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

Lu Yicheng gently squeezed Jiang Lan's hand and said, "Remember to miss me. I will, too."

Jiang Lan opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Lu Yicheng had already said what she wanted to say. His words filled her heart with both excitement and an added sense of reluctance.

Meeting every day, talking, and bickering was their everyday routine. They had met nearly every day this month, and it had already become a habit.

But the National Day holiday was her chance to go out and have fun with Yu Wanqiu! Jiang Lan's heart was already soaring. She said, "Don’t worry, I'll be back soon with Teacher Yu. You stay at home with Uncle Lu, take good care of yourself, don’t just immerse yourself in work, and make sure to get out and about."

Lu Yicheng quickly responded with “Got it.” But honestly, those weren’t the words he cared about.

Besides, with Jiang Lan away during the National Day holiday, he’d have the chance to visit Teacher Xie and Uncle Jiang. Perhaps during the Mid-Autumn Festival, he could drop off some hairy crab mooncakes! Lu Yicheng was convinced of his own brilliance. By the time Jiang Lan came back, she’d find that Uncle Jiang and Teacher Xie had started treating him like a son.

“Go ahead and leave, Jiang Lan,” he thought.

While the daughter was off on her trip, her future son-in-law would have already stocked up on rice and flour, like a proper family member.

Who wouldn’t be satisfied with that?

Lu Yicheng gently ruffled Jiang Lan's hair. "Someday, when there's a chance, we’ll go out on a trip together."

Jiang Lan hugged Lu Yicheng. She wasn’t quite bold enough for anything more than that in public at school. “Be good while I’m gone. I'll bring you back some local treats!”

As the evening breeze blew gently, Lu Yicheng asked if she’d packed everything—charging cable, ID card, wallet. She had it all, though her suitcase held many surprises she was excited to unveil later.

As the two chatted, the gala inside the theater concluded. The performers began arranging for a group photo, but Jiang Lan had to catch a flight and couldn’t stick around to join them.

After a brief wait, Yu Wanqiu emerged. Wearing a mask and sunglasses, she kept a very low profile.

“Congratulations on your amazing performance!” Lu Yicheng said.

Jiang Lan hugged Yu Wanqiu tightly. “Thank you!”

Time was running short, and the pair had to leave. Lu Yicheng took them to the airport.

With the welcoming gala wrapped up, students at Qinghua University began packing their things to head home for the holidays. On the school forum, posts were popping up one after the other. Probably because the holiday mood was in full swing, everyone seemed uninhibited, and the post titles were nothing short of hilarious—

["Hey, does the senior in the purple dress have a boyfriend? [Sparkles in my eyes] I'm 1.8 meters tall, the Qinghua version of Daniel Wu, and scored 720 on the college entrance exam!"]

["I feel like the senior playing the violin kept looking at me—is this love?"]

["Can someone answer me again? Does this senior have a boyfriend? I don't mind if she does."]

["People asking about Jiang Lan here are way behind the curve. Lu Yicheng, come and weed out these posts."]

["Why do I feel like one of the performers looked like Yu Wanqiu? Am I dreaming in the middle of the night? No way!"]

["Is it too late to learn Lin Xing's dance moves?"]

["If I learned Lin Xing’s dance, would Jiang Lan spare me an extra glance?"]

["Hilarious. Jiang Lan didn’t even look at the last act—she left right after her performance."]

["Hey, is that thread stating the truth? I’m crying in the restroom."]

["Qinghua talents are multi-skilled. Who still dares to call us bookworms?"]

["Qinghua beauties are unparalleled. Just one Jiang Lan is like the sum of two from elsewhere—though even she’s ‘average’ by Qinghua standards (well, sort of)."]

Someone posted the story to Weibo, and the hashtag for Qinghua University's Welcome Party stayed on the trending list, climbing higher and higher. Close behind was another trending topic: "I ship Lanzhou Noodles again!" Fans, while marveling at the talents of Qinghua University students, couldn't help but express surprise that Yu Wanqiu actually attended the welcome party.

It’s not so much that she came to watch the show—it’s more like she came to see Jiang Lan.

After all, if she was just there for Lu Yicheng, why hadn’t she come to past events?

Fans have always been experts at finding clues to support their ships.

[The official account has released the full video of the welcome party—the comedy sketch is hilarious.]

[The musical medley was out of this world. It felt like every song was carefully selected, and there was even a short violin harmony. Just incredible.]

[Everyone was great, but Jiang Lan absolutely blew me away. I must declare my love for her!]

[Wait, is that 6-foot guy in the post for real? Lu Yicheng sure is keeping busy.]

[Lu Yicheng: Am I the only one who gets it? Have you all been living under a rock? Didn’t you watch that super-popular variety show with my girlfriend and my mom?]

