Forced to Live Together After Picking Up the Child of My Rival Alpha - Chapter 32

Song Yuan’s face was as dark as storm clouds. After tapping rapidly on her phone with slender fingers, she tossed it aside.

She picked up a glass of water and took a small sip, frowning slightly. The troubling message she had just read made even drinking water feel like a chore.

Yu Jin keenly noticed the shift in Song Yuan’s mood, but since Song Yuan showed no intention of sharing, she didn’t press further.

After all, Song Yuan had only accepted her because of Luoluo and out of guilt over what had happened five years ago. Their marriage felt more like a partnership for convenience, and it was often better to give each other space.

But when Yu Jin glanced to the side, she saw Luoluo staring fixedly at Song Yuan with her obsidian-like eyes. The little girl opened her mouth several times, struggling to find the right words, on the verge of tears.

She was clearly frightened by Song Yuan’s agitation.

Seeing Luoluo’s pitiful expression tugged at Yu Jin’s heart. Swallowing her hesitation, she casually asked Song Yuan, “What’s going on?”

Song Yuan’s eyelashes fluttered. She leaned back, crossed her legs, and folded her arms, irritation evident in her posture.

Yu Jin and Luoluo reacted differently.

Yu Jin wondered if Song Yuan was upset because she didn’t want to talk about it.

Luoluo, on the other hand, had never seen Song Yuan like this before. The coldness reminded her of Yu Jin’s occasional aloofness, and it scared her.

Noticing her own harsh expression, Song Yuan quickly adjusted her demeanor. She uncrossed her arms and legs but remained leaning against the back of the sofa.

With a sigh, she explained, “My so-called mother sent me a message, demanding that I go back to inherit the family fortune. If I refuse, she wants me to send Luoluo to her instead. Otherwise, she’ll make sure I have no future left in the entertainment industry.”

The moment she heard about someone taking Luoluo away, Yu Jin instinctively moved to shield the child. Her only wish was for Luoluo to receive proper treatment under Song Yuan’s care and eventually lead a normal life she had no intention of handing Luoluo over to anyone else.

Not even the child’s grandmother!

Trembling, Luoluo puffed out her cheeks and stammered, “Luoluo won’t go. Mommy, Mama, Luoluo stay together.”

Seeing the mother and daughter’s protective stance, Song Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, the gloom in her heart instantly lifting.

She stood up, scooped Luoluo into her arms, and pulled Yu Jin’s cold hand, smiling as she said, “She’s pulling the same tricks she did five years ago. I don’t know what she’s thinking.”

Yu Jin tried to pull her hand back but found herself firmly drawn to sit beside Song Yuan.

Pressing her lips together, she asked calmly, “So, what are you planning to do?”

“You don’t actually think I’d hand Luoluo over to someone else, do you?” Song Yuan teased, feigning hurt. “We’re married now or do you still find me so untrustworthy?”

What was with these two? They were supposed to be enjoying their newly married life, yet here they were, acting as if she were about to tear their family apart.

“Really?” Yu Jin raised an eyebrow skeptically.

“Really?” Luoluo puffed her cheeks, tears still glistening in her dark, glass-like eyes.

“As true as gold!” Song Yuan raised her hand as if taking an oath. “If I ever do anything to betray Yu Jin or Luoluo, may I be struck by lightning and die a miserable.”

Before she could finish, Luoluo suddenly stood on the sofa and pressed her chubby little hand over Song Yuan’s mouth.

Though not particularly articulate, the clever girl was sharp-witted. Afraid that Song Yuan might continue, she used her other hand as well, covering Song Yuan’s mouth with both hands and leaning her whole body forward.

Song Yuan stifled a laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly. Her peach-blossom eyes softened with tenderness, stirring something deep within Yu Jin’s heart.

Such a Song Yuan was truly beautiful!

Afraid her emotions might betray her, Yu Jin turned her head away.

Meanwhile, Song Yuan patted Luoluo’s head and, out of the corner of her eye, noticed Yu Jin looking away. She crooked a finger to tease Yu Jin’s palm, tilted her head, and slipped her mouth free from Luoluo’s grasp.

“Luoluo is the treasure Mommy gave me, how could I ever send you away? I cherish you more than anything.”

“Treasure, hide it!” Luoluo beamed, her eyes crinkling.

“Though I can’t hide you away, Mommy and I will always protect you!”

She turned her head: “Right, Ah Jin?”

Yu Jin couldn’t be bothered with this smooth-talking woman, but for Luoluo ’s sake, she turned back and asked, “Still, you’d better be careful. That scum your mother definitely won’t let this go easily.”

“Scum mom is scum mom call her whatever you like, it’s fine.”

Song Yuan laughed. “But thank you for the reminder, Ah Jin. Oh, and Ah Jin.”

The way she drew out the name “Ah Jin” was so melodious it was clear she was up to no good.

Yu Jin leaned back slightly, her gaze cool and detached. “Speak!”

“Well since we’re already married, how about you um, stay here?”

Even Song Yuan felt a little embarrassed saying something so brazen. After all, just yesterday she’d claimed it was a marriage of convenience for Luoluo ’s sake, and now she was already trying to get Yu Jin to move in.

Sure enough, Yu Jin’s pupils contracted. Hadn’t she just said it was a contractual marriage? Why was she suddenly asking her to stay?

What exactly was Song Yuan trying to pull?

Yu Jin wanted to refuse, but with Luoluo present, she couldn’t make it too obvious. She only warned in a low voice, “Don’t forget what you said before. We…”

“I know.”

Song Yuan shamelessly pressed on, “But you know how it is with this marriage, I’ve been dragged through the mud so much there’s not a clean spot left on me. I’m practically soaked in ink. If you move out now, your fans will think I’ve wronged you somehow, and they’ll drown me in their outrage.”

