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

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat in the interview room, with a crew member handling the lighting.

The host, off-camera, began, "Let's start with Ms. Li Jia. First question: Are you satisfied with your current life?"

Li Jia, with her neat short hair and simple yet elegant attire, was no stranger to such events, having often accompanied Lu Qian to various functions. "Fairly satisfied, though there’s still room for improvement. My ideal life would involve filial children, a house full of grandchildren, and a family free of discord. I prefer straightforward people—those with too many schemes aren’t my type."

The host continued, "Please describe your daughter-in-law, Ms. Zhang Lin, in three words."

Last time, Li Jia had called her obedient, well-behaved, and sensible—but clearly, she’d misjudged. Zhang Lin was anything but obedient. "Strong-willed, a bit unrealistic, and somewhat greedy," Li Jia said bluntly.

"...And what are your plans for the future?"

Li Jia replied, "I plan to focus on raising my grandson and adjusting his upbringing. His mother’s methods have left much to be desired."

The host glanced at Zhang Lin, whose expression remained unreadable, as if Li Jia’s words had nothing to do with her.

The lighting assistant nearby nearly rolled her eyes out of her head. Strong-willed, unrealistic, greedy—was that really how you described someone?

The host nodded and turned to Zhang Lin, softening her tone. "Ms. Zhang Lin, are you satisfied with your current life?"

Zhang Lin answered, "Some aspects are satisfying, others less so. I’ve just landed a new role and will join the production after this interview... But in other areas, I feel like a failure."

Her abandoned career, her failed marriage, the tangled mess of relationships—yet beneath it all, she was still the same person she’d always been.

She hadn’t finished answering. Once, she would’ve spoken her mind without hesitation, but now...

"Still, I’m grateful for my child, whom I love dearly, and... my husband, who loves me."

If the production team edited this, given Zhang Tian’s tendencies, they might cut certain lines and keep only the flattering parts.

As long as Xu Chaoyang stood by her side, she could fight for custody of Xiao Yi.

Li Jia smirked.

The host pressed on, "Now, describe your mother-in-law, Ms. Li Jia, in three words."

"After seven years together, I know her well. She’s controlling—not just over Xu Chaoyang, but over me and Xu Yi too." Last time, Zhang Lin had used neutral terms like decisive, strong-willed, and uncompromising.

"And jealous. She hates it when I wear makeup—probably can’t stand anyone looking better than her." Zhang Lin’s voice was soft, but her words cut like knives.

Li Jia’s eyes widened. How dare Zhang Lin say such things?

Even if the show wouldn’t air it, the audacity!

"Honestly, it must be jealousy. Normal people, like Teacher Yu and Jiang Lan, appreciate beauty in others. Why else would she want me dressed like I’m attending a funeral?" Zhang Lin almost laughed. Li Jia was over sixty—still acting like this?

Li Jia shot to her feet. Zhang Lin smiled sweetly. "Mom, I’m just joking. Don’t take it to heart."

The host cleared her throat. "Next question: What are your future plans?"

Zhang Lin said, "Focus on acting, raise my child—that’s about it."

The interview lasted only minutes, but the host felt like half an hour had passed. Wiping her brow, she escorted Zhang Lin out.

Zhang Lin waved her off. "I’ll be fine on my own."

Li Jia’s glare was venomous. "Zhang Lin, have you lost your mind? If you don’t want this marriage, just divorce! But remember—you won’t take a single thing from the Xu family!"

Zhang Lin feigned confusion. "Divorce? Why would I? Everything’s fine. Chaoyang already promised we’d move out after the show. If you miss your son, take it up with him."

"You—!" Li Jia stormed inside to call Xu Chaoyang. Just as Zhang Lin said, he confirmed he’d already found a new place.

Everything was bought and ready—he always kept his promises to Zhang Lin.

Li Jia was livid. "Divorce her! That jinx has ruined our family! If you don’t, don’t call me your mother!"

