Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 35

They were home.

Mengmeng kicked off her hiking boots and ran toward the foyer. Ning Xueqing placed the girl’s small backpack and water bottle on the cabinet. “Slow down. Wash your hands first, then change into your indoor clothes.”

“I know, Mommy!”

“Grandma! We’re back! You said for Children’s Day you’d teach me how to make cupcakes—”

“Oh, Grandma, you’re on the phone. I’ll be quiet. I’m going to wash my hands now.”

Ning Xueqing went into the first-floor cloakroom to change into loungewear. The television in the living room was on mute. Ning Zhixuan was pacing on the balcony, her phone pressed between her ear and shoulder. “If they won’t rent the venue, then they won’t. If they cancel last minute, just make sure the gallery returns the deposit.”

“Do I sound like I’m not angry? I’ve been preparing this art exhibition for three years. The booking, the design, the curation—everything was ready. The people were arranged, the money was paid, and they suddenly say they can’t rent the venue? How can I not be angry?”

“Hmph, as if I wouldn’t know… there’s always a motive behind something this unusual. It must be that woman surnamed Ji interfering. She’s in Shenjiang, yet she manages to obstruct my exhibition in Diannan City. Her reach is truly long. Heaven knows how I’ve offended her again. If she loves that disgusting wife of hers so much, she should keep her locked at home and enjoy her herself. It’s been none of my business for a long time; I don’t know why she targets me day in and day out.”

Ning Xueqing listened until Ning Zhixuan hung up the phone. Her mother took a deep breath, stretched to calm herself, and then put on a cheerful face. “I watched the show! Oh, Qingqing, you look like a real family on TV. Mengmeng had such a great time. If only our home could always be this lively…”

Ning Xueqing was more concerned about her mother. “What happened with your exhibition?”

Ning Zhixuan tsked. “Why bring it up? They act up every once in a while anyway.”

“Was it that person causing trouble for you?”

“I haven’t checked yet, but my intuition tells me it’s definitely the one named Ji.”

Ning Xueqing sighed and told Ning Zhixuan about Ji Ci looking for her. Ning Zhixuan was terrified. “Heavens, that Ji lunatic didn’t lay a hand on you, did she? Are you hurt?”

“No, Ming Nuo was with me the whole time.” Ning Xueqing leaned against the sofa armrest. “Ji Ci’s condition has worsened. I don’t know why she’s not in the hospital, and it seems her family isn’t looking after her either. Whoever is targeting you is likely because she thinks I ‘harassed’ her daughter.”

Ning Zhixuan patted her chest. “Thank goodness Ming Nuo was there. Don’t worry about the lunatic. You, dear… think more about Ming Nuo.”

“…”

As if she hadn’t been thinking about her.

She’d given her the bracelet, hugged her in front of the cameras, and even held her during her cycle. Was that not “thinking” about her?

Honestly.

Could a relationship really be hurried? Do two people truly love each other just because they say “I love you”? Even if they “did it,” what would it be? Nothing more than a self-indulgent spark of bio-electricity. It wasn’t the warmth and serenity Ning Xueqing craved.

Ning Xueqing couldn’t quite figure Ming Nuo out. She was hot and cold, near and yet far.

One second, Ming Nuo’s eyes seemed to speak, pouring out a deeply hidden longing; the next, she would effortlessly play the part of a good “younger sister,” a humble junior, or the dependable “apprentice Mammy” Mengmeng relied on.

Ming Nuo praised her beauty and said she was wonderful. Ning Xueqing always acted happy, but in her heart, she understood perfectly: Ming Nuo was no longer the bullied student of ten years ago. Her achievements in music were in no way inferior to Ning Xueqing’s reputation in acting. In fact, her status in the music industry was arguably higher than Ning Xueqing’s in film. After all, the Mandopop scene had been lacking fresh talent for nearly a decade; a singer-songwriter as talented and hardworking as Ming Nuo was a rare find.

