My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet’s Hottest Power Couple
Author: NovelFire
Chapter 85
Xia Jing said, "We need to go through practical training before we can officially announce it. Some of the training content covers topics we've studied before, like protecting the marine environment and rescuing marine animals. They said recording starts on December 27thâfirst for a month before the New Year, then again after. The documentary will have four episodes in total."
This year, the Lunar New Year falls on February 12th. Theyâll record until the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, then take a few days off.
The schedule isnât too tight, but Xia Jing is worried that Yu Wanqiu, having just finished filming, might be under too much physical strain.
Yu Wanqiu feels sheâll be fine. To her, this documentary is practically a vacationâno script, no lines to memorize, just following instructions from a manual.
Yu Wanqiu said, "Donât take on any new roles for me for now."
Xia Jing nodded. "Yeah, I know."
But Yu Wanqiu is the type who gets restless without acting. "If a good script comes along, keep it in mindâdoesnât matter if itâs for film or TV."
Xia Jing agreed. "Alright, you two should start packing. The flightâs at 3:40."
She had already clarified everything she needed to know. "Weâre heading straight to Haicheng. Itâs warm there, and weâll be back before the New Year."
Yu Wanqiu hummed in acknowledgment. This was work, after all. Sheâd gotten back too late the night before and hadnât checked her phone.
Her WeChat was flooded with congratulatory messages for her award winâfrom directors and actors sheâd worked with before, as well as Shen Xingyao, Zhang Lin, and others.
Shen Xingyao and Zhang Lin had hesitated at first, wondering if sending congratulations might come across as trying to curry favor. But as fellow actors, they understood the significance of the Golden Bear Award, and their happiness for Yu Wanqiu was genuine.
After some thought, they decided Yu Wanqiu wasnât the type to overanalyze such things, so they sent their well-wishes anyway.
Yu Wanqiu replied:
[Thanks.]
[I saw you at the ceremony. Just woke up from last nightâs celebration.]
[How have you been lately?]
Shen Xingyao had wrapped up filming. The director praised her performance, saying she held her own even when acting opposite Liang Yun.
Sheâd also landed a new roleâher first major film role, albeit as the third female lead. The director was well-known, and while the part wasnât huge, it marked her debut on the big screen.
Before, she might have dismissed such a role, thinking it better to stick to leading roles in TV dramas. But her mindset had shiftedâno role was too small.
Shen Xingyao had been studying the script diligently. Du Wanzhou was still her assistant and had lost nearly 10 pounds over six monthsânot rapid weight loss, but healthy progress. At her current weight, she looked completely different from before.
None of her old clothes fit anymore, so Shen Xingyao had bought her a whole new wardrobe. Even bundled in winter layers, she looked slimmer than she had in summer dresses.
With a steady paycheck and their bond stronger than ever, Du Wanzhou was thriving.
Zhang Linâs life was quieter these days. Sheâd been resting at home during her pregnancy, with her due date in mid-Februaryâjust over a month away.
She felt at peace. The custody agreement was in her favor, leaving Li Jia powerless.
A month ago, Xu Chaoyang had proposed reconciling, but Zhang Lin refused. She wouldnât remarry him, no matter how well heâd been behaving lately.
It reminded her of their early marriage, when Xu Chaoyang had treated her kindlyâfor those first few months.
When she declined, Xu Chaoyang didnât push. Heâd wait for her to change her mind.
Xu Yi had grown more cheerful, and once the baby arrived, theyâd hire a nanny. Xu Chaoyang hadnât been back to the Xu family home in a long time.
Naturally, Xu Qian wasnât happy about his son and grandson staying away, blaming the fractured family on Li Jia.
Xu Chaoyang had tried reasoning with him, but there was nothing to be doneâthe divorce was final, and custody belonged to Zhang Lin. He couldnât bear to see his children or ex-wife suffer.
At least Xu Yi still carried the Xu surname. The baby on the way would undoubtedly take Zhang Linâs name.