[Do people really ask the same question every year?]

[Trust in academic elites’ taste and confidence.]

[I seriously ship it. I'm done for.]

[If attending the performance doesn’t count as… then what does?]

[Please, someone hand over more couple content!]

[Time to rewatch all my favorite fan edits. I'm absolutely living for this kind of content.]

[Lol, Lu Yich went to watch “No One Cares,” but Yu Wanqiu shows up here losing her mind. Classic.]

[What if this isn’t merely promotional content?]

[Sorry, I got hooked again.]

[Just joined this fandom, and wow, who knew even friendship-style pairings could be this sweet?]

At 10 p.m., a media account posted a photo on Weibo of Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan walking into an airport. Both were dressed in T-shirts and jeans in coordinating colors, holding hands as they entered. Meanwhile, Lu Yicheng was seen standing by a car, his tall posture striking. It seemed he wasn’t going with them.

[This photo is legendary—so good that even fans want to buy the photographer a double helping of drumsticks.]

[Where are they headed?!]

[A National Day trip together?]

[My guess is Yunnan Province. They were recently announced as tourism ambassadors, so they’re probably filming promotional content there.]

[Well, I’m already booking my flight to Yunnan out of pure panic.]

[I was still debating where to go for National Day break. Problem solved now.]

[Lmao, I live in Yunnan. Guess I’ll just head home.]

[Yunnan’s totally scored big-time with this.]

[Is Lu Yicheng not going? *dog-head emoji*]

[Lu Yicheng: If you ask again, I swear I’ll lose it.]

[Lu Shuangchen: Don’t ask. And even if you ask me, the answer’s still no.]

[The two of them aren’t going on vacation. They’re working, unlike those of us without a purpose.]

[Lol, I was planning to watch fireworks in Beijing, hoping to bump into Lanzhou Noodles. But if I go now, I’ll probably just see single people everywhere. Yunnan, it is!]

This publicity post from the media account was essentially free advertising for Yunnan Province. National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival are peak times for travel, with students and office workers alike eager to go on trips. A long holiday like this isn’t something people spend at home if they can help it.

But quite often, traveling means not seeing much of the scenery—just crowds of people.

Take Beijing, for instance. It’s one of the most famous tourist cities, with attractions like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and the Great Wall. Come holiday season, these places get so packed that all you end up seeing are other visitors, and nothing else.

Tourism is a pillar industry for Yunnan Province's economy. Many people traveled during the National Day and Mid-Autumn holidays, but there are still plenty of lesser-known attractions. For instance, the small town that Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu visited last time. If more tourists visited these small towns, it would significantly boost the local economy.

The scenery there is stunning, with fewer crowds. Wandering around such a place would make it an ideal choice for National Day outings.

Anyway, Yunnan Province is clearly at the top of its game this time.

Even before the promotional video was filmed, the two had already given Yunnan Province a PR boost.

Judging from the online reservations for hotels and homestays, this year's tourism revenue could very well double—or even quadruple.

Of course, to ensure a good experience for tourists, local hotels and homestays plan to keep a few rooms available. Overcrowding would compromise the of the tourists’ stay, after all.

Local specialties are also being prepared, such as traditional ethnic clothing, various bracelets, silver accessories, and unique local delicacies. The province’s wild mushrooms typically hit the market from June to September, and while they’re still available as October approaches, the prices tend to be higher.

As for the promotional video, Yunnan has initially chosen several scenic sites: Xishuangbanna, Erhai Lake, The Firefly Forest, Shaowu Ancient Town, and Moonlit Valley.

The filming is planned to take six days, followed by editing. Among these sites, the Firefly Forest is not exclusive to the small town Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu visited previously; other lushly wooded areas serve as habitats as well.

The itinerary includes five major spots in total. Yunnan Province is covering their food and accommodations, putting them up in the best hotels near each scenic site, or in local homes when hotels aren’t available. Their meals are designed to showcase the regional cuisine as much as possible. If Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu post tweets or share updates on their social media, it would also serve as an informal form of promotion.

In the early hours of October 1st, Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu arrived in Yunnan. Their first stop was Shaowu Ancient Town.

Since there are no hotels in the area, they stayed in a local homestay. The ancient town resembled the Venetian towns written about in Chinese literature textbooks, with many waterways crisscrossing through it. The old houses have stood for countless years, their dark gray bricks and tiles weathered by time’s passage.

The night was tranquil like flowing water. The moonlight spilled gently over everything, casting a soft glow over the shallow surface of the water. In the waterways, small boats rocked gently with the ripples.

The staff set up their accommodations and asked if they were hungry, considering they’d been on a plane for several hours and might be starving by now.

