"The Alpha Who Abandoned Love—And Got a Second Chance" - Chapter 2

Lin Xi had only graduated from university less than half a year ago—just twenty-three years old.
So, when the little girl suddenly called her “Mommy,” it caught her completely off guard.
But the tiny thing in front of her was just too adorable. Lin Xi couldn’t help but reach out and gently touch her chubby cheeks—soft, smooth, and impossibly tender.
“Sweetie, you shouldn’t call just anyone ‘Mommy’ like that,” Lin Xi withdrew her hand, purposefully putting on a stern face. “What if you ran into a bad person?”
“But…” The little girl’s lips quivered with a hint of grievance, and her voice softened to a murmur. “You are my mommy.”
Lin Xi couldn’t help but laugh.
That small, pitiful expression on such a young child’s face—no older than six or seven—combined with her serious yet aggrieved declaration, “You are my mommy,” completely melted Lin Xi’s heart.
She had to admit it—this little bun with her hair in a topknot was unbearably cute.
But wait… shouldn’t a child her age still be in kindergarten? How did security even let her into this place?
The little girl blinked, lips slightly pouting, her bright almond-shaped eyes carefully sneaking glances at Lin Xi.
Lin Xi nodded at her and asked, “Who brought you here?”
No matter who it was, bringing a minor into a place like this smoky bar was completely irresponsible—no parent should ever do that.
The little girl blinked again, her baby voice soft and sweet. “Mommy Lin, it was you who said you’d take Chengcheng out for ice cream.”
Mommy Lin?
What kind of odd title was that?
Chengcheng…
That name sounded oddly familiar. Chengcheng…
Suddenly, it clicked.
Wasn’t that the nickname of Chu Muqing’s daughter? Her full name was Chu Zhi, but everyone called her Chengcheng.
Could it be…?
Lin Xi’s breath hitched.
This little girl—was she the same child who, in the original timeline, had been tricked by the original Lin Xi and drowned in a frozen lake?
So, it was the original Lin Xi who had brought the child here?
“Miss Lin, you really are something else.” A woman beside her chuckled, red lips curled in amusement, her eyes hazy with drink. She turned and patted Lin Xi on the shoulder.
Lin Xi frowned slightly. “Hmm?”
The woman’s lips curled into a teasing smile. Pointing toward the little girl, she sighed softly. “To think you’d actually go so far as to marry Chu Muqing—a single mom Omega—just for a bet. That’s dedication.”
Lin Xi blinked. “A bet?”
The woman gave her a puzzled look. “You’re drunk? Doesn’t seem like you had that much to drink.”
Lin Xi played along, rubbing her temples. “I guess… I can’t quite remember…”
“Well, since you don’t remember…” the woman leaned in closer, cradling her wine glass as she whispered suggestively, “Then… did you forget I’m your wife?”
Lin Xi: “…”
She tilted her head away, dodging the woman’s breathy flirtation, and muttered, half-laughing, “Get lost.”
The woman burst out laughing. “So, you haven’t lost your memory!”
But then her expression grew slightly serious. “Hey… you and Chu Muqing—you’re not actually planning to make this fake marriage real, are you?”
Just a month ago, Lin Xi had been driving past an elite international kindergarten with a few of her rich, spoiled friends. She didn’t know why, but she’d suddenly slowed the car.
And then, right in front of the school gates, she’d stopped completely.
Through the window, she spotted a graceful woman walking out of the school—hand in hand with a little girl in a princess dress.
Lin Xi’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she watched the pair.
Her friends caught on immediately and chuckled.
“Isn’t that Chu Muqing? The daughter that got kicked out of the Chu family?”
“I heard her second uncle used his connections to get her fired from that media job.”
“Wait—Chu Muqing? The Omega who had a kid before marriage?”
“Unwed mother?”
“Yep, that’s her. Her kid looks six or seven, but Chu Muqing’s only twenty-three now, right?”
“Holy crap, she had a baby at sixteen?”
“Hahaha, what a wild Omega. I like her!”
“Like her all you want, she won’t give you the time of day. She still acts like royalty, even without the Chu family backing her.”
“What’s she got to be so uppity about? Anyway, if Lin Xi’s interested, I’m out of the running.”
Lin Xi was interested—but not in that way. Her “interest” was purely for entertainment.
“You guys wanna bet I can win her over in a month?” Lin Xi had said, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Her friends blinked. “What?”
Lin Xi smirked. “Let’s make a wager.”
“Fine! What’s the bet?”
“If I get her, each of you owes me a yacht.”
Her friends balked. “That’s too easy! You’re Lin Xi—the third daughter of the Lin family. What Omega could resist you?”
Lin Xi sneered. “Then what do you suggest?”
