Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 7

Ning Xueqing was taking her child to participate in Baby’s Miraculous Journey?!

Ming Nuo’s eyelids drooped as she shot a frowning glance at Xing Cai. Why hadn’t she mentioned something this important sooner?

Xing Cai felt the sharpness of her gaze and felt a bit intimidated. She awkwardly brushed back the hair resting on her neck and said, “My aunt told me not to tell anyone. Since you’re one of us, Senior… well, you know. Keep it a secret, okay? Total secret.”

Ming Nuo’s voice was deep: “I know.”

Xing Cai: “Thanks, Senior! Hehe.”

The air fell into a few seconds of silence before Xing Cai looked for another topic: “What are your plans for the near future, Senior?”

Ming Nuo stated her original schedule: “I plan to rest for a month, then follow the studio’s arrangements.”

Xing Cai nodded. “That’s good. You should get some rest at home. With the storm currently surrounding Ning Xueqing, it’s probably for the best that you aren’t participating in the variety show. No need to wade into those muddy waters.”

The internet was currently flooded with negative material about Ning Xueqing. Although her studio was working hard to maintain her image, the results were less than ideal. Aside from a few artists who were particularly close to her, most chose to keep their distance. Some 18th-tier celebrities even posted condemnations just to chase traffic.

Fortunately, Ning Xueqing’s ethereal beauty and stunning talent had earned her many die-hard fans over the years. They supported her unwaveringly, guarding a patch of pure land for her on the battlefield of public opinion.

Ming Nuo was one of the few artists who had publicly supported Ning Xueqing online. Though it was just a simple “like” on her Weibo and a “Keep going!” emoji in the comments, it was enough to move Ning Xueqing’s fans to tears.

Xing Cai guessed that this was why Jinyu TV had invited Ming Nuo to be the special guest. Since Ning Xueqing was at the center of a controversy, most artists—cherishing their reputations—were unwilling to get involved in a “black-and-red” (notoriety-based) career move.

Since Ming Nuo had declined the invitation, Jinyu TV would likely choose a special guest from other Alpha artists who had supported Ning Xueqing…

Seeing Xing Cai looking pensive, Ming Nuo assumed she was worrying about her own family matters again. Sensing the rant was over, Ming Nuo felt it inappropriate to overstay her welcome and said, “Xiao Cai, it’s almost two o’clock. I have some things to handle, so I’ll head back.”

Xing Cai looked up quickly. “Oh! Right. I’ll walk you out, Senior.”

“It’s fine. Nora is about to wake up; go be with the child. Just walking me to the door is enough.”

“Mm-hmm. Safe travels, Senior! Watch out on the road. Let’s hang out again soon!”

Ming Nuo stood outside the door, waving with a smile. “Goodbye.”

The moment she turned around, the smile vanished, her thick brows locking together tightly.

“…”

—Ning Xueqing will have to partner with some other Alpha.

Form a “little family” with another Alpha and take the child traveling.

Playing out a loving relationship in front of the whole nation.

Xing Cai had said: Senior, it’s for the best that you aren’t participating.

For the best?

Best. Truly best. Wonderful.

Just great!

Ming Nuo closed her eyes tightly, her back molars grinding together.

Xiao Zhu had been waiting in the car. “Nuo-jie, you’re back. Where to now?” she asked.

She didn’t know what was going on. Usually, Ming Nuo came out of Xing Cai’s house in high spirits, but this time she seemed incredibly low—similar to when Ming Yan had dragged her to that blind date, perhaps even worse.

Ming Nuo sat in the back seat. “Home.”

Xiao Zhu didn’t dare ask more. “Got it.”

She stayed silent the whole way. Although Ming Nuo had a good temper, she was the pillar and shareholder of the studio. She single-handedly supported the company’s entire income; upsetting her was out of the question.

The atmospheric pressure in the car was very low.

Ming Nuo gripped her phone and messaged Cen Hong, her manager and the head of the studio.

Ming Nuo: Lao Cen, help me contact Jinyu TV again. I’m willing to participate in that variety show.

Cen Hong’s status changed to “Typing…” for several minutes before she just called directly.

Cen Hong: “Wait, Ming Nuo. Two days ago, I spent two hours trying to persuade you, and you were as immovable as the Himalayas. I just told the director at Jinyu that you couldn’t make it—I made up several excuses and even treated them to dinner to apologize. And now you’re telling me ‘you’re willing’?!”

Ming Nuo: “I understand. I’m sorry. But I really want to participate now. I must get this opportunity!”

Cen Hong was stunned for a moment, her tone turning uncharacteristically serious. “Ming Nuo, you’re going to be the death of me.”

Realizing her attitude was a bit too forceful, Ming Nuo quickly softened her tone. “President Cen, you’ve been in the entertainment industry for years; who doesn’t respect you? While it’s a bit awkward socially, at the end of the day, it’s business. If I go on the show, it benefits both the company and the TV station, right? Look at our performance goals for this year…”

At the mention of industry seniority and company performance, Cen Hong perked up.

