Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 15

The scent of pheromones is not static. Even for the same person, their scent undergoes subtle shifts influenced by emotions and internal chemistry.

In single-note scents, like citrus, it might lean tart one moment and sweet the next; sometimes crisp, other times heavy. For complex scents, it’s even more pronounced. In Ming Nuo’s “Cherry Wine” scent, the ratio of fruit to alcohol fluctuates.

Usually, only those who are very intimate can perceive these shifts; ordinary people don’t spend time analyzing another person’s pheromones.

Ming Nuo, too, could sense the changes in Ning Xueqing. Sometimes there was more lemon, sometimes more mint; sometimes it was sweet and sour, and other times it was light and icy.

Ming Nuo fell into deep thought: Should I tell Ning Xueqing her pheromones were sweeter last night?

If Ning Xueqing became “sweeter,” what did that signify? Was it happiness? Relaxation? Was there a possibility of… a flicker of attraction?

Never mind. She decided not to ask. It was somewhat impolite for an Alpha to speak to an Omega about such things, as pheromones fall under the category of sexual glands.

After a mental storm, Ming Nuo responded blankly: “Um… it happens a bit when it’s too hot.”

Ning Xueqing’s eyes curved into crescents. “True, it was so hot last night.”

The change in pheromones was attributed to the weather; neither of them mentioned emotions or those kinds of thoughts.

“Time really flies.” Ning Xueqing turned to lean against the bedroom wall, looking at Ming Nuo before gazing out at the lush peach orchard. “Seeing you occasionally over the past few years, I always thought of you as the little sister from my memory who hadn’t differentiated yet. It wasn’t until I got close and smelled you that I remembered you’re already an Alpha.”

Ming Nuo recalled their first meeting and felt a wave of nostalgia. “It has been ten years, after all.”

Back then, Ning Xueqing thought she was a Beta. Ming Nuo had differentiated into an Alpha six years ago, right before an outdoor shoot she was doing with Ning Xueqing.

Ning Xueqing said: “Yes, so you could say we’re old friends.”

Ming Nuo smiled. “It’s my honor.”

The status of “friend” was already precious enough for Ming Nuo.

Ning Xueqing continued: “Once the show airs, the media will definitely try to link us together for hype. I know I’ll be under fire from your fans, so I need to perform well and strive to be a ‘model wife’ with you on screen.”

The phrase “model wife” pierced Ming Nuo’s heart. How she wished this wasn’t just for the screen, but reality. “Let them link us. My fans won’t bother you; they all know I’m your hardcore fan. If anyone talks nonsense, I’ll block them myself.”

Ming Nuo turned to her, her gaze soft. Ning Xueqing’s eyes reflected Ming Nuo’s image entirely. “You’re so cool when you say that.”

Huh? Ming Nuo froze, sunscreen still in hand. R-really? They say “cool” is a feeling—did her outfit look good today? Thankfully she’d showered, done her makeup, and used hair wax this morning; she looked decent. Since joining the show, Ming Nuo, who usually didn’t care much for styling, had become incredibly meticulous.

Ning Xueqing walked over, easily taking the sunscreen from Ming Nuo’s hand and moving behind her. “Can’t reach your back? Let me help.”

Ming Nuo’s mind went blank, her heart turning to mush. She murmured softly, “Thank you…”

Ning Xueqing’s melodic voice reached her ears from behind: “You’re always so polite with me.”

Ning Xueqing pressed her palm against Ming Nuo’s shoulder. Her hand was soft and delicate, spreading the sunscreen evenly, her fingertips following her palm as they wandered across Ming Nuo’s skin.

“We just agreed to be a model couple on screen. I want us to be more loving and warmer than the two real couples.” Ning Xueqing’s hands didn’t stop; they moved from the back of Ming Nuo’s neck, sliding forward toward her shoulders. “For these two months of filming, just treat me as your real wife, okay?”

As her voice trailed off, Ning Xueqing leaned forward, her warm front pressing against Ming Nuo’s back. “Hmm?”

