Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 37

Lu Luozhu’s livestream abruptly ended without warning, leaving all viewers utterly bewildered.

Whether they came to learn cooking or simply to mock, everyone was left confused.

The camera shut off, but the chicken soup simmering on the stove was just about ready.

Lu Luozhu didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed. “Gotta hustle for some cash—hope you understand, dear wife.”

Qi Zi gradually cooled down after being kissed by her. “Not a single word out of your mouth is true.”

Lu Luozhu merely smiled and turned slightly to show Qi Zi her transparent piggy bank.

Impressive—it was stuffed with quite a bit of money.

Leaning against the kitchen island, Lu Luozhu had Ningning perched on her shoulder. The two of them, plus the frog on Ningning’s head, made for six eyes staring straight at Qi Zi.

Qi Zi: “…”

She nearly laughed in exasperation.

The filming crew had already captured all the necessary footage. Seeing Qi Zi arrive, they quietly packed up and left.

A bowl of clear, golden chicken soup was handed to Qi Zi. “Drink some to warm your stomach. Autumn’s chilly, and your health isn’t great.”

Qi Zi scrutinized Lu Luozhu’s face, then watched as she turned to serve Ningning a bowl as well, playing the role of the perfect wife and mother to a T.

Qi Zi was momentarily speechless.

She was too good at acting.

Was Lu Luozhu really the type to put on such a convincing performance just to live comfortably?

It didn’t seem like her at all—it felt like a dream.

Suppressing the irritation in her chest, Qi Zi refused to believe Lu Luozhu was treating her well out of genuine affection.

Omegas knew their place.

Whatever. Qi Zi thought to herself. Life isn’t bad right now.

“How’s the taste? I added some ginseng.”

Qi Zi noticed the stack of papers on the table. Her gaze lingered for a moment before Lu Luozhu swiftly moved them out of her reach.

“Let’s eat.”

Qi Zi looked up to meet Lu Luozhu’s smiling eyes, finding her completely inscrutable.

The soup was rich and fragrant, with a single ginseng root floating in the pale golden broth. The chicken was so tender it fell apart at the touch.

Qi Zi’s bowl contained a wing, a drumstick, and a chicken heart.

Ningning, clearly free of adult complexities, immediately dug into the drumstick with her tiny paws. Qi Zi suspected her child had no concept of “too hot.” Two drumsticks—one for Qi Zi, one for Ningning—while Lu Luozhu’s bowl held only a small portion of broth.

Qi Zi: “You’re not eating?”

Lu Luozhu shook her head. “Not hungry yet. But if you can’t finish, feel free to pass me the other half of your drumstick. I’d be happy to help you avoid waste.”

Qi Zi: “.”

Ningning suddenly gasped. “Mother’s ears are so red! Is she sick?”

Qi Zi’s chopsticks slipped from her fingers, clattering loudly against the table.

Covering her burning ears, she was suddenly reminded of the moment she’d bundled herself in Lu Luozhu’s blanket inside the black car. Her expression shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions.

The usually composed Teacher Qi couldn’t maintain her usual cold indifference. Shooting Ningning a glare, she immediately buried her face in her soup.

Omega pheromones drifted faintly through the dining area. After finishing half her bowl, Qi Zi set it down and got to the point.

A document was sent to Lu Luozhu’s email. Wiping the grease from her lips with deliberate calm, Qi Zi—

“I know you’re interested in investments. I happen to know several industry leaders, and there’s a dinner tomorrow—I’ll take you to meet them.”

Lu Luozhu, who was eating lotus root slices, looked up with innocent round eyes blinking guilelessly, as if deeply honored. “Really? Someone of my status wouldn’t fit in at such high-end venues, would I?”

Qi Zi: “I’m surprised you actually have some self-awareness. That’s rare.”

Lu Luozhu: “…”

She’d only said it casually, but now found herself in an awkward position, her expression slightly stiff.

The little golden canary rested her chin on one hand, her long hair flowing obediently along her cheeks. Around her neck hung a modest silver necklace—its design eye-catching, a delicate chain with a small nameplate at the center engraved with a tiny heart.

It looked… suggestive.

