My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet’s Hottest Power Couple
Author: NovelFire
Chapter 117
In the winter of 2013, Jiang Lan stood outside the Olympiad math class in her down jacket, waiting for someone.
Teacher Zheng was leading the schoolâs Olympiad team, holding extra classes during the winter break. Jiang Lan, who had just returned from a training camp with dismal results, was ordered by Xie Yunzhen to attend Teacher Zhengâs remedial sessions.
Teacher Zheng was utterly exasperated, and Jiang Lan herself felt hopeless. Fortunately, she had a silver tongueâotherwise, Teacher Zheng would have surely kicked her out.
Jiang Lan was waiting for her classmate and class representative, Zheng Miaomiao, who was an exceptional student and also lived in Lu'an Community. The two often walked home together.
The Olympiad class hadnât ended yet, so Jiang Lan pressed her face against the doorâs window to peek inside, immediately spotting Zheng Miaomiao.
Zheng Miaomiao noticed Jiang Lan too. The glass was fogged with condensation, making Jiang Lanâs face look particularly comical.
Earlier that afternoon, they had agreed to play a few rounds of claw machine games after class. Zheng Miaomiaoâs mind instantly drifted away from the lessonâluckily, Teacher Zheng only had half a problem left to explain before dismissing the class.
Zheng Miaomiao was the first one out, followed by Jinhua No.1 High Schoolâs most famous academic ace.
Lu Yicheng.
His fame stemmed from two things. First, his academic prowessâwhether in monthly or final exams, he consistently ranked first. In a school full of top students, maintaining that position was no small feat. Zheng Miaomiao was also an excellent student, but she hovered around the top twenty in her grade.
Second, Lu Yicheng was strikingly good-looking. Describing a boy as "good-looking" might seem odd, but it fit him perfectly.
He had double eyelids, though his eyes werenât particularly largeâthey were slender and elegant. His eyebrows were well-defined, his nose narrow and straight, and beneath one eye was a small mole. Rumor had it that people with teardrop moles were prone to crying, though no one knew if Lu Yicheng ever did.
Zheng Miaomiao stole a few extra glances at Lu Yicheng when she heard a classmate call out to him from behind.
"Lu Yicheng! Wait up! I didnât understand the last partâhow did you draw that auxiliary line?"
As students poured out of the classroom, Jiang Lan felt out of place. The best math students in the school were all here, and she was clearly the odd one out.
But the name sheâd just heard sounded oddly familiar.
"Miaomiao, whoâs Lu Yicheng? His name rings a bell."
The moment Jiang Lan spoke, the boy behind Zheng Miaomiao glanced over. His cool, piercing gaze landed on her faceâlike a butterfly briefly alighting before fluttering away.
Zheng Miaomiao linked arms with Jiang Lan. "Of course it rings a bell. Top student plus school heartthrobâhow could you not know him?"
Lu Yicheng walked briskly, soon overtaking them. Zheng Miaomiao sighed about how he resembled a novelâs male lead, but Jiang Lan only felt admiration upon hearing he was a top student.
Back in the day, she had been a high achiever too, but her grades had plummeted when her brain "stopped cooperating." After training camp, she forgot most of what sheâd learned. In the final exams, she ranked 619th.
Xie Yunzhen couldnât fathom how sheâd managed that.
Zheng Miaomiao thought Jiang Lan was impressive in her own rightâshe played multiple instruments and was pretty to boot.
Jiang Lan: "Letâs not talk about Lu Yicheng. Explain hyperbolas to meâIâm dying here. As payment, Iâll take you claw machine hunting."
Zheng Miaomiao: "Oh please, I know your claw machine skills. Ten tries and you still might not grab a single one."
Jiang Lan wasnât offended. "Itâs about the journey! The arcade owner sets the difficulty so highâitâs not my fault I canât win!"
The two bickered their way to the arcade. With the New Year approaching, the streets were lively.
