My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet's Hottest Power Couple-Chapter 71

Some lamented Jiang Lan’s absence from the entertainment industry, citing her charm, talent, and connections (like Yu Wanqiu). But fans disagreed. Jiang Lan loved music—her flute-playing was mesmerizing—and staying out of the industry wasn’t a loss as long as she kept collaborating with Yu Wanqiu.

[SOBBING] "I knew ‘Lanzhou Pulled Noodles’ was real! I’ll never tire of saying it!"

[CRYING] "I’m so sad it’s over… but I hope Shen Xingyao and Du Wanzhou join Season 3!"

"Xingyao probably won’t—she’s booked for a new drama and will be on set for six months. She genuinely loves acting, so fewer variety shows might be for the best."

Around 11 PM, Shen Xingyao posted a farewell on Weibo:

"Shen Xingyao: Season 2 has come to an end. These two months with the cast were unforgettable, and it’s hard to say goodbye. But as they say, all good things must come to an end."

These past two months have been the fastest period of growth for me. I’m not as naive as I was when I first got married, and I’ve given serious thought to my future plans. On my birthday night, I carefully read all the suggestions from my fans. Getting married has truly been a joyful experience for me—I’m so lucky to have found a supportive husband and an understanding mother-in-law. Thank you to my fans and my family for giving me the courage to move forward.

I also want to thank Director Zhang Tian for taking such good care of me during this time, as well as everyone for their love. However, I won’t be participating in any variety shows for now. After a short break, I’ll be joining a new production to focus on honing my acting skills. I hope my upcoming drama won’t disappoint you all. Thank you for your unwavering support since my debut.

"Mother-in-Law Is Coming," goodbye for now! I’m heading to my next challenge with my new assistant by my side! [Photo]

The accompanying photo shows her and Du Wanzhou posing together, both flashing peace signs and smiling brightly. Du Wanzhou has now become Shen Xingyao’s assistant, marking a new dynamic between the former mother-in-law and daughter-in-law—now a superstar and her assistant. Who knows how long Du Wanzhou will last in this role?

This post was Shen Xingyao’s way of wrapping up the show, but most importantly, she wanted to express her gratitude to her fans.

The letters from her fans weren’t meant to dictate her life choices. They’ve loved Shen Xingyao for years, and while they initially felt Chen Hao wasn’t good enough for her, they gradually came to accept him as their "brother-in-law." Though married life has been sweet, they didn’t want to see Shen Xingyao lose her spark by staying too long in variety shows.

[She really did read every single letter we wrote.]

[She genuinely considers her fans’ opinions.]

[I knew the person I stan wouldn’t let me down. Can’t wait for your new drama!]

[Stay well! Hope to see you in more variety shows in the future—they’re so much fun!]

Meanwhile, Zhang Lin’s Weibo remains quiet, with no reposts or activity. It almost seems like she’s abandoned the account. Netizens still don’t know whether she’s divorced or not. As for the non-celebrity participants, they don’t use Weibo at all. Their final wave to the camera served as their farewell to the audience.

As for Li Jia, only a shot of her walking away was included in the edit.

That nasty old woman was pure trouble, and viewers hope never to see her again.

With the eighth episode wrapped, there are still plenty of behind-the-scenes interviews left unreleased. Director Zhang Tian plans to drip-feed them—some tomorrow, some the day after, and more once the show’s hype dies down—to keep the momentum going.

The show has been a smooth ride from start to finish, thanks to its strong content and stellar cast. Zhang Tian took a stroll through the show’s fan community and noticed the "Lanzhou Noodles" fanbase has grown even larger.

Yesterday, Xie Zheng and Ou Mingyang announced their respective new idol dramas, complete with fresh on-screen pairings and promotional interactions, leaving many shippers heartbroken. The "ZhengZheng Rising" fanbase has been shrinking and is now smaller than the "Lanzhou Noodles" community.

