My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet’s Hottest Power Couple
Author: NovelFire
Chapter 37
Under this WeChat Moments post, a mix of industry insiders and outsiders left comments. Yu Wanqiu knew many peopleâveteran actors and actresses, retired seniors from the entertainment world, musicians, singers, screenwriters, directors, and cinematographers...
In the past, Yu Wanqiu would never have been this high-profile, but today she was simply too happy. Besides, she was only celebrating the nominationâit wasnât as if she was certain sheâd win.
Being nominated was already an official recognition worth celebrating. Yet, among all the comments, only Jiang Lan had sent her flowersâeven though they were just bought online.
Among the flood of comments was one from Lu Shuangchen, a simple "Congratulations." There was no questioning why Yu Wanqiu had posted on Moments but hadnât replied to his messages. Just a straightforward well-wishing for his wife.
Yu Wanqiu replied with a blanket "Thank you" to everyone.
As for Lu Shuangchen? She had no intention of responding.
Holding the bouquet, Yu Wanqiu felt both touched by Jiang Lanâs gesture and a little guilty about the expense. "Donât spend money on these in the future. If you really want to, just get them from Pinduoduo," she said, bubbling with happiness.
Flowers from Pinduoduo were still flowersâtheyâd look just as nice in a vase, and theyâd be cheaper and more plentiful.
Jiang Lan replied, "But this is a celebration! And the freesias have wilted anywayâletâs replace them with these."
Yu Wanqiu felt like Jiang Lan had monopolized her floral arrangements. Who didnât love flowers?
Still, she had a soft spot for extravagant packaging. Someone who rarely took selfies now held the bouquet and snapped several photos.
"I hope this bunch lasts a long time."
The movie Deep Sea had already crossed 3 billion at the box office, and with half the summer vacation still left, conservative estimates put its final earnings at 5 billion.
Yu Wanqiu wasnât just the female leadâshe was also one of the investors. This was going to be a huge payday.
"Jiang Lan, letâs celebrate! My treat!"
Jiang Lan pulled out her phone. "Tonight or tomorrow? Takeout? Beer or cola? Should we get a cake? Can I have a big bowl of ice cream?"
Yu Wanqiu vetoed the ice cream. Delicious as it was, it was too coldâbad for the body, especially with the AC running. "We had barbecue yesterday. Letâs do it tomorrow. We canât keep eating unhealthy food every dayâwe need to pace ourselves."
In Yu Wanqiuâs mind, takeout was inherently unhealthy. Even after trying it a few times, she couldnât shake the belief.
Tasty? Sure. Healthy? No.
Besides, it was already past 10 PM. Eating now would mean extra pounds, and greasy food wasnât good for the body.
Jiang Lan quietly put her phone away. "Then weâll celebrate tomorrow. Yu-laoshi, how about we cook ourselves?"
If they made it themselves, surely it wouldnât be "unhealthy," right?
Theyâd gone out on Saturday, visited Q City on Sunday, and now it was Tuesday. Theyâd been eating out for days. Jiang Lan was craving Yu Wanqiuâs sweet and sour pork ribsâthey were that good.
Yu Wanqiu smiled and nodded. "For the celebration, you can pick a few more dishes. Weâll get up early tomorrow and have Little Xu deliver the ingredients. Think about what you want tonight."
Cooking together would be fun and delicious.
After saying goodnight to Jiang Lan, Yu Wanqiu carried her precious flowers into her room.
She carefully unwrapped the bouquet, dividing the blooms into vases. Yu Wanqiu had studied flower arrangingâit was one of her hobbies. After arranging them, she took a few more photos.
Her chat history with Lu Shuangchen was still stuck on his "Congratulations."
That was just the kind of person he wasânever reaching out unless there was a reason. When he did, it was always business. Unlike Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng, who probably called each other all the time.
Yu Wanqiu and Lu Shuangchen spoke on the phone less often than she did with Lu Yicheng.
Maybe that was just how relationships were at their age.
