Diva Alpha Meets Her Biological Daughter on a Parenting Variety Show - Chapter 36

Ming Nuo was startled and moved her phone away. “Mammy?!”

“How could you—” interrupt someone’s call?

Ming Nuo didn’t get the rest of her words out before Ming Yan’s words started popping out like bullets: “I’ve worked so hard to raise you all these years, yet the number of times you’ve cooked for your Mammy can be counted on one hand. But for someone else’s kid to celebrate Children’s Day, you’re happily going over early to cook. From the time you were small until now, how many meals have I made for you? Have you ever said a single ‘I love you’ to Mammy? Oh, a table of food is ‘hard work’ for some auntie, but why don’t you feel bad for your own mother?”

Ming Nuo had eaten Ming Yan’s cooking her whole life, and she had also eaten plenty of her “temperament bombs.”

Don’t feel bad for her own mother? Then what did this new apartment they were standing in count as? Did Ming Nuo spend tens of millions just to buy a bunch of fancy flattery from Ming Yan’s childhood friends?

Besides, for a daughter to cook, her mother had to actually enjoy eating it.

Ming Nuo remembered one incident vividly from the year after she graduated from college. She had just entered the entertainment industry and gained a bit of fame. Various relatives and friends—some she’d heard of, many she hadn’t—jumped out from all directions like fish blasted up by a depth charge. One day someone would bring their kid to “seek advice,” the next day someone else would ask to borrow money.

Once, a distant relative Ming Yan barely knew brought over a dozen family members to visit. A normal person would have hosted them politely while being annoyed internally, but these people hovered around Ming Yan, giving gifts and praising her. Every word hit Ming Yan right in her heart—especially the ones about her being farsighted, good at business, and great at raising children. Ming Yan was so happy her smile practically dripped honey.

These relatives brought a local specialty: pears. They were huge and juicy, and they said that since Ming Nuo used her voice for singing, these were specifically to soothe her throat. Hearing this, Ming Yan immediately told her to try one.

With over a dozen guests sitting there, how could Ming Nuo eat alone?

Ming Nuo complied, took a box of pears into the kitchen, and peeled ten of them. Ming Yan complained she was too slow, so with five or six left that she hadn’t had time to slice, she brought them out to Ming Yan.

Ming Yan invited everyone to eat. She picked up a whole peeled pear and called Ming Nuo over, saying in front of the entire crowd: “Ming Nuo, I really can’t compliment your knife skills.”

She added: “Didn’t I teach you before?” Then she took a pear herself and peeled it in one long, continuous thin strip.

That feeling of extreme awkwardness was one of the shadows of Ming Nuo’s life. If she got lectured on her knife skills just for peeling a pear, what would happen if she tried to cook a meal in front of Ming Yan?

The way you hold the knife is wrong; the fish has to wait for the steam to rise before going in the pot; steaming it a few minutes too long makes it too tough; the lettuce isn’t crunchy because you didn’t toss it with salt; the soybeans lost their essence because the skins soaked off; she’d even have something to say about how to peel garlic…

In the end, it would be: “Sigh, your Mammy still has to do it herself.” And then once she did: “My daughter doesn’t love me.”

So, was this really a matter of whether the daughter cooked or loved her mother? This was a case of a warm face meeting a cold butt. Even a mother’s cold butt gets freezing if you touch it too often.

The call wasn’t disconnected. Ming Yan had burst in so suddenly, and since Ning Xueqing was on the other end, Ming Nuo didn’t want to hang up without a word. For a moment, her brain stalled.

After a silence on the line, Ning Xueqing’s cautious voice came through: “Ming Nuo, is Auntie free on Children’s Day? We’d like to invite Auntie Ming for a family dinner.”

“She…”

Seeing Ming Nuo hesitating, Ming Yan said loudly, “What? What do you want to say?”

Ming Nuo truly felt it was inappropriate to bring Ming Yan to the Ning house. With Ming Yan’s temper and her prejudice against Ning Xueqing, she had no idea what would happen.

Ning Xueqing seemed to have seen through Ming Nuo’s worries long ago, gently persuading her: “Auntie said she wants to eat your cooking, so we’ll prepare well. My mom likes a lively atmosphere; if Auntie Ming is free, have her come along. Mengmeng is attached to you, and since we’ll be seeing each other often in the future, it’s unavoidable to meet Auntie. It’s the perfect time to have a formal meal and get to know each other.”

Ming Nuo was conflicted but eventually answered, “I’ll ask her first.”

What should have been a simple, happy matter had now become very complicated.

Ming Nuo ended the call, and only then did Ming Yan’s expression soften slightly. “You promised to stay with Mammy to look at the renovations. Your Auntie Wang is still here, yet you’re on the phone with that woman and leaving us aside. It’s very rude.”

