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

Yu Wanqiu said, "I look young because I spend a fortune on my face!"
What did Lu Shuangchen know? The amount Yu Wanqiu spent on her face in a year could cover years of living expenses for many families. With monthly treatments and upkeep, how could she not look good?
Where in this world does spending money not make a difference?
From shampoo and conditioner to body wash and lotion, regular whitening massages—every step from head to toe was essential. Even her hair strands were meticulously cared for.
Did Lu Shuangchen really think one could stay that beautiful without spending a dime?
What nonsense.
That would require being an actual fairy or enchantress.
Truthfully, Lu Shuangchen didn’t look old either. His face alone suggested he was in his thirties, but his hair made him appear slightly older.
The age gap had almost become an insecurity for him. Yu Wanqiu cut straight to the point: "Why don’t you just dye your hair?"
Lu Shuangchen raised an eyebrow. "Me? Dye my hair? Wouldn’t that be a bit unconventional?"
He was already fifty-three. Dyeing his hair at this age?
Lu Shuangchen had come to terms with aging quickly. He was past fifty, after all.
Yu Wanqiu pressed, "Just answer—yes or no?"
"Fine, I’ll dye it." It was just hair dye—why hesitate? He headed straight to the salon.
This was a place Yu Wanqiu frequented. She had brought Jiang Lan there twice before, but this was her first time bringing Lu Shuangchen.
The stylist froze for a moment upon seeing him, almost hesitant to proceed. After hearing Yu Wanqiu’s request, he explained, "Well… a jet-black shade might not suit Mr. Lu. How about trying a smoky gray instead? It’s not too stark and would give a more mature, dignified look."
This wasn’t the dull gray of aging hair but a refined, masculine shade—a smoky hue that many younger men opted for. In the stylist’s eyes, Lu Shuangchen was quite handsome.
Lu Shuangchen had no strong opinion about his hair color. Yu Wanqiu glanced at the reference photos and nodded. "This one, then. Give him a proper haircut too—no more of that slicked-back look. It’s awful."
The internet tycoon wasn’t the least bit offended by being called "awful." Instead, he nodded in agreement.
The stylist suggested, "How about a side part? Shorter, with some volume—low maintenance but stylish. It’ll suit Mr. Lu’s face shape perfectly."
A handsome man would look good with any haircut. Even his original style wasn’t bad—it was just the graying hair that aged him.
Four hours later, when Lu Shuangchen looked in the mirror again, he barely recognized himself.
He was slightly nearsighted. Adjusting his glasses, he felt as if he had traveled back in time—to his younger days, over a decade ago.
At thirty, when he first met Yu Wanqiu, he had sported a similar hairstyle—a side part, crisp suit, and an air of confidence.
He had worn glasses then too.
Lu Shuangchen glanced at Yu Wanqiu, who was staring at him, lost in thought.
Noticing his gaze, she quickly turned to the stylist. "This part seems a bit long—trim it a little more."
The stylist made the final adjustments. "This color enhances maturity, and with Mr. Lu’s natural poise, it doesn’t look overdone. Honestly, this might be the best-looking head I’ve ever worked on. Most people couldn’t pull this off."
Yu Wanqiu chuckled. "Best-looking head? It’s passable, I suppose. But his clothes are still horribly outdated."
In front of others, Lu Shuangchen had now been labeled both "awful" and "outdated." People often said wealthy families were full of drama, but the Lu household had a surprisingly harmonious atmosphere.
The stylist tried to smooth things over. "He looks very distinguished. Mr. Lu carries himself well."
Yu Wanqiu calmly swiped her card. "Let’s go—next stop, the mall."
She wanted to pick out some new outfits for Lu Shuangchen. At the very least, she wanted him to look presentable in her eyes.
In the past, she had been too busy. Now that she had time and the inclination, she might as well refresh his wardrobe.
Every single one of Lu Shuangchen’s clothes was stiff and formal—not a single piece met her standards.
Lu Shuangchen protested, "You don’t need to buy me clothes. I have everything I need."
Outsiders might find it strange—a man of his wealth, yet his wardrobe barely changed.
Yu Wanqiu cut him off. "If I’m buying, you’re accepting. No arguments."
That shut him up.