Over winter break, Jiang Lan saw Lu Yicheng several times. He really was good-lookingâwhile most boys with buzz cuts looked like theyâd just been released from reform school, he resembled the cover of a fashion magazine or the male lead of a TV drama.
A guy like himâtop grades, great looksâwhat problems could he possibly have?
But soon, Jiang Lan discovered one of Lu Yichengâs struggles, thanks to Zheng Miaomiao.
Zheng Miaomiao: "I think the school heartthrobâs family isnât well-off. Weâre all bundled up in down jackets, but heâs still wearing a thin shirt."
It looked freezing.
Jiang Lan hadnât noticed before, but now it was obviousâLu Yichengâs clothes were indeed too light for winter. And while other boys often hung out at the arcade, sheâd never seen him there.
Jiang Lan comforted her: "No one can have it all. Like the old saying goes, 'Fullness invites loss.' Heâs got the brainsâheâll get into a top university and make big money someday. His current situation wonât matter then."
Zheng Miaomiao agreed, though she suddenly shivered. "Whyâs it so cold today?" She rubbed her neck and glanced backâLu Yicheng had just stepped out of a convenience store, a pen in hand, his gaze fixed on Jiang Lan with unsettling intensity.
Jiang Lan didnât turn around. "Whatâs wrong?"
Zheng Miaomiao tugged her along. "Nothing, letâs go home. Itâs freezing. Hey, Lanlan, have you decidedâdorm or commute next semester?"
Jiang Lan wanted to live on campus. The cafeteria was better than her momâs cooking, and she wouldnât have to waste time traveling.
"Dorm! Saves the commute."
Zheng Miaomiao: "Thereâs an empty bed in our room. You can move in with us."
When the new semester began, Jiang Lan settled into dorm life and spent evenings in Teacher Zhengâs office for extra lessons.
Jiang Lan was in Class 7, while Teacher Zheng homeroomed Class 1âLu Yichengâs class. Theyâd crossed paths a few times over summer, and Jiang Lan had greeted him. She wouldnât have asked him for help if she hadnât been truly stuck.
Luckily, Lu Yicheng was surprisingly willing to assist.
When Teacher Zheng returned from supervising self-study around nine, he graded Jiang Lanâs paper. "Not badâall correct."
Jiang Lan flushed guiltily. "Teacher Zheng, I asked Lu Yicheng for help on some problems."
Teacher Zheng glanced at Lu Yicheng, who nodded. "I explained the approach. Didnât give her the answers directly."
Adjusting his glasses, Teacher Zheng pointed at a problem. "Explain this one."
Jiang Lan walked through her reasoning, blending Lu Yichengâs hints with her own additions.
Teacher Zheng quizzed her on three problemsâshe answered each correctly. "Not bad. Ask Lu Yicheng if youâre stuck, and learn to extrapolate. Alright, you can go. Lu Yicheng, hand me your paperâletâs review it."
As Jiang Lan packed up, Lu Yicheng submitted his test. He waited quietly while Teacher Zheng marked it.
Jiang Lan waved and mouthed, "Iâm heading out."
Lu Yicheng nodded briefly before refocusing on his paper.
After reviewing it, Teacher Zheng found little to critique. "Here are two more practice tests. Finish them when you can."
Lu Yicheng nodded again. "Iâll bring them tomorrow."
With the Olympiad two months away, Teacher Zheng was confident in Lu Yichengâs chances, though he avoided saying so outright. "Keep practicing. Fundamentals matter."
Lu Yicheng: "Understood."
By April, the Olympiad concluded with Lu Yicheng winning a national awardâeffectively securing a shot at college admission without exams.
Technically, Lu Yicheng no longer needed to attend Teacher Zhengâs sessions, yet Jiang Lan still saw him there during evening self-study.
"Lu Yicheng, congratulations."
Lu Yicheng said, "Hmm, worry more about yourself."