But both Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu shook their heads in unison; they’d already agreed to eat something else.

Jiang Lan had brought along two packs of spicy chicken ramen, two packets of snail noodles, a big bag of marinated chicken feet, and two boxes of luncheon meat. If Xie Yunzhen saw this, she would probably launch into one of her usual lectures: “Unhealthy! Too spicy! All junk food! Cooking that will stink up the whole room!”

But Yu Wanqiu wouldn’t complain. She had a high tolerance for these kinds of foods. In fact, she really liked the instant noodles Jiang Lan made.

After wrapping up her promotional video work, Yu Wanqiu would head straight into the production of *Tribute*, a film requiring over two months of filming. According to the script, her character Wu Qing starts off at a normal weight but gradually grows thinner, so Yu Wanqiu felt she needed to savor the opportunity to eat freely for now.

In the past, Yu Wanqiu had never paid much attention to her appetite. To her, food was just food, with health being the most important factor. But now she realized that indulging in some "unhealthy" treats once in a while could also be part of a balanced and enjoyable lifestyle.

At the end of the month, Yu Wanqiu went for a physical check-up. She weighed only 90 pounds, which was considered underweight, although the doctor said her other health metrics were normal.

Director Liu Qingyun had once commented that staying slim was necessary while participating in reality shows, but it was perfectly fine to gain a bit of weight before joining the program.

This marked Yu Wanqiu’s last indulgent period before the show.

She’d never tasted luosifen (snail rice noodles) or fire noodles, and her curiosity about them was intense. “Are they any good?” she asked.

Jiang Lan replied mysteriously, “Words can't describe it. When I cook them, you’ll know.”

The two were staying at a small courtyard home that had a kitchen. The kitchen was stocked with eggs, vegetables, rice, oil, and dried noodles, among other essentials. The staff mentioned they could use whatever was available and let them know if they needed anything else.

Their two assistants were staying in a nearby room. Jiang Lan opened her suitcase, pulled out packets of luosifen and some trendy marinated chicken feet, and headed straight to the kitchen. She grabbed two eggs—because fried eggs were a must when eating luosifen.

Cooking luosifen could only be described as a calorie bomb.

Meanwhile, Yu Wanqiu stayed in the bedroom to unpack. Since they were sharing a room, they had one double bed, which was immaculately clean. This time of year, there was no need for air-conditioning; sleeping with the windows open felt wonderfully refreshing.

After a while, a strange scent wafted into the room. It was somewhat sour and a little spicy, with other enigmatic undertones. Yu Wanqiu set down her suitcase and left the room. By the time she reached the kitchen, Jiang Lan had already prepared two bowls of luosifen and carried them to the table.

Each bowl overflowed with goodness. On top sat an enormous fried egg, golden on one side and drenched in the rich, slightly murky broth on the other. Beneath the egg were two marinated tiger-skin chicken feet infused with fragrant spices, crunchy peanuts, leafy greens, and tender tofu skin strips.

At the very bottom were the springy rice noodles.

Jiang Lan waved at Yu Wanqiu enthusiastically. “It smells… a bit funky, but it tastes absolutely delicious! Come and eat!”

Yu Wanqiu initially thought the dish might have spoiled, but then decided to give it a try. If she ended up liking it, it would be a shame to miss out simply because of the smell.

The noodles were still scalding hot when served, so Yu Wanqiu started with a bite of the fried egg. The texture was completely different from a pan-fried egg. While pan-fried eggs cooked in instant noodle soups already tasted heavenly, fried eggs took the experience up a notch. The edges of the egg white were crisp and bubbly and soaked in the sour and spicy broth—each bite a direct hit to the soul.

The marinated chicken feet were tender and gelatinous, far removed from the texture of store-bought ready-to-eat products, resembling freshly cooked delicacies instead.

The peanuts were crunchy, the tofu skin strips carried a faint sweetness when softened in the broth, and the rice noodles were a perfect complement.

Yu Wanqiu’s mouth tingled a little from the spiciness, and as she lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Lan, she noticed beads of sweat forming on Jiang Lan’s forehead.

Although the two bowls of luosifen were cooked separately, Jiang Lan had deliberately added less chili oil to Yu Wanqiu’s bowl, worrying that she might not yet be accustomed to it.

Jiang Lan, however, was succumbing to the heat. She felt like her mouth was on fire!

"Yu, I need some water—this is unbelievably spicy! But it’s still not as fiery as fire noodles! Fire noodles? Those are beyond insane!" Jiang Lan exclaimed, all red-faced. “I still think fire noodles are the spiciest thing ever. Your bowl has hardly any chili oil compared to mine. Next time, I’ll definitely use less in mine, too. Still… this is so satisfyingly spicy!”

