Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 46

The Ace of Hearts symbolizes love.

Even though Qi Zi didn’t play poker, she understood the meaning of the card in her hand.

Brand-new playing cards fluttered down onto her, their edges gilded with a luxurious sheen under the sunlight, bearing the logo of a high-end brand she had once collaborated with.

Qi Zi stood frozen in place, the baseball cap Lu Luozhu had placed on her head casting a shadow over her face.

The wide brim shielded her from the prying lens of the live broadcast.

Her loose-fitting jacket concealed any details that might reveal her true identity.

A hidden emotion stirred within her, and her fingers trembled slightly as she held the Ace of Hearts.

Was Lu Luozhu trying to win her over?

Qi Zi’s dark eyes met Lu Luozhu’s smiling gaze, seeing her own reflection in them—a mesmerizing depth of black that stole her breath away.

She didn’t snap out of it until Lu Luozhu plucked the card from her shoulder.

For the rest of the segment, Qi Zi stayed in the shadows, unnoticed, clutching the pristine Ace of Hearts in her hand.

It wasn’t until the production team left the orphanage that she finally followed the crowd outside.

“Big sister, are you really leaving? Will you come back to see us?”

A little girl trailing behind Ningning tugged at Lu Luozhu’s sleeve, tears streaming down her face.

“Is Ningning leaving too?”

Standing among the crowd, Qi Zi felt an inexplicable irritation.

She hated the orphanage—she assumed Lu Luozhu did too.

Hadn’t Lu Luozhu once been desperate to escape this place, to rise above her origins?

Now that she had achieved her dreams, shouldn’t she avoid it for the rest of her life?

Qi Zi suppressed the twisted emotions in her eyes.

Maybe it wasn’t the orphanage she despised, but the part of herself that had come from it.

A cluster of children swarmed around Lu Luozhu, clinging to her arms and legs.

“Don’t go, please! We’ll give you all our cupcakes!”

Lu Luozhu simply smiled, ruffling each child’s hair affectionately.

Her expression was gentle, like that of a nurturing figure straight out of a traditional ideal. The sunlight gilded her hair and cast delicate shadows from her lashes across her cheeks.

When Lu Luozhu fixed her gaze on someone, it was with an intensity that felt both focused and tender.

“We’ll meet again. If you really miss me…”

Everyone paused, waiting for her final words of farewell.

Qi Zi expected some cliché like “Study hard and grow up healthy and happy”—the kind of empty platitudes she’d heard countless times.

But instead, Lu Luozhu grinned warmly and said, “If you miss me too much, just turn on the TV. I’m kind of a big deal out there.”

Qi Zi: “…”

The teary-eyed host, ready for an emotional send-off: ?

What kind of nonsense is this?

An Song stood by the bus door, quietly comforting Xiao Molly, who was reluctant to part with the children, then shot Lu Luozhu a sidelong glance for her absurd remark.

Finally, the bus doors closed, and Lu Luozhu settled into the back seat with Ningning in her arms.

Outside, the heavy snow had stopped, and the roads had been cleared.

Ningning buried her face in her mother’s shoulder, inhaling her familiar scent deeply.

“The sisters in the orphanage are so lonely and pitiful. Why do they have to suffer so much?”

Ningning hated goodbyes. Her big eyes welled up with tears.

She blinked hard, not wanting her mother to see her cry.

Lu Luozhu affectionately stroked Ningning’s little head. “But everyone suffers in their own way.”

Ningning looked up, confused.

Lu Luozhu could feel the gaze from the back seat.

Her voice carried a faint trace of amusement. “Those children suffer the pain of being orphans. Your mother struggled from scratch in the entertainment industry before achieving what she has today—that was suffering too. My heart isn’t strong, so I can’t do intense exercise. Every time my heart acts up, it feels like a brush with death. Isn’t that suffering?”

Lu Luozhu tapped Ningning’s nose lightly. “You’re still young. One day, you’ll have to endure your own share of hardships too.”

Ningning: QAQ

In the back seat, Qi Zizi pulled her cap lower, hiding the turbulent emotions in her eyes.

