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

The fireworks display was scheduled for 7:30 PM, and by then, the sky had already darkened, with crowds filling the surroundings.

The streets were awash with neon lights and colorful storefronts, each shop glowing in a different hue, their signs a vibrant medley of shades. The lights reflected in Jiang Lan’s eyes, making them shimmer.

Holding Yu Wanqiu’s hand, Jiang Lan began the countdown: “Ten, nine, eight… four, three, two, one—it’s starting!”

With a loud *bang*, a burst of fireworks exploded across the sky.

Golden sparkles shot up from the ground, soaring into the air before vanishing in an instant, cascading down like shimmering rain. For a brief moment, the night turned as bright as day. Looking up, half of the sky above West Street was painted with fireworks.

Jiang Lan covered her ears—were these fireworks firecrackers? They were deafening.

Yu Wanqiu was mesmerized. She had seen fireworks before, but this felt like a dream.

This wasn’t a random display. The fireworks show was carefully choreographed—like a performance, with an opening, a climax, and a finale.

First came purple fireworks, resembling chrysanthemums, blooming in vast clusters across the sky. The thunderous booms faded into a soft *whoosh*, and Yu Wanqiu instinctively reached out to catch them, though nothing landed in her palm.

After purple came orange, then yellow, followed by large red floral fireworks. Many in the crowd held up their phones to capture the moment, snapping photos or recording videos. Yu Wanqiu had her live stream running, tilting her camera toward the sky. “It’s really beautiful—you should see it too.”

So absorbed in the spectacle, Yu Wanqiu didn’t notice Jiang Lan slipping away. The cameraman barely caught a glimpse of Jiang Lan’s sleeve as she darted into a nearby shop.

While researching earlier, Jiang Lan had discovered that some stores here sold small fireworks—not the grand ones lighting up the sky, but handheld sparklers.

They were slender sticks with a short, flammable tip that burned brightly when lit. Waving them in the dark made one feel like a fairy casting spells.

Jiang Lan bought a whole bundle, and the shopkeeper threw in a lighter.

The errand took less than five minutes, and soon she was weaving her way back through the crowd.

Yu Wanqiu was looking for her. “Where did you go? With so many people around, you could’ve gotten lost!”

Jiang Lan grinned. “I went to buy sparklers! Look, those kids are playing with them.”

Following Jiang Lan’s gaze, Yu Wanqiu spotted two little girls, no older than five or six, their hair in pigtails. Each held a parent’s hand while waving glittering sparklers, hopping around in delight.

“……”

Was she really at an age to play with these?

Jiang Lan tucked her phone into her bag, lit a sparkler, and handed it to Yu Wanqiu. The sparks glowed orange. “Here, take it!”

Yu Wanqiu hesitated. “You can play. I don’t need one.”

Jiang Lan nudged it toward her. “Come on, there’s no age limit for fun. Sparklers are for fairies—and every girl is a fairy.”

*Fairies…*

She was a mother now.

Yu Wanqiu sighed but reluctantly took the sparkler. With a flick of her wrist, it traced a streak of light through the air. Smiling, she turned to the camera, showcasing it from every angle. “These are sparklers. Have you ever played with them? Look—you can draw or write in the air with them.”

**[We’ve never played with them. We’ve never played with anything.]**

**[I’m just a country bumpkin.]**

**[My ‘little wife’ bought my ‘big wife’ sparklers, and I can’t even be jealous? How does that work?]**

**[Let’s be honest, none of us have the right to be jealous.]**

**[This place is seriously stunning!!!]**

**[Honestly, Jiang Lan’s live stream has been dark for so long. When is she finally taking her phone out of her bag?]**

**[I wonder what Lu Yicheng would think if he saw this. He probably always dreamed of his girlfriend and his mom getting along.]**

**[Well, this golden age is exactly what he wished for.]**

**[This golden age is exactly what he wished for.]**

**[This golden age is exactly what he wished for.]**

Jiang Lan had nearly forgotten to pull out her phone. She had bought so many sparklers that they could play for ages, lighting one after another. Nearby stalls also sold glowing headbands and shimmering balloons.

The two bought headbands and wore them for a while, though Yu Wanqiu preferred her hat and soon switched back. They tied the balloons to their wrists so they’d float high above, making them easy to spot even in the crowd—ensuring Jiang Lan wouldn’t wander off again.

The fireworks display lasted half an hour. Yu Wanqiu held up her phone, letting her fans share in the experience. She wanted them to see the fireworks Jiang Lan had brought her to witness. “It’s almost over—just thirty minutes. There are lots of food stalls and bars around here, though minors shouldn’t go into the bars. But the ambiance would make for great photos.”

“Jiang Lan’s photography skills aren’t bad—she makes my legs look really long.”

In the final minutes, the sky was filled with golden fireworks, shooting upward before cascading down like a waterfall of fire, an awe-inspiring sight.

Yu Wanqiu was reminded of a line from poetry: *A silver stream cascades three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way has tumbled from the heavens.*

It truly looked like the galaxy itself had fallen.

The live-stream viewers were equally stunned, asking where this was so they could visit someday.

