Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 26

The thin plastic bag bit into Ming Nuo’s palm, leaving a red mark. She clenched her teeth, staring from a distance as Ning Xueqing walked away. The Alpha pursued her, but Ning Xueqing shot back a glare so fierce the woman retreated with a crestfallen expression.

Memories from years ago flooded back. Ming Nuo searched her mind for Ning Xueqing’s schedule after the wrap of Listening to the Waves in the Bamboo Sea.

The movie had been filmed around the Grain Rain period. After the wrap-up interviews, Ning Xueqing had received an invitation from an elderly artist to join a charity event for an international mental health organization. She had gone to South America. The timeline and location matched perfectly with what that woman had said.

—Was it her?

Was that pale, sickly-looking Alpha Mengmeng’s biological Mammy?

If she wanted to see the child now, where the hell had she been all this time?

If anyone suggested that Ning Xueqing could fall for a woman who looked malnourished, irresponsible, and only showed up to play the part of a “parent” after the fact, Ming Nuo wouldn’t believe a word of it. One look was enough to tell she wasn’t a good person; she must have harbored ill intentions toward Ning Xueqing and used underhanded means to hurt her.

A few mushrooms grew beneath the flowering trees. Ming Nuo stepped on them, crushing them into pulp—as if they weren’t mushrooms, but that loathsome villain. She wanted to grind her into the dirt to vent her frustration.

Only after Ning Xueqing had walked far away and her silhouette disappeared did Ming Nuo emerge from behind the trees. She cast a cold, sharp glance toward the museum, then faced the lake and took deep breaths to steady her emotions. She chose a longer route back to avoid running into Ning Xueqing halfway, which would be awkward.

As she walked, Ming Nuo’s arms and fingers trembled uncontrollably. This was the first time she had felt her anger and hatred take such a physical form. She was loathing an Alpha she had never spoken to—whose face she hadn’t even seen clearly.

When that stranger said the words “see you and the child” to Ning Xueqing, Ming Nuo had wanted to slap her across the face then and there. But she forced herself to endure it. She didn’t act because she knew someone else was surely angrier and hurting more. No one wants their past scars ripped open in public for others to see.

Ming Nuo wanted to protect Ning Xueqing, not just physically, but psychologically. At this stage of slowly closing the distance between them, it was essential to give Ning Xueqing enough personal space and respect her emotions and privacy.

The plastic bag rustled loudly as Ming Nuo gripped it. Respect was one thing, but the burning fire in her heart could not be extinguished.

That sinner better have the sense to stay far away. If she dares to harass my Ning Xueqing or baby Mengmeng, don’t blame me if my fists show no mercy.

Four simple stoves had been set up on the lawn of the camping park.

Director Xiao Qian and Xing Cai’s families already had pots boiling. Chi Shu and Ji Lang were arguing about something; Ji Lang reached out an arm, hauled her away, and sat down to teach Little Pea how to start a fire.

Ming Nuo walked toward Ning Xueqing, forcing a smile: “Sorry for the wait, I’m back.”

“You’re back! Sit down, the water is already boiling.” Ning Xueqing looked up with a warm expression. It was impossible to tell that she had just had an unpleasant encounter.

“Mm.” Ming Nuo sat on the small camp stool beside her and took the vegetables out of the bag. “What do you want to eat?”

“Anything you make is good.”

Ming Nuo looked up. Ning Xueqing held out a handful of greens, her eyes curving as her lips parted in a smile. Ning Xueqing looked so beautiful when she smiled. Mengmeng took after her; her eyes were large and watery, her face full and adorable.

How could anyone have the heart to hurt someone as wonderful as Ning Xueqing?

The fire in Ming Nuo’s gut flared up again, burning indignantly alongside the sound of the bubbling water in the pot.

“Then I’ll start with the mushroom soup Mengmeng likes. I traded for a mushroom platter and some milk.” Ming Nuo quickly got her hands busy to distract herself and suppress the rage in her heart.

