Stepmom Alpha’s Guide to Raising Kids - Chapter 56

Before Lu Luozhu could even take in the scene before her upon entering the room, a white towel was thrown over her head.

Everything went dark.

Lu Luozhu was almost amused by the absurdity of the situation.

She reached up to pull the towel off her head, her neatly arranged hair now a tousled mess.

Qi Zi seemed both domineering and fond of ordering people around, yet it was impossible to refuse her.

“Alright, please have a seat, Madam. I’ll go get the hairdryer,” Lu Luozhu said with impeccable service—after all, serving others was her livelihood.

The alpha was self-aware. With no money in her pocket, she knew she had to obey orders dutifully.

Lu Luozhu returned with the hairdryer, first blowing warm air onto the cold towel until it was slightly heated before draping the soft white fabric over Qi Zi’s head.

Her movements were meticulous—first drying the roots until they were half-damp, then working her way down to the ends.

As she dried, she used a cushioned brush to smooth out Qi Zi’s unruly strands.

Qi Zi stole glances at Lu Luozhu’s expression. Seeing her work diligently, the tension in her brow softened.

Would Lu Luozhu think she was difficult to please?

Qi Zi grumbled inwardly.

“The cookies weren’t bad. You’ve got some skill.”

“Thank you for the praise, Madam.”

Qi Zi had just transferred the deed of the family estate to Lu Luozhu’s name—she really ought to put in more effort.

Suddenly, the pressure on her scalp intensified. The actress’s head wobbled midair, her voice even trembling slightly.

“You—!”

Just as Qi Zi was about to flare up, the pressure vanished, replaced by a blast of warm air from the hairdryer.

Lu Luozhu’s long, deft fingers grazed her scalp, and Qi Zi’s pupils contracted abruptly.

Her usually cool eyes now held a trace of bewilderment and helplessness.

So soothing… so tingling… If only it could last forever.

A soft whimper escaped Qi Zi’s throat, but before she could fully indulge in the pleasure, the touch disappeared.

Lu Luozhu’s fingers slid down to her shoulders, Qi Zi’s silky strands clinging to her knuckles as if reluctant to let go.

“Your hair’s done.”

Lu Luozhu methodically coiled the hairdryer’s cord, securing it with a tie before turning to return to the bathroom—as if the soul-stirring tingles Qi Zi had just experienced were nothing but her own wishful delusion.

How infuriating, Qi Zi thought.

The alpha knew exactly how to make her feel good, yet she played hard to get…

Unaware of Qi Zi’s inner turmoil, Lu Luozhu emerged from the bathroom. “Please move to the bed, Madam. I’ll mark you now.”

The little canary was clocking in for work.

Qi Zi remained rooted to the spot.

“Fine, if you don’t want the bed, the couch will do.”

Lu Luozhu always respected her patron’s preferences. “It’s been a while since the last mark, so it might hurt a little. Please bear with it.”

Committing such audacious acts while speaking with such politeness—

Qi Zi gritted her teeth, her ears tinged red, her gaze dropping awkwardly to her well-manicured fingers.

Lu Luozhu’s hand rested on Qi Zi’s shoulder, and a sharp pain pierced the back of her neck.

Qi Zi muffled a cry: “Mmm—!”

It hurt.

The sharp canines pierced delicate skin as Qi Zi gripped Lu Luozhu’s waist tightly, pressing her sweat-beaded forehead against Lu Luozhu’s chest.

The poor omega emitted a rich, trembling fragrance of pear blossoms, sweeter than any carefully baked cookie.

The alpha’s mouth filled with the omega’s pheromones, and she narrowed her eyes in pleasure.

As her throat moved in a swallow, Lu Luozhu drank down all the glandular fluid from the once plump and swollen gland.

Was it just an illusion? The glandular fluid didn’t seem as sweet as her wife’s pheromones.

“Don’t be nervous, my dear.”

Nothing had even started yet—why was she already trembling in fear?

Was her technique really that bad?

“Enough. Don’t call me ‘my dear.’ Call me by my name.”