It was then that Yu Wanqiu thought back to dining with Lu Yicheng, whose presence brought entirely different vibes to mealtimes.

In the presence of Lu Yicheng, Jiang Lan wasn’t as carefree and wild as she was around Yu Wanqiu.

Ah, it feels so good to step out for some fun!

Yu Wanqiu wiped her mouth with a tissue and said, “Get me some water too. It was absolutely worth it, so satisfying! But wow, my lips feel numb. Do you think we’ll end up with sausage lips tomorrow?”

Of course not. The next day, the two of them were perfectly fine. The place Jiang Lan had chosen had consistently great reviews—good ingredients, no food safety concerns, and the flavors were wonderfully authentic.

The chicken feet? Just like the ones served with Chuanch hotpot—tender, flavorful, and plump, far from dry or rubbery.

Jiang Lan rarely gets acne, and neither does Yu Wanqiu. By around seven in the morning, the crew from Yunnan Province had already arrived with their makeup team in tow.

Their first stop was Shaowu Ancient Town, a place renowned for a few stunning sights.

These included the Firefly Forest, Dragon Gate Snow Mountain, West Mountain Red Maples, and the misty, rain-draped townscape.

The first sight resembled another little town they had visited before, though this was in a different location.

The second attraction could only be admired from afar. This area boasted a majestic snowy mountain, with its white-capped peaks appearing like an endless blanket of snow from a distance. West Mountain’s red maple leaves were a celebrated autumn spectacle. As autumn deepened, the entire mountain would be adorned in crimson leaves, with a scarlet carpet on the ground. The mountain also housed a temple, where many would visit to offer prayers and incense.

The final attraction was everywhere to be found within the ancient town—a picturesque scene of waterways crisscrossing beneath the veil of misty rain. When it rained and the distant hills and waters merged into a dreamy haze, it truly felt like stepping into a celestial realm.

The person in charge of the shoot planned to forgo a script, instead letting the duo wander and experience the scenery freely while cameramen trailed behind them, capturing the moments from multiple angles. The footage would then be edited later.

This approach was chosen for two main reasons.

First, Jiang Lan wasn’t an actress. If asked to perform according to a script, it might not turn out as well—especially when compared to the highly professional and skilled Yu Wanqiu. Any attempt at acting might highlight the contrast and make Jiang Lan look less capable.

The second reason was that the team wanted to see how ordinary tourists explore and interact with the places they visit. Would they make any unique discoveries?

Both women donned traditional minority costumes for the day. Thankfully, the weather was ideal, and the outfits weren’t too hot. The duo compiled a travel plan: two locations, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

At night, they would take in the view of the town’s illuminated nightscape. The schedule seemed perfectly balanced.

They decided to skip the Firefly Forest for now and began with the maple leaves. After all, their home city of Beijing had fragrant hills filled with red leaves too—how might these compare?

Leisurely walking and stopping along the way, they eventually reached the base of West Mountain. It was early autumn, so the maple leaves hadn’t fully turned red yet. However, the scenery resembled a grand oil painting with its blended colors.

Brushstrokes of bright green, tender yellow, and soft orange intertwined like a vibrant tapestry.

“How breathtakingly beautiful,” said Yu Wanqiu, her eyes wide with awe. Her expression was filled with wonder. The crew had initially been worried, thinking it wasn’t the best time to visit, as the leaves weren’t fully red yet. They planned to suggest coming back later to see the mountains blanketed in solid crimson.

But honestly, this was already stunning enough.

Every color seemed to bloom in perfect harmony.

The mountains weren’t crowded yet, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of dew-kissed soil.

“Wow!” Jiang Lan exclaimed. “This is absolutely gorgeous—I have to snap a photo and send it to Lu Yicheng.”

Jiang Lan snapped a couple of photos and suddenly felt it was such a pity that Lu Yicheng wasn’t there to see this. Although he could visit in the future, the scenery wouldn’t be the same as it was today.

Nature truly is the best artist.

Jiang Lan picked up two fallen leaves and started searching the mountain for small mushrooms. The entire mountain felt like a treasure trove.

The only downside was the occasional sudden appearance of little bugs that could give one a fright.

She wandered around and eventually made her way to the stalls at the foot of the mountain that were selling souvenirs. The stalls offered a variety of items, including embroidered pouches, bracelets, and even bubble machines clearly designed for kids to play with.

There were many kinds of bubble machines: small ones that, with a single blow, would produce a chain of bubbles, and larger ones stored in flat boxes, where the bubble wand was rectangular in shape. Jiang Lan asked about the price.

The vendor replied, “The small ones are five yuan, and the large ones are twenty.”