Summer flings always end, and CPs disband—it’s just the way things go. Fans are used to the cycle of promotion followed by separation, but it still stings when you’ve invested real emotion, hoping for a real-life romance, only to face disappointment.

They vow never to ship real people again… only to immediately jump aboard the "Lanzhou Noodles" ship.

Real people are just too irresistible!

This ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‍family is pure shipping gold—their friendship alone guarantees no bad endings! Plus, Lu Yicheng has already met Jiang Lan’s parents. Even if the wedding takes a while, it’s bound to happen. This ship is a safe bet!

And if all else fails, there’s always the father-son duo of the Lu family—now that’s a CP that will never sink.

At midnight, the ten-minute program concluded with ratings peaking at 28, sparking a frenzy on Weibo with endless discussions. Zhang Tian had finally carved out a name for himself in the variety show industry.

Numerous directors congratulated him, eager to bask in his success.

It hadn’t been easy. Nowadays, variety shows were everywhere—challenge-based, romance-focused, talent competitions—so for a show about mothers-in-law to rise in popularity was truly remarkable. Zhang Tian had taken an unconventional path.

But the show’s success was inseparable from its guests. Zhang Tian dared only claim 30% of the credit, attributing half to the guests and the remaining 20% to the collective efforts of the entire production team.

At the celebratory banquet that night, Zhang Tian ordered a grand three-tiered cake and a massive takeout spread from Jiang Lan’s favorite skewer restaurant.

After the small eatery gained sudden fame, it was flooded daily with customers lining up for hours. With no space for dine-in, the owner had joined the delivery business, striving to maintain flavor and food safety while handling a surge in orders. The shop had turned a hefty profit this month.

Though exhausting, the work was lucrative, and the owner felt indebted to Jiang Lan—so much so that he considered sending her an honorary plaque, if not for fear of disturbing her. What was once a humble local spot had transformed overnight into a bustling hotspot.

Besides skewers, Zhang Tian also ordered barbecue, fried chicken, and beer. A few production assistants cooked a large pot of instant noodles in the kitchen, complemented by sponsored fruit and yogurt, turning two long tables into a buffet-style feast.

Zhang Tian handed out generous red envelopes to everyone. "Wishing you prosperity and good fortune! Get some rest, and let’s collaborate again next time!"

Though filming had lasted only two months, the preparation had been grueling—securing guests, scouting locations, coordinating filming logistics, navigating censorship approvals, and negotiating with broadcasting platforms.

The team had burned the midnight oil for months to get the show on air.

Fortunately, their efforts paid off—the show was a hit.

"Thank you, Director! Wishing you prosperity!" The young women on the team ate happily from their bowls. Working on this production had been a joy—fangirling over the guests up close and deciding their meals based on the cast’s choices.

Like netizens, they ate whatever Jiang Lan ate. When Jiang Lan struggled through yoga, they laughed in front of the monitors. When she practiced piano until her arms ached, they laughed some more.

In the end, Jiang Lan lost two pounds, while they gained five.

Even Du Wanzhou had slimmed down—only the crew had piled on weight. But it was a happy, indulgent kind of plumpness. Now that filming was over, it was time to shed those pounds.

"Director Zhang, when are we filming Season 3?" someone couldn’t resist asking. In this line of work, crews hopped from one project to another like temporary laborers. The pay was decent, but everyone longed for a harmonious team.

Once a variety show became a hit, a sequel was inevitable—an unspoken rule in the industry. But usually, the second season paled compared to the first, and the third fared even worse, much like how remakes never lived up to the originals.

Yet Mother-in-Law Is Coming 2 had outperformed its predecessor. Skipping a third season would be unthinkable.

Zhang Tian replied, "No rush. These things can’t be forced—we need to plan carefully."

Zhang Tian was inclined to wait for Yu Wanqiu's schedule. With such a stellar precedent set, if the chemistry between the next season's guests couldn't match that of Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan, the show would be ruined. Getting criticized by netizens would be the least of their worries—it could destroy the program's reputation entirely.