**[It’s West Street in City B! Fireworks shows are only on Saturday nights—so damn romantic.]**

**[Seeing it in person must be even more breathtaking.]**

**[Teacher Yu is wearing a mask, but you can see the smile in her eyes.]**

**[I really want to hang out with Jiang Lan. She seems like so much fun.]**

**[If I can’t be happy, I don’t want anyone else to be happy either. @Lu Yicheng]**

**[You guys have stolen all the good lines.]**

However, Lu Yicheng never appeared in Jiang Lan’s live stream. Fans speculated he was either working late or secretly watching, overjoyed that his mother and girlfriend got along so well.

After the fireworks ended, they turned off the live stream and strolled through the streets, buying snacks. Laden with bags, Jiang Lan also picked up two ice cream cups—one honeydew-flavored, the other rum raisin.

These weren’t soft-serve cones but scoops from large tubs.

On a sweltering summer night, ice cream was a must.

Jiang Lan’s period was almost over, so the cold treat was fine.

Yu Wanqiu still frowned. “It’s too chilly.”

“Just try it! If you don’t, I’ll eat both.”

To keep Jiang Lan from overindulging, Yu Wanqiu took one scoop.

She chose the honeydew, its sweetness refreshing, then sampled the rum raisin—slightly boozy and very sweet.

The coolness soothed her throat, leaving her utterly relaxed.

They wandered from one end of the street to the other, finally stopping at a souvenir shop where they bought two keychains—part of a planetary series, featuring a bluish-purple planet surrounded by a misty nebula.

Yu Wanqiu had bought many little things today, none expensive, but they filled her with satisfaction.

They took the snacks back to the hotel to enjoy.

With the fireworks over, the night’s main attraction was gone. Jiang Lan checked the time—8:30 PM. “Shall we head back, Teacher Yu?”

“So soon?” Yu Wanqiu glanced at her phone, reluctant to leave. “Well, it is getting late. Let’s go.”

By the time they returned to the hotel, it was just past 9 PM. The cameraman stayed in the adjacent room.

Jiang Lan first checked the room for any hidden cameras, then secured the door with the safety lock.

Yu Wanqiu nodded in approval—good, strong sense of self-protection.

She spread the souvenirs she’d bought across the bed: a hat, keychains, half-used sparklers, a hairband, and some stickers.

“You have no idea,” Yu Wanqiu said, “back when I used to travel, it was just about ticking off landmarks. Walk in, glance around, walk out. I always thought traveling was so boring.”

Jiang Lan chuckled. “And hiking! Climbing for two or three hours just to ache for a week afterward.”

Yu Wanqiu sighed. “When Lu Yicheng’s father and I went on our honeymoon, it was like a checklist. Visit a place, snap a photo, move on. That’s not fun.”

She added, “And he’s never once given me something he made himself. Just diamonds—as if they’re personal. They’re not even picked by him.”

Jiang Lan gasped. “Yu Teacher! Do you know how many people would kill for diamonds? I can’t agree with you there. This is pure bragging!”

She tidied up the items. The hotel was clean, and the street view from the window was lively.

What’s wrong with diamonds? Big, shiny, and valuable.

Yu Wanqiu huffed. “No! The first time you see one, it’s ‘Wow, so big, so pretty.’ The second time, ‘Huh, big.’ By the third, you realize—I only have one head and two hands. Do you know how heavy those rocks are? And they’re worth millions, but you can’t even cut them. They just sit in a vault. What’s the point?”

Jiang Lan burst out laughing. “Is Lu Yicheng’s dad really that clueless?”

Yu Wanqiu rolled her eyes. “His assistant picks them. Zero romance.”

But then again, Yu Wanqiu wasn’t romantic either. Their whole family lacked the gene.

She loved books; Lu Yicheng had few hobbies. He’d dabbled in piano as a child but gave it up.

Jiang Lan, though—she played the violin. Musicians felt things more deeply.

Yu Wanqiu sighed. “Is Lu Yicheng romantic?”

Jiang Lan thought of him explaining advanced math problems and slowly shook her head. Wearing a mascot costume was probably the peak of his creativity.

But sitting in a stuffy suit for an hour in 30-degree heat? Not exactly genius-level.

If it were her, she’d just wear a mask. Or set up a food stall—make his favorite dishes.

“Lu Yicheng is *not* romantic. He said he’d ‘win me back properly,’ and I got all excited. But his idea was to restart from high school—*with math problems*. I can’t even read the questions without spending half an hour!”

Yu Wanqiu snorted. “His only talent is academics.”

Good grades had perks, like easier tutoring for future kids. But marriage wasn’t about children. “You should marry someone romantic,” Yu Wanqiu said.

“Not targeting Lu Yicheng, but girls should be careful. Marriage is lifelong. Think long-term.” Of course, she still hoped Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng would work out—he *was* her son.

Jiang Lan nodded. “I’m young. Haven’t even graduated. No rush.”

“True. At your age, I’d just started acting.” Yu Wanqiu was 46 now; she’d married at 25.

Jiang Lan had time.

Laughing, she flopped onto the bed. “Yu Teacher, shower first or eat first?”

Yu Wanqiu, exhausted from the day, chose the shower. “Go ahead if you’re hungry.”

Jiang Lan would. As Yu Wanqiu headed to the bathroom, her phone rang.

...

It was Lu Yicheng.

He’d re-added her. (Who deleted whom? Who cared.)

She answered in a whisper, “Don’t call. I’m sharing a room with Yu Teacher. It’s awkward. Bye.”