Li Jia bore the brunt of Xu Qianâs frustration, though she felt wronged. Everything sheâd done had been for the family, yet everyone resented her.
She wouldnât stoop to begging Zhang Lin to return. The Xu family had wealth and statusâshe refused to believe Zhang Lin didnât have ulterior motives.
After replying to her messages, Yu Wanqiu went to wake Jiang Lan.
Jiang Lan, still groggy from last nightâs drinks, mumbled, "What time is it, Yu Laoshi?"
Yu Wanqiu said, "Eleven."
Jiang Lan scoffed. "Youâre lying. Itâs probably only nine."
She checked her phoneâit really was eleven.
Yu Wanqiu urged, "Hurry up. We canât go back now. Xia Jing calledâvolunteer training starts tomorrow, and weâre flying to Haicheng this afternoon."
Haicheng was close to Xiamen, just a two-hour flight.
By six in the evening, theyâd arrived. Jiang Lan hadnât brought her study materials, so she reviewed the digital versions on her phone.
During her nightly call with Lu Yicheng, he mentioned the snow in City B had stopped.
The skies were clear, but Jiang Lan still couldnât return.
She wanted to, but it wasnât possible.
"Lu Yicheng, Lu Pig, why do you look so down?"
Lu Yicheng said, "Iâm not. Just nervous about exams."
Since when did Lu Yicheng get exam nerves? That was usually her thing. Jiang Lan wished she could pinch his cheeks. "If youâre nervous, let me cheer you up. Want to hear a joke?"
Lu Yicheng wasnât in the mood. "No jokes."
"Then how about a song?"
He shook his head. "Donât feel like music either. Just talking to you helps. Honestly, we go to the same university, live in the same cityâhow did we end up in a long-distance relationship?"
So close yet so far.
Lu Yicheng was just having one of those daysâmaybe a monthly mood swing. "My last examâs on the 25th. Maybe Iâll come see you."
Jiang Lan hesitated. "But I have training that day."
Lu Yicheng sighed. "Never mind. Iâll manage."
Jiang Lan teased, "At least you have Uncle Lu with you."
Lu Yicheng groaned. "Donât remind me. Dad was hoping Yu Laoshi would come back too. Today, well⦠letâs just say neither of us got what we wanted."
He forced a smile. "Iâll pick you up after filming, take you home."
Jiang âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââLan glanced at the ceiling. "But my mom hasnât invited you over. And didnât you say you wanted to move to another planet the other day? Changed your mind already?"
"Invited or not, Iâm coming," Lu Yicheng said, his gloom fleeting. He couldnât stop Jiang Lan from her commitments. "Just come back soon. I really miss you."
He rested his chin in his hands. "Iâll study hardâscholarship money means treating you to good food. Did your grades come out yet?"
Jiang Lan checkedâa B+ and an A. She was satisfied.
Lu Yicheng would be on break after his exams on the 25th, planning to intern at the company. Lu Shuangchen had been unusually idle lately, coming home only to watch cooking streams and experiment in the kitchen.
Some dishes turned out decent, others⦠not so much.
Lu Yicheng grimaced. "A few were downright inedible, but we couldnât waste them. A few more meals like that, and we might end up in the hospital. If we do, can I at least see my girlfriend first?"
Lu Yicheng wanted to tell Jiang Lan everything that had happened from morning till night, but their phone call could only last so long.
The call ended at 11:30 p.m. after they bid each other goodnight. Yu Wanqiu had gone out to talk with Xia Jing and returned after a while.
Even in winter, Haicheng remained warm. Both of them wore short sleeves indoors. Yu Wanqiu said, "I asked aroundâtomorrowâs activity is a marine environmental protection practice."
Yu Wanqiu added, "You donât know how to swim, right? When thereâs no class in the evening, go to the hotel pool and learn."
Jiang Lan indeed couldnât swim. "Teacher Yu, will you teach me?"
Yu Wanqiu replied, "Since youâre calling me âteacher,â how can I refuse?"
Learning to swim had to be prioritized. Since they had nothing else to do in the evening, the two headed to the hotel pool.