Jiang Lan purchased one of each. The small one was for Yu Wanqiu to play with. Yu Wanqiu had never played with such things in her life. Perhaps one day, when she had grandchildren, she might secretly buy one to play with alongside them. Yet for now, she was a little too self-conscious to try it out.

“You should play. I’ll watch you,” Yu Wanqiu encouraged.

Jiang Lan wanted Yu Wanqiu to join in. She called out to her, “Teacher Yu, have you ever seen the shape of the wind?”

Yu Wanqiu stood there for a moment, puzzled by Jiang Lan’s question. The next moment, Jiang Lan pulled out the large bubble machine, running as she turned her head back to look at Yu Wanqiu. “Teacher Yu, look!”

It was then that Yu Wanqiu understood what Jiang Lan meant by the shape of the wind.

They had come early in the morning—it was only a little past nine.

The sun was just rising, its light gentle and not overwhelming. The bubbles reflected the hues of sunlight.

The bubbles stretched longer as Jiang Lan ran, shimmering with sunlight. From afar, the red leaves of the mountain faintly reflected from their surfaces.

It felt as though everything around had come to a standstill. In Yu Wanqiu’s understanding, only special effects in films could achieve such an effect.

Yet in that moment, time genuinely seemed to move slower.

The bubbles grew longer, their shapes changing constantly. Finally, with a pop, they burst. So this is what the shape of the wind looks like.

Jiang Lan sighed with regret, “It popped!”

Yu Wanqiu’s heart was still racing. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. All she could feel was a warm surge in her mind. Even the small bubble machine in her hand seemed to heat up. She had always thought Jiang Lan inherently possessed a bright, romantic spirit—a way of seeing the world that was uniquely her own.

To Jiang Lan, the bubble machine wasn’t just a toy; it was a way to reveal the shape of the wind.

When she saw leaves, she thought of capturing a photo to share with Lu Yicheng.

If it had been her and Lu Yicheng here, Jiang Lan would likely think, “This is such a beautiful spot—I should take a picture of Teacher Yu to share with him.”

Yu Wanqiu smiled. “Look at you, running like that.” She reached out to fix the silver leaf ornament in Jiang Lan’s hair. “It’s beautiful. This is my first time seeing the wind.”

Jiang Lan smiled back. “Mine too! I didn’t know it could stretch so far. Teacher Yu, do you want to give it a try?”

This time, Yu Wanqiu nodded.

Both the large and small bubble machines were delightful to play with—these were the kinds of little things that women often adored.

Jiang Lan took out her phone and recorded a video of Yu Wanqiu playing. Beside her, the cameraman was also busy capturing the moment. Though filming was his expertise, a sudden burst of inspiration had hit him just then, sparking a flurry of creativity.

He wanted to give the staff some advice, like how to adjust the voiceovers for the later edits. Perhaps incorporating the phrase "the shape of the wind" to unify elements like the mountains, trees, red leaves, and wind—rather than keeping it bland and empty.

It was stunning.

The expressions of the two were very natural. If the promotional video ran thirty minutes, footage from five scenic spots would be more than enough.

Each location only took about six minutes of footage. It seemed as though the two of them could easily edit thirty minutes of material in just a single morning.

The staff also felt mixed emotions. They increasingly believed their choices were spot-on—the decision to select Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu as ambassadors, and to let the two freely improvise. Every step felt like another stroke of genius.

If there had been a script, its concept would likely have been simple: the two climbing a mountain, walking back and forth along its paths, standing under a tree, touching the rough bark of each trunk. There’s no way anyone would’ve imagined bubble blowing as an activity, even though bubble machines for sale at the foot of the mountain had been there for years.

Just now, there were bubbles floating against scenic backdrops of red maple leaves captured from various angles.

One word for it—perfection.

By midday, they had played to their hearts’ content.

Eating meals here didn’t cost them anything since the staff handled the bill. The two of them shared a pot of fish stew, and Jiang Lan stopped at the street to buy some flower pastries.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was just a few days away, so many stores were selling flower pastries and traditional mooncakes.

The fillings offered both sweet and savory options, even ones stuffed with ham. Jiang Lan planned on buying a large bag before leaving—sharing some with her roommates and saving a few to take home.

She could easily finish off two flower pastries in one sitting.

Yu Wanqiu had one flower pastry and half a ham-stuffed one. "It’s such a pity they didn’t come. If I had known earlier, I’d have invited the two of them to join us."

The scenery here was so incredible—what’s the point of working all day, every day, without taking any breaks? Even if they didn’t join us, wandering around the area on their own would be great too.

But Lu Shuangchen and Lu Yicheng had different ideas.

If it wasn’t for spending time with their wives or girlfriends, they’d rather be at the office. Working felt fulfilling, and it made money.

Making money lets them spoil their significant others—who wouldn’t want that?