Ning Xueqing was amazed by Ming Nuo’s frequency of releasing one or two new albums a year, each with songs tightly knit to a theme. It wasn’t an album with only one hit, nor was it a collection of old song remakes or remixes.

Ming Nuo treated every concert with total dedication—arriving early, giving snacks and milk tea to the staff, and turning inspirations into short scores to gift to fans during interactions. Almost every singer who had collaborated with her had received a song she wrote, and many had regained fame because of her compositions.

This Ming Nuo had seen the world and understood the ways of society. Could someone like that truly remain consistent and pure of heart?

Whether they were fellow musicians, actors, or even people outside the entertainment circle, many Omegas had publicly expressed their admiration for Ming Nuo.

A host once asked: “If you could collaborate with anyone, whether in acting or business, who is the first person you think of?”

A certain star replied without hesitation: “Ming Nuo. Definitely Ming Nuo. Did you know? She’s a ‘warm baby’ who will actually pick out every single piece of ginger you don’t like from a plate of shredded potatoes. She’s so adorable.”

The host exclaimed: “Even you know about the ginger thing? Ming Nuo is truly popular in the Omega circle, hahaha!”

Ning Xueqing knew the origin of the ginger-picking. It was before she started filming a movie, during an interview. Ning Xueqing had mentioned she didn’t really eat ginger because it always disguised itself as other foods—shredded potatoes or meat slices—and biting into it felt like a betrayal.

That night’s boxed lunch included shredded potatoes with young ginger. Ming Nuo saw the assistant about to take it to Ning Xueqing, stopped her, put on a mask and gloves, and picked out all the ginger. It was a small dish, and she finished quickly.

A staff member on site had secretly recorded a bit and posted it online. Several people complained about the food being bad or the ginger being too spicy that day, but Ning Xueqing only looked confused: “Really? I was just praising the owner for the skill—all the ginger fragrance without the ginger itself.”

Many people knew about Ming Nuo picking the ginger. But the only one who actually ate the potatoes was Ning Xueqing.

When things others envy become your daily routine, Ning Xueqing thought, that must be a form of arrogance. Or perhaps a failure to appreciate.

But what could be done to make two rays of light with different wavelengths converge?

Syncing.

Ming Nuo was like red light, glowing steadily on one side of the spectrum. Ning Xueqing stood on the blue side, separated by orange, green, and cyan—vibrant and beautiful, but seemingly out of reach. Different wavelengths decide the color of light; different experiences decide the “base color” of a person. If they fell in love, it would be a joy; but if differences arose later, if deception or concealment were discovered—or worse, if they ended up like Ning Zhixuan and her ex-wife, turning into enemies—what then?

Ning Xueqing hated her own anxiety. She wanted to be bold and open, but considering her mother’s setbacks and Mengmeng’s growth, she felt she had to take one step while looking ten steps ahead. Building a family and falling in love were two very different things.

Although Ning Xueqing also wanted to be closer to Ming Nuo, she found to her surprise that Ming Nuo’s respect and sense of propriety actually gave her more security and made their interactions more comfortable.

In just a few minutes, while sitting on the sofa, Ning Xueqing’s thoughts took countless turns. Ning Zhixuan turned up the volume on the TV. Seeing her daughter so quiet, she assumed she was pining. “Look at that. The person came back at noon, but the heart left with Ming Nuo in the morning.”

“…Mom, please, I have a reputation to uphold.”

The housekeeper brought Mengmeng over and gave her some sliced apples. Mengmeng skipped over and dived into Ning Zhixuan’s arms. “Grandma, Grandma! Cupcakes! I don’t have any friends to play with. Can you draw some animals to celebrate Children’s Day with me?”

The granddaughter’s words broke Ning Zhixuan’s heart. “You have friends. Grandma will draw lots and lots for you—lions, elephants, foxes, tigers, and even little hedgehogs and bunnies.”

