My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet’s Hottest Power Couple
Author: NovelFire
Chapter 15
Yu Wanqiu fell into silence.
Since joining the program, she had often called Lu Yicheng. Their conversations were never longâjust a few minutes each timeâbut this was the first time Lu Yicheng had sounded like this.
Not contacting Jiang Lan for over ten days and only being able to see her through the show or livestreams had made Lu Yicheng start doubting himself.
He wondered if Jiang Lan wanted to break up with him.
Yu Wanqiu didnât know how many times Lu Yicheng had thought about this. She recalled what Jiang Lan had said at the hotpot restaurantâJiang Lan understood everything perfectly.
"If things donât work out, it just means fate wasnât on our side."
The other end of the call stayed silent. After nearly half a minute, Lu Yicheng finally spoke:
"Youâve only known Jiang Lan for a few days. If one day she stops sending you flowers, stops playing games with you, and stops sharing delicious food with you, could you calmly say itâs just fate?"
Yu Wanqiu shuddered at the thought. Was this really her son? Could he stop jinxing things already?
"...Success depends on fate, but effort matters too. Lu Yicheng, donât give up."
"I just want to spend some time with her."
They hadnât seen each other in over ten days. After summer break, theyâd be seniors in college. Lu Yicheng was busy with his internship, and his schedule was packed.
They had originally planned to have hotpot for lunch that day, but something urgent came up for him.
Yu Wanqiu sighed. "Alright, alright. But doesnât this count as betraying Jiang Lan? Donât mess up your own relationship and ruin mine with her."
Lu Yicheng: "..."
"Oh, one more thing. Did the two of you still go out at the end of the month before?" Yu Wanqiu remembered Jiang Lan mentioning that she had to budget carefully when funds ran low by monthâs end.
Lu Yicheng thought about it. He had indeed wanted to go on dates with Jiang Lan at the end of the month, but she always seemed busy.
"Yeah, why?"
Yu Wanqiu was instantly furious. Of courseâmen were all the same. "Figure it out yourself!"
Lu Yicheng had never lacked money growing up. How would he know what it was like to run out of allowance? He lived comfortably all month, while Jiang Lan⦠might have been surviving on plain steamed buns in her dorm.
For dinner, Yu Wanqiu prepared garlic spare ribs, dry-pot potatoes, and steamed rice.
Jiang Lan was baffled. "Yu-laoshi, are we celebrating something?"
Theyâd just had a feast at lunch, and now another meat-heavy meal at night. Was this their "last supper" before separating their meals?
Yu Wanqiu replied, "I didnât want to see you eating at othersâ homes like youâre starving here. Rest a bit after dinner, then weâll do yoga. Donât you always say, 'If you donât eatâ'"
"âhow can you have energy to lose weight!" Jiang Lan immediately finished the sentence, grinning. "Yu-laoshi, youâre pretty trendy, huh."
Yu Wanqiu: "Still, we should balance meat and vegetables. Too much meat isnât healthy. And cut back on takeoutâwho knows what kind of oil they use."
"Got it, got it. I donât eat it often anyway. But Yu-laoshi, donât you think street food tastes better? Itâs not the healthiest, but itâs got that lively vibe. And most importantlyâitâs delicious."
Yu Wanqiu said dismissively, "Whatâs so good about it? It all tastes the same. Canât compare to homemade food."
Jiang Lan countered, "Thatâs because youâve never been to a night market! The whole street is packed with stallsâevery step you take, thereâs something new to try!"
Yu Wanqiu hesitated, then asked reluctantly, "Really?"
It suddenly struck her how well Lu Yicheng understood Jiang Lanâher likes, her habits, everything.
What a coincidence that he also wanted to go to a night market.
"You think Iâd lie? Letâs go one day, and youâll see for yourself." Jiang Lan could go alone, but Yu Wanqiuâs face was too recognizableâsheâd be spotted instantly.
A night market would be crowded. If she got recognized, itâd cause chaos.
Theyâd need masks, and the cameras would have to keep their distance.
Jiang Lan worried Yu Wanqiu might refuse. "Yu-laoshi, itâs seriously amazing. Once you go, youâll want to go again. And everythingâs super cheapâyou can try so much with just 100 yuan!"
