My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet’s Hottest Power Couple

The feeling was different from riding a jet ski last time—underwater, there was a strong sense of weightlessness. If Yu Wanqiu hadn't been holding her, Jiang Lan might have done a somersault in the water.
With an oxygen tank, there was no need to worry about choking. The water was icy cold, and looking outward through the ripples felt entirely different from peering through glass from the outside.
The world beyond the water was a blur, but she could see every pattern on the fish swimming around her—even the tiny bubbles they blew.
To the fish, they were intruders. At first, the little fish darted away as soon as they got close. Only after some time did they cautiously swim nearer.
Jiang Lan waved at Yu Wanqiu, signaling that she could manage on her own for a while. Yu Wanqiu let go of her hand.
The view was crystal clear, the water shimmering as jellyfish drifted past. A few bold fish had already gathered around. Yu Wanqiu didn’t dare stray too far from Jiang Lan, staying close to her.
Underwater, even without a mermaid’s tail, she felt like one.
Yu Wanqiu didn’t even need an oxygen mask to dive deep—her swimming skills were impressive.
If they were compared, Yu Wanqiu was the steady, graceful penguin, while Jiang Lan was the clumsy chick that could trip over nothing.
In the water, Yu Wanqiu moved like a mermaid.
Jiang Lan, on the other hand, felt like a silly goose, barely able to move. From the outside, her flailing must have looked hilarious.
The camera crew stayed outside, responsible for filming—they couldn’t act like ordinary tourists.
But watching from the outside was truly a sight to behold.
Yu Wanqiu, of course, was in a league of her own. An actress with a perfectly maintained figure, skilled in swimming and diving, she moved through the water like a fish. Nowadays, many film and TV productions use stunt doubles for underwater scenes—it was hard to imagine anyone as natural as Yu Wanqiu, gliding effortlessly beneath the surface.
Jiang Lan couldn’t swim, but she remembered the basics of diving, avoiding any embarrassing tumbles.
Though cautious, she was surrounded by jellyfish and tropical fish, creating a breathtaking scene.
For safety, dives were done in small groups, with no more than two people at a time.
The others watched from behind the glass as the two of them explored underwater.
Gradually, some visitors noticed that one of them looked strikingly like Yu Wanqiu.
Even with the diving mask, the jawline was unmistakable. Most people wouldn’t expect to spot a celebrity while out and about, but once the thought took hold, it was impossible to shake.
Two people—one resembling Yu Wanqiu, the other Jiang Lan.
They were both slender and fair-skinned. If it really was Yu Wanqiu…
The visitors glanced around for camera crews.
The production team had equipped them with miniature cameras, but they weren’t the kind of hidden, pin-sized devices—just smaller than usual, since the crew still needed to adjust angles.
Though the cameramen tried to stay discreet, the visitors eventually spotted them.
“Is that really Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu? I can’t believe I’m seeing celebrities!” They’d come to the aquarium because it was less crowded, and the online reviews were good—who knew they’d run into stars?
“Shh, keep it down! We’ll ask for autographs later!”
Whether it was them or not, they snapped photos first.
On the show, Jiang Lan had seemed a little plump, in a cute way, but from here, she looked incredibly slim—and her skin practically glowed.
Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan had no idea they’d been recognized. Since they were diving, neither had worn makeup, and they’d kept masks on earlier, so the previous exhibits had gone smoothly.
But now, with masks off and diving goggles on, someone had figured it out.
Jiang Lan had adjusted somewhat, but she could only paddle clumsily—nothing like Yu Wanqiu’s graceful swimming.
In the end, Yu Wanqiu took Jiang Lan’s hand. Years of fitness training gave her plenty of strength—pulling Jiang Lan along was effortless.
With the water’s buoyancy and the seabed far below, being led by Yu Wanqiu felt like flying through the sky.
Jiang Lan was dizzy with exhilaration.
If she could’ve spoken, she would’ve shouted.
The fish must have mistaken them for their own kind—they followed the pair, mimicking their path.
From the outside, it looked like the fish had been trained.
Even the staff had never seen anything like it. Maybe their energy just matched, or perhaps animals were naturally drawn to them—the seals in the seal exhibit had adored them too.
Twenty minutes underwater was Jiang Lan’s limit.
Once back on land, she collapsed, too exhausted to move. Her legs and arms ached as she sat on the ground. Yu Wanqiu helped remove her diving mask and oxygen tank. “You did great.”
Jiang Lan grinned. “A little fish swam right past my face—it felt like it kissed me.”
Yu Wanqiu pulled a chocolate bar from her bag. “There were so many fish. Have some energy. This aquarium is really fun—I’ve never even dreamed of a scene like this.”
Jiang Lan chuckled. “We haven’t even explored everything on land, and here we are underwater.”
Yu Wanqiu helped her up. “Let’s shower, then we’ll see the dolphins before lunch.”