Qi Zi glared fiercely at Lu Luozhu, her eyes red-rimmed and glistening with tears, making her look all the more enchanting.

Suddenly, Qi Zi was lifted into the air. As her body left the ground, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Lu Luozhu’s neck.

She was then placed gently onto the soft bed.

The alpha, still wearing a pink bow-tied apron, used her teeth to undo the bathrobe wrapped around Qi Zi’s body.

The loose robe draped over her beautiful figure, still warm from her recent bath.

Qi Zi turned her head away, unable to watch what would happen next in the brightly lit room.

Yet, at the same time, a faint anticipation stirred in her heart.

It had been far too long since she had received the comfort of an alpha’s pheromones.

A simple temporary mark was nowhere near enough.

What a greedy body.

Frustrated with herself, Qi Zi thought that if only she were a beta, she wouldn’t lose control under an alpha’s pheromones.

Her fair skin flushed pink as Lu Luozhu kissed her stomach.

“Qi Zi,” Lu Luozhu’s amused voice came from above her, “don’t act like I’m forcing myself on you. If someone were to walk in now, they’d probably call the police on me.”

Lu Luozhu was nearly laughing at Qi Zi’s reaction.

So pitiful.

A twinge of guilt rose in her heart.

Pitiful yet delicious—she wanted nothing more than to devour her whole.

Lu Luozhu was savoring her delicious meal, having used mint-flavored mouthwash in the bathroom.

She hoped her boss would like the taste of mint.

Outside the window, roses swayed gently. The manor was quiet at night, the hallway empty, with only the wind chimes hanging by the window tinkling softly.

Then, a sudden knock came at the door.

Lu Luozhu wiped her lips with a napkin, frowning in displeasure as she glanced toward the door. Seizing the opportunity, Qi Zi flushed and pulled the blanket over her head, pretending to be a cocooned silkworm.

“Go answer the door.”

The omega, quick to discard her after use, kicked Lu Luozhu squarely in the tailbone.

Lu Luozhu tumbled off the bed in a rather undignified manner.

She chuckled helplessly. “No wonder people in the industry say you’re cold-hearted. I used to think it was just slander, but it seems they were being generous.”

No response came from under the blanket—only another foot kicking her further away.

Sticky and flustered, Qi Zi curled up under the covers, trying to make herself as small as possible. A pale hand emerged from the blanket and pressed the bedside switch firmly, plunging the room into complete darkness.

The production crew member tentatively knocked on the door.

“Hello, is Lu Luozhu here?”

After several unanswered knocks, the staff member grew puzzled. “The agent said Lu Luozhu was in this room. Did I get the wrong one?”

The door opened to reveal Lu Luozhu leaning lazily against the frame, her pheromones overwhelmingly thick.

Fortunately, the staff member was a beta and couldn’t detect the scent—otherwise, they would’ve been sent straight into heat.

“What is it?”

“Oh, well…” The young staffer, flustered under Lu Luozhu’s striking beauty, lowered her head, her ears turning red.

“Ningning is throwing a tantrum, refusing to sleep without her mom…”

The child had been wailing for hours, and the agent had no choice but to send someone to fetch Lu Luozhu.

Lu Luozhu: “Ningning is already three. It’s time she learns independence.”

Staff member: ?

Who’s ever heard of a three-year-old needing independence?

Stepmother behavior, for sure.

Having delivered the message and seeing no sign of Lu Luozhu leaving, the staffer quickly excused herself.

Buried under the blankets like a cocoon, Qi Zi overheard the conversation and slowly emerged.

“Get lost already. I don’t need you here anymore.”

The white cocoon wriggled, and a luxury-brand necklace box tumbled out.

“Your reward. Now kneel and scram.”

Lu Luozhu: “Tonight’s service isn’t finished. Shouldn’t we continue?”

A dark fire flickered in the alpha’s eyes—one she hadn’t even noticed herself.

Her temples throbbed faintly, likely from how tightly Qi Zi had clamped her legs earlier.

So much strength.

“No. The child comes first.”

