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

The courtyard house was a single-story dwelling, yet fully equipped inside. A three-sectioned compound with a small garden in the back, though the trees stood bare in the winter cold, their leaves long fallen.
Grandma Lu and Grandpa Lu kept their flowers in a greenhouse, blooming beautifully even in the depths of winter.
The house had many rooms—too many to explore in one go. The elderly couple lived in the second section of the compound.
Yu Wanqiu pointed to the small pavilion in the garden of the third courtyard. "One summer vacation, after filming, I came to pick up Lu Yicheng. He was sitting right there in that pavilion. When he saw me, he didn’t even call me 'Mom'—like he’d forgotten me."
Later, Yu Wanqiu realized Lu Yicheng hadn’t forgotten. He just didn’t want to call her.
As he grew older, things improved. Yu Wanqiu was busy with her career, and Lu Yicheng matured, understanding that his parents’ love wasn’t quite the same as other kids’ moms and dads.
Lu Yicheng was more mature than his peers, but after falling in love, he became surprisingly childish.
If he hadn’t met Jiang Lan, he might have remained that solitary, quiet boy.
Yu Wanqiu was grateful to Jiang Lan—not just for the joy she brought, but for how she changed Lu Yicheng.
Jiang Lan had a way of changing people.
This place held Lu Yicheng’s childhood memories.
Jiang Lan imagined that as a child, Lu Yicheng must have been a mix of arrogance, sulkiness, and forced coolness. A little boy, sitting alone in the pavilion, waiting for his parents to pick him up—it tugged at her heart.
Lu Yicheng had disappeared somewhere, and Lu Shuangchen wasn’t around either. After wandering the house, it was already past ten.
Yu Wanqiu led Jiang Lan back to their room to sleep. "Ever slept on a heated brick bed? It’s very warm. Check if the blankets are thick enough—if not, I’ll grab another."
The courtyard house was fully modernized, with air conditioning and its own heating system installed in recent years.
The room was a cozy 26°C, while the heated bed reached a toasty 30°C.
Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu were retired, their pensions modest, but their sons were well-off, so the elderly couple lived comfortably.
As Yu Wanqiu had mentioned when she first joined the show, they only visited once a month.
Jiang ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍Lan shook her head. "The blankets are thick enough, but won’t it be too hot to sleep at night?"
Yu Wanqiu replied, "Just don’t sleep right on the heated part."
Sitting on the bed was warmer than staying below. Jiang Lan grinned. "Yu, come count the money. Lu Yicheng got way more red packets than me—this time, it’s my turn to benefit."
Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu each gave 5,000, while his two uncles gave 2,000 each.
That added up to 9,000 in total.
Yu Wanqiu suddenly remembered, "Oh, should I give you a red packet too? I am Lu Yicheng’s mother, after all."
Jiang Lan waved her off. "No need, no need. We don’t stand on ceremony like that. Besides, whatever Lu Yicheng got ends up in my hands anyway—he only kept 200 for himself. Getting money from you feels weird."
Grandma Lu was quite endearing, and so was Grandpa Lu.
The house was enormous, with antique screens and chairs worth a fortune scattered throughout.
Jiang Lan was practically sleeping on a property worth hundreds of millions—like lying on a pile of cash.
"Yu, Grandma Lu’s place is huge." Jiang Lan had been to Yu Wanqiu’s villa, which was spacious, but this courtyard house was even bigger.
Yu Wanqiu was used to it. "Actually, my family’s place is big too. Want to visit?"
She meant her parents’ home.
The Yu residence wasn’t far—just a short walk away. Yu Wanqiu poked Jiang Lan’s ticklish spots. "Then I won’t give you a red packet, but I can take you to collect some."
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, light snow had been falling since morning, making the roads slippery. Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu visited the Yu family elders and collected several red packets.
They had lunch at the Yu residence. The elderly couple there were gentle and kind, speaking in soft tones.
They were leaving on the fifth day of the New Year, which meant only three days of vacation left.
Jiang Lan didn’t want to waste time at home. After checking online guides, she said to Yu Wanqiu, "Yu, there are so many fun places in the city—let’s go out. It’s snowing today—how about this Pumpkin Cottage? We can warm up by the fire, drink milk tea, and snack."
It was a milk tea shop in the city, but beyond drinks, visitors could try DIY pottery—making cups, sculpting clay figures, or painting ceramics.
The shop’s milk tea was famously delicious, and the pottery activities were supposedly quite entertaining.