Grilled cold noodles, skewered sweet potato skins, roasted corn, potatoes, all kinds of sticksâ¦
"Yu-laoshi, how about this weekend? Saturday night for the market, Sunday for gaming. Letâs rank up to Diamond first, then aim for King." They hadnât played much recently, and Yu Wanqiu was still in Silver.
Yu Wanqiu lowered her head, avoiding Jiang Lanâs eager gaze. "Fine."
Jiang Lan blinked. That easy? No lecture about "street food being unhygienic"? "Wait, really?"
"Keep asking, and Iâll change my mind." Yu Wanqiu picked up a potato slice. Both dishes were heavy on meat and carbsâshe didnât dare eat much.
"Okay, okay! Let me check nearby night markets!" Today was Thursday. The second episode aired tomorrow, so Saturday night was perfect.
After some research, Jiang Lan found Zhuan Streetâonly half an hourâs drive from their villa. Other places took over an hour by subway. Reviews praised the food stalls there as affordable and clean.
She asked Yu Wanqiu if it worked.
"Zhuan Streetâs night market?" Yu Wanqiu nodded. "Thatâs fine."
Jiang Lanâs eyes curved with delight. Sheâd look up recommendations nextâwhat to try, what to avoid.
Yu Wanqiu never used speakerphone, so while the crew could guess the gist of her calls, they didnât know Lu Yicheng had planned to visit the night market all along.
Zhang Tian considered it and decided to cut this scene. Yu Wanqiuâs fame meant fans might swarm the location if word got out.
True to her word, Yu Wanqiu led Jiang Lan through yoga after dinner. As a beginner (and a self-proclaimed sloth), Jiang Lan was drenched in sweat within minutes.
That hour felt like an eternity.
Afterward, she collapsed on the couch for thirty minutes before mustering the energy to shower. Once recovered, Jiang Lan noticed somethingâher calves looked slightly slimmer. But sheâd only started yoga days ago.
"Yu-laoshi! My legs look thinner!" Jiang Lan wasnât obsessed with being ultra-slim, but if she could eat freely *and* get leaner? Sign her up.
Yu Wanqiu assessed her. "A bit. But yoga isnât just for weight lossâit shapes your posture. Once youâre used to it, Iâll take you to the gym for weights."
"Weights?!"
Jiang Lan recoiled. "No thanks."
Yu Wanqiu raised an eyebrow. "Donât you want abs?"
She wore a two-piece pajama set. Lifting the hem slightly, she revealed her toned midsectionâa sculpted waistline, the definition crisp from discipline.
Every salad, every drop of gym sweat, every yoga session over the years showed in that effortless, athletic beauty.
Jiang Lan stared. "You have them. Iâll just admire yours."
Yu Wanqiu promptly tugged her shirt down.
"Mean." Jiang Lan pouted. Abs were nice, but they required *dieting*. No way. Yoga was enough. Honestly, Yu Wanqiuâs abs could put male celebritiesâ six-packs to shame.
If fans saw them, theyâd probably start demanding those male stars hit the gym harder.
The second episode aired Friday at 10 PM.
All week, the showâs official account had teased clipsâunused footage from the first episode and previews of the upcoming one.
Shen Xingyao shared a clip of her phone call with Chen Haoâa two-minute exchange filled with sickeningly sweet affection.
Zhang Linâs eldest son made an appearance; the seven-year-old boy bore a striking resemblance to his mother, with particularly polite manners.
Chen Shuyun had been tuning into livestreams these past few days, learning to cook. In one segment, Aunt Zhao asked her, *âHow much do you earn in a month?â*
Chen Shuyun replied with a bitter smile, *âMom, a few years ago, the housing prices in City B were over 50,000 per square meter. Our apartment is over 120 square meters. Old Chen is a civil servant, and his monthly salary was just over 10,000âand thatâs only after recent raises.â*
A property worth over six millionâif Aunt Zhaoâs son had to save for it, it would take him more than 50 years of not eating or drinking.
Aunt Zhao was stunned speechless.
The behind-the-scenes footage for Yu Wanqiuâs segment featured clips from the movie premiere. While Jiang Lan didnât get much screen time during the actual premiere, the B-roll was filled with shots of her.
Fans were blown away.
