My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet's Hottest Power Couple-Chapter 107

"Sweetie, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‍it seems your adoration for the author isn't quite enough yet. The story has shyly hidden itself away."

A new day began, with Yu Wanqiu being the earliest to rise, up by six in the morning. Next was Chen Shuyun, who changed into a black professional suit, grabbed a bag of milk, and headed out.

Then came Shen Xingyao, who had a magazine photoshoot scheduled for the morning. Though married, her excellent relationship with her mother-in-law kept her in the spotlight, boosting her popularity and landing her enviable opportunities.

As the doting mother-in-law, Du Wanzhou naturally accompanied her. Dressed in haute couture and arriving in a luxury car, the two women left home at eight.

Zhang Lin's household led a simpler life. Zhang Lin got up to make breakfast, and after eating together with her mother-in-law, Li Jia took the initiative to wash the dishes. "Zhang Lin, you’re going to the hospital today, right?"

Zhang Lin touched her stomach and nodded.

The production team wasn’t surprised—Zhang Lin was three months pregnant. Aside from regular prenatal checkups, she had no other obligations, and the contract had already stipulated that any mishaps would not be the show’s responsibility.

Still, Zhang Tian felt a little regretful. Zhang Lin had been eager to make a comeback, and this variety show would have been the perfect stepping stone. But now, with a baby on the way, her return to the spotlight seemed indefinitely postponed.

Meanwhile, the cameras on the fourth floor captured Yu Wanqiu waking up early, washing up, reading, and cooking breakfast. At seven, she stood outside Jiang Lan’s door for ten seconds.

At seven, the alarm went off. Jiang Lan reached out and silenced it. Time ticked by—eight o’clock, nine o’clock…

At 9:23, Jiang Lan finally rolled over, sat up with a head full of messy hair, and stared blankly for a long moment.

The crew found her natural, makeup-free appearance quite charming—Jiang Lan wasn’t fond of cosmetics, but her bare face held its own.

After a few seconds of dazed silence, she scrambled out of bed, washed up, folded the blankets, pulled open the curtains, and changed clothes. Standing behind the door, she rubbed her hands nervously, cautiously cracked it open, and peeked out—only to lock eyes with Yu Wanqiu, who was sitting calmly on the sofa with a cup of tea.

Yu Wanqiu set the teacup down. "Awake?"

Jiang Lan: "…………"

She felt a little guilty. She’d promised to be up by seven, yet it was nearly ten. "Um, Teacher Yu, I overslept… I set an alarm, but I didn’t hear it…"

Yu Wanqiu extended a hand toward her.

Jiang Lan: "Huh???"

Yu Wanqiu: "Your phone."

Jiang Lan quickly unlocked her phone and handed it over. Yu Wanqiu proceeded to set ten consecutive alarms—from seven to 7:10, one every minute. "You’re still young. These precious hours shouldn’t be wasted on sleep and comfort. If one alarm isn’t enough, set more."

Yu Wanqiu studied Jiang Lan. She really didn’t want to interfere, but the show required interaction—otherwise, it would just make things difficult for Zhang Tian. Seeing that half the day had already slipped away, Yu Wanqiu lowered her gaze and asked, "Do you have plans this afternoon?"

Jiang Lan shook her head quickly. She’d intended to practice piano, nap, binge dramas, and play games.

Yu Wanqiu: "I’m making a guest appearance in a role this afternoon. You’re coming along—better than lazing around here doing nothing. We leave at noon."

Jiang Lan felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. Going with her? That just meant playing the role of a tea-fetching, water-carrying assistant.

No way.

"Teacher Yu, won’t I just get in the way? I’m all thumbs—I’d hate to cause trouble. Plus, my identity isn’t exactly… appropriate." Jiang Lan blinked at Yu Wanqiu pleadingly.

Twenty million—once the show wrapped up, they’d go their separate ways.

Yu Wanqiu frowned. "Just come. There’s some food left in the fridge—I was going to throw it out anyway."

Jiang Lan sighed. She happened to be hungry, and since the food was going to be thrown away anyway, she might as well eat it. There was a sandwich on top of the fridge, along with milk, orange juice, and various fruits.