Zhang Tian checked the ratings on Suanban: the first season scored 7.2, and the second season 8.4, which was considered high for a variety show.

Filming could start immediately, but finding guests more engaging than Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan was a challenge. Some of the celebrities who had reached out to him were quite famous, but they just weren’t the right fit. That’s why Zhang Tian preferred to wait for Yu Wanqiu’s availability.

If he took the initiative, there could be a story between them.

Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan had plenty of appeal. Unlike typical mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dynamics, theirs was more like two intersecting lines—converging and then moving forward together.

It gave people a sense of strength, a belief that meeting the right person could make life better.

Lu Yicheng and Jiang Lan weren’t married yet, but their relationship might improve after marriage. What if they had children later? Would their dynamic change?

Jiang Lan wasn’t a celebrity, but she planned to work in the entertainment industry. Since Mother-in-Law Is Coming was a lifestyle show, filming while working a regular job was possible.

The main issue was Yu Wanqiu’s schedule. They could afford to wait. If suitable guests came along in the meantime, they could start filming then.

"Come on, let’s drink! Everyone, eat more—look how thin you’ve all gotten," Zhang Tian said, blatantly lying. The production crew had each gained at least five pounds, and not a single one of them was thin. The only noticeable change was that two editors were losing hair at an alarming rate.

At home, Jiang Baoguo and Xie Yunzhen watched the final episode on TV.

Jiang Lan had gone to her room to sleep. "Who knows if she’s really sleeping or just pretending," Xie Yunzhen remarked.

The door was closed, and the lights were off—it was impossible to tell whether she was asleep or just scrolling on her phone.

Jiang Baoguo chuckled. "Let her play if she wants. She’s finally home—no matter how nice it is outside, it’s never as comfortable as home."

Xie Yunzhen felt she had been more than accommodating toward Jiang Lan, giving her plenty of respect. If Jiang Lan had been home all summer, Xie Yunzhen would have been driven crazy.

She was so picky—just look at how she ate! But truth be told, after two months away, Xie Yunzhen had missed her.

"All she does is play. Let’s see what time she wakes up tomorrow," Xie Yunzhen grumbled, though her real worry was about the show. It had been entertaining, and the Lu family had shown great sincerity. Today, Lu Yicheng had visited, bringing many gifts.

The most valuable were the wine and tea, along with throat lozenges for Xie Yunzhen. The rest included rice, flour, oil, and milk—all thoughtfully chosen, not just expensive items, but things that suited the Jiang family’s lifestyle.

There was nothing to criticize in that regard.

But Xie Yunzhen didn’t want Jiang Lan to marry so soon. As a mother, she couldn’t help but worry. Fortunately, Jiang Lan still had a year left before graduation, so there was plenty of time to observe.

Jiang Baoguo said, "There’s nothing else going on—let her sleep in. She’s been under a lot of pressure filming the show."

The couple had seen the comments on Weibo. In the beginning, the backlash had been terrifying. Their precious daughter had stepped out from under their protection and faced the storm alone.

Xie Yunzhen, a schoolteacher, had witnessed bullying firsthand. She had been terrified Jiang Lan would suffer online harassment. At first, she had been adamantly against the show—she even wanted Jiang Lan to break up with Lu Yicheng after filming or drop out entirely. It was Jiang Baoguo who had talked her out of it.

Adults had to take responsibility for their choices. Being on the show would teach Jiang Lan what was good and bad—and it wasn’t all bad.

Xie Yunzhen said, "Yu Wanqiu is a good person, but we haven’t met Lu Yicheng’s father yet. Let’s go back to our hometown tomorrow—it’s been so long since Jiang Lan last visited her grandparents."

They would return to their hometown to explain the situation about the show as well, since Jiang Lan’s grandparents were quite worried.

Jiang Baoguo naturally agreed.

