Lu Shuangchen works so hard precisely to earn money for Yu Wanqiu to spend.
His salary, stocks, funds, real estate… everything is managed by Yu Wanqiu, and she knows it all.
Yu Wanqiu smiled faintly. "Then let’s go for hot pot. But… do you know which place is good?"
Lu Shuangchen replied, "I’ve looked it up. That one has decent flavor—you’d probably like it."
Yu Wanqiu said, "Fine. I’m a bit thirsty right now."
Lu Shuangchen thought for a moment and asked, "Then, mineral water or milk tea?"
From the show, it seemed Yu Wanqiu really enjoyed milk tea.
Yu Wanqiu answered, "Milk tea. Taro boba milk tea, extra pearls, half sugar, hot."
Lu Shuangchen agreed and drove while scanning the roadside for milk tea shops. In the height of summer, every shop had a crowd outside, their neon signs glaringly bright. Lu Shuangchen had no idea which one was good.
Since the cups on the show were always blurred, he played it safe and asked, "Which one do you usually go to?"
Yu Wanqiu pointed to a shop. Lu Shuangchen found a parking spot, got out, and crossed the street to queue. Despite the bustling crowd, he stood out effortlessly—the cameraman quickly adjusted his lens, capturing every move. The fact that Lu Shuangchen personally queued instead of having someone deliver it was baffling.
So this was how the wealthy lived.
What did his milk tea taste like? Did it carry the flavor of money?
Was it better than regular milk tea?
After about ten minutes, Lu Shuangchen returned with the drink. Tall and imposing, the cup looked tiny in his hand. He passed it to Yu Wanqiu, who gave him a cool glance. Realizing, he tore open the straw, inserted it, and handed it over. "Here."
Yu Wanqiu took a sip. Not as good as the one Jiang Lan bought.
The cameraman stared intently at the milk tea. To working-class folks like him, Lu Shuangchen was an object of awe—a billionaire tycoon, staggeringly rich.
Only someone like him could match an A-list actress like Yu Wanqiu: handsome, wealthy. But what was he like in private? Then again, Yu Wanqiu was rich too—she didn’t need his money. In fact, she seemed happier with Jiang Lan than with him.
Lu Shuangchen restarted the car, merging into traffic. "How’s the taste? You drink this often."
Yu Wanqiu replied, "Just sugary stuff. If you were curious, you should’ve bought two."
Eyes on the road, Lu Shuangchen said, "Just asking. I’m not thirsty."
"Oh? If you were, I’d have let you take a sip." Yu Wanqiu’s red lips curved as she glanced at him, catching his stiff expression.
Lu Shuangchen: "...Then I’m a little thirsty."
The footage was streamed live to the villa. Zhang Tian was seeing Lu Shuangchen for the first time—undeniably handsome, exuding the charm of a mature man. As netizens would say, the "uncle type."
Though his face bore wrinkles and his hair was half-gray, his posture was impeccable, his profile free of a beer belly. His trench coat hinted at muscle definition, and his legs were noticeably long.
A stark contrast to Lu Yicheng’s style.
He had the allure of maturity and wealth—even Zhang Tian admitted Lu Shuangchen was attractive.
But from the footage, Yu Wanqiu seemed unimpressed, even annoyed.
Was this how CEOs and movie stars interacted? Zhang Tian rubbed his hands—today’s guests hadn’t disappointed.
First, Shen Xingyao had gone out early with Chen Hao for a date at an international amusement park in City B, packed with fun attractions.
Chen Hao never let Shen Xingyao’s fans down—lugging bags, buying snacks, his arms loaded, radiating boyfriend energy.
It was Qixi Festival, and the park was swarmed with couples. With cameras in tow, they were inevitably spotted, spending the day trending online.
Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng had a romantic evening planned at City B’s planetarium. From her dress to the venue, it screamed luxury—impossible without deep pockets.
It also required meticulous preparation. Lu Yicheng had coordinated with the crew: a drone flew from the 23rd-floor window to the rooftop, carrying roses (no light load). The drone, part of his AI project, operated via voice commands and body heat recognition.
A Qinghua University prodigy, the top scorer in the national college entrance exams—his brilliance wasn’t just for show.
Zhang Tian couldn’t help but admire people like him.
As for Yu Wanqiu, Zhang Tian never expected Lu Shuangchen to show up—a man who existed only in Baidu entries and press reports, now buying flowers and milk tea for her.
And all because of one remark from Yu Wanqiu, his expression tensed. Plus, Lu Shuangchen had explicitly allowed the footage to air—he wanted to be seen.
Zhang Tian couldn’t fulfill Bie Ting’s wish, but such a small request—Zhang Tian would definitely make it happen.
Today was Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day), and the dating show next door aired an extra episode, livestreaming the daily dates of four celebrity couples. The hype was massive, with over 20 million viewers, and all four pairs were trending for their off-the-charts sweetness. By early morning, they had already taken over the top spots on the hot search list. Meanwhile, across the entertainment industry, celebrity couples and spouses were posting declarations of love and flaunting their relationships—the entire Weibo was drowning in Qixi romance.
