Forced to Live Together After Picking Up the Child of My Rival Alpha - Chapter 12

The next day, public opinion quietly simmered. Some marketing accounts, noticing the favorable trend in popularity, resorted to malicious editing to attract traffic.

Given Song Yuan’s history as a scumbag Alpha, Wei Yang was now labeled by the public as a love-struck fool who couldn’t see through the true nature of a scumbag Alpha, effectively cast as a foolish victim.

Meanwhile, Song Yuan was portrayed as an unscrupulous Alpha who disregarded both Alphas and Omegas flirting with Yu Jin on the show while stringing Wei Yang along.

Yu Jin’s massive fanbase, firmly believing their idol had long remained above worldly affairs, couldn’t stand seeing her dragged into a publicity stunt with Song Yuan. They collectively jumped into the fray, creating a spectacular scene.

At the same time, this brought unprecedented traffic to the reality show Intern Mom, with popularity soaring to unprecedented heights and even showing signs of climbing further. The director was overjoyed, but for Song Yuan, it was all negative feedback.

Early in the morning, the sun rose, casting Tyndall effects through the persimmon tree, with an occasional leaf drifting down in the wind.

Though the scene was picturesque, the live chat was flooded with red alerts.

[PlaneLovesMotorcycles: I don’t even have a membership on this platform, but seeing my girl Yu Jin getting cozy with that “Yuan” person, I had to check it out!]

[ThisPlatformIsTrash#: So this is the one, huh? Daring to drag Yu Jin into this? Just watch me tear her apart!]

[YuanYuan’sOfficial: I’d like to see you try. Believing every rumor you hear, you absolute fool. (Sweating emoji jpg)]

[KissMeYu: This woman’s scumbag Alpha nature is already public knowledge. A few years back, she was on the same show as Yu Jin. The chemistry was great, but then Yu Jin suddenly dropped out midway. I’ve always suspected it had something to do with her.]

[Jin’sWifey: Hah! I don’t care what this “Yuan” does with others! But if she messes with my Yu Jin, I’m stepping in!!]

[YuanYuanYuan@Wifey: Who asked you to step in? And during that live stream the day before yesterday, didn’t you see the lovey-dovey look Yu Jin gave Song Yuan? Want me to clip it for you?]

From the live chat to comment sections on various short-video platforms, some even dug up clips from a variety show five years ago. Every interaction between Song Yuan and Yu Jin was magnified by marketing accounts, landing in the top ten trending searches across all platforms. The comment sections were battlegrounds of heated arguments.

Crucially, someone pieced together the events of that dating show years ago. Live records showed the guests drinking one evening, with Song Yuan and Yu Jin sharing accommodations. The next day, Yu Jin abruptly left the show.

This became the central argument, making people feel they had uncovered a hidden secret.

The trending hashtag #YuJinVSSongYuan kept climbing.

The closed nature of the reality show meant the participants, constantly under surveillance, had no timely access to the public opinion storm brewing online.

Today’s segment involved the families grocery shopping. The game’s rule was for the mom to take a photo of a needed item, then guide the child to find it in the vast supermarket.

After the previous incidents, Yu Jin barely acknowledged Song Yuan, speaking only with Luo Luo. Song Yuan, in turn, tried to maintain a facade of peace.

On the surface, they appeared to be a harmonious family of three.

But Song Yuan knew the outside public opinion was anything but peaceful likely filled with nothing but criticism aimed at her.

So, she turned off her data, choosing not to look.

Luo Luo had been upset the day before, but upon waking, she found Mom Song Yuan right beside her, holding her close and comforting her tenderly.

Now obedient and calm, she began holding a printed picture, carefully browsing through the supermarket and searching for the corresponding product.

Yu Jin followed Luo Luo slowly, giving appropriate hints when the child strayed off track: “The food section is to the left.”

Song Yuan was absent-minded today. She thought to herself that she must find a solution she couldn’t let Wei Yang keep pestering her about their CP pairing. For one, she didn’t like it herself, and moreover, she felt Luo Luo didn’t like Wei Yang either.

Luo Luo held up a red card and pointed into the distance with her little finger: “It seems to be over there.”