The aquarium’s dolphins had been rescued and were full of energy, playing with balls during shows. Every day, lucky visitors were chosen to interact with them.
Dolphin shows were included in the ticket price, no extra charge.
After snacking for twenty minutes, they headed to the dolphinarium at three. The place was packed.
Unlike other exhibits, the dolphinarium had a massive space with rows of seating. The fans who’d recognized Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan sat right behind them.
She hadn’t gone diving, but she was just as lightheaded.
Forget asking for autographs or photos—they didn’t even dare speak loudly, holding their breath for fear the two would realize they’d been spotted.
They didn’t post anything online either. This was a day for fun—if photos got out, crowds would swarm, ruining the experience for everyone.
Just seeing them up close like this was enough. They were both stunning.
Yu Wanqiu didn’t look a day over thirty, let alone forty. Her eyes were mesmerizing, and her skin was flawless—probably bare-faced.
Jiang Lan was just as beautiful, fairer and a little shorter than Yu Wanqiu, but already slender. Their chemistry was undeniable.
Each episode was only thirty minutes long—even with fast-forwarded clips, it couldn’t capture everything that happened in a week. Fans only saw the tip of the iceberg.
Haters claimed it was all an act—well, let them try acting like this.
So this was their daily life—like best friends, doing everything together.
Fans had eagle eyes. Their phone cases were gifts from "Lanzhou Pulled Noodles" fans, and their keychains matched.
Today, they were both wearing blue.
The two girls sitting behind Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan exchanged glances every time they spotted something sweet, texting each other like mutes when unsure.
[They’re sitting so close!]
[They’re sharing a water bottle!]
[Lanzhou Pulled Noodles is REAL!]
Hand in hand, the girls marveled. They’d thought the only way to avoid mother-in-law drama was if two best friends made a pact—"If you have a son, I’ll marry him in twenty years."
But this worked too.
Damn, it was so sweet.
The dolphins swam gracefully as the trainer tossed balls for them to play with.
Jiang Lan tugged at Yu Wanqiu's hand. "This dolphin is so white and big."
A splash rippled across the water as the dolphin surfaced, and the trainer gently patted its head.
The dolphin was well-behaved, its upturned snout forming a natural smile, like an angel.
The trainer tossed it a pink ocean ball, and the dolphin flicked its tail, balancing the ball on its head with remarkable agility—it didn’t fall off.
As if seeking praise, the dolphin wagged its tail at the trainer, who rewarded it with a piece of fish.
The dolphin’s sheer cuteness was enough to delight visitors, even if it was just swimming in circles.
During the segment where a lucky visitor was chosen to interact with the dolphin, the aquarium staff had no intention of rigging it for Yu Wanqiu or Jiang Lan. Besides, the tickets weren’t registered under names, making it impossible to cheat.
Getting five extra minutes with the sea lions was already the aquarium’s limit.
The draw was based on entry tickets, each with a unique anti-counterfeiting code.
When the trainer called out "181936," Jiang Lan, though not expecting to win, couldn’t help but glance at her ticket—unsurprisingly, it wasn’t hers.
Then, a ticket was slipped into her hand. The number on the left read: 181936.
Jiang Lan looked at Yu Wanqiu.
Yu Wanqiu raised an eyebrow. "You bought the tickets—it doesn’t matter which one. Go on up."
She gave Jiang Lan a little push.
The trainer repeated, "Is the winner not here? I’ll call one more time. If no one comes forward, we’ll draw another number."
Luck was a strange thing. Since meeting Jiang Lan, Yu Wanqiu’s fortune had improved.
Though others saw her life as smooth sailing, at forty-six, she knew life wasn’t always perfect.
She had started with minor roles, missed Lu Yicheng’s childhood, and spent little time with her husband, Lu Shuangchen. It was Jiang Lan who showed her another side of them.
Moreover, opportunities like Yunnan’s tourism promo and the audition for Tribute had come through Jiang Lan.
Jiang Lan clutched the ticket. There was only one spot—if she went, Yu Wanqiu couldn’t.
Yu Wanqiu smiled. "Go ahead."
The trainer called the number again, and Jiang Lan raised her hand.
Two girls sitting behind them witnessed Yu Wanqiu passing the ticket to Jiang Lan. They leaned back, gripping each other’s hands. "We’re so invested in them."
Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu’s seats were by the aisle, making it easy to exit. The trainer waved Jiang Lan over. "You can shake hands with the dolphin. He’s very gentle—don’t worry, I’ll be right here."
The trainer didn’t recognize them. He’d raised Baobao, the dolphin, for three years—it was like his own child. His bigger concern was visitors startling the animal.
Jiang Lan nodded, promising to be careful.
She picked up a blue ocean ball, Baobao’s favorite color.
Baobao swam toward her.
His snowy-white body and cheerful smile were enchanting. Jiang Lan held out the ball.
