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

The high-speed train had already started moving, the sound of its wheels grinding against the tracks humming outside.
The station platform outside the window receded, and soon the train sped out of the station.
The conductor came to check tickets, and Lu Yicheng, clutching the paper stars, had no choice but to sit back down.
His heart pounded wildly. He wanted to call Jiang Lan, but at the last moment, he pulled his hand away.
He hadn’t finished reading all the stars yet.
There were 52 of them.
Lu Yicheng both hoped Jiang Lan would remember and feared she would. Back when they’d first gotten together, he hadn’t done well at all—most of the time, it had been Jiang Lan leading the way in their relationship. If she remembered now, would she regret it?
That night at the food street, he’d told so many lies—but in truth, it had all been him.
He was the jealous one, the one who wouldn’t let Jiang Lan talk to other guys.
When exactly had Jiang Lan remembered? Why hadn’t she told him?
Had it been after visiting the temple on Fengtuo Mountain, after seeing the Marriage Tree?
Maybe she hadn’t said anything afterward because she saw he was sick with a fever.
Lu Yicheng stared at the three notes for a long time before unfolding the fourth star.
You like noodles, you like sweet things.
At first, you couldn’t even handle spicy food—even mildly spicy dishes made you tear up.
That first winter break when you saw me home, we almost got caught by my mom.
Lu Yicheng’s eyes grew redder and redder. If Jiang Lan hadn’t forgotten, these little memories wouldn’t have hit him so hard.
But she had forgotten.
Lu Yicheng was terrified she’d never remember.
Now that she finally had, his heart ached even more.
Why hadn’t she told him sooner? Had she remembered their past fights and gotten angry? Did she not like him anymore?
Did Jiang Lan not want to be with him now?
Lost in these thoughts, Lu Yicheng found the snacks in his backpack tasteless.
Beside him sat a bald, tattooed man who had been sneaking glances at him.
“Hey, man,” the guy said, “there’s no hurdle you can’t get over.”
Lu Yicheng blinked. “...What?”
The man patted his shoulder. “Listen, life moves forward. Girlfriend trouble, huh?”
It was obvious—either that or why else would he keep fidgeting, nearly bolting for the door?
Lu Yicheng shook his head slowly. “No, she’s not mad at me… Look, she even packed all this for me—snacks, things to do. I just…”
He just felt awful.
He wanted to call Jiang Lan but didn’t dare.
Three years together—confessions, happiness, fights.
Over the last bite of ice cream, over losing too many games in a row, over being late.
Last summer, Jiang Lan had deleted him. He hadn’t dared to reach out or ask why.
What was he supposed to do now?
What did Jiang Lan mean by only telling him after he’d boarded the train?
The bald man was just as confused. “Doesn’t sound like a big deal. She packed you food—must still like you, right?”
Yeah. Right now, Lu Yicheng just wanted to go find Jiang Lan.
He booked a return ticket, planning to get off at the next stop and head straight back. It’d take over an hour to reach X City.
After staring out the window for a while, he called Jiang Lan—voice only.
No video. He didn’t want her to see him like this.
X City was an ancient capital, once the heart of a dynasty in history.
After leaving the train station, the two of them rented an electric car, and Jiang Lan drove to their booked hotel.
Yu Wanqiu slumped into her seat with a groan. “I’m exhausted just from sitting.”
Hungry? Want to go try the bao mo (bread soup)? Jiang Lan had done her research—while X City didn’t have many tourist spots, it was packed with good food.
They could eat their fill here.
Yu Wanqiu was hungry. Unlike Lu Yicheng, Lu Shuangchen actually packed snacks for trips.
Some habits were hard to break with age, and Yu Wanqiu didn’t bother correcting them.
Different relationships, different dynamics—she was used to it.
“Sure,” Yu Wanqiu said. She’d filmed here before—the food was great, the local accent distinct, the people warm.
Jiang Lan drove while Yu Wanqiu dozed off. When she checked her phone again, she saw several missed calls—all from Lu Yicheng.
Worried it might be urgent, she called back immediately.
Lu Yicheng’s voice was frantic. “Mom, where’s Jiang Lan? Why isn’t anyone answering?”
