**Romance Novel Translation**
Yu Wanqiu had gone to bed early the night before and woke up early as well. When she opened her door, she saw Lu Yicheng in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
What Yu Wanqiu didn’t know was that after Lu Yicheng had gotten up, he had lingered outside Jiang Lan’s door for a while. Even while cooking, he kept glancing toward her room.
Faced with Yu Wanqiu’s teasing, Lu Yicheng merely smiled politely and asked, “What would you like to eat?”
Yu Wanqiu replied, “Anything is fine, as long as I get a bite.”
She wasn’t the type to feel jealous or upset just because Lu Yicheng was cooking for Jiang Lan. He was his own person, not her possession. Still, seeing him like this was undeniably surprising.
Apparently, when Lu Yicheng was in love, he went even further than using matching couple cups at home—he seemed completely transformed by Jiang Lan, as if he were no longer himself.
Lu Yicheng said, “Then we’ll have the same thing.”
The quartz clock pointed to 6:30 AM. Lu Yicheng kneaded dough and chopped filling for the meal while Yu Wanqiu glanced at him before heading to the living room to sip tea and read the newspaper.
Mother and son didn’t exchange many words. By 7:00 AM, Lu Yicheng had fried two beef patties and ladled out a bowl of porridge, offering them to Yu Wanqiu first.
Jiang Lan still hadn’t gotten up. Lu Yicheng checked his phone, then sat in the dining chair, waiting for her to wake.
Fifteen more minutes passed—still no movement. Lu Yicheng took the elevator downstairs and returned shortly after, knocking directly on Jiang Lan’s door.
“Get up. I know you’re awake.”
Yu Wanqiu gave him a puzzled look: “?”
Lu Yicheng explained, “I went to the villa across the way and asked Director Zhang. She’s been up since six.”
That possibility had never crossed Yu Wanqiu’s mind. Lu Yicheng added, “Sometimes when she tells you she’s going to sleep, she’s really just playing on her phone.”
With a knowing smile, he continued, “Like when you were gaming with her—if she said she was tired and didn’t want to play anymore, she probably just wanted to play with someone else.”
Yu Wanqiu thought, *Just how well does Lu Yicheng know Jiang Lan?*
Meanwhile, Jiang Lan had buried her head under the blankets. She hadn’t slept well last night—after rambling about nonsense with Xu Xiang for ages, she couldn’t bring herself to mention her memory loss. There was no easy way to explain it. The moment she put down her phone, her mind had been filled with thoughts of Lu Yicheng. She’d woken up at six and spent the next hour scrolling through photos in their couple’s online album.
There were over five hundred pictures, all dated—some were solo shots, others were of the two of them, smiling brightly.
After an hour of reminiscing, Jiang Lan turned off her phone screen. Then, habit guiding her fingers, she entered six familiar digits into the passcode lock. With a soft *click*, the phone unlocked.
Yesterday, she’d seen Lu Yicheng use the same passcode. It was her old phone password. If she really was the original Jiang Lan, this was likely the one thing that hadn’t changed.
*I really was a simp.*
Jiang Lan tugged at her hair in frustration—just as a knock sounded at her door.
“Get up. I know you’re awake.”
Sighing, Jiang Lan dragged herself out of bed and opened the door. “I’m up, stop rushing me.”
Lu Yicheng reached out to smooth her messy hair. “Good morning.”
Jiang Lan gave a small nod. “I’ll go wash up. You two eat first, don’t wait for me.”
She turned to leave, but Lu Yicheng caught her wrist.
“My ‘good morning’?”
“Good morning!”
Jiang Lan wondered if this had been something she’d demanded of him in the past—daily greetings, goodnight kisses, all that. Given Lu Yicheng’s description, it certainly sounded like something she’d do.
On the bright side, it was kind of inspiring—she was practically the blueprint for devoted girlfriends. After freshening up, Jiang Lan gave her cheeks a light slap before stepping out. “Good morning, Teacher Yu.”
Yu Wanqiu scoffed. “It’s already eight—by the time we finish eating, it’ll be nine. Half the morning will be gone.”
*Couldn’t she hurry up a little?* They still had games to play and yoga to do.