“You two were chatting so happily, you didn’t have time to notice me,” Ming Nuo said helplessly. At the beginning, she had been telling them which parts of the renovation could be modified, but Ming Yan and her friend were in the middle of an exciting chat and told her not to interrupt.

Ming Yan tsked. “Tell me, who did you learn this bad habit of talking back from?”

“…”

Speaking was “talking back.” Not speaking was “rude.” She might as well just be mute—no talking back, perfectly polite.

Ming Yan asked her, “What did you say you’d ‘ask’ first?”

Ming Nuo didn’t want Ming Yan to go to the Ning house, but Ning Xueqing and Ning Zhixuan were insistent with their invitation. Rationally, it was normal etiquette for friends and family to have a meal. If Ming Nuo kept refusing, it would look strange. She couldn’t exactly tell Ning Xueqing, “My mom is hard to get along with.”

She would just have to deal with things as they came.

“Ning Xueqing and Auntie Ning want to invite you to a family dinner. They asked me to see if you’re free on Children’s Day?”

“Heh, invite me? What kind of decent family invites someone only after that person says ‘I’m going’ over the phone? Hypocrites. Clearly just trying to fix the situation, yet they act so high and mighty.” Ming Yan crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

Ming Nuo turned away. “Fine, I’ll tell them you’re busy.”

Ming Yan: “I’m free! I’m very much free. Children’s Day, right? I don’t know her kid, so help me prepare a gift. Ming Nuo, I’m telling you now, I’m not rushing to their house—I’m going for a bite of your cooking.”

“Fine. Name a few dishes then.”

“Whatever. Is there anything you make that your Mammy doesn’t like?”

Ming Nuo felt a ball of frustration about to explode in her chest. She told herself to have patience with a menopausal Mammy.

The Children’s Day gift for Mengmeng had been ready for a long time. Ming Nuo simply designated one of them as being from Ming Yan.

On June 1st, Ming Nuo asked Xiao Zhu to pick up Ming Yan. As soon as Ming Yan got in the car, despite saying she didn’t care, Ming Nuo saw she was wearing her most expensive haute couture outfit, along with jade jewelry and high heels.

“Mammy, aren’t you afraid of twisting your ankle again?”

Ever since Ming Yan twisted her ankle once in heels, she stopped wearing anything higher than three centimeters. Today’s pair looked to be at least five or six.

“Is Ning Xueqing’s house full of potholes? How could I twist it in a few steps? You child just don’t want your mom to be well.”

Ming Nuo shut up. Between “talking back” and “being rude,” she chose “being rude.”

Ming Nuo had communicated with Ning Xueqing in advance, saying that Ming Yan had a bit of a short fuse since menopause and sometimes said strange things, so she shouldn’t take it to heart.

The Nings lived in an older villa. Ning Zhixuan loved gardening, and the garden and rooftop were beautifully decorated. Ming Yan saw it from a distance and said to Ming Nuo, “You said Ning Xueqing’s mom came from a capitalist family? No wonder she likes messing with flowers and plants.”

How is that even related?

“Mammy, when Mama was alive, she also liked flowers. She said in the hospital room that she wanted a big balcony full of red roses. Did you forget?”

Ming Yan’s face went cold. “Why bring up your Mama at a time like this? Purposely trying to make me sad?”

“I’m not.”

The Nings’ large balcony was indeed full of flowers, but not red roses—they were light purple plumbago.

The car didn’t go into the underground garage but stopped at the courtyard gate, because Ning Zhixuan was leading Ning Xueqing and Mengmeng to greet them outside. Behind them were the old housekeeper, Mengmeng’s nutritionist, and an hourly helper.

Ming Yan’s gaze swept over them. She paused when she first saw Ning Xueqing, a flash of undeniable surprise in her eyes, before settling her gaze on Ning Zhixuan. Dressed in a modified qipao, she was in her sixties but her skin was fair and tight, her figure graceful, and she possessed a natural, elegant scholarly air.

A lady from an old capitalist family was indeed different from a dutiful woman like her. Different even in old age. The daughter she raised was likely a “jade-faced fox” as well—no wonder she had her daughter so infatuated.

Ming Nuo was an Alpha, so it was inevitable she’d be a bit silly under the influence of an Omega’s pheromones. But Ming Yan was a Beta; she didn’t buy that pheromone stuff. Today, she was going to have a few rounds with this mother and daughter.

“Hello, Ming Nuo’s Mammy. My name is Ning Zhixuan, I’m Xueqing’s mother. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Before they even reached her, Ning Zhixuan greeted them warmly. Ning Xueqing led Mengmeng along, telling her to greet the guest: “This is Nuo Nuo Mammy’s Mammy. Call her Grandma Ming.”

Mengmeng had been happy to see Ming Nuo, but when she ran over and found an unfamiliar grandmother, for some reason the usually bold girl became shy and hid behind Ning Xueqing. “Mm… Grandma Ming.”

