Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 38

Ming Nuo fell silent. This was a difficult one to answer; the key was to correctly gauge Ning Xueqing’s mood behind those words.

Ning Xueqing peeled the skin of a small potato and dropped it into clear water. “Auntie Ming will definitely be angry, but she’s already angry with me anyway. I feel like if I cause a bit of a stir, she might actually be happier.”

Ming Nuo couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Honestly, Ning Xueqing read people very accurately. Ming Yan was exactly like that—she’d get angry and she’d scold, but her temper came and went quickly. Several of her best friends were people she had befriended through arguments. Ming Yan often said so-and-so was “disgusting,” but if that person encountered trouble, she’d be the first to rush over. Her mouth was merciless, but if she saw something wrong, she had to help.

“At least for the duration of Miraculous Journey, I want to stick by you. If a paparazzi happens to catch you on a blind date, my status as your ‘legal wife’ for these three months would be in jeopardy.”

Why three months? Because the filming duration of the show, from the first episode to the follow-up, was three months. During this time, Mengmeng called Ming Nuo “Mammy.”

Ming Nuo understood Ning Xueqing’s reassurance. She said, “My mom won’t tell me it’s a blind date next time.”

Earlier, Ming Nuo had argued with Ming Yan over this very issue. She had long been fed up with Ming Yan’s deception and autocracy and decided to take this opportunity to end it for good: “In the future, I won’t go to any dinner she invites me to.”

Ning Xueqing helped her analyze: “It might not be a dinner. She could ask you to do something else, or invite you to her house. She could just bring the Omega girl home.”

“…”

Ming Yan was entirely capable of that.

Ning Xueqing added: “You can’t exactly stop seeing your Mammy altogether.”

Ming Nuo spoke slowly: “If it really comes to that, I wouldn’t know which time to ask for your help.”

Ning Xueqing thought for a bit and offered a trick: “How about this—whenever Auntie Ming asks you to go somewhere, tell her you’re bringing me along. Then just watch her reaction.”

Ming Yan’s reaction? It would definitely be a scene: Bring her! If you dare bring her, I’ll scold you for three hours without repeating a single word!

“Deal.” Ming Nuo curled her lips and agreed. Let her scold; Ming Nuo had been on the receiving end of Ming Yan’s spitfire since she was a child. She wasn’t going to compromise on the blind date matter, and with Ning Xueqing’s support, she felt even more confident.

Ming Yan could never have imagined that her “ultimate move”—using a blind date to cause a misunderstanding between the two—would not only fail but would push Ning Xueqing onto the same front as Ming Nuo.

It wasn’t that Ming Yan had miscalculated; even Ming Nuo hadn’t expected Ning Xueqing to defend her so gently. They had both underestimated Ning Xueqing’s resilience and broad-mindedness.

Ming Nuo prepared the soup base and covered the clay pot. As she washed her hands, Ning Xueqing took off the floral scrunchie holding back her long hair and slid it onto Ming Nuo’s wrist.

It was a sheer berry-print scrunchie with two silver four-pointed stars hanging from it—delicate and sweet, definitely not the kind of accessory Ming Nuo would usually wear. Outside of stage performances, she usually used plain black hair ties for convenience.

Ning Xueqing whispered to her: “While I can’t be there in person, this object will stand in for me.”

Ming Nuo raised her hand to look at the scrunchie on her right wrist. A bracelet on her left, a scrunchie on her right—Ming Nuo was now “fully equipped.” She still had her neck and two ankles to go.

Ning Xueqing smiled at her and continued her work naturally. “You help me with Mengmeng and help me with my desensitization; I don’t even know how to thank you. If there’s anything I can do, just speak up. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“Ming Nuo, didn’t you say at Mount Guan-yun that you ‘had needs’ regarding me? Not just in the show, but anytime after filming ends. Whatever it is. That way, I won’t feel so guilty.”

Ming Nuo felt quite embarrassed. The way Ning Xueqing put it made it seem like Ming Nuo was taking advantage of her kindness. Taking care of Mengmeng was part of the show; besides, she had come here for Ning Xueqing and Mengmeng in the first place. Doing what she ought to do and then being thanked for it felt like she was hogging all the good luck in the world.

As for the desensitization… regardless of Ning Xueqing’s deeper thoughts, Ming Nuo just wanted to cooperate obediently. If it could truly help Ning Xueqing escape her psychological pain, that was enough. From Ming Nuo’s perspective, letting Ning Xueqing and Mengmeng live comfortably was the priority; her own feelings were secondary.

“Why me?” Ming Nuo asked. There were plenty of high-quality Alphas around Ning Xueqing. No matter how she looked at it, it shouldn’t have fallen to her, someone Ning Xueqing barely saw a few times a year.