If she didnât reply to his messages...
Lu Shuangchen would just assume: Sheâs busy. Sheâs asleep. Sheâll reply when she sees it.
He wouldnât even notice if she posted on Moments but deliberately ignored him.
Yu Wanqiu shook her head, washed up, and got into bed. The faint scent of flowers lingered in the bedroom.
It was already August. The show had a little over a month left. Once filming ended, sheâd need to start considering new scripts.
Which meant... sheâd have to part ways with Jiang Lan.
Yu Wanqiuâs eyes snapped open.
The next day, Jiang Lan woke up at 7 AM. Yu Wanqiu emerged at the same time. An hour of yoga, an hour of piano practiceâby 10 AM, they were done.
At 10, Little Xu arrived with two large bags of groceries. Earlier that morning, Yu Wanqiu had sent her a shopping list: barbecue seasoning, skewers, hotpot base, assorted meats and meatballs, sesame sauce, vegetables, chicken, ribs, wings, fish, shrimp, cola, two tubs of Häagen-Dazs, and two bags of chipsâone tomato-flavored, one cucumber.
Ice cream and chips? Definitely not Yu Wanqiuâs usual purchases. She wouldnât even glance at them.
No surpriseâthe moment Little Xu reached the fourth floor, Jiang Lan asked, "Did you get the ice cream and chips?"
Little Xu was closer to Jiang Lan, often accompanying her on outings. Sheâd known right awayâno way Yu Wanqiu would eat that stuff.
As an outsider, Little Xu found their dynamic fascinating. She followed the show religiously, having watched the previous season too. Shen Xingyao and Du Wanzhou had the most equal, barrier-free mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship on the show. But in many ways, Shen Xingyao treated Du Wanzhou like her own mother, and Du Wanzhou treated her like a daughter.
A perfect example of "turning your mother-in-law into your mom."
Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan werenât like that.
Jiang Lan never treated Yu Wanqiu as an elder or as a celebrated actress. It was like she had a filterâone that stripped away all pretenses.
If you didnât know they were future in-laws, youâd think they were just close friendsâbesties, even.
"Got everything, including the ice cream and chips. Need any help, sis?" Little Xu was a jack-of-all-trades assistant.
Yu Wanqiu shook her head. "No, you can go. Jiang Lan, come help me prepâstop eyeing the ice cream."
Little Xu: Guess Iâm not needed here.
The crew all knew about Yu Wanqiuâs nomination and had congratulated her. Shen Xingyao and Zhang Lin were the most excitedâodd, since it wasnât their award.
Maybe it was just seeing Yu Wanqiu like thisâa lighthouse in their boundless panic, showing them the direction to strive for.
But Yu Wanqiu wasnât planning to treat everyone to a meal. Staying low-key was better. Celebrating with Jiang Lan was enough.
The crew had an induction cooker and a grill, perfect for hotpot and barbecue. Add in Jiang Lanâs requested sweet and sour ribs, cola wings, a pot of mixed-grain rice, and some greensâthat was their lunch.
Yu âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââWanqiu had never made barbecue before, so she asked Lu Yicheng for help.
[How did you make that barbecue seasoning at the beach last time? Send me the recipe.]
[Lu Yicheng: Canât you just Google it?]
[Asking you is a compliment. Hurry up and send it. Jiang Lan wants it.]
This was Yu Wanqiuâs way of borrowing flowers to offer as a gift. But Lu Yicheng was annoyed.
Those seasoning blends, those recipesâthey werenât priceless, but heâd put effort into finding them. Now Yu Wanqiu was taking them, cooking with them, and asking Jiang Lan how they tasted.
What did any of that have to do with him?
Many things Jiang Lan had forgotten. What if in the future, while eating the dishes he cooked, she suddenly asked, "Lu Yicheng, your cooking is really good... Did you learn it from Yu Wanqiu?"
Lu Yicheng: "â¦â¦â¦â¦"
He could already imagine the expression on his face at that moment.
