As a Scummy Omega, I Ran Away with the Baby - Chapter 34

When the child she was supposed to take care of suddenly became her biological daughter without warning, Gu Yining couldn’t shake the strangeness of it all.

Of course, it wasn’t that Bai Xia was difficult in any way. On the contrary—she was an exceptionally easy child, so easy that even someone like Gu Yining, with no experience in childcare whatsoever, could handle her alone for an entire day.

As usual, she bathed her, coaxed her to sleep, and stayed by the little bed. But Gu Yining’s heart was in turmoil.

The impact of this single day was overwhelming. Children didn’t understand the conflicts and worries of adults. To Bai Xia, today was simply the day she met her mom, played happily all day long, and even in deep slumber, her lips were curved with a smile.

Gu Yining couldn’t stop her thoughts from spiraling—especially when she looked at Bai Xia.

Looking back now, whether in age, appearance, or little habits, the child bore traces of them both.

She was undeniably their child.

But why had Bai Qingqiu chosen to give birth to her? Gu Yining didn’t dare assume it had anything to do with her. Bai Qingqiu was never the type to have children out of fondness. And hadn’t Bai Xia once mentioned that at home, she slept with her “Auntie,” not with her mother?

Gu Yining didn’t understand Bai Qingqiu’s reasons. But one thing was certain—she had raised Bai Xia wonderfully: bright, cheerful, clever, and considerate. Flaws were nowhere to be found.

Never in her wildest dreams did Gu Yining imagine she would one day become someone else’s mother—let alone with Bai Qingqiu’s child.

She had thought that after their breakup, there would never be a future between them. No matter how hard it was to let go, their paths had split forever. Who could have expected that they actually had a child together? An entanglement, binding them like some fated misfortune.

What she had once longed for most five years ago—a wish she no longer dared even to think of—had come true in such an impossible, miraculous way.

There would be no complete separation between them in this lifetime. Not anymore. Not with Bai Xia.

When morning came, she reopened the livestream. Following the program’s schedule, she filmed a first-impressions interview with Bai Xia, then played building blocks with her at home. The day passed quickly, and soon it was time to part ways. The show always had an end.

Crouched at the doorway, Gu Yining wrapped the small body in her arms. In front of her, cameras crowded in—some streaming live, others recording. Every expression was under scrutiny.

【Don’t cry, don’t cry. Ningning, Mommy loves you.】

【Ningning is so softhearted, tearing up for a child she just met.】

【Isn’t this too much? Crying over a kid she’s only known a few days? Even the child looks like she wants to run away.】

【Ah, the emotional segment.】

【I wish I could switch places with that kid. Who understands.】

Comments flew across the livestream screen, but Gu Yining didn’t look. She only adjusted the straps of Bai Xia’s tiny backpack again.

“Bye-bye, Mommy.” Bai Xia blinked her big eyes, waving her chubby hand, voice tender and milky as she said goodbye.

“Mm, bye-bye.” Gu Yining smiled at her. She didn’t say see you again. With her and Bai Qingqiu’s relationship, the latter might never allow Bai Xia to come on the show again. And that was fair. Five years ago, it had been her decision to let go. Bai Qingqiu wasn’t trying to keep Bai Xia from her.

A mother like her, Bai Xia could live without. She was never part of her life to begin with.

Just three short days together weren’t enough to leave a lasting mark on the child’s heart.

If it came to court, Gu Yining had neither the wealth nor influence to rival Bai Qingqiu. And given Bai Xia’s young age, the law naturally favored the biological mother. She had no evidence of ever raising her these past years. No matter how she thought about it, she would lose.

Custody wasn’t a battle she could win.

Now that her reason had returned, Gu Yining understood this all the more clearly.

Even visitation rights depended on Bai Qingqiu’s will. If she refused, there was nothing Gu Yining could do. It had always been that way—whatever Bai Qingqiu decided, was what would happen.

Not far behind them, out of the spotlight and cameras, stood Aunt Han in plain clothes, waiting quietly. She didn’t look over, just typed on her phone. Gu Yining guessed she was reporting to Bai Qingqiu.

Steeling herself, Gu Yining rose, took Bai Xia’s hand, and walked toward Aunt Han. She hadn’t been gone from the Bai household that long—four, almost five years—but Aunt Han clearly remembered her. When she saw who was bringing Bai Xia, her eyes flickered with shock. Yet, true to her professionalism, she said nothing.

The moment Bai Xia spotted her familiar Auntie Han, she immediately wriggled free of Gu Yining’s hand, leapt forward, and threw herself against her legs, bouncing up eagerly for a hug.

“Auntie!”

“Little miss.” Aunt Han’s gaze left Gu Yining, softening as she bent to scoop the child into her arms. Her expression was all gentle affection. “Let’s go home.”

“Mm!” Bai Xia nodded hard, her delicate face glowing with a radiant smile.

Gu Yining wanted to say more to her, but before she could, a hand clapped her shoulder. She turned, and saw a familiar face.

Bei Nanyan.

“What are you doing here?” Gu Yining instinctively stepped sideways, blocking Bai Xia and Aunt Han behind her, frowning in confusion. Bei Nanyan had long since abandoned management after signing her to a top agency and riding the wave of her success. And now she had time to show up here?