Almost like a decorative dog collar.

Qi Zi found herself unexpectedly affected by its provocative charm.

Ningning finished the food in her bowl obediently before yawning, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she stretched out her arms for her mother to hold her.

Lu Luozhu naturally took the child into her arms, patting her back. Children had short attention spans—all they did was eat and sleep.

After wiping Ningning’s mouth with a wet wipe, Lu Luozhu carried the child upstairs, humming softly as she ascended. It was a tune Qi Zi had never heard before—something resembling a foreign folk song, though her limited musical knowledge couldn’t place its origin.

The alpha in her long dress looked serene, as if naturally suited for domestic life, her warm eyes gazing lovingly at the child in her arms. Had Qi Zi not known better, she might have thought the child was Lu Luozhu’s own daughter.

Such wife material.

Almost unconsciously, Qi Zi raised her phone and took a distant photo.

After entrusting the sleeping child to the nanny, Lu Luozhu descended to find Qi Zi still seated at the dining table, her gaze fixed on… the documents placed on the small cabinet. Lu Luozhu quickened her steps, blocking Qi Zi’s probing stare.

“You didn’t come today just because of the lies I spread during my livestream, did you, Madam?”

“So,  you do have some self-awareness. Lu Luozhu, speak properly—drop the ‘Madam’ nonsense. Even if you’re not embarrassed, I find it nauseating.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Qi Zi regretted them, stealing glances to see if Lu Luozhu was angry.

Seated at the table, Lu Luozhu dangled her feather-adorned slippers from her feet, the delicate footwear swaying precariously with each movement of her calves.

Qi Zi looked at her in surprise, unable to tell if she was truly naive or just pretending.

“Do you know what day it is today?”

The kitchen was thick with alpha pheromones. Qi Zi’s breathing accelerated, her health monitor beeping a heart rate alert—already over 120 bpm and climbing. She discreetly turned off the notification.

“Today’s your birthday. Or more accurately, the anniversary of when you were left at the orphanage.”

The effortless smile on Lu Luozhu’s face faltered momentarily—she genuinely hadn’t remembered the date.

The osmanthus bloomed splendidly in mid-October. Qi Zi’s courtyard was filled with the trees, their tiny pale yellow flowers scattering like golden rain with every breeze.

The breeze carried the fragrance of osmanthus from the courtyard into the spring air, adding a touch of alluring atmosphere to the thick scent of alpha and omega pheromones. Yet Lu Luozhu harbored no romantic thoughts whatsoever.

Qi Zi observed Lu Luozhu’s expression with strange curiosity. “You used to love birthdays the most. Why are you so quiet this year? Are you waiting for me to give you a present?”

Lu Luozhu replied, “I rely on you to support me. If my patron doesn’t give, I can’t ask for it. Isn’t that the well-known rule in our circle?”

Qi Zi: “.”

Sometimes I really want to slap her.

Before transmigrating into this book, Lu Luozhu never had the habit of celebrating birthdays. She had many friends who would throw grand parties for their birthdays. Lu Luozhu found attending others’ birthday parties enjoyable enough—whether she was the center of attention didn’t matter to her.

The exact date of Lu Luozhu’s birthday had long been lost in the river of memory. Anything she couldn’t remember was automatically categorized as unimportant.

With so many friends and so many birthday parties, she simply let those friends celebrate her birthday along the way.

Qi Zi didn’t miss the fleeting emptiness in Lu Luozhu’s eyes.

The next moment, a kiss landed on the corner of Lu Luozhu’s lips. Qi Zi spoke uncomfortably, “Alright, now it’s time for you to fulfill your obligations.”

The truth was, in the absence of an alpha, injecting high-concentration alpha pheromones couldn’t completely alleviate an omega’s condition. Apart from making the body crave an alpha’s warmth even more, it hardly had any positive effects. Qi Zi had suspected more than once that the treatment plan provided by the sanatorium was flawed.

“Quack doctors,” Qi Zi cursed inwardly.

Then, Qi Zi tugged on Lu Luozhu’s silver chain, forcing her to bend down from her elevated seat.

It was like pulling on a dog’s collar.

