Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 32

“My cycle is a bit off since we started the show; it’s about a week later than usual,” Ning Xueqing murmured softly as she walked beside Ming Nuo.

A week? Ming Nuo thought for a moment; that would make it coincide perfectly with her own cycle.

An Alpha’s rut, an Omega’s heat, and the menstrual cycle are all natural biological rhythms for women. Betas have it a bit easier, though they become more sensitive around ovulation, and some sensory-keen Betas can be drawn to Alpha and Omega pheromones. Compared to a period, a rut or heat is very brief—usually lasting only two or three days, similar to the window of ovulation.

These are normal physiological phenomena. As long as one maintains proper personal management, even an Alpha and Omega both in their cycles can stay in the same room without significant issues. If trouble arises, it usually means someone is acting intentionally. Some people are more open with higher needs, while others are not, which can lead to friction.

Clearly, Ming Nuo and Ning Xueqing were on the same page regarding this.

Ming Nuo moved closer to Ning Xueqing and said, “We’ll reach the summit tomorrow afternoon. Staying in a hotel will be much more convenient then. Do you have your care products? I brought general suppressants and isolation patches; just let me know if you feel uncomfortable.”

“Thank you, I have everything with me, so it’s fine. Ji Lang pulled me aside in the restroom the other day specifically to borrow some medicine. She said she’d just finished her period so she didn’t bring any, but she didn’t expect her cycle to get disrupted.”

“Group living tends to mess with cycles. But hers is quite intense; she should probably go for a check-up after we finish filming the day after tomorrow.”

“Mm, that’s true. Should we go for a check-up too?”

Ming Nuo looked at her. “Us?”

Their cycles weren’t exactly “messy”—it was just that the two of them, spending every day together, were seeing their rhythms pull toward one another.

“You don’t want to?”

“No, I just think it’s normal to change based on the influence of the people around you. Instead of ‘change,’ I think ‘syncing’ is a more accurate description.”

Syncing. It felt like a romance one couldn’t quite put into words.

Ning Xueqing smiled. As they rounded a bend, the dense forest opened up, and the cloud-piercing peaks leaped into view. She gazed at the expansive scenery, losing herself in it. “How magnificent.”

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed before her eyes. The branches above Ning Xueqing’s head shook violently, and she felt a sharp tug at the back of her hair. Her scalp stung with the force of the pull.

“Ah—!”

Ning Xueqing instinctively threw her head back. An adult monkey was hanging from a branch, gripping her hair and baring its fangs at her. The beast’s sharp teeth were nearly touching her forehead. She cried out in shock as Ming Nuo’s hiking pole swung down, striking the monkey’s face. Ning Xueqing took the opportunity to dive into Ming Nuo’s arms.

A cameraman from the crew happened to be very close and filmed the entire narrow escape—especially the moment Ning Xueqing threw herself into Ming Nuo’s embrace without a moment’s hesitation. The photographer specifically adjusted the lens to capture a close-up.

Ning Xueqing’s cry drew everyone’s attention. The monkey shrieked at Ming Nuo, who was wielding the pole, and she chased it away in a few swift moves. By the time she noticed her surroundings, everyone was staring at them—at Ning Xueqing, who was pressed against her, holding her tightly.

A camera was pointed directly at them.

“This clip is definitely going viral.”

Xing Cai raised her hand to point at Ming Nuo, then immediately realized it was rude and redirected her finger toward the camera beside them. “Senior, when this part with you and Teacher Ning is broadcast, it’s definitely going to blow up!”

Since they started recording Miraculous Journey, Ming Nuo and Ning Xueqing had shared plenty of close contact, but it was usually in private. Not only was it rarely recorded, but even the other guests hadn’t seen them acting this intimately.

Ming Nuo remained serious, her first priority being Ning Xueqing’s thoughts. While the other guests enjoyed the spectacle and the crew hoped for viral content, Ming Nuo had to consider Ning Xueqing’s reputation first.

Ming Nuo lowered her hands and gently soothed Ning Xueqing. Once Ning Xueqing regained her composure and let go, the two slowly pulled apart.

“This was an accident, but after it’s broadcast, some netizens might fabricate stories, which could have a negative impact on Teacher Ning and me.” Ming Nuo called over the on-set director to discuss whether the footage could be edited out.

The director had just watched the video of Ning Xueqing hugging Ming Nuo and was internally celebrating the viral potential. Hearing Ming Nuo’s request was like a bucket of cold water to the head. She didn’t dare show her dissatisfaction, answering vaguely: “Teacher Nuo is very considerate, and I understand your concern. However, I’m only the assistant director for the shoot. Decisions regarding content aren’t made on-site; we have to report it to the station heads.”

The director hadn’t been in her position long; Ming Nuo, who had been in the industry for ten years, could see right through her.

“I’ll write a formal application and then—”

“It’s fine, no need to delete it. It’s better if it goes viral. The innocent remain innocent, and everything else is just ‘traffic.’ I see it as a stroke of great fortune; not everyone can handle that kind of spotlight.”

Ming Nuo wanted to keep pushing, but Ning Xueqing walked over, smoothing her long hair. She exchanged a glance with Ming Nuo, her eyes twinkling, then turned to the director. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Anyone facing Ning Xueqing’s enchanting smile would be dazed for a few seconds. The director hurriedly smiled back. “No trouble at all, it’s what we should do.”

Ming Nuo didn’t actually mind the exposure; she had only requested the deletion for Ning Xueqing’s sake. Since Sister Xueqing didn’t mind, she was actually quite happy to “bind their CP” and let it explode in popularity.

