Forced to Live Together After Picking Up the Child of My Rival Alpha - Chapter 3

The next day, a sliver of morning light streamed into the bedroom. The sleep-inducing incense smoldered gently, releasing a wisp of smoke, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

On the soft, large bed, two lumps, one big and one small rose and fell rhythmically with calm, steady breaths.

A phone beneath the pillow began to vibrate, breaking the silence at an inopportune moment.

Song Yuan groggily reached for it, then suddenly remembered the little one beside her. She quickly silenced the phone and tiptoed out of the room.

“Is the artist being quiet? Not causing any trouble, is she?” The voice on the other end of the line was mature and authoritative, tinged with a hint of relaxation and teasing.

The caller was Luo Wei, Song Yuan’s agent. From her teasing tone, Song Yuan could tell she was in a good mood.

“What’s up, Sister Luo?”

“One piece of good news and one piece of bad news. The movie you signed up for has been postponed.”

Luo Wei paused at this point.

Song Yuan instinctively felt that the delay wasn’t so bad. Whatever the reason, it meant she had more time to spend with Luoluo, which would undoubtedly be beneficial for her condition.

When Song Yuan realized what she was thinking, she startled herself.

She instinctively glanced toward the bedroom.

There, she saw Luoluo standing barefoot on the tiled floor, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she looked at Song Yuan.

“Ouch!” The floor was cold!

Song Yuan couldn’t help but gasp.

“What? What are you doing? Causing trouble again?Luo Wei knew her artist all too well even when Song Yuan stayed quietly at home, she had a knack for attracting all sorts of trending topics, most of them negative.

Song Yuan didn’t have time to deal with the phone, so she put it on speaker and set it aside, then hurried to fetch Luoluo’s shoes and put them on her.

After settling Luoluo, she picked up the phone again and laughed awkwardly. “Ha, haha, I just accidentally stepped on the floor. It was a bit cold.”

“?”

Before the person on the other end could question her further, Song Yuan quickly changed the subject.

“Sister Luo, what was the good news you mentioned earlier?”

Luo Wei considered that Song Yuan had been relatively well-behaved lately and decided to play along. “The good news is that I’ve signed you up for a variety show called Rookie Mom. The guests on the show are all fairly influential in the entertainment industry, so the exposure and traffic will be undeniable.”

“Rookie Mom?” Song Yuan looked at the little munchkin, Luoluo, in front of her. Was the entertainment industry this in tune with real life now? Did they know she needed practice and decided to install surveillance in her life?

“Yes, Rookie Mom is a popular parenting show right now. The guests include three Alphas and three Omegas six female celebrities in total along with three child stars. They’ll form three groups to simulate family life, exploring the theme of parent-child relationships.”

The speaker was still on, and Luoluo, hearing this, stared intently at Song Yuan with wide, hopeful eyes.

Song Yuan suddenly felt a headache coming on. Luo Wei had just mentioned that she’d been keeping a low profile lately.

If a child suddenly appeared by her side now.

But just then, a soft little hand slipped into hers.

Song Yuan felt a surge of courage. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Sister Luo, I’m fine with it, but I have one small condition.”

Luo Wei raised an eyebrow on the other end of the line. Song Yuan rarely made requests about her work, so this was unexpected. Suspiciously, she asked, “What kind of trouble are you planning now?”

“Can I, um…” Song Yuan closed her eyes and blurted out the rest of the sentence quickly, “bring my own kid to the show?!”

Luo Wei nearly let out a sharp scream.

“What did you say?! Your child?”

Song Yuan’s voice was faint: “Uh, yeah! Wait, no, it’s not my child. I found a child.”

Luo Wei laughed in exasperation: “Song Yuan, I don’t care where this child came from, but you absolutely cannot expose them to the public! Do you even care about your career anymore?”

The voice from the phone speaker was sharp and piercing. Song Yuan frantically turned off the speakerphone.

But Luoluo still ended up hearing some of it.

Visibly, those big eyes suddenly grew dim, as if dark clouds had enveloped Luoluo’s small frame.

Rarely angry, Song Yuan actually stood her ground: “If I can’t bring the child, then I won’t take the job!”

