Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 14

The white bed curtains swayed with the breeze, and the whirring of the fan masked the gradually deepening breaths on the bed.

Ming Nuo’s heart was pounding wildly in her chest like a carp trying to leap out of a pond, nearly jumping out of her throat. Ning Xueqing lay beneath her, arms wrapped around her neck, her sweet breath brushing against Ming Nuo’s cheek over and over.

After letting out a few low exhales, Ming Nuo held her breath. The tips of her ears were already beginning to burn; she didn’t dare breathe in any more of Ning Xueqing’s scent.

Ning Xueqing’s eyelashes fluttered, and she let out a tiny moan. “Eh?”

Ming Nuo propped her hands on the bed, terrified of pressing down any further. She felt the arms hooked around her neck slowly lose their strength. Ning Xueqing let go, her hands sliding slowly down from Ming Nuo’s shoulders. A faint pink blush rose to her cheeks, and a chuckle bubbled up from her throat. “I thought I was going to fall.”

Huh? Fall?

A trace of confusion flickered in Ming Nuo’s misty eyes. Ning Xueqing’s right hand still rested on her shoulder; she gave it a squeeze, tilting her lips up to murmur just below Ming Nuo’s neck, “I felt like I was floating just now. Was it you?”

The warm, moist breath made Ming Nuo’s neck itch. Her head felt heavy, and she barely knew what she was saying. “You fell asleep sitting up in the living room. I didn’t want to wake you, so I took the liberty of carrying you over—”

Before she could finish, Ming Nuo’s neck tightened again. Ning Xueqing hugged her once more, her soft, warm cheek rubbing gently against Ming Nuo’s side. They pressed together for a moment, then Ning Xueqing tilted her head slightly, her delicate lips brushing against the corner of Ming Nuo’s mouth as she spoke: “Thank you.”

Ming Nuo’s brain crashed.

What just happened???

“I know how to do the tietie greeting, too,” Ning Xueqing said with a curled lip, the corners of her eyes tinged red. This time, she completely released the embrace and let her hands fall to the bed.

A tietie greeting was for saying hello, not for saying thank you.

Then again, was it really possible for someone who said they couldn’t sleep and wanted to chat to fall asleep against a wall on a small stool after just one song—and only wake up after being carried from the living room to the bed?

Ming Nuo stole a look at the shimmering, disheveled Omega beneath her and silently swallowed her parched throat. She suspected Ning Xueqing was faking sleep, but she had no evidence.

“Right… you’re welcome,” Ming Nuo said, truly at a loss for words. “Goodnight.”

Just as she straightened her waist, a warmth enveloped her fingertips. Ning Xueqing had looped her fingers around Ming Nuo’s. As Ming Nuo turned to leave, she was pulled back by that clever force and fell right back onto the edge of the bed.

“Ugh…” Ming Nuo’s knee braced against the bedside. One hand gripped the bedsheet while the other was held in Ning Xueqing’s hand. She carefully maintained the awkward posture, looking at the mischievous Omega.

Ning Xueqing turned onto her side toward her. The thin silk fabric of her nightgown clung to her graceful curves, the low neckline drooping slightly, with several strands of long hair scattered across her snowy skin.

“Since you’re already up here, just sleep here,” Ning Xueqing said, her index finger sliding across the bamboo mat before tapping the tip of Ming Nuo’s finger that was gripping the sheet.

Who could refuse an invitation to share a bed with the person they loved?

Ming Nuo dithered for a moment, her tongue trembling in her mouth, before finally speaking in a slightly raspy voice: “I… I’ll sleep on the sofa. Otherwise, when we wake up tomorrow… Mengmeng won’t like it.”

Ning Xueqing froze slightly. She instinctively turned her head to look at the little ball of fluff sleeping soundly beside her. She lowered her eyes tenderly and stroked the child’s fine hair.

By the time she looked back, Ming Nuo was already at the door. Perhaps it was because the doorway was dim, but Ming Nuo bumped into the corner of the wall as she pulled the curtain, making a dull thud.

Ning Xueqing sat up and moved to the foot of the bed, asking with concern, “Ming Nuo? Are you okay?”

Ming Nuo stepped out and replied through the curtain, “I’m fine.”

That bump had effectively jarred the dazed Ming Nuo back to her senses.

Lying back on the hard wooden sofa, Ming Nuo stared blankly at the ceiling while fanning herself. The moment she closed her eyes, all she saw was Ning Xueqing’s delicate form lying beneath her in the moonlight. The thought made her cheeks burn.

Why is it so hot tonight? The weather is too hot; that’s why I can’t sleep.

As dawn broke, the birds outside began chirping noisily.

Ming Nuo woke up a bit earlier than her alarm. She got up quietly to wash, boiled hot water, set out a jug of cooled water, and filled a thermos for Ning Xueqing and Mengmeng to use.