Her fingers clenched tightly around her sleeve, veins bulging like mountain ridges on the back of her hand.

This didn’t sound like something Lu Luozhu would say.

The next second, she heard Lu Luozhu sigh as she leaned her head against the window.

“Not only do I suffer from a weak heart, but I also have to endure the hardship of living off someone else. It’s so hard.”

A foot kicked the back of Lu Luozhu’s seat.

Lu Luozhu: “.”

Ningning: ?

Her mother’s head thumped against the glass.

See? Living off someone is pretty tough.

……

The bus pulled up in front of the villa. The filming crew had already left.

Yawning, Lu Luozhu sent Ningning to her room before sprawling on the couch to catch up on the work she’d neglected these past few days.

Lu Shengtian had been arrested, but that didn’t mean his influence was completely gone.

Lu Luozhu recalled a car accident from the original story.

Some people just had to make one last desperate struggle. As someone who knew part of the plot, she had to be extra vigilant.

What a headache.

The little canary added “vehicle inspection” to her schedule.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed overhead—

The next second, a baseball cap landed squarely on Lu Luozhu’s tablet.

Lu Luozhu looked up and grinned. “If your fans knew the award-winning actress treated her signed merchandise so roughly, they’d be heartbroken.”

Qi Zizi tilted her chin up, her expression unreadable. But Lu Luozhu knew she wasn’t angry.

“Ningning’s kindergarten is holding a parent-teacher meeting the day after tomorrow. You’re going.”

Tucked inside the cap was a black pen and a notebook, both of which landed in Lu Luozhu’s lap.

She flipped open the notebook. The first few pages were already filled with notes indistinguishable from any meeting minutes—reminders from the kindergarten teacher about seasonal flu prevention, teaching plans, and the like.

Lu Luozhu: “Isn’t this inappropriate?”

Her fingers traced the strokes of Qi Zizi’s handwriting.

It was beautiful—worthy of being kept as a collector’s item.

Lu Luozhu mused inwardly, Her fans would be green with envy if they knew.

Qi Zizi: “I’m heading to set tomorrow. Your ad shoot isn’t until the day after. Do you have something more important to do?”

Her words feigned deference to the alpha’s opinion, but her eyes held a clear command.

Alpha lounged lazily on the down-filled sofa, fingers idly tapping on the tablet’s email interface as she deftly replied to messages from Unicorn’s CEO.

“I’m the child’s stepmother. The whole internet knows I’m shamelessly mooching off you without proper standing. Aren’t you worried the kid might get gossiped about in kindergarten? Ah, but you know how hard it is for a kept alpha like me who married into a wealthy family—always getting those judgmental looks.”

While speaking, Lu Luozhu sent the Unicorn CEO a new MV concept.

Just as she was reading a fresh email, her tablet was suddenly knocked onto the sofa.

Lu Luozhu blinked in confusion—she had only been making an offhand comment—before her collar was abruptly yanked up by Qi Zi.

Omega pheromones flooded her senses, overwhelming her face. For a moment, Lu Luozhu couldn’t tell whether Qi Zi was angry or subtly hinting at work matters.

With a playful grin, Lu Luozhu raised both hands in surrender.

“Alright, alright, my bad. I’m not some pitiful freeloader alpha enduring cold shoulders—I’m the beloved canary doted on by the award-winning actress herself.”

Lu Luozhu’s tongue never knew how to speak kindly, and Qi Zi absolutely despised those lips and that wicked thing inside.

Sometimes, Qi Zi genuinely wanted to rip it out just to see how it differed from others’.

Why did it always have to spout such infuriating words?

The grip on her collar tightened, forcing Lu Luozhu to tilt her head back, exposing the delicate curve of her neck. As she swallowed, her throat bobbed slightly under Qi Zi’s gaze.

“You are my rightful partner. Stop spouting nonsense.”

The omega’s presence was overpowering, the thick scent of pear blossoms making Lu Luozhu cough. Was this how omegas attacked?

