Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 6

Erin replied to Jinyu TV, confirming that Ning Xueqing would participate in the program with her daughter.

Two days later, Ning Xueqing received a friend request from a member of the production staff. After adding them, the contact person sent her the program materials and the registration information form.

The study was filled with sunlight.

Ning Xueqing placed her laptop on the desk, holding Mengmeng in her lap as they looked through the documents together.

“Baby’s Miraculous Journey”

Dear parents and adorable babies,

Welcome to the Miraculous Tour Group!

We will embark on a three-month parent-child journey to appreciate the beauty of nature and experience rich and colorful folk cultures…

Mengmeng sat in Ning Xueqing’s arms. Having just turned five, she had only recently started learning to read, so there were many words on the screen she didn’t understand.

Ning Xueqing read aloud to her. When they encountered words the child didn’t grasp, Ning Xueqing explained them one by one.

“To ‘appreciate’ means to see and hear something, and then to have feelings and thoughts about it.”

“What is ‘folk culture’? Well, for example, from Singapore to here, the little animals in both places are a bit different, right? Singapore doesn’t have Australian kangaroos. Also, the houses people live in, the way they look, the music and paintings they like—they are all different. People in every place have different lives; that is folk culture.”

Mengmeng listened intently and nodded to show she understood.

“Mommy, if we go on this trip for the show, will I get to play with other children?”

Ning Xueqing: “Yes. Three other children will be participating with their mommies. You’ll have three new friends by then.”

Mengmeng lowered her head slightly, appearing lost in thought.

Ning Xueqing smoothed back her little ponytail and asked, “What’s wrong, baby?”

Mengmeng leaned into her chest, hugged her, and said very softly, “But I don’t have a Mammy [1], and the other kids do…”

“Mm…” Ning Xueqing held her daughter tight, kissing the top of her head. “Mommy just read the show introduction. The trip is organized in groups of two adults and one child, so we need three people to set off. Some groups of three are a ‘Mammy and Mommy’ pair, and some are a ‘Mommy’ or ‘Mammy’ paired with a Special Guest.”

Mengmeng looked up, her eyes wide. “A Special Guest! What’s a Special Guest!”

Ning Xueqing smiled as she tidied the girl’s stray hairs. “It means a very famous, very beautiful Auntie will come to help us. She’ll travel with us, play games, help us beat the other groups, and win lots of toys and delicious snacks.”

Hearing about toys and snacks, Mengmeng cheered, “Wow! Then we definitely need a very powerful Secret Auntie!”

Ning Xueqing lifted her chin. “Mm, of course! Our Mengmeng team will definitely be the best!”

The study was filled with the child’s bell-like laughter. Ning Zhixuan walked to the doorway carrying a fruit plate. Watching her laughing daughter and granddaughter, she couldn’t help but let out a warm smile.

In the past, Ning Zhixuan had worried that Ning Xueqing’s pregnancy out of wedlock would make life as a single mother very difficult. Furthermore, as a public figure, malicious public opinion could have harmed the mother and daughter. But even back then, Ning Xueqing had remained calm and composed, telling Ning Zhixuan with full confidence not to worry, as she had her own plans.

After the news of the child broke, the internet was filled with vitriol, pushing the pair to the heart of the storm.

Faced with this sudden predicament, Ning Xueqing didn’t back down at all. She resolutely decided to go public at this junction and participate in a parenting variety show—turning her passive position into an active one. By stepping onto the screen gracefully to show the audience their warm bond, she could harvest massive popularity and even a new wave of fans.

On the other hand, this would allow Mengmeng to return to China and live a normal life, rather than living a restricted life as a guest in a foreign country.

Ning Zhixuan agreed with this decision. Mengmeng was about to enter primary school and needed a stable environment; it was also time for Ning Xueqing to consider restarting her career.

The TV was on in the living room.

Ning Zhixuan sat on the sofa looking at her tablet, using the TV as background noise. Her tablet was set to “Elderly Mode” with large system fonts; the short-video apps recommended content related to art and health.

