My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet's Hottest Power Couple-Chapter 43

This time, Ming Yao and Yu Wanqiu were both nominated for the Golden Bear Award for Best Actress. If Ming Yao won, her fans would probably praise her to the skies.

A newcomer, surpassing a veteran actress with over twenty years in the industry—what kind of resources wouldn’t she have in the future?

Moreover, out of the five films, only these two were released around the same time, and their box office numbers were neck and neck. The Deep Sea had a rating of 8.9, while The Storyteller of Jianghu scored 8.6.

Jiang Lan had watched The Storyteller of Jianghu—it was hilarious from start to finish, with a tear-jerking finale. Ming Yao’s acting was also solid. Though she was a newcomer, objectively speaking, her performance was better than Shen Xingyao’s.

But Jiang Lan felt she still couldn’t compare to Yu Wanqiu’s acting. It made sense for the film to be good—after all, it was a Golden Bear nominee. If it weren’t well-made, that would be strange.

Only by competing against strong films could Yu Wanqiu’s talent truly shine.

Both of them had already seen The Deep Sea, so today, they decided to watch something different with Yu Wanqiu.

Jiang Lan bought popcorn and Coke at the concession stand. The cinema didn’t allow outside snacks, but the prices were outrageous—fifty yuan for a bucket of popcorn and twenty for a cup of Coke.

Yu Wanqiu took the Coke without hesitation. Five minutes before the showtime, they entered the theater.

They had booked a private screening room—pricey, but worth it. The screen was lit up, and they could sit wherever they wanted.

Jiang Lan suggested, "Yu Laoshi, how about we try sitting diagonally—one at the very back and one at the very front?"

Yu Wanqiu shot her a glance. "Are you that bored?"

She chose the best seat in the house and patted the spot beside her. "Hurry up, it’s about to start."

After the production logos rolled, the film began.

The Storyteller of Jianghu opened with a storyteller recounting a tale of martial arts rivalries, love and vengeance, sword fights, and heroic deeds. Rewatching it, Jiang Lan noticed a few hidden Easter eggs.

She couldn’t help but laugh at the plot, though she resisted spoiling anything for Yu Wanqiu, who watched intently while sipping her Coke. Despite her lukewarm impression of Ming Yao, she didn’t want to waste Jiang Lan’s money on the tickets.

The film ended with Ming Yao’s character setting off on a journey—an open-ended conclusion.

Yu Wanqiu’s eyes glistened slightly. "Not bad."

Coming from her, that was high praise.

"But," she added, "you said you’d rewatch my film. Have you?"

Yu Wanqiu had also starred in a martial arts film, Sword Qi, which had won awards. She was always confident in her craft and believed Sword Qi was better than The Storyteller of Jianghu.

Jiang Lan immediately replied, "I did! Bet you didn’t expect that!"

After watching a movie with Lu Yicheng that day, she had gone back and watched Sword Qi. The plot was gripping, the fight scenes were visceral, and Yu Wanqiu looked like she could genuinely fly with qinggong.

Yu Wanqiu simply said, "Oh."

Jiang Lan teased, "What, do you want me to write an essay about it? Maybe a reflection piece..."

Yu Wanqiu shot back, "Keep talking, and I’ll actually make you write one."

Jiang Lan quickly shut her mouth. It had been years since she last wrote an essay. They had been so engrossed in the movie that most of the popcorn was left untouched, and Jiang Lan still had half her drink.

When she went to throw away the trash, she noticed Yu Wanqiu’s Coke cup was suspiciously light.

Wow. She’d finished the whole thing.

And yet she always complained about carbonated drinks being unhealthy and bad for teeth.

After leaving the cinema, Jiang Lan told Yu Wanqiu to wait in the car while she went to buy frozen yogurt from the mall.

Frozen yogurt tasted a bit like ice cream but was less sweet since yogurt itself was tart. Some people even had it for dinner as a "diet" option.

Jiang Lan got one with matcha and Oreo and another with strawberry and red bean, then headed back to meet Yu Wanqiu.

They were eating out tonight—Yu Wanqiu had promised to treat her to something delicious.

But in that short time, they were spotted.