Yu Wanqiu mused, "Was the cup you gave Lu Yicheng made there?"
Jiang Lan blinked. "What cup?"
Lu Yicheng knew Jiang Lan didn’t remember, but phrasing it like that made it seem like she didn’t care enough to recall.
He raised his voice. "The pink one! And no, it wasn’t made there!"
Jiang Lan went, "Oh, that one? No, not at this little shop… Yu, do you have a cup? I’ll make one for you."
Yu Wanqiu said, "I don’t have one. Then let’s go there. Are they even open on the second day of the New Year?"
Jiang Lan checked—the shop only closed on New Year’s Eve and the first day.
Online photos showed a fairytale-like setting—a pumpkin-shaped building with a ceramic horse out front. By day, it resembled a pumpkin carriage; by night, with the lights on, it transformed into a glowing jack-o’-lantern straight out of a Western fairytale.
Two large windows were adorned with trinkets, giving the shop a whimsical, cozy vibe.
Surrounding it were other quirky little houses—pineapple-shaped, strawberry-shaped—housing accessory shops, snack stores, all part of a trendy photo spot.
Jiang Lan whispered to Yu Wanqiu, "Should we invite Grandma Lu?"
Today, Lu Yicheng’s aunts had gone back to their own families, leaving only Grandpa Lu, Grandma Lu, and Yu Wanqiu’s family at home.
Grandpa Lu had gone ice fishing after lunch and might not return for a while.
If they went out, they might not be back soon either.
Yu Wanqiu hesitated. Her relationship with Grandma Lu was cordial but distant. Her mother-in-law never interfered with her life, and Yu Wanqiu, busy with work, rarely spent time doting on the elderly.
But older folks always hoped for their children’s company.
"Ask her. If she wants to come, she can. If I ask, she might decline." Yu Wanqiu didn’t mind going with Grandma Lu—she was easy to get along with.
Jiang Lan went to ask. Grandma Lu wavered. "You girls go ahead. Just come back in time for dinner."
"Grandma, come with us! We can make pottery, sculpt little figures, and drink amazing milk tea!" Jiang Lan had checked—there was even a hot pot place nearby.
If they stayed out late, they could just eat there instead.
Grandma Lu hesitated. Jiang Lan was Lu Yicheng’s girlfriend and hadn’t made any demands since arriving. Grandma Lu had met many people—Jiang Lan was straightforward and sincere. Refusing such a simple outing might seem too rigid.
"Alright then. Let me freshen up first." Grandma Lu went to change into something nicer—one ought to look presentable when going out.
If Grandma Lu was going, Lu Yicheng wanted to join too. But if he went, with Grandpa Lu out fishing, only Lu Shuangchen would be left at home.
Being alone during the New Year would be too lonely.
Lu Yicheng said, "Don’t worry. Dad doesn’t need company. He’s fine just watching the news."
Yu Wanqiu glanced at Lu Shuangchen, who immediately protested, "Actually… I do need company."
He also needed company, but he preferred that person to be Yu Wanqiu. The second-best choice was Lu Yicheng.
Lu Yicheng: "?"
The snow outside was quite thick, though the roads had already cleared.
Jiang Lan drove, and half an hour later, they arrived at Pumpkin Cottage.
Grandma Lu let out an amazed "wow." The sky was overcast, and the wind outside was strong, with snowflakes drifting like willow catkins. It was chilly, but the elderly woman was bundled up warmly.
Pumpkin Cottage was lit from within, its window frames a deep brown and the glass a warm yellow. The soft golden glow inside made it look incredibly cozy.
For the elderly, hobbies like playing cards or mahjong were about all they had. Grandma Lu rarely went out and wasn’t particularly skilled with electronics.
She had no idea what young people liked these days. If Yu Wanqiu was a decade behind the times, Grandma Lu was easily thirty years behind.
Grandma Lu thought the place looked quite charming—such a massive pumpkin-shaped building. She couldn’t fathom how they’d constructed it like that.
Jiang Lan led the two inside. The cottage was warm, with a huge fireplace in the corner.
The fire burned brightly, and the shelves and windowsills were lined with tiny ceramic figurines.
There weren’t many customers today. The shop owner froze for a moment when she saw Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan—she was actually meeting a celebrity in person!
But she suppressed her excitement and set up the pottery machines for the three of them.
The owner said, "Would you three like some milk tea? We also have snacks—feel free to take a look."