As they walked, a small smile crept onto Lu Shuangchen’s face. Truthfully, he was happy whenever Yu Wanqiu bought him things.
Who wouldn’t love it when their wife spoiled them?
Yu Wanqiu had far better taste. Now that his hair was dyed and styled, there was no reason to dress like an old man. "Try this one."
She picked out a deep blue dress shirt, paired with black suit pants, and even selected cufflinks. She also had him try on jeans and casual trousers.
Gone were the monotonous blacks—now there were grays and browns, all complementing his demeanor.
By the end of the shopping spree, they had amassed quite a haul.
His watch was replaced, and his glasses were swapped for a sleek silver frame—much more pleasing to the eye.
The total cost was staggering, and even Lu Shuangchen felt a pang of guilt. Seeing Yu Wanqiu reach for more, he quickly stopped her. "This is enough for now. We can always buy more later—no need to get everything in one day."
Arms laden with bags, he guided her out of the store. "If you still want to shop, we can look at necklaces or handbags."
Yu Wanqiu shook her head. "I’m done. Let’s go home."
Lu Shuangchen paused, lingering behind as she walked ahead.
He wasn’t upset—just a little embarrassed. He’d wash the new clothes tonight; summer heat would dry them quickly, and he could wear them tomorrow.
Yu Wanqiu added, "I don’t care for diamonds. I bought these for you because you needed them. Besides, it’s your money anyway."
Lu Shuangchen grinned. "My money is your money."
If she was spending his money, why only buy things for him? Wasn’t it because she wanted to?
Yu Wanqiu looped her arm through his. "Oh, stop it. Let’s go home."
The streets were quiet. Yu Wanqiu wore light makeup and a mask, so all Lu Shuangchen could see were her eyes—bright and lively, just like in her youth.
She had been holding back these words the entire way. Finally, she spoke. "Stop overthinking things—how long you’ll live, whether you’re replaceable… The truth is, even if Lu Yicheng gets married and we have grandchildren, and even if Jiang Lan stays by my side… it wouldn’t be the same. My health isn’t necessarily better than yours. Years of filming left me with chronic pain—I might even go before you."
Lu Shuangchen’s eyes darkened, but before he could speak, she continued, "I know what you’re going to say. Just remember—every extra day we live is a gift. Stop dwelling on death."
Do what you want. Leave no regrets.
A deep ache settled in Lu Shuangchen’s chest—an indescribable sorrow. If only they had married sooner, spent more time together, worried less about her career, endured fewer separations…
Maybe things would have been different.
On Friday, Yu Wanqiu packed her bags and went to pick up Jiang Lan for the next stop on their graduation trip.
Jiang Lan edited a video and posted it on Weibo, which was quickly reposted by Yu Wanqiu.
The video was thirty minutes long, with a song by Lu Xingran as the background music. Initially, Jiang Lan had struggled to choose the right song, but Lu Yicheng suggested using one of Lu Xingran’s tracks.
Lu Xingran’s music spans various styles, and since it was properly licensed, there was no worry about copyright issues. Most importantly, Lu Xingran was more than willing to grant permission.
[Jiang Lan: Graduation Trip, First Stop—After graduation, watch the sunrise with the one you love. [Video]]
Jiang Lan’s Weibo had been inactive for so long that fans joked it was "growing weeds." Her last post had been a repost from a show’s official account. Fans would occasionally check in, not expecting updates, so her new post came as a surprise.
And it was a thirty-minute-long video at that.
Fans of the "Lanzhou Noodles" ship (Jiang Lan x Yu Wanqiu) noticed Yu Wanqiu’s repost and were absolutely certain this was a video about the two of them.
With eager anticipation, they clicked play. The opening shot was an empty frame—a sunrise captured from the summit of Misty Cloud Mountain.
The mountaintop was covered in lush green grass swaying in the wind, while below, a sea of clouds churned, making it seem as if they were floating above the sky.
The rising sun resembled the bright yolk of a salted duck egg.
The mist swirled like rushing river currents.
In the top right corner of the screen, text appeared: "Graduation Trip, First Stop."
As the sunrise faded, the faces of Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu appeared on screen.
The backdrop shifted to the streets of a small town.
Jiang Lan waved at the camera before it panned to Yu Wanqiu.