Funny how the child suddenly mattered now, when she’d been perfectly fine dumping her off earlier.

Lu Luozhu didn’t call out the excuse. “Alright. Goodnight. Get some rest.”

“Wait—”

Qi Zi’s voice suddenly called from behind. Lu Luozhu paused, halfway through gathering her clothes, as the white cocoon rolled slightly.

“Do you have any… mate preferences?”

“I don’t follow. Aren’t you already my wife? Or am I yours?”

The cocoon rolled again. “I meant your ideal type… Never mind. Just go.”

Only after the door locked did Qi Zi finally peek out from the blankets.

Finally gone. The omega exhaled quietly in relief. Who the hell used their teeth during that kind of thing?!

Beast!

An absolute beast.

Too sore to move, Qi Zi buried her face in the pillow, as if trying to suffocate herself.

She knew Lu Luozhu’s ideal type probably wasn’t her, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Yet the thought of Lu Luozhu being intimate with another omega filled her with an inexplicable frustration and resentment.

They were a perfect match.

They should stay together forever.

No matter who Lu Luozhu might fancy, Qi Zi was still the wealthiest option available.

Feeling insecure, the omega fished out her phone from under the pillow, squinting as she opened Weibo and checked in at their CP fan page.

Meanwhile, in the Baby Go Forward livestream…

“I’m dying of laughter. Everyone else is taking good care of their kids, but where on earth is Lu Luozhu?”

“Wuwu, my Ningning cried herself hoarse.”

“A stepmom like Lu Luozhu clearly doesn’t know how to take care of a child. I really don’t understand why Qi Zi married her—why not me instead?”

“Wow, someone’s showing their true colors here.”

“Damn, Lu Luozhu’s here.”

“Wait, what’s that on her neck? A hickey??”

“Could it just be mosquito season? Are people not allowed to have allergic reactions to bug bites now?”

“Go sit at the kids’ table, commenter above.”

“Doesn’t look like a hickey—more like a scratch mark.”

“Guess for free: Who would scratch Lu Luozhu’s neck?”

Lu Luozhu’s neck itched a little, so she absentmindedly scratched it.

Ningning caught a whiff of her mother’s scent and immediately scrambled up from the bed—

Her tiny legs wobbled as she rushed into Lu Luozhu’s arms.

“Mommy, mommy, waaah!”

The cameraman at the door faithfully captured everything.

Without hesitation, Lu Luozhu shut the door, cutting off the camera’s prying gaze. She had no interest in a 24/7 livestream.

She only provided 24/7 services to Qi Zi.

As for what the audience thought? That wasn’t within the golden canary’s consideration.

Ningning, who couldn’t bear to be apart from her mother, burrowed into Lu Luozhu’s arms and yawned, her eyes red and swollen from crying—looking a bit like Qi Zi.

“I thought Mommy didn’t want me anymore, waaah QAQ”

“Mommy is the best mommy. Mommy and Mama will only ever have Ningning as their baby, right? Waaah QAQ”

Ningning sniffled, trying hard to hold back her tears upon seeing Lu Luozhu. Her teacher had said parents don’t like kids who cry all the time.

But Ningning really missed Mommy and Mama.

Ningning knew Mama had to work to earn money, so they couldn’t see each other often. That’s why Ningning tried to hold back her longing.

Children are naturally sensitive to unfamiliar environments. In this foreign country, surrounded by unfamiliar sights, Ningning was just like any other kid—scared and clingy.

Lu Luozhu suspected both Qi Zi and Ningning had separation anxiety.

“I didn’t abandon you. Your Mama will only ever have you as her child.”

Ningning clung to Lu Luozhu like a little octopus, breathing in her mother’s unique scent. Huh? Odd—Ningning also caught a trace of Mama’s smell on Mommy.

How could Mama be here??

Ningning’s tiny brain couldn’t figure it out.

But that didn’t stop her from hugging Mommy even tighter.

Lu Luozhu: “…”

First soothing the grown-up, now the little one.

This kept-alpha was getting a headache.