Ning Xueqing lowered her eyes. “I was going to ask you the same thing—why did you agree to such an unreasonable request?”

“Unreasonable? I don’t think wanting to escape psychological trauma is unreasonable. On the contrary, I’m honored you trust me and gave me the chance to repay your kindness from all those years ago.”

“Haven’t you repaid enough?”

Ming Nuo was stumped by that one question. It seemed her excuse was slowly being seen through.

“What you wanted to return to me was paid in full years ago. Ming Nuo, don’t keep obsessing over our first meeting. Even without me, even if you hadn’t won that competition, your talent wouldn’t have stayed hidden.”

“You always feel your life improved because of me, but Auntie Ming attributes your success to you being a genius. I noticed you don’t like hearing that when she talks about you, but I think she’s right.”

Ning Xueqing turned to look at Ming Nuo, who was cleaning the kitchenware, and weighed a tomato in her hand.

“Do you remember the person at the competition banquet who wasn’t on the judge’s list? She was a record company owner. She told me then that she thought very highly of you and planned to sign you regardless of whether the competition organizers did. That’s just what we saw on the surface; there are many opportunities we don’t see. The entertainment industry is like that—money can build anything, but absolute talent crushes packaging. That’s what they mean by ‘one force subduing ten.'”

“A recognizable face and excellent bone structure can’t be manufactured; only the Creator’s handiwork can refresh the audience’s aesthetic threshold. That is talent in appearance, which every actor wants. You have effortless inspiration and a powerful ability to infect people with emotion; every musician wants that. So, my appearance was just a small note on your musical journey. I might have helped you avoid a tiny detour, but it was insignificant. Your life has always been paved by your own footsteps.”

“You are a genius, Ming Nuo. You must allow yourself to be proud. And, just as I want to stand on stage with you, you should be a wild, unrestrained rose.”

Roses have thorns, are vibrantly bright, and grow quietly upon high walls.

When Ming Nuo was a child, her Mama had held her hand while walking and saw a red rose climbing out of a courtyard. She told her: Look at how red and bright the rose is; it’s actually a very lonely flower. Her loneliness is not arrogance; it’s the ability to appreciate her own fragrance when no one is watching, and to bloom quietly when the world is staring.

Nuo Nuo, I wish for you to bloom recklessly your whole life—not for others, but to please yourself.

Ming Nuo was stunned to hear words so similar to her Mama’s coming from Ning Xueqing. She had always thought her debt to Ning Xueqing was lifelong, but today, Ning Xueqing told her that she wasn’t the brilliant halo Ming Nuo imagined. All of Ming Nuo’s success and beauty were created by Ming Nuo herself.

To personally shatter the halo in Ming Nuo’s heart, to affirm her, and to teach her to affirm herself—this was far more powerful than any “debt of gratitude.” It only made Ming Nuo want to explore Ning Xueqing more, to get closer to her…

Before lunch, Ming Nuo stayed in the kitchen with Ning Xueqing. If she didn’t hover in front of Ming Yan, Ming Yan would stay relatively quiet. When they went out to serve the dishes, Ming Yan was looking at Ning Zhixuan’s paintings.

“Sister Ning, you painted all of these?”

“Yes, just some casual painting.”

“I’m not very cultured, I don’t understand these, but they look like they cost a lot of money.”

“It’s alright, just some pigments and canvases; doesn’t take much.”

“So what did you do before you retired?”

“Me? I… I was in business, I suppose. I had a gallery when I was young and held exhibitions. I still do, though there was a bit of an accident a few days ago; the venue I booked can’t be used.”

“An exhibition? Can you make money from that? Though at our age, we should be resting. As long as we don’t waste too much money, it’s fine.”

Ming Yan let out an “eh” and straightened the paintings in her hand. “You know the matchmaking corner in Shenjiang Park? The cultural corridor next to it has held several exhibitions for retired artists’ calligraphy and paintings. I’ve worked with the neighborhood office there before; want me to set one up for you?”

In Ming Yan’s mind, this was a very high-class thing—holding an old artist’s exhibition in a public park. Retired leaders often went there; it gave so much “face.”

Ning Zhixuan’s smile was awkward. “Thank you for the kind offer, but I can’t call myself an artist. I wouldn’t want to make a fool of myself.”

Ming Yan encouraged her: “Your paintings are a bit behind an artist’s, but the more you show and practice, the better. You’re never too old to learn, right?”

“…” Ming Nuo saw this as soon as she left the kitchen. Her Mammy didn’t understand anything yet was blindly taking on work—honestly.