Having sweated all night, she took a quick sponge bath while they were still asleep and changed into clean clothes. She opened the fridge wanting to make something to eat, only to find it completely empty—she then remembered that all ingredients had to be exchanged through the production team.

She would have to wait for the team’s notification.

As the sky grew brighter, the child’s crisp laughter drifted from the bedroom. Mengmeng, fully dressed, ran out of the room gleefully. “I’m first! Mommy, you’re slow!”

Ming Nuo turned at the sound. Mengmeng stopped in her tracks immediately, then turned around to show Ming Nuo the two little wings on the back of her outfit. “Nuo Nuo Mammy, look at my little wings!”

Ming Nuo leaned down to look closely and smiled. “Wow, Mengmeng, you’re amazing. You actually have wings! It’s my first time seeing them.”

Mengmeng lifted her head proudly. “Mm! I picked this outfit myself.”

“Alright, Little Wings, go wash your face and brush your teeth.” Ning Xueqing walked out wearing casual clothes that matched Mengmeng’s color scheme. She had her arm bent behind her shoulder as if she were pulling at something.

Ming Nuo gave Mengmeng some warm water for rinsing and entered the living room to ask Ning Xueqing, “What’s wrong?”

Ning Xueqing furrowed her lovely brows. “My hair is caught.”

“Let me see?”

“Mm, behind my neck, in the necklace clasp.”

Ming Nuo walked over. Ning Xueqing cooperatively turned around and pulled her long hair to one side, revealing a section of her white, swan-like neck.

Ming Nuo lowered her head, carefully untangling the strands of hair caught in the necklace lock. Ning Xueqing’s hair was voluminous and soft, glinting with a warm dark-chestnut hue in the morning sun.

With her head lowered, her nose was very close to Ning Xueqing’s nape. The Omega’s pheromones drifted into Ming Nuo’s senses in delicate threads. This was the person Ming Nuo loved, and the scent Ming Nuo loved—it had nothing to do with Alpha/Omega attraction; even outside of her Interaction Period, Ming Nuo had zero resistance to Ning Xueqing’s scent.

Ming Nuo felt conflicted; she wanted to smell more, yet didn’t dare. She took a silent deep breath, warning herself not to get distracted while doing a task.

“Fixed.” Ming Nuo untangled the last strand of hair and stepped back a few paces to create a proper distance. “Move around a bit. Any more discomfort?”

Ning Xueqing turned her neck and smiled. “It’s fine now.”

“Ming Nuo, you have such nimble hands.”

Ming Nuo’s heart gave a thump. She turned her face away, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from curling up. “The hot water for washing up is in the kitchen.”

Ning Xueqing walked past her. As she passed behind her back, she leaned toward Ming Nuo’s ear and whispered: “You’re wonderful.”

Ming Nuo shivered and looked back out of the corner of her eye. Ning Xueqing had entered the kitchen to mix the warm water and was using a face towel to wipe Mengmeng’s face. No one was paying attention to her.

Ming Nuo sat on the sofa and covered her face with her hands. Getting complimented twice by Ning Xueqing right after waking up… she really was so happy she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone was at the door. Was it the staff coming to arrange breakfast?

Ming Nuo opened the door to find a woman in an ink-blue shirt standing outside with a little girl. The girl wore cat-ear clips and shouted loudly, “Good morning, Auntie Ming!”

Ming Nuo smiled and greeted her, “Good morning, Nora.”

The woman beside her, who had neat black hair and pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, said: “We ran into the production team distributing ingredients during our morning exercise. Since it’s the first day in town, we thought everyone could use some extra rest, so we picked up the items and are delivering them to everyone.”

Ming Nuo thanked her gratefully. “Thank you, Professor Du.”

This was Xing Cai’s wife, Professor Du Heng, a doctoral supervisor in the Philosophy Department of Shenjiang University.

Du Heng gave a slight nod. “We’re all parents; don’t mention it. Nora, say hello to Mengmeng and Auntie Ning. We need to go deliver breakfast to Little Pea and Pineapple Cake.”

“Mm!” Nora was the oldest and tallest of the four children. She peeked inside and saw Mengmeng drinking water in the kitchen, waving with a smile. “Sister Mengmeng! Come quick, your breakfast!”

Seeing her playmate, Mengmeng immediately perked up. “Sister Nora!”

Ning Xueqing followed Mengmeng over and took the grocery bag from Nora. “Thank you, Nora.”

Nora was currently losing her teeth—one of her lower incisors was missing—showing a bit of pink when she smiled. “Auntie Ning!”

“Oh, right, I have this for you too, Mengmeng.” Nora pulled a bundle wrapped in a plastic bag out of her little cat-shaped purse and gave it to Mengmeng.