Lu Shuangchen spent the entire day at his company, while Lu Yicheng bought mooncakes and hairy crabs, and grabbed two bottles of good liquor from home, planning a visit to the Jiang family.

Before heading out, he called Xie Yunzhen.

Xie Yunzhen hadn’t expected Lu Yicheng to come over. The two were currently dating—there was no need to extend their relationship to involve their families yet. In Xie Yunzhen’s opinion, only couples who were engaged needed to visit each other’s families during festivals. If they weren’t engaged, a simple meal together was enough.

Xie Yunzhen said, “Your uncle and I are just fine; there’s really no need to come see us.”

But Lu Yicheng replied, “Teacher Xie, Jiang Lan and my mother went to Yunnan, so they won’t be around for Mid-Autumn. Being alone at home, I thought it would nice to come accompany you both for a while. I promise I won’t bring anything overly expensive! Please let me drop by, even if it’s just to see how you’re doing. If there’s anything the house is running low on, like rice or flour, I could pick it up for you from the supermarket while I’m on the way.”

He even offered to pay—it would simply count as him running errands.

Both Xie Yunzhen and Jiang Baoguo had gotten rice and flour gifts from their workplaces during the holiday season; there was more than enough to last the year. “You’re welcome to join us for a meal, but there’s absolutely no need to bring anything,” insisted Xie Yunzhen.

Lu Yicheng, worried she might change her mind, rushed to confirm with an enthusiastic reply.

Today, the advertisement for Yuexiang aired on TV, and the brand sent several boxes of milk over. Lu Yicheng brought two boxes.

A little over an hour later, Lu Yicheng arrived at the Jiang family home.

Xie Yunzhen frowned slightly when she saw him carrying so many items. “It’s enough that you’re here. Why did you bring so much stuff? Take it all back with you when you leave.”

Lu Yicheng replied, “It’s not much; it just looks like a lot. Please try it with Uncle.”

Lu Yicheng had come early today—it was barely past ten. Rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, he said, “Teacher Xie, crabs are best when fresh. Let me take care of them.”

There were sixteen hairy crabs in total. Some of the steamed ones would be left for Jiang Lan, who also loved crabs.

Lu Yicheng gave Xie Yunzhen a bright smile. “I can do all sorts of things.”

Xie Yunzhen sighed. “No need… I’ll handle it. You should go sit in the living room.”

But there was no way Lu Yicheng would let Xie Yunzhen handle it. “Please, you should go enjoy the parade instead. Don’t stand on ceremony with me. By the way, when will Uncle be back? Is there anything else we need to buy?”

Truthfully, Xie Yunzhen wasn’t sure how to interact with Lu Yicheng. She had only one daughter, Jiang Lan, and didn’t quite regard Lu Yicheng as a son-in-law yet.

That said, Lu Yicheng was exceptionally considerate—polite without being obsequious. Coming from a well-off family, he didn’t carry any airs or display a temper. He was just a clean and upright young man.

If he had been one of Xie Yunzhen’s students, she would probably admire him a lot. But as a son-in-law? The bar for approval would rise significantly.

When it comes to sons-in-law, no matter how outstanding, they never seem quite good enough.

Feeling torn, Xie Yunzhen went to the kitchen to wash some fruit and check the house for anything they might be missing—it wouldn’t do to be a poor host.

Meanwhile, Lu Yicheng moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, needing no assistance from Xie Yunzhen. He steamed the crabs and, upon finding some fish in the sink, prepared a dish of sweet-and-sour fish.

He also braised pork belly.

By the time Xie Yunzhen returned from buying fruit, Lu Yicheng had finished cooking everything.

The aroma in the house was rich and inviting. If she were honest, his cooking skills far surpassed hers by a mile.

Some people focus on cooking but leave the kitchen in a mess. Not Lu Yicheng—he kept everything spotless and tidy.

There wasn’t a single flaw that Xie Yunzhen could find in what he did.

Lu Yicheng thought his performance today deserved a solid 99 points—deducting just one point to keep himself humble.

Considering it was a national holiday, Xie Yunzhen felt a bit uneasy for having Lu Yicheng prepare the meal. At home, he was probably someone who was doted on and pampered.

When Jiang Baoguo came home at noon to eat, his attitude toward Lu Yicheng was lukewarm at best. But after taking his first bite, he froze in surprise.

“Little Lu made it,” Xie Yunzhen explained.

Instantly, the food didn’t seem quite as delicious to Jiang Baoguo. “Why did you let the guest cook?”

He could’ve made the meal himself when he got home.

Lu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍Yicheng quickly responded, “ enjoy cooking, and I don’t want Jiang Lan to do it—her hands are meant for playing the piano.”