Xu Chaoyang sighed. "Mom, why do this? Why make everyone miserable? I won’t divorce Xiaolin."

"I’m your mother! Are you really choosing a woman over me?"

Xu Chaoyang fell silent before replying, "That’s not it. But Xiaolin and I are married. We..."

Zhang Lin knew Li Jia had gone to call him.

This was her usual tactic—Zhang Lin was used to it.

If Xu Chaoyang agreed to divorce, all the better. A man like him would still believe she’d loved him deeply, that she’d suffered unjustly.

Next up were Chen Shuyun and Aunt Zhao.

Their answers mirrored last time’s. Aunt Zhao had given up on expectations—she just hoped Chen Shuyun would do what she wanted after the show.

Whether working or staying home, it didn’t matter.

Just not too much work—health came first. She wasn’t young anymore.

Life wasn’t easy for families. Little Xuan was already eighteen, and she was an old woman—frankly, she’d be in the ground soon. Why worry so much?

Chen Shuyun was moved. She’d always prioritized her career, neglecting her child. That Little Xuan was closer to Aunt Zhao was partly her fault.

She planned to keep working but ease up—focus on her job, then come home to cook and spend time with family.

After watching so many cooking streams, she found it quite enjoyable.

The third pair interviewed were Du Wanzhou and Shen Xingyao.

The host hadn’t seen Du Wanzhou in a while—she seemed thinner.

The first round’s questions had been: How would you describe your mother-in-law/daughter-in-law? What do you like most about them? What could they improve?

Du Wanzhou and Shen Xingyao were dubbed the "Sweet Couple" by fans for their affectionate dynamic.

In their solo and joint interviews, Shen Xingyao had answered: "She reminds me of my mom. What I like most is how well we get along. Nothing needs improvement."

Du Wanzhou had said: "Xingyao is a delightful young woman. Just seeing her lifts my mood. I’m completely satisfied—no changes needed."

From anyone else, it might’ve sounded scripted.

But since they’d been on the first season, viewers knew this was just how they were—their sweetness felt genuine.

Today, though, Du Wanzhou’s smile was strained.

She looked healthier but carried the air of a bitter melon.

Shen Xingyao stifled a laugh.

The host began, "Let’s start with Ms. Du Wanzhou. First question: How would you describe your daughter-in-law?"

Du Wanzhou said, "Nannan is a bit too strict, too demanding."

Running two kilometers every day, plus an hour of yoga—doing yoga is really exhausting.

Shen Xingyao spread her hands and shook her head, indicating there was nothing she could do.

"Then, the second question: What is the thing you’re most satisfied with about your daughter-in-law?"

Du Wanzhou replied, "Nannan cares a lot about my health. If I live to a hundred, it’ll all be thanks to her. Even though losing weight is painful, she’s been by my side the whole time."

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved. Even Chen Hao couldn’t match that level of dedication.

The host smiled. "And what do you think your daughter-in-law could improve on?"

"Nothing needs changing. She’s perfect as she is. Ah, since the camera’s rolling, I’ll make a promise—I’ll stick to my fitness routine and keep pushing forward." Du Wanzhou knew Shen Xingyao wanted to focus on acting and wasn’t ready for children yet. Though she personally thought having kids sooner would be better, she respected Shen Xingyao’s choice.

Shen Xingyao lowered her head, feeling a little emotional.

It felt like her efforts hadn’t been in vain. And Du Wanzhou understood her reasons.

The host continued, "Now, let’s ask Xingyao: What’s your evaluation of your mother-in-law?"

"She’s a lot like my own mom."

"And what’s the thing you’re most satisfied with about her?"

Shen Xingyao answered, "Mom respects me a lot. She rarely asks about me and Chen Hao’s business. If we ever argue, no matter who’s right or wrong, she always takes my side."

"Honestly, getting married was a pretty impulsive decision for me. Even my fans thought it was too sudden—wondering what Chen Hao was like, what my mom was like… But honestly, I’m really happy." Shen Xingyao chuckled softly.