Lu Luozhu almost laughed.

She greedily inhaled the omega’s pheromones, nuzzling her cheek against Qi Zi’s arm like a big dog trying to please its owner.

They had less than a year left before the divorce. For now, she was indeed the “rightful partner.”

Lu Luozhu’s mind wandered—after the divorce, who would her award-winning mentor turn to for pheromone therapy?

Would she have to stockpile enough alpha pheromones before then? Now that would be a monumental task.

Despite being at a disadvantage, the alpha didn’t appear flustered. Her eyes remained sweet and smiling, gazing up innocently.

Qi Zi’s irritation flared. She leaned down and bit Lu Luozhu’s lip sharply.

As the grip on her collar grew even tighter, Lu Luozhu had to arch her back to meet her patroness’s affection.

But soon, the alpha gained the upper hand.

Amid the kiss, Qi Zi’s voice turned sticky and soft—no amount of forced dominance could change that.

“Ningning attends an elite private kindergarten. Her classmates’ parents are all influential figures. If you’re looking to network, start there. I’m sure Ning’s friends’ parents can offer you some solid investment advice.”

A silver thread stretched between their lips when they parted. Qi Zi quickly wiped the wetness from her mouth, then pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket. She scrubbed Lu Luozhu’s lips as if cleaning a table before tossing the embroidered cloth—patterned with a small wildcat—straight onto Lu Luozhu’s face.

Her legs were starting to feel weak again. If she didn’t hurry…

Qi Zi unwillingly rubbed her knees, feeling the strange changes in her body. The pheromone fluid seemed about to leak out…

This was truly excessive.

This body of hers was so… indecent.

Just as Lu Luozhu wanted to continue serving her patron, the pressure on her neck suddenly loosened. The omega practically fled upstairs as if escaping a flood or savage beast.

Her walking posture seemed off—had she sprained her ankle?

Wiping her mouth with the fragrant handkerchief, Lu Luozhu naturally had no idea that upstairs in the master suite, Qi Zi was crouched in the bathroom, desperately trying to cool her body with cold water.

The cold water rushing over her glands had little effect. The scent of her pheromones grew even stronger.

The pheromone fluid completely defied rational control.

The omega could only resign herself to lying in the bathtub, for the first time hating the long nails she’d grown for photoshoots.

Downstairs,

Lu Luozhu tucked away the little pear-embroidered handkerchief. After finishing her work, she opened the introduction to Ningning’s kindergarten.

On her phone was the class group chat Qi Zi had sent her.

The tuition at this elite kindergarten was exorbitant. Upon closer inspection, Lu Luozhu realized Qi Zi’s earlier estimate of 100,000 per semester was actually conservative.

With all the additional fees, it would cost at least 200,000 to 300,000.

One could imagine the high social status of parents who could afford such a kindergarten.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Lu Luozhu noticed the pheromone concentration in the villa seemed to be increasing.

To avoid misunderstandings, she took out Qi Zi’s handkerchief to compare its scent with the air.

While alphas were highly sensitive to their own omega’s pheromones, prolonged exposure in Qi Zi’s scent-saturated space made it hard to distinguish anything unusual.

Humming a tune, she walked upstairs. Passing Qi Zi’s suite, she paused upon hearing faint sounds within.

Like a kitten’s mewl, or someone suppressing extreme agony.

Moving silently, Lu Luozhu found herself pressing her ear against the door.

The muffled sounds mixed with the noisy splashing of water. Beneath the shower’s roar hid an intriguing moan.

After a moment, Lu Luozhu thought she’d misheard. Just as she strained to listen, the sound stopped.

Two seconds later, the door she leaned against was abruptly pulled open.

Qi Zi stood wrapped in a white bathrobe, eyes reddened, fingers curling self-consciously at the sight of Lu Luozhu.

Though Lu Luozhu was the one who’d crossed boundaries, she became the flustered party.

Her natural actions now felt like betrayal toward her alpha.

Caught red-handed, Lu Luozhu awkwardly apologized, “Sorry, I was just passing by. I’ll leave now.”