She slid the menu over.
Jiang Lan ordered a taro boba milk tea first, then passed the menu to Yu Wanqiu and Grandma Lu. Yu Wanqiu chose the same as Jiang Lan, while Grandma Lu, peering through her reading glasses, scanned the options before finally saying, "I’ll pass."
Grandma Lu had never tried these drinks before. Her only granddaughter was abroad, and Lu Yicheng and Lu Xingran never drank this stuff.
They certainly wouldn’t think to buy her a cup just to try.
Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu could enjoy it—she’d abstain.
Jiang Lan said, "How about we all get the same? Owner, three taro boba milk teas, three Orleans roasted wings, three spicy chicken wings, and three egg tarts."
After placing the order, Grandma Lu frowned and pulled Jiang Lan aside, whispering, "Lanlan, why do you have to 'boba' before drinking this?"
Buying milk tea required kissing? What kind of shop was this?
Wasn’t anyone regulating this?
Jiang Lan coughed and explained, "Grandma, 'boba' isn’t kissing. It’s a type of topping—like pearls, coconut jelly, taro balls, or red beans. They’re all delicious."
Jiang Lan’s favorite was the taro paste—soft, sweet, and incredibly tasty.
Grandma Lu let out an "oh."
So it was food. She’d try it later and see if it was any good.
While waiting for the milk tea and snacks, the three of them started on their pottery.
This was colored pottery—first shaping the base, then glazing it.
The clay came in various colors, and mixing them created vibrant patterns. They could even sculpt little figures or animals.
However, shaping human figures was much harder, requiring skill—applying the wrong pressure could easily result in a misshapen blob.
Grandma Lu flipped through the instruction book and said, "I’ll try making a little clay person."
Jiang Lan: "Grandma, you know how to do this?"
Like Grandpa Lu, Grandma Lu had retired from the military—she’d been a cultural soldier back in the day.
She had always enjoyed these kinds of crafts, ceramics, and vintage items.
Grandma Lu smiled, her face crinkling with wrinkles. "Just a little," she said modestly.
She glanced at Jiang Lan, who was wearing a red wool coat today, fastened with...
Oxhorn buttons. Her hair was tied up, revealing her forehead, giving her a clean, fresh look.
Grandma Lu remembered that Lu Yicheng was also wearing red today—a short, dark-red down jacket. It was the only remotely festive piece of clothing she’d ever seen him wear.
The two of them matched well, even their outfits today complemented each other.
Grandma Lu lowered her head and focused on shaping her clay figure. When the owner called their number, Jiang Lan went to fetch the milk tea. Grandma Lu wiped the clay off her hands and clumsily mimicked Jiang Lan, tearing open the straw and inserting it.
Jiang Lan said, "Grandma, be careful with the boba—don’t swallow it whole."
Grandma Lu was nearly eighty. Though she was in good health, they still had to be cautious.
Grandma Lu chuckled. "I know, I know."
They were treating her like a child.
She took a sip. The milk tea was sweet, with a strong blend of milk and tea flavors. The boba was pleasantly chewy.
She took another sip.
Yu Wanqiu gulped down a big mouthful and exhaled contentedly. It had been a while since she’d had any—unless she was with Jiang Lan, she usually didn’t drink it.
The egg tarts and wings weren’t ready yet, but the air was already filled with their sweet, savory aroma.
The milk tea wasn’t overly sweet. The taro paste had a soft, sandy texture, and the tea and milk flavors were robust—quite tasty.
It was nothing like the milk tea Grandma Lu had drunk on the grasslands back in the day.
This was nice.
So this was what young people drank.
No wonder it was so popular.
It had been overcast all day, and winter days were short—by a little past five, the sky was already dark.
After nearly three hours, Grandma Lu had finished two clay figures. One wore a red coat, had a ponytail, and sported camel-colored snow boots.
The other wore a short red down jacket with cropped hair—clearly a boy.
The two stood side by side, the boy slightly taller than the girl.
The resemblance was unmistakable—anyone could tell who they were.
Jiang Lan had watched Grandma Lu shape the figures with her own eyes. It was nothing short of miraculous—she was incredibly skilled.
Grandma Lu smiled. "This one’s for you. Once it’s fired, take it home. They’re a pair, after all."
No need to give one to Lu Yicheng—a pair belonged together.
To Jiang Lan, this was the best New Year’s gift she’d ever received.
Yu Wanqiu had made a cup, layered in three colors—yellow, pale green, and light blue.
