Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 34

Lu Luozhu happily acquired a new car.

To repay her sugar mommy’s generosity, Lu Luozhu attempted to offer Qi Zi more attentive services, only to be mercilessly rejected.

After finishing the recording for the second episode of Baby, Charge Forward!, Lu Luozhu boarded the return flight.

Qi Zi had already returned to the capital’s sanatorium and didn’t travel with Lu Luozhu. As for how the car was transported back to the capital, Lu Luozhu witnessed the power of Qi Zi’s wealth firsthand.

An Song: “Didn’t you say you couldn’t even afford a return ticket on the slow train?”

Lu Luozhu yawned and pulled down her eye mask. “When you make the boss happy, rewards naturally follow.”

An Song: “…Does Qi Zi know you call her ‘boss’ behind her back?”

Lu Luozhu wasn’t pleased that the production team had seated An Song next to her. As someone in poor health, she really needed a quiet environment, but the noise-maker lacked self-awareness.

Lu Luozhu mumbled, “Qi Zi must have had some expectations for this marriage.”

Like all arranged marriages, feelings weren’t the priority—what mattered was mutual benefit. Lu Luozhu gained Qi Zi’s money, while Qi Zi required her pheromones and necessary companionship.

An Song rarely heard Lu Luozhu speak so coherently and stared at her in surprise, as if suspecting she’d been replaced.

“I never thought you were capable of saying something intelligent.”

She looked at Lu Luozhu like a rare animal, as if seeing a monkey speak for the first time—and then got smacked by Lu Luozhu for it.

After disembarking, Lu Luozhu carried the child and prepared to return to the villa. Just as she stepped off the plane, she received a call from Madam Liang.

The airport was noisy. Lu Luozhu yawned, cradling the already sleeping Ningning in her arms. The little one breathed evenly, her warm breath brushing against Lu Luozhu’s collarbone—a scene that almost gave off the aura of a devoted wife and mother.

The “devoted wife and mother” flashed a look of disgust before answering the call, only to hear Madam Liang’s cold, stern voice on the other end.

“Tomorrow is your grandmother’s 80th birthday. Behave yourself—don’t do anything to disappoint the family. Otherwise…”

A mocking smile tugged at Lu Luozhu’s lips. Otherwise… what? Confiscate all her assets?

She’d already invested her money in the stock market, and it was doing quite well.

The cash she had on hand was just enough to cover a taxi ride home.

If Qi Zi’s villa had been two kilometers farther, she’d have had to call and borrow money from her.

Just as Lu Luozhu expected, Madam Liang’s next words were, “Otherwise, don’t even think about inheriting the family’s assets.”

Lu Luozhu burst out laughing, startling Ningning awake. The child smacked her lips and obediently buried her head in the crook of Lu Luozhu’s shoulder.

Lu Luozhu: “Do you have any idea how much wealth I currently hold?”

Madam Liang fell silent for a moment, seemingly unsure of how to interpret Lu Luozhu’s tone.

Lu Luozhu continued leisurely, “You couldn’t even dream of the amount of cash I have on hand. It’s late—you should get some rest, Mother.”

She hung up, pushed her luggage out of the airport, and was relieved that the production team hadn’t been cruel enough to make the guests pay for their own rides home, saving her the taxi fare.

The villa was empty. Qian Qianqian acted as if she owned the place, plopping onto the sofa before Lu Luozhu even had the chance. In her hands was an exquisite bone china plate holding a slice of cheesecake.

“Sign this. Hurry up.”

A stack of documents landed on the coffee table with a thud.

Ningning wriggled out of Lu Luozhu’s arms and scampered to Qian Qianqian’s side like a cat spotting a can of treats, her eyes gleaming as she reached for the pastry in Qian’s hand.

Lu Luozhu chuckled at the sight. “Such grand airs. Anyone would think my destined domineering CEO was about to sign a sugar baby contract with this caged canary, with the first clause being ‘Thou shalt not fall in love with me.'”

Qian Qianqian’s lips, currently savoring a cheesecake, twitched slightly before she wisely chose not to engage with Lu’s antics.

How does this woman manage to be so absurd every single day?