Jiang Lan didn’t like milk, so she took the orange juice instead.

The whole wheat bread slices contained a fried egg, shrimp, corn, and it was actually quite delicious. Thanks to the sandwich, Jiang Lan didn’t feel hungry until noon, while Yu Wanqiu made herself a vegetable salad.

At midday, under the scorching sun, Jiang Lan trudged along with her head down as they took a car to the high-speed rail station. Their destination was Z City, and the round trip would take four hours.

Jiang Lan suspected that Yu Wanqiu had brought her along simply because she couldn’t stand seeing her sleep.

By the time they arrived on set, it was already three in the afternoon. Director Han Wenzheng came over to greet Yu Wanqiu. "Have you read the script? Let me mention something first—the stand-in for the hand double got injured."

Yu Wanqiu nodded. No one could match her professionalism. Even for a minor role, she gave it her all.

This was a modern drama where the female lead played a cellist. However, the actress Zheng Xiaoxiao didn’t know how to play the cello, and with the stand-in injured, there wasn’t enough time to find a replacement.

Han Wenzheng’s solution was to have Zheng Xiaoxiao fake the motions for now and reshoot later once a new stand-in was found. He mentioned it in advance to avoid any dissatisfaction from Yu Wanqiu.

There wasn’t any other major issue.

The episode’s plot revolved around Yu Wanqiu’s character, a businesswoman, meeting the male lead at the restaurant where Zheng Xiaoxiao’s character worked part-time. The male lead would be momentarily captivated by the female lead, and later, when they met again and fell in love, he would recall that they had crossed paths before upon seeing her play the cello.

Yu Wanqiu replied, "It’s fine."

She was guest-starring in this episode as a favor to Han Wenzheng. Zheng Xiaoxiao soon approached, immediately noticing the camera crew following Yu Wanqiu. She also spotted Jiang Lan but paid her no mind. With a sweet smile, she said to Yu Wanqiu, "Teacher Yu, it’s an honor to act alongside you. I’m a big fan."

Zheng Xiaoxiao had only learned yesterday that Yu Wanqiu had such a grown-up son—already an adult and a top student at Qinghua University. The internet was going wild over Lu Yicheng. With Yu Wanqiu as his mother, a wealthy family, and his striking looks, he was practically born with a silver spoon. What a lucky break for Jiang Lan.

Zheng Xiaoxiao glanced at Jiang Lan. Compared to Lu Yicheng, she was utterly ordinary—pretty, perhaps, but without any standout qualities. Just a Cinderella. There was no way Yu Wanqiu would actually let Jiang Lan marry into their family.

Yu Wanqiu responded, "Mm, I’ll go get ready."

Even as a guest star, she had her own dressing room. She headed inside with her assistant, leaving Jiang Lan and the cameraman waiting outside.

After about fifteen minutes, a voice called out from behind. Jiang Lan turned to see Zheng Xiaoxiao.

"Hey, are you Teacher Yu’s assistant? My assistant just stepped out. Could you help me with something?"

Jiang Lan figured she had nothing better to do, so she might as well lend a hand. "What do you need?"

Zheng Xiaoxiao looked apologetic. "It’s about the cello—could you move it over here? Also, the piano isn’t in the right spot. Director Han said it shouldn’t be placed here."

Having practiced music since childhood, Jiang Lan had a natural affinity for instruments. The cello wasn’t heavy, so she carried it to the spot Zheng Xiaoxiao indicated. The piano, however, was a massive piece, and she had to help the crew shift it into place.

Yu Wanqiu stepped out of the dressing room and was met with this scene: Jiang Lan, dressed in a short-sleeved half-skirt, was huffing and puffing as she helped someone move things. Meanwhile, Zheng Xiaoxiao sat nearby with a script resting on her lap—though she wasn’t reading it—chatting and laughing with the people around her.

This scene didn’t require her to speak; she just had to pretend to play the cello, something she couldn’t actually do. All she needed was to go through the motions.

When Zheng Xiaoxiao noticed Yu Wanqiu’s arrival, she quickly wiped the smile off her face and stood up. "Teacher Yu, you look so sharp in this outfit! Oh, by the way, isn’t that your assistant over there? I asked her for a small favor. I’ll treat her to milk tea later."