Jiang Lan: "â¦â¦â¦â¦"
What kind of response was that? It sounded so unpleasant. She had come to congratulate Lu Yicheng.
Last month, Jiang Lan had ranked 512th in the monthly exam, climbing over a hundred places.
"Lu Yicheng, I can score 450 nowâthatâs way better than before." She was already satisfied. With that score, she could get into a decent university.
Lu Yicheng muttered under his breath, "After studying for over three months, and this is all youâve gotâ¦"
His voice was too low, and Jiang Lan didnât catch it. "What?"
Lu Yicheng said, "Your score is still far from top-tier universities."
Summer break was approaching, and soon, her second year of high school would be over. With only one year left for review, what kind of good school could she get into with this score?
Jiang Lan didnât even dare to aim that high. "Just getting into any university would be good enough for me. Top-tier schools? I wouldnât even dream of it."
She was contentâher current score already made her happy.
Even Xie Yunzhen thought her progress was remarkable, though Jiang Lan hadnât dared to tell the full truth when asked.
Lu Yicheng said, "If youâre going to take the exam, why not aim for something better?"
"You only have to push yourself for one more year. Just one year, and then itâs universityâafter that, life gets easier. Jiang Lan, your arts score is already high enough to qualify for Tsinghuaâs high-level arts program. The only thing holding you back is your academic scores."
He drew a line for her. "If you raise your academic score by another hundred points, you could get into Tsinghuaâs arts program. A hundred points isnât hardâjust score forty more in math by getting two extra multiple-choice questions, two fill-in-the-blanks, and the first two parts of two long-answer questions right."
"Another ten points each in physics, biology, and chemistry should be easy since your current scores are low. Push a little harder in English and Chinese, and a hundred extra points is totally doable." Lu Yicheng laid it out casually, as if it were nothing. "If youâre going to take the exam, why not aim for the best?"
He took a sip of water and continued calmly, "If you work hard for just one year, you can get into a top university. Otherwise, whatâs the point of high school?"
His words were inspiring, stirring something in her. If she put in the effort now, she could get into a great university.
And once she got in, everything else would follow.
This âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââwas the time to study. Living at school, there wasnât much else to do anywayâwhat was the point of not studying?
Jiang Lan found herself nodding without thinking. "But how can I improve by a hundred points in just a year?"
Lu Yicheng: "You canât do it alone, but I can. Follow my study methods, and hitting five hundred wonât be a problem."
Jiang Lan didnât ask which university Lu Yicheng wanted to attend, and he didnât mention it either. By the May monthly exam, Jiang Lan had climbed into the 400s, with her total score breaking five hundred.
The higher she went, the harder it became to improve.
When the results came out, her homeroom teacher was surprised at how quickly sheâd progressed. Jiang Lan took a deep breath. "Teacher Zheng has been tutoring me, and Iâve also been asking Lu Yicheng from Class 1 for advice. His study methods really work."
The homeroom teacher said, "You can also ask your classmates for help. The class monitor and the study committee members all have good grades."
Jiang Lan nodded, but she didnât expect what happened next. The very next day, their class monitor came over to tutor her.
He went through every mistake on her exam paper, one by one. By the end of the day, all her errors had been reviewed, leaving her with no questions left to ask when she went to Teacher Zhengâs office that evening.
Jiang Lan: "Uh, Lu Yicheng, our class monitor already went over this with me. Letâs look at something else today."
Lu Yicheng: "Your class monitor? Zheng Yankai?"
Jiang Lan: "You know him?"
Lu Yicheng: "Not really, but Iâve heard of him."
Zheng Yankai liked Jiang Lan.
Lu Yicheng knew about every guy who had a crush on herâwhether from Class 1 or Class 7. Was she really this clueless? Did she think Zheng Yankai was tutoring her out of pure goodwill?
What on earth was going on in that head of hers?
Jiang Lan waited for him to say more, but Lu Yicheng just set the paper down. "Whatâs wrong?"