The first five minutes showed the town from the perspective of a black-canopied boat—passing vessels, bustling streets, and vendors calling out their wares.
By noon, the two had lunch in town, then returned to change into qipaos.
One in wine-red, the other in fresh green, paired with oil-paper umbrellas—a sight that sent fans into a frenzy.
"Graduation gift—Teacher Yu looks stunning in a qipao."
However, the scene quickly shifted to an embroidery workshop, where Jiang Lan stitched a small rabbit for Yu Wanqiu while Yu Wanqiu chatted at length with an elderly woman.
After leaving the workshop, they wandered through the town’s lantern-lit nightscape, gazing at the starry sky before the next day arrived.
In the video, Jiang Lan said, "Neither Teacher Yu nor I enjoy hiking, but the restaurant owner yesterday mentioned that locals love Misty Cloud Mountain, so we decided to climb it for the sunrise. It’s just past 5 a.m., and there aren’t many people on the trail."
"Most of the hikers are carrying cameras, probably to photograph the sunrise," Jiang Lan added with a laugh. "It’s really famous—some watch the sunrise over the sea, others over the river, but Teacher Yu and I are here for the sea of clouds."
The video tilted upward, revealing Misty Cloud Mountain wrapped in a massive white ribbon of mist—a unique geographical phenomenon that gave the mountain its name.
As for the "City in the Sky," that view could only be seen from above.
Finally reaching the summit, the sun had yet to rise, but the churning sea of clouds was already visible.
Standing atop the mountain, with clouds beneath their feet, it truly felt like they were in the City in the Sky.
Soon, the sun emerged, dyeing the clouds crimson—the same scene from the video’s opening.
The two rolled in the grass, flew a kite halfway down the mountain, and wandered through the sea of clouds.
Who hadn’t dreamed of rolling on clouds as a child? On Misty Cloud Mountain, that dream became reality.
At this point, fans checked the progress bar—only twenty minutes had passed, with ten more to go.
The descent, sunset, and nightfall followed.
Jiang Lan’s voiceover returned: "Due to Teacher Yu’s work commitments, our graduation trip had to be cut short. But then, Teacher Yu’s son joined us. Lu Yicheng and I had been to G City before, so tomorrow we’ll revisit the wooden plaque we tied to the Matchmaker Tree on Peak Camel Mountain."
In the video, Lu Yicheng was only shown from behind—a glimpse of his sleeve, hands linked by a tether, and a name on the wooden plaque.
Though his face was never revealed, the sweetness was palpable.
Under the Matchmaker Tree, Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng found the red ribbon they had tied three years prior.
One side bore Jiang Lan’s name, the other Lu Yicheng’s—still hanging strong.
The video concluded with Jiang Lan saying, "The ribbon’s still here. It’ll be four years together soon. Next stop—G City. See you all then."
Fans were left grinning like proud parents—until the video abruptly ended.
Wait, that’s it?
The progress bar reached the end, and indeed, it was over.
[I don’t even know whose perspective I’m seeing this from—my two wives are so gorgeous, my daughter’s relationship is so sweet, and my OTP ‘Lanzhou Noodles’ is the undisputed sweetest ship in the world. Am I mentally ill?]
[You’re not the only sick one, lol.]
[I—I can’t breathe.]
[This is the joy of being a multi-shipper!!!]
[I knew they wouldn’t disappoint, whether it’s ‘Lanzhou Noodles’ or ‘Irreplaceable.’]
[HAHAHA a year later and people are still shipping ‘Lanzhou Noodles’—I’m so happy the fandom never dies.]
[These two are too sweet! Teacher Yu and Lan Lan actually went on a graduation trip—woohoo!]
[So it’s true that Teacher Yu took the college entrance exam?]
[A real graduation trip.]
[You lovebirds are so sweet—why don’t you just debut as a family group? Call yourselves ‘The Sugar Squad.’]
[They tied the ribbon three years ago and actually found it again??]
[I want to hang my ribbon next to Lan Lan’s!]
[Me too!]
[The tree branch won’t be able to handle the weight.]
[Who wouldn’t say they’re a perfect match?]
[My boyfriend and I tied a ribbon there too, just like Jiang Lan. We’re getting married soon.]
[Married?? Now I’m shipping them too!]