Yu Wanqiu studied Zheng Xiaoxiao for a moment before turning and calling out Jiang Lan’s name. "Jiang Lan, come here. You can play the cello, right?"

Jiang Lan nodded in confusion... How did Yu Wanqiu know she could play the cello?

Yu Wanqiu pulled Jiang Lan over to Han Wenzheng.

"Director Han, this is Jiang Lan, my son’s girlfriend. She’s decent at the cello—she can stand in."

If Yu Wanqiu said it was fine, then it was fine. Even if Jiang Lan wasn’t particularly skilled, it wouldn’t matter.

Han Wenzheng, aware that Yu Wanqiu was currently filming a variety show, agreed without hesitation. "The cello is over there. Miss Jiang, you can tune it if needed. A makeup artist will take you to change into costume soon."

Zheng Xiaoxiao’s smile froze on her face.

Wasn’t this the supposedly neglected daughter-in-law of a wealthy family? Yu Wanqiu was clearly speaking up for Jiang Lan. Zheng Xiaoxiao felt humiliated—she was a popular young actress, yet she was being slighted like this.

But no one paid her any attention; they were all focused on Yu Wanqiu.

Soon, a makeup artist led Jiang Lan away to change. Zheng Xiaoxiao’s character was a cheerful, down-on-her-luck girl who worked nights at a Western restaurant, earning six hundred yuan for three or four hours of work.

Jiang Lan changed into a champagne-colored floor-length gown. Since she wasn’t as tall as Zheng Xiaoxiao, she also switched to a pair of high heels. As a stand-in, her face wouldn’t be shown, so there was no need for makeup. However, her hair color differed from Zheng Xiaoxiao’s, so the stylist pinned it up.

Han Wenzheng noticed Jiang Lan was fairer than Zheng Xiaoxiao and asked the lighting crew to soften the glow. With a stand-in handling the scene, Zheng Xiaoxiao had nothing to do except film a few close-ups of her playing the cello later in post-production.

Night had already fallen. Jiang Lan sat by the restaurant’s fountain, testing the cello’s sound. The tuning was off, so she adjusted it effortlessly. She couldn’t figure out how Yu Wanqiu knew she could play the cello. Strangely, the calluses on her left fingertips matched exactly where they had been in her past life.

The piece chosen by the production team was "Moon River." Han Wenzheng approached her and said, "Miss Jiang, all you need to do is play. Once filming wraps up, you’ll be paid the standard rate for a stand-in actor."

Jiang Lan’s eyes lit up. "Oh? How much?"

Han Wenzheng: "...Four hundred per episode."

Did the daughter-in-law of Yu Wanqiu really need money?

Jiang Lan was pleased—she was getting paid just for showing up. When the director called for action, she drew the bow across the strings.

The deep, resonant tones of the cello filled the restaurant as diners ate and chatted. Yu Wanqiu, playing the role of a businesswoman, entered the Western restaurant and was escorted to the male lead’s table.

After concluding their discussion, the male lead glanced in Jiang Lan’s direction—this was where he first encountered the female lead. A beaded curtain obscured her face, but her silhouette behind it was enough to stir the imagination.

Jiang Lan had two cameras set up—one for close-up shots of her hands and another for wide-angle scenes.

Under the lens, the young woman’s skin glowed with a delicate radiance. She kept her head slightly lowered, her hair pinned up to reveal a slender, snow-white swan neck, even her shoulders exuding elegance.

Her right hand moved back and forth along the strings of the instrument, creating an indescribable beauty.

The cameraman couldn’t resist zooming in on Jiang Lan’s face. Soft light bathed her features, her long lashes casting delicate shadows. Perhaps it was the cello’s influence, but she appeared serene and sweet.

She wore no makeup, yet her complexion was flawless, not a single pore visible. The way she played the cello captivated the cameraman.

The male lead, realizing he had been staring for too long, snapped out of his daze and smiled sheepishly at Yu Wanqiu. “It sounds beautiful.”

Yu Wanqiu raised her wine glass. “Indeed. To a successful collaboration.”

