Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 38

Lu Luozhu discovered neatly stacked layers of cash inside a box bearing a luxury brand logo.

Qi Zi’s home didn’t have a money counter, so Lu Luozhu couldn’t tally it all by hand.

Cash spilled across the carpet, and as she lay on it, an unreal sensation washed over her.

Today wasn’t her birthday—it was the day the original owner of this body had been abandoned at the orphanage. Strictly speaking, she shouldn’t even have a birthday cake.

No birthday cake, but a box full of money.

Qian Qianqian covered her face in despair. “Have some self-respect, will you?”

Red bills were tossed into the air, fluttering down like celebratory confetti onto her pajamas.

Even calling it “drowning in luxury” would be an understatement.

Lu Luozhu simply laughed and continued tossing money into the air for fun.

With a resigned sigh, Qian Qianqian finally pulled out her DSLR and snapped a few photos of Lu Luozhu.

And honestly, Lu Luozhu was photogenic no matter the angle.

Red bills drifted and lingered midair as the alpha lay on the ground, smiling brightly. Her dark eyes reflected the crystal chandelier above, as if every inch of her skin were forged from gold—the very embodiment of indulgence.

Qian Qianqian expected Lu Luozhu to recklessly squander all the money Qi Zi had given her. Instead, she merely brushed off the scent of cash from her clothes and stood up.

“Ningning’s expenses from kindergarten through college are all covered now.”

Qian Qianqian froze. “What?”

Lu Luozhu folded a hundred-yuan bill that had landed on her chest into a rose and tossed it to her agent.

“What I mean is, don’t expect me to pay for Ningning’s schooling from now on.”

Qian Qianqian was momentarily stunned, unable to follow Lu Luozhu’s train of thought.

The money was Qi Zi’s birthday gift to her, not meant for Ningning’s tuition.

Lu Luozhu shouldn’t be meticulously budgeting for a child’s education, and Qi Zi would never expect her to cover those costs.

As the exquisitely folded rose landed in her palm, Qian Qianqian had the illusion that she, too, was in love—

Perhaps because Lu Luozhu’s gaze was so intense, or perhaps because the rose still carried a trace of warmth.

The living room was strewn with bills, obscuring the once-pristine tiles.

Amid the sea of red notes were scattered luxury shopping bags and the expensive jewelry inside.

After her initial indulgence, Lu Luozhu carefully returned every bill to the box.

She also tidied up the luxury items she had opened for photos, restoring them to their pristine, unopened state.

“I’ll call Qi Zi to thank her. As for this 100 yuan, consider it your tip?”

Qian Qianqian held the rose-shaped hundred-yuan bill in her hands, speechless.

She had never received such a small tip before.

And while she had been given roses in the past, this was the first time one had been fashioned from money.

Dazed, Qian Qianqian stood rooted in place. All her previous frustration toward Lu Luozhu evaporated in an instant. She finally understood why Qi Zi loved Lu Luozhu—even knowing how terrible her personality was, even after having her lips split by her hands, Qi Zi still fell for her without hesitation.

Too smooth.

This gold-digging alpha was just too smooth.

After Lu Luozhu left, Qian Qianqian stomped her foot in frustration.

Qian Qianqian was a beta, unable to detect the pheromones of alphas or omegas. Though not blind, whenever Lu Luozhu looked at her, the intensity in those eyes often created the illusion that the two were dating.

Who knew how many innocent omegas this alpha had deceived with that very illusion.

All the birthday gifts Qi Zi had sent were wheeled upstairs by Lu Luozhu on a trolley—a crown crafted from pink diamonds placed beside an imperial green jade necklace.

Lu Luozhu sighed, pressing a hand to her throbbing temple.

If she divorced Qi Zi, she’d probably have to return all this.

Tch.

What a hassle.

She inhaled the distinct scent of money clinging to her and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

Ah, nothing beat the allure of a decadent, extravagant life.

That night, Qian Qianqian posted photos of Lu Luozhu on Weibo.

@LuLuozhu: [Image][Image][Image]

The comments section erupted at the lavish display in the pictures, leaving netizens momentarily speechless.

“Seriously? You just had to flex your birthday haul nonstop, huh?”

“Living the dream again, sis?”