Bending down, Lu Luozhu picked up the contract—which contained neither a sugar baby agreement nor any bizarre clauses, but rather a straightforward vehicle gift contract and transfer documents without any hidden traps.

Qian’s expression turned complicated. “Lu Luozhu, you’ve really outdone yourself this time—managing to seduce Teacher Qi into transferring her first self-bought car to you.”

Qi Zi’s road to success hadn’t been easy. In her early days, she’d taken any role that paid, but her striking looks, solid acting skills, and knack for seizing opportunities eventually caught the attention of renowned directors. Starring in several award-winning films had steadily elevated her status.

Just as fine feathers make fine birds, the Qi Zi of those days needed an expensive luxury car to maintain appearances.

Looking back now, it had all been just a facade.

With swift precision, Lu Luozhu signed her name at the bottom of the contract—her strokes sharp and flowing with deliberate artistry, clearly the result of dedicated practice.

“‘Seduce’ sounds so crude. Consider this my well-earned employee benefit.”

Qian found herself envying Lu’s shameless audacity and skin thicker than city walls.

Clearing her throat, Qian shifted to business matters. “Your online reputation is starting to recover. Capitalize on this by posting more likable content, and for heaven’s sake, keep that mouth of yours in check to avoid another scandal.”

Seeing Lu’s determination to become a food blogger, Qian had ultimately relented—following Qi Zi’s instructions to assemble a decent team for her. Initially assuming this was just another of Madam’s passing whims, she’d been surprised to find Lu genuinely enjoying it, regularly posting high-quality videos.

The alpha now lounged lazily on the sofa playing with her phone, completely ignoring her manager’s career planning advice.

“When can I start getting sponsorships?”

Qian sighed. “…No brands have approached you yet. I’ll work on it.”

Lu’s noncommittal “Oh” gave no indication of disappointment. When Qian glimpsed her phone screen displaying information about a Macau casino, her expression turned wary.

“Greed will be your downfall. I strongly advise you to stay away from gambling establishments your entire life,” Qian said sternly. “Casinos let you win, but the house never loses.”

Lu nodded sagely. “I agree—the house never loses.”

Which was precisely why she’d invested in legally operated casinos in Macau and Southeast Asia. The original novel had mentioned them briefly, and Lu had spent weeks tracking down relevant contacts and information until she finally found her opening.

Qian shot her a suspicious look before launching into cautionary tales about industry figures ruined by gambling debts. Only when Lu flipped her phone face-down on the sofa, ceasing her casino research, did Qian finally leave with a weary sigh—looking several years older.

Apparently, the heavens had deemed her management of Qi Zi’s career too smooth, and sent Lu Luozhu specifically to torment her.

Before leaving, Qian Qianqian was stopped by Lu Luozhu. She thought Lu Luozhu had reflected on her mistakes and come to promise she would never touch anything gambling-related again. Instead, Lu Luozhu leaned against her new car and flashed a payment QR code.

“The contract states you’ll cover fuel costs. Advance me some money first.”

Numbly, Qian Qianqian took out her phone to scan the code, then left without looking back.

Leaning against the black sedan, Lu Luozhu watched with amusement as Qian Qianqian floored the accelerator, startling birds by the roadside.

Her mischievous delight thoroughly satisfied, Lu Luozhu schooled her expression and hummed a tune as she returned to the villa. From her suitcase, she retrieved the imperial green jade necklace Qi Zi had bought her.

So beautiful. She’d enshrine it.

After the divorce, she’d return it to Qi Zi.

Tomorrow was her grandmother’s sixtieth birthday, though Lu Luozhu had no intention of bringing a gift.

Ningning showed no interest in jewelry. She only wanted to cling to her mother, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and whispering, “Is Mama going out to play tomorrow? Ningning wants to play too. Ningning doesn’t want tutoring lessons, waaah.”

With Qi Zi recuperating at the sanatorium and Qian Qianqian occupied with necessary social engagements, Lu Luozhu was the only idle one at home. She ruffled her child’s little head, swallowing the refusal that rose to her lips.

The child was young, at that clingy stage. Lu Luozhu couldn’t remember her own childhood clearly, and whenever faced with her daughter’s tear-filled eyes, she found herself unable to say no.

