My Mother-in-Law and I Became the Internet's Hottest Power Couple-Chapter 62

Jiang Lan arrived at Lu Yicheng’s company building at 11:20 a.m.

The company was located in the financial district downtown, surrounded by towering skyscrapers, shopping malls, and rows of flower shops, milk tea stores, gyms, and cafés.

Jiang Lan picked a bouquet of gardenias from a flower shop and then sent Lu Yicheng a message to let him know she had arrived.

Lu Yicheng had been staring at his phone and immediately grabbed his backpack upon seeing the message. "Thank you all for your support during this time. I’ll take my leave now," he said.

His colleagues waved goodbye. Lu Yicheng had interned for over three months—two months during the summer—and had already led three major projects, proving himself as a capable and promising young professional.

A true rising star.

Not to mention, he had no bad habits, was handsome, and if he hadn’t already had a girlfriend, many would have tried to set him up.

Lu Yicheng quickly took the elevator down and spotted Jiang Lan the moment he stepped out of the building.

She was carrying a small white bag and holding the bouquet of gardenias, waving at him from a distance.

Lu Yicheng froze for a second—Jiang Lan had come to see him, and she’d brought flowers. For him.

Jiang Lan held out the bouquet. "Congratulations on finishing your internship, boyfriend! Onward to broader horizons!"

Lu Yicheng scratched his head. "These are for me?"

Jiang Lan teased, "Don’t like them? Fine, I’ll take them back."

Lu Yicheng immediately snatched them away. "No, I love them. Let me show you around the area."

After a few steps, Lu Yicheng suddenly stopped. "Wait, I forgot something. Can I run back up to get it? You can wait for me at the milk tea shop."

Jiang Lan asked, "What did you forget?"

"Just a document. Here, have some snacks while you wait." He dumped a pile of snacks onto the table and ordered a drink for her. "I’ll be right back."

Jiang Lan glanced at the snacks—jelly cups, cookies, small cakes—all of which looked delicious. She had no idea where he’d even bought them.

"Aren’t you going to leave your backpack?" she asked as she waited for her matcha Oreo milk tea.

Lu Yicheng hugged the bouquet. "Nah, it’s not heavy. I’m strong enough to carry it."

It took less than five minutes to return to the company.

His colleagues were puzzled when he reappeared just ten minutes after leaving.

Lu Yicheng explained, "Forgot something. Had to come back."

But he looked different now—holding a bouquet of flowers.

"How romantic, buying flowers for your girlfriend," one colleague remarked.

Another chimed in, "It’s called having a sense of occasion. Life needs that. Maybe I should get my girlfriend some too. What kind of flowers are those? They’re pretty."

Lu Yicheng grinned. "My girlfriend gave them to me. I don’t actually know what they’re called, but I’ll ask and let you know."

"...Never mind. What guys like might not be what girls like," the colleague muttered awkwardly, regretting even asking.

Lu Yicheng rummaged through his drawer, grabbed a sheet of A4 paper, and said, "Alright, I’m off. See you."

The gardenias still had dewdrops on their petals. He leaned in to smell them—fragrant and fresh.

The office was on the 32nd floor, and as he descended with the bouquet, he drew curious glances from people along the way. He held the flowers tighter and hurried back to the milk tea shop.

"Sorry ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍for the wait. Let’s grab lunch first, then I’ll take you somewhere fun. You’ll love it," Lu Yicheng said. He had researched multiple places and read glowing reviews—he was sure Jiang Lan would enjoy it.

Jiang Lan tilted her head. "Where are we going?"

Lu Yicheng smirked. "You’ll see when we get there."

He packed the snacks and her small bag into his backpack. The flowers wouldn’t last if left in the sun all afternoon. "Let’s drop these off at my apartment first, then go eat."

The walk from the company to Lu Yicheng’s apartment took fifteen minutes. He had walked this route countless times, but this was the first time holding Jiang Lan’s hand on the way home.

The weather was pleasantly cool—autumn was approaching, and the heat had already faded in City B.

"Want me to hold an umbrella for you?" Lu Yicheng asked.

Jiang Lan nodded. Even without makeup, she never skipped sunscreen. "Do you want to come under too?"

Lu Yicheng thought for a second, then shifted the flowers under the shade.

He didn’t mind the sun, but the flowers were another story.

Jiang Lan groaned. "Ugh, you’re so annoying. Just take the flowers back."

"No way, they’ll wilt. By the way, when are you moving out of your rented apartment?"

Jiang Lan had originally rented it for her two-month internship, but she’d spent most of that time filming for a show and barely stayed there. She had almost forgotten about it.

"Oh, right. I’ll clear it out after the show wraps up," she said.

Lu Yicheng nodded. "I’ll help you move your stuff."

Jiang Lan agreed.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Lu Yicheng’s apartment. It was clean and minimalist, decorated in black and white tones.

The place was also rented—just a fifteen-minute walk from work. If they ever got married, they’d need to buy a place convenient for both of them.