It was still Jiang Lan, but she looked *unbelievably* gorgeous. Sitting beside Yu Wanqiu, the two were a visual feast.
Emerald green and wine red were colors that made their skin glow, especially in the dimly lit audience seatingâthey practically radiated light.
Yu Wanqiu was seated next to award-winning actor Chu Lingnan, while behind them sat popular idol Xie Zheng, who had a cameo in the film, looking unusually well-behaved.
The entire frame was packed with stunning facesâa gathering of the entertainment industryâs most beautiful people.
Yet, Jiang Lan held her own effortlessly.
**[This is unfair.]**
**[Lu Shuangchen, Lu YichengâIâm temporarily stealing your wives. I declare these two are now mine.]**
**[Just because Yu Wanqiu eats too much takeout doesnât mean weâve forgotten sheâs an award-winning actress. That aura? Absolutely lethal. And we still have eight hours until the episode airsâagony!]**
At 10 PM sharp on Friday, the second episode aired.
Thanks to the tantalizing B-roll, the ratings soared past 1% from the very beginning.
In the previous episode, Yu Wanqiu had promised to take Jiang Lan to yogaâand true to her word, this episode showed Jiang Lan suffering through it.
Yu Wanqiu was strict. One repetition wasnât enough; she made Jiang Lan do it over and over until her form was perfect.
A comedic subtitle flashed over Jiang Lanâs head: *âHeavens, strike me down!â*
This episode noticeably gave Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan more screen time.
On Sunday afternoon, Xia Jing arrived with her assistants and makeup team. Soon after, the group set off for Shanghai.
The premiere at Shanghai Grand Theatre, a dinner at a Western restaurant the next day, Shen Xingyaoâs birthday partyâ¦
The ratings peaked at over 2% during the premiere coverage.
From Jiang Lanâs perspective, she said, *âI want to wear a new dress and invite a beautiful woman to dinner.â*
On camera, Yu Wanqiuâs face flushed slightly. She seemed uncharacteristically flusteredâno one had ever been so openly forward with her before. *âTomorrow night,â* she agreed. *âWeâll eat before heading back to City B.â*
After the premiere, Jiang Lan returned to her hotel, changed, and dashed out. She visited several flower shops before carefully selecting a bouquet of freesias, arranging to pick them up the next afternoon.
She then stopped by the Western restaurant, asking the owner if she could play the violin for a few minutes. She wanted to surprise her friend but, strapped for cash, ended up playing for a full hour in exchange for a 50% discount card.
Yu Wanqiu knew nothing of this.
When Yu Wanqiu walked in, the soft strains of a violin began. Water droplets from the fountain sparkled under the lights, refracting tiny glimmers. Jiang Lan stood beside the fountain, shifting between light and shadow like a dream.
Over 200 bullet comments flooded the screen on Penguin Video:
**[ALL HAIL THE VIOLIN SOCIETY PRESIDENT!]**
For a moment, the screen was completely overtaken.
Netizens were startled, then suddenly rememberedâJiang Lan was the president of Qinghua Universityâs Violin Society. A little cheesy? Maybe. But it also made their hearts swell.
As *âMemoriesâ* played, the camera zoomed out, revisiting moments from the past week: the two avoiding each otherâs gazes in the elevator, Yu Wanqiu suggesting they eat together, playing games side by side, livestreaming together, and the fleeting hesitation on Jiang Lanâs face when Yu Wanqiu mentioned Lu Yicheng.
When the music ended, Jiang Lan took the freesias and walked toward Yu Wanqiu. *âLast nightâs movie was wonderful. I look forward to seeing even greater work from you, Teacher Yu.â*
This wasnât just a casual dinnerâit was a private celebration, just for Yu Wanqiu.
Even the most jaded viewers could understand why Yu Wanqiu had grown to like Jiang Lan.
**[I bet my wife played the violin for Lu Yicheng too.
[Iâm just a jealous loser.jpg]]**
**[Turns out, being broke and being thoughtless are two different things. [smile]]**
**[Jiang Lan playing the violin is pure charm.]**
On Weiboâs trending list:
1. **[Lu Yichengâs Happiness 1]**
2. **[Yu Wanqiuâs Happiness 2]**
15. **[Jiang Lan, Violin Society President]**
21. **[Yu Wanqiu & Jiang Lan]**
39. **[How Thoughtless Can Boyfriends Be?]**
Since joining the program, she had often called Lu Yicheng. Their conversations were never longâjust a few minutes each timeâbut this was the first time Lu Yicheng had sounded like this.