“After being slandered for so long, you still haven’t gotten used to it?” Yu Jin teased.

“It’s not that Getting used to it is one thing, but if the backlash gets worse, Wei Wei-jie will tear me apart.”

Song Yuan paused, realizing that invoking Luo Wei’s wrath wouldn’t sway Yu Jin. Her eyes darted toward Luoluo instead. “Besides, Luoluo would miss Mommy terribly, wouldn’t you?”

Luoluo immediately scrambled over Song Yuan and threw herself into Yu Jin’s arms. “Mommy, Mommy, don’t go. Mommy Mama, Luoluo, together. Luoluo happy!”

That shameless Song Yuan!

Holding Luoluo, Yu Jin shot Song Yuan a glare before soothing the child, “Even if I go home, I’ll come see you every day. It’s already so much better than before Luoluo gets to see Mama every day now. So it doesn’t really matter whether I stay here or not, right?”

Luoluo thought seriously. Ever since Mommy had given her to Mama, she hadn’t seen Mommy for a long time.

It really was much better now.

Remembering how distant Mommy used to be, Luoluo was afraid that if she asked for too much, Mommy might get upset and change her mind.

But she truly wanted to be with Mommy, so she stayed silent.

“Seeing each other every day and being together day and night there’s still a difference.”

Song Yuan seized the moment to drive her point home: “Didn’t we get married to give Luoluo a complete family? And a complete family means both Mama and Mommy should be there, without exception!”

Luoluo quickly nodded, her sparkling black eyes filled with hope as she looked at Yu Jin, her lips trembling and her eyes brimming with unshed tears, looking utterly pitiful.

It seemed that if Yu Jin shook her head, she would burst into tears from sheer disappointment.

Even though Yu Jin knew this was Song Yuan’s scheme, she still couldn’t resist giving in.

“This, alright.”

Yu Jin raised her eyes to look at Song Yuan, her gaze full of warning, silently conveying: All for Luoluo!

Song Yuan immediately curved her eyes and clasped her hands in agreement: Yes, yes, of course, of course.

“But I need to go back and get some things.” Yu Jin stood up, preparing to leave for a while.

Song Yuan immediately said, “There are new toiletries here. If you need to get anything, let’s wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow, Luoluo and I will go with you.”

“Yeah, Mommy, it’s late. Stay, and we’ll go together tomorrow,” Luoluo said, shaking Yu Jin’s arm.

“This…” Yu Jin glanced at the still-bright sky outside, both amused and exasperated, and reluctantly agreed, “Alright, it is dark.”

Song Yuan immediately went to cook.

Before, when there were fewer people, they could order takeout, but now she felt that only when the stove was lit and the home was filled with the warmth of cooking could it truly be called a home. No matter how delicious outside food was, it could never compare to the taste of home.

She had already arranged for groceries to be delivered.

The crucian carp had been cleaned, scored on the sides, and set aside to drain.

She heated oil over low heat, swirling it to coat the pan evenly. When the oil was seventy percent hot, she added the cleaned and dried crucian carp. Over low heat, she let it set until it could be moved easily in the pan, then flipped it to fry until both sides were golden brown. She added sliced scallions and ginger to stir-fry until fragrant.

Once the aroma filled the air, she poured boiling water over the fish, covered the pot, and turned up the heat to let it simmer.

Yu Jin wasn’t one to sit idly by waiting for food. By now, she had already steamed the rice, though she didn’t know how to cook dishes.

Watching Song Yuan swiftly stir-fry celery with beef, she then opened the pot with the fish. The broth had already taken on a faint milky hue.

Song Yuan scooped out the fish, skimmed the foam from the broth with a spoon, added the prepared tofu, sprinkled in a little salt, and let it simmer over low heat.

After quickly stir-frying garlicky Chinese broccoli, she lifted the lid of the fish soup. The broth had turned creamy white, looking incredibly appetizing.

Watching the busy Song Yuan, dressed in a white shirt and cooking with gentle focus, Yu Jin suddenly felt that this kind of life wasn’t so bad after all!

Startled by her own thoughts, Yu Jin quickly turned her head away.

Song Yuan ladled the tofu and fish soup into bowls, sprinkled them with chopped scallions, and brought the stir-fried celery with beef and garlicky Chinese broccoli to the table. Turning back, she said cheerfully, “Well, another simple meal! Your Highnesses, dinner is served!”

It even rhymed!

Luoluo laughed, climbing onto her chair and swinging her little legs, smiling sweetly at Yu Jin. “Mommy, Mommy!”

Yu Jin brought over the rice, and a bowl of fish soup was already placed in front of each of them.

Luoluo cupped her bowl with both hands, carefully blew on the scallions, took a small sip, and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

That smile melted both Yu Jin and Song Yuan’s hearts. It was clear that Song Yuan was genuinely putting her heart into caring for them.

But…

Yu Jin lowered her head, scooping the fragrant fish soup with her spoon. Though everything seemed perfect and warm, she still felt a pang of sadness inside.

In truth, Song Yuan was only treating them so well out of guilt, self-reproach, and a sense of responsibility toward Luoluo to fulfill her duty as a mother, wasn’t she?

If it weren’t for Luoluo, or rather, if not for what happened five years ago, would she still treat me this way?

Is everything before my eyes just fleeting clouds?

Thinking this, Yu Jin actually lost her appetite. Her spoon kept stirring in the soup, but not a single spoonful made it to her mouth.

“Ah Jin, what’s wrong?” Song Yuan keenly noticed the change in Yu Jin’s expression. “Is the food not to your taste? I’m sorry for preparing the meal without asking about your preferences.”

“No,” Yu Jin replied indifferently, brushing it off. “It’s fine!”

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