Ning Xueqing comforted Mengmeng, who had run over worried about her mother. After watching the girl run back to play with her friends, the group walked on for a bit. Seeing the exit of the monkey zone, Ning Xueqing said in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Oh, so it was ‘fabricated’?”

Ming Nuo: “?” Her heart skipped a beat.

She had meant that she was worried people would use the video to blacken Ning Xueqing’s name, not that her own feelings were fake. Normally, Ming Nuo would have rushed to explain, but hearing Ning Xueqing say it with that playful, mischievous intent to tease her, Ming Nuo didn’t react with her old simplicity. She curled her lips and replied: “If you insist on asking what you already know, Sister, it only works if you cooperate.”

Ning Xueqing looked at her in surprise, her eyebrows arching. Her clear eyes shifted through a myriad of emotions, though her face remained gracefully smiling. Her “adorable Teacher Nuo” was no longer just shyly lowering her head; she was now learning how to toss playful banter back and forth.

The Miraculous Journey team stayed overnight at a Taoist temple in Yaoguang Terrace and woke up before dawn the next day to continue the climb. They needed to reach the highest peak of Mount Guan-yun before 6:00 AM to catch the most spectacular sight—the “Golden Crow Leaping the Sea.” The Golden Crow refers to the rising sun, and the “sea” is the rolling sea of clouds at the summit.

“Why is it raining?” Xing Cai had specifically bought a camera to capture the sunrise, but halfway up, dark clouds blanketed the sky. Forget the sun; even the path lights were dim.

Ming Nuo comforted her: “The weather is unpredictable. These sights are famous precisely because they are rare. If you could see them every day, they wouldn’t be special.”

The rain grew heavier, and the mountain road became slippery. For safety, the guide canceled the sunrise route and took the group on the cable car instead. At the summit, they encountered a muddy path soaked by the rain. Xiao Qian twisted her ankle, so Ouyang Yu had to carry her the rest of the way to the hotel. Pineapple Cake followed behind her “Mammy and Mama,” stepping into little mud puddles one by one, looking both piteous and adorable.

Aside from Little Pea, the children loved the mud pits, oinking like Peppa Pig and using leaves as dinosaur props.

At the Lingxiao Hotel lobby, the director arranged the rooms. The three-person families were given deluxe themed rooms, while the single-parent families were given two-bedroom suites.

Ming Nuo put her backpack in her room. After days of camping, she could finally stay in a comfortable building. As usual, she bypassed the master bedroom to put her things in the smaller bedroom of the suite.

“Nuo Nuo Mammy.” A soft, white little hand tugged at the hem of Ming Nuo’s shirt.

Ming Nuo leaned down. “What is it, baby?”

Mengmeng was wearing her Kitty backpack and clutching her water bottle—she had brought all her “possessions” with her. The little girl pointed toward the master bedroom. “Mommy said we are staying over there together.”

Ming Nuo looked at the half-open door. Together? Even if they were doing “desensitization” every day… it wasn’t even nighttime yet… and Mengmeng was right there…

Sometimes children miscommunicate. Ming Nuo planned to ask Ning Xueqing later, so she crouched down. “I’ll finish unpacking my things first.”

Mengmeng seemed to think Ming Nuo hadn’t understood. She said urgently, “No, Mommy said the two of us are staying in the big room, and she’s staying in this small one alone.”

Huh?

“Mommy said that?”

“Mm! Nuo Nuo Mammy, I’ll help you carry your clothes over.”

After days of camping, they had slept together every night. Mengmeng was used to it now and no longer rejected Ming Nuo as she had in Wonder Town. The girl took Ming Nuo by the thumb and led her into the master bedroom, which had a large family bed and a fun children’s bed designed like a treehouse.

There was a slide on the treehouse, and Mengmeng pestered Ming Nuo to play with her for a bit. Ming Nuo picked up Mengmeng after she slid down, wondering why the girl wasn’t clinging to her mother—usually, she wanted Ning Xueqing to join in on anything fun.

“Shall we ask Mommy to come and play too?”

Mengmeng actually shook her head. “Not today.”

“Why not?”

Mengmeng took on the serious, rigorous tone she used for her kindergarten exercises: “Because Mommy is an Omega and sometimes she feels unwell. Teacher and Grandma told me that every month, there are two days where I shouldn’t disturb Mommy’s rest.”

Ming Nuo recalled what Ning Xueqing had said on the trail yesterday and understood immediately. “Okay, I see. Let’s let Mommy rest well and not disturb her.”

Mengmeng nodded like a little chick pecking grain. “Right!”

A little later, the crew came in to record some daily hotel footage. Ning Xueqing came out to chat for a bit, then returned to the small room after they left. Mengmeng watched her wistfully, following her to the door and pouting silently.

Ning Xueqing saw her from across the room and beckoned her. “Come give Mommy a hug.”

“Mommy!” Mengmeng dashed over, diving into her mother’s arms for kisses and cuddles.

Ming Nuo watched from outside, her heart feeling like a marshmallow melting into hot cocoa. After cuddling for a while, Mengmeng let go and backed out. “Mommy has her rest days this month, I won’t disturb her.”

“Mengmeng is so good,” Ning Xueqing praised.

Mengmeng then took Ming Nuo’s hand. “Nuo Nuo Mammy, let’s go see what Sister Nora and the others are playing with!”

Ming Nuo turned back to close the door, and Ning Xueqing lay down languidly, her eyes curving like a painting.

“Nuo Nuo Mammy, you stay.”