Yu Jin promptly followed, but Song Yuan, lost in thought for a moment, was left standing alone where she was.

It wasn’t until the cameraman reminded her that Song Yuan snapped back to reality and hurried over.

The cameraman’s reminder, of course, was also broadcast live.

Yu Jin’s fans couldn’t sit still.

【NoVIPForMe: Oh my god, how full of herself is she, zoning out during a live-streamed variety show?】

【YuanYuanIsMine: As if you’ve never zoned out in your life.】

【IAmYuJin’sWife: Seriously, what’s the deal? Is your idol’s soul lost just because Wei Yang isn’t here?】

【YuanYuanMyWife: Who are you calling a pig? Spreading rumors with just a few words were you hiding under my wife’s bed eavesdropping?】

Having just rejoined the “family,” Song Yuan took the little card from Luo Luo, but her phone vibrated in her pocket.

Song Yuan frowned. She had turned off her data, so it shouldn’t be ad notifications from apps.

Worried it might be something urgent, she discreetly took out her phone to check, avoiding the camera.

Unknown Contact: Ah Yuan, it’s Wei Yang. Can we meet and talk?

Song Yuan turned off the screen, deep in thought. Perhaps she really needed to talk to Wei Yang and ask her to stop pestering her about the CP, it was truly annoying.

Yu Jin intentionally tried to create a harmonious atmosphere between herself and Song Yuan in front of Luo Luo. When Luo Luo asked a question, Yu Jin pointed to Song Yuan and said, “Ask your mom, she knows.”

But all she met was Song Yuan’s increasingly furrowed brow.

The weight in Yu Jin’s heart sank once again.

Luo Luo, unaware of the tension, called out sweetly, “Mom! Why does this need to be kept in the fridge?”

Song Yuan immediately put on a smile. “Because instant food needs to be stored in the fridge to keep it from spoiling.”

Hearing Song Yuan’s gentle and kind voice, Yu Jin mocked herself inwardly. Sure enough, her warmth was reserved only for certain people.

When it came to Yu Jin, Song Yuan only showed impatience.

Just as Song Yuan was about to say something, her phone rang abruptly, it was the ringtone she had specifically set for Luo Wei.

Yu Jin watched as Song Yuan hesitated over the phone screen, feeling another wave of self-mockery, and quietly led Luo Luo away.

“Let’s go, don’t disturb Mom while she’s on the phone.”

Song Yuan: ??

Anticipating that the public opinion might have escalated, Song Yuan went to a secluded spot to take the call. When she answered Luo Wei’s call, she held the receiver slightly away from her ear.

“Song Yuan, oh Song Yuan! Can’t you just behave?”

Luo Wei’s voice was piercing.

Song Yuan sighed in frustration. Though she already knew what it was about, she had to ask anyway: “What’s wrong, Sister Luo?”

“What’s going on between you and Yu Jin? I don’t even want to deal with the Wei Yang situation anymore, but Yu Jin you really shouldn’t provoke her! Her fans are about to tear you apart!”

Song Yuan was equally troubled. Even though she had tried her best to avoid Wei Yang, she still ended up inexplicably tangled in drama.

There’s also Yu Jin, she really had tried her best to maintain their relationship.

“I didn’t provoke her…”

Before she could even finish defending herself, Luo Wei pressed on relentlessly, “And what about five years ago? What exactly happened during that dating show? Why did Yu Jin drop out midway?”

Song Yuan was equally baffled. Had the netizens really dug up a variety show from five years ago?

She could only tell Luo Wei what she knew: “During that show five years ago, there was a drinking session. After I got drunk, I don’t remember anything. The next day, she withdrew from the show.”

“You, you!”

Song Yuan felt wronged. “It couldn’t possibly be that I offended her while drunk, could it? That’s just absurd.”

Luo Wei sighed. She knew that Song Yuan had a knack for attracting criticism even when doing nothing, so she could only advise, “Then just keep your distance from her.”

Song Yuan unconsciously rubbed her temples. “Yu Jin and I are part of the same family unit now, we’re raising a child together. It’s impossible for me to stay away from her.”