“Fine, Song Yuan, you think you’re all grown up now, huh? First tell me where you got this child.”

Ignoring Luo Wei’s incessant nagging, Song Yuan directly ended the call.

On the other end, Luo Wei was fuming, but then it occurred to her this didn’t make sense. Song Yuan’s schedule had been packed for years, she hadn’t even been in a relationship, so who could have possibly had a child with her?

Regardless, she was still her artist. Sighing in resignation, Luo Wei made a call to the program coordinator and reluctantly declined the invitation to “Rookie Mom” on Song Yuan’s behalf.

At the top floor of Bolang Media’s headquarters, the decor was understated yet luxurious.

CEO Yi Yan sat at her desk, twirling a pen with one hand while staring helplessly at Yu Jin before her.

As usual, Yu Jin was reclining indifferently yet comfortably on the sofa in the lounge area.

Despite Yi Yan’s persistent persuasion, Yu Jin remained firm in her refusal to participate in the variety show “Rookie Mom,” which Yi Yan had invested in.

But Yi Yan wasn’t ready to give up just yet: “This show isn’t as troublesome as you think. The theme is simply exploring parent-child relationships.”

Yu Jin was completely unmoved by this argument and raised an eyebrow: “Two people taking care of one child sounds like we’d still have to form a CP.”

Yi Yan fiddled with the contract: “Speaking of CPs, Song Yuan and Wei Yang were all over the headlines recently. I’ve invited both of them for this show. With Song Yuan’s talent for trending, the program is bound to be a hit.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin recalled seeing Song Yuan holding Luoluo at the hospital yesterday. After a moment of contemplation, she asked, “Song Yuan is going too?”

“Yeah, the coordinator’s report should be coming back soon.”

Yi Yan answered casually, completely unaware that she had just touched on the key point that mattered to Yu Jin.

Yu Jin couldn’t help but drift into thought.

A dull knock on the door interrupted Yu Jin’s reverie.

Yi Yan’s assistant entered, and upon noticing Yu Jin’s presence, wisely gave a brief report: “As per your earlier instructions, we’ve contacted all the artists on the list. We’re just waiting on the contracts and will need to schedule separate meetings.”

Yi Yan listened while holding the documents, then frowned: “There’s a blank space here under A.”

The assistant promptly clarified: “That’s Song Yuan. We had a great discussion with her agent last night, but we received a call this morning declining the offer.”

Yi Yan felt a headache coming on. With Yu Jin refusing and Song Yuan backing out too, the remaining artists simply didn’t have enough star power to carry the show.

“Why did Song Yuan refuse to participate?” Yi Yan asked.

In a corner where no one could see, Yu Jin’s hand holding the coffee cup unconsciously tightened.

The assistant replied respectfully, “Her agent didn’t disclose the specific reason.”

Yi Yan shoved the documents back, her tone leaving no room for argument: “Tell them to figure out the reason and submit a proper report. I want to see a valuable variety show.”

The assistant had no choice but to take the documents and walk out.

“With Song Yuan’s refusal, Wei Yang’s position became rather awkward. The highlights the director had planned couldn’t be executed either.”

The office was left with only the two of them again. Yi Yan’s frown deepened, looking as though she was one step away from wailing in despair.

“If your people can secure Song Yuan, I’ll go,” Yu Jin stated calmly.

Yi Yan shot to her feet, staring at Yu Jin in disbelief.

“You said it!”

Yu Jin nodded. “Mm.”

Yi Yan pulled out her phone. “Alright, alright, Song Yuan, is it? I’ll contact her myself!”

The call was quickly answered by Song Yuan’s agent, Luo Wei.

Yi Yan got straight to the point. “Agent Luo, what’s the reason for Song Yuan refusing ‘Intern Mom’? We’re old partners, if there are any conditions, just state them.”

There was a brief silence on the other end before Luo Wei cautiously asked, “Director Yi, what if Song Yuan has to bring a child on the show?”

Yi Yan was stunned.

???

“Since when does Song Yuan have a child?”

Luo Wei chuckled vaguely. “Well never mind, it just suddenly appeared.”