It was quite pretty too.
Yu Wanqiu said, "This is for you as well."
This, too, was the best New Year’s gift Jiang Lan had received this year.
Jiang Lan had made a cup herself, which she’d already promised to Yu Wanqiu. A promise was a promise—it was hers now.
Jiang Lan said, "Next time, I’ll make one for you too, Grandma."
Grandma Lu wasn’t too hung up on it, but receiving gifts always brought joy, even if they were small.
"Sure, I’ll look forward to it. I’ll use it for milk tea," Grandma Lu said. She’d quite enjoyed the drink—sweet, with that taro paste. Delicious.
She had a sweet tooth, but at her age, her blood sugar was a bit high, so she couldn’t indulge too much.
She could bring a cup back for the old man. At his age, he’d never even tried it.
The cups and clay figures needed to dry before being fired and glazed. The shop would handle the rest—once they were ready, they could come pick them up.
The owner kept praising Grandma Lu’s craftsmanship and finally asked Yu Wanqiu if they could take a photo together.
"I’ve been a fan of the show When Mother-in-Law Comes—I really love you all. If a photo isn’t convenient, that’s fine. We can waive the fee for the pottery," the owner said. She was a fan of the "Lanzhou Noodles" pairing—originally just the two of them, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law...
Now, with three people, there were two pairs.
Yu Wanqiu agreed to the photo but declined the freebie.
Jiang Lan didn’t need it either—she’d received plenty of New Year’s money this year, more than enough to cover expenses.
When they stepped out of the pumpkin-themed shop, the sky had already darkened. Looking back, the shop resembled a scene straight out of a fairy tale—a massive pumpkin topped with a thick layer of snow, surrounded by fruits that made one crave fruit smoothies and pumpkin pies, tempting enough to take a bite.
The temperature outside was well below freezing, with snowflakes still drifting down. Grandma Lu rubbed her hands together. Logically, it was time to head home, but it didn’t feel like they’d been out for long.
The afternoon had slipped away while they molded clay figurines. Grandma Lu didn’t often go out, but now that it was dark, she knew it was time to return.
Yu Wanqiu glanced at Jiang Lan, who suggested, "On a day like this, skipping hot pot would be a shame. Grandma, Teacher Yu, how about we go for hot pot?"
Grandma Lu immediately agreed. "We should let the others know so they don’t wait for us."
Her thoughts drifted to Grandpa Lu, and just as she was about to call him, Jiang Lan’s phone rang.
It was Lu Yicheng.
As soon as she answered, his voice came through. "Where are you? Do you need me to pick you up? What do you want for dinner? How about roasted sweet potatoes? I swear I can smell them from here."
Suddenly, Jiang Lan craved roasted sweet potatoes too.
"No need," she replied. "We just finished pottery. We’re planning to grab hot pot on the way back. I was about to call you when you beat me to it."
Grandma Lu chimed in from the side, "There are still dumplings in the fridge, and leftovers from yesterday. They’ll go bad if we don’t eat them soon."
Silence lingered on the other end of the line, so Jiang Lan repeated, "There are dumplings and leftovers in the fridge—they’ll spoil if we don’t eat them. Oh, and Lu Yicheng, you should heat up some of the braised meat and cured pork my grandma brought."
"So you’re really not coming back for dinner? What time will you be back? Send me your location, and I’ll pick you up." Lu Yicheng didn’t argue further. After hanging up, he looked up to find two pairs of eyes fixed on him.
Lu Yicheng sighed. "You heard it all on speakerphone. The three of them aren’t coming back for dinner. Dad, Grandpa, what do you want to eat? I’ll cook."
Lu Shuangchen had only been cooking for half a year, and Grandpa Lu had never cooked a meal in his life—Grandma Lu had always handled that.
It was only 5:30 PM, so there was no rush. They could eat whatever.
"What’s so great about hot pot anyway?" Grandpa Lu grumbled, his expression stern. "Leftovers it is."
Lu Shuangchen didn’t mind. "Leftovers are fine."
Lu Yicheng shrugged. "Leftovers it is, then."
Both Lu Yicheng and Lu Shuangchen were used to this—Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan often went out together, even during filming.
But Grandpa Lu wasn’t accustomed to it. At the dinner table, he muttered, "It’s only the second day of the new year, and they’re already eating out. Who knows what kind of oil they’re using in those places—probably gutter oil."