Contrary to expectations, Qi Zi showed no anger. Her gaze avoided the alpha’s form, recoiling as if burned whenever it brushed Lu Luozhu’s clothes.

Staring blankly at the floor, perhaps due to some strange alpha-omega connection, Qi Zi had caught Lu Luozhu’s scent. She’d tentatively opened the door, never expecting to find Lu Luozhu right outside.

Had she discovered something? Would she call her unchaste?

As it turned out, Lu Luozhu had noticed nothing at all.

The corridor was once again empty. Qi Zi trembled slightly as she slowly exhaled a long breath.

Good.

Standing at the door, Qi Zi let the cold wind outside wash over her, dispelling the restless heat within.

Her weary body felt hollow, craving something—anything—to hold onto.

How much would she have to pay to make Lu Luozhu willingly serve her?

…

Early in the morning, Lu Luozhu changed into the high-end custom outfit her patron had bought for her.

Her child had already been sent to kindergarten, and Lu Luozhu needed to attend a parent-teacher meeting in the afternoon.

After breakfast, she began getting ready.

Qian Qianqian sat across from her, legs crossed, flipping through a schedule. She glanced up to see Lu Luozhu making a mess of her vanity.

“Allow me to remind you—you’re going to a parent-teacher meeting, not a runway show.”

The imperial green jade necklace around her neck needed no additional embellishment, exuding an aura of opulence from within.

A pigeon-egg-sized gemstone ring adorned her ring finger, replacing the usually understated diamond.

Qian Qianqian closed her eyes in despair, thinking, Lu Luozhu is such a goddamn airhead.

Any redeeming qualities she’d once seen in Lu Luozhu must have been an illusion. Right? It had to be an illusion.

Expressionless, Qian Qianqian picked up her compact camera and gestured for Lu Luozhu to stand in the middle of the dressing room.

“I’ll take a few promotional shots for you.”

Airhead or not, Lu Luozhu’s face was undeniably stunning.

Qian Qianqian wouldn’t miss any opportunity to market her client.

Infamy was still fame—Lu Luozhu was already drowning in online hate, and Qian Qianqian had no qualms about fueling the fire.

Earrings, necklace, rings, bracelets, wristwatch—Lu Luozhu wore them all, resembling a walking Christmas tree.

After selecting a few decent shots, the ordeal finally ended just in time for the meeting.

While waiting at a red light, Qian Qianqian quickly edited the photos on her phone and posted them to Lu Luozhu’s Weibo.

She didn’t have time to check the ensuing chaos in the comments before the light turned green, and she hit the gas.

The sunlight was warm today, casting golden rays over the quiet path leading to the private kindergarten, nestled in a secluded area. The fact that it occupied such prime real estate spoke volumes about its financial backing.

Luxury cars came and went in an endless stream—parents spared no effort in flaunting their wealth and devotion to their children.

Qian Qianqian warned, “Tone it down. Don’t make a fool of yourself.”

Lu Luozhu propped her chin on her hand, yawning sleepily like a drowsy little animal.

But Qian Qianqian knew better—Lu Luozhu was far from as harmless as she looked. After all, she was the one who’d sent her own family to prison.

Cunning as she was, it didn’t stop Qian Qianqian from thinking she was an airhead.

“If you embarrass yourself out there, it’s Teacher Qi’s reputation on the line. Don’t drag her down.”

Unable to resist, Qian Qianqian muttered a few more words, though she didn’t dare look directly at Lu Luozhu’s face. Perhaps it was because Lu Luozhu was too beautiful—even the lavish accessories paled in comparison.

Lu Luozhu merely smiled, closing the car door as she and Qian Qianqian walked into the kindergarten.

Among those attending the meeting were not just parents but also a number of people who were clearly assistants.

From the dilapidated orphanage to the prestigious private international kindergarten, Lu Luozhu’s gaze lightly swept over the advanced facilities, unable to suppress the emotions welling up inside.

“Lu Luozhu?! Is that really you?”