“Why are you looking for her? She’s driving. You think we glue our phones to our necks waiting for your calls?”
Lu Yicheng faltered. Yu Wanqiu added, “You sound weird. Still sick?”
He wasn’t about to admit he’d nearly cried from panic. “Yeah, not fully recovered.”
“Why so many calls? Forget something?” Yu Wanqiu was exasperated—they’d barely been gone half an hour.
Lu Yicheng had forgotten something—his heart, left behind.
He couldn’t explain to Yu Wanqiu, let alone ask Jiang Lan in front of her when she’d remembered. “Yeah, forgot something. I’ll get off at the next stop and come back. Wait for me.”
Yu Wanqiu had him on speaker. Jiang Lan tightened her grip on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road. “Lu Yicheng, whatever you forgot, I’ll bring it back. Don’t come here.”
Lu Yicheng: “It’s important.”
Jiang Lan didn’t budge. “I’ll bring it. We’re not waiting. If you come, I’ll be mad.”
Lu Yicheng pressed his lips together but insisted, “It’s really important.”
Jiang Lan: “I mean it.”
Lu Yicheng finally relented. “…Fine. I won’t go. Don’t be mad.”
Jiang Lan hadn’t used this threat since her memory loss. Now that she remembered, it came effortlessly. Lu Yicheng hated when she was angry.
At least her talking to him meant things were okay. But if she remembered, shouldn’t she miss him?
Why didn’t it feel like it at all?
Jiang Lan softened slightly. “We’ll talk when I’m back. Stay put. Message me when you’re home.”
Lu Yicheng said quietly, “I haven’t finished reading what you gave me. Jiang Lan… come back soon.”
Come back soon—the only hint of love he could voice in front of Yu Wanqiu.
Yu Wanqiu was baffled. “What did you forget? All this drama over nothing.”
Lu Yicheng was beyond frustrated. “My phone charger.”
Might as well have left his head behind.
Yu Wanqiu rolled her eyes. “Just buy a new one. I’m hanging up. Jiang Lan’s driving, and I’m exhausted.”
With that, she ended the call.
Jiang Lan smiled faintly, though she wasn’t sure how to face Lu Yicheng either.
She’d remembered everything the night after climbing Fengtuo Mountain.
Dreams had come in fragments, jumbled and chaotic. She’d woken up to find Lu Yicheng burning with fever, and in her panic, she’d rushed him to the hospital.
Then, in a daze, she recalled another time—when she’d been sick, and Xu Xiang had called Lu Yicheng from her phone. He’d raced over from his dorm, clothes disheveled, and taken her to the hospital.
After that, the memories had surged forth like a floodgate breaking open.
Looking at Lu Yicheng with his eyes closed, Jiang Lan felt a strange sense of familiarity—different from when she had seen him on the snack street.
She remembered everything that had happened before meeting Yu Wanqiu.
At the time, Lu Yicheng was doing an internship, and Jiang Lan was also searching for one. They only saw each other in the evenings and on weekends.
Jiang Lan was anxious. Studying and living in City B was expensive, with prices much higher than elsewhere.
Lu Yicheng always talked about how things would be better later, but Jiang Lan felt immense pressure.
On one hand, she was still practically a kid herself—far from ready for marriage. On the other, she really liked Lu Yicheng. If she didn’t marry him, who else would she marry?
Graduation was approaching, and Lu Yicheng mentioned taking her to meet his parents when he had time.
When they were together, Jiang Lan often talked about Xie Yunzhen and Jiang Baoguo, but Lu Yicheng rarely mentioned his own parents.
Jiang Lan didn’t dare ask, afraid of hurting his pride.
During their time together, she had always assumed Lu Yicheng’s family was poor.
Back then, it was trendy for college students to wear shoes and clothes with flashy logos, costing hundreds or even thousands. Guys especially were obsessed with sneakers. But Lu Yicheng’s shoes never had any of that.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t suspected he might come from money—like how he’d never eaten at snack streets or street stalls, how his first gift to her was expensive, or how generous he was when they went out. But his clothes were simple too—just T-shirts and casual pants. The clothes Jiang Lan bought him were the ones he wore the most.