The alpha’s lips abruptly touched the gland on the back of Qi Zi’s neck.

“Lu Luozhu, I often feel like there’s something wrong with your brain lately.”

Qi Zi let out a hissing breath, squinting her eyes as she reveled in the relaxing sensation of alpha pheromones flooding her body, every pore at ease.

The chain in her hand tightened, as if gripping the collar of a vicious dog.

She let out a long sigh, like a little fox stretching lazily.

Qi Zi’s words trembled with barely restrained emotion. Her butterfly-like eyelashes fluttered, and tears welled up in her eyes from the physical reaction.

“Seventeen years ago, you were abandoned by your community and left at an orphanage. No one in your family wanted to raise you. You were only seven years old then, wearing a pretty little red floral dress and black leather shoes, dressed like a little princess. All the children in the orphanage envied you.”

With every word Qi Zi spoke, Lu Luozhu’s breathing grew more ragged, and a sharp, bone-deep pain throbbed in the depths of her mind.

“Back then, I hid in a room on the second floor, secretly watching you. I thought to myself, ‘This new kid is so cute, but also so pitiful. To be sent to a place like this despite having such nice clothes—she might not even survive.'”

Lu Luozhu could understand every word Qi Zi said, but when strung together, they formed meanings her brain couldn’t comprehend.

How strange. Even though she had transmigrated here, why did everything feel so familiar yet so alien?

“I know you didn’t have it easy at the orphanage, and going there isn’t exactly a day worth celebrating. But since you’re mine now, it’s my duty to give you a birthday present.”

Before Lu Luozhu could react, a sweet, cake-like pheromone flooded her mouth.

Suddenly gripping Qi Zi’s shoulders with undeniable force, she bit down on her neck. The necklace around Qi Zi’s throat was yanked taut, the silver chain pulled straight.

What began as gentle nibbling escalated into forceful kisses.

Waves of irritating memories surged through Lu Luozhu’s mind, making her actions grow fiercer. Qi Zi groaned and instinctively tried to push her away—!

“Lu Luozhu, have you lost your mind?!”

Lu Luozhu pressed her hands on Qi Zi’s shoulders, trapping the slender, delicate actress firmly in her embrace.

Alphas were inherently aggressive; no matter how harmless they appeared on the surface, their predatory instincts lurked deep within.

“Tell me more about what happened back then.”

Her head throbbed with pain, and only the soft body in her arms could bring back a shred of her rationality.

She kissed from Qi Zi’s neck to its sides, then pressed her lips against Qi Zi’s in a deep, breathless kiss, their tongues entwined.

The dishes on the table were knocked into disarray as Qi Zi was forced to tilt her head back and accept everything.

How could she possibly gather her thoughts to talk about those unpleasant memories from the orphanage now?

When the kiss finally ended, Qi Zi hastily retreated two steps, eyeing Lu Luozhu warily, afraid she might snap again.

The corners of the celebrated actress’s lips were bitten bloody, the metallic tang of bl00d thick in her mouth.

Lu Luozhu wiped the dark red from her lips with her thumb, rubbing it between her fingers before reverting to her usual harmless demeanor, the earlier ferocity vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only docility.

“Sorry for biting you just now. Let me put some medicine on it.”

Qi Zi swayed unsteadily, her face flushed, hair disheveled—clearly the picture of someone who had been thoroughly bullied.

“Your birthday present is gone.”

Qi Zi bared her teeth, finding verbal threats insufficient. She grabbed a nearby pillow and hurled it at Lu Luozhu with all her might. Lu Luozhu caught it effortlessly with one hand, only for Qi Zi to lob another pillow straight at her head.

“What’s gotten into you?” Qi Zi was fuming. “How could you not remember what happened back then? If it weren’t for you using your orphanage past to guilt-trip me, I would never have married you!”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Forcing herself to calm down, she slammed the vase she had just picked up onto the table with a heavy thud.

Scoundrel!

Taking advantage of being an Alpha to do whatever she pleased.

The disheveled actress fled in a fluster, nearly tripping at the doorway from weak knees.

Was she angry?

Lu Luozhu stood frozen for a moment, massaging her throbbing temples before tying on an apron to clean up the mess on the table.

