Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 8

“An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.”

The beautiful day had just begun, but Ming Nuo already felt as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

She took the Alpha parent-child education book from Ning Xueqing’s hands, thinking fast: “Sister Xueqing, you’re back in the country! Uh, well… a friend of mine just had a child. She wants to learn about parenting and asked me to help her find some materials.”

“Oh…” Ning Xueqing’s face was like a spring blossom as she nodded with a smile, showing no suspicion that this might be a classic case of “asking for a friend.” “There are so many parenting tips online these days; your friend actually asked you to come all the way to the library?”

Ming Nuo said humbly, “It’s hard to tell fact from fiction online. It’s safer to look at formal publications. After all, it’s for a child; one has to be more careful.”

Ning Xueqing carried a light, transparent crossbody bag containing two art history books. She turned toward the smart kiosk, took out the hardcover books, and parted her cherry lips: “Your friend is lucky. You’re so thoughtful.”

That “so thoughtful” comment looped back around as a compliment to Ming Nuo herself.

Ming Nuo gave an embarrassed “mm” and proceeded to check out the other books in her small cart.

Seeing Ning Xueqing register the return of the two art history books, Ming Nuo remembered that Ning Xueqing’s mother used to work in the art industry. She asked, “Are those Auntie’s books?”

Ning Xueqing looked at the books and smiled: “Yes. She borrowed them a few months ago and told me to come return them. They were about to incur overdue fees.”

Ming Nuo: “Since you were abroad, it’s understandable that it took a bit more time.”

This library was actually first recommended to Ming Nuo by Ning Xueqing. The owner was a media mogul with a background in fine arts and was a college classmate of Ning Xueqing’s mother.

During her first few years in show business, Ning Xueqing would come here whenever she was free to borrow books on film and screenwriting, and she used the media room to study cinematography. Later, after meeting Ming Nuo and seeing her thirst for learning, she recommended she come here for research; the library held many collections that couldn’t be found elsewhere.

Ning Xueqing placed the registered books into the smart robot’s cart and turned to Ming Nuo: “If my mother knew someone was defending her like that, she’d be absolutely delighted.”

“In reality, she takes books home and hardly looks at them; she just uses them as a stand for her phone while she scrolls through videos. But every time she passes by here, she wants to borrow a few. When they’re overdue, she makes me return them. I tell her to stop, but next time, she borrows them again.”

As she spoke, Ning Xueqing made a helpless expression.

Ming Nuo recalled that Ming Yan often did similar things—like asking her to buy local specialties from out of town, only to decide she didn’t like them once they were home. After taking photos for her Moments, she would just dump them on Ming Nuo.

Having shared similar experiences, the two looked at each other and laughed.

Ning Xueqing’s gaze fell upon the cart full of books Ming Nuo had checked out: “That’s a lot of books for one person to carry. Shall I help you?”

Ming Nuo’s smile brightened instantly. She parted her lips slightly, let out a soft sound of surprise, and hurriedly said: “Thank you, Sister, but I can just use the cart to move them to the car.”

She then asked: “What about you, Sister? Do you need to borrow more books?”

“No, I still have to go buy some things.”

Ming Nuo had originally thought that if Ning Xueqing wanted to pick out books, she would pick out a few more too. Even if they didn’t speak, just breathing the same air in the same space for a while longer would be pleasant.

But Ning Xueqing was leaving.

Sigh.

Well then, it was time to say goodbye to Sister Xueqing.

Ning Xueqing’s clear voice rang in her ear: “Ming Nuo? Why do you look unhappy? Is something on your mind?”

Yes, I have to say goodbye to you again.

Ming Nuo’s expression smoothed out as she looked at her: “It’s nothing major, just a small worry.”

Ning Xueqing asked with concern: “Is it about work?”

Ming Nuo said: “No. Since I’m bringing books to my friend, I can’t exactly go empty-handed.”

Ning Xueqing: “That’s true.”

“I rarely have contact with children. What kind of gift would be appropriate? The child is roughly preschool age—what do they usually like?”

According to the variety show requirements, the participating children should be between 4 and 6 years old, so Ning Xueqing’s child was definitely in that age range. Since Ning Xueqing had asked what was on her mind, Ming Nuo took the opportunity to inquire.

Mentioning the child made Ning Xueqing’s expression turn even more tender: “A four or five-year-old? Since mine is a daughter, I can only give suggestions regarding girls.”

Ming Nuo: “It’s a girl.”

Ning Xueqing smiled radiantly and pointed toward the library entrance: “I happen to be going to buy things for the child right now. Why don’t we go together?”

Ming Nuo was overjoyed. Heavens, what kind of luck is this today? Trying to guess the preferences of Ning Xueqing’s child had led directly to Ning Xueqing showing her the “correct answers.” It was as if a lucky star were shining right over her head.

It seemed she always ran into good fortune whenever Ning Xueqing was involved.

Ming Nuo couldn’t see how bright her own smile was: “Okay.”

She felt a bit lightheaded.

A slender figure walked past her, the sound of clack-clack-clack echoing. Ming Nuo turned to see Ning Xueqing pushing the cart full of parenting books for her: “Let’s go. Let’s drop your books off first.”

The morning mist slowly dissipated under the rising sun. The light streaming through the clean glass doors silhouetted Ning Xueqing’s back as she pushed the cart, etching the image into Ming Nuo’s pupils.

A peaceful warmth enveloped Ming Nuo’s heart.

She thought: If only this scene truly belonged to the two of us…

The private manager had prepared the new arrivals early, intending to send them to the customer’s home for selection in the afternoon. However, she had received a call at noon saying the items should be left in the store; the customer was bringing a friend to look.