Lu Yicheng said, "If someone else already explained it to you, then Iâll head back."
Teacher Zheng was leading the schoolâs Olympiad team, holding extra classes during the winter break. Jiang Lan, who had just returned from a training camp with dismal results, was ordered by Xie Yunzhen to attend Teacher Zhengâs remedial sessions.
Teacher Zheng was utterly exasperated, and Jiang Lan herself felt hopeless. Fortunately, she had a silver tongueâotherwise, Teacher Zheng would have surely kicked her out.
Jiang Lan was waiting for her classmate and class representative, Zheng Miaomiao, who was an exceptional student and also lived in Lu'an Community. The two often walked home together.
The Olympiad class hadnât ended yet, so Jiang Lan pressed her face against the doorâs window to peek inside, immediately spotting Zheng Miaomiao.
Zheng Miaomiao noticed Jiang Lan too. The glass was fogged with condensation, making Jiang Lanâs face look particularly comical.
Earlier that afternoon, they had agreed to play a few rounds of claw machine games after class. Zheng Miaomiaoâs mind instantly drifted away from the lessonâluckily, Teacher Zheng only had half a problem left to explain before dismissing the class.
Zheng Miaomiao was the first one out, followed by Jinhua No.1 High Schoolâs most famous academic ace.
Lu Yicheng.
His fame stemmed from two things. First, his academic prowessâwhether in monthly or final exams, he consistently ranked first. In a school full of top students, maintaining that position was no small feat. Zheng Miaomiao was also an excellent student, but she hovered around the top twenty in her grade.
Second, Lu Yicheng was strikingly good-looking. Describing a boy as "good-looking" might seem odd, but it fit him perfectly.
He had double eyelids, though his eyes werenât particularly largeâthey were slender and elegant. His eyebrows were well-defined, his nose narrow and straight, and beneath one eye was a small mole. Rumor had it that people with teardrop moles were prone to crying, though no one knew if Lu Yicheng ever did.
Zheng Miaomiao stole a few extra glances at Lu Yicheng when she heard a classmate call out to him from behind.
"Lu Yicheng! Wait up! I didnât understand the last partâhow did you draw that auxiliary line?"
As students poured out of the classroom, Jiang Lan felt out of place. The best math students in the school were all here, and she was clearly the odd one out.
But the name sheâd just heard sounded oddly familiar.
"Miaomiao, whoâs Lu Yicheng? His name rings a bell."
The moment Jiang Lan spoke, the boy behind Zheng Miaomiao glanced over. His cool, piercing gaze landed on her faceâlike a butterfly briefly alighting before fluttering away.
Zheng Miaomiao linked arms with Jiang Lan. "Of course it rings a bell. Top student plus school heartthrobâhow could you not know him?"
Lu Yicheng walked briskly, soon overtaking them. Zheng Miaomiao sighed about how he resembled a novelâs male lead, but Jiang Lan only felt admiration upon hearing he was a top student.
Back in the day, she had been a high achiever too, but her grades had plummeted when her brain "stopped cooperating." After training camp, she forgot most of what sheâd learned. In the final exams, she ranked 619th.
Xie Yunzhen couldnât fathom how sheâd managed that.
Zheng Miaomiao thought Jiang Lan was impressive in her own rightâshe played multiple instruments and was pretty to boot.
Jiang Lan: "Letâs not talk about Lu Yicheng. Explain hyperbolas to meâIâm dying here. As payment, Iâll take you claw machine hunting."
Zheng Miaomiao: "Oh please, I know your claw machine skills. Ten tries and you still might not grab a single one."
Jiang Lan wasnât offended. "Itâs about the journey! The arcade owner sets the difficulty so highâitâs not my fault I canât win!"
The two bickered their way to the arcade. With the New Year approaching, the streets were lively.