“Aaaaah how does someone like you manage to seduce my wife while I’m still single?! Just because you’re an alpha?!”

“Am I hallucinating? The money should be the main attraction, but in these photos, it’s all just background decor.”

“I don’t know if this gold-digger got a lot of love, but she definitely got a lot of cash.”

“Money really does wonders—her complexion looks way better than during that variety show.”

“@QiZi, babe, don’t be such a simp???”

…

At the sanatorium.

Qi Zi reclined drowsily on a lounge chair when Qian Qianqian trudged over, looking utterly drained, and tossed a rose onto the table.

The omega slowly opened her eyes. Had Qian Qianqian not been a beta, she would’ve noticed the pheromone levels radiating off Qi Zi had spiked to a point that demanded control.

The delicate red rose, folded from banknotes, was charming in its craftsmanship. Qi Zi blinked away her drowsiness, fingers toying with the flower, where she detected traces of an alpha’s scent.

“Lu Luozhu’s?”

“Mm. Madam gave it to me as a tip.”

The manager had no intention of meddling in her employer’s personal affairs.

Qi Zi cradled the rose carefully in her palm. “I’ll take this tip. You’ll get a bonus at the end of the month.”

Qian Qianqian nodded. “The Xu family’s hosting a banquet tonight. Are you really taking Lu Luozhu tomorrow?”

High-society gatherings were frequent, serving as networking opportunities. Qi Zi rarely attended—her status and influence surpassed most socialites, and her assets far exceeded theirs.

She disliked being fawned over in rotation, but for Lu Luozhu, she could spare the time to introduce her to the right circles.

Qi Zi gave a soft hum. Osmanthus blossoms drifted into her hair, softening the icy beauty’s demeanor with a touch of warmth.

Qian Qianqian had initially considered advising against it but now simply nodded silently before discussing the itinerary for the Burning film set.

“Zhou Fan’s reputation in the industry isn’t great, but he’s undeniably talented. With him involved, securing decent early-stage investments will be tough—the studio will have to cover that. Speaking of which, the production’s accounts currently hold around a million. The funding sources…”

Qi Zi interrupted Qian Qianqian, knowing exactly what she was about to say. “The funding came from Lu Luozhu. I know.”

Qian Qianqian frowned. “Where did she get that much money?”

She wasn’t surprised that Lu Luozhu could provide a room full of cash, given that she had invested in Qi Zi’s subsequent films. But still…

Lu Luozhu didn’t seem like someone with sharp investment instincts, nor did she appear capable of raising such large sums.

Qi Zi shook her head silently. She couldn’t quite figure Lu Luozhu out, but that didn’t stop her from accepting the woman’s goodwill.

She didn’t want to owe Lu Luozhu anything, nor did she understand the intentions behind her actions. The only thing Qi Zi could do was repay her financially.

As long as Lu Luozhu stayed away from vices like gambling, drugs, or illicit activities, everything else was negotiable.

Qian Qianqian suddenly added, “Oh, right. I accidentally found Lu Luozhu’s tablet recently and saw her playing online poker with some people—high stakes. So, about the production funds…”

Qi Zi: “?”

Qian Qianqian: “Beautiful dealers dealing cards live.”

Qi Zi: “…An incorrigible gambler.”

Inside the villa, Lu Luozhu sneezed several times in a row while holding Ningning in her arms. The little one, disturbed from sleep, pinched Lu Luozhu’s nose with tiny fingers.

“Mommy, don’t give me your cold.”

Lu Luozhu thought, Wow, such filial piety. She wrapped herself tighter in the blanket and turned on the heating. The next morning, an invitation letter appeared on her bedside.

Ningning was still curled up in her arms like a kitten, fast asleep.

A small frog plush lay discarded on the bed. Lu Luozhu, barefoot, picked it up from the floor, dusted it off, and placed it back on the nightstand.

Downstairs, Qi Zi waited for her with a bowl of chicken congee, garnished with a couple of delicate greens—symbolizing health.

When Lu Luozhu descended, Qi Zi shot her a sharp glare.

Lu Luozhu blinked, baffled. Freshly groomed, she wore the same nightgown from yesterday, its hem fluttering gracefully as she moved—a vision so captivating it was hard to look away.