That “Hmm?” had a rising intonation, hummed through her nose. It sounded like a cat purring, a lazy, coquettish plea.

Ming Nuo looked at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. Ning Xueqing’s posture—wrapping her arms around Ming Nuo’s shoulders from behind—was exactly the kind of intimate gesture a real wife would do. Ming Nuo felt her head and chest heating up; she felt lightheaded and dizzy.

Ning Xueqing held the small bottle of sunscreen between her thumb and forefinger, giving it a shake. Her gaze followed Ming Nuo’s into the mirror. Their eyes met in the reflection.

Ning Xueqing’s lips moved: “Is that not okay… sorry, I shouldn’t have made such an unreasonable request and put you on the spot.”

Ming Nuo opened her mouth, her tongue moving, a sentence reaching her lips before she swallowed it and changed her tune: “What do real wives usually have to do?”

She turned around to face Ning Xueqing directly. “Do we have to do… everything?”

Ning Xueqing smiled, tucking her hands behind her back and tilting her head. “Things real wives do… Ming Nuo, have you ever been in love?”

Does a secret crush count? Probably not.

So Ming Nuo said: “No.”

“All these years, you’ve been so popular, yet you’ve never had a single relationship?”

“No.”

“Then you… must have someone you like in your heart.”

“…” Ming Nuo didn’t answer, just looked at her deeply.

“I’ve never been in a real relationship either. But I think being a wife is like being in love—as long as both people put their hearts into it, it won’t be too hard.” Ning Xueqing smiled slightly, reaching up to slowly smooth a folded corner of Ming Nuo’s collar. “Shall we… start by doing one small thing for each other every day?”

“Today, I helped you with your sunscreen.” Ning Xueqing looked up, the smile at the corners of her lips bright and playful.

Ming Nuo instinctively curled her lips into a smile. After a moment’s thought, she reached out to gently gather Ning Xueqing’s voluminous long hair. “I just learned a new braiding style. Can I braid your hair today?”

Ning Xueqing tilted her head toward Ming Nuo’s palm. “Okay.”

The four families formed a circle. The guide looked at them and laughed at Ming Nuo: “Mengmeng’s family has a unified look! Very impressive.”

Everyone looked over. Ming Nuo, Ning Xueqing, and Mengmeng were all wearing color-coordinated casual clothes, sporting the same braiding style, and each had a small sunflower hair accessory. They were perfectly uniform; anyone seeing them on the street would think they were a family of three.

Looking at the other three: Director Xiao Qian’s family wore warm-toned parent-child outfits, which was harmonious. The other two were a total stylistic mess. Chi Shu’s side was “extravagant style,” barely unified by vibe. Xing Cai’s family of three were wearing completely different things—Dopamine style, Academic style, and Fauvist style.

Based on appearance alone, Mengmeng’s family had the most cohesion. If a random passerby were asked, they’d surely think they were a real family, whereas Nora’s family looked like a temporary stage crew.

Mengmeng loved the attention, proudly showing off the sunflower on her braid: “Nuo Nuo Mammy braided this for me!”

Pineapple Cake, whose hair was loose, looked envious: “Wow! Mengmeng, your Trainee Mammy is so amazing. My Mammy doesn’t know how to braid.”

Mengmeng: “My Mommy knows too! This morning Mommy braided mine first, and then Nuo Nuo Mammy braided it too!”

Pineapple Cake: “Whoa—can I go to your house to get my hair braided? I have a carrot hair tie; I want to use that.”

Mengmeng acted like a little hostess: “Mm-hmm, of course! I’ll have Nuo Nuo Mammy braid two little bunny ears for you.”

Seeing such beautiful braids, the other children also scrambled to go to Mengmeng’s house. Mengmeng happily agreed, even promising to treat them to peaches.

Ning Xueqing whispered to Ming Nuo: “How are you like this?”