To be clear, he wasn’t criticizing Jiang Lan, nor Yu Wanqiu, and certainly not Grandma Lu. "Whatever. Let’s just eat."
It wasn’t until past nine that the trio returned.
Grandma Lu brought back a cup of milk tea for Grandpa Lu. "Here, try this. I bet you’ve never had it before."
Grandpa Lu’s face lit up as he accepted it. "What’s this? You didn’t have to bring me anything."
"It’s milk tea—young people love it. Try it, but don’t drink too much," Grandma Lu said.
Lu Yicheng quietly asked Jiang Lan, "Where’s mine?"
Jiang Lan pulled a packaged bunny-shaped dessert from her bag. "Here."
It was a sweet treat from the hot pot place. She’d already had milk tea and egg tarts today—her sugar intake was off the charts—so she passed on eating it herself.
Lu Yicheng ate the bunny in one bite, then pulled Jiang Lan into his room. "I need to talk to you. Come here."
Jiang Lan thought it was something serious, but Lu Yicheng just said, "Let’s make a deal—from now on, I’m coming with you when you go out. I’m your boyfriend, and Yu Wanqiu is my mom. Why shouldn’t I tag along? You never hang out with me anymore. What am I to you?" He rubbed his nose. "Lu Shuangchen doesn’t have to come, but I do. Besides, don’t you need a tripod for group photos? How are three people supposed to take a picture together?"
He gestured to his height, then to hers. "Look at me—a 185 cm tripod. Even better if I jump. You, on the other hand… barely 150 cm."
"Who’s 150 cm?!" Jiang Lan smacked his head. "I’ve grown! I’m 166 now!"
Lu Yicheng smirked. "Don’t change the subject. Are you taking me or not? If not, forget about going out."
Jiang Lan argued, "But when we went to my place, I spent five whole days with you. Wherever you went, I followed."
How could he say she never included him? They’d only been at the Lu family home for two days, and she’d spent just one afternoon and half an evening without him.
Lu Yicheng wasn’t swayed. "Doesn’t matter. You’re about to start filming that documentary, leaving me alone again. This whole winter break was supposed to be mine, and now I only get ten days."
Jiang Lan relented. She couldn’t resist him like this. "Fine, I’ll take you."
Lu Yicheng quickly kissed her. "That’s more like it. What’s so fun about hanging out with my mom anyway? I’d rather have some alone time with you…"
Jiang Lan exhaled. "Let’s go."
Lu Yicheng had one last question. "Wait, I need to ask you something."
Jiang Lan cut in, "I loved you!"
Lu Yicheng rolled his eyes. "I’m serious. If my mom and I were both drowning, who would you save first?"
Jiang Lan found the question not only suffocating but downright ridiculous. "Can’t you just save Teacher Yu yourself? Why put that on me? I just learned how to swim…"
Lu Yicheng sighed. "Never mind. You just don’t want to save me."
Obviously, he’d save his mom.
Jiang Lan patted his cheek. "I’d save you. Of course I’d save you first."
Teacher Yu could swim, after all.
By the third day of the new year, families were busy visiting relatives again.
Grandpa Lu had to stay home to host guests, but Grandma Lu, having enjoyed herself the day before, went out with Jiang Lan again.
Lu Shuangchen didn’t have to work that day and had hoped to join them, but Yu Wanqiu said, "Dad will be lonely by himself. You should stay and keep him company. We’re hardly ever home—spend some time with him."
She and Grandma Lu would spend time together, while Lu Shuangchen and Grandpa Lu stayed behind.
Grandpa Lu nodded eagerly. "Yes, I need company. An old man like me shouldn’t be left alone."
Lu Shuangchen: "?"
This felt eerily familiar. Before he could react, the four of them were already out the door.
They kept busy until the fifth day of the new year, when Xia Jing arrived in the afternoon to pick them up.
Chen and Little Xu packed their things—this time, they were flying straight to the Arctic, so they packed thermal clothing, heating pads, and hand warmers.
Jiang Lan’s semester started on the sixteenth, and she might not make it back in time. But since she had no classes left, missing a few days wouldn’t hurt.
Lu Xingran had only returned the day before and was reluctant to see Jiang Lan go. After the new year, he’d be busy preparing new music, so he hoped she’d return soon.
Lu Yicheng accompanied Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu to the airport. He’d been overjoyed when he picked Jiang Lan up, but now…
He hugged her tightly. "Come back soon. You still have your thesis to write."