Yu Wanqiu had asked Xiao Xu to buy swimsuitsâbasic black ones with no embellishments. Their swimsuits were identical.
Yu Wanqiuâs toned muscles were strikingly visible as soon as she bared her arms and legs. Jiang Lan was slightly plumper in comparison.
"Swimming helps with weight loss. Learn well, and we can come out to swim together in the future," Yu Wanqiu said. She was proficient in all strokesâbreaststroke, butterflyâshe had learned so much for filming roles.
This wasnât Jiang Lanâs first time in the water, but she had always relied on floatation rings before. This time was different.
The biggest fear in water was choking, but Yu Wanqiu was the one teaching her.
Yu Wanqiu, who worked out regularly, had strong arms and could easily lift Jiang Lan. Learning from her gave Jiang Lan a sense of security.
Still, there was no way she could master it in one night.
Yu Wanqiu teased, "Youâre hopeless. Weâll try again tomorrowâwe still have a whole week."
They couldnât stay up too late since they had the practice session the next day.
The first dayâs activity focused on marine environmental protection.
Simply put, it involved collecting trash from the ocean and the beach. This waste posed a threat to marine life, sometimes even endangering their survival.
For example, fish or sea turtles could accidentally ingest plastic or get entangled in debris, leading to suffocation.
Haicheng was a famous tourist city, attracting up to 80 million visitors annually. While popular beaches hired cleaners, some trash still ended up in the sea.
Early the next morning, Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu changed into work clothes, put on sun hats, and prepared trash bags and tongs before boarding an official boat.
The deep blue sea showed no visible signs of pollution. The organizer explained, "We conduct deep-sea cleanups every year, removing tens of thousands of tons of waste."
Jiang Lan listened attentively. The authorities aimed to promote marine conservation, hoping to leverage the influence of public figures.
Judging by Yunnanâs tourism campaign, the strategy had proven effective.
Time flew by. On New Yearâs Day, January 1st, the Marine Animal Protection Association posted a Weibo updateâJiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu had already been filming for four days.
[Marine Animal Protection Association: Protecting the ocean and its creatures is everyoneâs responsibility. Yu Wanqiu, Jiang Lan [video]]
The three-minute video showcased their volunteer exam results and clips from their fieldwork.
While many flocked to Haicheng for winter vacations, these two were on the beach and in the water, collecting trash and rescuing fish trapped in plastic.
At the end, they wrote eight words in the sand: "Protect the environment. Everyoneâs responsibility."
[Protect the environment. Everyoneâs responsibility.]
[Is this a collaboration with the Marine Animal Protection Association?]
[This doesnât seem like a brand dealâit feels meaningful!]
[Agreed! Itâs nice to do something for the animals.]
[Support! Even if itâs not an endorsement, I appreciate the effort.]
[Positive energy!]
[What exactly does this involve?]
[Probably rescue workâsaving stranded whales or dolphins? I only know a little. The dolphins and seals at B City Aquarium were rescuedâthey wouldâve died otherwise. There were news reports back then.]
[Thatâs so sad.]
[If conditions improve, maybe theyâll release them back into the ocean.]
[Why involve celebrities in this? Must everything be tied to entertainment?]
[Just chasing endorsements and money. Disgusting.]
[I have a friend whoâs a volunteer for the association. Becoming one requires passing examsâitâs not something "just anyone" can do. Also, whatâs wrong with entertainment? Yu Wanqiuâs influence outweighs millions of people like you.]
[LOL, Yu Wanqiu has over 100 million Weibo followers. This is a win-winâofficial promotion gets traction, and youâre here nitpicking.]
[Ignore the haters. Listen to our queen: Protect the environment. Everyoneâs responsibility.]
[Am I the only one excited theyâre collaborating again?!]
[How long is this filming? If thereâs a time limit, I hope itâs 10,000 years.]
[...]
[My dream winter break is finally here!]
[Happy New Year! Is Jiang Lan on vacation yet?]
[Iâm still processing this.]
[More collaborations like this, please!]