Lu Yicheng handed Jiang Lan a pair of slippers, then brought out more snacks and fruit before arranging the flowers in a vase. "Whenever you’re craving my pickled fish or braised pork, we can cook at home. Feel free to look around if you’re bored."

Curious, Jiang Lan peeked around. Some people kept themselves neat but lived in chaos.

Lu Yicheng worked long hours—did he even have time to clean?

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She checked the balcony—a few freshly laundered clothes hung on the rack, and the scent of detergent lingered in the air.

The kitchen was spotless, and the bedroom had a neatly made bed with light gray sheets.

"Shockingly not a pigsty," she remarked.

Lu Yicheng smirked. "I’m a very tidy person."

Jiang Lan rolled her eyes. "Well, your own place shouldn’t be a mess."

After placing the vase on the nightstand, Lu Yicheng pinched her cheek playfully. "Want to inspect the closet too?"

Jiang Lan swatted his hand away. "Let’s just go eat. I’m starving."

"You just had snacks. How are you hungry already? Who’s the real pig here?" Lu Yicheng teased.

Jiang Lan scoffed. "Think about it—if I’m a pig, what does that make you? Oh wait, didn’t you just say you had nothing to do with the word ‘pig’?"

"...Fine, we’re both pigs."

"Why can’t we just be humans? Hurry up!"

When they arrived at the braised pork knuckle restaurant, they found a line out the door. The place was packed, with customers sitting on small stools waiting for their turn.

Jiang Lan remembered it being much quieter the last time they came.

Lu Yicheng checked his phone. "You guys got photographed eating here yesterday. Now it’s swarmed. Want to wait or go somewhere else?"

Since they were already there, they waited half an hour before finally getting a table.

After lunch, Lu Yicheng led Jiang Lan to their next destination.

"Seriously, where are we going?" she asked again.

"You’ll see," he said, squeezing her hand nervously. He really hoped she’d like it.

The black car pulled over by the street—one Jiang Lan had never visited before. Lu Yicheng patted her shoulder, gesturing for her to turn around. Behind them was a cat-and-dog café.

Lu Yicheng said, "Here, you can have drinks, snacks, and play with cats and dogs. There are several kittens just a few months old, plus corgis and shiba inus..."

Whenever they went out before, Jiang Lan couldn’t resist stopping to look at stray cats or dogs. And she had just visited the aquarium earlier.

She’d probably love this place.

Jiang Lan had already spotted a cat sprawled lazily against the glass window. "So adorable! How did you find this place?"

As soon as they entered, a staff member handed them shoe covers and sanitizer.

The café charged thirty-eight yuan per hour, which included coffee, desserts, and the option to buy pet treats like freeze-dried snacks to feed the cats. The prices were comparable to any regular dessert shop, and the pet snacks weren’t expensive either.

If you wanted to find a fun spot, you definitely could.

At this hour, the place wasn’t crowded. A few orange tabby kittens, fresh from their afternoon nap, were grooming themselves in their cat beds.

Big eyes, soft fur, each one plump and round—unlike the fish at the aquarium, which you could only admire from afar, these cats could actually be petted.

The staff reassured, "All the cats are vaccinated, so feel free to pet them. Just be gentle—if you hold them too tightly, they might scratch, but they’re generally very well-behaved."

Jiang Lan settled onto a sofa with a meat treat in hand. Soon, a circle of cats gathered around her.

This was practically heaven.

Lu Yicheng picked up a shiba inu, its cheerful demeanor evident as it wagged its tail, instantly lifting anyone’s mood.

Jiang Lan cradled a tiny orange kitten in her lap, tearing open the treat to feed it. "You’re so young and already working for your meals—eat up!"

---

Earlier that morning, after Jiang Lan left, Yu Wanqiu changed her outfit. She had considered putting on makeup, but...

Why should she bother dressing up and looking pretty just to meet Lu Shuangchen, while he could simply show up in a suit?

Yu Wanqiu decided against the makeup.

At 11:30, Lu Shuangchen called to say he’d arrived and asked her to come out.

Yu Wanqiu grabbed a parasol and stepped outside.

Lu Shuangchen stood by the car, looking different today.

He wore a white T-shirt, gray casual pants, and sneakers—something he hadn’t done since their wedding, except for gym visits.

Had the sun risen from the west today?

Lu Shuangchen felt awkward too. Changing habits, even something as small as footwear, could make everything feel off.

At his age, he was supposed to be mature and steady. Dressing like this felt... inappropriate.

Avoiding Yu Wanqiu’s gaze—her opinion mattered greatly to him—he asked, "Hungry? Let’s get lunch first."

Yu Wanqiu remarked, "You look quite young today."

Lu Shuangchen replied stiffly, "I changed before coming."

"Did you raid Lu Yicheng’s closet?" Yu Wanqiu remembered their son often dressed like this.

Lu Shuangchen, though rarely in casual wear, owned some. He was wealthy, after all. "Lu Yicheng and I don’t even wear the same size."

His tone carried a hint of grievance.

Yu Wanqiu sighed. "Can’t you take a joke? You’re so dull."