Not contacting Jiang Lan for over ten days and only being able to see her through the show or livestreams had made Lu Yicheng start doubting himself.
He wondered if Jiang Lan wanted to break up with him.
Yu Wanqiu didnât know how many times Lu Yicheng had thought about this. She recalled what Jiang Lan had said at the hotpot restaurantâJiang Lan understood everything perfectly.
"If things donât work out, it just means fate wasnât on our side."
The other end of the call stayed silent. After nearly half a minute, Lu Yicheng finally spoke:
"Youâve only known Jiang Lan for a few days. If one day she stops sending you flowers, stops playing games with you, and stops sharing delicious food with you, could you calmly say itâs just fate?"
Yu Wanqiu shuddered at the thought. Was this really her son? Could he stop jinxing things already?
"...Success depends on fate, but effort matters too. Lu Yicheng, donât give up."
"I just want to spend some time with her."
They hadnât seen each other in over ten days. After summer break, theyâd be seniors in college. Lu Yicheng was busy with his internship, and his schedule was packed.
They had originally planned to have hotpot for lunch that day, but something urgent came up for him.
Yu Wanqiu sighed. "Alright, alright. But doesnât this count as betraying Jiang Lan? Donât mess up your own relationship and ruin mine with her."
Lu Yicheng: "..."
"Oh, one more thing. Did the two of you still go out at the end of the month before?" Yu Wanqiu remembered Jiang Lan mentioning that she had to budget carefully when funds ran low by monthâs end.
Lu Yicheng thought about it. He had indeed wanted to go on dates with Jiang Lan at the end of the month, but she always seemed busy.
"Yeah, why?"
Yu Wanqiu was instantly furious. Of courseâmen were all the same. "Figure it out yourself!"
Lu Yicheng had never lacked money growing up. How would he know what it was like to run out of allowance? He lived comfortably all month, while Jiang Lan⦠might have been surviving on plain steamed buns in her dorm.
For dinner, Yu Wanqiu prepared garlic spare ribs, dry-pot potatoes, and steamed rice.
Jiang Lan was baffled. "Yu-laoshi, are we celebrating something?"
Theyâd just had a feast at lunch, and now another meat-heavy meal at night. Was this their "last supper" before separating their meals?
Yu Wanqiu replied, "I didnât want to see you eating at othersâ homes like youâre starving here. Rest a bit after dinner, then weâll do yoga. Donât you always say, 'If you donât eatâ'"
"âhow can you have energy to lose weight!" Jiang Lan immediately finished the sentence, grinning. "Yu-laoshi, youâre pretty trendy, huh."
Yu Wanqiu: "Still, we should balance meat and vegetables. Too much meat isnât healthy. And cut back on takeoutâwho knows what kind of oil they use."
"Got it, got it. I donât eat it often anyway. But Yu-laoshi, donât you think street food tastes better? Itâs not the healthiest, but itâs got that lively vibe. And most importantlyâitâs delicious."
Yu Wanqiu said dismissively, "Whatâs so good about it? It all tastes the same. Canât compare to homemade food."
Jiang Lan countered, "Thatâs because youâve never been to a night market! The whole street is packed with stallsâevery step you take, thereâs something new to try!"
Yu Wanqiu hesitated, then asked reluctantly, "Really?"
It suddenly struck her how well Lu Yicheng understood Jiang Lanâher likes, her habits, everything.
What a coincidence that he also wanted to go to a night market.
"You think Iâd lie? Letâs go one day, and youâll see for yourself." Jiang Lan could go alone, but Yu Wanqiuâs face was too recognizableâsheâd be spotted instantly.
A night market would be crowded. If she got recognized, itâd cause chaos.
Theyâd need masks, and the cameras would have to keep their distance.
Jiang Lan worried Yu Wanqiu might refuse. "Yu-laoshi, itâs seriously amazing. Once you go, youâll want to go again. And everythingâs super cheapâyou can try so much with just 100 yuan!"