[Thirty minutes feels like a whole season of last year’s variety show.]
[The editing’s a bit rough, but I’ll take more of this anytime.]
[Old Lu didn’t join his wife’s graduation trip? If even their honeymoon was boring, why miss this perfect opportunity?]
[Teacher Yu, take care of your health—don’t overwork yourself.]
[My wife’s hair has grown out—she looks so beautiful!]
[Her qipao look is absolutely stunning—time to change my wallpaper again.]
[Why won’t Old Six show his face? What’s he hiding?]
[Old Six, are you mute or something?]
[When’s the next episode? Weekly updates?]
[I vote for Fridays—that knockoff show airs on Fridays too, hehe.]
[LOL it’s only been half an hour and it’s already trending. Today’s the premiere of Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law, and it didn’t even make the charts. Let them learn from Dolly the Sheep’s fate.]
Coincidentally, while Mother-in-Law is Here Season 3 had gone silent, a new show called Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law premiered that same day.
The official account had posted: "Every Friday at 8 p.m., exclusively on K Video."
Fans of "Lanzhou Noodles" still remembered the marketing hype claiming Xie Yujin and Cheng Xia would become the hottest mother-daughter-in-law duo. They wished nothing but failure for the show.
Originally lingering at the bottom of the trending list, the premiere ended up competing with Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu’s Weibo post. "Lanzhou Noodles," the Misty Cloud Mountain sunrise, and the Matchmaker Tree all trended—while Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law didn’t make a single hashtag.
On K Video, the first episode’s view count hadn’t even reached 100,000.
With 100,000 views, fans braced themselves to watch it out of sheer curiosity to see how bad it could be.
After watching, they couldn’t help but sigh—wasn’t this just a remake of Mother-in-Law Strikes Back: Season 2?
At first, Cheng Xia and Xie Yujin couldn’t stand each other. Then, Cheng Xia started dragging Xie Yujin into gaming and ordering takeout together. But the problem was, when fans looked up Cheng Xia’s gaming ID, they found a six-game losing streak. How could there be any fun if you couldn’t even win?
Though Xie Yujin and Cheng Xia were around the same age and could’ve become close friends, Xie Yujin was actually Cheng Xia’s husband’s stepmother. How could they even be shipped as a couple? Could Cheng Xia’s husband really call Xie Yujin “Mom”? The internet really had no boundaries when it came to pairings.
From the first episode to the latest, the show barely made a splash. Even the die-hard fans of Lanzhou Noodles couldn’t be bothered to contribute to its viewership.
Instead, they scrolled through Lanzhou Noodles’ trending topics and the comments underneath.
[“The graduation trip looks amazing too!”]
[“Predicting a summer travel boom in G City—Cloud Mist Mountain, Camel Mountain, and the Matchmaking Tree.”]
[“Lanzhou Noodles is real, I’ve said it ten thousand times.”]
[“Free promo lol, but seriously, it’s so good.”]
[“Graduation is so fun! I just graduated too and am planning a trip—now I know where to go.”]
[“Great spot for friends to check out.”]
[“Perfect place for couples.”]
[“They really seem like they’re about to get married. No wonder they’re the only solution—Lu Yicheng never disappoints.”]
[“Hahaha, have fun and post more videos!”]
[“Is the Matchmaking Tree really that accurate?”]
[“Depends on the person, but it’s a good omen either way.”]
[“The branch they hung theirs on is so high up—Jiang Lan looks tiny in the video.”]
[“Did Lu Yicheng lose his voice? Why isn’t he saying anything?”]
[“Did someone punch his face? Not even a glimpse? Really?”]
[“Can’t graduation trips be for four people?”]
[“Four? Who else?”]
[“Lu Yicheng’s dad.”]
[“Ohhh.”]
[“I’m just curious about one thing—when’s the proposal?”]
[“Not to rush them or anything, but it feels like it’s time. They’ve been together for so long.”]
[“If they love each other and have met the parents, what’s he waiting for?”]
[“I’d propose for Lu Yicheng at this point.”]
Lu Yicheng now checked the comments on Weibo. His account had over 100,000 followers—not too many, not too few—and his DMs were flooded with people urging him to propose.
His fans were adorable, offering him all sorts of creative proposal ideas.