Yu Wanqiu was dressed to impress—a fitted crop top, wide-leg pants, and a glimpse of her toned waist. She worked out regularly, practiced yoga, and had well-defined abs. Paired with her voluminous curls, sharp jawline, and bold red lips, she was impossible to miss.

A little more scrutiny, and people would recognize her.

They had just come out of a screening—during this time slot, only The Storyteller of Jianghu and The Deep Sea were playing. Since they’d already seen The Deep Sea, it wasn’t hard to guess which film they’d watched.

Ming Yao’s The Storyteller of Jianghu.

The same actress who had debuted as the "next Yu Wanqiu" and was now competing for the same award. The situation had just gotten a bit more complicated.

[Is Yu Wanqiu indirectly admitting Ming Yao’s new film is good?]

[(⊙o⊙) Wow, Yu Laoshi and Jiang Lan on a movie date! Love it!]

[Their outfits kinda match—are they twinning?]

[Both their waists are so tiny—I wanna slide down those abs like a playground slide.]

[Their figures are insane—those abs! drools]

[Brb, gotta wipe my nosebleed. This is too much.]

[Is Yu Wanqiu admitting Ming Yao is better?]

[I’m shipping them so hard.]

[My mind is in the gutter now.]

[Bestie bucket list: amusement park ✔️, fireworks ✔️, matching photos ✔️, movies ✔️, food street ✔️, homemade lunches ✔️, all-nighters ✔️, gaming ✔️]

[At this point, they’re the ultimate duo.]

[Next step after a movie? Dinner!]

[Looks like Ming Yao’s Best Actress win is locked in.]

[Gotta say, that skewer place they went to last time was legit. I copied their post-meal waddle—so relatable.]

[Ugh, my favorite hole-in-the-wall spot is now fully booked.]

[The owner said business has never been this good.]

[Is this the power of celebrity influence?]

[Jiang Lan’s casual outfits sell out fast too—affordable and stylish.]

[Do you shippers have no shame??? Ming Yao is the best—she’s winning Best Actress!]

[No wonder people hate shippers.]

[Too bad Jiang Lan isn’t in the industry—otherwise, these clout-chasers wouldn’t stand a chance.]

[Exactly, who does she think she is?]

[Zero respect for the people who made her. How dare she disrespect my queen?]

[Always leeching off others—can’t even stand on her own. And btw, my queen’s arms are so fair!]

Soon, the hashtag [#YuWanqiuWatchesTheStorytellerOfJianghu] was overtaken by [#MostBeautifulBFFsInShowbiz].

The reason people hated shippers was that fans wanted their idols to shine solo. Plus, most popular ships were romantic—like the current top pairing, which fans insisted was real, though Xie Zheng’s stans wished the other party would stop clinging to him.

The fandom was divided.

It was rare to see a ship as harmonious as "LanZhou Ramen" (Jiang Lan x Yu Wanqiu). Yu Wanqiu’s fans adored Jiang Lan—she had shown them a different side of their idol.

They were obsessed.

As for the clout-chasers? They could go kick rocks.

...

That night, they ate at a small, low-key restaurant—the kind frequented by celebrities.

The two ate dishes while enjoying fried yogurt, and Yu Wanqiu couldn't resist having a few extra pieces. Both flavors were delicious—the Oreo crumbs were crispy, the matcha flavor was rich, the red beans were soft, and there were large chunks of strawberries inside.

Eating this in an air-conditioned room during the hot summer was incredibly refreshing, no wonder Jiang Lan loved ice cream so much.

Though it wasn’t great for the stomach. "Eat less of this, have more of the dishes. There are three dishes here."

Jiang Lan replied, "If we can’t finish, we’ll take it home and make fried rice tomorrow morning."

Jiang Lan had ordered braised pork, and the version here was just as good as the one Lu Yicheng made. She loved mixing the meat with rice, adding a bit of vegetables—it was enough for two bowls.

As they ate, she said, "Yu Laoshi, no matter who wins the award in the end, in my heart, you’ll always be the best actress."

The Golden Bear Awards ceremony was in December, still half a year away.

Yu Wanqiu nodded. "Mm, what’s mine will be mine. The judges won’t give the award to someone just because they’re a newcomer."

She was still very confident.

Jiang Lan laughed. "That’s the spirit! Let’s see her try to ride on your coattails again!"