One friend said slyly, “You can’t use your identity. Pretend to be broke. Poor as dirt. How about that?”
It was a tougher challenge, but Lin Xi had already made her bold claim. To save face, she agreed.
She ground her teeth and said, “Fine. Get those yachts ready.”
—
She knew exactly what kind of person the original Lin Xi had been. But Lin Xi’s recent behavior had made her harder to read.
“I’m heading back,” Lin Xi suddenly said, rising to her feet.
“Back?” the woman stepped closer, deliberately lowering her voice. “Back to your place? With Chu Muqing? Don’t tell me you’re not divorcing her? Wasn’t this all just a game? Wang Zhihe and the others already prepared the yachts they owe you…”
The barrage of questions made Lin Xi’s head spin. After a moment, she replied quietly, “Before, I didn’t have a choice. Now… I want to be a better person.”
“…”
The woman sighed, exasperated. “Don’t get too deep. Chu Muqing’s life is a mess. Her uncle won’t let her live in peace, her grandma always favored others, and her so-called sister is no saint either…”
Lin Xi nodded. “Thanks for the warning.”
She turned to retrieve the suit jacket draped over the back of her chair.
The woman watched her movements—elegant and composed—then looked at her face and clicked her tongue.
Lin Xi was pale and beautiful. Without fastening the buttons, her tailored dark suit hung loosely over a striking red dress. If she added a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, she’d have that perfect “refined scoundrel” look.
Lin Xi lowered her gaze and extended a hand to the little girl. “Sweetie.”
Chengcheng beamed and immediately grabbed her index finger. “Mommy Lin, can we get ice cream now?”
Lin Xi smiled down at her. “Sure. Do you know where to get the best ice cream?”
The little girl pouted. “Mommy said I’m not allowed to have any…”
Lin Xi raised an eyebrow. Looks like Chu Muqing was pretty strict.
She crouched slightly and looked the girl in the eyes, then leaned in conspiratorially. “Then let’s go secretly, and not tell Mommy. Deal?”
The little girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She grinned wide and nodded. “Mm-hmm!”
“Pinky promise,” she said, sticking out her little finger.
Lin Xi mimicked her, hooked pinkies, and stamped it.
“All set.” Lin Xi smiled. “You’re too cute.”
The woman watched their exchange with a strange expression—almost like witnessing a heartwarming mother-daughter scene.
“…Seriously?” the woman muttered. “Lin Xi? Miss Lin? Aren’t you going to change clothes?”
Lin Xi paused. “Change?”
“How much did you drink…?” the woman mumbled.
Lin Xi hesitated. “My head… really is spinning…”
The woman sighed. “Alright, come on.”
She led them to a private room on the third floor of the bar.
She tried the door but it was locked. “Open it.”
“Me?” Lin Xi asked.
“Who else? My old man would never let me keep a private room here,” the woman huffed.
Sure enough, Lin Xi found a key in her jacket pocket.
The moment the door opened, Lin Xi froze.
Clothes lay scattered on the couch—casual, cheap ones, completely different from her luxury outfit.
She stood in the doorway, unmoving.
So… the original Lin Xi had been pretending to be an average person in front of Chu Muqing?
With all the clues now—“the bet,” “the yachts,” “a marriage game”—everything began to form a blurry but damning truth.
She stepped inside alone, asking the woman to wait outside with the child.
With a soft “click,” the door shut.
Lin Xi drew the curtains, then stared at the clothes: a white shirt, jeans, sneakers.
Yep. Pretty casual.
Fitting for the identity the original Lin Xi had crafted.
She changed quickly, then checked herself in the mirror. The face was still hers—but clearly better cared for. Smooth, flawless skin. Delicate features.
After neatly folding her red dress and jacket, she stepped outside.
The woman barely reacted, but Chengcheng looked her over and chirped, “Mommy Lin, you looked prettier in the red dress.”
Lin Xi: “…”
Clearing her throat, she extended a finger again. “Come on. Let’s get that ice cream.”
The little girl obediently latched on.
At the elevator, Lin Xi pressed “1.”
The woman smirked behind her. “Does Chu Muqing know you brought her daughter to a nightclub?”
Lin Xi: “…”
Panic surged.
She probably didn’t… right?
Ding—
The elevator arrived.
At that exact moment, Lin Xi’s phone rang.
She glanced down.
The caller ID read: Chu Muqing.
She hesitated, then answered.
Before she could speak, Chu Muqing’s anxious voice came through:
“Where are you? The teacher said you picked Chengcheng up. Lin Xi—what do you think you’re doing?”
The sharp question made Lin Xi falter. “I… I’m outside, I…”
Chu Muqing cut her off coldly:
“Location. Now.”