Perhaps because she had chatted about Ming Nuo with Ning Xueqing a few days ago, or perhaps because Ming Nuo’s news was trending, the big data algorithm pushed a touching video of Ming Nuo visiting a terminally ill fan to her.

#Mandopop_Diva_True_To_Her_Word: Visits_Terminally_Ill_Fan_From_Australia_Concert#

#So_Heartwarming_Nuo_Nuo_Is_The_Best#

#Proud_To_Be_Sticky_Rice#

“Sticky Rice” (Nuomi) was the nickname for Ming Nuo’s fans.

Ning Zhixuan didn’t understand the nicknames of fandoms. Her first reaction upon seeing the video was to push up her reading glasses and lean in closer. Is this a publicity stunt?

The original uploader was the patient’s fan account themselves. In the video, Ming Nuo gave the fan in the hospital bed a hug and played the guitar while singing her signature song, “Wild Rose.”

The fan was moved to tears, stating at the end of the video: “Thank you, Ming Nuo. If I go to heaven, I will sing your songs to the angels.”

The video was only two minutes long, but the fan’s genuine outpouring of emotion moved even Ning Zhixuan. She opened the comments section to find many netizens becoming fans of Ming Nuo on the spot.

[Sobbing, Nuo Nuo is so warm QAQ]

[Listening to Nuo Nuo’s songs, you can truly feel what it means to be loved.]

[Replying to above: Because Ming Nuo sings every song with real emotion.]

[I think Ming Nuo’s singing sounds a bit sad, lacking the spirit to encourage a patient. Is it because she’s heartbroken over Ning Xueqing having a baby out of wedlock?]

[Ha? The person above must be a Ning Xueqing anti-fan! Your idol’s ‘house collapsed’ (scandal), don’t come here to leech heat off Ming Nuo! Stop bringing hate to Ning Xueqing [Disgusted Face]]

[Heh, I knew some CP shippers would start being ‘ky’ (out of place). Our Nuo said she likes Ning Xueqing’s movies and helps promote her, but that’s just because our Nuo is a good person. This video is about a fan recording their life; you Ning Xueqing ‘ky’ fans shouldn’t come here to dance. It’s rude.]

Scanning through dozens of comments, Ning Zhixuan’s mood became complicated.

She knew Ming Nuo and Ning Xueqing had commercial collaborations every year and interacted on official social media accounts, but Ning Xueqing interacted with many artists; it didn’t seem special.

But Ning Zhixuan hadn’t known that “CP fans” (shippers) of Ning Xueqing and Ming Nuo even existed.

Watching Ming Nuo comfort the fan in the video, Ning Zhixuan sighed softly: “What a good kid—steady, hardworking, and responsible. If they really were a ‘CP,’ that would be wonderful…”

Unfortunately, her daughter could only wear sunglasses and a mask to quietly attend the other woman’s concert.

Shenjiang City People’s Hospital

Ming Nuo had anonymously donated to the fan’s medical expenses. She had just gotten into the car to go home when she received a call.

Ming Nuo meticulously set profile pictures for every contact in her private phone. Seeing a colorful star on the caller ID, she curled her lips. The golden morning light shone on her three-dimensional features, making her exceptionally charming.

“Good morning.”

Before Ming Nuo could finish, a sweet voice came from the other side: “Senior, are you free this afternoon? I need to rant to you.”

“Ranting again?” Ming Nuo made a gesture to Xiao Zhu in the front seat that they could set off. She continued the call, “What’s wrong with your wife this time? Didn’t you just rant about her last month?”

“It’s not her. Sigh, well, it’s related to her. It’s hard to say right now. Where are you? I’ll come find you. My house is a mess right now—Hey, hey, hey! Nora, put the kitty down! Didn’t Mommy say you can’t hold the kitty like that? The kitty is uncomfortable; watch out or it’ll scratch you.”

Ming Nuo listened, a hint of helplessness in her smile. “Xiao Cai, I’ll come to your house this afternoon. That way you don’t have to worry about the kid while you’re out.”