The host asked, "And what’s the one thing you’d most like your mother-in-law to improve on?"

"I just hope Mom can be a little more persistent. Losing weight is hard, but I’ll keep supporting her." Beyond that, Shen Xingyao had no other requests.

After their interview, it was Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu’s turn.

Jiang Lan checked the time—10:10.

Yu Wanqiu said, "Just say whatever comes to mind. It’s just an interview."

Interviewing Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu was the easiest part. Even the lighting crew felt their nerves relax.

The questions were slightly different from the previous interviews, given the unique nature of their relationship compared to the other pairs.

The host said, "No need to be nervous—just three questions. Should we start with Jiang Lan or Yu Wanqiu?"

Yu Wanqiu: "Either way. Do you want to go first or second?"

"I’ll go first. The sooner it’s done, the better." Jiang Lan took a deep breath. "I’m ready."

The host asked, "First question: Name three of Yu Wanqiu’s strengths."

"Hmm… disciplined, great at acting, easygoing."

"Do you think your relationship with Yu Wanqiu could grow even closer?"

"It’s already great as it is. Closer…?" Jiang Lan realized the host was hinting at whether they could become mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

She hesitated for a long moment. "I think things are perfect as they are now."

Though she was starting to like Lu Yicheng, she wasn’t ready for marriage. There was still so much she didn’t know—she wasn’t in a rush.

The host: "Last question: If you got married, would you live with your mother-in-law?"

Jiang Lan thought about it. She actually liked the idea of living with Yu Wanqiu. On weekdays, they’d each go to work.

If she had free time, she’d visit Yu Wanqiu on set. If Yu Wanqiu was free, she’d pick Jiang Lan up after work, maybe grab dinner or catch a movie.

On weekends, they could travel together, share a room, and gossip about their partners.

Jiang Lan nodded. "I’d like that."

Yu Wanqiu pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile. The host continued, "Now, for Yu Wanqiu: First question—If Jiang Lan became your daughter-in-law, would you live together after the wedding?"

In both her solo and joint interviews, Yu Wanqiu’s answer remained the same: Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law didn’t need to live together.

In her first solo interview, she’d said meeting once or twice a month was enough. The joint interview omitted that line, but the footage was proof—those were her words.

Jiang Lan understood now—this interview was targeting Yu Wanqiu.

Hahaha, because her answer was the most contradictory.

Jiang Lan looked at Yu Wanqiu, waiting for her response.

Just say whatever comes to mind.

Yu Wanqiu: "Honestly, it’s best if mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law don’t live together. At the end of the day, they’re two separate families."

No matter how close, they’re still two households.

When have you ever seen best friends move in together just because they got along well?

So Yu Wanqiu’s answer remained unchanged—no need to live together.

"But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍they could live nearby. Ideally in the same building, so they could go out or take walks together." That was Yu Wanqiu’s take.

She’d love to live with Jiang Lan, but even if she had no objections, Lu Yicheng probably would.

Lu Yicheng had once said that after marriage, they’d move out.

He was working hard now, saving up—clearly making an effort.

Jiang Lan coughed lightly. Yu Wanqiu didn’t seem bothered. So what if it was contradictory? She stood by her words.

The host stifled a laugh. "Second question: Would you pressure them to have children?"

Pushing for grandchildren was something every mother-in-law did. Even Du Wanzhou had nudged Shen Xingyao. Yu Wanqiu was forty-six—by the time Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng married, she’d be nearly fifty.

At that age, most people longed for grandchildren.

Yu Wanqiu shook her head. "No. If they want kids, fine. If not, that’s fine too. Waiting a bit longer isn’t a problem. Having kids can strain a relationship."

As for whose relationship would be strained, Yu Wanqiu didn’t specify.

The final question: "We’ve all noticed—from the first day of the show until now, over a month later—you’ve undergone the most obvious transformation. Netizens say you’ve ‘stepped down from the pedestal.’ So we’re curious: Could anyone have brought you down, or was it only Jiang Lan?"