“Alright, you can come. But you must behave—don’t accept food from strangers or leave Mama’s sight.”

Thrilled, Ningning pressed her frog plushie into her mother’s hands.

“Mama is the best mama in the world! At New Year, I’ll give Mama all the lucky money Grandmother gives me, waaah!”

Lu Luozhu: “…”

That really wasn’t necessary.

She still had some dignity left.

The next morning, Lu Luozhu commandeered Qi Zi’s luxury car and set the navigation for the Lu family estate.

This mansion was more remote than the one she’d visited before, located in an affluent neighborhood where residents were all wealthy elites. Rows of high-end cars lined both sides of the road.

Had Lu Luozhu arrived by taxi as usual, she’d have become the laughingstock of high society.

She wore a white cocktail dress with a voluminous skirt, a wide gemstone belt at her waist. Long blue satin ribbon streamers cascaded down, shimmering with pearl-like luster.

The dress was from Qi Zi. So were the wristwatch, the ring, and the high heels. Qi Zi had impeccable taste, diligently dressing her little canary in opulent finery.

Ningning obediently followed her mother. As Lu Luozhu stepped out of the car, curious gazes swept over them—appraising, mocking, disdainful, some plainly eager for drama.

Lu Luozhu occupied an awkward position in the Lu family. The biological eldest daughter had passed away, leaving only this adopted girl alive.

The crowd looked at Lu Luozhu as if she were some villainous usurpers.

Most respectable people wouldn’t comment openly, politely stepping aside to let Lu Luozhu enter with her child.

Yet there are always those who lack tact. An elder scoffed as Lu Luozhu passed by, “On such a joyous occasion as the matriarch’s birthday banquet, inviting some unrelated minor celebrity is utterly disgraceful. I can’t imagine what the host was thinking—perhaps wanting someone to grab a microphone and sing to liven things up?”

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

The man’s gaze drifted dismissively over Lu Luozhu and Ningning, whom she held by the hand.

Even young Ningning could sense the hostility around them. Bewildered, she looked up at her mother.

Everyone was bullying Mom.

Madam Liang emerged from inside, smiling. “Luozhu, this is your uncle—he’s in import-export and just returned from Southeast Asia. Quite the accomplished man. Greet him properly.”

Her cheerful tone deliberately ignored the humiliation Lu Luozhu had just endured.

Lu Luozhu paused, her lips quirking as she regarded the elder. “I know who you are.”

The middle-aged man stiffened momentarily under her gaze but remained dismissive, hands in pockets as he sneered, “A person should know their place. Why make a spectacle coveting what isn’t yours?”

Nodding, Lu Luozhu retrieved her phone and turned the volume to maximum. “I’ve heard some interesting rumors lately. Apparently, you’ve racked up considerable gambling debts in Southeast Asian casinos. How ironic—a man should indeed know his limits, especially when borrowing from loan sharks despite terrible luck. Who’d have thought someone your age still dreams of striking it rich overnight?”

“Are you trying to teach us youngsters through personal example that man can conquer fate?”

The blaring video clearly showed a man in shirt and board shorts sweating profusely at a gambling table, hands trembling as he held cards—before being dragged away by burly casino enforcers to a backroom where kicks and punches rained down.

The man’s agonized screams filled the air between distorted shouts: “My family’s loaded! Give me two days! I’ll repay everything—believe me! Just one more chance! I can win it back—”

The uncle’s face turned ashen. Silence fell so complete one could hear a pin drop. Lu Luozhu pocketed her phone.

“Almost forgot—we have a child present. Perhaps I should’ve sent this surveillance footage to your family group chat for private viewing.”

Though Ningning didn’t understand what transpired, she saw the man who’d insulted her mother turn deathly pale, on the verge of collapse.

The video’s impact stunned everyone.

Lu Luozhu had received access to historical surveillance footage from a contact yesterday. The casino owner, mistaking her for a mainland tycoon when she liquidated high-performing stocks to assist during his liquidity crisis, would never guess her gas money still came from Qi Zi.

As reciprocity, Lu Luo anonymously emailed compromising videos of Qi Zi’s industry rivals to Qian Qianqian’s inbox—politely declining the offered “tip money for the concerned citizen.”

