, then diluted the floral water to carefully wipe down the bamboo mat on the bed.

Once the room was clean, Ming Nuo stretched her shoulders and sat down on a square stool by the dining table.

A stack of colored cellophane was held down by a ceramic paperweight. It was a rare sight these days—a common decoration for weddings in the 80s and 90s. Seeing the cellophane was cut into perfect squares, she recalled her mother teaching her origami as a child. She couldn’t help but take two sheets. Her mother had been a preschool teacher who loved playing games with her; origami had always been Ming Nuo’s favorite.

The cellophane reflected a kaleidoscope of light as she folded it nimbly with her slender fingers. A moment later, she had created a small blue rabbit and a red rose. Her mother had loved roses; during her last round of chemotherapy, she had looked out the window and told Ming Nuo that once she was discharged, she wanted to fill their balcony with red roses.

Holding the origami rose, Ming Nuo lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.

A breeze drifted in, carrying the scent of the fields.

Ming Nuo looked up. The door was gently pushed open. Ning Xueqing, wearing a cream-colored sun hat, was holding a little girl’s hand in one and a fruit basket in the other. The blue sky and green fields behind them framed them like a summer oil painting.

It was so peaceful that time seemed to stand still. Ming Nuo stared at the two of them for several seconds without speaking, the light in her eyes growing brighter.

“Wow! Paper flowers!”

The child’s innocent cheer broke the silence. Mengmeng, her hair in braided pigtails with ribbons and wearing a yellow duck hat, ran over excitedly. She stopped in front of Ming Nuo, looking up with flushed, chubby cheeks. “Such pretty paper flowers! Are you the Mystery Mammy?”

Seeing Mengmeng’s lively spirit, Ming Nuo felt a surge of warmth. She stood up and knelt down beside the girl, saying softly, “Hello, Mengmeng. My name is Ming Nuo. I’m the ‘Trainee Mammy’ who will be traveling with you.”

“Whoa! It really is a Mystery Mammy!” Mengmeng cheered, waving her little arms at her mother. She turned back to Ming Nuo, bouncing as she held her hand. “Mommy was right! I have a very famous, very beautiful Mystery Mammy!”

“Mystery Mammy, Mystery Mammy, can I call you Nuo Nuo Mammy?”

Mengmeng’s large, watery eyes were enough to melt Ming Nuo’s heart. She took the girl’s hands. “Of course.”

“Nuo Nuo Mammy!” Mengmeng gave her a big, enthusiastic hug.

Ming Nuo held her gently. Mengmeng was so small and soft; Ming Nuo told herself she had to be extra gentle and careful to protect this adorable little treasure.

None of the things Ming Nuo had worried about happened. Mengmeng wasn’t shy and didn’t resist calling her “Mammy.” Usually, a child’s first reaction to a stranger is to hide, let alone call an Alpha they’ve never met “Mammy.” Ming Nuo was certain that besides Mengmeng being well-socialized, Ning Xueqing must have guided her daughter with great patience before the show.

Mengmeng stared intently at the origami rose. Ming Nuo quickly handed it to her. “Here, this is for Mengmeng.”

Mengmeng held it carefully with both hands and asked Ning Xueqing happily, “Mommy, can I accept Nuo Nuo Mammy’s paper flower?”

Ming Nuo looked toward Ning Xueqing, who was now sitting across the table, and met her clear, bright smile. Ning Xueqing nodded to her daughter and whispered, “Nuo Nuo Mammy gave you a gift; what should we say?”

Mengmeng’s eyes and mouth curved into a sweet grin. “Thank you, Nuo Nuo Mammy!”

Ming Nuo felt as if she had fallen into a honey jar; she was bubbling with sweetness. “You’re very welcome.”

Ming Nuo stood up to open her suitcase. “I brought lots of gifts for Mengmeng.”

Mengmeng ran over. “So many gifts!”

The suitcase was packed with dolls, puzzles, natural children’s cosmetics, play-house sets, and educational toys. Ming Nuo pulled out a large glass jar filled with colorful marbles. “These are all ‘treasures’ I’ve collected. I’m giving them all to you. Do you like them, Mengmeng?”

“I love them!” Mengmeng hugged the jar—which was nearly half her size—and gave it a gentle shake. The marbles clinked inside. “Super thank you, Nuo Nuo Mammy!”

Ming Nuo chuckled. “Even a ‘super’ thank you.”

Mengmeng explained, “Because there are so many gifts, there are many thank-yous. Too many to say them all, so it’s a ‘super thank you’!”

Ning Xueqing stroked Mengmeng’s pigtails and said, “Nuo Nuo Mammy gave you so many gifts. We should give something back, right?”

“Right!” Mengmeng climbed onto a stool to reach the table, pulling out two freshly picked peaches. She told Ming Nuo, “Nuo Nuo Mammy, Mommy and I picked peaches. They’re very sweet. I’ll make you a peach yogurt bowl.”

Ming Nuo was delighted. “Really? Thank you, baby Mengmeng.”

Ning Xueqing smiled and prompted her daughter, “And?”

Mengmeng let out an “Oh!” of realization—an expression so cute the editors would surely add a lightbulb icon over her head in post-production. She raised her arms to Ming Nuo. “Nuo Nuo Mammy, tietie (snuggle/rub cheeks)!”