Ming Nuo: “?” Like what? Did I unconsciously do something to make her uncomfortable?

Ming Nuo asked nervously: “Please, leader, clarify?”

Ning Xueqing: “You’re so popular when you sing, and now even for braiding hair.”

Ah, that. Ming Nuo felt sweet again.

Of course. It’s hair braided for Sister Xueqing and the little treasure—how could it not look good? I spent several nights watching tutorial videos to learn this.

Ahem. Ming Nuo just smiled calmly and replied softly: “I’m not as good as you.”

Ning Xueqing looked at her, her eyes curving. “I can’t sing, though.”

Years ago, they had collaborated on a movie where Ming Nuo sang the theme song. Ning Xueqing, having no musical background, had to sing a part of it. The crew invited Ming Nuo to teach her, and she even had a cameo. Ning Xueqing knew her pitch wasn’t great and had been teased by other actors before, but Ming Nuo never mocked her. Even if it took many tries to master one note, Ming Nuo would praise her for being smart.

Ming Nuo had said: Sister Xueqing, your tone is very special. It sounds beautiful when you sing a cappella.

The theme song was composed, arranged, written, and performed by Ming Nuo. One of the inserts was a variation sung by Ning Xueqing with Ming Nuo providing backup vocals. That track became a hit after the movie’s release.

The audience said: This song was tailor-made for Ning Xueqing!

—She was elusive. She was crisp and radiant.

Ning Xueqing tucked away the memory. Turns out some people’s mouths were sweet even back then.

After greetings, the staff brought a sightseeing train and took the children away. Just as the parents were confused, the guide announced the rules: “Next, we will play two games. The first is called ‘Where is the Baby?'”

The staff brought four drawing boxes. Each person took a ball; there were only two—one red, one white. Those who drew the red ball participated.

A moment later, the train returned with the four babies. They were all wearing custom little cloaks and masks. The cloaks were padded on the inside to make their height and width look identical from the outside.

Guide: “Now, the participating parents must find their own baby based on the hand the child reaches out. Three, two, one—start!”

The children reached their hands out from the cloaks, clenching them into fists and then opening them. The parents observed the hands and movements before leading their child to the confirmation zone.

Ming Nuo drew a red ball. As she stepped forward, her palms sweated slightly. She had only known Mengmeng for a day and a half; it was truly difficult to tell just by a hand.

Ming Nuo observed two children and deduced they weren’t Mengmeng. Just as she was walking toward the third, Chi Shu and Director Xiao Qian’s wife, Ouyang Yu, started arguing.

“Lawyer Ouyang, don’t be unreasonable. This is definitely my Little Pea.”

“Teacher Chi, you say I’m unreasonable? Show me your evidence. Look, my Pineapple Cake’s fingers are longer than most kids, and she tucks her thumb inside her four fingers when clenching a fist. This is definitely my Pineapple Cake.”

Ming Nuo glanced at Baby No. 3, who was being fought over, and silently went to check Baby No. 4.

Ming Nuo leaned down to inspect Baby No. 4. She saw long, rounded nail beds—very beautiful, just like Ning Xueqing’s nails. This type of nail bed was rare; most people’s nails were short and blunt, but Ning Xueqing’s were like elongated ovals.

Without hesitation, Ming Nuo took Baby No. 4’s hand and was the first to enter the confirmation zone.

The guide removed the mask. Mengmeng giggled and hugged Ming Nuo: “Nuo Nuo Mammy!”

Everyone was astonished. Among the participants, only Ming Nuo was a special guest, yet she was the first to get it right! Even Ning Xueqing’s eyes widened in surprise.

The guide asked curiously: “Teacher Nuo, how did you recognize Mengmeng?”

Ming Nuo glanced at Ning Xueqing, her lips curving as she lowered her eyes. “She looks like her mother.”

The other parents: “?”

“Ooh~~~ Ming Nuo, do you know Ning Xueqing that well? What’s your relationship? Speak up—honestly, you didn’t cheat, did you?~”