He was generous when they went out, sure, but he never wasted food. He’d finish whatever she couldn’t eat.
He was perfectly happy eating in the cafeteria. And back in high school, before they were together, Jiang Lan sometimes brought him snacks.
He was so pitiful—he’d never tasted any of those snacks before.
Jiang Lan didn’t dare tell her family about their relationship, afraid Xie Yunzhen wouldn’t approve. Xie Yunzhen wanted her to date someone well-known and reliable. When Jiang Lan was in her third year of college, Xie Yunzhen even tried setting her up with a coworker’s son.
Not prying into others’ weaknesses or scars was Jiang Lan’s principle—especially with her boyfriend.
Even if he was poor, they’d already been together for so long. Lu Yicheng had excellent grades, earned scholarships, and would definitely land a good job in the future.
They’d just have to be frugal. Jiang Lan would rather eat instant noodles or plain steamed buns at the end of the month.
So if Lu Yicheng didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t ask. By the summer internship after her third year, Jiang Lan wanted to earn as much as possible.
If they ever got married, her parents would want her to stay in City B—but the housing prices here were insane. Even with both of them working, it’d take decades to pay off a mortgage.
Jiang Lan was deeply troubled.
She’d never really worried about anything growing up—this was the first time.
Her past experiences were useless to her now.
Jiang Lan had a secret she’d never told anyone: she was a transmigrator. In her past life, she loved reading novels but died saving someone. When she opened her eyes again, she was a newborn baby.
Her mother was a teacher, her father a civil servant. Since they were both educated, Jiang Lan had always been at the top of her class. Xie Yunzhen and Jiang Baoguo doted on her, and thanks to her past-life memories, she picked up the violin in her free time.
Because she’d played multiple instruments before, her teachers adored her. She could even use the cello and piano at the tutoring center—without paying a cent.
She never let those skills go to waste.
By first grade, she was consistently first in her class.
Even after elementary school and into middle school, Jiang Lan remained at the top.
Pretty, smart, talented—teachers loved her. That period was the peak of her life.
She barely had to study to leave everyone else in the dust.
Xie Yunzhen was busy with work, so Jiang Lan spent her days playing—until high school.
Then, the advantages from her past memories became utterly useless.
High school subjects were a whole new level compared to middle school. Aside from Chinese and English, Jiang Lan struggled more and more with every subject.
She’d always been playful, but now, even putting all her energy into studying wasn’t enough.
When Xie Yunzhen noticed her grades slipping, she became stricter and even asked if Jiang Lan was secretly dating someone.
Jiang Lan wanted to swear—date? She couldn’t even understand her homework!
Xie Yunzhen didn’t know what to do. Eventually, Jiang Lan’s violin teacher suggested she switch to the arts track.
She went to a training camp in her first year and didn’t return until her second.
By then, her grades were even worse. Xie Yunzhen arranged for a tutor she knew to help.
During winter break, at that tutoring class, Jiang Lan met Lu Yicheng.
When his classmate called his name, she thought it sounded oddly familiar.
She couldn’t place it at first. The tall, bamboo-like boy even glanced at her—his gaze cool, probably assuming she was trying to flirt.
Jiang Lan’s friend told her he was the school heartthrob, the top-ranked student in their grade.
Jiang Lan was stunned. This high school had a heartthrob? And he was first place? She’d never be that good.
She mentally scoffed and stopped wondering why his name felt familiar. What did it matter if he was the heartthrob anyway?
Xie Yunzhen kept her on a tight leash. Every teacher in school was her mother’s informant.
Jiang Lan had barely even talked to boys, but in front of Xie Yunzhen, she was always nervous. A natural reaction of a slacker facing a teacher.
That winter break, Jiang Lan focused on tutoring with Teacher Zheng. She saw Lu Yicheng every day, but all she could think was—
The difference between people was bigger than the difference between people and pigs.
After break, her tutoring didn’t stop. Though many schools banned extra classes, hers didn’t count.
Teacher Zheng was close with Xie Yunzhen, so Jiang Lan just stayed after school to do practice tests in her office.
Lu Yicheng was always there. Jiang Lan thought—if even a genius like him needed tutoring, maybe she wasn’t so bad.
