Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 30

Qi Zi thought she must have misheard.

“What?”

Lu Luozhu pointed at the imperial green jade necklace displayed under the glass case.

“I want to wear it myself. Do you think I’m worth the price, patroness? I believe my value far surpasses that of a mere necklace.”

The area outside the auction hall wasn’t crowded, mostly filled with staff. Lu Luozhu stood before the glass case, slightly bending forward. Under the black drapery surrounding the display, the alpha’s reflection cast onto the glass, making it seem as though the necklace was faintly draped around her neck.

Bold and presumptuous, convinced of her own worth.

A complex emotion flickered in Qi Zi’s eyes, but in the end, she didn’t voice the insincere words on her tongue.

“Qi Zi?” Lu Luozhu turned her head, speaking with the coquettishness of a kept canary to her patron.

“I thought you’d praise me for looking good. Jewelry should adorn beauties—someone like me would be doing the jewels an honor even if I bathed in them.”

The moment these words left Lu Luozhu’s mouth, all the staff turned to stare at her.

As if looking at a lunatic.

“You… never mind. Fine.”

Qi Zi silently went to pay the deposit and verify funds before dragging Lu Luozhu into the auction hall by the scruff of her neck.

“Stop embarrassing yourself out here.”

Sometimes, Qi Zi truly envied Lu Luozhu’s mental state—how she managed to be so unhinged yet carefree.

Occasionally, Qi Zi thought wistfully that if she could live as sharply and unrestrainedly as Lu Luozhu, perhaps much of the bitterness in her heart would dissolve.

In the live chat of Baby Go Forward:

“Genuine question—am I watching a parenting show? Why are you two at an auction?”

“Nice, nice, a publicly funded vacation, huh?”

“Qi Zi, my wife! Let me see if you’ve lost weight again. You look so pale, my heart aches for you QAQ”

“Lu Luozhu, you… Ugh, I can’t even be bothered to scold you anymore.”

“Can’t you freeloaders have some self-awareness? Whatever, alphas like her—I could kiss ten of them to death in one go.”

“Someone snap me out of it—I actually find Lu Luozhu’s shameless, confident lies kind of charming. My heart’s racing.”

“…I’ll stan her for two seconds. Then I’m unfollowing.”

As the clock struck the hour, the dim auction hall suddenly lit up with spotlights.

The auctioneer’s bilingual announcements electrified the room, the crisp taps of their wooden gavel punctuating the excitement.

The first few items were antiques. Though Lu Luozhu had some knowledge from her past life, she wasn’t an expert. Even so, she could tell the treasures on display were priceless.

“Starting bid: 800,000.”

The auctioneer’s voice cut through the murmurs.

Lu Luozhu yawned, indifferent to the proceedings. A secretary seated nearby occasionally raised her bidding paddle.

None of this concerned a kept canary like her.

The atmosphere in the hall grew feverish as each new lot was presented.

While the crowd’s breathing grew hushed, Lu Luozhu remained engrossed in her phone.

For one simple reason: the stocks she’d bought earlier were soaring.

A continuous surge—she had to double-check the numbers at first glance.

Additionally, Unicorn’s merchandise was selling like wildfire, and a hefty sum had just been deposited into Lu Luozhu’s account.

The auction items passed by one after another, and Lu Luozhu drowsily yawned, resting her forehead against Qi Zi’s shoulder.

Only when the imperial green jade necklace was placed at the center of the display did its rich, luxurious luster shimmer, and Lu Luozhu felt the entire room’s breath hitch.

“Patron sister?”

The alpha’s fingers slipped like fish into Qi Zi’s palm, their fingertips brushing against each other, sending an indescribable tingling sensation through them.

Qi Zi’s lashes trembled slightly. “Enough. You don’t need to flatter me. I’ll keep my promise—this amount of money means nothing to me.”

If her voice hadn’t stiffened, if her words hadn’t trembled at the end, her cold demeanor might have been more convincing.

“Starting bid at two million, with increments no less than one hundred thousand.”

The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, the bidding price skyrocketed. Every quiet raise of a paddle was like a stone tossed into a still lake.

Though the room wasn’t noisy, Lu Luozhu could practically hear the sound of money flowing.

The bid soon climbed to eighty million.