Over winter break, Jiang Lan saw Lu Yicheng several times. He really was good-lookingâwhile most boys with buzz cuts looked like theyâd just been released from reform school, he resembled the cover of a fashion magazine or the male lead of a TV drama.
A guy like himâtop grades, great looksâwhat problems could he possibly have?
But soon, Jiang Lan discovered one of Lu Yichengâs struggles, thanks to Zheng Miaomiao.
Zheng Miaomiao: "I think the school heartthrobâs family isnât well-off. Weâre all bundled up in down jackets, but heâs still wearing a thin shirt."
It looked freezing.
Jiang Lan hadnât noticed before, but now it was obviousâLu Yichengâs clothes were indeed too light for winter. And while other boys often hung out at the arcade, sheâd never seen him there.
Jiang Lan comforted her: "No one can have it all. Like the old saying goes, 'Fullness invites loss.' Heâs got the brainsâheâll get into a top university and make big money someday. His current situation wonât matter then."
Zheng Miaomiao agreed, though she suddenly shivered. "Whyâs it so cold today?" She rubbed her neck and glanced backâLu Yicheng had just stepped out of a convenience store, a pen in hand, his gaze fixed on Jiang Lan with unsettling intensity.
Jiang Lan didnât turn around. "Whatâs wrong?"
Zheng Miaomiao tugged her along. "Nothing, letâs go home. Itâs freezing. Hey, Lanlan, have you decidedâdorm or commute next semester?"
Jiang Lan wanted to live on campus. The cafeteria was better than her momâs cooking, and she wouldnât have to waste time traveling.
"Dorm! Saves the commute."
Zheng Miaomiao: "Thereâs an empty bed in our room. You can move in with us."
When the new semester began, Jiang Lan settled into dorm life and spent evenings in Teacher Zhengâs office for extra lessons.
Jiang Lan was in Class 7, while Teacher Zheng homeroomed Class 1âLu Yichengâs class. Theyâd crossed paths a few times over summer, and Jiang Lan had greeted him. She wouldnât have asked him for help if she hadnât been truly stuck.
Luckily, Lu Yicheng was surprisingly willing to assist.
When Teacher Zheng returned from supervising self-study around nine, he graded Jiang Lanâs paper. "Not badâall correct."
Jiang Lan flushed guiltily. "Teacher Zheng, I asked Lu Yicheng for help on some problems."
Teacher Zheng glanced at Lu Yicheng, who nodded. "I explained the approach. Didnât give her the answers directly."
Adjusting his glasses, Teacher Zheng pointed at a problem. "Explain this one."
Jiang Lan walked through her reasoning, blending Lu Yichengâs hints with her own additions.
Teacher Zheng quizzed her on three problemsâshe answered each correctly. "Not bad. Ask Lu Yicheng if youâre stuck, and learn to extrapolate. Alright, you can go. Lu Yicheng, hand me your paperâletâs review it."
As Jiang Lan packed up, Lu Yicheng submitted his test. He waited quietly while Teacher Zheng marked it.
Jiang Lan waved and mouthed, "Iâm heading out."
Lu Yicheng nodded briefly before refocusing on his paper.
After reviewing it, Teacher Zheng found little to critique. "Here are two more practice tests. Finish them when you can."
Lu Yicheng nodded again. "Iâll bring them tomorrow."
With the Olympiad two months away, Teacher Zheng was confident in Lu Yichengâs chances, though he avoided saying so outright. "Keep practicing. Fundamentals matter."
Lu Yicheng: "Understood."
By April, the Olympiad concluded with Lu Yicheng winning a national awardâeffectively securing a shot at college admission without exams.
Technically, Lu Yicheng no longer needed to attend Teacher Zhengâs sessions, yet Jiang Lan still saw him there during evening self-study.
"Lu Yicheng, congratulations."
Lu Yicheng said, "Hmm, worry more about yourself."
Jiang Lan: "â¦â¦â¦â¦"
What kind of response was that? It sounded so unpleasant. She had come to congratulate Lu Yicheng.