This customer had very high privacy requirements. The manager usually only communicated with the customer’s assistant. She only needed to display the new products and prepare the introductory materials before leaving the VIP room.

Ming Nuo followed behind Ning Xueqing, maintaining a slight distance. Ning Xueqing turned back to wait for her: “No need to be so nervous. I’ve been a regular here for years. It’s safe.”

Ming Nuo was indeed worried about creating a new scandal for Ning Xueqing at such a busy time, which made her overly tense.

But strictly speaking, if a scandal didn’t happen now, it was bound to happen once the variety show aired anyway. She wasn’t afraid of being caught in a whirlwind of public opinion.

She was only afraid that she wouldn’t be the one caught in it with Ning Xueqing.

“Alright.” Ming Nuo looked up, took off her hat, and smiled.

Ning Xueqing curled her lips, opened the VIP room door with her fingerprint, then held her hand near the alcohol spray. She waited at the door and said, “Please, come in.”

Ming Nuo stepped through the colorful doorway onto a soft carpet. The tables and chairs inside were all very small, and the shelves were low—exactly at a height where a child could look at them at eye level.

Plush toys were displayed on the stands, made into various everyday objects like water cups, fans, shower gel, perfume bottles… many were also shaped like food. There was even Dongpo pork hock, salted duck eggs, and crawfish.

Ming Nuo picked up a “salted duck egg” and gave it a squeeze, discovering that the toy could be disassembled. From inside the pale green outer shell, she could pull out a yellow plush sphere.

“Oh, this is so cute!”

Ming Nuo held the “yolk” up to look; it even had a smiley face! Toy designs these days were so interesting; she almost wanted to buy one for herself.

“The ‘Delicious Egg Family’ has new products.” Ning Xueqing also picked up a salted duck egg, her eyes soft and clear. “My house has the whole series: boiled eggs, fried eggs, poached eggs, and even the limited edition Easter chocolate egg.”

Ning Xueqing looked at Ming Nuo, her brow arching slightly as if she were looking at a “big” child: “Do you like this?”

Ming Nuo rubbed the toy: “Yes. I really like round things. This is too cute.”

Ning Xueqing: “Then do you like marbles too?”

“I do.” When Ming Nuo was a child, she loved playing marbles with her classmates. Collecting all sorts of beautiful marbles and spherical candies gave her a great sense of satisfaction.

“What a coincidence.” Ning Xueqing reached out, her slender fingers stroking the fluff in Ming Nuo’s arms. “My baby likes them too.”

Hmm?

Ming Nuo was lost for a moment. What did Ning Xueqing just say? Could she say it one more time…

“Children all like plush toys. You can’t go wrong with cats or dogs. The cake and macaron series are also very popular.”

Ning Xueqing suddenly stopped her hand as she was putting toys into the shopping basket. She took a step closer to Ming Nuo and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: “I’ll give you a round one as a gift.”

Ming Nuo stared straight ahead, suppressing the urge to look into Ning Xueqing’s eyes. She was afraid the joy in her own gaze would be too obvious. Ming Nuo caught the light scent of Ning Xueqing’s perfume and stayed still. Only when the other woman had stepped a bit further away did she say: “Sister, are you going to buy me a toy?”

Ning Xueqing said coaxingly, as if to a child: “I can get you two if you like.”

Ming Nuo put down the duck egg toy: “I only need one. Can I pick something else instead?”

There were many other types of toys on the stands and shelves: building blocks, puzzles, canvases, and more.

“Of course. What do you want?”

Ming Nuo walked around the room and chose a pair of magnetic charms. They were a matching pair of half-moons; when put together, they formed a full moon, but when separated, each was a crescent.

Ming Nuo split the full moon, holding one half in her palm. She extended her hand toward Ning Xueqing: “I want this. One half is a gift from Sister to me, and the other half is a gift from me to Sister.”

Ning Xueqing was slightly stunned, then smiled as she accepted the half-moon: “You certainly know how to pick. This is meant to teach children about astronomy.”

“My knowledge of astronomy isn’t very good; I can learn too.”

“Alright, this is the one.”

Afterward, following Ning Xueqing’s advice, Ming Nuo selected a few more gifts and had them wrapped.

She hung her magnetic moon on her phone case. The crescent moon wobbled in her hand; as she gripped it, her finger brushed over the curved gap. Ming Nuo sighed inwardly, wondering if there would ever be a day when this full moon could be reunited.

Ming Nuo quietly pursed her lips. She quickly dismissed the absurd fantasy she just had.

The Big Moon already has a Little Moon. Perhaps after Ning Xueqing took the other half-moon home, it would just lie in some corner gathering dust…

Ning Xueqing carried the gift bags to the door but seemed to discover something novel. She picked up a thick, hardcover book from the promotional rack on the counter.

“Ming Nuo, think of a question.”

“Hmm?”

Ning Xueqing’s smile was mysterious: “Just think of one in your heart, don’t say it out loud. I’ll count to three, and whichever page I flip to will be the answer for you.”

Ming Nuo saw the title on the cover: The Book of Answers. This thing had been popular years ago; Ming Nuo had found it boring and had never played with it.

But this book was different in Ning Xueqing’s hands.

“Can it be anything?”

“Anything at all.”

Ming Nuo closed her eyes for a few seconds and asked silently in her heart: In this lifetime, is it possible for Ning Xueqing to love Ming Nuo?

She opened her eyes.

Ning Xueqing flipped open the book for her.

— WITHOUT A DOUBT.