Yu Wanqiu pondered the meaning of "pedestal" and couldn’t help but smile.

"Maybe Jiang Lan just has a knack for taming the Lu family."

Nothing was accidental.

Even Lu Yicheng falling for Jiang Lan—Yu Wanqiu didn’t believe that was random. It wasn’t something just anyone could’ve done.

What Jiang Lan possessed was exactly what the Lu family lacked.

Jiang Lan was inherently romantic, likely due to her upbringing—doted on, carefree, unbothered by many things.

Yet she had a sharp understanding of the world.

Take gifts, for example. She had no idea how precious the things she gave were, but she carefully weighed the value of what she received.

Jiang Lan was a delightful young woman, someone worth befriending.

Yu Wanqiu cherished their friendship.

There was no one quite like her—Jiang Lan was one of a kind.

The host understood what Yu Wanqiu meant.

The interview wrapped up at 10:30.

Jiang Lan exhaled as if she’d completed a monumental task. "Yu Wanqiu, Lu Yicheng’s internship ends today. I’m going to pick him up after work, okay?"

No need to bring the camera crew for a date with Lu Yicheng.

Yu Wanqiu glanced at her watch. "Then what am I supposed to eat for lunch?"

Since filming began, the two had almost always eaten together.

Jiang Lan: "Hold on!"

She quickly sent Lu Yicheng a message: Is your dad in B City right now?

[Fairy’s Pig: Is the interview over?]

[Fairy’s Pig: Are you there?]

[Then give Uncle Lu a chance to treat Teacher Yu to a meal.]

[Fairy’s Pig: Okay, I’ll ask.]

Jiang Lan turned to Yu Wanqiu and said, "Looks like Uncle Lu will have to step in and accompany you for this meal."

Lu Shuangchen was indeed in City B, but he had a meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

He was the type who always prioritized work, but as an adult, it was just a matter of rearranging things.

Lu Shuangchen instinctively wanted to say he was busy, but…

Pushing back a meeting for his wife wasn’t out of the question, especially since his presence wasn’t strictly necessary.

As a CEO, he didn’t need to micromanage everything—most tasks involved delegating and letting his team handle the execution.

Without hesitation, Lu Shuangchen headed downstairs to pick up the show’s crew, calling his assistant to book a restaurant while driving.

In the past, he’d always opted for Western cuisine, but now he needed somewhere different—somewhere delicious yet discreet.

This was proving difficult.

Lu Shuangchen wasn’t picky about food, but he wanted something special. "Find a good, low-key place—maybe a private kitchen. It has to have standout dishes, preferably something spicy. Oh, and order a bouquet of flowers—no roses."

Meanwhile, Lu Yicheng finished sending his messages and began packing up to leave work. A colleague teased, "Got a date?"

"It’s finally the weekend—of course I’m going on a date."

Lu Yicheng nodded. "Yeah, having lunch with my girlfriend, then heading out for fun."

The weather was pleasantly cool, perfect for an outing.

Most of his coworkers were programmers, and the office had very few women.

The guys here followed the show too, mostly because their wives or girlfriends watched it.

It was entertaining, and honestly, it helped them navigate tricky mother-in-law dynamics.

Lu Yicheng’s situation was particularly amusing—his girlfriend got along famously with his mom, while he only saw her once a week.

Some online skeptics called it fake, but as his colleagues could attest, it was all true.

While their own wives and mothers might never be as close as Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu, they could at least strive for harmony—even if it meant the husbands had to endure a little more.

"Finally free—have fun, man!"

Lu Yicheng sent Jiang Lan a reply:

[Little Fairy: On my way!]

[Let me know when you arrive. I’ll come down to get you and show you around my workplace.]

With his things packed, Lu Yicheng settled in to wait for his girlfriend, a stash of snacks ready for her—grape jelly cups, chips, gummies… all her favorites.