[Does this mean Lu Shuangchen and Lu Yicheng are left home alone again?]
[Donât askâyou already know the answer.]
Lu Shuangchen was, but Lu Yicheng wasnât. New Yearâs Day was a public holidayâeven teachers had time off.
Lu Yicheng brought two bottles of wine and a box of birdâs nest for Xie Yunzhen and Jiang Baoguoâwine for him, birdâs nest for her.
Last time, he had brought throat lozenges, and he figured Xie Yunzhen had probably finished them by now.
He needed to make a good impression, win over Xie Yunzhen and Jiang Baoguo, andâonce Jiang Lan returnedâconvince them to let him visit her grandparentsâ hometown for an official introduction. His goal was to spend the New Year with Jiang Lanâs family.
The summer variety show Mother-in-Law Is Coming had been a hit, making Jiang Lan recognizable in their neighborhood. Since Lu Yicheng visited often, the aunties and grannies downstairs knew him too.
Unlike gated communities, this area had a lively, close-knit vibe. Neighbors greeted each other, and now they acknowledged Lu Yicheng as well.
"Xiao Lu, back again? Always bringing so much stuff."
Lu Yicheng smiled. "Not much, just some snacks. Jiang Lanâs away for work, so Iâm here to check on Teacher Xie."
"Thatâs sweet of you. Visiting during the holidays is nice."
After chatting downstairs for half an hour, Lu Yicheng finally made it to the third floor.
He rang the doorbell twice, but no one answered. Calling Xie Yunzhen, he said, "Hello, Teacher Xie? Itâs Lu Yicheng. Iâm at your door."
"Oh? Youâve gone back to your hometown? ...Iâll come by tomorrow, then." He had wanted to surprise Xie Yunzhen like Jiang Lan would, but she and Jiang Baoguo werenât home.
After hanging up, Grandma Jiang asked who had called.
Xie Yunzhen replied, "Xiao LuâJiang Lanâs boyfriend. He wanted to visit us for New Yearâs."
She was making dumplings with her sisters-in-law. Grandma Jiang nodded. "That tall young man? He seemed polite."
Grandpa Jiang huffed. "Polite? You met him once. How would you know?"
This year, the Lunar New Year falls on February 12th. Theyâll record until the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, then take a few days off.
The schedule isnât too tight, but Xia Jing is worried that Yu Wanqiu, having just finished filming, might be under too much physical strain.
Yu Wanqiu feels sheâll be fine. To her, this documentary is practically a vacationâno script, no lines to memorize, just following instructions from a manual.
Yu Wanqiu said, "Donât take on any new roles for me for now."
Xia Jing nodded. "Yeah, I know."
But Yu Wanqiu is the type who gets restless without acting. "If a good script comes along, keep it in mindâdoesnât matter if itâs for film or TV."
Xia Jing agreed. "Alright, you two should start packing. The flightâs at 3:40."
She had already clarified everything she needed to know. "Weâre heading straight to Haicheng. Itâs warm there, and weâll be back before the New Year."
Yu Wanqiu hummed in acknowledgment. This was work, after all. Sheâd gotten back too late the night before and hadnât checked her phone.
Her WeChat was flooded with congratulatory messages for her award winâfrom directors and actors sheâd worked with before, as well as Shen Xingyao, Zhang Lin, and others.
Shen Xingyao and Zhang Lin had hesitated at first, wondering if sending congratulations might come across as trying to curry favor. But as fellow actors, they understood the significance of the Golden Bear Award, and their happiness for Yu Wanqiu was genuine.
After some thought, they decided Yu Wanqiu wasnât the type to overanalyze such things, so they sent their well-wishes anyway.
Yu Wanqiu replied:
[Thanks.]
[I saw you at the ceremony. Just woke up from last nightâs celebration.]
[How have you been lately?]
Shen Xingyao had wrapped up filming. The director praised her performance, saying she held her own even when acting opposite Liang Yun.
Sheâd also landed a new roleâher first major film role, albeit as the third female lead. The director was well-known, and while the part wasnât huge, it marked her debut on the big screen.