A clear voice suddenly called from behind. Turning around, Lu Luozhu met a pair of sparkling, deer-like eyes.

The omega standing behind her shone with excitement, though not with the complete adoration fans typically show their idols. Instead, their gaze held a complex mix of surprise and wonder.

“I was just watching your livestream the other day! Who knew you’d be even more stunning in person? No wonder you’re Qi Zi’s most treasured darling.”

Lu Luozhu: “…”

Are you actually an anti-fan?

The young, beautiful omega accidentally blurted out their true thoughts and quickly covered their mouth. Under Qian Qianqian’s increasingly despairing gaze, the omega pulled out their phone.

“Take a photo with me! Then when I make my wife angry, I can pray to you for blessings of lifelong prosperity.”

Lu Luozhu: “…Fine.”

…

In the classroom, the children sat neatly on their little stools, their bright eyes darting toward the door.

Ningning played with her fingers, knowing her mother wouldn’t come today. Her mother had said yesterday she’d be working—every time she joined a new production, she’d be gone for what felt like forever. Ningning had grown used to the loneliness.

She understood: Mother needed to earn money. Mother was an incredibly capable person.

As the sounds of gathering parents grew louder at the classroom door, Ningning couldn’t help glancing toward the entrance.

Just in case…

Just in case Mother came to see her?

Maybe Mama would come too, though she’d also been busy with work lately.

Ningning needed to be sensible—no crying, no tantrums. She’d wait quietly for Auntie to come for the parent-teacher meeting.

She hoped the teacher wouldn’t say anything bad about her—she napped obediently every afternoon! Only occasionally sneaking out with other restless children, accidentally alerting the kindergarten security…

Amidst her conflicted searching, Ningning’s eyes suddenly landed on a familiar figure.

Lu Luozhu stood out like a crane among chickens—impossible to miss.

The other parents kept at least half a meter away from her. She was simply too dazzling.

What kind of reasonable person wears a 90-million-yuan necklace to a parent-teacher meeting?! Was she deliberately flaunting how spoiled she was by Qi Zi?!

Ningning: !

Lu Luozhu waved silently: Good afternoon~

Tears welled in Ningning’s large eyes. She knew her status as an adopted child wasn’t as secure as the other kids’, but she understood both Mama and Mother loved her.

Maybe Mama hadn’t liked her at first, but through Ningning’s efforts, Mama couldn’t bear to be without her now.

…

On the set of “Burning”:

After the ceremonial incense lighting with the cast and director, Zhou Fan was explaining the scene to Qi Zi and Qi Xin. Qi Zi absentmindedly played with her phone while nodding occasionally to show she was listening.

From the corner of her eye, Qi Xin noticed her former co-star was scrolling through Weibo—specifically, Lu Luozhu’s Weibo account.

As a devoted shipper of the “Bamboo CP,” Qi Xin felt her fangirl heart race.

@Lu Luozhu: [Image]

The comments section buzzed with activity.

“Got it, got it. Sis, we know you’re rich now—wearing a 90-million-yuan necklace like it’s nothing, sporting that one-of-a-kind coat from around the globe like it’s casual wear.”

“Sometimes I really envy Lu Luozhu’s damn good luck.”

“Am I the only one who noticed? Lu Luozhu’s background looks like Qi Zi’s walk-in closet.”

“Look everyone, that corner of the handkerchief peeking out from Lu Luozhu’s pocket—it looks like the same style Qi Zi was photographed using on set before.”

“I tried copying Lu Luozhu’s outfit, but my mom said I looked awful and kicked me out of the house.”

The director’s voice droned on overhead. Qi Zi had long memorized the script and could anticipate every shot with her eyes closed.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the screen as she liked Lu Luozhu’s Weibo post.

Using her official account, Qi Zi commented and reposted: @QiZi: “So beautiful. I love it.”

A little extra flamboyance was fine—Qi Zi could afford to let her be extravagant.

The Omega’s gaze darkened as she suppressed the restless stirring within.

Enjoy the lap of luxury while you can. Soon enough, she’d be making her demands.