Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 54

Qi Zi had always maintained an evasive attitude in this relationship, something Lu Luozhu had long noticed.

Were it not for the pressure of pheromones, Qi Zi would never have—Lu Luozhu understood this better than anyone.

The sweet fragrance unique to ripe figs wafted through the air as the fruits swayed on the branches.

At Lu Luozhu’s feet were several small buckets filled with figs. Wiping a sheen of sweat from her forehead, she leaned halfway against the ladder, smiling at Qi Zi.

Though they maintained a marital relationship, Lu Luozhu knew how fragile it was—ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

She worked hard to be a kept woman, to be a decent stepmother, but that didn’t mean she was content with the status quo.

What to do? Lu Luozhu thought. Qi Zi was her wife—at least for the next six months, she was.

If it were anyone else, Lu Luozhu would have long since turned a blind eye. But Qi Zi…

Lu Luozhu lowered her head with a silent chuckle, then raised it again with a bewitching smile.

“This deal is quite favorable, don’t you think, Madam?”

The sweet breeze brushed past Qi Zi’s hair, and beneath her cap, her face suddenly flushed…

If a kiss could reveal one of Lu Luozhu’s secrets, it wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

An omega’s curiosity about her alpha was boundless—it would probably take several kisses.

Qi Zi blinked shyly, pausing for a few seconds as if steeling herself, then suddenly darted forward—with lightning speed—planting a kiss on Lu Luozhu’s cheek.

Smack!

It was less of a kiss and more of a nibble.

Caught off guard, Lu Luozhu—

She had expected Qi Zi to refuse.

Instead, the omega didn’t refuse. On the contrary, she pressed Lu Luozhu against the fig tree behind her with more fervor than anyone could have anticipated.

The alpha’s leather jacket snagged against the rough bark of the tree. Lu Luozhu’s ever-smiling eyes now flickered with confusion.

Wait—?

This wasn’t how she had imagined it would go.

Shouldn’t Qi Zi have turned away with a bored expression?

Why had she kissed her instead?

Before Lu Luozhu could even begin to process it, her cheek was lightly bitten again.

From her cheek to the corner of her lips, Lu Luozhu felt as if she were being gnawed on by a ravenous little fox.

If she had some dried fish on hand, the little fox would surely burrow into her palm, nuzzling for more.

But the alpha had no dried fish, so the little fox had to settle for nibbling on her face.

“Hey! Hey, wait—there are cameras behind us!”

With nowhere to retreat, Lu Luozhu’s struggles caused the fig branches above to shake, and a ripe fruit plummeted onto her head.

“Ow!” Lu Luozhu yelped.

The omega showed no signs of stopping.

Deeply dissatisfied with Lu Luozhu’s attempts to evade her, she pinned the alpha’s shoulders firmly, her tongue slipping between Lu Luozhu’s lips to conquer and explore.

She wanted to know all of Lu Luozhu’s secrets—

Her little bamboo, her most beloved girl, the bravest alpha who would shield her in her arms and risk burns to rescue her from a fire.

Qi Zi wanted to know everything about her alpha.

Every last bit of her filled Qi Zi with boundless curiosity.

The continuous kisses left Lu Luozhu utterly dazed. Only when she tasted the faint sweetness of figs in her mouth did she realize Qi Zi had long finished eating the ripe fig she’d pressed into her hand.

Lu Luozhu: “…”

She resembled a tattered doll after rough handling—her lips bitten crimson, nearly bleeding, cheeks glistening with sticky saliva.

Qi Zi produced a handkerchief scented with pear blossom pheromones and wiped her face.

“I kissed you ten times. You owe me ten secrets now.”

The unreasonable actress-teacher nodded emphatically, gazing at her with sparkling eyes—more like a little white fox in a snowfield, eagerly awaiting fish treats.

The rough wiping left Lu Luozhu looking like a pitiful soul ravaged by some heartless woman.

Lu Luozhu: “.”

People really do laugh when speechless.

Suddenly, Lu Luozhu lowered her head and chuckled.

How amusing. How utterly unexpected. Her wife was too adorable.

Having never experienced romance before, Lu Luozhu rarely understood love’s benefits. Most of her time with Qi Zi had been spent in service-oriented professionalism. Yet certain emotions had fermented through their daily interactions, now flooding her heart with warmth.

The omega’s rare initiative was met with alpha’s insincerity.

Lu Luozhu: “My apologies—I lied earlier.”

Qi Zi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“What?!”

Lu Luozhu: “Just teasing you. I’ve no secrets to share.”

The alpha’s silver tongue wrought mischief again, masterfully twisting truths.

Struck by fury, Qi Zi stood frozen—her mouth still tingling from Lu Luozhu’s tongue.

…Deceived?