Madam Liang’s expression soured momentarily. As she opened her mouth, Lu Luozhu interjected, “That ‘old hag’ Uncle mentioned in the video—surely not Grandmother?”

“No, no, of course not! It’s all a misunderstanding… You deleted it—no, it wasn’t me—”

Uncle’s body trembled, his eyes filled with terror as he avoided the gazes around him. Reason told him to deny that the person in the video was him, but the familiar voice and the scar on the back of his hand from a machete strike matched perfectly.

The scene at the entrance was chaotic. Lu Luozhu stepped inside first and saw an elderly woman dressed in traditional Tang suit sitting upright on a grand chair. Her snow-white, permed hair framed a face lined with wrinkles, but her eyes were strikingly bright.

Before transmigrating into the novel, Lu Luozhu had shallow familial ties and no experience with extended family gatherings. She casually offered a few auspicious greetings and was about to find a seat when—

Madam Liang glanced over coolly. “Luozhu, why haven’t you brought out the jade necklace I arranged for you?”

Her adoptive father, who had been whispering to Grandma, shot her a look—his expression far from pleasant.

Lu Luozhu nearly laughed.

This family was utterly insane.

Were they just messing with her? The necklace Qi Zi had bought for her was now being passed off as Madam Liang’s birthday gift for Grandma.

The elderly woman on the grand chair spoke affectionately, “Luozhu has grown into a fine young woman. If that child were still here, she’d probably be about the same age now.”

“That child’s name was Ningning, wasn’t it? Come, let Grandma see you.”

The Lu family was in traditional construction—an industry that relied heavily on familial influence.

Unfortunately, Lu Luozhu had no intention of inheriting any of it.

Having read the original novel, she vaguely recalled that Qi Zi’s later misfortunes were inextricably linked to the Lu family.

Her adoptive father chimed in with a smile, “Ningning, come kowtow to Great-Grandma. Luozhu, bring out the necklace.”

The old woman on the chair appeared kind, but her gaze at Luozhu carried the weight of seeing someone else entirely.

“Mommy?” Ningning didn’t understand why she had to kowtow.

Lu Luozhu held Ningning back, her expression darkening. “Kowtowing is unnecessary. As for the necklace—anyone who’s been on Weibo knows Qi Zi bought it for me. How did it suddenly become a gift for Grandma? Your esteemed family shamelessly leeches off Qi Zi’s hard-earned money but couldn’t even send her an invitation. How classy.”

The moment the words left her mouth, the relatives watching outside fell dead silent.

Had Lu Luozhu lost her mind?

Did she even realize what she was saying?

Madam Liang’s face darkened. “Luozhu, is this how you treat your elders?”

The old woman’s smile stiffened. “Children often have tempers. Let it go.”

With that, she dismissed Luozhu’s outburst as mere childish rudeness. Luozhu almost laughed in frustration.

Though she wasn’t deeply familiar with the original host’s circumstances, she knew the Lu family had serious internal issues. Qi Zi’s vague warnings and the revelation that the family’s biological daughter had died of heart problems only deepened her suspicions.

A theory simmered in Luozhu’s mind, but she couldn’t confirm it yet.

The old woman sighed. “Back then, when you insisted on marrying Qi Zi, the family disapproved but ultimately relented. But Qi Zi is just an actress—Luozhu, you’re old enough to understand now.”

Her words were measured, but her eyes were shrewd to a fault. Luozhu had no patience for these mind games. She wasn’t the original host—she’d transmigrated here. This petty family drama meant nothing to her. All she felt was disgust.

Looking down on Qi Zi’s profession while coveting her money? How laughably arrogant.

The elderly man seated in the grand armchair patted his son’s hand. “Lu Luozhu is still a child of our Lu family after all. Even if she’s not bl00d-related, we’ve raised her for so many years—there should be some affection by now. Besides, her…”

The old man’s words abruptly stopped, then continued nonchalantly, “There’s a project in City C requiring investment. Why not let her take charge of it?”

A document was placed in Lu Luozhu’s hands.