Yu Wanqiu’s fans weren’t wrong to call Ming Yao a "copycat queen." From styling to makeup, she imitated Yu Wanqiu, and many in the industry were rooting for Ming Yao at the Golden Bear Awards.

But whether in box office or ratings, The Storyteller of Jianghu couldn’t compare to The Deep Sea.

The Deep Sea had received excellent feedback and was expected to break a 9.0 rating.

Since they’d been spotted by passersby, they had to cancel their plans to go claw machine hunting. By the time they got home, it was past eight, and Jiang Lan still had work the next day.

Work was exhausting, but the thought of earning money made it worth it.

The studio was efficient. With Jiang Lan there, the song originally scheduled for completion on Friday was finished by Thursday morning.

That afternoon, Lu Xingran was coming to record.

Once the recording was done, Jiang Lan wouldn’t have to come in the next day.

Lu Xingran had also debuted from a talent show, but unlike Xie Zheng—the former leader of an idol boy group—he had won first place as a solo contestant.

Lu Xingran was handsome.

The kind of handsome that made girls swoon. Not the refined, boy-next-door charm of Xie Zheng, but a roguish, rebellious appeal—his semi-long hair curled, his demeanor slightly aloof.

His voice was distinctive, slightly hoarse, a deep, smoky tone.

During the recording, everyone involved in the song had to be present. One of the older sisters who often chatted with Jiang Lan kept gushing, "So handsome, so handsome, how can anyone be this handsome?"

"Jiang Lan, don’t you think he’s good-looking?"

Jiang Lan replied, "He is."

Her tone was anything but sincere. But then again, considering Jiang Lan herself was the campus belle, her boyfriend the campus heartthrob, and her future mother-in-law a renowned beauty in the entertainment industry—who could impress her?

Lu Xingran was notoriously strict about music, but this time, he unexpectedly asked who had played the violin in the composition.

Chen Ninglei said, "Jiang Lan. Don’t you know? She’s really popular right now."

Lu Xingran: "???"

Chen Ninglei smacked his forehead—he’d forgotten that not everyone followed variety shows, especially someone like Lu Xingran, who lived and breathed music.

"Yu Wanqiu’s daughter-in-law. You know Yu Wanqiu, right?"

Lu Xingran: "...Yu Wanqiu’s daughter-in-law?"

Chen Ninglei nodded. "They get along really well. In a couple of years, the title will be official. And don’t go thinking she’s just marrying into wealth—listen to the composition. Jiang Lan is really talented."

Lu Xingran: "...Oh. She is. Maybe I should add her on WeChat, in case I have questions."

Chen Ninglei’s lips twitched. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you add her? I just told you—Yu Wanqiu’s daughter-in-law. Yu. Wanqiu’s. Daughter-in-law."

Lu Xingran: "If you won’t introduce us, I’ll ask myself."

Chen Ninglei: "............"

Lu Xingran walked straight up to Jiang Lan, a smirk playing on his lips. "Mind if I add you on WeChat?"

The sister beside Jiang Lan frantically tugged at her hand, practically screaming say yes, say yes in her head.

But Jiang Lan saw no reason to. She didn’t add guys, and she was just the violinist—why would Lu Xingran want her contact?

Was he trying to get to Yu Wanqiu through her?

Jiang Lan: "Sorry, no."

The recording was done, and she wouldn’t be back tomorrow anyway. It was just a two-week part-time gig—she wasn’t afraid of offending anyone. Who had a bigger backer than her?

Lu Xingran raised an eyebrow, unfazed. If he wanted Jiang Lan’s WeChat, he’d find a way.

Jiang Lan had the next three days off—with pay. She didn’t want to stay home, so she searched online for highly-rated travel destinations.

One place stood out.

The photos looked breathtaking—but she worried it was just filters.

Located in Yunnan Province, it had a poetic name: Firefly Forest.

An emerald-green woodland, filled with countless fireflies, like something out of a fairy tale.

Just from the pictures, it was no less stunning than a fireworks display.

"Yu Laoshi, let’s go here," Jiang Lan suggested. She’d earned some money from livestream gifts this month—enough for a trip.

Yu Wanqiu had no objections. They could leave tomorrow and return the day after, with time tonight to plan. "It’s beautiful. How’d you find it?"

Their travel plans couldn’t be kept secret from the others in the villa.