Whether it was the surge of emotions or Qi Zi’s soothing pheromones, exhaustion soon overtook her. After tidying the kitchen, Lu Luozhu draped the blanket Qi Zi had brought over herself and sank into a deep sleep on the sofa.

The dream world was surreal.

At the gates of a timeworn orphanage, a little girl in a red floral dress was led inside by an adult.

The courtyard was carpeted with fallen leaves, the faint scent of osmanthus lingering in the air.

“The child’s parents both perished in the fire. How tragic,” remarked one of the adults accompanying the little girl as they handed her over to the kindergarten principal.

The girl timidly surveyed her new surroundings, her eyes still haunted by the afterimages of the blaze—the towering crimson flames that had nearly scorched her retinas, the searing heat that curled her eyebrows and hair. The agonized screams of adults and frantic pounding on doors echoed in her ears. In her final memory, the tempered glass window shattered, and she was thrown out from the burning building.

After that… she remembered nothing more.

Beneath an osmanthus tree after the rain, a quiet girl stood alone, lifting the hem of her faded dress to gather golden osmanthus blossoms one by one.

“Are you the new sister?”

The silent girl clutched her worn dress tightly, as if fearing the newcomer might snatch her hard-earned blossoms. “What’s your name?”

The other girl remained wordless, her red floral dress already soiled. Life in the orphanage wasn’t easy—some malicious children resented others for wearing pretty clothes.

The osmanthus-scented girl spoke timidly, “I’m Qi Zi… Would you like some flowers? If you’re hungry…”

…

When Lu Luozhu opened her eyes again, evening had fallen. The blanket covering her had slipped to the floor unnoticed. The villa was silent except for the brief sound of the nanny upstairs preparing formula before quiet returned.

Rubbing her throbbing temples, the sight of the ornate crystal chandelier gradually brought her back to reality. She clicked her tongue in annoyance before gulping down some cold water.

Had she just dreamed of the original host’s memories?

To dream of the original host’s past after transmigrating into a novel—how bizarre.

Yawning, Lu Luozhu casually picked up the documents on the side table. The papers detailed the young scholar whose grave Qi Zi had taken her to visit—the female Omega who had fostered Qi Zi for about a year.

The Omega’s death was suspicious: on her way to an academic conference, a drunk truck driver had plowed into her car, crushing the front half. Instant death.

How brutal.

Still yawning, Lu Luozhu flipped through the documents, piecing together how this Omega’s two mentors had also died in accidents. The whole situation reeked of conspiracy.

Her phone buzzed. Lu Luozhu answered, wedging it between her shoulder and ear. “Find anything?”

The voice on the line was genderless and ageless, as if filtered through a voice changer. “Surveillance was limited back then, boss. Your request was challenging, but according to my intel, both Tao You and her advisor were working on the Lu family’s project in C City at the time.”

Tao You was the name of Qi Zi’s benefactor.

Hearing “Lu family,” Lu Luozhu stiffened. “The Lu family now based in the capital?”

“Correct, boss.”

“Understood. Keep digging—price isn’t an issue.”

Though considering her current funds… well, price might be an issue after all. Next time she saw Qian Qianqian, she’d have to ask for more expense money.

Some information was hard for outsiders to obtain, but as a Lu family member, Lu Luozhu had an easier time accessing certain records.

They quickly found the project proposal from that year in City C.

—Lanyue Villa.

Lanyue Villa was a premium property in the area, initially priced at over 8,000 per square meter. Now, it had skyrocketed to over 40,000 per square meter.

Considering City C’s development and average income, 40,000 per square meter was indeed impressive.

But according to rumors among the homeowners, while the location was excellent, the buildings had severely aged. A large section of the exterior had fallen off during a typhoon, and the underground garage had serious leakage issues, leading to widespread complaints.

Lu Luozhu’s gaze settled on the name of the person in charge at the time.

“Lu Shengtian.”

The name sounded so familiar. After searching her memory to no avail, she absentmindedly opened the Lu family group chat—and there it was, staring right back at her.

Oh, so it was her uncle.

Lu Luozhu: “…”

What a coincidence.