Turns out, he was prepping for a math Olympiad.
She was struggling with high school math, while he was already on advanced topics.
He might’ve even been studying college-level stuff, while she was stuck on hyperbolas.
One evening, Teacher Zheng left to supervise study hall. Jiang Lan finished all the problems she could on her test but was stumped on the rest.
Meanwhile, Lu Yicheng, just a desk away, was already reading a novel.
Teacher Zheng wasn’t coming back anytime soon. Jiang Lan didn’t want to waste more time.
"Hey, Lu Yicheng—can you help me with these?"
He looked up. Just as she thought he’d refuse, he asked, "Which ones?"
"All of them except… these few. I don’t get any of them."
Lu Yicheng looked genuinely shocked.
Jiang Lan hesitated. "You… don’t know either?"
Of course he knew—he could solve them in a glance. He just couldn’t believe she was struggling with such basic problems.
Fortunately, his explanations made sense to her.
After walking her through each one, Jiang Lan finally understood.
Lu Yicheng said, "Find similar problems to practice, or this was pointless."
He took her math workbook, marking a few questions with a red pen.
His hands were elegant as he folded the corner of the page.
Jiang Lan said a quiet "thank you," feeling somewhat embarrassed. She and Lu Yicheng weren’t particularly close, yet he had taken the time to explain problems to her and even highlighted key points for her studies.
The next day, Jiang Lan brought Lu Yicheng a pile of snacks.
Not a single one of those snacks was something Lu Yicheng had ever tasted before.
This was also why Jiang Lan assumed his family circumstances weren’t great.
Lu Yicheng continued tutoring Jiang Lan.
Even after the math Olympiad ended, he remained in Teacher Zheng’s office—though now, his focus was solely on helping Jiang Lan.
She still remembered the part of her dream set in Yunnan Province. After their study sessions, Xie Yunzhen would bring her food—lamb skewers.
Xie Yunzhen was strict with her. Somehow, she had heard rumors about Jiang Lan getting close to their class monitor and scolded her for it.
After that, Jiang Lan started avoiding the monitor altogether.
She didn’t want Lu Yicheng to end up the same way.
Every evening after self-study, she would leave first, and within a few steps, Lu Yicheng would follow. But that one time she brought him food, he didn’t come out for a long while.
Jiang Lan figured that by then, Lu Yicheng must have already liked her—maybe even earlier than that.
Once the college entrance exams were over, the restraints around Jiang Lan vanished, and she threw herself into having fun.
After submitting her applications, while waiting for the acceptance letter, she completely forgot about Lu Yicheng.
They had already added each other as friends, but neither initiated a conversation.
Back in school, their interactions had revolved solely around academics. Outside of that, what could she even say to him?
Occasionally, Lu Yicheng would cross her mind, but she’d quickly push the thought away.
He was the school’s—and even B City’s—top science student. He was probably doing just fine on his own.
It wasn’t until July 5th that Jiang Lan saw Lu Yicheng again.
She walked over and greeted him, but his expression was unusually stern. Jiang Lan waved at him. "Lu Yicheng, I got into Qinghua University."
Lu Yicheng didn’t say a word. He just stared at her, unblinking.
Jiang Lan swallowed nervously. "Thanks for tutoring me. I wouldn’t have made it without you."
She truly meant it. Without him, she wouldn’t be where she was today.
Still, Lu Yicheng remained silent. Jiang Lan grew uneasy. "Uh… is your throat okay? Do you have a cold or something? Why aren’t you talking?"
"Congratulations."
After uttering that single word, Lu Yicheng turned and walked away. Jiang Lan stood frozen, completely baffled.
She had been so grateful for his tutoring that nearly all her pocket money had ended up in Lu Yicheng’s stomach.
They were practically close friends—so why had he just left after one word?
Jiang Lan stood there for a long time, racking her brain for an answer.
Then, Lu Yicheng came back.
He stopped right in front of her. He was a head and a half taller than her, and in the summer heat, beads of sweat dotted his nose.
Lu Yicheng asked, "Jiang Lan, why are you still standing here? Why didn’t you leave?"
Jiang Lan was lost in thought, wondering why he had left and why he had returned.