This kind of thing usually had nothing to do with a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law reality show, but this season had an explosively popular couple. The fans’ wish was simple: even if Lu Yicheng didn’t make an appearance, they just wanted to see how the two goddesses spent Qixi together. Was that too much to ask?
Devoted shippers of the "Irreplaceable" CP flocked to the show’s official Weibo—
["We’re not asking for much, just a photo together!"]
["The daily life of a zen shipper."]
["Can’t access Qinghua University’s forum, Lu Yicheng’s nowhere to be seen—I’m surviving on old Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodle crumbs."]
["They’re a couple, can’t we get a few more seconds of Lu Yicheng? My standards have already hit rock bottom."]
["Honestly, the two goddesses spending Qixi together wouldn’t be bad either."]
["I’m all for it!"]
["Can’t us single folks at least enjoy some eye candy?"]
The "Irreplaceable" shippers were subsisting on stale crumbs, and many had migrated to the "Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodle" ship—something Zhang Tian never saw coming. Just a few weeks ago, those same fans had sworn they’d never double-ship.
Women. Unpredictable as ever.
Zhang Tian decided to give the fans a surprise. The editing team pulled an all-nighter, fueled by a giant pot of instant noodles, and at 10:30 PM, the show’s official Weibo dropped a 30-second clip.
["Mothers-in-Law Are Here: Wishing all lovers a happy Qixi Festival—[Video]"]
The video opened with a shower of rose petal effects, followed by Yu Wanqiu’s voice: "As much as I’d love to have dinner with someone as beautiful as you, Lu Yicheng begged me for a favor. My little princess, happy Qixi."
The scene cut to Jiang Lan stepping onto a rooftop, where Lu Yicheng stood waiting, hands behind his back.
Another cut—Yu Wanqiu leaned against a car as a figure holding roses and a gift box walked toward her, backlit by the sun. The video ended with four words: "Happy Qixi Festival."
In just 30 seconds, four people appeared, dashing fans’ hopes of the two goddesses spending the holiday together. Instead, they’d each found their own prince.
Soon after, the official Weibo of the Lu Yuan Group reposted the clip with the same caption: "Happy Qixi Festival."
At 10:40, Yu Wanqiu’s studio also reposted it, echoing the sentiment.
Fans rewatched the video multiple times before confirming—that man was indeed Lu Shuangcheng.
The husband of the award-winning actress.
["Finally got a glimpse of the brother-in-law! Wishing them a lifetime of happiness!"]
["Father and son look alike—both handsome."]
["Top contender for hottest brother-in-law."]
["LOL I always imagined Lu Shuangcheng as a balding, beer-bellied middle-aged man. Glad to see he’s not."]
["Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng went to the B City Planetarium, no wonder it was fully booked today."]
["CP fans are FED."]
["Little Lu looking sharp as always—keep it up!"]
["SPELL IT OUT: M-A-T-C-H M-A-D-E I-N H-E-A-V-E-N."]
["The goddesses look stunning together. I don’t care, today they spent Qixi as a pair."]
["Their dresses are gorgeous."]
["Fam, play it in reverse for a surprise [shhh]."]
["Reverse edit available on Bilibili under ‘Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodle.’ I’ve looped it 18 times—I’m stuck in this rabbit hole."]
["Can’t stand you people shipping at every opportunity. Take me with you or I’m reporting this."]
["‘My little princess’—I’ve only listened to that line 100 times, no big deal."]
["Same, that’s the only part I care about."]
["LANZHOU HAND-PULLED NOODLE IS REAL!!!!"]
["Edited version on Bilibili: ‘A Bowl of Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodle.’ You’re welcome."]
["If you’ve seen that edit, we’re family."]
["Seriously? Even official content gets shipped? Y’all need help."]
["Mind your business when it comes to beautiful women, got it?"]
Though the show, Yu Wanqiu, Lu Shuangcheng, and the "Irreplaceable" CP all trended, what happened next was beyond Zhang Tian’s wildest expectations.
A skilled editor reversed the video—not in the literal sense, but by rearranging the three segments. Though slightly chaotic, the new narrative was clear:
Lu Shuangcheng arrives with gifts for Yu Wanqiu, who leans against the car, barely sparing him a glance.
Jiang Lan stands on the rooftop in a beautiful dress, the distance between her and Lu Yicheng like an impassable galaxy.
The video ends with Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan sitting in the car as Yu Wanqiu says, "My little princess, happy Qixi."
This edit was so seamless it made even Zhang Tian question reality. The reversed version racked up far more views than the original.
The original Weibo hot search rankings:
[Yu Wanqiu & Lu Shuangcheng - #1]
[Zheng Zheng Upward CP’s Sweet Moments - #3]
[Irreplaceable’s Qixi Celebration - #12]
[Because of You’s Dating Show Chemistry - #13]
["My Little Princess" - #15]
[Shen Xingyao & Chen Hao - #19]
[Zheng Weiwei Announces Relationship 26]
After more than half an hour, it turned into this—
[Lanzhou Noodles CP 1]
[Yu Wanqiu & Lu Shuangchen 3]
[My Little Princess 4]
[Zhengzheng Upward CP Drops Sugar 5]
[Irreplaceable Celebrates Qixi 8]
[Because of You: Dating Show Charisma 13]...