Though Yu Wanqiu’s scenes were few, the cameraman had captured so much footage of Jiang Lan that Han Wenzheng had to reshoot from two different angles before finally approving the takes.

Once filming wrapped, Han Wenzheng asked, “There are two more scenes requiring a stand-in. Would Jiang Lan have the time?”

Of course, Jiang Lan wanted the extra pay—but she hesitated, glancing pleadingly at Yu Wanqiu. Yu Wanqiu nodded. “Go ahead.”

The two additional scenes involved the female lead performing in a concert and another where she played piano while working part-time.

Han Wenzheng asked Jiang Lan, “Do you know how to play piano?”

Jiang Lan nodded. Yu Wanqiu left to attend to other matters, and by the time filming concluded, it was already seven in the evening.

Jiang Lan received her payment of 1,200 yuan and counted it carefully in the car. “Yu Wanqiu, since you helped me land this job, let me treat you to dinner!”

With no one else in the car, Yu Wanqiu finally let out what she had been holding back: “Are you an idiot? Didn’t you notice Zheng Xiaoxiao bossing you around? The crew has plenty of people—why were you carrying things for her? She tells you to do something, and you just obey?”

Jiang Lan was startled. She had simply been helping out without overthinking it. Did that mean Zheng Xiaoxiao had been giving her a hard time earlier, and Yu Wanqiu had her play the cello to stand up for her?

Jiang Lan tugged at Yu Wanqiu’s sleeve. “I didn’t realize. So… are we eating or not?”

Yu Wanqiu massaged her temples. “We still have to return to the production team. Let’s see what tickets are available.”

Jiang Lan: “Oh.”

Then her eyes brightened. “Yu Wanqiu, what should we eat? Barbecue? Hot pot? Or Peking duck? I’m not familiar with this area—do you have any recommendations? My treat.”

Yu Wanqiu instructed the driver, “Take us to the usual private kitchen.”

Jiang Lan touched her phone nervously. Would a private kitchen be too expensive? Would her 1,200 yuan vanish in one night? Well, if the food was good, it’d be worth it. After all, Yu Wanqiu had gotten her the job—might as well enjoy the reward.

Yu Wanqiu closed her eyes and said nothing. Jiang Lan, feeling hungry, sipped water to stave off the hunger, one gulp after another.

It was rush hour, and the car moved slowly through the traffic. Outside, neon lights and city glow merged into a dazzling river of stars.

Suddenly, Yu Wanqiu opened her eyes. “I heard you blocked Lu Yicheng?”

Jiang Lan choked on her water. “Pfft—cough, cough, cough!”

Heard?

From whom?

What did this mean? Had Lu Yicheng actually complained to Yu Wanqiu? They had agreed—once the show ended, they would break up. What was the point of keeping his contact info then?

This male lead had no sense of honor—who goes tattling to someone else?

And to Yu Wanqiu, of all people…

Clearly, he wasn’t the brightest. Yu Wanqiu would be thrilled if they broke up.

Yu Wanqiu closed her eyes again after speaking.

Jiang Lan took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, I told him not to contact me until the show ends. I was afraid that secretly asking about your preferences would be cheating."

Yu Wanqiu remained silent. Jiang Lan drank a few more sips of water, and after a twenty-minute car ride, they finally stopped at the entrance of a narrow alley.

The night was pitch black. Yu Wanqiu stepped out of the car first, and Jiang Lan quickly followed.

They went straight to a private dining room. Yu Wanqiu ordered two stir-fried vegetable dishes, while Jiang Lan scanned the menu—prices were slightly high but still within her budget. "I’ll have the tomato beef stew, braised chicken wings, and Yangzhou fried rice," she said.

Yu Wanqiu was a regular here, so the owner sent over a complimentary fruit platter with watermelon and oranges, which tasted exceptionally sweet. Jiang Lan happily munched on two slices. "This is really good!"

Since Yu Wanqiu had to watch her sugar intake, she only ate a small piece of watermelon. It was indeed as delicious as Jiang Lan had said.

When the food arrived, Jiang Lan dug in enthusiastically, while Yu Wanqiu restrained herself from reaching for the meat dishes.