“Hey, baby, your Nuo Nuo Mammy is very good at making pastries. Should we ask your Mommy to invite her over for dinner so we can celebrate Children’s Day together?” Ning Zhixuan asked with a smile, winking at Ning Xueqing.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Mengmeng hopped like a bunny. “Want Nuo Nuo Mammy! Want to make cupcakes together!”

Ning Zhixuan doted on her granddaughter, stroking her braids. “Our Mengmeng is so clever, the best kid for Children’s Day.”

Ning Xueqing watched the “old treasure” and “little treasure” of her home, a slow smile curving her lips. Yes, if only this home could always be this lively. In Ning Xueqing’s imagination, Ming Nuo should be sitting beside her at a time like this, holding her in a gentle embrace.

The Crown Unit of the Binjiang New Luxury Estate.

“This must be the best layout and orientation, Yanzi. How much did this cost?”

“Oh, a house is just an object. As long as it’s comfortable to live in and makes you happy, we don’t talk about the price.”

“Aiyoo, Yanzi, you’re the mother of a big singing star now! Your daughter has made it, and the mother’s perspective has just shot right up!”

“Stop it! You’re over-praising!” Ming Yan laughed, leaning back as she introduced the view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows to her childhood friend who had retired and come to visit. She pointed out the park, the financial district, the TV tower, and the Shenjiang Port.

Ming Nuo followed behind her “Mammy” and her auntie, scrolling through her phone to see the online feedback for Miraculous Journey. There were many “Nuo-Xue” CP fans editing videos of their interactions, and Ming Nuo watched them with a beaming smile.

The two elders chatted as they toured the new apartment.

“Aiyoo, so grand and bright. Yanzi, this must be two hundred square meters?”

“Two hundred? Look around more; it’s four hundred!”

“Wow! And there are more rooms back there! The renovation is beautiful, too. How expensive must this be? It’s different when a daughter is successful. My daughter could never afford a place like this in her life, let alone buy a new one for her old mother to retire in. I drained my savings just to help with her down payment. Yanzi, of all the kids who grew up in our residential compound, you’re the most blessed!”

“It’s all the child’s own hard work. Of course, I put in a lot of effort for Nuo Nuo’s education and development back in the day.”

“That’s for sure!”

“Yanzi, with a house this big, you definitely need a nanny. You’re living in a luxury home now; you can’t do the hard labor yourself. I see wealthy families with two or three nannies—one just for cooking, one for cleaning, and one for the kids.”

Ming Yan waved her hand. “I don’t go for that. No matter how much money there is, it’s Nuo Nuo’s. I’m just benefiting from her luck. People shouldn’t forget their roots. Coming from a small place, one must be down-to-earth and dutiful. What can be done by oneself should be done by oneself. You can’t become lazy just because the environment has improved. That’s how I’ve educated Nuo Nuo all these years.”

The friend nodded in admiration, then looked back and asked, “Where’s Xiao Nuo?”

Ming Yan turned around; Ming Nuo had indeed vanished. “That child, always appearing and disappearing like a ghost. I’ll go see which room she’s in…”

Ming Yan walked back through the corridor that separated the living and sleeping areas and heard a voice coming from one of the rooms.

Ming Nuo was on the phone, fiddling with a decorative ornament and smiling brightly. “They all miss me? Mm… there’s a bit of an echo, I’m in the new apartment I bought for my Mammy, it’s still quite empty. I’m helping her look at the renovations.”

“Come on, of course I have to accompany Mengmeng for Children’s Day… the ‘big’ friend? Yes, I want to accompany the big friend too. Mm-hmm, anything is fine. Tell Auntie Ning not to overwork herself; a whole table of dishes is too much. I’ll come over early to help cook—”

Ming Yan suddenly clenched her fist and rushed in toward the phone’s microphone: “Well, that sounds wonderful! It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten a meal cooked by my daughter’s own hands!”