The pitiful omega remained rooted as the alpha climbed back up the ladder, a new plastic bucket hanging from her neck, methodically collecting perfectly ripe figs.

Two hands steadied the ladder beneath Lu Luozhu.

Even after being tricked, she still held it dutifully.

Was her actress-teacher foolish or simply naive?

Didn’t she fear being swindled out of everything?

Qi Zi stood on tiptoe, struggling to receive the lowered bucket.

Prolonged silence made her shoulders slump.

Whatever. She knew Lu Luozhu’s nature.

In Qi Zi’s private thoughts, the alpha had always been wicked, hypocritical, capricious—as if embodying every dark human trait.

She flung these accusations without remorse.

Kicking a pebble in frustration, Qi Zi barely registered the soft chuckle from above until words followed:

“Ten secrets are impossible… but I’ll share one unimportant truth.”

Qi Zi’s dimmed eyes instantly brightened.

Perched high on the ladder against azure skies and cotton candy clouds, Lu Luozhu’s sharp jawline and long lashes cast delicate shadows downward.

“The person you knew before isn’t me. I’m more sincere. More genuine. And far more devoted… to my cushy job of mooching off you.”

Qi Zi’s pupils contracted. She didn’t understand what Luozhu meant—how could the person she knew before be different now?

Did Luozhu even comprehend her own words?

If these words hadn’t come from Luozhu’s mouth, Qi Zi would have thought she was dealing with some delusional scammer.

In the distance, the cameras remained operational.

Inside the Baby Go Forward! livestream:

“I even thought Luozhu might perform to earn some money, but I never expected this freeloader to go fruit-picking in an orchard.”

“How did Luozhu know there was a fig plantation here? I couldn’t find any info about it on the map.”

“Luozhu’s resume doesn’t show any study-abroad experience. Her university was one of those ‘pay-to-attend’ places—she probably never even learned the local language.”

“As someone studying abroad here, I can confirm Luozhu’s accent is flawless. I’ve been here two years and still can’t speak as naturally as she does.”

“Everyone else is spending money on ingredients, while Luozhu’s out here grinding with manual labor, lol.”

“Wait, did I just see the count move? Or was that my imagination?”

“Can the crew not move the cameras closer?!?!”

“Meanwhile, Ningning’s already collected over a dozen plastic bottles, and Luozhu’s sweating away in the fields. What kind of bizarre family genes do you people have?”

The livestream chat scrolled rapidly.

Even those who disliked Luozhu found themselves at a loss for insults when faced with her relentless hard work.

What kind of freeloading “caged canary” labored diligently under the scorching sun?

If Luozhu really had special treatment or shady backing, why would she be assigned backbreaking labor?

Some wanted to mock her for being delicate, but the sight of basket after basket of freshly picked figs silenced them—Luozhu was nothing short of an emotionless fig-harvesting machine.

……

Ningning dragged a large burlap sack, rummaging through trash bins. Her gloved little hands fished out a plastic water bottle and stuffed it into the bag.

Yay, another bottle! Mama’s gonna praise me for sure~

An Song returned from the local market with a bag of mussels in one hand and a bottle of white wine in the other, while little Molly carried a hefty sack of local shallots.

As the pair stumbled along, they spotted Ningning huffing and puffing while collecting trash.

An Song: “…”

It was hard to believe this was Qi Zi’s child.

Other celebrities treated their kids like priceless treasures—shipping them off to elite international schools, dressing them in luxury, and indulging them in extravagant lifestyles.

But Ningning? Whether at home or abroad, her mission remained unchanged: collecting bottles.

An Song couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop picking up trash, it’s filthy. I’ll take you for some pastries.”

Ningning wore a designer children’s outfit, her hands clad in cheap white knit gloves, her cheeks flushed from the sun.

“Mama doesn’t have any money. If Mother kicks her out someday, Ningning can lend Mama her savings.”

An Song hesitated, then sighed. “…Well, with Luozhu’s sharp tongue, getting kicked out is inevitable anyway.”

Amid the crowd nearby, a camera shutter clicked—capturing Ningning’s profile in a snapshot.

A figure in an oversized hat and plain clothes swiftly tucked the camera away before shoving through the crowd—

The man stood with his hands in his pockets, his hawk-like gaze fixed on little Ningning.

An Song noticed the sudden appearance of the stranger and instinctively shielded her younger sister and Ningning behind her.

Perhaps due to professional instincts, she was highly sensitive to the gazes of those around her—whether they were friendly or not, she could tell at a glance.

“What’s going on? Is the production crew just sitting around doing nothing?”

An Song pressed her lips together, her beautiful face tense as she scanned their surroundings warily.

As the reckless stranger strode toward them, her guard shot up to its highest level, her eyes locked onto the man’s hands still tucked in his pockets.

