Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 22

Lu Luozhu felt Qian Qianqian was hinting at her.

Lu Luozhu: “With such an excellent alpha standing right in front of you, are you suggesting I should take the initiative?”

Qian Qianqian glanced at Lu Luozhu, thinking to herself that if she had even half of Lu Luozhu’s shamelessness, there was nothing she couldn’t accomplish.

Ningning had now reached the age where she needed to attend kindergarten. Qi Zi had previously tried sending the child to daycare, but the moment they separated, Ningning burst into hysterical tears, nearly crying herself unconscious—a well-behaved but deeply insecure little one.

“Mommy, mommy, waaah QAQ”

Lu Luozhu was talking to Qian Qianqian by the kitchen island when she heard Ningning’s kitten-like cries from upstairs.

Before she knew it, Ningning was being carried down by the nanny. The little one wriggled free, tumbling out of the nanny’s arms before stumbling her way toward Lu Luozhu.

Clutching her frog plushie, the child mumbled, “Froggy hot pot pot…”

Lu Luozhu: “…”

Lu Luozhu lifted the child with one hand. “Miss Mommy?”

Ningning let out a tiny wail, burying her face in Lu Luozhu’s neck as a single tear rolled down.

“Mommy’s busy with work, Mommy doesn’t have time for hot pot pot… Ningning will be good and stay at home.”

The child’s voice was soft and milky, neither loud nor disruptive, just quietly murmuring to herself.

Lu Luozhu didn’t usually like children and couldn’t stand their tantrums, but Ningning was different.

Patting the child’s back, Lu Luozhu said, “How about I take you to see Mommy?”

Ningning blinked up at her with big, watery eyes, sniffling pitifully before letting out a tiny hiccup.

Qian Qianqian, like an overbearing mother hen, went to pack the child’s travel bag. “Teacher Qi is filming right now. Madam, don’t cause trouble for her.”

Lu Luozhu: “Anyone hearing that would think I’m some scheming concubine, stealing a child to manipulate the emperor in the harem for favor. Why don’t you draft a memorial to His Majesty and advise him to execute this wicked consort?”

Qian Qianqian choked on her breath, and the nanny hurriedly patted her back.

Ningning, oblivious, looked at her mother and planted a wet kiss on her cheek.

Lu Luozhu packed the freshly cooked meal into an insulated container, grabbed a frog-printed bag, and got into the car. Qian Qianqian remained silent the entire time, clearly fuming.

The drive to the film set took over two hours, far from the city center.

Just as Lu Luozhu was about to open the car door, Qian Qianqian checked her schedule and said, “Teacher Qi’s last scene wraps today. She won’t be returning home tonight—I’ll take her directly to the sanatorium.”

Lu Luozhu’s grip on Ningning tightened. “Is her condition that bad?”

Qian Qianqian: “Film sets are chaotic environments. Teacher Qi’s omega pheromones are easily influenced by others, accelerating her heat cycle. Did you really think she took so few roles after becoming famous for no reason?”

When Qi Zi first entered the entertainment industry, she took any role for money. Many criticized her for being money-hungry, wasting her natural talent.

The novel never explained the reason behind Qi Zi’s past obsession with earning money, and Lu Luozhu wasn’t clear about it either. However, judging from the details Qian Qianqian mentioned, if Qi Zi hadn’t worked day and night in those earlier years, perhaps her glandular disease wouldn’t be as severe now.

With Qian Qianqian leading the way, no staff members stopped Lu Luozhu at the entrance.

Qian Qianqian warned, “Teacher Qi dislikes being disturbed while working. Please don’t say anything offensive, Madam.”

Qian Qianqian then hurried off to deal with the marketing follow-up for Liji Pastries, bidding farewell before driving away.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, the bustling crowd startled the child, who clung tightly to Lu Luozhu’s neck.

“Mommy, there are so many people QWQ Everyone’s looking at us.”

Lu Luozhu noticed the strange looks the film crew members were giving her.

Her decision to become a food blogger wasn’t a joke. She turned on her live stream, carefully angling the camera to avoid revealing any set details—viewers could only see her hand holding the lunchbox.

“Girls, come see the golden canary~”

“LMAO how can someone call themselves a golden canary? I’ll never mock Lu Luozhu for not knowing how to live off someone else again—she’s clearly the expert!”

“Is that a thermal lunchbox in stepmom’s hand? Bringing food for the wife?”

“Wait—is she carrying someone else? Is that Ningning? Let auntie see Ningning, aww!”

“Aww!”

“But doesn’t Qi Zi hate being disturbed during work? Won’t she get annoyed at Lu Luozhu for this?”

Netizens flooded the stream when they saw Lu Luozhu go live, only to find she wasn’t showing her face or filming the set.

“Excuse me, where can I find Teacher Qi?” Lu Luozhu stopped a passing actress. “I brought her lunch.”