The Jiang family’s hometown wasn’t in B City but in a small county in the neighboring Hebei Province. Early on Saturday morning, Jiang Baoguo called Jiang Lan’s grandfather to say they were coming back that day.

Grandpa Jiang said okay, then quietly asked, "That boyfriend of Lanlan’s… he’s not coming, is he?"

His tone suggested he didn’t want him to come.

Jiang Baoguo replied, "No, he just got back from his summer internship and should spend time with his parents. Anyway, we’ll talk more when we get there. We’ll arrive by noon."

After hanging up, Jiang Baoguo called Jiang Lan to wake her. "We’re going to your grandma’s place later. Get up and have some breakfast."

Jiang Lan had stayed up late the night before—Lu Yicheng had been so ridiculous. He looked so pitiful, sitting there dazed and silent, as if he’d lost his soul. He wouldn’t even let Jiang Lan hang up the phone.

Lu Yicheng wasn’t usually like this around others. She didn’t know what had gotten into him today.

He also felt the treatment was unfair—not out of jealousy, but because the Lu family had placed all their hopes on him. Now he had to face Jiang Lan’s parents alone, and eventually, other relatives too. The pressure was immense.

No one was there to help him.

Jiang Lan had comforted her boyfriend, but after staying up late and waking up early, she was exhausted. She dozed off in the car and didn’t arrive at their hometown until past eleven.

Jiang Lan’s uncles and aunts all worked in the county, mostly in education-related fields. Since it was summer break, everyone had gathered at Grandpa Jiang’s house.

Aunt Wu Fang and Aunt Xu Qinglan were busy in the kitchen preparing lunch. Xie Yunzhen wasn’t much of a cook, and since they’d traveled all the way from B City, it wouldn’t make sense to wait for them to arrive before starting the meal.

Grandma Jiang handled two dishes herself, while the other two women took care of the rest.

Wu Fang sent her son, Jiang Feng, out to buy more fruit and snacks. Jiang Lan was the only girl in the Jiang family. She had been a clever and well-behaved child, so everyone adored her. Wu Fang and Xu Qinglan treated her like their own daughter.

With just the two of them in the kitchen, the sisters-in-law chatted for a while.

"We still don’t know what’s going on with Lanlan’s boyfriend. Jiang Feng looked it up online and said their family’s assets are worth billions. His mother is an actress—Yu Wanqiu, you know, the award-winning one. Families like that aren’t easy to get along with." Wu Fang wasn’t being prejudiced. The Lu family was well-off, and surely many girls dreamed of marrying into it. But that kind of household came with drama.

They might even look down on the Jiang family.

Wu Fang had many students, some handsome and academically outstanding. The Jiangs weren’t the type to chase after status.

Xu Qinglan said, "Don’t say that. I watched the show—Yu Wanqiu treats our Lanlan very well, and Lu Yicheng is very polite. As long as he’s a good person, his family background shouldn’t matter."

Marrying into a wealthy family was still better than marrying into a poor one.

After exchanging a few more words, the doorbell rang. Grandma Jiang, wearing her reading glasses, went to answer it. "You’re back! It’s already noon—why so late? Lanlan, come inside. Is it hot out there? Let’s turn on the AC."

The air conditioner at Grandma Jiang’s place had been installed two years ago. The elderly weren’t bothered by the heat, so it was only turned on when the grandchildren visited.

Jiang Lan felt a little awkward at first—she had to figure out who was who on her own. Fortunately, everyone was gathered together, so she could greet them all at once.

Grandma Jiang brought out some delicious snacks and urged Jiang Lan to sit down. "Eat up, you’ve gotten so thin. Dinner will be ready soon."

A little later, Jiang Feng also returned home. He winked at Jiang Lan and was about to say something when Grandma Jiang shot him a glare. Without even looking, she knew exactly what he wanted to bring up—her granddaughter’s new boyfriend. "You must be hungry," Grandma Jiang said instead. "I made braised pork and sour fish stew, your favorites."