Before, she might have dismissed such a role, thinking it better to stick to leading roles in TV dramas. But her mindset had shiftedâno role was too small.
Shen Xingyao had been studying the script diligently. Du Wanzhou was still her assistant and had lost nearly 10 pounds over six monthsânot rapid weight loss, but healthy progress. At her current weight, she looked completely different from before.
None of her old clothes fit anymore, so Shen Xingyao had bought her a whole new wardrobe. Even bundled in winter layers, she looked slimmer than she had in summer dresses.
With a steady paycheck and their bond stronger than ever, Du Wanzhou was thriving.
Zhang Linâs life was quieter these days. Sheâd been resting at home during her pregnancy, with her due date in mid-Februaryâjust over a month away.
She felt at peace. The custody agreement was in her favor, leaving Li Jia powerless.
A month ago, Xu Chaoyang had proposed reconciling, but Zhang Lin refused. She wouldnât remarry him, no matter how well heâd been behaving lately.
It reminded her of their early marriage, when Xu Chaoyang had treated her kindlyâfor those first few months.
When she declined, Xu Chaoyang didnât push. Heâd wait for her to change her mind.
Xu Yi had grown more cheerful, and once the baby arrived, theyâd hire a nanny. Xu Chaoyang hadnât been back to the Xu family home in a long time.
Naturally, Xu Qian wasnât happy about his son and grandson staying away, blaming the fractured family on Li Jia.
Xu Chaoyang had tried reasoning with him, but there was nothing to be doneâthe divorce was final, and custody belonged to Zhang Lin. He couldnât bear to see his children or ex-wife suffer.
At least Xu Yi still carried the Xu surname. The baby on the way would undoubtedly take Zhang Linâs name.
Li Jia bore the brunt of Xu Qianâs frustration, though she felt wronged. Everything sheâd done had been for the family, yet everyone resented her.
She wouldnât stoop to begging Zhang Lin to return. The Xu family had wealth and statusâshe refused to believe Zhang Lin didnât have ulterior motives.
After replying to her messages, Yu Wanqiu went to wake Jiang Lan.
Jiang Lan, still groggy from last nightâs drinks, mumbled, "What time is it, Yu Laoshi?"
Yu Wanqiu said, "Eleven."
Jiang Lan scoffed. "Youâre lying. Itâs probably only nine."
She checked her phoneâit really was eleven.
Yu Wanqiu urged, "Hurry up. We canât go back now. Xia Jing calledâvolunteer training starts tomorrow, and weâre flying to Haicheng this afternoon."
Haicheng was close to Xiamen, just a two-hour flight.
By six in the evening, theyâd arrived. Jiang Lan hadnât brought her study materials, so she reviewed the digital versions on her phone.
During her nightly call with Lu Yicheng, he mentioned the snow in City B had stopped.
The skies were clear, but Jiang Lan still couldnât return.
She wanted to, but it wasnât possible.
"Lu Yicheng, Lu Pig, why do you look so down?"
Lu Yicheng said, "Iâm not. Just nervous about exams."
Since when did Lu Yicheng get exam nerves? That was usually her thing. Jiang Lan wished she could pinch his cheeks. "If youâre nervous, let me cheer you up. Want to hear a joke?"
Lu Yicheng wasnât in the mood. "No jokes."
"Then how about a song?"
He shook his head. "Donât feel like music either. Just talking to you helps. Honestly, we go to the same university, live in the same cityâhow did we end up in a long-distance relationship?"
So close yet so far.
Lu Yicheng was just having one of those daysâmaybe a monthly mood swing. "My last examâs on the 25th. Maybe Iâll come see you."
Jiang Lan hesitated. "But I have training that day."
Lu Yicheng sighed. "Never mind. Iâll manage."
Jiang Lan teased, "At least you have Uncle Lu with you."
Lu Yicheng groaned. "Donât remind me. Dad was hoping Yu Laoshi would come back too. Today, well⦠letâs just say neither of us got what we wanted."