The patriarch thoughtfully arranged for a professional to explain the contract terms to her, though Lu Luozhu could understand it perfectly well herself. The gist was that a project in City C showed promising prospects but had a significant funding gap, requiring a total investment of no less than 230 million yuan.

“So you’re saying if I can single-handedly complete this project, I can join the Lu family headquarters and receive dividends?”

“You are, after all, an heir of the Lu family. Your grandmother dotes on you and believes in your capabilities. Don’t disappoint her.”

Lu Luozhu pressed her temples, wanting to laugh. This was absolutely insane.

How could she possibly come up with 230 million? In the end, this money would inevitably come from Qi Zi’s pockets.

Just to gain so-called family recognition, they’d recklessly waste Qi Zi’s money—never mind whether the project could even be successfully completed.

Even if the project ultimately failed, it wouldn’t be the Lu family’s money being squandered.

No wonder the Lu family had agreed to the original host’s marriage with Qi Zi.

With a loud rip, the pristine document was torn to shreds and scattered across the opulent, classical interior.

As paper fragments snowed down, Lu Luozhu stood beneath the chandelier in her evening gown, the flickering light casting shifting shadows across her face.

“Lu Luozhu! Have you forgotten who raised you all these years? Get down on your knees and apologize to your grandmother!”

Lu Luozhu loved Qi Zi’s money, but in all conscience, every penny she’d taken had been earned legitimately, and she’d always given Qi Zi the maximum possible returns within her means.

The bakery chain had further enhanced Qi Zi’s public influence, the competitors’ scandals helped clear obstacles, and the upcoming film would earn her more awards…

Precisely because Lu Luozhu knew Qi Zi’s money shouldn’t be wasted, the Lu family’s actions disgusted her.

Amid the falling scraps of paper, Lu Luozhu stood in her high heels against the backlight, the illumination highlighting her striking features.

“How unfortunate—I’m quite accustomed to getting things without effort. Asking me to invest in projects is simply too demanding. Rather than focusing on me, you’d do better figure out how to cure Uncle’s gambling addiction.”

Her stiletto crushed one page of the contract as she bent to pick up Ningning, then turned and walked out of the estate.

Lu Luozhu planned to buy some pomelo peel for a cleansing bath—to wash away the bad luck.

Stopped at a red light, she took out her phone and sent the casino footage to the family group chat, tagging her grandmother.

Go to hell!

…

“My dear ancestor, please stop pacing in front of me.”

After a long day, Qian Qianqian returned to the sanatorium to find Qi Zi walking in circles like a fox exhibiting stereotypical zoo behavior.

“What if Lu Luozhu gets bullied at the Lu family…” Rubbing her aching temples, the usually taciturn woman couldn’t stop muttering, “She’s only sharp-tongued with me. What if the Lu family sets traps and she accidentally falls into one?”

Qi Zi knew that in the past, Lu Luozhu had been desperate to gain the Lu family’s approval, becoming restless and anxious after every criticism.

Though Lu Luozhu was different now… Qi Zi still worried.

She didn’t want her little golden canary to be bullied.

Before long, the sound of a car pulling into the courtyard echoed through the air.

Qi Zi hurried to the window in her slippers, pushing it open and craning her neck to peek outside.

“Lu Luozhu is back.”

Qian Qianqian was utterly exhausted. “It’s good that you’re back. Just sit and rest for a while, ancestor. The nurse will give you an IV drip later.”

Qi Zi leaned against the window, quickly tidying her hair, her face returning to its usual aloof expression that looked down on everyone. “Next time, give her more gas money. Take it from the studio’s account.”

Qian Qianqian: “…”

Don’t say such lovestruck words with that icy face.

Lu Luozhu pushed the door open, only for it to be pulled from inside. Suddenly, she found herself in a fragrant embrace.

Qi Zi snorted coldly. “So, you remember to come back? I thought you’d forgotten all about me in the sanatorium after going home.”

Lu Luozhu, who had been bold and unrestrained outside, instantly transformed into a docile, clingy canary.

“Sister, everyone outside is bullying me, wuwu~”

Ningning: “Wuwu~”

The little canary buried herself in her sister’s embrace, her skirt fluttering. “Those people were so mean! They even cursed at me right to my face. Only sister truly cares about me, wuwu~”