Aunt Zhao looked wistful. Back when Chen Shuyun was working, she used to travel during breaks.

She hadn’t been one for trips—she’d never gone to school and felt lost outside. But Chen Shuyun insisted she deserved a break after raising kids.

Chen Shuyun sighed. "It’s gorgeous. If I hadn’t quit my job, I’d go with you."

Aunt Zhao’s face fell.

Shen Xingyao wanted to go too. She’d planned to watch fireworks with Du Wanzhou this weekend, but this looked even better. "Yu Laoshi, Jiang Lan, can Mom and I come with you?"

Du Wanzhou, who’d been going stir-crazy at home, was up for anything—as long as it wasn’t staying put.

Zhang Lin was tempted, but her pregnancy made travel inconvenient, and she didn’t want to burden others.

Yu Wanqiu laid down the rules. "We can go together, but we’ll do our own thing—no joint meals or itineraries. Jiang Lan and I have a budget."

Overspending ruined the trip.

Shen Xingyao agreed readily. "Mom, maybe we should set a budget too."

Du Wanzhou thought it was unnecessary—they weren’t short on money. Why bother?

Flying from City B to Yunnan wasn’t cheap. Yu Wanqiu usually booked first class, but Jiang Lan didn’t want to splurge.

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Between flights, lodging, tickets, and food, the trip would cost nearly 10,000 yuan—mostly for airfare.

With the camera crew, Xiao Chen, and Xiao Xu also coming, expenses piled up.

Yu Wanqiu made a call and returned with news. "No need to worry about flights. We’ll take a private jet."

Jiang Lan: "???"

A private jet? Yu Laoshi, are you an actual goddess?!

Not only had Jiang Lan never been on a private jet—neither had Shen Xingyao. She and Du Wanzhou were just hitching a ride.

Du Wanzhou guessed this was the Lu family’s private jet, but since Yu Wanqiu and Lu Shuangchen were married, taking a private jet wasn’t a big deal.

It was enormous—inside, there was a kitchen, bedroom, dining area, game room, and even a home theater.

The flight attendant was exceptionally gentle, bringing over fruit and snacks. "Teacher Yu, just let me know if you need anything. I won’t disturb you further."

Jiang Lan sat quietly, feeling like a country bumpkin, while Yu Wanqiu remained perfectly composed. "Dazzled?"

Jiang Lan: "A little. Honestly, I’ve never even been on a plane before."

Now, she was directly on a private jet—VIP access, personalized service, spacious comfort, snacks, drinks, and even the option to watch a movie in the theater room.

Yu Wanqiu said, "What’s the big deal? I’d never been to a night market before either."

"Teacher Yu, how is that even comparable?!"

"Why not? They’re both new experiences," Yu Wanqiu ruffled Jiang Lan’s hair. "Alright, rest if you’re tired. We’ll arrive in Yunnan soon."

City K in Yunnan was like eternal spring, with a mild and pleasant climate. Compared to the dry summer heat of City B, this place was paradise.

Lush greenery, streets lined with flowering trees, and a small town with distinctive architecture.

The Firefly Forest was located in a town south of City K, bordered by dense woodlands. At night, the area would come alive with countless fireflies.

Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu stayed at a homestay run by an elderly grandmother. A twin room cost 150 yuan per night, and meals were available for an extra fee.

The grandmother cooked local Yunnan specialties, including various wild mushrooms. She also made flower cakes, and Jiang Lan devoured three in one go.

Yu Wanqiu ate two.

Jiang Lan couldn’t wait to try the mushrooms.

The grandmother spoke with a Yunnan accent, her tone lilting at the end. "You must cook the mushrooms thoroughly, or you’ll end up in the hospital."

Jiang Lan barely understood. "Grandma, when’s dinner?!"

It was still afternoon, and the fireflies wouldn’t appear until after dark. After dinner, Jiang Lan took her phone into the woods, snapping photos left and right.

Seizing the opportunity, the grandmother pulled out some sachets. "Ten yuan each—keeps the bugs away."

What clever business sense. Since they’d be venturing into the woods at night, Jiang Lan bought two.

The grandmother then produced a few colorful bracelets. "These are a Yunnan specialty. Twenty-five yuan each. The silver bells bring blessings of health, longevity, and good fortune."