At this, Jiang Baoguo’s expression softened a little. “Alright, eat up. Since you made it, you should eat more.”

It wasn’t until Jiang Lan called that evening that she learned Lu Yicheng had visited her house. “Why… why did you go to my house?” she stammered.

Lu Yicheng answered, “Why are you saying ‘my house’ and ‘your house’ like we’re strangers? What’s with the formality?”

After all, they were one family.

Off to the side, Yu Wanqiu chuckled softly. Perhaps Lu Yicheng wasn’t too sharp in some respects.

Jiang Lan glanced at Yu Wanqiu, her expression not quite pleased. “Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

The reason for not informing her earlier was obvious—Lu Yicheng knew she wouldn’t allow him to go. But it was a holiday; he ought to visit.

Lu Yicheng lowered his head in slight remorse. “It was my mistake. Next time, I’ll definitely tell you ahead of time.”

Jiang Lan was irked by this habit of his—keeping her in the dark. She couldn’t stand not knowing things. However, since Lu Yicheng was quick to admit his fault and promised to change, she held her tongue.

Besides, Yu Wanqiu was here. Giving him some face now didn’t mean she wouldn’t bring it up next time if he repeated this behavior.

Lu Yicheng asked, “Darling, are you guys having fun? When will you be back?”

Jiang Lan replied crossly, “I already said the sixth.”

“Oh,” Lu Yicheng mumbled.

“Teacher Xie and Uncle Jiang seem to like me quite a bit,” Lu Yicheng remarked, a touch of pride coloring his tone. He understood one thing clearly: fathers and daughters were different.

No father would easily trust someone with their daughter—not until they understood the man’s sincerity.

That’s why Teacher Xie had been so concerned initially.

Now that they had gotten to know him and seen his genuine intentions, their attitudes had softened considerably.

Yu Wanqiu coughed lightly, bringing him back down to earth. “So confident, huh? Thinking they like you so much.”

Lu Yicheng decided it wasn’t worth arguing over something he believed to be true. Surely, admitting they liked him wasn’t that hard! And truth be told, he even felt that Jiang Lan was warming up to him more and more.

Jiang Lan sighed helplessly, spreading her hands. “Alright, enough. I’m not talking to you anymore. We’re going to Moon Valley tomorrow.”

Moon Valley was a beautiful canyon. Around Qingming Festival, people could visit to pick tea leaves. In autumn, the scenic view from the top of the valley was breathtaking.

This morning, they admired the autumn foliage. In the afternoon, they strolled around a nearby small town. The town had lovely scenery, but tomorrow, it was time for them to move on.

They would spend one more night here.

Jiang Lan noticed that tourists weren’t overwhelmingly numerous where they were. Perhaps it was because the places they visited weren’t particularly famous.

And she was right—most visitors to Yunnan Province would flock to hotspots like Erhai Lake, Firefly Forest, or other well-known destinations.

The lesser-known town of Shaowu saw comparatively fewer tourists.

Many who came with romantic expectations of chance encounters left disappointed. Nonetheless, the stunning landscapes of Yunnan never failed to impress【Visited Yunnan Province—a true tourist haven! ［Picture］】

【The scenery is breathtaking. I even took a photo at Erhai Lake, just like in my favorite drama!】

【There aren’t too many people here, but it’s still bustling. I managed to snag a bracelet matching the one from Lanzhou Lamian.】

【Firefly Forest is enchanting—like stepping into a dream.】

【Didn’t bump into any of “my girls.” Weren’t they supposed to be in Yunnan too?】

【No regrets at all.】

【I’m so excited for the promotional video! I couldn’t go this time, but one day I’ll make it there.】

【I re-watched *Mother-in-Law is Here 2* at home and suddenly noticed that Yu starred in a commercial for Delight Milk.】

【That commercial is next-level perfection.】

TV commercials typically last only a handful of seconds, so they need to hit their mark immediately. Viewers should know exactly what the product is in an instant.

Yu Wanqiu’s segment in the ad was a standout. In modern attire—decked out in a green-brown leather jacket, her hair tied into a high ponytail—she looked bold and dynamic.

The ad began with her riding a horse, surveying the vast pasture. Cows grazed peacefully, conveying the promise of premium milk sourced from pristine farms. The visuals transitioned seamlessly to processing facilities and then culminated in the appearance of pure white milk, with the words “Delight” materializing against a bright backdrop.

Yu Wanqiu’s skin appeared luminous on screen. Her relaxed expression while sipping the milk made the product look irresistibly enjoyable. Incidentally, this was the same milk she often drank during her TV appearances.

Previously, some people were indecisive about which milk brand to choose. After this ad, though, there was no longer any need to hesitate.