Grilled cold noodles, skewered sweet potato skins, roasted corn, potatoes, all kinds of sticksâ¦
"Yu-laoshi, how about this weekend? Saturday night for the market, Sunday for gaming. Letâs rank up to Diamond first, then aim for King." They hadnât played much recently, and Yu Wanqiu was still in Silver.
Yu Wanqiu lowered her head, avoiding Jiang Lanâs eager gaze. "Fine."
Jiang Lan blinked. That easy? No lecture about "street food being unhygienic"? "Wait, really?"
"Keep asking, and Iâll change my mind." Yu Wanqiu picked up a potato slice. Both dishes were heavy on meat and carbsâshe didnât dare eat much.
"Okay, okay! Let me check nearby night markets!" Today was Thursday. The second episode aired tomorrow, so Saturday night was perfect.
After some research, Jiang Lan found Zhuan Streetâonly half an hourâs drive from their villa. Other places took over an hour by subway. Reviews praised the food stalls there as affordable and clean.
She asked Yu Wanqiu if it worked.
"Zhuan Streetâs night market?" Yu Wanqiu nodded. "Thatâs fine."
Jiang Lanâs eyes curved with delight. Sheâd look up recommendations nextâwhat to try, what to avoid.
Yu Wanqiu never used speakerphone, so while the crew could guess the gist of her calls, they didnât know Lu Yicheng had planned to visit the night market all along.
Zhang Tian considered it and decided to cut this scene. Yu Wanqiuâs fame meant fans might swarm the location if word got out.
True to her word, Yu Wanqiu led Jiang Lan through yoga after dinner. As a beginner (and a self-proclaimed sloth), Jiang Lan was drenched in sweat within minutes.
That hour felt like an eternity.
Afterward, she collapsed on the couch for thirty minutes before mustering the energy to shower. Once recovered, Jiang Lan noticed somethingâher calves looked slightly slimmer. But sheâd only started yoga days ago.
"Yu-laoshi! My legs look thinner!" Jiang Lan wasnât obsessed with being ultra-slim, but if she could eat freely *and* get leaner? Sign her up.
Yu Wanqiu assessed her. "A bit. But yoga isnât just for weight lossâit shapes your posture. Once youâre used to it, Iâll take you to the gym for weights."
"Weights?!"
Jiang Lan recoiled. "No thanks."
Yu Wanqiu raised an eyebrow. "Donât you want abs?"
She wore a two-piece pajama set. Lifting the hem slightly, she revealed her toned midsectionâa sculpted waistline, the definition crisp from discipline.
Every salad, every drop of gym sweat, every yoga session over the years showed in that effortless, athletic beauty.
Jiang Lan stared. "You have them. Iâll just admire yours."
Yu Wanqiu promptly tugged her shirt down.
"Mean." Jiang Lan pouted. Abs were nice, but they required *dieting*. No way. Yoga was enough. Honestly, Yu Wanqiuâs abs could put male celebritiesâ six-packs to shame.
If fans saw them, theyâd probably start demanding those male stars hit the gym harder.
The second episode aired Friday at 10 PM.
All week, the showâs official account had teased clipsâunused footage from the first episode and previews of the upcoming one.
Shen Xingyao shared a clip of her phone call with Chen Haoâa two-minute exchange filled with sickeningly sweet affection.
Zhang Linâs eldest son made an appearance; the seven-year-old boy bore a striking resemblance to his mother, with particularly polite manners.
Chen Shuyun had been tuning into livestreams these past few days, learning to cook. In one segment, Aunt Zhao asked her, *âHow much do you earn in a month?â*
Chen Shuyun replied with a bitter smile, *âMom, a few years ago, the housing prices in City B were over 50,000 per square meter. Our apartment is over 120 square meters. Old Chen is a civil servant, and his monthly salary was just over 10,000âand thatâs only after recent raises.â*
A property worth over six millionâif Aunt Zhaoâs son had to save for it, it would take him more than 50 years of not eating or drinking.
Aunt Zhao was stunned speechless.
The behind-the-scenes footage for Yu Wanqiuâs segment featured clips from the movie premiere. While Jiang Lan didnât get much screen time during the actual premiere, the B-roll was filled with shots of her.
Fans were blown away.
It was still Jiang Lan, but she looked *unbelievably* gorgeous. Sitting beside Yu Wanqiu, the two were a visual feast.