Lu Luozhu blinked innocently. “Sister, if it’s too expensive, maybe we should just forget it? I don’t think I’m worth that much.”

Eighty million—at the current rate Lu Luozhu charged for a single mark, even if Qi Zi had been supporting her from birth until she turned eighty, she might not have paid it all back.

Qi Zi scoffed. “Who do you think you’re looking down on?”

Lu Luozhu: “…”

With a sweet smile, Lu Luozhu leaned up to kiss her patron’s cheek.

“Thank you for showing me the world, sister. You’re the best.”

Qi Zi impassively raised her paddle again.

The corner of her lips twitched faintly before she suppressed it—if she had a tail, it would have been wagging wildly by now.

“Baby, Charge Forward” Livestream:

“Girls, I’m seeing the world for the first time too.”

“Please, please put this clip in the main episode… Lu Luozhu’s acting spoiled is too sweet.”

“I’m crying, someone needs to cure Qi Zi’s love-struck brain.”

“If an alpha whispered sweet nothings in my ear like that, I’d bankrupt myself to make her happy too.”

“Opened the livestream only to realize I’m the King Zhou of the story.”

“Guys, don’t be fooled by Lu Luozhu’s looks!! She’s just a vain, materialistic trophy wife!”

“What’s wrong with being vain? It’s not your money she’s spending (clutches chest).”

The final bid settled at ninety-three million—lower than Qi Zi had expected.

As the three crisp strikes of the gavel fell silent, Qi Zi let out a subtle sigh of relief.

Good.

Her fox-like eyes flicked toward Lu Luozhu, still leaning against her shoulder. The alpha smelled sweet, the scent of bergamot lingering around her, intoxicating like a drunken haze.

She wanted a taste.

Qi Zi’s mind must have been muddled too—otherwise, why would she have spent such an exorbitant sum just to please Lu Luozhu?

Truthfully, the deep, steady hue of the jade necklace didn’t suit Lu Luozhu. She’d look better in something brighter, more dazzling.

Qi Zi’s heartbeat quickened, an inexplicable irritation rising in her chest. Just moments ago, she’d been sweetly calling her “patron sister,” but now that the necklace was secured, she was back to ignoring her while scrolling on her phone.

How infuriating!

She’d been tricked again.

The omega huffed and abruptly lifted her shoulder, jostling the unsuspecting Lu Luozhu, whose head suddenly lost its support and nearly toppled onto her.

Lu Luozhu: ?

The auction allowed both in-person and online bidding.

Lu Luozhu browsed through the upcoming items, enlarging one of them for a closer look.

Lu Luozhu lowered her head to look at the photo on her phone, occasionally glancing up at the auction item displayed under the glass case.

The over-400-year-old earrings were entirely crafted from gold, their rich hue exuding a heavy, luxurious weight. The intricate craftsmanship featured a full moon totem carved into the surface, with a pendant below formed by a delicate fringe of small, polished gemstones in varying colors. Under the spotlight, they shimmered with a dazzling brilliance.

The starting bid wasn’t high, and there weren’t many bidders. Lu Luozhu tapped on her phone to raise the price, securing them at a fairly reasonable cost.

Her sugar mommy had already splurged over ninety million on her—it was only right for Lu Luozhu to reciprocate a little, ensuring sustainable development.

Qi Zi glanced sideways at Lu Luozhu, who remained engrossed in her phone. The alpha didn’t seem to realize just how irritating her attitude was.

The current lot was a pair of stunning earrings. Qi Zi felt a flicker of desire, but seeing Lu Luozhu not even lift her head, she ultimately didn’t raise her paddle.

She truly couldn’t fathom what could be so important on that phone to make Lu Luozhu curve her lips into a smile as she typed away.

Annoying. So annoying.

She shouldn’t have listened to her nonsense, shouldn’t have let herself be tricked into coming to this auction.

Lu Luozhu finally entered an address, then turned off her phone and slipped it into her pocket.

“Jiejie?”

When the auction ended, Qi Zi didn’t wait for Lu Luozhu to follow. Without a word, she strode off in her high heels.

Lu Luozhu: ?

She quickly caught up, reaching out to touch Qi Zi’s wrist, only to have her hand sharply slapped away. “Go get your necklace. Don’t expect me to pay for you next time.”

Lu Luozhu’s fingers hung empty in the air.