Qi Zi cleared her throat subtly and averted her gaze.

The banquet was held at an upscale hotel in the capital. Dressed in an outfit gifted by Qi Zi, Lu Luozhu was greeted by a chauffeur in white gloves who opened the car door for her.

Throughout the ride, Lu Luozhu remained engrossed in something on her tablet.

The screen had a privacy filter, so Qi Zi could only catch glimpses from certain angles—it looked like stock market charts.

“Be extra sweet when you meet Chairman Xu. The Xu family has considerable influence in Y Province. They dabbled in gray-area businesses in the past but have since gone legit. Recently, their patriarch passed away, and the relatives made a mess fighting over the inheritance. But it’s all settled now. Rumor has it they’re generous investors.”

Lu Luozhu propped her chin on one hand and hummed absentmindedly. Dissatisfied with her attitude, Qi Zi suppressed her irritation and continued briefing her on other notable attendees.

“I’ve worked with Chairman Xu before—we have some rapport. Once we arrive, keep your mouth in check. No reckless remarks.”

Lu Luozhu checked messages from Southeast Asia in the background, sent a few emails, then closed the window.

The last email she received read:

“President Lu, I’ll be in the capital soon. Would you honor me with a meeting?”

Investing in casinos was never a legitimate path. Later, she’d have to bring back the money earned overseas, and Lu Luozhu rubbed her temples in frustration. With the chaotic international situation, she truly had no desire to delve deeper into these industries.

Lu Luozhu considered the liquid assets she still had and combined them with the business ventures from her past life, thinking she could open a tea plantation locally.

“Making money is so hard,” the canary sighed.

Oh, right—which family had Qi Zi just said was hosting the banquet?

The Xu family.

That surname sounded so familiar.

Lu Luozhu opened her emails—wasn’t the owner of that nearly bankrupt casino in Southeast Asia also surnamed Xu?

Lu Luozhu: “…?”

…

At the hotel entrance, just as Qi Zi was about to push the car door open, Lu Luozhu suddenly stopped her.

With an amused smirk, Lu Luozhu pointed at the gland patch on the back of Qi Zi’s neck.

Qi Zi was dressed in formal attire for the occasion, yet the gland patch on her neck bore a cartoon bear design.

If Lu Luozhu remembered correctly, the cartoon gland patches she had bought for Qi Zi should have run out long ago.

It was safe to assume Qi Zi had repurchased the same ones.

“Who knew our dear wife had such a childlike heart? I wonder if the industry veterans she’s close with are also well aware of her aesthetic tastes.”

Lu Luozhu sighed with a smile. “Had I known those big shots preferred cute cartoon gland patches, I should’ve catered to their tastes and stuck a couple of colorful gemstones on my teeth to match the investors’ preferences.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Qi Zi’s face flushed red and then paled.

She covered the bear gland patch on her neck with her fingers and shot Lu Luozhu a glare.

Qi Zi had grown so used to wearing them that she hadn’t noticed anything amiss when checking the mirror before leaving.

“You mind your own mouth,” Qi Zi snapped stiffly.

At some point, Lu Luozhu’s words had turned sharp and venomous, as if she’d mock even a passing dog.

Furious, Qi Zi wanted to claw at her. She tore off the gland patch in the backseat with a sharp rip.

The skin on her neck turned red and inflamed, only to be soothed by the sudden press of a cold hand against her heated gland, sending a shiver through her.

Qi Zi looked up abruptly to see the alpha’s gentle smile.

Lu Luozhu’s cool thumb pressed against the inflamed gland. She made no further moves, as if merely cleaning up after the omega’s rough handling. With practiced ease, she retrieved a transparent, discreet gland patch from the storage compartment and applied it.

Yet the anti-inflammatory patch didn’t ease the redness on Qi Zi’s neck.

Frowning in confusion, Lu Luozhu checked the patch’s expiration date.

Strange—it was still within the valid period, so why was Qi Zi’s neck still red?

Just as Lu Luozhu was about to investigate further, Qi Zi grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the car.

“We’re running late. Stop dawdling.”

The omega strode ahead, her expression even fiercer than in the car.