As Ning Xueqing set the table, Ming Nuo whispered: “Why did Auntie Ning put away all those certificates and trophies in the living room?”

Ning Xueqing whispered back: “Mom hid them on purpose. She said when guests come, it’s best not to be ostentatious.”

Ming Nuo sighed inwardly. It was lucky that Ning Xueqing and Ning Zhixuan had such good temperaments; otherwise, who would be willing to humor Ming Yan? They would have kicked her out long ago.

Ming Nuo uncovered the clay pot. The aroma of the duck soup filled the room. Ming Yan smelled it and said, “Ming Nuo, you made it the way I taught you, right?”

Ming Nuo recalled what Ning Xueqing had said: Some elders respond to toughness, others to softness. Actually, just go along with Auntie Ming. If you coax her and make her happy, there will be fewer arguments, and she might actually listen to what you say. In her heart, she wants what’s best for you, she’s just stubborn. If you give her face, she won’t make things hard for you. When the right opportunity comes, explain the pros and cons clearly, focusing on the points she cares about most—like how it earns more money or shows off her strengths. Guide her thinking slowly.

So Ming Nuo said, “Yes, the way you taught is definitely delicious, but it can’t compare to your own cooking.”

Ning Xueqing played along seamlessly: “I just tasted it; it’s amazing. I’ve never had duck soup this fragrant. I can’t imagine how delicious it would be if Auntie Ming made it herself.”

This way, even if Ming Yan wasn’t satisfied with Ming Nuo’s cooking, there was nothing to nitpick—it wasn’t made by Ming Yan herself, and who could compare to Ming Yan?

Sure enough, after tasting it, Ming Yan mentioned a few spots that could be improved, but she only focused on her own “superior skills” and didn’t criticize her daughter.

In the afternoon, Ming Nuo taught Mengmeng to make cupcakes. Ming Yan didn’t know how to make Western pastries, so she couldn’t interject. Ning Xueqing worried she’d be bored, so she alternated between watching Mengmeng and chatting with Ming Yan, listening to her struggle-to-success stories and even some funny stories about Ming Nuo’s childhood.

When the first tray of cupcakes was done, Mengmeng put on her little oven mitts and brought a fragrant cupcake to Ming Yan. “Grandma Ming, the prettiest one from the first tray is for you.”

Ming Yan looked at the little girl who hadn’t spoken much, her eyes lighting up with surprise. “Aiyoo, why give the prettiest one to me?”

Mengmeng was a little afraid of her, but she still shyly held the tray up high. “Because I like Nuo Nuo Mammy, and you are Nuo Nuo Mammy’s Mammy. Without you, she wouldn’t exist. Grandma Ming is a great Mammy.”

Ming Yan was stunned for a moment. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes actually flushed a slight red. “Thank you, little baby.”

That flush was the first innocent, pure affirmation received by a Mammy who had been invalidated for decades. She crouched down, took the still-hot cake, blew on it, and ate it, holding Mengmeng tight as she did. “It’s so good. The cake you made is delicious.”

Mengmeng’s cake seemed to have magic, dissolving Ming Yan’s anger and resentment. For the rest of the time until dinner, Ming Yan didn’t say a single critical word and happily played games with the child. She was naturally someone who liked children; she had met Ming Nuo’s Mama while working part-time at a nursery.

When they left the Ning house, Ning Zhixuan tried to give Ming Yan many gifts. Ming Yan, for once, didn’t accept them. Finally, unable to refuse further, she only accepted a painting from Ning Zhixuan. She said she was a simple person and liked themes of wealth and luck, so Ning Zhixuan gave her a painting of blooming peonies.

“Sister Ning, you said you were planning to hold your exhibition where?” Ming Yan suddenly asked as they stepped out.

Ning Zhixuan was a bit puzzled, but didn’t think much of it, answering as if venting: “The Ruihong Art Museum in Diannan.”

After seeing the guests off, Ning Zhixuan let out a long sigh, collapsed onto the sofa, and put her hand to her forehead.

“Qingqing, brew me a cup of cassia seed tea.”

“Coming. You worked hard, Mom. Thank you.” Ning Xueqing brought the tea and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek.

“Sigh.” Ning Zhixuan rested for a while, took a sip of water, and said earnestly: “Qingqing, I used to think Ming Nuo was a good choice. You like her too, so I thought it would be wonderful to have the best of both worlds. But we have Mengmeng, and building a family isn’t just about you and Ming Nuo. Every family member affects a child’s education. Looking at Ming Nuo’s Mammy today… she really gives me a headache. How about… you think about it again?”

Ning Xueqing’s face went pale instantly. “Mom? What do you mean ‘think about it again’?”