Was Qi Zi… angry?

Qi Zi couldn’t stand the innocent look on Lu Luozhu’s face. A pang of resentment struck her—wasn’t spending money supposed to earn her some goodwill?

The box containing the necklace was placed in her palm. Lu Luozhu admired it for a moment before tucking it into her bag.

As for Madam Liang…

What a joke. Her adoptive mother was trying to threaten someone who, without her sugar mommy, couldn’t even afford cab fare.

The show’s cameras followed at a discreet distance, and anyone could tell there was tension between Lu Luozhu and Qi Zi.

“My heart aches for my wife. She spent over ninety million just to please her beauty, and Lu Luozhu can’t even treat her right? Absolutely unforgivable.”

“Don’t overreact, upstairs. A little back-and-forth is normal for couples.”

“Qi Zi’s solo fans are crying. The way my wife stood alone in the open space, lost in sorrow—this deserves to be crowned the year’s most iconic image. Those who betray true feelings should swallow ten thousand needles!!”

“Lowkey though… the way Lu Luozhu’s hand was slapped away, leaving a red mark on the back? So damn hot.”

“Everything is ‘hot’ to you. That’ll be your downfall (sighs and shakes head) (tactically leans back).”

Qi Zi: “What about your adoptive mother…?”

Noticing the live broadcast cameras had finally left, Qi Zi steadied herself under the moonlight. Arms crossed, she leaned against a Roman pillar and said coolly, “Your adoptive mother has messaged more than once, claiming you owe the Lu family money—demanding you repay every expense from childhood onward.”

Moonlight draped over the omega’s shoulders, her dark eyes deepening with intensity.

No matter what, she could never harden her heart against Lu Luozhu.

Lu Luozhu: “Let the Lu family sue me. The judge won’t convict me, but they’ll sentence the Lu family to social death.”

Qi Zi: “…”

Her concern was unnecessary.

This alpha had ruthlessness carved into her bones. She felt nothing for the Lu family—only cared about living well.

Qi Zi didn’t know whether to feel relieved or sigh. “Your grandmother’s birthday is approaching, and the old lady specifically asked to see you.”

The original novel didn’t provide much description of the protagonist’s family. Lu Luozhu had only read halfway through and could only recall major plot points.

Her understanding of the grandmother character was also limited.

Lu Luozhu: “If my grandmother scolds me just for not wearing a necklace, then I can only sigh that ‘the old who refuse to die become thieves.’ I truly hope she has a top-notch medical team and sufficient health insurance.”

Qi Zi: “…”

The beach at night was quiet except for the sound of flowing water. Cargo ships passed along the distant horizon as Qi Zi walked ahead in silence. Lu Luozhu kept checking her phone, tracking the delivery status of her precious purchase.

Back in the guest room, she was met with Qian Qianqian’s resentful glare.

“You’re finally back. I was about to call a salvage team to drag you up piece by piece, thinking you’d drowned in the sea.”

Qian Qianqian gently placed the sleeping Ningning down. The baby slept soundly in her crib, hugging a green frog plushie. Sensing movement nearby, she instinctively curled up and pulled the blanket over her face.

Lu Luozhu: “…”

Qian Qianqian tugged at her hair in frustration. “Just half a day apart, and you’re already stirring up trouble again. Do you have any idea how much the studio spends on PR for you every year?”

Standing at the doorway, she vented, “You don’t care about anything—you just love causing chaos. Netizens are calling you a ‘nation-wrecking seductress.’ Don’t you feel even the slightest urge to defend yourself?”

Unlike her manager’s exhausted expression, Lu Luozhu leaned against the doorframe, radiating pure delight.

“I’ll whisper in Qi Zi’s ear to get you a raise.”

Qian Qianqian opened her mouth, then nodded. “Oh… thanks.”

Lu Luozhu: “You’re welcome.”

The auction house delivered the earrings Lu Luozhu had purchased to her room. They had already been sterilized and were ready to wear.

She had made her patron spend quite a bit today—not out of guilt, but because she believed in sustainable development. Only by maintaining this relationship could she continue milking Qi Zi for more rewards.

Whether it was marking Qi Zi or playing stepmother to Ningning, it was all just a transaction.