[Shen Xingyao & Chen Hao 17]
The popularity of the "Lanzhou Noodles CP" actually surpassed "Zhengzheng Upward." The latter refers to Xie Zheng and a rising starlet in a sweet urban romance drama, with a massive fanbase shipping them hard. Their Qixi Festival "sugar drop" was like a grand celebration for fans, yet "Lanzhou Noodles" overshadowed it.
These weren’t just fans of Lu Yicheng and Jiang Lan’s CP—it was the "Lanzhou Noodles" phenomenon. Meanwhile, Zheng Weiwei’s relationship announcement post plummeted off the trending list, with an 80% chance the hashtag had been bought.
[Let’s go, fam! Forget the rest—Qixi must belong to Lanzhou Noodles!]
[This is the energy Lanzhou Noodles deserves! Don’t fear LSC—what’s he gonna do, silence us?]
[First, wishing both couples eternal love and happiness! But Lanzhou Noodles reigns supreme!]
[Same here—eternal love to all, but My Little Princess melted my heart.]
[More of these videos, please. I’m here for it.]
[Today’s a happy day. If you’re on a date, stay off your phone—and definitely don’t click this video, okay?]
[Might as well just say LYC and LSC’s ID numbers out loud.]
Within hours, the "Lanzhou Noodles" fan community surged to 2.8 million followers.
Contrary to expectations, discussions didn’t revolve around Lu Shuangchen. Instead, fans lost their minds over the phrase "my little princess."
Zhang Tian lounged on the couch, wondering if dropping footage of the couple styling hair or trying on dresses would’ve been even juicier.
It was only Thursday, yet fans were already itching for Episode 6 to drop.
While the CP frenzy was in full swing, some rationally hoped the show would release a Valentine’s Day special. Lu Shuangchen and Lu Yicheng’s rare appearances shouldn’t be wasted—no more "blink-and-you-miss-it" edits.
For several episodes, Lu Yicheng’s screen time amounted to fleeting back shots, totaling under a minute.
Fans understood the show’s focus on mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamics, and with "Firefly Forest" confirmed for this episode, Qixi moments would be scarce. Hence, a paid special wouldn’t deter them.
Zhang Tian planned a special—but definitely not paywalled. Besides, only Shen Xingyao, Jiang Lan, and Yu Wanqiu had Valentine’s Day plans. The others stayed in:
Du Wanzhou binge-watched soap operas all day. Li Jia barely left her room—if not for meal breaks, the crew might’ve called an ambulance.
Zhang Lin went for a prenatal checkup. She had reconnected with her former agent to restart her acting career. Going solo wasn’t viable—without a team, handling divorce announcements and trending backlash would be impossible.
Her agent, Sister Wu, had opposed her hiatus back then, but they’d stayed close. "Better late than never," Sister Wu said, promising to line up gigs. At least she wouldn’t starve.
"Thanks," Zhang Lin said. Sister Wu asked, "Divorce is final?"
Zhang Lin nodded. "We’ll negotiate privately first. If that fails, legal route. Even if I lose Xu Yi’s custody, I’m done."
Sister Wu sighed. "What if Xu Chaoyang really changes—"
"He’d have done it by now. I was blind for years. He knew Li Jia bullied me but turned a blind eye. In his mind, I’m just a kept woman—lucky to live the ‘rich wife’ dream." Her voice hardened. "That’s who he is. How much can he change?"
Losing custody was her worst-case scenario.
"Screw that trash," Sister Wu said. "Glad you woke up. Love isn’t oxygen—but don’t let one man ruin all hope. You’ve got decades ahead."
Zhang Lin nodded. So what if this Qixi was solo? The road ahead was long.
At 11:30 PM, Lu Yicheng dropped Jiang Lan at the villa. "How about I stay? I’ll head straight to work tomorrow."
He clung to her hand—their time together always flew by. Jiang Lan carried a strawberry cake for Yu Wanqiu, their little Qixi treat.
Lu Yicheng really wanted to stay.
Jiang Lan hesitated. "Ask Yu Laoshi."
He grinned. That was a yes.
After parking the car, the two walked toward the villa. Jiang Lan noticed someone standing by a tree near the trash can outside, smoking. Though his face was unclear in the dim light, the glow of the cigarette at his lips was visible.
Jiang Lan glanced a few times, and Lu Yicheng followed her gaze. "...Dad?"
Lu Shuangchen extinguished his cigarette and approached. Jiang Lan hesitated for a moment before greeting, "Uncle Lu."
Lu Shuangchen gave a slight nod. "You're back. Let’s go together—my car isn’t here."
He had been waiting there for half an hour, reluctant to leave. Now, walking back with Lu Yicheng, he could at least talk to him.
Lu Yicheng said, "Dad, I plan to stay here. You should head back first."
Lu Shuangchen paused. "Stay here?"