She placed the documents into the safe on the second floor.

From downstairs, Qian Qianqian’s voice rang out,

“Lu Luozhu, come down.”

Leaning over the railing, Lu Luozhu saw Qian Qianqian standing at the entrance with her arms crossed, looking reluctant and barely tolerating the situation. Behind her stood several men and women dressed in black suits.

Lu Luozhu raised an eyebrow.

Qian Qianqian waved them in, and the SAs from the luxury store delivering the goods placed down numerous gift boxes before bowing and leaving.

Lu Luozhu was surprised. “What’s all this?”

Qian Qianqian said through gritted teeth, “These are Teacher Qi’s birthday gifts for Madam. What a fortunate woman you are.”

Lu Luozhu chuckled, bending down to pick up a piggy bank emblazoned with a luxury brand logo. “Why is Qi Zi so convinced my money could fill this up?”

Qian Qianqian: “Customers who buy piggy banks probably don’t actually stuff them with cash.”

The table was piled high with dazzling haute couture jewelry, clothing, and necklaces, their brilliance reflecting on Lu Luozhu’s face.

The most eye-catching was undoubtedly the tiara adorned with pink diamonds.

Qian Qianqian: “Let me take a few promotional photos for your Weibo.”

With a complicated expression, she added, “You’ve really hit the jackpot with this sugar mommy arrangement. Oh, and be polite to Teacher Qi—her face is worth a fortune. Even if you and Teacher Qi have a disagreement, no roughhousing. She might sue you.”

Lu Luozhu: ?

Seeing Lu Luozhu’s baffled expression, Qian Qianqian grew even more irritated. “I won’t scold you today since it’s your birthday, but you can’t go around hitting people! Teacher Qi came specifically to see you, and you ended up driving her away with a huge red mark by her mouth. What will the fans think?”

“Do you even know her face is insured?!”

Fuming, Qian Qianqian looked like she wanted to throttle Lu Luozhu.

Lu Luozhu’s expression gradually turned strange.

“She didn’t tell you?”

“No, why would she admit to domestic abuse? If I catch you doing something like this again, even if Teacher Qi doesn’t care, I won’t let it slide.”

For once, Lu Luozhu wasn’t sarcastic, instead offering sympathy. “You… never mind.”

Qian Qianqian: ?

This scoundrel Alpha!

The villain who’s charmed Teacher Qi out of her senses!

@LuLuozhu: “With you, time is love made endless @QiZi”

[Photo][Photo][Photo]

The comments section exploded instantly.

“Ahhhh sis is thriving again!”

“Sis, your neck—were you choked? So spicy, QZ plays rough in private.”

“Lu Luozhu, you’ve really married into wealth…”

“Not wearing just an apron? Disappointed, thanks.”

“Birthday? Anniversary? Whatever, this little vixen doesn’t need a reason to scam her wife’s money. Zhuzi CP fans, we feast first!”

“Seeing other celebrity gossip about skincare makes me scoff, but watching Lu Luozhu flaunt her wealth? I’m eating it up.”

“Don’t waste my wife’s money QAQ sobs I sentence you to post more hand pics as punishment.”

“Am I the only one who noticed the chain around Lu Luozhu’s neck? panting It’s so hot I can’t even.”

“Seeing my wife eating well puts my mind at ease.”

…

Qi Zi curled up in the rocking chair, watching the lively discussions in Lu Luozhu’s comment section, osmanthus blossoms drifting onto her hair from above.

The bite mark at the corner of her mouth remained untreated, occasionally sending out threads of lingering, bittersweet pain.

It was slightly swollen.

Her agent kept giving her strange looks.

Are alphas part dog or something? So bite-happy.

Having cooled down, Qi Zi logged onto Weibo and replied to one of the comments:

“Yes, her chain is quite nice. I like it very much.”

She tugged at the silver chain, forcing the alpha to bend down, the metal leaving red chain-like marks on her neck.

Qi Zi didn’t care whether Lu Luozhu was sincere or not. She only wanted Lu Luozhu to stay with her, as long as she behaved obediently.

Qi Zi wouldn’t mind giving her more resources, letting her little golden canary live the kind of life she’d once envied.