Last month, Jiang Lan had ranked 512th in the monthly exam, climbing over a hundred places.
"Lu Yicheng, I can score 450 nowâthatâs way better than before." She was already satisfied. With that score, she could get into a decent university.
Lu Yicheng muttered under his breath, "After studying for over three months, and this is all youâve gotâ¦"
His voice was too low, and Jiang Lan didnât catch it. "What?"
Lu Yicheng said, "Your score is still far from top-tier universities."
Summer break was approaching, and soon, her second year of high school would be over. With only one year left for review, what kind of good school could she get into with this score?
Jiang Lan didnât even dare to aim that high. "Just getting into any university would be good enough for me. Top-tier schools? I wouldnât even dream of it."
She was contentâher current score already made her happy.
Even Xie Yunzhen thought her progress was remarkable, though Jiang Lan hadnât dared to tell the full truth when asked.
Lu Yicheng said, "If youâre going to take the exam, why not aim for something better?"
"You only have to push yourself for one more year. Just one year, and then itâs universityâafter that, life gets easier. Jiang Lan, your arts score is already high enough to qualify for Tsinghuaâs high-level arts program. The only thing holding you back is your academic scores."
He drew a line for her. "If you raise your academic score by another hundred points, you could get into Tsinghuaâs arts program. A hundred points isnât hardâjust score forty more in math by getting two extra multiple-choice questions, two fill-in-the-blanks, and the first two parts of two long-answer questions right."
"Another ten points each in physics, biology, and chemistry should be easy since your current scores are low. Push a little harder in English and Chinese, and a hundred extra points is totally doable." Lu Yicheng laid it out casually, as if it were nothing. "If youâre going to take the exam, why not aim for the best?"
He took a sip of water and continued calmly, "If you work hard for just one year, you can get into a top university. Otherwise, whatâs the point of high school?"
His words were inspiring, stirring something in her. If she put in the effort now, she could get into a great university.
And once she got in, everything else would follow.
This âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââwas the time to study. Living at school, there wasnât much else to do anywayâwhat was the point of not studying?
Jiang Lan found herself nodding without thinking. "But how can I improve by a hundred points in just a year?"
Lu Yicheng: "You canât do it alone, but I can. Follow my study methods, and hitting five hundred wonât be a problem."
Jiang Lan didnât ask which university Lu Yicheng wanted to attend, and he didnât mention it either. By the May monthly exam, Jiang Lan had climbed into the 400s, with her total score breaking five hundred.
The higher she went, the harder it became to improve.
When the results came out, her homeroom teacher was surprised at how quickly sheâd progressed. Jiang Lan took a deep breath. "Teacher Zheng has been tutoring me, and Iâve also been asking Lu Yicheng from Class 1 for advice. His study methods really work."
The homeroom teacher said, "You can also ask your classmates for help. The class monitor and the study committee members all have good grades."
Jiang Lan nodded, but she didnât expect what happened next. The very next day, their class monitor came over to tutor her.
He went through every mistake on her exam paper, one by one. By the end of the day, all her errors had been reviewed, leaving her with no questions left to ask when she went to Teacher Zhengâs office that evening.
Jiang Lan: "Uh, Lu Yicheng, our class monitor already went over this with me. Letâs look at something else today."
Lu Yicheng: "Your class monitor? Zheng Yankai?"
Jiang Lan: "You know him?"
Lu Yicheng: "Not really, but Iâve heard of him."
Zheng Yankai liked Jiang Lan.
Lu Yicheng knew about every guy who had a crush on herâwhether from Class 1 or Class 7. Was she really this clueless? Did she think Zheng Yankai was tutoring her out of pure goodwill?
What on earth was going on in that head of hers?
Jiang Lan waited for him to say more, but Lu Yicheng just set the paper down. "Whatâs wrong?"
Lu Yicheng said, "If someone else already explained it to you, then Iâll head back."