Like hiding the ring in a cake, or breaking into a street dance before going down on one knee.
But Lu Yicheng had already made up his mind.
On Jiang Lan’s birthday, he’d invite her out under the guise of celebrating—along with her friends and family, whoever could make it.
He didn’t plan to propose in front of a crowd, though. For one, if she said no, he’d be mortified.
Second, he didn’t want Jiang Lan to say yes just to save him from embarrassment.
He’d narrowed it down to three locations:
First, a private island owned by the Lu family. The climate was humid, but it’d be perfect with some decorations.
Second, an overseas sea train. At sunset, the ocean turned pink, and the 30-minute ride would give him enough time to pour his heart out.
Third, a famous dandelion garden. It’d be autumn by then, and the dandelions would be breathtaking.
The custom ring was already ready. Lu Yicheng had designed it himself—a crown with a heart motif.
But Yu Wanqiu said it was too gaudy, so they settled on a simpler design: a single diamond on the outside, with an inscription inside.
Elegant and understated, but the diamond was a rare pink one, auctioned for over 30 million.
Lu Yicheng’s ring was much plainer—a thicker band with leftover pink diamond fragments and Jiang Lan’s name engraved inside.
The rings would be ready by early July, and Lu Yicheng was dying to see them.
But with Jiang Lan around, he didn’t dare browse other pages or chat, afraid she’d misunderstand.
And if she did ask to see his phone, should he hand it over or not?
He was grateful to have a mother like Yu Wanqiu, who had connections and could arrange the wedding gown and dresses.
Lu Yicheng had just started working. Though he had money, it wasn’t enough for the lavish wedding attire and jewels.
Yu Wanqiu never expected him to foot the bill anyway—this was a family affair, not just his responsibility.
Secretly, she also wanted Jiang Lan to look stunning.
Yu Wanqiu and Lu Yicheng discussed the wedding home.
They looked at a new 300-square-meter flat in Purple Gold Mansion—one on the 8th floor, another on the 9th, both auspicious numbers.
The interior could wait until after the proposal.
As for Jiang Lan’s place, Yu Wanqiu picked out a 100-square-meter apartment—fully furnished, no extra work needed.
The two homes would be close, giving them both space and convenience.
Lu Yicheng only had one request: soundproofing had to be top-notch.
He needed to work harder to earn more.
At the high-speed rail station in X City, Lu Yicheng hugged Jiang Lan tightly, refusing to let go.
“I don’t want to leave.”
He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‍was taking the train back to B City for work that weekend.
Jiang Lan patted his back. “Oh, come on, I’ll visit you in a couple of days!”
She recognized this look—it wasn’t the first time Lu Yicheng had been reluctant to part.
Whether it was holidays, college, or graduation, goodbyes were always hard for him.
“Results come out on the 23rd,” she reminded him. “After checking, we’ll sign up for the boat banquet.”
Lu Yicheng nodded. “Yeah.”
Jiang Lan let go, ruffled his hair, and pulled two candies from her pocket.
“Here, eat these on the way.” Her backpack was stuffed with snacks. “You’ll be home before you finish them.”
She dumped everything into his arms. “Be good.”
Lu Yicheng nodded again. “One more hug.”
His train was at 1 PM. Yu Wanqiu arrived at X City’s station at 12:40.
By 1:30, Lu Yicheng was on the train, staring blankly before rummaging through his bag.
Inside were spicy strips, chips, candies, milk tablets… and a trash bag.
Then he found a pale blue sachet embroidered with bamboo.
But instead of herbs, it was filled with tiny paper stars.
He picked one up and examined it. He wasn’t a kid—was Jiang Lan really trying to cheer him up with this?
So childish.
But… kind of cute.
He counted them—52, exactly.
When had she even made these? He had no idea.
He popped a peach-flavored gummy into his mouth.
The stars were plump and oddly endearing.
On a whim, he unfolded one. Inside was a line:
Lu Yicheng, I know what you said when you confessed.
His expression froze. He tore open another.
Lu Yicheng, after graduation, I was just too excited—I didn’t mean to forget about you.
A third star:
I knew you kissed me secretly after we got together that year.
His hands trembled. Had Jiang Lan remembered everything?
He wanted to get off the train—but it was already moving.