Jiang Lan was exhausted. Compared to being with Lu Yicheng, she’d much rather spend time with Yu Wanqiu. “Teacher Yu, it’s Sunday. Even elementary schoolers get a break on Sundays—can’t I have one too?”
Yu Wanqiu flipped a page in her book. “Go eat first. After breakfast, figure out what you want to do and manage your time properly.”
“Xia Jing mentioned streaming games tonight.” Yu Wanqiu wanted to rank up.
Jiang Lan’s eyes lit up. “With the pro players again?”
Yu Wanqiu nodded. “Lu Yicheng, are you joining?”
Lu Yicheng shook his head slowly. “Jiang Lan, come eat.”
The beef patties and millet porridge were delicious. Jiang Lan ate quietly, pausing only to say, “I’ll wash the dishes after.”
Lu Yicheng acknowledged with a hum. “Later, we’ll go grocery shopping. For lunch, we’ll have pickled fish and braised pork.”
Jiang Lan wasn’t keen on going out with him. “There’s still food in the fridge, right? Let’s keep it simple. You work hard enough—no need to go through the trouble.”
Lu Yicheng smirked. “The fridge only has cilantro and garlic stems left. The last piece of beef went into this morning’s patties. If you want something simple, that’s fine too.”
Jiang Lan: “…Let’s go buy some groceries. Teacher Yu, are you coming?”
Yu Wanqiu intentionally left the day’s schedule open for Lu Yicheng. “No, you two go ahead.”
Jiang Lan really didn’t want to go. She still hadn’t figured out how to interact with Lu Yicheng—right now, she was just being led along by him.
He knew her preferences, her past, while she knew nothing about him.
After breakfast, Jiang Lan washed the dishes. The clock read 8:30 AM. Lu Yicheng packed her water bottle, a sun umbrella, and fresh tissues into her bag before saying, “Let’s go.”
Jiang Lan exhaled and followed.
The weather was cooler today, the sky overcast. No need for the umbrella—the breeze was refreshing. The moment they stepped outside, Lu Yicheng naturally reached for Jiang Lan’s hand.
Unused to holding hands, Jiang Lan tried to pull back, but he didn’t let go. Softly, she said, “Lu Yicheng, maybe we should take things slow? I still can’t remember much… this feels a little unfamiliar…”
Lu Yicheng tightened his grip, leaning down to speak to her. “This is unfamiliar? Before we were even official, you were the one who insisted on holding hands, kissing me—I never complained.”
Jiang Lan was stunned.
Lu Yicheng continued, “Now that you’ve got me, you won’t even hold my hand?”
“Fine, fine, we’ll hold hands.” Jiang Lan pressed her lips together. The camera crew behind them could only catch the couple whispering. She muttered, “Lu Yicheng…”
He frowned. “You never called me that before. You used to say ‘darling,’ ‘baby,’ ‘hubby.’ You even made me call you ‘baby’—said my name was too formal.”
Jiang Lan’s voice trembled. “H-hubby?”
The first two were one thing, but *this*? Had she really said that? *How ridiculous.*
Lu Yicheng chuckled. “Mm.”
Jiang Lan didn’t speak another word the entire trip. Even after they returned with groceries, she still hadn’t recovered.
The camera crew was too far to pick up clear audio, but they caught bits—something about Lu Yicheng asking Jiang Lan to call him “hubby.”
Zhang Tian grinned. *Now this was content.* But *Mother-in-Law is Coming* was a show about in-law dynamics—each two-hour episode only gave Yu Wanqiu’s group thirty to forty minutes of screen time. Lu Yicheng’s segments had to be trimmed down repeatedly.
And yet, just one day into filming the third season, they already had gold. Zhang Tian’s fingers itched to edit—should he focus on Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu’s interactions, or find a way to include Lu Yicheng too?
After all, the two of them have quite a devoted shipper fanbase.
Right now, their names are still trending on Weibo.
Who would’ve thought that the chemistry between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo on a reality show would outshine even the romance-focused dating shows?
According to Xia Jing, several directors have already reached out, eager to invite Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng to join a dating show.
The hottest dating program at the moment is *Heartbeat Promise*, and fans have been flooding the official account’s comments, pushing for the two to appear in Season 3.
They swear this couple is *guaranteed sweetness*—so sweet you won’t ask for a refund.