Mengmeng opened it curiously. “What is this… Wow, potatoes!”

Nora’s lips curled, revealing a little canine tooth. “I heard Auntie Chi say you wanted potatoes yesterday. My family traded for lots of vegetables yesterday, so I’m giving you some.”

Mengmeng’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Wait one second!” She took out some chili and peaches from the fridge and handed them to Nora. “I’ll trade these with you.”

Nora accepted them generously. “Okay! We’re going now. Bye-bye Mengmeng, bye-bye Auntie!”

As Mengmeng waved her hand at the door, Ning Xueqing stroked her daughter’s hair and whispered to Ming Nuo, “Your junior raised her child really well.”

Ming Nuo laughed helplessly. She felt bad saying it, but every time she went to Xing Cai’s house, it was a battle between mother and daughter. Her impression of Nora was that of a little terror; she had never seen Nora be this polite and sensible. It felt like Professor Du’s teaching.

But Xing Cai always said Du Heng was never home and never cared for the child. Was Xing Cai lying? Or was there a misunderstanding between the couple? Who knew. Regardless, she hoped that through this show, Xing Cai and Du Heng could resolve their conflicts and raise their child together happily.

Ming Nuo checked the breakfast bag in the kitchen. It was full of semi-prepared items that needed cooking. She started frying potstickers and eggs, washed the lettuce and tomatoes for a salad, and used another small pot to boil milk.

Ning Xueqing sat in the living room, braiding Mengmeng’s hair. Mengmeng played with the little wings on her shoulders, her voice soft and milky. “Mommy, I want to be best friends with Sister Nora now. I’m not looking for Little Pea anymore.”

Ning Xueqing tied a sunflower hairband on one side and asked, “Because Nora gave you potatoes and Little Pea didn’t?”

“Mm.”

“You shouldn’t pick friends based on who gives you things.”

Mengmeng puffed out her cheeks and thought for a moment. “Mommy, then how should I make friends?”

Ning Xueqing said: “Trade sincerity for sincerity. You want to be friends with Nora because she knew you wanted potatoes and went out of her way to give them to you. If she had given you cabbage or sweet potatoes, you wouldn’t be this happy, right? So Nora didn’t just give you a gift; more importantly, she cared about you with her heart.”

Mengmeng nodded.

“Little Pea didn’t give you a potato, maybe because she wanted to eat it too, or maybe because she didn’t want to trade it for chili. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to be your friend. If Little Pea helps you next time, we should thank her too, right?”

“Right, I understand.” Mengmeng turned around and gave her mother a little bounce-hug. “I know Little Pea was in a bad mood yesterday because she doesn’t like her Trainee Mammy. But I have a Nuo Nuo Mammy that I like.”

“That’s right, our Mengmeng is so smart.” Ning Xueqing kissed her daughter’s forehead deeply. “Nuo Nuo Mammy loves us with her heart, so we should love her with our heart, too.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Ning Xueqing held Mengmeng and pointed toward the busy silhouette in the kitchen. “Remember what Mommy told you during your bath last night? Go on.”

Mengmeng hesitated bashfully for a moment, then walked bravely into the kitchen, reaching out her small hand to take the lettuce. “Nuo Nuo Mammy, I’ll help you pick the leaves.”

Ming Nuo was startled. “Mengmeng?” She looked back; Ning Xueqing nodded at her. Understanding, Ming Nuo gave her the vegetable basket. “Thank you, baby.”

“Nuo Nuo Mammy, I shouldn’t have said you aren’t my real Mammy or avoided you yesterday. I’m sorry.” Mengmeng hung her head, her lips pouting. “You love me, and I love you. It doesn’t matter what our titles are, because love is trading sincerity for sincerity. Nuo Nuo Mammy, it was very hot last night. Let’s sleep together on the big bed tonight and use the fan.”

Ming Nuo froze in place. Bright sunlight from the window poured into her heart, and her calm face began to glow with radiance. She excitedly hugged Mengmeng: “I love you, my baby.”

Even though it was a simple breakfast, Ming Nuo hadn’t eaten this happily in a long time.

At 8:30 AM, the broadcast announced that they were to gather at the Town Committee Square in half an hour. Ming Nuo stood in front of the living room mirror applying sunscreen. She finished her cheeks, then moved to her neck and shoulders.

The curtain beside her was lifted, and Ning Xueqing leaned out. She drew close to Ming Nuo, her nose lightly sniffing near her skin. Her red lips curled up: “Cherry.”

A faint, fragrant wind brushed past Ming Nuo’s ear, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine.

Ning Xueqing whispered to her: “Did you know? Sometimes your pheromone scent smells more like wine than cherry… like last night, when you smelled my hair.”