Ningning was now three years old. According to the original plot, by the time she turned four, Qi Zi would file for divorce to end this mismatched, ill-suited marriage.

Given Qi Zi’s personality, Lu Luozhu doubted she’d get even a penny of marital assets.

The upper class excelled at calculation, and Lu Luozhu wasn’t foolish enough to bet everything on Qi Zi’s so-called feelings for her.

Especially since there were no real feelings to begin with—just the physiological pull of pheromones.

……

In the hallway.

An Song: “Where are you going?”

Humming a tune, Lu Luozhu paused mid-step, tossing a small square box in her hand. She smiled sweetly at the music superstar before her.

Lu Luozhu beamed brightly. “I’m going to work.”

An Song was taken aback. “Filming wrapped for today. Are you going to see the director?”

She gave Lu Luozhu a once-over, incredulous. The alpha before her wore a silk nightgown, her long hair braided to one side, lips glossed with nude lipstick. Every strand of hair was perfectly styled, and she smelled divine.

Very… wifely.

This didn’t look like a serious discussion with the director—more like she was rushing to offer herself up for a casting couch.

An Song’s gaze towards Lu Luozhu grew increasingly peculiar.

Lu Luozhu: “No, I’m going to see my wife.”

An Song: “…”

Hesitating, An Song mustered his last shred of conscience to advise: “Be careful climbing that wall.”

……

In the quiet hotel suite, Qi Zi sat alone by the bed.

Her fingers traced a yellowed photograph that had clearly been trimmed with scissors. Originally a group photo, it had been cut down to just two children. The petite girls stood close together, their youthful faces still unformed but already showing delicate features that should have been rounded with baby fat. Malnutrition had left them thin, making their bright, shining eyes all the more striking.

One lively, one quiet, leaning against each other like little birds huddling for warmth in their nest.

How times had changed.

The younger sister who once protected her had become someone she no longer recognized.

Qi Zi knew she loved money, knew she was vain. When Lu Luozhu proposed forcibly marrying her, Qi Zi had felt a momentary thrill and agreed without hesitation.

It was all Qi Zi’s wishful thinking.

In the silent night, every sound became piercingly clear. A dull thud came from the courtyard.

Qi Zi: “?”

Gripping a golf club, Qi Zi walked expressionlessly into the yard.

Lu Luozhu dropped down from the fence, a box in hand. Her movements were agile—not a single hair out of place from the climb.

Qi Zi: “.”

Lu Luozhu: “Brought a gift for my sugar mommy.”

Qi Zi suddenly looked up, unable to hide the joy in her cool eyes before turning away, her posture still aloof.

“I don’t want your gifts.”

Though Lu Luozhu didn’t understand why Qi Zi was angry, she found her pouting expression oddly endearing.

Like a little pufferfish that would inflate at the slightest poke.

Omega pheromones swirled through the room as Lu Luozhu consciously released her own scent, trying to entwine it around her.

Her boss was upset, and as her subordinate, she had to do her best to cheer her up.

The omega kept her back to the alpha, hating how her body instinctively responded to the alpha’s pheromones. Just by standing there, the alpha could render her passive with scent alone. Qi Zi clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.

She snapped her open wallet shut, afraid Lu Luozhu might see the childhood photo she’d kept hidden.

Qi Zi worried needlessly—the next moment, hands gripped her shoulders and shoved her onto the sofa.

“Ah—!”

The alpha pinned the omega’s thighs with her knee, forearm pressing against Qi Zi’s shoulder to immobilize her, while her other hand toyed with Qi Zi’s earlobe.

The tug sent an indescribable heat through Qi Zi’s body. She glared, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Reddened with anger.

“Don’t move.”

Qi Zi obediently stilled, against her own pride.

“I don’t know why you’re angry, but as your kept woman, it’s my duty to make you happy.”

She called herself a canary, yet Lu Luozhu showed none of a sugar baby’s deference to their patron.

What kind of mistress pinned her benefactor to the couch and played with her ears!

Gently removing Qi Zi’s everyday diamond studs, Lu Luozhu took out a pair of antique earrings from the velvet box.

The gemstone tassels glittered brilliantly, while the golden totems exuded an air of mystery and splendor.

The familiar antique earrings caught the corner of Qi Zi’s eye, making her hold her breath.