To anyone unfamiliar with Qi Zi, she might have seemed furious. The attendant at the entrance didn’t dare speak, merely accepting the keys with a respectful bow before ushering them inside.

The hall was resplendent, and Lu Luozhu, having frequented such events before transmigrating, felt right at home.

She accepted a glass of champagne and obediently trailed behind Qi Zi.

If not for Qi Zi’s presence, Lu Luozhu would have long since found a quiet corner to idly wait for the exquisite buffet desserts.

The hall was quite crowded, with Lu Luozhu obediently following behind Qi Zi, sweetly greeting people when appropriate.

By the end of the evening, she had added quite a few contacts, including some she hoped to collaborate with in the future. Having them as friends now would make things much easier.

“Long time no see,” Lu Luozhu stopped in front of Xu Huaqing. Qi Zi gave her a look, urging her to take the initiative.

“I heard long ago that Teacher Qi got married. Unfortunately, I was abroad at the time and couldn’t attend the wedding.”

Xu Huaqing was a middle-aged alpha woman who looked remarkably youthful. There was a sharpness in the corners of her eyes rarely seen domestically. Even with her warm and elegant smile, no one facing her could ignore the intense aggression she exuded.

Even those outside the entertainment industry knew Qi Zi had married a good-for-nothing.

Xu Huaqing had been concerned about Qi Zi’s marriage, and her gaze toward Lu Luozhu carried subtle scrutiny and resistance.

“You must be Lu Luozhu. I saw your photos on Weibo last night.”

Qi Zi smiled faintly. “Luozhu is a good kid. Come, shake hands with President Xu.”

Their glasses clinked, but Lu Luozhu simply grinned at her, repeating, “Long time no see.”

Xu Huaqing tilted her head slightly, finding Lu Luozhu’s voice oddly familiar.

Strange. Had she heard it somewhere else before?

The three sat down to chat, with Xu Huaqing and Qi Zi discussing investment matters from recent years.

The conversation was filled with jargon outsiders would struggle to understand.

Under the table, Qi Zi discreetly nudged Lu Luozhu with her shoe, signaling her not to zone out.

Lu Luozhu: ?

Xu Huaqing turned her gaze to Lu Luozhu, her smile flawless. “Teacher Qi mentioned you have investment ideas. How impressive for someone so young.”

Lu Luozhu took a sip of champagne, her eyes drifting unconsciously toward the dessert table.

Cheese tarts today. They smelled delicious.

“I do have some investment plans.”

Her gaze lingered on Xu Huaqing, giving her the strange feeling of meeting an online friend in person.

How interesting.

As Lu Luozhu elaborated on her investment ideas, Xu Huaqing’s frown deepened, a growing sense of familiarity rising within her.

Qi Zi was called away midway, leaving only Lu Luozhu and Xu Huaqing.

Xu Huaqing looked at Lu Luozhu oddly. “Have we met before?”

Lu Luozhu: “Probably not.”

Xu Huaqing’s expression grew even stranger. She wasn’t one to show emotions easily, yet she felt an inexplicable closeness to Lu Luozhu.

She steered the conversation back, her tone softening involuntarily. “Teacher Qi mentioned you once had gambling debts. Aside from the house, no one wins in gambling. If you’re interested in cards, you’re welcome to come to my place—no charge.”

While speaking to Lu Luozhu, Xu Huaqing multitasked, sending an email. “President Lu, regarding your tea plantation investment proposal, I’ve had someone look into it. The local government has allocated land for cash crops. Details—”

Just then, Lu Luozhu’s phone rang.

The sound wasn’t jarring in the hall.

The person sitting across from her suddenly looked up, her gaze snapping to Lu Luozhu’s face. At that very moment, a new unread email appeared in her inbox.

The message contained just one short line.

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit your place anytime soon. My agent won’t be buying me tickets to Southeast Asia for years to come.”

Xu Huaqing: ?!

Xu Huaqing: “Long… long time no see?”

…

While Qi Zi was engaged in conversation, her attention remained fixed on Lu Luozhu in the distance.

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed that CEO Xu, who had been sitting across from Lu Luozhu earlier, had now moved to sit beside her. Their postures were oddly intimate.