What did she mean by "learned from Yu Wanqiu"? That time with the black pepper beef stir-fry, it was Yu Wanqiu who had asked him for advice.
But Jiang Lan wanted to eat it.
So Lu Yicheng sent her the recipe.
Jiang Lan was in charge of washing and chopping vegetables, as well as marinating the meat and chicken wings, while Yu Wanqiu handled cooking the wings, ribs, and skewers.
"Jiang Lan, should we grill a couple of chicken wings?"
"Yes."
The barbecue spread included lamb skewers, grilled chicken wings, roasted oysters, garlic vermicelli with scallops, and grilled mushrooms and potatoes.
For hot pot, they had a split potâone side clear broth, the other spicyâwith thinly sliced lamb and beef, along with an assortment of meatballs.
In the end, they skipped the cola chicken wings and sweet-and-sour ribs since the hot pot and barbecue were more than enough. Since they werenât making the cola wings, they might as well drink the cola.
After chilling in the fridge for over an hour, condensation formed on the bottles.
Each of them had a bowl of rice, ready to drop meat into the boiling pot. Eating hot pot and barbecue in an air-conditioned room, washing it down with ice-cold cola, and finishing with ice creamâit was pure bliss.
Yu Wanqiu said, "Just pour me a little. I donât really like this stuff. You should drink less of it tooâitâs not good for you."
Carbonated drinks? Yu Wanqiu had never taken a single sip. And according to the internet, they corroded teeth.
Milk tea would be better.
Jiang Lan gave an indifferent "Oh" and poured Yu Wanqiu just half a glass, while filling her own to the brim. Once the pot boiled again, the meat would be ready.
"First toastâcongratulations to Yu Wanqiu for her filmâs Golden Bear nomination! May she keep striving and achieve even greater success!"
Yu Wanqiu gave a dignified hum and took a tiny sip. Just that small taste sent a tingling sensation through her tongue.
The chilled drink was already icy, and that one sip sent a shock of refreshing coolness straight to her brain.
It felt a bit like beer, but much sweeter.
Some people called cola "the nectar of couch potatoes," and the name was well-earned.
They had a split hot potâone side mild, the other spicy. Jiang Lan ate from the spicy side, and whenever the heat became too much, she took a big gulp of cola, instantly revitalized.
Yu Wanqiu tried a few bites from the mild side but found it unsatisfying, so she reached for the spicy pot instead. When her mouth went numb, she took a big swig of colaâbut she only had half a glass, which was gone in three sips.
Jiang Lan had noticed long ago. "Yu Wanqiu, youâre right. Cola isnât healthy. And they say carbonated drinks ruin your teethâdrink too much, and theyâll all fall out."
Yu Wanqiu: "â¦â¦â¦The internet isnât always reliable. Beer has bubbles too, and plenty of people drink it without losing their teeth."
"But this is sweet. Drinking it will definitely make you gain weight. Not good, not good."
Yu Wanqiu was too embarrassed to pour herself more. "...Itâs not like we drink it often. Once in a while wonât hurt."
Jiang Lan asked, "Really?"
"Of course itâsâ Jiang Lan, are you teasing me on purpose? You can tell I want more, and youâre saying all this!" Yu Wanqiu couldnât back down now, but she was parched. "Fine, Iâll get it myself."
Jiang Lan laughed. "Just messing with you! Youâre always going on about whatâs unhealthy and whatâs not. Go ahead, drink up."
Yu Wanqiu: "It really isnât that healthy."
She took another sip, then flipped the skewers on the grill.
Yu Wanqiu used to think Jiang Lan was lazy and unmotivated, wasting her youth with her eyes closed.
But she couldnât deny that Jiang Lan worked hard when it came to practicing the violinâday after day, year after year. Even the most beautiful passion could turn monotonous.
Jiang Lan wasnât just about having fun; she knew when to play and when to focus.
Yu Wanqiu asked, "What do you plan to do after graduation?"
Once the show wrapped up, Jiang Lan would likely earn twenty millionâthat was in the contract. Then she had one more year of university.