After the meal, Jiang Lan cheerfully went to settle the bill—400 yuan spent, with 800 left.

She asked the server to pack the leftover fried rice and chicken wings for breakfast the next morning.

On the way back, Yu Wanqiu kept her eyes closed, resting, while Jiang Lan, full and drowsy, dozed off several times during the ride.

They arrived at the villa by 10:30 p.m.

As they rode the elevator, Jiang Lan sighed. "Just thinking about how late it is—washing up will take me past 11, and I still have to wake up early tomorrow. It’s so depressing."

Yu Wanqiu ignored her.

Jiang Lan sighed again. "I won’t even get eight hours of sleep. Can I still grow taller?"

Yu Wanqiu was slightly taller than Jiang Lan, and with her high heels, she had to look down to meet Jiang Lan’s gaze.

Jiang Lan also lowered her head, staring at her toes. From this angle, she did seem a bit short. Yu Wanqiu brushed her hair back and said, "Eight o’clock, then."

Jiang Lan reset her alarm to 8:00 a.m. She knew Yu Wanqiu was only policing her schedule out of disapproval, not for any other reason. This kind of dynamic was manageable, but Jiang Lan doubted she could keep it up for long.

The next morning, Jiang Lan dragged herself out of bed, groaning under the relentless buzzing of her alarm.

Like a sleepwalker, she washed up with her eyes half-closed, then opened the door and greeted Yu Wanqiu. "Good morning, Teacher Yu."

Yu Wanqiu was sipping floral tea while reading a book. She gave a slight nod in response. Without makeup, she still looked youthful, her fair skin flawless—only her lips were a bit pale, but it suited her.

Jiang Lan stumbled to the fridge, reheating last night’s leftover fried rice and chicken wings.

She yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Teacher Yu, have you eaten already?"

Yu Wanqiu replied, "Yes."

Jiang Lan had no idea what time Yu Wanqiu had woken up. She ate breakfast alone at the table, washed the dishes and pots, then pondered what to have for lunch.

Without school, wasn’t life just about asking yourself three times a day, "What should I eat?"

Her cooking skills were mediocre, so Jiang Lan opted for takeout. She planned to sneak it into her room so Yu Wanqiu wouldn’t disapprove.

Yu Wanqiu seemed to have no work that day, quietly sitting on the sofa with her tea and book. Not wanting to disturb her, Jiang Lan retreated to her room after cleaning up. When she came out around 10 a.m., she saw Yu Wanqiu talking to someone.

Shen Xingyao and Du Wanzhou had gone upstairs at some point. Du Wanzhou was slightly plump, with dark brown hair and wore a pair of glasses, giving her a kind and stylish appearance. She was dressed elegantly in a black long dress and high heels, with a pair of jade bracelets on her wrist and large diamond and emerald rings on her right middle and ring fingers.

Shen Xingyao looked much like her photos online—sweet and lively, with wavy long hair and strikingly large eyes. "You must be Jiang Lan, right? I'm Shen Xingyao. You can call me Xingyao-jie."

Du Wanzhou exclaimed upon seeing Jiang Lan, "I didn’t get to see you yesterday. This future daughter-in-law of yours is quite the beauty."

Jiang Lan’s lips twitched slightly. "Hello, Xingyao-jie, Auntie Du."

Yu Wanqiu responded coolly, "She’s not a daughter-in-law yet. It’s too early to say that."

Shen Xingyao’s smile faltered for a moment. She had assumed that bringing Jiang Lan onto the show meant Yu Wanqiu approved of her, but apparently not...

Still, for the sake of the show’s entertainment value, she quickly recovered. "Jiang Lan, come sit with us! You’re on summer break now, right? Is school stressful? I actually envy you—working makes you realize how carefree student life really is."

Jiang Lan forced a chuckle. "Yeah, summer break."

Shen Xingyao leaned in with a gossipy tone. "I heard you and Lu Yicheng go to the same university. He’s on break too, right? Since you’ll be filming for two months, will he make an appearance? Ah, I’m so curious about you two! I’d love to see how a young heir from a wealthy family behaves in a relationship."

Only Yu Wanqiu and the production team knew that Jiang Lan had already blocked Lu Yicheng.