From a distance, Qi Zi couldn’t make out what they were saying by lip-reading, but she saw Lu Luozhu flip her phone face-down on the table, her smile as leisurely and carefree as ever.

With every word Lu Luozhu spoke, CEO Xu inched closer to her. Before long, their hands were nearly touching, and then CEO Xu handed her phone—screen still lit—to Lu Luozhu, tapping and swiping at it.

Qi Zi narrowed her eyes in concern. She knew all too well how sharp Lu Luozhu’s tongue could be. If she said something offensive and angered CEO Xu, things could get messy.

Distracted, Qi Zi half-heartedly responded to the person in front of her, her fingers gripping her wine glass so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Something wasn’t right—very not right. CEO Xu didn’t look angry at all. Could it be… was CEO Xu into alpha women?

Qi Zi nearly laughed at the absurdity of her own thought.

After wrapping up her conversation, Qi Zi quickly made her way toward Lu Luozhu. From afar, she heard Lu Luozhu prop her chin on one hand and say,

“I’ve got a film investment project here. How about you throw in a few million just for fun?”

Qi Zi nearly choked, her usually expressionless face cracking for the first time.

Had Lu Luozhu lost her mind?

Was this how you asked for an investment?

Then Lu Luozhu continued, “Or how about I recommend a few stocks with great future potential? You buy them first, then use the profits to invest in my project. I’ll give you extra ad space in the film—how’s that? Consider it a chance to be my client.”

Qi Zi: “…”

Her head spun. Suddenly, she understood why her agent always looked utterly drained after dealing with Lu Luozhu.

How dare Lu Luozhu recommend stocks to someone?

To her shock, Xu Huaqing nodded thoughtfully. “That could work.”

The Xu family had recently lost its patriarch to illness, plunging into internal turmoil. Xu Huaqing’s business had taken a severe hit, and she desperately needed investments to stabilize the situation. She had no idea how Lu Luozhu, all the way in the capital, had caught wind of it. After a brief phone call, the first tranche of funds hit her account that very night.

The condition? Full access to surveillance feeds from all Xu-owned entertainment venues.

Xu Huaqing hadn’t refused. She even offered Lu Luozhu a stake in the business. Soon after, emails flooded her inbox—local situation reports, investment advice, and more—followed by wave after wave of investment funds.

Each payment eased the immediate crisis.

This trip back to the country had partly been Xu Huaqing’s way of paying her respects in person.

But now…

Xu Huaqing’s expression was complicated as she murmured, “CEO Lu, you’re full of surprises.”

The alpha smiled sweetly, enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. “What can I say? My wife prefers gentle, considerate, family-oriented alphas. If I were too flashy, I’d lose her favor. You wouldn’t want this pretty face of mine locked away in a villa, forgotten by the world, would you?”

Xu Huaqing found himself inexplicably fed a mouthful of dog food.

“President Lu, you…”

Do all capital city people have such wonderful mental states?

Qi Zi was called away again,

missing the strange conversation between the two.

She hoped Lu Luozhu wouldn’t cause her any trouble—

otherwise, he’d be on his own.

The hall buzzed with people coming and going, glasses clinking. Out of the corner of his eye, Lu Luozhu caught sight of a portly figure.

Lu Luozhu tilted her head slightly to glance over. Lu Shengtian was squeezed in the middle of a crowd, desperately trying to blend in. His middle-aged, greasy face was creased with ingratiating smiles, looking utterly nauseating.

With a slight lift of her chin, Lu Luozhu remarked, “As a creditor, aren’t you going to go collect the debt?”

Xu Huaqing followed her gaze.

“That alpha is your uncle?”

“No, I have no bl00d relation to the Lu family.”

If Lu Luozhu’s guess was correct, Lu Shengtian had embezzled funds years ago, using substandard materials for a real estate project in City C, which led to structural flaws. The issue was discovered by Qi Zi’s adoptive aunt, who then met an untimely end.

In other words, if not for this man, Qi Zi wouldn’t have been sent back to the orphanage, wouldn’t have had to drain her savings and go into debt to buy a burial plot—she could have grown up safely in a proper home.

Right now, Lu Luozhu didn’t have definitive evidence, so she could only start by collecting a little interest.

Consider it… a small gift for her patron?