Lu Shuangchen muttered, "...I’m not that dull. Look in the back seat."

Yu Wanqiu turned and saw a bouquet of baby’s breath.

Adjusting his glasses, Lu Shuangchen said nothing more.

Yu Wanqiu teased, "You think a bouquet can win me over?"

Lu Shuangchen opened the glove compartment and pulled out a small gift box, about the size of his palm. He placed it in Yu Wanqiu’s hands, then reversed the car and drove off.

Inside the box was a tiny plush toy—with ruby eyes.

Lu Shuangchen had changed... but not entirely.

---

On Thursday, Zhang Lin went for her prenatal checkup in the morning.

Xu Chaoyang accompanied her—his first time doing so. They could see their baby’s arms, legs, and even tiny fingers on the ultrasound.

Xu Chaoyang studied the images intently.

Outside, a pregnant woman sat alone, casting an envious glance their way. Zhang Lin wondered if she had once looked at others the same.

After leaving the hospital, they ate lunch together.

Zhang Lin, barely touching her food, finally spoke. "We need to talk."

Xu Chaoyang had been wanting the same. Lately, Li Jia’s constant nagging had worn him down. His once-stable home was now in chaos, and he didn’t even know why.

Zhang Lin said, "Your mother approached me. She wants us to divorce. You know I don’t want that."

Xu Chaoyang lowered his head.

Tears welled in Zhang Lin’s eyes—her first "performance" since returning to work, and her audience was Xu Chaoyang.

"But I don’t want to put you in a difficult position..."

She cried beautifully, her sorrow tugging at Xu Chaoyang’s heart. "Don’t cry," he pleaded. "I’ll handle it. I won’t divorce you."

"Don’t defy your mother for me. Xu Chaoyang, marrying you was the best decision of my life, but I... I can’t bear to see you suffer for my sake." Her voice broke between sobs. "Let’s just... divorce. Please."

Xu Chaoyang cried too. How could he leave her like this? He’d rather avoid going home altogether.

Zhang Lin pressed, "Think of your parents, of the Xu family. Don’t throw everything away for me. Even if we divorce, you can still see me and the kids."

"Chaoyang, a marriage certificate is just a piece of paper, right? Even divorced, you’ll treat us the same, won’t you?"

Xu Chaoyang nodded fervently. "Nothing will change. I’ll find a way—"

"Chaoyang, I have nothing left but you and Xiao Yi." She wept. "If Xiao Yi is taken from me too, I won’t survive."

If only she’d acted like this sooner, she might’ve spared herself years of Li Jia’s torment.

Faced with such a beauty crying for him, Xu Chaoyang couldn’t refuse.

"I’ll do whatever you say. Even if we divorce, we’re still family." It never crossed his mind that Zhang Lin might be deceiving him—she never had before. And he was Xiao Yi’s father; that wouldn’t change.

Zhang Lin was only thinking of him. Even if they divorced and she took the child, it was for their future.

"Stop crying. I’ll follow your lead." Xu Chaoyang had savings. He planned to buy Zhang Lin a three-bedroom apartment under her name and give her most of his remaining money.

Li Jia infuriated him, always meddling under the guise of "helping." He’d never confide in her about this.

If she wanted a divorce so badly, fine.

---

When Zhang Lin returned to the villa, her eyes were still red.

Li Jia smirked at the sight. Xu Chaoyang had accompanied her to the checkup—had he brought up the divorce?

Wasn’t this what Zhang Lin wanted? Let’s see how well she managed alone.

Crying like this—regretting it already, huh?

The others in the villa were concerned but hesitated to pry. This was Zhang Lin’s private matter, though they stood ready to help if needed.

Aunt Zhao even felt like scolding Li Jia—what a piece of work.

Chen Shuyun shook her head at Aunt Zhao.

As the saying goes, every family has its own troubles. In the end, she has to figure it out herself.

Yu Wanqiu helped her find a lawyer, and Shen Xingyao also pitched in quite a bit. Any more help would be overstepping.

Shen Xingyao privately asked Zhang Lin, who reassured her, "I’m not stupid. What could possibly happen? Li Jia is still hoping I’ll give her a grandson."

Shen Xingyao sighed, and Zhang Lin added, "Really, it’s fine. If I need anything, I’ll definitely tell you. Don’t worry."

Shen Xingyao patted Zhang Lin’s shoulder. "Staying cooped up at home isn’t good for you. Why not take a break? I happen to have some tickets."

Shen Xingyao’s popularity was soaring these days. At 8 PM the next evening was the live debut finale of Because of You, We Form a Group, and the show had invited her as a guest judge.

They’d even given her several live audience tickets.

Shen Xingyao planned to share them with the show’s guests—after all, an idol boy group’s debut night meant plenty of handsome faces.

Zhang Lin hesitated, then said, "I’ll… go."

Why not? Sure, she was in her thirties, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the sight of some good-looking guys.

Shen Xingyao grinned. "Then I’ll ask Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan if they want to come too, along with Chen Shuyun and Aunt Zhao."