Jiang Lan wasn’t sure how to respond, but luckily, Shen Xingyao didn’t press further. With a sweet voice and a playful blink, Shen Xingyao added, "This time, you’ll be dating right under Teacher Yu’s watchful eye!"

Yu Wanqiu’s expression turned complicated as she gave Shen Xingyao a cryptic look. Undeterred, Shen Xingyao continued cheerfully, "Better put on a good show—I’m looking forward to your wedding!"

Du Wanzhou interjected, "Always the chatterbox, aren’t you? Wanqiu, don’t mind her—she’s just childish. But time does fly. You’re about to become a mother-in-law, though you don’t look it at all. Sitting next to Jiang Lan, you two could pass for... sisters."

Yu Wanqiu sighed. "One can’t deny aging."

"Exactly!" Du Wanzhou agreed. "I’ve come to terms with it. Chen Hao is already married, and Nannan is such a dutiful daughter-in-law. Now I’m just waiting for grandchildren. Having Nannan as my daughter-in-law is truly a blessing."

Shen Xingyao beamed sweetly.

Du Wanzhou lowered her voice conspiratorially. "The two of them are trying for a baby now. I plan to give Nannan a gift when she delivers the Chen family’s first child."

Shen Xingyao lowered her head, feigning shyness. "Mom, why bring that up now?"

Yu Wanqiu raised an eyebrow. "A gift?"

Jiang Lan perked up her ears. Truly, the dynamics of wealthy families—even childbirth came with rewards.

Du Wanzhou nodded. "Yes. If the first child is a boy, I’ll reward her with 100 million yuan. For every child after that, another 100 million. They can have as many as they like."

She gave Shen Xingyao an encouraging look.

Jiang Lan nearly choked. Is there a throne to inherit or something? A reward of 100 million per child?

Is this about marrying a wife or a baby-making machine?

Du Wanzhou turned to Yu Wanqiu. "Wanqiu, if those two get married, how many kids would you want them to have? Personally, I adore children—the more, the merrier."

Yu Wanqiu waved a hand dismissively. "They can have as many—or as few—as they want. Or none at all. I won’t interfere."

Yu Wanqiu only has Lu Yicheng as her son. If her daughter-in-law doesn’t bear children... would that really be acceptable?

Du Wanzhou wore an expression of disbelief. The Lu family was so wealthy—how could they not want an heir? What kind of joke was that?

"Wanqiu, these young people are still immature in their thinking. You can’t just let them have their way. Nannan also said she wanted to delay having children to focus on her career, but I talked her out of it. She doesn’t need to earn that much money anyway—just have fun. Look at Zhang Lin—she’s pregnant again, and I heard she initially didn’t want it. But would her family let her have her way…"

Jiang Lan watched as Du Wanzhou rambled on without pause, her lips moving incessantly, while Yu Wanqiu listened attentively. Left with nothing to do, Jiang Lan could only sip her water.

The pressure of childbirth in wealthy families was intense. Thank goodness she had already secured her two million—she’d take the money and leave as soon as possible.

Finally, Du Wanzhou grew thirsty and reached for her teacup, only to find it empty. Shen Xingyao lowered her eyes and silently refilled it.

Du Wanzhou praised Shen Xingyao a few more times. "Nannan is such a sweet girl. By the way, what are you two doing this afternoon? Want to go shopping together? As for Jiang Lan here…"

Jiang Lan’s clothes were plain and ordinary, and Du Wanzhou subtly hinted that Yu Wanqiu should buy her something nicer.

Jiang Lan set down her cup. "I have to practice piano this afternoon, so I won’t be joining."

Yu Wanqiu added, "I won’t be going either. I need to review a script."

Du Wanzhou pressed on, "Then what about lunch? Let’s all go out to eat—I know a great Western restaurant!"

Yu Wanqiu declined. "No, I’m on a diet right now. I’ll just eat at home with Jiang Lan."

Du Wanzhou then took Shen Xingyao out to lunch. Once they left, Jiang Lan stretched her neck and stood up—she hadn’t even ordered takeout yet and had no idea what to eat.

But the moment she rose, Yu Wanqiu asked, "Where are you going?"