Overwhelmed by the toddler’s cuteness, Ming Nuo leaned down to hug her. Mengmeng rubbed her right cheek against Ming Nuo’s left, then her left against Ming Nuo’s right.

Ning Xueqing laughed and stroked her daughter’s hair, telling Ming Nuo, “Mengmeng’s dance teacher is an elderly French lady. Since studying with her, she likes to do the tietie greeting with everyone she likes.”

Ming Nuo beamed. “So it’s the faire la bise she learned from her dance teacher.”

It made sense; Mengmeng had traveled the world with Ning Xueqing since she was a baby. Having seen and experienced so much, the child was very outgoing.

Ning Xueqing taught Mengmeng to put away the gifts she received, organizing the toys onto the desk or into the cabinets. She asked, “Which of all the gifts is your favorite?”

Without hesitation, Mengmeng replied, “The paper flower! And the paper bunny!” She tucked the origami carefully under her pillow like a treasure.

Ning Xueqing was surprised. She had never bought origami for Mengmeng before, and there weren’t many origami toys abroad. “Baby, you like origami that much? Mommy didn’t even know.” She felt a bit of self-reproach.

Mengmeng nodded, her pigtails bouncing. “Once, a girl I played with in a bouncy castle gave me a paper heart. I liked it so much. Later, it got torn on the road, and I was too afraid to say anything.”

Ming Nuo was also surprised. She hadn’t expected Mengmeng to like origami so much. She asked, “Why were you afraid to say anything? If you had told Mommy, she could have found a way to get you more hearts.”

Mengmeng pouted and shook her head. “Because I broke the heart that the big sister gave me. If I said it out loud, she would be unhappy.”

Ning Xueqing said, “But we’re home now; that sister can’t hear you. She wouldn’t know.”

Mengmeng insisted, “Just because she wouldn’t know doesn’t mean I should say something that would make her unhappy.”

Ning Xueqing wanted to explain that that wasn’t how logic worked, but she reconsidered and didn’t immediately shoot down the child’s thinking. She gave her daughter a thumbs up. “Mm, baby is right.”

Mengmeng hugged her mother. “Heehee.” She then asked Ming Nuo, “Nuo Nuo Mammy, can you teach me origami?”

Ming Nuo’s eyes were gentle. “Of course. We can fold hearts, dogs, cats, birds, turtles… so many things.”

Mengmeng clasped her hands, her eyes shining. “Nuo Nuo Mammy is amazing!”

Ning Xueqing pulled out a small notebook and told Mengmeng to sit at the desk, giving her a pencil. “Do you remember what you promised Mommy when we were picking peaches?”

Mengmeng gripped the pencil. “I remember! I have to draw a thank-you picture for the fruit farmer auntie!”

“Good girl.” Ning Xueqing kissed the child’s forehead. “Draw it now while I go cut the peaches. Call Mommy if you need anything.”

“Mm!”

Ning Xueqing glanced back to see Mengmeng drawing seriously. She lowered the door curtain and looked up, catching Ming Nuo hurriedly averting her gaze.

“Sister Xueqing… Mengmeng is so adorable.”

Ning Xueqing picked up the fruit basket and gestured toward the kitchen. “Call me Xueqing, ‘Nuo Nuo Mammy’.”

Ming Nuo felt as if a peach-colored flame had ignited in her heart. “A-Alright, Xueqing.”

The narrow kitchen was only wide enough for one person. Standing side-by-side at the counter, Ming Nuo peeled the peaches while Ning Xueqing sliced them.

“Did you clean the whole house?”

“Mm. This is our Temporary Home, after all.”

“Thank you. But don’t do it alone from now on. Call Mengmeng and me to do it with you. Since it’s our little home, we should do everything together.”

“Okay!”

The sweet scent of peaches filled the air, enveloping them.

“I thought you said you were resting this month?”

“I was. But I suddenly received the invitation to be a special guest. I wanted to see the cute children, so I came.”

“I see. I thought you didn’t like kids.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Well… you had an interview a long time ago.”

“Ah! That was ages ago. I was too young then. Now I like them—I especially like children as cute as Mengmeng.”

Ning Xueqing couldn’t help but smile. Seeing Ming Nuo’s hands were busy, she scooped up a piece of peach with a spoon. “Is it sweet?”

Ming Nuo turned. “Hmm?”

Ning Xueqing held the spoon to Ming Nuo’s lips. Startled, Ming Nuo opened her mouth with a mix of secret joy and nervousness. The cool peach entered her mouth, its sweet fragrance curling around her taste buds. She felt like she was floating.

“Mommy, Nuo Nuo Mammy, I finished my drawing! Come see if it’s good. Will the farmer auntie like it?”

With the peach still in her mouth, Ming Nuo looked down. Mengmeng was staring at them with wide eyes, as if she had discovered a new world. “Mommy is feeding Nuo Nuo Mammy a peach! My friend said her mommy feeds her mammy treats, and they sleep together while she sleeps in her own little bed.”

Mengmeng blinked and asked, “Is Nuo Nuo Mammy going to sleep with Mommy too?”

Ming Nuo: “.”