What was he doing? He was acting so strange.
She had once suspected that Lu Yicheng might like her, but he showed no signs of it.
Their conversations had never strayed beyond exams and homework. Who acted like that with someone they liked?
But if he didn’t like her, why had he tutored her? And why had he left after just one word earlier?
Jiang Lan answered with a question of her own. "Lu Yicheng, do you know my mom or something?"
That was the only explanation she could think of.
Maybe Xie Yunzhen had once helped Lu Yicheng when he was struggling, and now he was repaying the kindness through her.
Lu Yicheng frowned. "What kind of nonsense is that?"
Jiang Lan clamped her mouth shut. Lu Yicheng repeated, "Why didn’t you leave after I walked away?"
What’s it to you whether I left or not?
Jiang Lan said, "Because I felt like it. I was about to go anyway. Heard you got into Qinghua too—congrats."
Originally, she had wanted to say, You got into Qinghua, and so did I. We’ll be at the same school.
But since Lu Yicheng had thrown out a "congratulations," she’d just return the favor and call it even.
As Jiang Lan turned to leave, Lu Yicheng grabbed her wrist.
She ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‍looked at him. "What now? Something else?"
"I’ll take the congratulations. But don’t you want to know why I came back?" Lu Yicheng’s gaze was unwavering, his grip firm but not painful.
Jiang Lan took half a step back. "Why?"
Lu Yicheng said, "Jiang Lan, why do you think I tutored you? Why did I want you to get into the same school as me? It’s because I like you."
"I like you. I want you to be my girlfriend. If you say no, we’ll act like strangers from now on. Jiang Lan, I don’t make a habit of tutoring other guys’ girlfriends." His tone was icy, nothing like a confession.
Jiang Lan was speechless. Lu Yicheng added, "Think it over."
This was nothing like what she had imagined. She hadn’t expected Lu Yicheng to confess—let alone like this.
It felt like she was the one confessing. This counted as a confession?
It was way too casual.
Jiang Lan opened her mouth, deciding to match his coolness. "I’ve thought about it. I’ll be your girlfriend."
Lu Yicheng didn’t ask why she agreed. Instead, he tightened his grip on her wrist, and holding hands became the only thing they did on their first day together.
Lu Yicheng’s grip was firm. Jiang Lan had never been in a relationship before and had no idea what to expect.
She just thought, So this is how we’re doing this? No sweet words, not even flowers? Just… walking like this?
Was this Lu Yicheng’s first time too? It was hers. And he was really good-looking.
Walking hand-in-hand with someone this handsome wasn’t so bad.
But when had he started liking her?
Why didn’t he look happy at all?
Why wasn’t he saying anything?
Was this how he planned to act as a boyfriend? So boring.
Jiang Lan was starting to regret it a little.
They walked in silence, fingers intertwined. Lu Yicheng asked about her enrollment, then ran out of things to say.
Back in school, their only topic had been academics. Now that exams were over, they had nothing in common.
Lu Yicheng didn’t play games or listen to music. Jiang Lan had no idea what to talk to him about.
She felt a pang of disappointment. Wasn’t dating supposed to be different?
Their stilted conversation didn’t feel like a relationship at all.
Just like that, she had a boyfriend. Maybe she’d acted impulsively, but compared to becoming strangers, she’d rather be Lu Yicheng’s girlfriend.
She didn’t want to lose him as a friend.
And she did like him a little—he was handsome, smart. Having a boyfriend like him wasn’t a bad deal.
If anyone else had said those words to her, Jiang Lan probably would’ve replied, Then let’s be strangers.
But Lu Yicheng really had no idea how to date.
Jiang Lan was realizing that now.
There was no romance at all. This wasn’t the kind of boyfriend she wanted.
Three years into their relationship, Lu Yicheng slowly changed from the quiet, unsmiling guy who had no idea how to make his girlfriend happy into someone else entirely.
So much so that when Jiang Lan stumbled upon a post online speculating that Lu Yicheng might be Yu Wanqiu’s son, she was devastated.
That night, it hit her—why his name had sounded familiar from the start.
It was from a novel she’d read long ago. Lu Yicheng was the male lead.
But she wasn’t the female lead.