Ning Xueqing noticed her daughter’s abnormality but didn’t force her to be enthusiastic. She pulled her into her arms and said gently, “Mommy is here. We’ll host the guests and make cupcakes together.”

Ming Yan raised an eyebrow as she sized up the pair. Both the adult and the child were undeniably beautiful, but Mengmeng’s “Mammy” situation was unclear and improper. A child out of wedlock—who wouldn’t gossip? It was only because government policies had become more favorable and accepting in recent years; in the past, getting the child a household registration would have been difficult, and people would have poked at her back.

Ming Yan put on a smile. “Seeing Mengmeng in person, she’s a hundred times cuter than on TV. Big Sister Ning, would you say this child looks more like her Mama, or her Mammy?”

Ming Nuo: “…”

Had to bring that up, didn’t you?

Ming Nuo was about to tactfully remind Ming Yan not to gossip about others’ family affairs, but Ning Zhixuan smiled gracefully. “She looks like her Mama, of course—like my daughter, Xueqing.”

Ming Yan tilted her head. “Big Sister Ning, you’re blessed. Although she’s not here, your biological daughter-in-law must be a great beauty too.”

Ning Zhixuan’s lips quirked as she invited the guests inside. “Ming Nuo’s Mammy, I’m a few years older than you. If you don’t mind, just call me Sister Ning.”

Ming Yan smiled but didn’t speak.

Once inside, Mengmeng relaxed a bit but didn’t dare move toward Ming Yan. She sat between Ning Xueqing and Ming Nuo, silent.

Ming Nuo wanted to ease the awkward atmosphere, so she brought out the gifts. “Mengmeng, this is the Children’s Day gift from Grandma Ming. See if you like it?”

Mengmeng stole a glance at Ming Yan and carefully opened the gift box. It was a play-house toy set—a new release from the series she loved. She hugged the box and nodded quietly.

Ning Xueqing stroked her daughter’s head. “Say thank you to Grandma Ming.”

Mengmeng stayed close to her mother and said to Ming Yan, “Thank you, Grandma Ming.”

Ming Yan smiled at her. “You’re welcome, little one.”

The housekeeper came from the kitchen. “Teacher Ning, Miss Xueqing, the groceries have arrived. When should we start preparing?”

Ning Zhixuan checked the clock. “Now. It’s already nine o’clock. Steaming and stewing take time. We plan to have lunch at twelve-thirty, and we’re making cupcakes for Mengmeng in the afternoon.”

“Alright, I’ll call Xiao Yin over to prep the side dishes.” Xiao Yin was the nutritionist Ning Zhixuan hired for Mengmeng.

The housekeeper went back to the kitchen, followed by Xiao Yin. The hourly helper greeted Ning Zhixuan and went back to watering the flowers in the garden.

Ming Yan watched this scene, recalling what her friend had said a few days ago, and her stomach started churning with bitterness. “Big Sister Ning, you hired three nannies! Having family wealth is really something else. It’s not like those of us from small places—if we can tidy up ourselves, we do it. My Ming Nuo works very hard to earn money; I can’t bear to let her spend excessively on me.”

Ning Zhixuan smiled properly. “Not at all. One is a housekeeper who has looked after me for many years, one is Mengmeng’s nutritionist, and the other is a property staff member. I usually do the tidying up myself.” She poured Ming Nuo a cup of warm tea. “Ming Nuo works hard and has a busy career; it’s naturally very exhausting. Xueqing is her fan and is always telling me how good she is at this and that. I was wondering what kind of outstanding mother raised such an excellent daughter. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary.”

Hearing this, Ming Yan’s face showed a hint of joy.

Ning Zhixuan turned to Ming Nuo. “This is Malva nut and honeysuckle tea. Xueqing said this medicinal herb is good for the throat. She bought a lot at once. See if you like it; take it all back with you later.”

Ming Nuo quickly took the teacup. “Thank you, Auntie. I’ll help myself.”

Ning Zhixuan handed it to her slowly, careful not to spill. “The dishes bought today are also those Xueqing said you like. She wouldn’t even let me have the boiled fish I like, saying you can’t eat spicy food or it might hurt your vocal cords.”

Ming Nuo and Ning Xueqing exchanged a glance, their eyes curving. Ming Nuo turned to Ning Zhixuan and said, “I can eat anything. A little spicy food is fine. I’ll make the boiled fish for you right now.”

Ming Yan sat to the side, silent, as if she were the only guest in the house.

Ming Nuo stood up to go to the kitchen to make the fish. Ning Xueqing was about to follow to help, but Ming Yan took a sip of water and said in a voice that was neither loud nor quiet:

“Ming Nuo has to meet a blind date the day after tomorrow. Big Sister Ning, Miss Ning, help me give her some advice.”

Ning Xueqing stopped abruptly, her eyes turning moist as she looked at Ming Nuo ahead of her.