Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 17

The live stream chat was completely baffled by Lu Luozhu’s outrageous antics.

“Can’t the production team do something about her?”

“I can literally feel the other two guests’ exasperation.”

“Production team, are you really okay with being scammed like this?”

“What a shameless woman, using a child to trick the crew out of umbrellas.”

Layer upon layer of comments criticized Lu Luozhu, though a small portion of viewers found her move clever—selling umbrellas in the rain while boosting sales of her sour plum drink.

After much deliberation, the production team ultimately counted her results as valid.

An Song looked at Lu Luozhu with undisguised disapproval.

Leaning casually under the eaves, Lu Luozhu tapped away on her phone, paying no attention to anyone.

An Song scoffed. “What’s the point of winning first place with such underhanded tricks? You’re just setting a bad example for Ningning.”

Without looking up, Lu Luozhu replied, “Sis, you’ve never run a business, have you? This is how it works. Should I kneel and wish every customer good health and long life when they buy from me? A few cups of sour plum drink, a few kowtows? People would think I’m selling myself to bury my father.”

An Song: “…”

Ningning blinked in confusion, not fully understanding her mother’s words but vaguely sensing that her mom had a razor-sharp tongue.

Bai Rui, known in the industry as the peacemaker, tried to mediate with a smile—until Lu Luozhu’s words froze the grin on his face.

Lu Luozhu continued typing on her phone, seemingly sending messages.

“Why so quiet? Guess what—if I really did that, would either of you even get any customers?”

An Song: “…”

Though provoked, she wasn’t angry.

Not. At. All.

With Lu Luozhu taking first place, An Song and Bai Rui had nothing left to say.

The host: “?”

Even the anti-Lu Luozhu trolls in the chat were stunned.

“Damn, sis, that’s some ‘lose a thousand to take down eight hundred’ energy.”

“Lu Luozhu’s mental state is a century ahead of mine.”

“‘Selling myself to bury my father’—I can’t even be mad at your hustle.”

“I used to worry if Ningning would grow up repressed in this family. Good news: she won’t be repressed. Bad news: she might not survive.”

After sending her last message, Lu Luozhu lowered her gaze and slipped her phone into her pocket.

Li Ji Pastry was preparing to open a new branch in the capital. As a century-old establishment, it had accompanied generations of people growing up. But in recent years, unable to keep up with the internet era, it had struggled after the previous owner passed away. The new owner, inexperienced in business, had suffered years of losses, forcing many stores to close.

350,000 yuan wasn’t a huge sum, but it was enough to keep things afloat for a while.

Her phone vibrated again in her pocket. Lu Luozhu assumed it was the owner of Li Ji Pastry messaging her, but when she checked—it was her adoptive mother.

Her brow furrowed slightly.

Adoptive mother?

Since her transmigration, this person had been absent from her life, making her almost forget that the original host was the adopted daughter of a wealthy family.

As the adopted daughter of an elite household, the original host had used family connections to force Qi Zi into marriage. At the same time, her rebellious behavior had displeased the family, leading her adoptive parents to cut off her financial support entirely.

From the family’s perspective, Lu Luozhu was nothing but an embarrassment in the entertainment industry. Even when choosing a partner, she had to pick an omega with abnormal pheromones, opposing the family in every possible way.

Adoptive Mother: I heard you went to record a show.

Lu Luozhu didn’t reply.

Adoptive Mother: Come home after filming.

After a few seconds, Lu Luozhu sent back an “OK” gesture.

After finishing the first episode of the parenting show, Ningning happily obtained the hotpot bullfrog prize coupon. “Mommy! Mommy, we won!”

Holding the coupon, Lu Luozhu’s expression was slightly unnatural.

Did we really win?

Ningning: “Ningning wants to eat froggie.”

Knowing that children have weaker immune systems and shouldn’t eat bullfrog or spicy hotpot, Lu Luozhu twitched her lips and rubbed her temples. “Let’s go find your other mother.”