These two dishes were Grandma Jiang’s specialties, and Jiang Lan loved them the most. Jiang Feng shrugged helplessly—his grandma might as well have written "Don’t bring it up" on her forehead. Fine, he wouldn’t mention it. But time really flew—his little sister was already dating someone.

Soon after, the other kids in the Jiang family came home—three cousins in total, ranging from elementary to high school age. Back then, Wu Fang and Xu Qinglan had adored Jiang Lan’s cuteness and wanted a daughter of their own, but both ended up with two rowdy boys instead.

The three cousins squeezed onto the couch beside Jiang Lan, pleading, "Sis, you’re the best! Help me rank up this afternoon—I still haven’t hit King tier this season!"

"And let’s go to the arcade! I’ll get my New Year’s money from Mom and buy you ice cream—just to make them jealous!"

Jiang Lan laughed. "Alright, alright, King tier is easy. Let’s log in after dinner!"

At first, they weren’t that close, but it didn’t take long for them to warm up. With one older cousin and three younger ones, Jiang Lan had four boys at her beck and call. Grandma Jiang’s cooking was truly exceptional—her braised pork and sour fish stew were unbeatable, way better than Xie Yunzhen’s.

After dinner, she helped her cousins rank up, and the three little rascals clung to her like glue, showering her with endless praise. She stayed overnight at Grandma Jiang’s place, with Xie Yunzhen planning to return home the next afternoon.

Grandma Jiang piled more snacks in front of Jiang Lan. "Lanlan, our family has everything you could ever need. Don’t let anyone fool you. Some college boys might look handsome and spend money freely, but deep down, they’re no good."

Jiang Lan nodded vigorously.

Grandma Jiang then pressed a thousand yuan into her hand. "Don’t let him pay for everything when you’re dating. We’ve got you covered."

Her face was lined with wrinkles, a testament to her years. Jiang Lan tried to refuse the money, but Grandma Jiang pushed it back into her hand and patted it gently. "You’re still young—no need to rush into marriage. Take your time, observe carefully. Bring him home after graduation, and I’ll help you size him up. Your parents are way too laid-back about this."

Jiang Lan grinned. "Don’t worry, Grandma, I won’t let myself get taken advantage of. After all, whose granddaughter do you think I am?"

Grandma Jiang sighed fondly. "Sleep tight, sweetheart. I’ll have Grandpa buy you pancakes in the morning."

Hugging a stuffed toy, Jiang Lan felt a wave of warmth. She adored her grandparents. Even if she couldn’t remember her childhood clearly, having a family like this was more than enough.

After Grandma Jiang left, Jiang Lan sent a message to Lu Yicheng. He wanted to call, but she replied: [My grandma just brought me snacks. Want to say hi?]

[Fairy’s Pig: I’m not presentable right now—give me a minute to clean up!]

Jiang Lan: [Just kidding, she already went back to her room.]

Lu Yicheng felt like Jiang Lan had a way of making his heart skip a beat—she’d nearly given him a scare. Of course, he wanted to meet her grandma. He was just… a little nervous.

[Fairy’s Piggy: Then no calls today. When are you coming home? Miss you so much [Little turtle crying, you sad turtle jpg]]

[Tomorrow afternoon]

[Fairy’s Piggy: Did Grandma and Grandpa mention me? Put in a good word for me, and I’ll treat you to a feast later.]

[Fairy’s Piggy: And the uncles, aunts, brothers, and cousins too—please help me out with all of them.]

[Fairy’s Piggy: Mr. Lu here sincerely thanks you!]

Jiang Lan snorted disdainfully. [Relax, they didn’t mention you.]

Lu Yicheng wasn’t reassured at all. Not mentioning him was worse than mentioning him! [Fairy’s Piggy: Then bring me up! Talk about my good qualities and strengths.]