This kept-alpha wanted a raise.

Lu Luozhu yawned wearily, falling asleep before Ningning did.

For several days, she had participated in the games arranged by the show but hadn’t won any prizes. In her free time, she wandered around the familiar city, completely relaxed.

What a joke—she wasn’t relying on the entertainment industry to make money.

If you’re not slacking off properly, you’re doing it wrong.

On the show’s final day, a phone call shattered Lu Luozhu’s peace.

“Boss, I found the place you were looking for.”

Lu Luozhu wedged the phone between her shoulder and ear, munching on a cream horn.

“Mmm?”

A pigeon swooped in, trying to steal her pastry. Lu Luozhu swatted at it—the bird didn’t flee, but her phone did.

“Boss?”

“Nothing, go ahead.”

The person on the phone provided an address. “I’ve sent it to your email. It’s the site of a fire 17 years ago. Most of the victims were engineers who graduated from prestigious universities or held lecturer or professor positions at top schools. The incident caused quite a stir locally, but for some reason, it was suddenly suppressed. People in the area say the place is haunted, and the feng shui is terrible. The residents nearby avoid it like the plague.”

Lu Luozhu picked up her phone from the ground, dusted it off, and responded softly.

“Got it.”

With that, she hung up and stuffed the phone into her pocket before continuing to munch on her cream horn.

While on the call, Lu Luozhu’s expression had darkened, the faint smile on her face vanishing without a trace. Her pitch-black eyes seemed to hold an unfathomable depth of hatred. But upon closer inspection, the chilling aura she had exuded moments ago felt like an illusion.

Her well-manicured nails and clean, smooth fingers held the phone—not the latest model, encased in a black leather cover that gave it a retro, business-like appearance.

Pigeons cooed around her, while Ningning watched from a distance like a big cat, eyeing the pastry in her hand.

Suddenly, Ningning lunged forward and bit into the other end of the cream horn.

Cat chomp!

Lu Luozhu, who had barely taken two bites, found half of it gone in an instant.

Lu Luozhu: ?

So you managed to dodge the pigeons but not her, huh?

In the Baby Go Forward livestream chat:

“Kinda curious who that freeloader was just calling.”

“Lu Luozhu on the phone finally looked like an alpha for once.”

“LMAO, so she was stripped of her alpha status before?”

“Am I hallucinating, or did a domineering CEO aura just hit me in the face?”

“Dead. A domineering CEO alpha who freeloads?”

“I’m semi-industry-insider—Lu Luozhu isn’t actually poor. Freeloading is more like a side gig.”

Lu Luozhu got up and bought another cream horn.

“Mommy’s the best!”

Little Mingming, with her short legs, reached out eagerly for the pastry, only to find the paper bag never made it into her hands. Ningning’s eyes instantly filled with confusion.

Wait… wasn’t the treat for her?

“I spent my own money on this. Why should I give it to you?” Lu Luozhu’s face regained its infuriating smirk.

“Kid, ever heard of ‘no pain, no gain’? If you grow up thinking you can get things without effort, where will that lead you?”

An Song: ?

Are you even hearing yourself?

Wait—Lu Luozhu, isn’t your version of ‘no pain, no gain’ more like ‘no effort on your part, all gain from Qi Zi’?

Lu Luozhu swayed over to the back of the production team, holding the paper bag of pastries, and handed it to Qi Zi.

“Try it. It’s pretty good.”

“I can’t eat sweets.”

Qi Zi was flipping through post-filming commercial commitments. “Don’t you know I’m adjusting my figure right now?”

Lu Luozhu kept the bag suspended mid-air, not letting go.

The awkward pause drew subtle glances from those around them.

Has the little canary fallen out of favor?

After half a minute, Qi Zi finally reached out and pinched the bag between two fingers.

“Since you insist, leave it here.”

Their fingers secretly tugged at the kraft paper bag, then stealthily placed it on their laps.

“Remember next time, I can’t have desserts—I need to watch my weight.”

After a long pause, Qi Zi added in a whisper, “But having a few pieces occasionally shouldn’t hurt.”