Ning Xueqing used a gourd ladle to scoop water from a small bucket to wash the greens. She had pushed up the sleeves of her sun-protection shirt, revealing a bit of fair skin on her shoulder and the strap of her camisole.

“Is there anything I like?” Ning Xueqing reached out, holding the dripping greens away from her while leaning her upper body toward Ming Nuo. Her voice trailed off with a soft, rising lilt.

Hearing her act so coquettishly, the dark clouds in Ming Nuo’s heart vanished instantly. She devoted her entire focus to Ning Xueqing.

“Of course. The first thing I exchanged for was tomatoes. Once the soup is done, I’ll stew some beef.” Ming Nuo pulled the tomatoes and beef from the bottom of the bag to show her. “And two bell peppers; we can skewer them for kebabs.”

“I’m so happy.” Ning Xueqing tilted her head to rest against Ming Nuo’s shoulder, her smile as bright as a flower.

“Do you think I like the yellow one or the red one?” Ning Xueqing asked, pointing at the two bell peppers.

Ming Nuo replied without thinking: “The yellow one.”

Ning Xueqing sat up straight, asking in surprise, “How did you know?”

Ming Nuo seemed to recall something pleasant, a pure smile appearing at the corners of her mouth. “Because a ‘Lemon’ has to support all vegetables from the Lemon-Yellow family.”

“Hahaha! My nonsensical dad jokes… you’re always the only one who laughs at them.” Ning Xueqing laughed so hard she leaned back, her hands gripping Ming Nuo’s shoulders.

Ming Nuo braced herself so she wouldn’t be knocked over. Holding the ladle in her right hand, she freed her left to wrap around Ning Xueqing’s back to steady her.

Ning Xueqing was a mysterious artist—lively in front of the media, yet a master of killing the mood with awkward silence. Occasionally, she would make completely illogical statements that no one could quite grasp. Some anti-fans called her “crazy” or “neurotic” for it, but her fans found it to be a sort of dorky, adorable charm and loved her even more.

For example, during the first singer survival show Ming Nuo participated in before her debut, Ning Xueqing was a special guest host. During the semi-finals, the main host asked Ning Xueqing: “Xueqing, what do you think of contestant Ming Nuo’s performance this time?”

Ning Xueqing’s answer left the entire audience confused: “I think she sounds very delicious.”

Later, Ning Xueqing explained that since she didn’t study music, she could only describe the songs she heard through her senses. She said Ming Nuo’s voice was like a delicious dessert that made you want a bite every day, whereas others were like the scent of bread you smell outside a bakery—it smells great on the outside, but once you go in, you can’t find anything you actually want to eat.

Ming Nuo won the championship that year. Ning Xueqing said it wasn’t a surprise at all; everyone could mock her for being tone-deaf, but no one could question her talent as a foodie.

In the interview after the finals, Ming Nuo held her trophy for a photo with Ning Xueqing.

An entertainment reporter asked Ning Xueqing: “Teacher Ning, you mentioned you have a ‘foodie’ attribute. So, do you think corn tastes better, or radishes?”

Ning Xueqing: “Corn.”

Reporter: “Why?”

Ning Xueqing: “Because a ‘Lemon’ has to support all vegetables from the Lemon-Yellow family!”

The people on set were baffled. What was that? Just because her nickname was Lemon, she had to like yellow vegetables?

Only beside Ning Xueqing, the green college-student champion covered her mouth to hide a secret laugh. Ning Xueqing proudly patted her shoulder: “You’re the only one who understood my joke!”

Ming Nuo’s eyes curved as she gazed at her quietly.

Ming Nuo had never said it, but Ning Xueqing’s jokes were truly very “cold,” and barely jokes at all. They seemed like the “wild imagination of an artist” inherited from Ning Zhixuan. But whether they were cold jokes or wild imagination didn’t matter at all. Ming Nuo would smile from the bottom of her heart just watching Ning Xueqing release her radiant energy.

The sliced mushrooms were tossed into the pot. Ming Nuo used a long-handled spoon to stir the hot soup. Ning Xueqing picked up the milk and unscrewed the cap: “I want to help.”