After graduation, Jiang Lan wanted...
"I want to join the National Symphony Orchestra and play the violin for the rest of my life."
In the past, Yu Wanqiu would never have been this high-profile, but today she was simply too happy. Besides, she was only celebrating the nominationâit wasnât as if she was certain sheâd win.
Being nominated was already an official recognition worth celebrating. Yet, among all the comments, only Jiang Lan had sent her flowersâeven though they were just bought online.
Among the flood of comments was one from Lu Shuangchen, a simple "Congratulations." There was no questioning why Yu Wanqiu had posted on Moments but hadnât replied to his messages. Just a straightforward well-wishing for his wife.
Yu Wanqiu replied with a blanket "Thank you" to everyone.
As for Lu Shuangchen? She had no intention of responding.
Holding the bouquet, Yu Wanqiu felt both touched by Jiang Lanâs gesture and a little guilty about the expense. "Donât spend money on these in the future. If you really want to, just get them from Pinduoduo," she said, bubbling with happiness.
Flowers from Pinduoduo were still flowersâtheyâd look just as nice in a vase, and theyâd be cheaper and more plentiful.
Jiang Lan replied, "But this is a celebration! And the freesias have wilted anywayâletâs replace them with these."
Yu Wanqiu felt like Jiang Lan had monopolized her floral arrangements. Who didnât love flowers?
Still, she had a soft spot for extravagant packaging. Someone who rarely took selfies now held the bouquet and snapped several photos.
"I hope this bunch lasts a long time."
The movie Deep Sea had already crossed 3 billion at the box office, and with half the summer vacation still left, conservative estimates put its final earnings at 5 billion.
Yu Wanqiu wasnât just the female leadâshe was also one of the investors. This was going to be a huge payday.
"Jiang Lan, letâs celebrate! My treat!"
Jiang Lan pulled out her phone. "Tonight or tomorrow? Takeout? Beer or cola? Should we get a cake? Can I have a big bowl of ice cream?"
Yu Wanqiu vetoed the ice cream. Delicious as it was, it was too coldâbad for the body, especially with the AC running. "We had barbecue yesterday. Letâs do it tomorrow. We canât keep eating unhealthy food every dayâwe need to pace ourselves."
In Yu Wanqiuâs mind, takeout was inherently unhealthy. Even after trying it a few times, she couldnât shake the belief.
Tasty? Sure. Healthy? No.
Besides, it was already past 10 PM. Eating now would mean extra pounds, and greasy food wasnât good for the body.
Jiang Lan quietly put her phone away. "Then weâll celebrate tomorrow. Yu-laoshi, how about we cook ourselves?"
If they made it themselves, surely it wouldnât be "unhealthy," right?
Theyâd gone out on Saturday, visited Q City on Sunday, and now it was Tuesday. Theyâd been eating out for days. Jiang Lan was craving Yu Wanqiuâs sweet and sour pork ribsâthey were that good.
Yu Wanqiu smiled and nodded. "For the celebration, you can pick a few more dishes. Weâll get up early tomorrow and have Little Xu deliver the ingredients. Think about what you want tonight."
Cooking together would be fun and delicious.
After saying goodnight to Jiang Lan, Yu Wanqiu carried her precious flowers into her room.
She carefully unwrapped the bouquet, dividing the blooms into vases. Yu Wanqiu had studied flower arrangingâit was one of her hobbies. After arranging them, she took a few more photos.
Her chat history with Lu Shuangchen was still stuck on his "Congratulations."
That was just the kind of person he wasânever reaching out unless there was a reason. When he did, it was always business. Unlike Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng, who probably called each other all the time.
Yu Wanqiu and Lu Shuangchen spoke on the phone less often than she did with Lu Yicheng.
Maybe that was just how relationships were at their age.
If she didnât reply to his messages...
Lu Shuangchen would just assume: Sheâs busy. Sheâs asleep. Sheâll reply when she sees it.