Her earlobe was pinched by the alpha’s fingers, instantly turning her fair ear a burning shade of red.

The alpha’s pheromones invaded every inch of her body, leaving Qi Zi too weak to resist. She slumped limply against the sofa, her helpless gaze fixed ahead. Yet she didn’t dare look at Lu Luozhu’s face, instead staring nervously at the chandelier on the ceiling.

Cold yet timid—like a little white fox burying its head in the snow.

A weight tugged at her earlobe as Lu Luozhu held up a mirror for her to see.

“Do you like it?”

Qi Zi gritted her teeth as she stared at her already crimson ears in the mirror, shooting Lu Luozhu a glare.

Angry—but also embarrassed?

How adorable.

How could someone be this cute even when upset?

For the sake of pride, Qi Zi should have stayed angry a little longer.

But she was struggling to keep up the act.

It had been so long since she’d received a gift from Lu Luozhu—she was overjoyed.

Omegas were easy to please; just a small present was enough.

“Still mad?”

“…I’m not mad.”

“Then why did you push my hand away?”

Lu Luozhu’s knee pressed against Qi Zi’s leg as her fingers traced the earring with deliberate lightness.

The tingling sensation at her ear made it impossible for Qi Zi to focus on Lu Luozhu’s words. She scrambled through her memories of the auction earlier that day.

Lu Luozhu had tried to take her wrist, but she had slapped her hand away.

She had been angry then—Lu Luozhu had been on her phone, not showering her with sweet, pleading words like she usually did after being rejected.

Looking back now, even Qi Zi herself found her earlier behavior overly dramatic.

Lu Luozhu gave her no chance to explain as a faint sting suddenly pricked her earlobe—

A warm tongue swept over it.

Qi Zi’s pupils contracted sharply—Lu Luozhu was savoring her late-night snack.

“Go on, I’m listening.”

Teeth grazed the shell of her ear, forcing tears to well up in Qi Zi’s eyes. Her voice, usually so composed, trembled as if she had been pushed to her limit. Just a touch to her earlobe, yet she looked utterly pitiful.

So adorable.

How she wished she’d stop pretending to be aloof—she wasn’t convincing at all.

Here was a woman who held the upper hand in their relationship—young, resourceful, wealthy, spending ninety million as casually as if it were just nine yuan.

Yet now, being questioned by a sister two years her junior, she couldn’t muster a single word of resistance.

“I… I wasn’t mad.”

The rough surface of Lu Luozhu’s tongue licked her earlobe like a lollipop.

Qi Zi clenched the leather sofa, her nails leaving faint scratches on the lambskin.

“I just thought you’d use me and throw me away. I didn’t mean anything else, I…”

The acclaimed actress, praised for her flawless delivery, now stumbled over her words, each syllable taking immense effort.

“I thought you only cared about money, not people. I misunderstood you…”

Judging by the time Lu Luozhu had spent on her phone, she must have been picking out a gift for her.

It was all her fault.

What if Lu Luozhu got angry and stopped giving her presents?

Qi Zi turned her head, sulking yet submitting—as if inviting punishment, letting Lu Luozhu do as she pleased.

Don’t be mad. Next time, she’d ask for a gift too.

“Little Bamboo, I’m sorry,” Qi Zi’s neck was marked with a faint red lipstick stain as she tugged at Lu Luo Zhu’s skirt.

“It was my misunderstanding. Please don’t be mad, okay?”

“Please?”

Speaking softly, gently coaxing with quiet words.

There was a barely detectable trace of unease in her tone.

Lu Luozhu stopped her teasing actions. “I wouldn’t dare be angry.”

Truthfully, Lu Luozhu wasn’t upset. It was only natural for Qi Zi to feel this way—anyone in the position of being the primary spender would have emotions about it.

But Qi Zi’s pitiful expression had indeed struck a soft spot in her heart.

Her boss was… delicious.

The omega on the single sofa looked disheveled, neck bared as if awaiting execution. The opulent, dignified earrings clashed starkly with the young actress’s current state.

Qi Zi gently pulled Lu Luozhu’s shoulder closer and pressed a placating kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you for the gift. I love it.”

Even if you’re pretending, please keep it up a little longer. Ever since you gave me that first piece of cake as a child, my money should have been yours. The only thing I ask is that you treat me a little better.