The voice on the other end grew excited: “Thank you, Senior! Senior, you should start a class to teach ‘romance-insulated’ people how to be considerate to their wives. That ‘old-fashioned blockhead’ in my house… I don’t even want to start.”

Ming Nuo shook her head with a smile. “What time should I come over?”

“Hmm, let me see. Is 1:30 PM okay? Or you can come at lunchtime and we can eat together.”

“I’ll be there at 1:30.”

“Mm-hmm, great. Waiting for you!”

Xiao Zhu, driving the car, laughed. “Is that Teacher Xing Cai?”

Ming Nuo looked up. “Yes.”

Xiao Zhu: “I have to open the GPS every time I go to your other friends’ houses, but I never need it for Teacher Xing Cai’s place.”

Ming Nuo chuckled. “Just say it’s because she looks for me to rant too much.”

“Haha~”

Xing Cai had debuted in a girl group survival show at sixteen. At eighteen, she became the main vocal of the group “Berry,” rising to the top tier of idols with extreme popularity. However, at the height of her career, she left the group and got married according to her family’s arrangements, having a baby at a young age. After her comeback, she transitioned into acting and had starred in many idol dramas in recent years.

Xing Cai studied vocal music under the same old artist as Ming Nuo. They were close in age and had always had a good relationship. Since getting married, Xing Cai often sought out Ming Nuo to talk about everything from mother-in-law battles to family feuds. Her storytelling was so vivid that Ming Nuo felt idol dramas were a waste of her talent; she should be acting in family melodramas.

When she arrived at Xing Cai’s house in the afternoon, it was in shambles. Toys and snacks were scattered everywhere, and there were several colorful cat paw prints on the white marble floor tiles. Two domestic helpers were busy cleaning.

Xing Cai entertained Ming Nuo sheepishly: “I’m sorry, Senior. Don’t laugh at me. Please, sit.”

“It’s fine.” Ming Nuo sat down and looked around. “Is Nora napping?”

Xing Cai was wearing a cotton T-shirt with a cartoon print, her long blonde hair draped casually over her shoulders. Her makeup was exquisite, but her eyes looked tired. “Yes. I only have time to chat with you while the child is asleep. She’ll wake up after two, so I only have half an hour to rant.”

Ming Nuo nodded. “Then let’s keep it short.”

Xing Cai sighed, running a hand through her hair. “You know there’s a ten-year age gap between me and that ‘old blockhead.’ We have no common topics; life is just a pool of stagnant water. We’re practically separated now. She does her research projects and doesn’t come back for a month or two at a time. Every time she comes home, it’s like she’s managing the philosophy PhD students she advises. Who wants to analyze ‘where the boundary between being and nothingness lies’ in bed?!”

“…”

As an outsider to another couple’s business, Ming Nuo didn’t feel it appropriate to comment. She just had to be a good listener.

Xing Cai: “Next month, I have to take Nora and her to participate in Jinyu TV’s parenting show. I sent her the materials and she just said, ‘Oh, I need to request leave from the school.’ Then she sent me twenty-eight pages of notes to prepare in advance. Why doesn’t she prepare? Is raising the child solely my job? She just gives some money, flaps her mouth, and thinks the kid is raised, right? I’m honestly done.”

“Jinyu TV’s parenting show?” Ming Nuo immediately thought of the producer of “Baby’s Miraculous Journey” who had contacted her the day before yesterday.

Ming Nuo said: “They invited me too. They wanted me to be a Special Guest.”

Xing Cai said excitedly: “That’s great! Fantastic! When the time comes, I’ll make that ‘old blockhead’ of mine learn from you!”

Ming Nuo: “I declined.”

Xing Cai: “Huh?!”

Ming Nuo lowered her eyes. “I’m not good at taking care of small children.”

Xing Cai started to say something but hesitated for a second before lowering her voice: “My aunt works at Jinyu TV. She told me privately that the two single-parent families are set. One single ‘Mammy,’ one single ‘Mommy.’ The corresponding two Special Guests are an Omega and an Alpha.”

She said regretfully: “Since you declined, Senior, then Ning Xueqing will have to partner with some other Alpha.”

Ming Nuo: “HUH???!!!”