He wouldnât even notice if she posted on Moments but deliberately ignored him.
Yu Wanqiu shook her head, washed up, and got into bed. The faint scent of flowers lingered in the bedroom.
It was already August. The show had a little over a month left. Once filming ended, sheâd need to start considering new scripts.
Which meant... sheâd have to part ways with Jiang Lan.
Yu Wanqiuâs eyes snapped open.
The next day, Jiang Lan woke up at 7 AM. Yu Wanqiu emerged at the same time. An hour of yoga, an hour of piano practiceâby 10 AM, they were done.
At 10, Little Xu arrived with two large bags of groceries. Earlier that morning, Yu Wanqiu had sent her a shopping list: barbecue seasoning, skewers, hotpot base, assorted meats and meatballs, sesame sauce, vegetables, chicken, ribs, wings, fish, shrimp, cola, two tubs of Häagen-Dazs, and two bags of chipsâone tomato-flavored, one cucumber.
Ice cream and chips? Definitely not Yu Wanqiuâs usual purchases. She wouldnât even glance at them.
No surpriseâthe moment Little Xu reached the fourth floor, Jiang Lan asked, "Did you get the ice cream and chips?"
Little Xu was closer to Jiang Lan, often accompanying her on outings. Sheâd known right awayâno way Yu Wanqiu would eat that stuff.
As an outsider, Little Xu found their dynamic fascinating. She followed the show religiously, having watched the previous season too. Shen Xingyao and Du Wanzhou had the most equal, barrier-free mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship on the show. But in many ways, Shen Xingyao treated Du Wanzhou like her own mother, and Du Wanzhou treated her like a daughter.
A perfect example of "turning your mother-in-law into your mom."
Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan werenât like that.
Jiang Lan never treated Yu Wanqiu as an elder or as a celebrated actress. It was like she had a filterâone that stripped away all pretenses.
If you didnât know they were future in-laws, youâd think they were just close friendsâbesties, even.
"Got everything, including the ice cream and chips. Need any help, sis?" Little Xu was a jack-of-all-trades assistant.
Yu Wanqiu shook her head. "No, you can go. Jiang Lan, come help me prepâstop eyeing the ice cream."
Little Xu: Guess Iâm not needed here.
The crew all knew about Yu Wanqiuâs nomination and had congratulated her. Shen Xingyao and Zhang Lin were the most excitedâodd, since it wasnât their award.
Maybe it was just seeing Yu Wanqiu like thisâa lighthouse in their boundless panic, showing them the direction to strive for.
But Yu Wanqiu wasnât planning to treat everyone to a meal. Staying low-key was better. Celebrating with Jiang Lan was enough.
The crew had an induction cooker and a grill, perfect for hotpot and barbecue. Add in Jiang Lanâs requested sweet and sour ribs, cola wings, a pot of mixed-grain rice, and some greensâthat was their lunch.
Yu âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââWanqiu had never made barbecue before, so she asked Lu Yicheng for help.
[How did you make that barbecue seasoning at the beach last time? Send me the recipe.]
[Lu Yicheng: Canât you just Google it?]
[Asking you is a compliment. Hurry up and send it. Jiang Lan wants it.]
This was Yu Wanqiuâs way of borrowing flowers to offer as a gift. But Lu Yicheng was annoyed.
Those seasoning blends, those recipesâthey werenât priceless, but heâd put effort into finding them. Now Yu Wanqiu was taking them, cooking with them, and asking Jiang Lan how they tasted.
What did any of that have to do with him?
Many things Jiang Lan had forgotten. What if in the future, while eating the dishes he cooked, she suddenly asked, "Lu Yicheng, your cooking is really good... Did you learn it from Yu Wanqiu?"
Lu Yicheng: "â¦â¦â¦â¦"
He could already imagine the expression on his face at that moment.
What did she mean by "learned from Yu Wanqiu"? That time with the black pepper beef stir-fry, it was Yu Wanqiu who had asked him for advice.
But Jiang Lan wanted to eat it.