Emerald green and wine red were colors that made their skin glow, especially in the dimly lit audience seatingâthey practically radiated light.
Yu Wanqiu was seated next to award-winning actor Chu Lingnan, while behind them sat popular idol Xie Zheng, who had a cameo in the film, looking unusually well-behaved.
The entire frame was packed with stunning facesâa gathering of the entertainment industryâs most beautiful people.
Yet, Jiang Lan held her own effortlessly.
**[This is unfair.]**
**[Lu Shuangchen, Lu YichengâIâm temporarily stealing your wives. I declare these two are now mine.]**
**[Just because Yu Wanqiu eats too much takeout doesnât mean weâve forgotten sheâs an award-winning actress. That aura? Absolutely lethal. And we still have eight hours until the episode airsâagony!]**
At 10 PM sharp on Friday, the second episode aired.
Thanks to the tantalizing B-roll, the ratings soared past 1% from the very beginning.
In the previous episode, Yu Wanqiu had promised to take Jiang Lan to yogaâand true to her word, this episode showed Jiang Lan suffering through it.
Yu Wanqiu was strict. One repetition wasnât enough; she made Jiang Lan do it over and over until her form was perfect.
A comedic subtitle flashed over Jiang Lanâs head: *âHeavens, strike me down!â*
This episode noticeably gave Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan more screen time.
On Sunday afternoon, Xia Jing arrived with her assistants and makeup team. Soon after, the group set off for Shanghai.
The premiere at Shanghai Grand Theatre, a dinner at a Western restaurant the next day, Shen Xingyaoâs birthday partyâ¦
The ratings peaked at over 2% during the premiere coverage.
From Jiang Lanâs perspective, she said, *âI want to wear a new dress and invite a beautiful woman to dinner.â*
On camera, Yu Wanqiuâs face flushed slightly. She seemed uncharacteristically flusteredâno one had ever been so openly forward with her before. *âTomorrow night,â* she agreed. *âWeâll eat before heading back to City B.â*
After the premiere, Jiang Lan returned to her hotel, changed, and dashed out. She visited several flower shops before carefully selecting a bouquet of freesias, arranging to pick them up the next afternoon.
She then stopped by the Western restaurant, asking the owner if she could play the violin for a few minutes. She wanted to surprise her friend but, strapped for cash, ended up playing for a full hour in exchange for a 50% discount card.
Yu Wanqiu knew nothing of this.
When Yu Wanqiu walked in, the soft strains of a violin began. Water droplets from the fountain sparkled under the lights, refracting tiny glimmers. Jiang Lan stood beside the fountain, shifting between light and shadow like a dream.
Over 200 bullet comments flooded the screen on Penguin Video:
**[ALL HAIL THE VIOLIN SOCIETY PRESIDENT!]**
For a moment, the screen was completely overtaken.
Netizens were startled, then suddenly rememberedâJiang Lan was the president of Qinghua Universityâs Violin Society. A little cheesy? Maybe. But it also made their hearts swell.
As *âMemoriesâ* played, the camera zoomed out, revisiting moments from the past week: the two avoiding each otherâs gazes in the elevator, Yu Wanqiu suggesting they eat together, playing games side by side, livestreaming together, and the fleeting hesitation on Jiang Lanâs face when Yu Wanqiu mentioned Lu Yicheng.
When the music ended, Jiang Lan took the freesias and walked toward Yu Wanqiu. *âLast nightâs movie was wonderful. I look forward to seeing even greater work from you, Teacher Yu.â*
This wasnât just a casual dinnerâit was a private celebration, just for Yu Wanqiu.
Even the most jaded viewers could understand why Yu Wanqiu had grown to like Jiang Lan.
**[I bet my wife played the violin for Lu Yicheng too.
[Iâm just a jealous loser.jpg]]**
**[Turns out, being broke and being thoughtless are two different things. [smile]]**
**[Jiang Lan playing the violin is pure charm.]**
On Weiboâs trending list:
1. **[Lu Yichengâs Happiness 1]**
2. **[Yu Wanqiuâs Happiness 2]**
15. **[Jiang Lan, Violin Society President]**
21. **[Yu Wanqiu & Jiang Lan]**
39. **[How Thoughtless Can Boyfriends Be?]**