“Why can’t I be here?” Bei Nanyan shoved one hand in her pocket, the other holding up a dessert bag stamped with a patisserie logo. “I was on a business trip nearby. Thought we could fly back together.” With that, she stuffed the bag into Gu Yining’s hands.

Automatically, Gu Yining took it and glanced inside. A box of rainbow macarons—expensive. Once upon a time, they were her favorite: almond-and-sugar shells filled with buttercream, sweet to the point of cloying. But these days, whether for her weight or because she couldn’t stomach sweets after discovering Bei Nanyan’s same sweet tooth, she hadn’t touched them in ages.

Now she lived on iced Americanos. Even milk tea scraped her throat.

Still, after so long without contact, it was only natural that Bei Nanyan remembered the old her.

“What do you think? Don’t be too touched. I remembered you loved these, so I grabbed some.” Bei Nanyan grinned, cocky as ever, hooking her arm around Gu Yining’s shoulder and tilting her head toward Bai Xia and Aunt Han.

Panic spiked in Gu Yining. She hadn’t stopped her in time. Aunt Han was inseparable from Bai Qingqiu, and Bai Xia resembled her mother far too much. Bei Nanyan could easily connect the dots. And no matter the reason, Gu Yining couldn’t let her know.

But Bei Nanyan only remarked casually:

“So this is the kid from your show? Cute.”

“Mm.” Relief flickered through Gu Yining—did she really not recognize Aunt Han? All the better. “Let’s go.” She quickly linked arms with her, nodded at Aunt Han, and stepped away.

Bei Nanyan had no reason to refuse.

With someone picking her up, the perks were obvious. Outside the studio, a camper van was already waiting. Bei Nanyan went ahead, plopping onto the sofa inside to bask in the air-conditioning.

Lagging behind with the dessert bag, Gu Yining caught sight of the SUV parked behind the van. Coincidentally, she knew the driver too—Aunt Dong, from Bai Qingqiu’s household.

Back then, Bai Qingqiu had arranged her as her driver. After late-night shoots, Aunt Dong would always fuss about her health, driving steady and quick so she could nap on the way home.

Unlike Aunt Han, Aunt Dong rolled down the window in surprise.

“Ah? Little missy?” she called.

“Aunt Dong.” Gu Yining smiled, but this wasn’t the time to reminisce. Every extra second increased the chance that Bei Nanyan might notice.

She waved goodbye quickly and climbed into the camper.

Bei Nanyan was no longer lounging but sitting upright, staring at her intently.

“Why is Bai Qingqiu’s driver here?” She didn’t bother asking how Gu Yining knew her. Pointless—both women were Bai Qingqiu’s exes. That much was obvious.

The accusatory tone almost made Gu Yining laugh. She pressed her lips together and shut the door.

“So that’s Bai Qingqiu’s child.” Her silence didn’t stop Bei Nanyan. Her voice rose, almost possessive, as though the child was hers. Annoyance spiked through Gu Yining. So she had figured it out after all.

“You were acting weird just now, blocking me from seeing them. That kid looks about four or five. Don’t tell me you think she’s yours?” Bei Nanyan crossed her legs, her voice grating with that smug, know-it-all air Gu Yining loathed—an air so similar to Bai Qingqiu’s it made her want to lash out.

“What, is she yours then?” The words came out sharp, fueled by her fraying control.

“Look at you, all worked up.” The more agitated Gu Yining grew, the calmer Bei Nanyan became—as if this had been her goal all along. She patted the seat beside her. “Come sit. Once the van starts, you’ll fall if you don’t.”

Whose camper even was this?

Forcing herself to breathe, Gu Yining sat at the farthest end away from her.

“You’re that sure the child’s yours? Do you really think Bai Qingqiu would have your baby?” Bei Nanyan kept poking at her wounds, her voice dripping with false concern while her eyes glimmered with smugness.

Before, Gu Yining hadn’t noticed it so clearly—especially back when she first learned she’d been Bei Nanyan’s stand-in. She’d even thought Bei Nanyan’s words came from sympathy, from pitying her as the victim.

But the more she listened now, the more twisted satisfaction she heard in them.

Bei Nanyan knew it well enough: Bai Qingqiu had chosen her as a substitute because she resembled her so much—pheromones, height, looks.

Bai Qingqiu’s true love had always been Bei Nanyan.

Again and again, she flaunted it, hammering in the reminder that Bai Qingqiu never loved her.

And yet, if Bei Nanyan hated Bai Qingqiu as much as she claimed, why this constant posturing, this smug pride before her stand-in?

If it really bothered her, why not simply take her back? After all, Bai Qingqiu adored her.

The three of them—how laughable they were.

“Bai Qingqiu isn’t like that.” Clarity settled over Gu Yining, calming her. “And she didn’t have the child for me. Whether to give birth was her decision. The child is hers.”

“Tsk. Defending her like that. Don’t tell me you still love her?” Bei Nanyan clicked her tongue, recrossed her legs, and smirked.

Gu Yining didn’t even look her way. Not worth the energy.