So Lu Yicheng sent her the recipe.
Jiang Lan was in charge of washing and chopping vegetables, as well as marinating the meat and chicken wings, while Yu Wanqiu handled cooking the wings, ribs, and skewers.
"Jiang Lan, should we grill a couple of chicken wings?"
"Yes."
The barbecue spread included lamb skewers, grilled chicken wings, roasted oysters, garlic vermicelli with scallops, and grilled mushrooms and potatoes.
For hot pot, they had a split potâone side clear broth, the other spicyâwith thinly sliced lamb and beef, along with an assortment of meatballs.
In the end, they skipped the cola chicken wings and sweet-and-sour ribs since the hot pot and barbecue were more than enough. Since they werenât making the cola wings, they might as well drink the cola.
After chilling in the fridge for over an hour, condensation formed on the bottles.
Each of them had a bowl of rice, ready to drop meat into the boiling pot. Eating hot pot and barbecue in an air-conditioned room, washing it down with ice-cold cola, and finishing with ice creamâit was pure bliss.
Yu Wanqiu said, "Just pour me a little. I donât really like this stuff. You should drink less of it tooâitâs not good for you."
Carbonated drinks? Yu Wanqiu had never taken a single sip. And according to the internet, they corroded teeth.
Milk tea would be better.
Jiang Lan gave an indifferent "Oh" and poured Yu Wanqiu just half a glass, while filling her own to the brim. Once the pot boiled again, the meat would be ready.
"First toastâcongratulations to Yu Wanqiu for her filmâs Golden Bear nomination! May she keep striving and achieve even greater success!"
Yu Wanqiu gave a dignified hum and took a tiny sip. Just that small taste sent a tingling sensation through her tongue.
The chilled drink was already icy, and that one sip sent a shock of refreshing coolness straight to her brain.
It felt a bit like beer, but much sweeter.
Some people called cola "the nectar of couch potatoes," and the name was well-earned.
They had a split hot potâone side mild, the other spicy. Jiang Lan ate from the spicy side, and whenever the heat became too much, she took a big gulp of cola, instantly revitalized.
Yu Wanqiu tried a few bites from the mild side but found it unsatisfying, so she reached for the spicy pot instead. When her mouth went numb, she took a big swig of colaâbut she only had half a glass, which was gone in three sips.
Jiang Lan had noticed long ago. "Yu Wanqiu, youâre right. Cola isnât healthy. And they say carbonated drinks ruin your teethâdrink too much, and theyâll all fall out."
Yu Wanqiu: "â¦â¦â¦The internet isnât always reliable. Beer has bubbles too, and plenty of people drink it without losing their teeth."
"But this is sweet. Drinking it will definitely make you gain weight. Not good, not good."
Yu Wanqiu was too embarrassed to pour herself more. "...Itâs not like we drink it often. Once in a while wonât hurt."
Jiang Lan asked, "Really?"
"Of course itâsâ Jiang Lan, are you teasing me on purpose? You can tell I want more, and youâre saying all this!" Yu Wanqiu couldnât back down now, but she was parched. "Fine, Iâll get it myself."
Jiang Lan laughed. "Just messing with you! Youâre always going on about whatâs unhealthy and whatâs not. Go ahead, drink up."
Yu Wanqiu: "It really isnât that healthy."
She took another sip, then flipped the skewers on the grill.
Yu Wanqiu used to think Jiang Lan was lazy and unmotivated, wasting her youth with her eyes closed.
But she couldnât deny that Jiang Lan worked hard when it came to practicing the violinâday after day, year after year. Even the most beautiful passion could turn monotonous.
Jiang Lan wasnât just about having fun; she knew when to play and when to focus.
Yu Wanqiu asked, "What do you plan to do after graduation?"
Once the show wrapped up, Jiang Lan would likely earn twenty millionâthat was in the contract. Then she had one more year of university.
After graduation, Jiang Lan wanted...
"I want to join the National Symphony Orchestra and play the violin for the rest of my life."