Lu Yicheng listed a whole bunch, and Jiang Lan struggled to hold back her laughter. The two chatted until midnight before going to bed.

Since many people stayed up late over the weekend, the production team released three interview clips on Penguin Video—one for each of the four guest pairs, though Zhang Lin and Li Jia’s segment was shorter.

Shen Xingyao and Chen Shuyun’s interviews were as sweet and heartwarming as viewers expected, but the funniest was Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu’s segment.

Yu Wanqiu’s initial responses were textbook-perfect, the kind of answers many would want from a mother-in-law. When asked whether mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law should live together, she said meeting a few times a year was enough. She also said the couple could have as many kids as they wanted and even suggested breaking up if things didn’t work out.

But later, she said she wanted to live in the same building as Jiang Lan—and even supported Jiang Lan breaking up with Lu Yicheng. No one could tell whose mother she really was.

Fans could rewatch this clip endlessly. The finale of Mother-in-Law Is Coming 2 was well-received, and the interview videos for all four pairs had high view counts. Many criticized Li Jia, who had already stopped reading comments.

Xu Qian was still away on business, Xu Chaoyang was nowhere to be found, and Xu Yi had also disappeared. Li Jia tried calling Xu Chaoyang, but he didn’t answer. Unable to sleep, she waited on the sofa until past 2 a.m. before finally giving up and going to bed.

She woke up a little after 5 a.m., tossing and turning before finally going downstairs to wait for her son and grandson.

Around 8 a.m., Xu Chaoyang returned—but alone. He seemed surprised to see Li Jia. He had only come back to grab some things—his belongings, as well as Zhang Lin’s.

Li Jia fired off questions like a machine gun: "Where were you last night? Where’s Xu Yi? Where did you take him? Did you see Zhang Lin? You went to see her, didn’t you?"

Xu Chaoyang didn’t know which question to answer first—or how to answer at all.

After a long pause, he finally said, "Mom, Zhang Lin has been nothing but filial to you. Why can’t you stand her? I really don’t get it—she hasn’t done anything wrong, so why do you keep picking on her?"

During his free time at work, Xu Chaoyang had watched a couple of episodes of the show. In the earlier ones, Zhang Lin was the one cooking—even though she was pregnant. Even Yu Wanqiu helped out in the kitchen, so why did Li Jia just sit back and wait for the food to be served to her?

Why?

Xu Chaoyang had an older sister who was already married. Whenever she visited, Li Jia treated her warmly. So why was she so harsh on Zhang Lin?

Li Jia retorted, "What have I done to make things difficult for her? Has she done nothing wrong? Look at her—what makes her worthy of you? No education, no family background, always cowering as if I’ve bullied her. Does she think marrying into our family means she can live a life of ease? Sure, she gave birth to a child, but the child is raised by the Xu family. What has she contributed to this household? Cooking? Cleaning? Anyone can do that—even a housekeeper!"

Xu Chaoyang shot back, "She’s my wife, not a maid! Are you saying she hasn’t contributed? She gave me a home. If anyone can do those things, why should she be the one doing them? And you still claim you don’t dislike her or make things hard for her?"

Xu Chaoyang continued, voice heavy, "...We’re divorced now. Are you happy?"

Before Li Jia could even react with joy, he added, "We finalized it yesterday afternoon. I’ve given Xu Yi to Zhang Lin. She’s a good mother—she’ll take care of him. As for the rest, I’ve given her everything she’s owed."

Xu Chaoyang had been a neglectful husband and an absent father. Li Jia always boasted about how much she adored her grandson, yet she had spent far less time raising him than Zhang Lin had.

Xu Chaoyang refused to let his child be poisoned by his grandmother’s influence, to the point of disowning his own mother.

He was a scoundrel—always had been. Now, regret came too late.