Jiang Lan replied, "...To eat."

Yu Wanqiu frowned. "Didn’t I tell you takeout is unhealthy? Too much salt and oil."

"Professor Yu, I don’t know how to cook," Jiang Lan explained. At school, she relied on the cafeteria, and with takeout so convenient, her culinary skills were limited to boiling noodles or making salads—neither of which she particularly enjoyed.

It was already eleven—perfect timing to order food.

Yu Wanqiu crossed her arms. "From now on, we’ll eat together, but you have to help. You can order one dish, and you’ll do the dishes afterward."

Jiang Lan muttered, "Fine."

Every move of the guests in the villa was monitored by Zhang Tian. He had seen firsthand how Yu Wanqiu stood up for Jiang Lan and then questioned her about why she had blocked Lu Yicheng’s number.

Though he still sometimes looked down on Jiang Lan, Zhang Tian understood one thing:

Whether Yu Wanqiu liked Jiang Lan or not was her own business—no one else was allowed to bully her.

Yu Wanqiu told Jiang Lan to pick a dish, and she chose black pepper beef stir-fry since there was beef in the fridge. Orders had to be based on available ingredients.

"Professor Yu, are you good at cooking? What should I do to help?"

Yu Wanqiu answered, "I’ve never cooked before, so I don’t know how it’ll turn out. You can wash and chop the vegetables. If I ask you to stir-fry, then you stir-fry."

Jiang Lan couldn’t imagine Yu Wanqiu being any good at cooking—she had only ever seen her make vegetable salads. The two of them in the kitchen… Would they really not blow it up?

Xiao Xu had booked a train ticket for 8:30 p.m.

Jiang Lan’s eyes lit up. "Professor Yu, what should we eat then? Barbecue? Hotpot? Or roast duck? I’m not familiar with the area—do you have any recommendations? My treat."

Yu Wanqiu turned to the driver. "Take us to the private kitchen I usually go to."

Jiang Lan checked her phone, wondering if the private kitchen would be too expensive. Would her 1,200 yuan vanish in one night? If the food was good, it might be worth it—after all, it was Yu Wanqiu who had recommended the job. Might as well enjoy the meal.

Yu Wanqiu kept her eyes closed, silent. Jiang Lan’s stomach growled, so she sipped water to stave off the hunger, one gulp after another.

It was rush hour, and the car moved slowly through the bustling streets. Outside the window, neon lights and car headlights blended into a dazzling river of stars.

Suddenly, Yu Wanqiu opened her eyes. "I heard you blocked Lu Yicheng?"

Jiang Lan choked on her water. "Pfft—cough, cough, cough!"

Heard?

From whom?

What did this mean? Had Lu Yicheng actually complained to Yu Wanqiu? Wasn’t it agreed that they’d break up after the show ended? What was the point of keeping his contact info then?

This male lead really had no sense of honor—how could he go tattling like this?

And to Yu Wanqiu of all people…

Clearly, he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Yu Wanqiu would be thrilled if they broke up.

After dropping that bombshell, Yu Wanqiu closed her eyes again.

Jiang Lan caught her breath. "Yeah, I told him not to contact me until the show’s over. I didn’t want to secretly ask him about your preferences—that’d be cheating."

Yu Wanqiu said nothing. Jiang Lan took a few more sips of water. After twenty minutes in the car, they finally stopped at the entrance of a narrow alley.

The night was pitch black. Yu Wanqiu stepped out first, and Jiang Lan hurried after her.

They went straight to a private room. Yu Wanqiu ordered two stir-fried vegetable dishes. Jiang Lan scanned the menu—the prices were a bit steep but still manageable. "I’ll have the tomato and beef stew, braised chicken wings, and Yangzhou fried rice."

Yu Wanqiu was a regular here, so the owner sent over a fruit platter with watermelon and oranges, both incredibly sweet. Jiang Lan devoured two slices. "This is really good!"

Yu Wanqiu, mindful of her sugar intake, only had a piece of watermelon. It was indeed as delicious as Jiang Lan said.

When the food arrived, Jiang Lan dug in with gusto while Yu Wanqiu restrained herself from reaching for the meat dishes.