The alpha smiled gently, her beauty disarming. The actress’s mouth fell slightly open, her voice trembling. “You’re Lu Luozhu?!”

Dressed in red-and-white period costume, Qi Xin had never met Lu Luozhu in person, but she recognized her from the gentle smile and flawless way she held the child.

Lu Luozhu: “That’s me. You know me?”

Qi Xin looked shocked. “You escaped the basement?”

Lu Luozhu’s smile froze. “What?”

Qi Xin quickly shook her head, not wanting to reopen old wounds, and pointed east. “Teacher Qi is in the eastern building, discussing the script with the director.”

Lu Luozhu thanked her with a nod.

“Seriously? Calling each other ‘Teacher’ after marriage?”

“You don’t get it—it’s probably their thing.”

“…Am I the only one finding this kinda hot? Sorry Teacher Qi, please let me mark you once, thanks.”

“LOL sis above~”

“I used to think Lu Luozhu was spoiled and brainless, but her bringing lunch to the set is so wifely. Maybe I misjudged her? Maybe she just wanted Teacher Qi’s attention all along.”

Glancing at the comments, Lu Luozhu turned the camera toward herself.

“Exactly. If I can’t win Teacher Qi’s favor, I might get kicked out with nowhere to go~” She winked at the camera, clearly skilled at turning on the charm.

Viewers: “!!!!”

Certified little vixen.

Could you please have some dignity as an alpha?!

Lu Luozhu set up her phone camera at a moderate distance, preferring to watch the scrolling bullet comments on the screen. Unable to recognize many characters, she obediently lowered her head to play with a small frog plushie.

A squeeze on the frog’s belly made it croak twice.

Ningning giggled along, quiet enough not to disturb the working crew.

Qi Zi, who had been discussing the script with the director, heard a faint noise behind her. Turning around, she saw a gentle woman standing in the doorway, backlit, holding a thermal lunchbox.

Dressed in a snow-white ancient-style robe with her hair elegantly tied up, Qi Zi’s already ethereal aura was further accentuated by the pristine fabric, making her seem even more unapproachable.

Qi Zi frowned. “What are you doing here?”

Viewers in the livestream stretched their necks, zooming in on the scene repeatedly.

“I bet fifty cents Qi Zi’s gonna kick her out.”

“What a scheming alpha, bringing a kid along to compete for favor, tsk tsk.”

“My wife is as stunning as ever—heavy breathing.”

The set was filled with mixed scents, and the gland patch on Qi Zi’s nape, changed just two hours prior, was already struggling to contain her pheromones.

Suppressing her discomfort, Qi Zi had been pushing through the final scene discussion with the director—but now, she was at her limit.

The moment she saw Lu Luozhu, the pheromones she had been restraining nearly broke free.

Her omega pheromones seemed to have a will of their own, eagerly anticipating Lu Luozhu’s presence. The faint scent of pear blossom and bergamot intertwined the second they detected the alpha’s pheromones.

Qi Zi’s already unpleasant expression turned even colder. Sensing something was off, the director whispered, “Should I step out?”

Qi Zi didn’t answer, but the director took the hint and left, closing the door behind them.

Her voice trembling with restraint, Qi Zi snapped, “What are you doing here? Get out.”

Lu Luozhu, suddenly scolded, looked a little wronged. She opened the thermal box, revealing a bowl of pork rib and corn soup, shredded cucumber, and tomato with baby bok choy.

“The kid missed you. I missed you too.”

Simple home-cooked dishes, yet far more appetizing than any high-end restaurant order.

But Qi Zi wasn’t in the mood to eat.

Her throat bobbed as she exhaled a heated breath.

Though her words told Lu Luozhu to leave, her legs weakened first.

The livestream audience eagerly awaited Qi Zi’s outburst to drive her away, but one minute passed, then two… Instead, Qi Zi beckoned Lu Luozhu closer.

The phone was too far for the viewers to hear anything.

They could only vaguely see the omega slap away Lu Luozhu’s hand as she reached for chopsticks.

A warning: “Don’t do anything unnecessary.”

Comments flooded in:

“Is this… disciplining an unruly canary? (So fierce—scold me next, wifey!)”

The next second, the livestream cut off.

……

In the sealed room,

Qi Zi untied her belt and used it to blindfold Lu Luozhu.

She let the snowy fabric slip from her shoulders, shivering as the air conditioning hit her skin. With a wicked glint, she bound Lu Luozhu’s wrists with the decorative sash from her waist.

“You spread rumors about me outside, yet dare to show your face here? You’ve got some nerve, Lu Luozhu.”

Seated on a cushion, Qi Zi spoke coolly.

“Kneel.”

Deprived of sight with her hands bound, Lu Luozhu showed a moment of surprise before pulling her arm, kneeling before Qi Zi.

The next instant, Lu Luozhu pressed her lips against the other’s warm neck.

“Mark me.”