Forced to Live Together After Picking Up the Child of My Rival Alpha - Chapter 8.1

After learning that Song Yuan had hitched a ride back with Yu Jin yesterday, Luo Wei arrived early in the morning to pick up Song Yuan and Luoluo and take them to the program recording location.

Luo Wei smiled and asked, “How did things go with Yu Jin?”

Song Yuan thought of the person who had caused her exhaustion today and felt a surge of resentment, gritting her teeth.

“Just great. We even talked on the phone last night.”

Luo Wei didn’t catch the sarcasm and nodded thoughtfully. “Good. You don’t have to worry about the show’s popularity. With both you and Yu Jin being Alphas, there won’t be any gossip. As long as you behave and maintain a good motherly image, you can definitely turn around some of the negative rumors about you.”

As Luo Wei continued her endless reminders, the car smoothly arrived at the destination. Song Yuan, struggling to keep her eyes open, carried Luoluo out of the car.

Speak of the devil.

As soon as Song Yuan got out of the car, she ran right into Yu Jin.

Luoluo trotted happily toward Yu Jin. “Mommy!”

Song Yuan had reminded Luoluo earlier that morning, but now, watching her daughter dash toward Yu Jin, she felt utterly exasperated.

Yu Jin, as usual, ignored everyone, picked up Luoluo, and walked toward the courtyard with light, steady steps.

Her energetic demeanor starkly contrasted with Song Yuan’s drained appearance.

Yu Jin’s refreshed appearance made Song Yuan see the with anger. She felt she really needed to clarify: How was she a jerk? What had she even done?

Was it worth Yu Jin calling her in the middle of the night just to call her a jerk?

Song Yuan thought this, but before she could ask for an explanation, the program began recording. The host, Meng YanYan, started assigning and explaining tasks.

The program team gave each family 100 yuan to live on for a week in this courtyard.

No additional help would be provided during this time.

The three families finally understood this wasn’t some parent-child activity; it was basically survival in the wild.

The guests complained but also eagerly got into the spirit.

Yueyue, while braiding Bella’s hair, chattered away with Ma Tianmeng about how to budget the 100 yuan.

On the other side, after receiving the task, Jian Xi snapped her fingers. “No problem, Yangyang. Don’t worry.”

As Jian Xi’s gaze grew noticeably tender, Wei Yang felt slightly uncomfortable and responded with a strained smile. “It’s fine. It’s just a show anyway. The main thing is to relax.”

Noticing the camera had shifted away and wasn’t focused on them at the moment, Song Yuan seized the opportunity to ask Yu Jin, “What was that phone call last night really about?”

The sunlight slanted across Yu Jin’s face. Hearing the question, she turned slightly, her expression cold.

She showed no intention of answering Song Yuan’s question.

Song Yuan frowned. What was her problem?

“How did I offend you?” Song Yuan pressed, unwilling to let it go.

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin’s face cooled further. She lowered her gaze, concealing a flicker of disappointment, and when she looked up again, her expression was as aloof as ever.

She avoided the question, saying, “We’re still live, Miss Song. You should focus on figuring out how to make 100 yuan last a week.”

Song Yuan instinctively glanced toward the camera.

Sure enough, it was pointed in their direction again.

She had no choice but to swallow her anger and start pondering how to budget 100 yuan wisely for the week.

Song Yuan withdrew her gaze and turned her attention to Luoluo.

Dressed like a little princess today, Luoluo even wore a small crown on her head.

A brilliant idea flashed through her mind. Ignoring Yu Jin nearby, she scooped Luoluo into her arms and whispered a few words into the child’s ear.

Song Yuan deliberately tucked her long, wavy hair back, afraid it might prick the child if too close, so she tossed it behind her. Remembering something, she whispered a few more words into the child’s ear.

Her peach-blossom eyes narrowed into a slightly upturned shape, shimmering with a watery glow that seemed to carry an affectionate, almost flirtatious charm.

Yu Jin averted her gaze and snorted coldly.

Song Yuan found Yu Jin’s behavior baffling, but since it wasn’t the first time, she chose to ignore her and continued holding Luoluo while whispering.

From the corner of her eye, Yu Jin watched Song Yuan, her mood shifting like a roller coaster sunny one moment, cloudy the next. She fiddled with the 100-yuan note given by the program team, nearly crumpling it.

After helplessly setting Luoluo down, Song Yuan decided it was time to discuss grocery shopping with Yu Jin.

She couldn’t let her ruin the money.