But Jiang Lan is naturally more reserved, not as openly affectionate as Lu Yicheng. With Director Zhang Tian’s sharp eye, he can tell Jiang Lan interacts more naturally with Yu Wanqiu. If the two were to join a dating show, they’d probably fare better by returning for *Mother-in-Law is Coming* Season 3 instead. A before-and-after marriage comparison, sprinkled with occasional appearances from Lu Yicheng, would undoubtedly outshine any dating show’s appeal.
Though no one knows what Yu Wanqiu’s plans are yet.
But it’s only the third episode—there’s plenty of room for twists.
And Director Zhang can always sweeten the deal with a higher offer.
After grocery shopping, the two happened to run into Shen Xingyao and Zhang Lin on the first floor—though *happened* might be an overstatement. Shen Xingyao had been waiting there deliberately, partly to ask Zhang Lin for acting advice.
She plans to join a drama production after this variety show wraps up. Her agent has been scouting period dramas for her, and since Zhang Lin’s historical roles were always praised for their elegance and skill, Shen Xingyao wanted to learn a thing or two.
Though Zhang Lin hasn’t acted in over seven years, her foundation remains solid. Shen Xingyao’s earnest attitude made Zhang Lin teach with equal sincerity.
Coaching Shen Xingyao felt like teaching her younger self. People say she married into luxury—a life of comfort, a doting husband, a filial son. Fans gush over her ageless beauty, insisting she hasn’t changed a bit, calling her the ultimate *winner at life*.
But reading those comments never brought Zhang Lin any joy. How many seven-year stretches does a person even get? She entered the entertainment industry because she loved acting, only to quit for marriage. Had she not abandoned her career, perhaps…
That’s why she’s especially eager for Shen Xingyao to keep acting and not let marriage trip her up.
Take even a two-year break, and you’ll suddenly find yourself struggling to catch up.
And Zhang Lin hopes Jiang Lan will think carefully too. Outsiders see *marrying into wealth* and assume it’s all glitter—but only those who’ve lived it know the hidden bitterness.
Of course, these aren’t words to say in front of Lu Yicheng.
Shen Xingyao grinned. “Back from shopping? Is it hot outside?”
Jiang Lan shook her head and made quick introductions. “Shen Xingyao, Zhang Lin-jie, this is Lu Yicheng.”
Lu Yicheng nodded. “Hello, I’m Jiang Lan’s boyfriend.”
Shen Xingyao beamed. “Finally meeting the man behind the rumors! Jiang Lan, your boyfriend’s quite the looker.”
Jiang Lan chuckled awkwardly. “Yeah, he is.”
In the elevator, their hands stayed intertwined. Lu Yicheng, lugging a hefty bag, had a faint sheen of sweat on his nose, his palm warm and slightly damp. Out of nowhere, he asked, “There aren’t cameras in here, right?”
This wasn’t a dating show, and nothing *unexpected* was likely to happen between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in an elevator. Plus, the elevator was purely functional—no reason for Director Zhang to install cameras. A decision that later made fans groan over *missed footage*.
Jiang Lan’s heart skipped. The ride from the first to fourth floor took mere seconds, but the moment Lu Yicheng leaned in, time stretched unbearably long.
The elevator halted. Lu Yicheng hissed, jerking his head back. Jiang Lan clapped a hand over her mouth. “*You—!*”
Lu Yicheng raised an eyebrow. “*I’m* the one who got bitten. Why are *you* covering your mouth?”
*Serves him right for trying to sneak a kiss with tongue.* The doors slid open. Jiang Lan pressed her lips together and bolted inside, while Lu Yicheng trailed behind, eyes crinkling with amusement.
Yu Wanqiu, seeing them return, started unpacking groceries: a cleaned four-pound fish, an assortment of vegetables. “Making *suancai yu*?”
Lu Yicheng nodded. “Yeah, go easy on the chili.”
Yu Wanqiu frowned. “Who can’t handle spice?”
Lu Yicheng: “Me. I accidentally bit my lip earlier.”
Yu Wanqiu: “…………”
Lunch was a joint effort. Lu Yicheng cooked often—when Yu Wanqiu and Lu Shuangchen weren’t home, and the housekeeper was off, he’d whip up his own meals. Decent flavor, too. Maybe talent ran in the family.