After the meal, Jiang Lan happily went to settle the bill—400 yuan spent, with 800 left.

She asked the server to pack the leftover fried rice and chicken wings for breakfast the next day.

On the way back, Yu Wanqiu kept her eyes closed, resting. Jiang Lan, full and drowsy, dozed off several times during the ride.

They reached the villa by 10:30 p.m.

In the elevator, Jiang Lan sighed. "Thinking about how late it is—it’ll be past eleven by the time I finish washing up, and I still have to wake up early tomorrow… Ugh, this is miserable."

Yu Wanqiu ignored her.

Jiang Lan sighed again. "If I don’t even get eight hours of sleep, how am I supposed to grow taller?"

Yu Wanqiu was slightly taller than Jiang Lan, and with her heels on, she had to look down at her.

Jiang Lan also lowered her head, staring at her toes. From this angle, she did seem a bit short. Yu Wanqiu flicked her hair. "Eight o’clock, then."

Jiang Lan reset her alarm for 8:00 a.m. She knew Yu Wanqiu was only policing her schedule because she disapproved of her habits, not for any other reason. This arrangement was tolerable, but Jiang Lan doubted she could keep it up for long.

The next morning, the violent buzzing of her alarm dragged Jiang Lan out of bed.

Like a sleepwalking zombie, she stumbled through her morning routine with her eyes half-shut. Then she pushed open the door and greeted Yu Wanqiu. "Good morning, Teacher Yu."

Yu Wanqiu was sipping floral tea while reading a book. When addressed, she gave a faint nod. Though she wasn’t wearing makeup, her complexion remained youthful—pale skin with naturally soft lips that still looked lovely.

Jiang Lan shuffled over to the fridge and pulled out the leftover fried rice and chicken wings from last night to reheat. She yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Yu, have you eaten already?"

Yu Wanqiu replied, "Yes."

Jiang Lan wasn’t sure what time Yu Wanqiu had woken up. After finishing her meal at the dining table, she washed the dishes and pondered what to cook for lunch.

Not having to attend school meant she could indulge in the luxury of contemplating life’s three daily reflections.

Since her culinary skills were mediocre, Jiang Lan opted for takeout. When the food arrived, she sneaked it into her room to eat—this way, Yu Wanqiu wouldn’t disapprove.

Yu Wanqiu seemed to have no work that day, content to sit on the sofa with her tea and book. Not wanting to disturb her, Jiang Lan retreated to her room after cleaning up. When she emerged past ten, she noticed Yu Wanqiu deep in conversation with two visitors.

Shen Xingyao and Du Wanzhou had somehow made their way upstairs. Du Wanzhou was slightly plump, with dark brown hair and a pair of glasses that gave her a kind, approachable air. She dressed stylishly in a black maxi dress and heels, her wrists adorned with jade bracelets and her fingers sporting a large diamond ring and an emerald ring.

Shen Xingyao looked just like her online photos—sweet-faced and lively, with wavy long hair and strikingly large eyes. "You must be Jiang Lan," she said cheerfully. "I’m Shen Xingyao. Just call me Xingyao-jie."

Du Wanzhou exclaimed at the sight of Jiang Lan, "We missed you yesterday! This future daughter-in-law of yours is quite the beauty."

Jiang Lan’s lips twitched. "Hello, Xingyao-jie, Auntie Du."

Yu Wanqiu interjected coolly, "She’s not a daughter-in-law yet. It’s too early for such talk."

Shen Xingyao’s smile faltered. She had assumed Yu Wanqiu’s approval of Jiang Lan was a given, especially since she was bringing her on the show. But then again, for the sake of the program, drama was key.

"Jiang Lan, come sit with us!" Shen Xingyao chirped, shifting gears. "You’re on summer break, right? How’s school? I envy you—work makes me miss how carefree student life was."

Jiang Lan forced a laugh. "Yeah, just summer break."

Shen Xingyao leaned in with a gossipy glint. "I heard you and Lu Yicheng go to the same university. He’s on break too, right? Since you’re filming for two months, will he make an appearance? Ah, I’m so curious about you two! I’d love to see how a young heir from a wealthy family romances his girlfriend."