Li Jia shrieked, "Have you lost your mind?! What have you given her?! Are you insane?! You handed Xu Yi’s custody to her? What were you thinking? He’s my grandson, a Xu by blood! How could a woman like her raise him properly? What kind of spell has she cast on you?!"

Li Jia had always known Zhang Lin was no good—she’d bewitched her son, turned him into a fool. She was nothing but a fox spirit!

Xu Chaoyang replied coldly, "I’m not the one who’s lost it. I was the mad one before, letting you tear my family apart. Mom, you’re my mother, and I’ve been a filial son. But when you held our relationship over my head, I had no choice. Zhang Lin divorced me because of this—you played no small part in it."

"Now I’ve lost my wife and my son. Are you satisfied?" Xu Chaoyang gave a bitter laugh before heading upstairs to gather his belongings—his clothes, and Zhang Lin’s things.

As he searched the room, he realized how little she had left behind. Few clothes, hardly any jewelry. What kind of woman married into wealth and left with so little?

Xu Chaoyang took what he needed and left without another word. Li Jia sat on the sofa, eyes red, clutching her chest as if struggling to breathe.

Without hesitation, Xu Chaoyang rushed her to the hospital. The doctor examined her and declared her fine.

Tears welling in her eyes, Li Jia pleaded, "Chaoyang, raising you wasn’t easy for me. Xu Yi is the Xu family’s grandson—he can’t stay with Zhang Lin. If you want to give her money, fine, but not Xu Yi..."

Xu Chaoyang knelt before her, looking up. "Yes, I owe you my life. Do you want to take it back now?"

No matter what, he would not reclaim custody of Xu Yi. "You’re a mother too," he said quietly.

At noon, Xu Chaoyang returned to the hotel—he was helping Zhang Lin move today.

Xu Yi still didn’t know his parents had divorced. He thought they were simply moving to a new home and was overjoyed, running around excitedly in the new space.

Zhang Lin had no intention of telling Xu Yi about the divorce. He was too young to understand, and divorce hit children the hardest.

Besides, the baby in her belly hadn’t been born yet. Xu Chaoyang was still that child’s father.

The new apartment was ten square meters, located on the eighteenth floor—spacious and bright, fully furnished with everything they needed. Xu Chaoyang had bought whatever was missing, and even brought over some clothes left behind by the Xu family.

Xu Yi’s favorite Ultraman action figures and plush dolls were all arranged in his little room.

Xu Chaoyang didn’t know how to cook, so he took Zhang Lin out for lunch. "When do you start filming? Have the assistants and everything else been arranged?"

Zhang Lin replied, "I’ll join the set the afternoon of the day after tomorrow. The shooting should wrap up in just over half a month. Tomorrow, I’ll first handle Xu Yi’s school transfer paperwork. While I’m away, I’ll have to trouble you with things at home."

With Zhang Lin gone, Xu Yi would need Xu Chaoyang to look after him.

Zhang Lin hesitated, as if there was something she wanted to say but couldn’t. Xu Chaoyang knew what it was. "Don’t worry, I won’t let my mother take Xu Yi away. The custody rights are yours—she can’t take him. I’ll pick him up from school every day and make sure the kindergarten teachers know no one else is allowed to take him."

"Xiao Lin, take care of yourself on set."

Zhang Lin sincerely thanked him. There was no love left between them, but life had to go on. This current way of getting along was fine. Zhang Lin needed Xu Chaoyang’s help—she needed him to play the role of a father in Xu Yi’s life.

She planned to tell Xu Yi about their divorce when he was older and could understand. She hoped he wouldn’t blame her—she really had been left with no other choice. Zhang Lin thought that if she ever had a daughter-in-law in the future, she wouldn’t let her be anything like Li Jia.

After the three of them finished their meal, they bought some more daily necessities. Zhang Lin contacted her former agent, Sister Wu, who would arrange two assistants for her. She was still under contract with her old company—five years, with a reasonable profit split.

Acting while earning money, Zhang Lin didn’t expect to become wildly popular after her comeback. She was fine with taking things slow.