On the other end of the line, Luo Wei gasped and fell silent for a long moment before saying, “Wei Yang has been pestering you to create a CP buzz, hasn’t she? Her agent has already discussed their intentions with me.”

“I don’t want to with her.”

Before Song Yuan could finish, Luo Wei cut her off decisively, “That’s settled then. I’ll talk to the production team about switching family pairings.”

“No!” Song Yuan blurted out without thinking.

It was the first time Luo Wei had heard Song Yuan refuse her so directly usually, Song Yuan was very compliant.

Song Yuan explained, “Luo Luo has gotten used to Yu Jin. If we suddenly change, the child might not adjust well.”

Luo Wei couldn’t grasp Song Yuan’s sudden burst of maternal concern and replied matter-of-factly, “If she can’t adjust, then she’ll have to learn. Bella and Dian Dian adapted pretty quickly, didn’t they?”

“That’s different…”

Before Song Yuan could finish, Luo Wei hung up, leaving her with nothing but a sigh.

While on the phone, Song Yuan had been walking and talking. By the time she snapped back to reality, she realized she’d lost sight of Luo Luo and Yu Jin. As she turned the corner near the food section, she nearly bumped right into Wei Yang.

Song Yuan gasped inwardly, cursing how silently the other woman moved.

Wei Yang offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Ah Yuan. The production team mentioned you were here, so I came looking for you on my own.”

Song Yuan wasn’t interested in hearing explanations and got straight to the point. “What do you want? Just say it.”

Wei Yang glanced uncomfortably at the people coming and going around them. “Let’s talk over in the rest area.”

Song Yuan followed with a stern expression, already thinking about how to firmly clarify things with her later.

Once they sat down, Wei Yang came right out with it: “After what happened yesterday, I talked with my agent. She agreed to let us create a CP buzz on the show.”

Song Yuan’s beautiful eyes widened slightly as she refused outright, “I don’t agree.”

Wei Yang remained unfazed, offering a gentle smile. “Ah Yuan, our drama is about to air. If we successfully pair up on the show, it could boost the ratings. Next year’s awards…”

Song Yuan cut her off, “I’ve been in plenty of dramas, one more or less doesn’t matter.”

Wei Yang lowered her head, looking hurt. “Ah Yuan, I’ve just debuted. This is my first leading role, and of course I want to deliver impressive results…”

Song Yuan folded her arms, unmoved.

Wei Yang gritted her teeth. “Our agents have already spoken with the production team. After this week, we’ll switch pairings. You and I can form a group, with Luo Luo or Dian Dian either is fine.”

Song Yuan recalled what Luo Wei had just mentioned on the phone and felt her head spinning with stress.

In the distance, Yu Jin was walking over hand-in-hand with Luoluo, followed closely by a live-streaming camera.

Luoluo raised her hand and pointed, “Mommy, Mama is over there.”

Hearing the voice, Song Yuan looked toward the approaching figures one tall, one small and felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

She had no idea how much of her earlier conversation with Wei Yang they might have overheard.

But, as luck would have it, just as Yu Jin and Luoluo returned, the camera picked up Wei Yang’s voice, capturing a perfectly clear sentence: “After this week, we’ll switch partners. You and I can team up, with Luoluo or Diandian either works.”

【Sitting tight for the five-year-old variety show drama: Oh my god, is this even allowed to air? Talking about switching partners right in front of Yu Jin?】

【Song Yuan, get out of the entertainment industry: Wow, just wow, this woman’s shady moves keep getting wilder. Abandoning her own Alpha and child on the show, then telling another group’s Omega to team up next episode, I’m seriously done!】

【Hong Konger who eats anything: Holy crap, holy crap! Next up, let’s watch the ultimate showdown: main wife Alpha Yu Jin vs. side piece Omega Wei Yang!】

【Song Yuan’s main supporter: Can Wei Yang just get lost already? Feels like she’s the one stirring up trouble every single time!】

【See you in my dreams: And that suggestion just now came from Wei Yang, our Yuan Yuan didn’t agree at all!】

【Yu Jin is my wife: Yeah, yeah, she didn’t agree just didn’t refuse or respond, silently accepted it, right!】

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