Baobao blinked, his round head bobbing above the water. Instead of taking the ball right away, he nuzzled Jiang Lan’s hand with his snout before playfully balancing it and swimming off.
The dolphin had just kissed her! Today, Jiang Lan had been kissed by a fish, nuzzled by a baby seal, and now a dolphin!
The trainer chuckled. "He’s adorable. And so are you—Baobao doesn’t usually kiss people."
Jiang Lan crouched by the edge, watching Baobao spin the ball effortlessly on his snout. Every few laps, he’d circle back to her before diving again.
After the interaction, Jiang Lan was still starry-eyed. "Yu Wanqiu, it felt like a dream. Maybe I shouldn’t wash this hand."
"Don’t even think about touching me if you never wash it," Yu Wanqiu teased, though she was just as thrilled. She’d taken plenty of photos—Jiang Lan crouching by the water, the little dolphin nuzzling her.
The blue water, the princess and her dolphin.
Jiang Lan shook her head. "No way. Best friends hold hands when they go out."
Just then, Yu Wanqiu got a call from Xia Jing.
"You and Jiang Lan are trending. Get out of there—someone might recognize you."
"We were about to leave anyway," Yu Wanqiu said, glancing back at the crowd. Someone must have spotted them.
She quickened her pace, pulling Jiang Lan toward the parking lot where Little Xu waited with the car.
Xia Jing was inside. "A visitor posted photos of Jiang Lan with the dolphin. Most comments are fine, but a few claim the aquarium rigged it for you."
Yu Wanqiu shrugged. "Let them talk. We had our fun."
Xia Jing fumed. "It’s just a handful. Most people are being normal."
Even if it were rigged, so what? The show would promote the aquarium later. And if they’d really wanted special treatment, skipping the ticket draw would’ve been easier.
The hashtag had climbed to #13 on Weibo.
[Visited the aquarium today and ran into the stars of that hit show! They’re even prettier in person. The aquarium was amazing! [Photo]]
[Regretting my life choices! I picked the zoo over the aquarium to see pandas, but there weren’t any T_T]
[Yu Wanqiu is stunning!]
[Jiang Lan got to play with the dolphin?? What luck!]
[Out of so many people, winning is seriously lucky.]
[Or maybe it was guaranteed they’d win… took someone else’s chance.]
[Clarification: I was sitting behind them. Yu Wanqiu won, not Jiang Lan—she gave her ticket away. The draw used paper tickets with codes, no RFID. If they’d wanted to cheat, they’d have just waived the fee.]
[Exactly! Free tickets would’ve been simpler. Plus, they were trying to keep a low profile.]
[Why argue? Luck is random.]
[The dolphin is so cute!]
[It kissed her!]
[Didn’t realize aquariums were this fun. Thought it was just fish tanks.]
[B City’s aquarium has multiple sections—jellyfish, marine fish, seals, penguins, etc. Worth a visit if you’re into it.]
[Tickets are 120, half-price for students. Totally worth it—you can’t see everything in one day.]
[Adding it to my bucket list.]
Xia Jing relaxed slightly after scanning the comments. With fame came critics, but the response was mostly positive.
She asked where they were headed next.
Jiang Lan said, "We haven’t eaten yet. There’s a pork knuckle hotpot place we want to try."
Xia Jing: "Address?"
Jiang Lan pulled up the GPS.
A phone rang in the car. Xia Jing sighed—she wasn’t just Yu Wanqiu’s agent but also managed other artists in the studio.
She answered. "Hello, this is Xia Jing… Yes, Yu Wanqiu’s manager."
She glanced at Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan. "You are…?"
"Mm... okay... I need to discuss it with them first." The phone call lasted a little over three minutes, with Xia Jing nodding repeatedly. After hanging up, she smiled at the two of them. "Don’t worry, it’s good news."
"The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍China Marine Animal Protection Association wants to collaborate with you to promote awareness about protecting marine animals. The specifics of the partnership aren’t clear yet, but they seem very sincere." Xia Jing let out a relieved sigh. "Honestly, good opportunities just keep coming our way."
And this episode hasn’t even aired yet.
Right after trending online, the Marine Animal Protection Association reached out to her. "They mentioned that due to environmental changes, the polar ice caps are melting, and many animals’ habitats are being destroyed.
"Plus, public awareness about marine conservation is still lacking, so the association hopes to rally support for protecting marine life."
No one has a stronger influence than celebrities, and the association is very careful in selecting who to work with.
Yu Wanqiu has won multiple Best Actress awards and has a spotless reputation, while Jiang Lan also has no scandals. The association must have considered all this before choosing them.
Xia Jing said, "Where’s the pork knuckle hotpot? Let’s grab a meal together and celebrate a little."
Though the details of the collaboration haven’t been finalized, it’s pretty much a done deal.
Unless some major scandal breaks out, this opportunity is as good as theirs.