He forced a smile. "Iâll pick you up after filming, take you home."
Jiang âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââLan glanced at the ceiling. "But my mom hasnât invited you over. And didnât you say you wanted to move to another planet the other day? Changed your mind already?"
"Invited or not, Iâm coming," Lu Yicheng said, his gloom fleeting. He couldnât stop Jiang Lan from her commitments. "Just come back soon. I really miss you."
He rested his chin in his hands. "Iâll study hardâscholarship money means treating you to good food. Did your grades come out yet?"
Jiang Lan checkedâa B+ and an A. She was satisfied.
Lu Yicheng would be on break after his exams on the 25th, planning to intern at the company. Lu Shuangchen had been unusually idle lately, coming home only to watch cooking streams and experiment in the kitchen.
Some dishes turned out decent, others⦠not so much.
Lu Yicheng grimaced. "A few were downright inedible, but we couldnât waste them. A few more meals like that, and we might end up in the hospital. If we do, can I at least see my girlfriend first?"
Lu Yicheng wanted to tell Jiang Lan everything that had happened from morning till night, but their phone call could only last so long.
The call ended at 11:30 p.m. after they bid each other goodnight. Yu Wanqiu had gone out to talk with Xia Jing and returned after a while.
Even in winter, Haicheng remained warm. Both of them wore short sleeves indoors. Yu Wanqiu said, "I asked aroundâtomorrowâs activity is a marine environmental protection practice."
Yu Wanqiu added, "You donât know how to swim, right? When thereâs no class in the evening, go to the hotel pool and learn."
Jiang Lan indeed couldnât swim. "Teacher Yu, will you teach me?"
Yu Wanqiu replied, "Since youâre calling me âteacher,â how can I refuse?"
Learning to swim had to be prioritized. Since they had nothing else to do in the evening, the two headed to the hotel pool.
Yu Wanqiu had asked Xiao Xu to buy swimsuitsâbasic black ones with no embellishments. Their swimsuits were identical.
Yu Wanqiuâs toned muscles were strikingly visible as soon as she bared her arms and legs. Jiang Lan was slightly plumper in comparison.
"Swimming helps with weight loss. Learn well, and we can come out to swim together in the future," Yu Wanqiu said. She was proficient in all strokesâbreaststroke, butterflyâshe had learned so much for filming roles.
This wasnât Jiang Lanâs first time in the water, but she had always relied on floatation rings before. This time was different.
The biggest fear in water was choking, but Yu Wanqiu was the one teaching her.
Yu Wanqiu, who worked out regularly, had strong arms and could easily lift Jiang Lan. Learning from her gave Jiang Lan a sense of security.
Still, there was no way she could master it in one night.
Yu Wanqiu teased, "Youâre hopeless. Weâll try again tomorrowâwe still have a whole week."
They couldnât stay up too late since they had the practice session the next day.
The first dayâs activity focused on marine environmental protection.
Simply put, it involved collecting trash from the ocean and the beach. This waste posed a threat to marine life, sometimes even endangering their survival.
For example, fish or sea turtles could accidentally ingest plastic or get entangled in debris, leading to suffocation.
Haicheng was a famous tourist city, attracting up to 80 million visitors annually. While popular beaches hired cleaners, some trash still ended up in the sea.
Early the next morning, Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu changed into work clothes, put on sun hats, and prepared trash bags and tongs before boarding an official boat.
The deep blue sea showed no visible signs of pollution. The organizer explained, "We conduct deep-sea cleanups every year, removing tens of thousands of tons of waste."
Jiang Lan listened attentively. The authorities aimed to promote marine conservation, hoping to leverage the influence of public figures.
Judging by Yunnanâs tourism campaign, the strategy had proven effective.
Time flew by. On New Yearâs Day, January 1st, the Marine Animal Protection Association posted a Weibo updateâJiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu had already been filming for four days.
[Marine Animal Protection Association: Protecting the ocean and its creatures is everyoneâs responsibility. Yu Wanqiu, Jiang Lan [video]]
The three-minute video showcased their volunteer exam results and clips from their fieldwork.