Ningning obediently climbed into Lu Luozhu’s arms. “Mommy, come with me to see Mother.”

The soft little one nestled in her arms gave Lu Luozhu an immense sense of comfort.

The crew followed Lu Luozhu to her car with their cameras, but the moment the door closed, it cut off all prying eyes.

The car stopped at a small bridge near a stream, about five or six kilometers from the ancient town. Unlike the commercialized ancient town where they filmed, this place was more traditional, where local residents actually lived.

The moment she stepped out of the car, Lu Luozhu sensed something was wrong.

The little one looked around from her mother’s arms. “No one’s here QAQ”

“Mother abandoned us.”

Carrying a cup of homemade sour plum soup and holding the child, Lu Luozhu walked to the filming location, only to find it deserted except for a few crew members packing up equipment.

The tall alpha wore a light purple floor-length cheongsam, her long hair styled into an elegant bun. A white jade bracelet dangled from her prominent wrist as she held the child, exuding both domestic charm and allure.

Lu Luozhu: “Did Qi Zi leave?”

The crew member looked up, momentarily stunned, before responding after a few seconds.

“Who are you?”

The alpha smiled faintly. “I’m Qi Zi’s family member.”

Crew member: !

Crew member: “Teacher Qi left two hours ago.”

The little one in Lu Luozhu’s arms grew uneasy, the kitten-like child on the verge of tears.

Patting the child’s back, Lu Luozhu maintained her usual gentle smile.

“I didn’t inform Teacher Qi in advance about visiting her. It’s normal to miss her today.”

The crew member expected more questions—not because Lu Luozhu seemed harsh now, but because her online reputation had never been good.

Lu Luozhu simply smiled, then left with the child in her arms.

Though she didn’t say it aloud, Ningning could sense her mother’s mood wasn’t great.

“Mommy’s not smiling QnQ Don’t be mad at Mother.”

“I’m not angry with her. We’re not related—it’s just a financial arrangement. Why would a boss need to inform an employee before leaving?”

Ningning didn’t dare speak further, only hugging her mother tighter with tiny paws.

After a light dinner that evening, they boarded the program’s bus the next day and flew back to the capital.

…

Qian Qianqian couldn’t help but laugh in her office, tossing a document onto the desk.

“Do they even know Teacher Qi’s market value? A small pastry shop wants her endorsement?”

The assistant stepped forward and took a glance. “This isn’t some small pastry shop, is it? I’ve been eating their treats since childhood—no surprises there. My father grew up with them too, and come to think of it, so did my grandfather.”

Qian Qianqian was somewhat surprised. She picked up the document and examined it again.

“That still doesn’t cut it. Not offering a single penny? Are they dreaming?”

The assistant said nothing, picking up a water glass as she prepared to leave the office. Suddenly, she heard Qian Qianqian gasp behind her.

The glass trembled slightly in the assistant’s hand, spilling a couple of drops.

Qian Qianqian: “Boss Li just added me as a contact—said Lu Luozhu referred them???”

“Lu Luozhu?? Is she insane? Does she think everyone’s worth is as low as hers?!”

Perhaps the commotion from Qian Qianqian’s side was too loud, because Qi Zi, who had been reviewing heart-related case files, faintly caught Lu Luozhu’s name. She pushed open the door and silently questioned them with a look.

Qian Qianqian recounted the whole incident. “This boss must be out of their mind, claiming their new product will definitely be a hit. Who gave them the audacity?”

“I knew Madam had a tendency to babble endlessly, but I never expected her to actually go out and swindle people. A hit? Based on what?”

Qi Zi picked up the document. After a moment of silence, she said, “Our schedule is wide open lately. We can take it.”

Children in the orphanage would fight over a single pastry, but there was one little girl who always managed to snatch a relatively intact piece from the crowd and hand it to her in secret.

Small hands brushed off the dust clinging to the pastry. “Eat it quick, before anyone sees.”

“What about you?”

“I already ate.” The little girl wiped the bruises on her forehead. “Not hungry at all.”