Ming Nuo used the back of the spoon to block the side of the pot nearest Ning Xueqing, preventing the milk from splashing the boiling water. “Careful not to get burned.”

“It’s okay, you’ve protected me so well.”

“Um… where’s Mengmeng?”

“Eating grilled chicken drumsticks over at Xing Cai’s.” Ning Xueqing tilted her head and called toward the opposite tent, “Mengmeng! Time to come home!”

The two children across the way were hopping around. A staff member was saying something to Xing Cai and the others, then Mengmeng ran over excitedly.

“Mommy! Nuo Nuo Mammy! We’re going to have a big feast!”

Ning Xueqing and Ming Nuo exchanged a confused glance. A big feast?

The on-set director for Miraculous Journey explained that the management of Butterfly Valley, wanting to thank the production team for the promotion, had arranged for the investors to host a formal dinner for the entire crew. They had prepared a local specialty “Cloud-Viewing Feast” for the guests in a private scenic room.

It was just a regular meal; the guests simply participated in whatever the production team arranged.

The large round table in the scenic restaurant could seat sixteen. The four children sat together, the adults on one side, and several empty seats were occupied by the on-set director and the director of the Butterfly Valley Management Office.

The on-set director and the management director chatted over drinks for a bit before the director took a call and said with a smile, “Our investor is here. All the supplies for your team’s shoot at Mount Guan-yun this time are sponsored by her.”

There was a light knock on the door. The waiter opened it and bowed. “Please enter.”

Everyone looked up. The newcomer was thin and pale. Even with blush and lipstick, she still looked sickly.

Ming Nuo’s face darkened instantly.

The management director quickly stood up to invite the investor to sit, facing the group: “Let me introduce everyone. This is our investor for Mount Guan-yun, President Ji. She is also a partner in our city’s tourism industry.”

The woman was expressionless, her eyelids drooping lazily. She only broke into a smile when she looked at Ning Xueqing.

“Hello everyone, my name is Ji Ci. I am a fan of Teacher Ning Xueqing.”

The on-set director’s eyes lit up hearing that Ji Ci had sponsored all the supplies for the second session. Ning Xueqing was sitting next to her, with Ming Nuo next to her. The director immediately stood up: “Is that so? President Ji, sit here in my spot.”

Ming Nuo: “?” This was a dinner for the show’s guests, not a social cocktail party. Just because someone was a “fan,” they could get special treatment? It was inappropriate.

Ji Ci kept her eyes lowered, not even looking up. “Xiao Li, the butterfly wine.”

Manager Li, standing at the door, quickly brought up the exquisite wine bottle. While Xiao Li was pouring the wine, Ming Nuo whispered to Ning Xueqing and pointed to herself. Ning Xueqing nodded and swapped seats with Ming Nuo, sitting between Ming Nuo and Xing Cai.

Ji Ci picked up her wine glass and turned to the left. Ming Nuo raised her own glass, pressing it down against Ji Ci’s to clink—Ning Xueqing had already moved to Ming Nuo’s left.

Pressing a glass down is a gesture of dominance used by those in superior positions at a banquet.

Ji Ci curled her lips without a word, handed the glass back to Xiao Li, and told her to take it away. She then picked up a hot towel to wipe her hands.

Ming Nuo took a composed sip of the wine and smiled slightly: “Excellent wine. Thank you for your kind intentions, President Ji. Xueqing and I have had a wonderful time playing with our daughter in Butterfly Valley.”

“As long as you’re happy.” Ji Ci picked up a fresh glass of wine, raising her hand. “I wish all the guests and children a wonderful memory here at Mount Guan-yun.”

The whole table raised their glasses. Ji Ci tilted her head back, drained the glass, and poured another full one. “Actually, the reason I came today was to say hello to a distinguished guest who has come from afar.”

“One of you sitting here is my relative.” Ji Ci set down her glass and sat upright, her smiling gaze sweeping over every guest.

Ming Nuo instinctively looked at Ning Xueqing. Ning Xueqing abruptly turned her head to look at Ji Ci.