A robbery?

Her mind raced through the worst-case scenarios, praying it wasn’t what she feared.

Though she had thought of many possibilities, only two seconds had passed—hardly enough time to flee. The black-clad man strode past, his arm colliding with Ningning, sending the small child stumbling before she pitifully tumbled to the ground.

“Ah—!”

He hadn’t bumped into any of the adults, nor had he touched Xiao Moli.

It was as if he had targeted Ningning specifically.

The poor girl lay sprawled on the ground, but in the next instant, her collar was yanked up, lifting her effortlessly back onto her feet.

A distinctly masculine hand, scarred and rough, had seized Ningning by the collar.

His fingers seemed to brush—almost imperceptibly—against a few strands of her hair.

In the blink of an eye, the black-clad figure vanished into the crowd.

He hadn’t drawn any weapon from his pocket, nor had he acted aggressively—it was as if he had merely been walking briskly, accidentally knocked into a child, and then kindly helped her back up.

An Song didn’t dare relax. She immediately crouched down to check on Ningning.

“Are you okay?”

Ningning, who had a few strands of hair plucked from the back of her head, shook her head in confusion. “I’m fine!”

Compared to being suddenly knocked over, Ningning was far more concerned about the plastic bottles scattered across the ground.

Each one was the fruit of her hard work!

In this country, plastic bottles could be recycled in special machines, each worth varying amounts. This large bag of bottles was equivalent to a local’s daily wage.

Ningning toddled over to the recycling machine, her eyes sparkling like a triumphant little tabby cat that had just caught its prey.

Meanwhile, Lu Luozhu had successfully traded her labor and a dozen baskets of fresh figs for a freshly baked cod pie from Mrs. Grossberg, along with wages far exceeding the local hourly rate.

Before leaving, Lu Luozhu stood at the doorway with the cod pie in hand, turning back to smile at Mrs. Grossberg.

“Madam, you should get your lungs checked. I noticed something off about your breathing.”

Lu Luozhu was bluffing—before her transmigration, Mrs. Grossberg had been hospitalized for a long time due to lung issues.

Mrs. Grossberg gasped in surprise.

“Oh my! How did you know about my lung problems? Are you a doctor? You must be a truly remarkable one!”

Lu Luozhu didn’t deny the woman’s assumption.

“Your orchard is wonderful. I hope you find the right workers—your figs are the best in the entire strait region.”

Before departing, Lu Luozhu stuffed her pockets full of figs.

Mrs. Grossberg escorted her to the gate, watching until she boarded the car before turning back toward her stone manor.

Lu Luozhu gazed at the estate, envisioning the iron fences overgrown with weeds now covered in trumpet vines and roses.

This would be her new home.

Just as she got into the car, Lu Luozhu felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

Who could be messaging her at this hour? she thought bitterly. Maybe it was Mr. Xu mocking her for the stocks she just bought going up.

Opening the chat, a name she least wanted to see appeared in the message box.

Adoptive Mother: Ningning isn’t getting any younger. Bring her home for your father and me to see.

Lu Luozhu left it on read and slipped her phone back into her pocket.

She asked herself—her relationship with the Lu family wasn’t close enough for her adoptive parents to lovingly care about Ningning’s upbringing.

But without a doubt, Ningning was Lu Luozhu and Qi Zi’s weakness.

Her phone kept vibrating, but Lu Luozhu ignored the incessant notifications, focusing instead on the figs in her pocket.

She split one open with her fingers, picked out a tiny bug, and held the sweetest part up to Qi Zi’s lips.

“Ah~”

The honeyed fig touched Qi Zi’s lips, and she instinctively licked it, tasting the sweetness before taking a bite. Her teeth grazed Lu Luozhu’s fingers ever so slightly.

“More.”

……

The car stopped in the city center.

Lu Luozhu carried a still-warm cod pie and joined the other guests from the show.

She was the last to arrive, and the long table was already set with dishes for the evening.

Just as everyone assumed Lu Luozhu had failed her task, a golden, flaky cod pie, rich with the aroma of seafood and melted cheese, was placed on the table.

An Song stared at the bits of grass stuck to Lu Luozhu’s clothes. “Did you go do manual labor?”

Lu Luozhu: “No, just the usual selling myself. Today’s work was a bit tiring, but the pay was good.”

An Song: ?

Everyone: !!!!!

Do you even hear yourself?!

Qian Qianqian, sitting beside the director, buried her face in her hands. The director shot her a look.

“Lu Luozhu is always like this. As her manager, aren’t you going to rein her in?”

Qian Qianqian’s eyes lost all hope for a peaceful life. “She’s always been like this.”

Lu Luozhu diced the figs and dropped them into a prepared local dessert wine.