This grandmother was too good at sales. Jiang Lan bought two bracelets, one for herself and one for Yu Wanqiu.

"You believe in this? It’s just marketing. How can a bracelet bring health and good luck?"

Jiang Lan said, "It’s symbolic! Besides, they’re pretty. Matching bracelets for us."

She held out her arm—her fair skin made the red, yellow, and navy-blue woven bracelet stand out even more. Yu Wanqiu’s was a mix of light green, pink, and deep purple. They actually looked quite nice.

Yu Wanqiu said, "Passable, I guess."

Jiang Lan glanced at the sun sinking behind the mountains. "It’ll be dark soon. I wonder when the fireflies will come out. Teacher Yu, I’m usually scared of bugs, but not fireflies. They’re too beautiful."

The two waited at the edge of the woods, with the cameraman ready. Today was Friday, and the fourth episode would air that night. Zhang Tian had even edited in a clip of them boarding the private jet at the end.

This was what real wealth looked like—a private jet arranged with a single call.

...

Now that was efficiency. That was love for one’s wife.

Zhang Tian had even looked up the Firefly Forest—a perfect spot for photography.

But not many people visited. For one, flights were expensive—round-trip tickets cost over 3,000 yuan per person.

Second, the location was remote, not in Li City but in a small town in City K.

If they could actually capture the fireflies on camera, the episode’s viewership would skyrocket.

Zhang Tian was lost in his daydreams when his phone buzzed with a notification: [The streamer you follow is live!]

He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍only followed the show’s guests to monitor comments and track their streaming hours.

Shen Xingyao streamed every other day, Chen Shuyun streamed daily, Zhang Lin in the mornings, and the three mothers-in-law streamed whenever they felt like it. Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan usually streamed on weekends.

Who was breaking the pattern and streaming on a Friday night?

He opened the app and saw Jiang Lan waving at the camera. "Teacher Yu and I are out right now. You might not have heard of this place—it’s a small town in Yunnan called the Firefly Forest."

She panned the camera around. The sky had darkened, with a crimson glow lingering in the distance.

The woods looked pitch-black, like something out of a horror movie—as if a monstrous hand might reach out at any moment.

[Wife, why are you showing me something so scary?]

[Can we get something a little more… alive?]

[Firefly Forest? That photo spot?]

[Where are the fireflies?]

Jiang Lan said, "It’s not dark enough yet. Fireflies come out at night—they’re nocturnal."

Summer days were long, and night fell slowly. Fans suspected Jiang Lan was just padding her streaming time, but Yu Wanqiu hadn’t gone live yet. They still needed two more hours to meet the quota.

The sky darkened further, but still no fireflies. Fans had been waiting for nearly an hour—it was already 7:30 PM.

They still had to watch the new episode later.

[Sweetie, were you scammed? A lot of those photos online are edited.]

[It’s way too dark.]

[Are there mosquitoes? Looks like there’d be a lot in the woods.]

[So boring.]

Yu Wanqiu said, "No mosquitoes. The grandmother here sells bug-repellent sachets. The scenery is lovely—it’s beautiful during the day too. Look, these are the bracelets the grandmother made. Aren’t they pretty?"

She held up her wrist, showing off the three-color woven bracelet with a tiny silver bell. "Jiang Lan has one too."

[Wife, where’s your million-yuan bracelet? Your diamond ring?!]

[Looks like it cost less than 30 yuan.]

[Jiang Lan has one too.]

[Hahaha, I found the same one on Taobao! Let me delude myself into thinking I’m wearing matching bracelets with Teacher Yu and Jiang Lan—that must mean we’re besties.]

[Teacher Yu is just changing the subject, isn’t she?]

The comments kept rolling in, but Jiang Lan’s eyes stayed fixed on the woods.

The sky was now fully dark, the moon bright and stars countless. A phone camera couldn’t capture them, but a proper camera could pick out every single one.

Then, suddenly—a flicker of light in the black woods.

A pale green firefly fluttered into view, rising and falling in the air.

Jiang Lan tugged Yu Wanqiu’s sleeve. "Teacher Yu, the fireflies are here!"

It happened in an instant—one, two, then countless more emerged from the trees and grass.

Jiang Lan had been so afraid they’d come for nothing.

But thankfully, the fireflies arrived.