Qian Qianqian covered her face with a sun hat, pretending to be a statue.

She must have been crazy to think Qi Zi would divorce Lu Luozhu.

Was their marriage contract just scrap paper to them?

This is why you should never work with someone lovesick.

Just as Lu Luozhu was about to leave, Qi Zi suddenly called out, “The owner of Unicorn wants to treat you to dinner. All core members of the girl group will be there. Next time… don’t leave Qian Qianqian’s phone number. I’m not interested in your work.”

Was the boss sulking?

Lu Luozhu watched as she nibbled on a cream horn like a hamster, a layer of cream leaving a white mustache on her lips.

Lu Luozhu: “The Unicorn owner probably dialed the wrong number. This was just a one-time thing. Next time I won’t let personal matters disturb our Teacher Qi’s peace. Or should I deduct a month’s salary to appease you?”

So passive-aggressive.

Qi Zi shot her a glare and fell silent.

Sometimes she truly admired Lu Luozhu’s mental fortitude—anyone else would have been crushed by such remarks.

Yet there Lu Luozhu stood, one hand in her pocket, the other holding a finger cookie, tapping it like she was flicking cigarette ash.

Bad mouth, worse brains.

With the overseas filming concluded, Lu Luozhu boarded the return flight. She parted ways with Qi Zi at the airport, rented a car, and headed for the private investigator’s provided address.

Before leaving, Ningning clung to Qi Zi’s hand, rubbing her little face against the back of it.

“Why isn’t Mommy coming back with us?”

Qi Zi raised an eyebrow: “Your mommy’s going drinking with pretty little sisters.”

Lu Luozhu: “?”

“I have work to handle.”

The alpha’s explanation was feeble, and the high-maintenance omega turned away without another word.

Lu Luozhu: “…”

She’d nearly forgotten—today was the day of the Unicorn owner’s dinner invitation. Might as well drive over after wrapping things up.

The Unicorn group was wildly popular domestically, and Lu Luozhu, being an early investor, had profited the most.

Naturally, one should be attentive to their cash cow.

Lu Luozhu decided to treat everyone using the card Qi Zi gave her—no need for the owner to foot the bill.

The private investigator’s address led to City C, neither too close nor too far from the capital—a two-hour drive.

Navigating the old town proved troublesome, so Lu Luozhu parked and followed her GPS into an alley.

She expected the place to be hard to find, but upon entering the alley, she immediately spotted it. At the end stood a building with unnaturally charred black walls, all its windows shattered.

Garbage piled at the building’s corner beside a public toilet.

The area seemed long abandoned by locals, tacitly designated for filth.

As Lu Luozhu approached the scorched building, a snack shop owner stopped her.

“Hey hey, you can’t go there.”

The auntie at the entrance could tell Lu Luozhu wasn’t from around here. “That place is bad luck, you hear?”

The woman’s disdain was clearly visible. “Stay away. When you get home, wash yourself with pomelo leaves to cleanse all that bad luck.”

Lu Luozhu stopped in his tracks. “Auntie, why are you still running this shop here?”

At the mention of this, the auntie’s expression immediately darkened. “Ai, what else could we do? Though this place is unlucky, the rent is cheap. My family bought it over twenty years ago when there was construction nearby—business was booming back then.”

Lu Luozhu didn’t continue toward the small building, instead stepping into the auntie’s snack shop and ordering a plate of fried noodles.

“To be honest, I’m an editor looking for inspiration. Could you tell me about that building?”

As she spoke, Lu Luozhu added a bottle of beer to her order.

Seeing her spending money, the auntie’s expression softened considerably. “It’s rare for anyone to find this out-of-the-way corner.”

Lu Luozhu’s phone vibrated on the table. She checked it—a group photo of the girl group members sent by the Unicorn CEO.

All wearing hot shorts and tight crop tops, their legs long, straight, and pale.

She flipped the phone face down on the table.

No matter how pretty their legs were, could they compare to Qi Zi? Lu Luozhu had long since become immune to beautiful legs.