Yi Yan glanced at Yu Jin, who remained resolute beside her, and gritted her teeth. “Fine, let her bring the child. If she dares to bring it, the show dares to film it!”

Luo Wei, utterly shocked, quickly agreed and accepted the terms.

After the call ended, Yu Jin stood up and said leisurely, “Once Song Yuan signs the contract, you can send it to my agent. I’ll go then.”

Yi Yan felt something was off. As friends for years, Yu Jin had always been as cold as mountain snow, why the sudden interest in Song Yuan?

“Wait! Why are you going just because Song Yuan is? What does it have to do with her?”But Yu Jin ignored Yi Yan’s questioning and had already swung the office door shut, departing gracefully.”

Song Yuan and Luo Luo were currently sitting amidst a pile of children’s items delivered by an assistant.

Baby bowls, shoes, socks, clothes, early education books, and more.

Though Luo Luo had psychological issues, she was exceptionally well-behaved, cooperating with Song Yuan as she dressed her up like a little princess. Yet, the princess’s hair accessories were changed over and over.

This allowed Song Yuan to indulge her whims thoroughly.

Spotting a pink-purple bow temporarily, she eagerly placed it on Luo Luo’s head.

Her phone rang again, ill-timed as ever.

Song Yuan answered the call, gently stroking Luo Luo’s head.

On her end, all was peaceful and serene, while on the other side of the phone, Luo Wei was roaring, “Song Yuan Yuan! Tell me the truth when did you get involved with Bo Lang Media’s CEO, Yi Yan?”

Song Yuan’s mind filled with question marks, utterly baffled. “No? What are you talking about?”

“Then explain to me, where did that child come from?”

As she spoke, Luo Wei even began to suspect the child might be Bo Lang’s CEO’s or someone close to him!

Song Yuan looked at the child, unable to bring herself to say in front of her that she had found her in an orphanage.

She could only say, “She’s not mine, nor did I give birth to her. It’s complicated, but I won’t abandon her.”

Luo Wei was exasperated. “Oh? Then what reason could there be for Bo Lang’s CEO, Yi Yan, to personally call me to invite you onto the variety show and tell us to state any conditions we have?”

Song Yuan frowned and muttered, “How would I know?”

Then it dawned on her, her eyes lighting up. “Sister Luo, did they agree to let me bring Luo Luo on the show?”

Luo Luo, her head adorned with hair accessories, lifted her chubby little face to look at Song Yuan, even leaning in slightly as if wanting to whisper something in her ear.

Luo Wei spoke impatiently over the phone, “Yes, it’s settled. I’ll make time to review the contract later and see what exactly is going on.”

Song Yuan silently glanced at Luo Luo with joy, and Luo Luo revealed her first toothy smile since entering this home.

Her tiny pearl-like teeth peeked out, and the faint dimples on her cheeks looked utterly adorable.

It reminded Song Yuan inexplicably of her own dimples, and she wordlessly hugged this child who seemed to share a special connection with her.

Luo Wei continued chattering over the phone, “Don’t think this matter with the child is over. When we meet, you better explain clearly.”

“Alright, alright, dear Luo Jie, I’ll explain everything when the time comes.”

Song Yuan couldn’t wait to hang up the phone, eagerly snuggling with Luo Luo.

“My precious Luo Luo, you get to come with me to the variety show!”

Luo Luo’s body was soft and warm, her fair, smooth cheek pressed against Song Yuan’s neck, making Song Yuan reluctant to let go.

Holding this delicate little one felt like cradling something fragile. Then, a soft voice whispered near her ear, “Mommy.”

Startled, Song Yuan lifted Luo Luo to face her, exclaiming with delight, “Luo Luo, did you just speak again?”

Luo Luo’s cheeks flushed instantly, and she shyly lowered her head.

This change left Song Yuan both astonished and overjoyed. She couldn’t resist planting a kiss on Luo Luo’s cheek.

Luo Luo froze for a moment, stunned and dazed, as if unable to believe what had happened. She cautiously touched her own face.

After a long pause, she seemed to finally process it and broke into an innocent smile.

“Li… like.”

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