The ice cubes clinked against the glass bottle with crisp, tinkling sounds.

The room fell silent, but Lu Luozhu seemed oblivious to the implications of what she’d just said.

“In this world, you’re either a beast of burden or livestock. I just happen to be both.”

The host’s hand trembled slightly around the microphone. “?”

In the live chat for Baby Go Forward:

“Damn, sis, crude but not wrong—though that was really crude.”

“LMAO, I wonder if Qi Zi’s watching this. Your little songbird has some self-awareness.”

“If I hadn’t just seen you picking figs, I’d actually believe your nonsense.”

“I don’t get what Lu Luozhu’s saying, blah blah blah, but her lips are so red, blah blah blah.”

“Girl above me spitting facts—how are Lu Luozhu’s lips that red? Can’t be from a bee sting, right?”

“Disgraceful alpha woman! Let me punish you with a kiss.”

Lu Luozhu’s movements were deft as she steeped figs in liquor. After processing all the figs, she sealed the glass wine jar with its airtight lid.

Noticing the bewildered stares from those around her, she felt rather perplexed.

Lu Luozhu: “Wait, why are you all wearing—”

Only then did she realize that everyone else was dressed in European courtly attire.

Lu Luozhu alone wore a light brown leather jacket over a crisp linen shirt, paired with ankle boots—looking like a country bumpkin who had stumbled into a ladies’ social gathering.

Lu Luozhu: “My apologies for being late. I’ll go change right away.”

The host privately explained the rules of tonight’s costume banquet to Lu Luozhu: everyone was to dress in opulent 200-year-old courtly fashion and find a dance partner. Those who failed would face a special penalty.

With three parents and three children, theoretically, everyone should have been able to find a partner.

But it wasn’t that simple—one of the children had to serve as the judge.

Lu Luozhu entered the dressing room and searched through the racks for an extravagant historical gown.

Each dress had at least six or seven layers, designed to create a floating effect. Beneath the silk lining were multiple layers of sheer tulle in varying textures, ensuring that when running or lifting the hem, the skirt would billow like clouds.

Her fingers trailed over the expensive gowns before finally settling on a deep green dress.

Its conservative cut was unlike the styles favored by noblewomen of the time. Instead of exposing flawless décolletage—as was the fashion—it featured a high-neck design, adorned with a lace trim that accentuated her poised posture.

Once worn, she resembled a strict governess—

The kind who might strike a student’s palm with the bamboo cane tucked at her waist if they neglected their studies.

Times were tough—alphas had to rely on their looks.

Before the camera, Lu Luozhu tightened her corset. As the ribbons pulled taut, her toned, well-trained waistline was perfectly displayed on the live broadcast.

The next second, a hand covered the lens, plunging the screen into darkness.

The cameraman was about to protest when he saw Qi Zi standing there in a lace gown.

Not just an investor, but also the renowned actress and mentor—

The cameraman wisely turned to shoot empty scenery instead.

Unlike the guests’ flamboyant attire, Qi Zi wore only a silk-and-lace nightgown resembling a long sleep dress. The puff sleeves draped elegantly, and the square neckline exposed the pearl necklace around her throat.

A tightly covered, strict governess—and her youthful noble student.

Lu Luozhu’s gloved fingers brushed over the bamboo cane, as if contemplating how best to discipline her charge.

Noticing the newcomer, the governess lifted her skirt with perfect etiquette and approached the beautiful noble lady.

With restrained grace, she raised the lady’s hand and pressed a flawless kiss to her diamond ring.

“My dear lady, good evening.”

The omega’s breath hitched slightly.

Lu Luozhu hadn’t kissed her fingers—her lips had landed precisely on the ring’s surface.

Who could say if she was being proper or audacious?

In the next second, the alpha magically produced a white rose with layered petals from behind her back.

She reached up and tucked the white rose into the noble young lady’s hair, her white nightgown fluttering gently.

Along with the white rose, a silver engraved mask was handed to the omega.

The cool mask rested in her palm, leaving the omega momentarily dazed.

She had come on a whim to show the alpha her newly purchased dress, with no intention of joining the game.

What was her status? Getting her to participate would require a different price altogether.

The award-winning actress didn’t come cheap.

But now… Qi Zi felt perhaps she should indulge Lu Luozhu this once.

“My apologies, miss, but I must excuse myself for a moment,” the alpha pushed open the heavy carved door, smooth-tongued as ever: “I’m not interested in games. If you don’t mind, you could invite me for a dance later. I’d be delighted to have a private rendezvous with you.”

A private rendezvous… how improper.

Left alone in the empty dressing room, Qi Zi touched the white rose nestled in her hair.

“Where did she learn such old-fashioned courting methods…”