Besides groceries, they needed to prepare many other things, so they had to budget carefully.

Song Yuan cautiously reached out, trying to slip the 100-yuan note from Yu Jin’s clenched hand.

She tugged, but the bill in Yu Jin’s palm didn’t budge.

Thinking Yu Jin was having one of her episodes again, Song Yuan said helplessly, “Give me the money. We’re going to the market to buy groceries and figure out today’s meals.”

Yu Jin shot her a sidelong glance. “You think I’ll just hand it over because you said so?”

Song Yuan was baffled. “We’re a family now. I need the money to buy food for all of us,” she stated matter-of-factly.

Yu Jin’s face darkened. “If we’re a family, then what is it that I can’t hear?”

Hearing this, Song Yuan nearly laughed in frustration.

So, this was all because of that? Because she whispered to Luoluo without telling Yu Jin?

And so Yu Jin sat there sulking, clutching the money and nearly wrinkling it beyond recognition.

Song Yuan recalled the rumors that Yu Jin was an unattainable flower on a distant mountain peak. But this was no lofty blossom this was a textbook tsundere.

Remembering how Yu Jin’s late-night phone call had robbed her of sleep and the unsettling nightmare that followed, Song Yuan decided to ignore Yu Jin’s question. If she didn’t want to speak directly, then she could stew in her own frustration.

Feeling somewhat vindicated, Song Yuan seized the moment when Yu Jin was distracted and snatched the money away.

Watching as Song Yuan avoided the issue and took the money, Yu Jin’s frustration swelled into a dark cloud, threatening to burst through the sky.

In the distance, Bella was asking Luoluo all sorts of questions. Ignoring Yu Jin’s sulking, Song Yuan raised her voice and called out, “Luoluo, we’re going out to buy groceries!”

Luoluo, in high spirits with both her mothers around, bounded over on her short little legs and threw herself into Song Yuan’s arms.

Song Yuan opened her arms wide and hugged Luoluo tightly. The little one’s face was soft and fair, and she couldn’t resist planting a kiss on Luoluo’s cheek.

Luoluo blushed shyly.

“Luoluo, we’re going to the market now to buy groceries and prepare meals for our family,” Song Yuan said loudly, hoping Yu Jin would overcome her tsundere tendencies and join them voluntarily.

But the only response she received was Luoluo’s tiny, soft hand.

Yu Jin remained seated, unmoving, shrouded in a cloud of gloom.

Yet, from the corner of her eye, Yu Jin saw the “heartless duo”, the big one holding the little one discussing what to eat. The little one seemed to have forgotten about her other mother, waving her small hand and asking to buy gummy bears.

Watching Song Yuan and Luoluo walk further away, Yu Jin’s initial frustration gradually sank into dejection.

Recalling the question that had troubled her during her hormonal imbalance: if Song Yuan knew Luoluo was their child, what would she do?

Yu Jin now had a vague answer: she would probably take Luoluo and snatch her away.

As Yu Jin’s mood hit rock bottom, perhaps due to the mother-daughter bond, Luoluo nearing the doorway tugged at her mother’s hand and asked with her little braids bouncing, “Mom, where’s Mommy?”

Song Yuan turned around but could no longer see Yu Jin’s figure. She replied, “Ah, your mommy? She’s probably still daydreaming under that persimmon tree.”

Luoluo thought for a moment, sensed something was off, and let go of Song Yuan’s hand. “Mommy, find Mommy.”

Watching Luoluo’s rapidly retreating back, Song Yuan pouted. If one didn’t know better, they’d think Luoluo was Yu Jin’s biological daughter.

Little did Song Yuan know she had just brushed past the truth.

A moment later, little Luoluo appeared in sight, holding Yu Jin’s hand.

The three of them arrived at the market together.

The eastern market was essentially a large wholesale hub. Besides poultry, vegetables, and fruits, there were also stalls selling children’s toys and clothes.

Luoluo rested her little head against Yu Jin’s hand, glancing up at Song Yuan one moment and Yu Jin the next.

Before they knew it, Luoluo’s small hands had clasped both of theirs, with the camera following leisurely behind.

They blended into the bustling market, surrounded by constant noise and vendor calls.

With Mommy on her left and Mom on her right, an unprecedented happiness overwhelmed Luoluo.

The post-production editor thoughtfully added special effects to the scene: pink bubbles floated around their silhouettes, and a cheerful little tail was edited onto Luoluo’s wiggling bottom as she walked utterly adorable.

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