While many flocked to Haicheng for winter vacations, these two were on the beach and in the water, collecting trash and rescuing fish trapped in plastic.
At the end, they wrote eight words in the sand: "Protect the environment. Everyoneâs responsibility."
[Protect the environment. Everyoneâs responsibility.]
[Is this a collaboration with the Marine Animal Protection Association?]
[This doesnât seem like a brand dealâit feels meaningful!]
[Agreed! Itâs nice to do something for the animals.]
[Support! Even if itâs not an endorsement, I appreciate the effort.]
[Positive energy!]
[What exactly does this involve?]
[Probably rescue workâsaving stranded whales or dolphins? I only know a little. The dolphins and seals at B City Aquarium were rescuedâthey wouldâve died otherwise. There were news reports back then.]
[Thatâs so sad.]
[If conditions improve, maybe theyâll release them back into the ocean.]
[Why involve celebrities in this? Must everything be tied to entertainment?]
[Just chasing endorsements and money. Disgusting.]
[I have a friend whoâs a volunteer for the association. Becoming one requires passing examsâitâs not something "just anyone" can do. Also, whatâs wrong with entertainment? Yu Wanqiuâs influence outweighs millions of people like you.]
[LOL, Yu Wanqiu has over 100 million Weibo followers. This is a win-winâofficial promotion gets traction, and youâre here nitpicking.]
[Ignore the haters. Listen to our queen: Protect the environment. Everyoneâs responsibility.]
[Am I the only one excited theyâre collaborating again?!]
[How long is this filming? If thereâs a time limit, I hope itâs 10,000 years.]
[...]
[My dream winter break is finally here!]
[Happy New Year! Is Jiang Lan on vacation yet?]
[Iâm still processing this.]
[More collaborations like this, please!]
[Does this mean Lu Shuangchen and Lu Yicheng are left home alone again?]
[Donât askâyou already know the answer.]
Lu Shuangchen was, but Lu Yicheng wasnât. New Yearâs Day was a public holidayâeven teachers had time off.
Lu Yicheng brought two bottles of wine and a box of birdâs nest for Xie Yunzhen and Jiang Baoguoâwine for him, birdâs nest for her.
Last time, he had brought throat lozenges, and he figured Xie Yunzhen had probably finished them by now.
He needed to make a good impression, win over Xie Yunzhen and Jiang Baoguo, andâonce Jiang Lan returnedâconvince them to let him visit her grandparentsâ hometown for an official introduction. His goal was to spend the New Year with Jiang Lanâs family.
The summer variety show Mother-in-Law Is Coming had been a hit, making Jiang Lan recognizable in their neighborhood. Since Lu Yicheng visited often, the aunties and grannies downstairs knew him too.
Unlike gated communities, this area had a lively, close-knit vibe. Neighbors greeted each other, and now they acknowledged Lu Yicheng as well.
"Xiao Lu, back again? Always bringing so much stuff."
Lu Yicheng smiled. "Not much, just some snacks. Jiang Lanâs away for work, so Iâm here to check on Teacher Xie."
"Thatâs sweet of you. Visiting during the holidays is nice."
After chatting downstairs for half an hour, Lu Yicheng finally made it to the third floor.
He rang the doorbell twice, but no one answered. Calling Xie Yunzhen, he said, "Hello, Teacher Xie? Itâs Lu Yicheng. Iâm at your door."
"Oh? Youâve gone back to your hometown? ...Iâll come by tomorrow, then." He had wanted to surprise Xie Yunzhen like Jiang Lan would, but she and Jiang Baoguo werenât home.
After hanging up, Grandma Jiang asked who had called.
Xie Yunzhen replied, "Xiao LuâJiang Lanâs boyfriend. He wanted to visit us for New Yearâs."
She was making dumplings with her sisters-in-law. Grandma Jiang nodded. "That tall young man? He seemed polite."
Grandpa Jiang huffed. "Polite? You met him once. How would you know?"