Xu Chaoyang shook his head. "Don’t thank me. I wasn’t good to you before."

Even if Zhang Lin was calculating with him now, Xu Chaoyang was willing to accept it.

On Sunday afternoon, Jiang Lan’s family returned to City B. She took the opportunity to check out of her apartment and move everything back home.

Jiang Lan had planned to live in the dorm. Qinghua University’s accommodation conditions were average—old dorms, six-person rooms, no private bathrooms.

But Jiang Lan had a good friend at Qinghua—Xu Xiang, who had been eagerly waiting for the semester to start. Now, everyone knew Jiang Lan was close with Yu Wanqiu, and Xu Xiang begged her for an autograph.

Preferably a personalized one.

Given Jiang Lan’s relationship with Yu Wanqiu, forget just a signature—she could even get a photo together.

She was returning to school on Tuesday, so only one day remained. Jiang Lan spent it lazing around at home until Xie Yunzhen finally scolded her into packing. "What’s this bad habit of yours? Procrastination—why do you always leave everything to the last minute?"

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Jiang Lan: "Mom, I’ve only been home for a few days. Shouldn’t I enjoy princess-like treatment for the first few days?"

Xie Yunzhen: "Princess? Look at you—where do you resemble a princess? Hurry up and pack… Have you and Lu Yicheng figured out how you’re getting there? Keep a low profile at school—it’s a place for studying, not dating. Don’t disturb others. And don’t take what people say to heart. You can’t control others’ opinions. If you go out, be careful."

Xie Yunzhen still wasn’t entirely at ease. "Call me if anything happens. Or call your dad. You can even go to Teacher Yu. Lu Yicheng is still young, after all."

Jiang Lan nodded. "Mom, you’re the best."

Xie Yunzhen smiled without saying a word, but Jiang Lan inexplicably sensed a hint of mockery. On Tuesday afternoon, Jiang Lan carried her guzheng and pulled her suitcase to the neighborhood gate, climbing into Yu Wanqiu’s little red car. Lu Yicheng was in the driver’s seat, while Yu Wanqiu’s assistant, Little Xu, sat in the passenger seat.

“Oh, Lu Yicheng?” Jiang Lan wanted to ask why Lu Yicheng was there, but then she realized it was perfectly normal for him to be around.

Lu Yicheng said, “Let’s grab a meal before heading back to school.”

Yu Wanqiu smiled and asked, “Did you have fun at home?”

Jiang Lan replied, “My mom kept nagging me. She even scolded me before I left. But the bed at home was so comfortable. Yu-laoshi, what are you up to next?”

Now that the show had wrapped up, Yu Wanqiu probably had new work lined up.

Yu Wanqiu said, “The script for Salute is ready. I’m going for an audition this weekend. Want to come with me?”

She really wanted Jiang Lan to tag along—she felt their energies meshed well, and this script had come to her because of Jiang Lan in the first place.

Lu Yicheng coughed. “Jiang Lan doesn’t need to go. Who wants to spend their weekend watching you audition?”

Didn’t he have a date to get to?

“I wasn’t asking you to come,” Yu Wanqiu retorted, addressing Jiang Lan instead. “If you don’t want to, I can go alone.”

Jiang Lan’s eyes lit up. “Can I really go? If I can, then I’m in! I hope your audition goes smoothly, Yu-laoshi. As payment, how about giving me a few autographs? Six—one for me to treasure, and the other five for my roommates.”

Yu Wanqiu asked, “Are your roommates fans of mine?”

Her fanbase was vast—many people had seen her films, and it was hard not to like her after watching them. Jiang Lan had binge-watched all of Yu Wanqiu’s movies, with some even on her rewatch list. She was genuinely excited about Yu Wanqiu’s new role. “Yeah, and I’m a fan too.”

Lu Yicheng muttered under his breath, “Sure, sure, whatever you say.”