Cen Hong: “Ai-ya, stop, stop. I’m truly afraid of you. Here’s the deal: you were the production team’s first choice for the Alpha special guest. It hasn’t been long, so if you go back to them now, they’ll likely take you. However, since you rejected them first, you need to show a humble attitude to win them back. Do you understand what I mean?”

Ming Nuo had been in the industry for ten years and had seen plenty of social maneuvering under Cen Hong’s guidance. With a slight nudge, she caught the meaning.

Ming Nuo smiled slightly, looking out the car window. “Okay, I understand. President Cen, please help me schedule a meeting with the leadership at Jinyu and the show’s producer. I’ll bring gifts and personally ask for the chance back. Is that okay?”

Cen Hong’s voice finally held a trace of a smile. “Smart! As expected of you—always quick on the uptake.”

Ming Nuo: “Then it’s settled. Let me know when you’ve scheduled it.”

With the problem solved, Cen Hong started to gossip: “Why the sudden change of heart? Did you hear some news? Like who else is in the cast?”

Ming Nuo remained serious: “What news? I just felt that participating in a parenting show is actually quite nice. Traveling with cute children… it’s so healing for the soul.”

Cen Hong didn’t say anything more, but she let out a weird little laugh.

Cute children.

Heh. She wondered who that cold woman was two days ago, claiming she didn’t know how to interact with kids. Cen Hong would be a fool to believe her.

A veteran of the workplace sees through everything but says nothing.

Cen Hong was Ming Nuo’s second manager since she entered the music scene. Ming Nuo couldn’t have achieved her current glory without her dedicated cultivation. Over the years, Cen Hong had watched her climb from an 18th-tier singer to the peak of Mandopop.

This included Ming Nuo’s feelings for a certain person: the hard-pressed suppression, the desperate hiding, and the secret support in times of need.

Anyone could jokingly say: “Ming Nuo, you’re actually in love with Ning Xueqing, aren’t you?”

Except for Ming Nuo herself.

She always said very cautiously: “Sister Xueqing is the actress I admire most. I love every one of her works.”

Do you know why some jokes can’t be made?

Because they are actually true.

A week later, the spot for the special guest on the variety show was finalized.

Ming Nuo posted a broad-grinning emoji on Weibo. The comments were full of fans guessing the meaning.

[Nuo Nuo + Laughing = Happy. Nuo Nuo + Happy = I am happy too, yay!]

[What’s making you so happy, Nuo-bao? Share it so we can be happy with you!]

[Since you’re happy, I’m going to post: When is the new album? When is the new album? When is the new album…]

Contracts with the production team and the studio required confidentiality before filming. Thus, Ming Nuo only picked one comment to reply to: 【I’ll be meeting everyone at a new event next month. I hope you’ll like it ^_^】

The reply section instantly turned into a high-rise building.

[Ahhh! My comment got picked!]

[Caught Nuo Nuo! Auntie kisses you! Mwah mwah mwah!]

[Is the new activity a new album?! When are you coming to our city for a concert!]

There was still half a month before Baby’s Miraculous Journey set off.

Ming Nuo was leaning on the sofa watching a documentary. The Science and Education channel was airing a show about baby development. Though she usually disliked children, she found herself watching for a while, suddenly thinking those milk-voiced little toddlers were quite cute.

A thought flashed through her mind.

What does Ning Xueqing’s child look like?

Will she be a mini version of Ning Xueqing?

That would be too cute!

How old is the child? What does she like? How should I interact with her? What can I do to win her over?

Questions flooded in. Ming Nuo rubbed her chin in contemplation before putting on a hat and mask, deciding to visit the library.

Ordinary libraries were too crowded and inconvenient. She went to a private library owned by a media tycoon. It was much larger than average, updated its collection quickly, and was very comprehensive.

Few people knew about this collection. Ming Nuo arrived at 7 AM. The reception was handled by smart robots, and there was no one inside. Following the index, she found the Family and Childcare section. She selected a series of books: The Encyclopedia of Childcare, Child Psychology, Child Nutrition, and so on, pushing a small cart to the front desk to check them out.

She picked up a book and aimed the spine at the scanner. Beep. Success.

She had selected quite a few books, piled high in the cart. As she was moving them into her carrying crate, she accidentally knocked one over.

The book fell to the floor. As Ming Nuo leaned down to pick it up, a pale, delicate hand reached it first.

Ming Nuo looked up. A refreshing blue-and-white shirt dress entered her vision. The person had slender calves, a graceful waist, and long, clean fingers holding the book.

The person didn’t rush to return the book. Instead, she flipped to the cover and read it aloud in a clear, melodious voice:

“Teaching You to Be a Good ‘Mammy’: A Complete Guide to Alpha Parent-Child Education.”

Ming Nuo felt a violent jolt. She froze in place, not even daring to blink.

Ning Xueqing gave a faint smile, slowly raising her hand to offer the book to Ming Nuo: “Congratulations.”

Ming Nuo: “???”

In the bright morning light of the clean library, Ning Xueqing—who had been hidden in the depths of her heart for ten years—stood before her, smiling.

That one “Congratulations” completely fried Ming Nuo’s CPU.

Congratulations?

Does Ning Xueqing think I have a child with someone else?!

NO!!!