Yu Wanqiu didn’t take on many endorsements, so landing this one with Delight Milk likely meant a boost in her market value.

The commercial featuring Yu Wanqiu has aired, as has the endorsement for VIK featuring Zhang Lin.

After wrapping up her scenes, Zhang Lin has been diligently auditioning for new roles. However, since her child is now seven months along, production teams are hesitant to hire her.

The drama Zhang Lin shot in late August garnered positive feedback. Several directors have expressed interest in considering her for suitable roles once she has given birth.

Her baby has been exceptionally well-behaved, which has been a great comfort to Zhang Lin. During her shooting schedule, it was Xu Chaoyang who took care of their child. Little Xu Yi, unaware of Zhang Lin and Xu Chaoyang’s divorce, assumed his parents had reconciled and gleefully went about like a little ray of sunshine every day.

Li Jia had approached Zhang Lin several times. At first, she was hysterical, but as time went on, she grew flustered and began pleading with Zhang Lin to let her see Xu Yi.

Zhang Lin found the situation laughable—she had never seen Li Jia act like this before.

She flatly refused Li Jia’s request. “Xu Chaoyang and I are divorced. The only reason he gets to see the child is that he is her father.”

Xu Yi might be in need of a father, but she certainly doesn’t need a grandmother like that.

Though Zhang Lin is easily moved, some things simply cannot be forgiven.

She wanted to enjoy a proper National Day holiday.

Zhang Lin had finished filming, but Shen Xingyao still had several months of shooting left.

Chen Hao visited their set, and the family spent Mid-Autumn Festival together.

In contrast, Du Wanzhou had slimmed down further and was now at 150 pounds. The weight loss suited her, and she was shaping up to be a rather competent assistant.

She had received her first month’s wages—a sum of 13,000 yuan. Although it wasn’t much to her, it was money Du Wanzhou had earned on her own.

That made all the difference. With the 13,000 yuan, she bought a few items for Shen Xingyao, purchased some things for herself, and managed to spend it all within two days.

Once the show ended, Chen Shuyun went back to work. For the Mid-Autumn Festival, her workplace gave her a holiday gift pack: a bottle of cooking oil, two sacks of rice, two boxes of mooncakes, and a case of hairy crabs—a fairly generous offering.

During the three-day break for the Mid-Autumn Festival, Little Xuan got to enjoy a family reunion dinner. His grades had been steadily improving, and if he continued performing at this level, he was on track to attend a first-tier university.

During the National Day holiday, the family either went out for outings, watched movies in theaters, or just strolled leisurely through the mall.

The National Day release lineup featured several films, including comedies, romances, and thrillers. "Deep Sea," which had been a summer-break blockbuster, was no longer playing.

The movie had closed its theatrical run with a box office total of 5.3 billion yuan and a rating of 9.0. Both metrics it as a rather successful film.

In comparison, "The Wandering Storyteller" had accrued a total box office revenue of 4.1 billion yuan and a rating of 8.1.

Yu Wanqiu’s fans took this opportunity to mock "The Wandering Storyteller" by drawing comparisons. However, Ming Yao's fans argued that it was impressive enough for a debuting performer to achieve such results. After all, an 8.1 rating isn’t low. With a box office of 4.1 billion yuan, Ming Yao clearly has endless potential, and now it’s just a matter of waiting to see who will win the Golden Bear Award.

Yu Wanqiu’s fans were stunned by such confidence. Ming Yao’s supporters seemed so sure she would win the Golden Bear, as if it were already in the bag.

["Stop riding on the coattails of other successes just because your movie scored an 8.1. Walk outside and see if anyone even knows who she is."]

["I’m looking forward to updates about Teacher Yu’s next project. Are there any announcements about new movies? I can’t wait."]

["No news yet, but honestly, I feel like she’s already won every possible award. She’s at the peak of her career, and anything beyond this would just be gilding the lily."]

["Ah, the struggles of being a top-tier actress..."]

On the second day of the National Day holiday, the official Weibo account of the Yunnan provincial government posted a new update:

**【Magnificent Landscapes — [Video]】**

The video, lasting just over twenty seconds, features Jiang Lan calling out to Yu Wanqiu:

"Mr. Yu, have you ever seen the shape of the wind?"

Jiang Lan made a giant bubble using the breeze, and within the bubble, the crimson maple leaves of Yunnan's Xishan Mountain came into view.

The two appeared on screen for only a few seconds—the rest of the video was all about the magical, glistening bubbles.

With five more days left of the National Day break, fans declared in excitement that they couldn't wait any longer and were ready to head to Yunnan right away.

**[I’m screaming! I’m obsessed!]**

Lu Yicheng: I really am a genius—no wonder I was the top scorer in the national college entrance exams.