While cooking, Yu Wanqiu asked about his internship. Instead of joining Lu Corporation, he’d chosen an internet company.
As a computer science major, even without the Lu name, his future salary would be impressive.
Yu Wanqiu said, “Plan your career and studies carefully. Think about your next steps.”
Lu Yicheng was about to start his senior year. If he skipped grad school, he’d be working—and marrying—soon.
These were his choices, but Yu Wanqiu hoped he’d take them seriously.
She wasn’t arrogant enough to assume *everyone* dreamed of marrying into the Lu family. And Lu Yicheng hadn’t even met Jiang Lan’s parents yet—this was far from settled.
Lu Yicheng nodded. “I know.”
“I don’t mind you visiting on weekends, but sort out your priorities first. Making a mess of everything is the dumbest move.” Yu Wanqiu glanced toward Jiang Lan’s room. “…By the way, is Jiang Lan popular at school?”
She knew her son’s personality. Never would she have guessed he’d start dating so young.
Handsome, academically gifted, but taciturn to the point of seeming cold—*aloof* was the polite term. Most girls would’ve been scared off.
Jiang Lan was different. Multitalented, a gaming ace, effortlessly charming. Online rumors called her the Qinghua University violin club president, student council member, with a legion of admirers.
Lu Yicheng looked up. “So what? She’s mine.”
Yu Wanqiu’s chest tightened. A pang of regret—she’d spent too much time working, too little on raising him…
The *suancai yu* aroma was intoxicating. Braised pork simmered in another pot, alongside stir-fried greens and steamed rice.
Yu Wanqiu told Lu Yicheng to call Jiang Lan for lunch.
Lu Yicheng: “*You* do it. If I go, she’ll refuse out of spite.”
Yu Wanqiu: “…Are you *trying* to annoy her? You couldn’t go five minutes without provoking her?”
Lu Yicheng felt wronged. He was leaving soon—how was he supposed to resist teasing her when she was right there?
But Yu Wanqiu had the magic touch. One call, and Jiang Lan emerged. “Food’s ready. Four dishes today—eat up.”
Jiang Lan hummed in acknowledgment.
She served herself a bowl of rice. The fish was delicious, if a bit mild, but every bite Lu Yicheng took made him wince.
*Serves him right*, Jiang Lan thought, savoring her meal even more.
Midway through, Lu Yicheng stepped onto the balcony to take a call. Two minutes later, he returned. “There’s an issue with the project. I need to head back soon.”
Yu Wanqiu: “I’ll have the driver take you.”
“Thanks.” Lu Yicheng glanced at Jiang Lan, who seemed lost in thought. “Eat up,” he murmured.
Jiang Lan walked him downstairs. No cameras followed for this brief stretch. Lu Yicheng held her hand. “Next weekend, I’ll take you to the hospital for your check-up.”
Jiang Lan shook her head. “I can go alone. Bringing you risks unnecessary rumors.”
If they were spotted, it’d be trouble.
Lu Yicheng: "...What on earth goes through that head of yours all day?"
"Still mad? Just because I kissed you suddenly?"
"Who told you to kiss me out of nowhere?"
Lu Yicheng chuckled. "Got it, got it. Honestly, back when you used to [do that to me], I never said a word..."
Jiang Lan was utterly exasperated. "Can we not bring up the past, please?"
Lu Yicheng: "Fine, no past. But from now on, video call me every night. If anything comes up, tell me first—or you can reach out to Yu Wanqiu too."
Jiang Lan blinked. "Every single day?"
Lu Yicheng nodded. "Mhm. And don’t forget to miss me."
Jiang Lan gave a small nod. "Lu—"
"Calling me by name again."
"Sweetheart, hurry and get in the car. Don’t be late." Jiang Lan quickly ushered him away.
Lu Yicheng wasn’t eager to leave. He bent slightly, tapping his lips. "Just one."
Jiang Lan glanced around—no one in sight in the quiet midday villa neighborhood—then stood on her toes to brush her lips against his. "There, happy now?"
*
Over an hour later, Lu Yicheng sent a message:
[Baby, I’m here.]
Jiang Lan checked the sender’s nickname: *The Pig Raised by a Fairy*.
She typed back:
[Did I... used to call you "Pig"?]
[?]
