Originally, Lu Shuangchen wasn’t ho anyway, so eating at the company would be fine.
Him not coming back would save him ti on the road—ti that could be better spent solving a few more math problems. With Lu Shuangchen teaching her, Yu Wanqiu was learning at an astonishing pace.
Her mory had always been sharp, and her college entrance exam scores back in the day weren’t low either, so picking things up ca easily to her.
Jiang Lan exclaid, “Ah!”
“Hey hey, no no, don’t do that! Lu Yicheng’s cooking is actually pretty good. If they don’t co back, we’ll have to do all the cooking ourselves. No need to keep Uncle Lu at the company!” Jiang Lan thought about it—how could they do that? This was the Lu family’s ho, after all. She asked, “Is there anything else we need at ho? I’ll go buy so.”
Yu Wanqiu said, “Get so snacks and fruit wine!”
Sweet fruit wine and snacks paired with barbecue—it was bound to be delicious.
Jiang Lan sent Lu Yicheng a ssage. Usually, if he wasn’t busy, he’d be at school. He had one more required course than Jiang Lan and was gradually getting involved with Lu Yuan’s affairs, so he was often quite busy.
Lu Yicheng didn’t mind relying on his family—they were his parents, after all, and family was family.
He took on internships to test his abilities, but after graduation, he would join Lu Yuan.
Since Lu Yuan publicly announced that the chairman’s wife was Yu Wanqiu, their stock had been steadily rising. Yu Wanqiu’s appearance in Because of You, We Form a Group 2 had a hugely positive impact, boosting her popularity even further. Even elderly people who didn’t watch movies now knew who Yu Wanqiu was. The couple was a perfect match, and Lu Shuangchen’s rare public appearances left fans wanting more.
As their son, Lu Yicheng was far from being a spoiled rich kid. On the contrary, he was highly educated, handso, and capable. His future entry into Lu Yuan would likely go smoothly.
Perhaps Lu Yicheng would even lead Lu Yuan to new heights.
When Jiang Lan called, Lu Yicheng was on his way to the cafeteria. Without Jiang Lan around, his days were rather dull—just studying and reading.
Even when Jiang Lan was with him, his routine was the sa, but sohow, it was infinitely more interesting just having her there. She didn’t even need to do anything—just sitting beside him in silence made him feel incredibly at ease.
Jiang Lan’s ringtone was different from everyone else’s, so Lu Yicheng knew it was her the mont he heard it. “Sweetheart, are you guys back?”
Jiang Lan replied, “Yeah, we’re back. Do you have anything to do this afternoon? Have you eaten yet?”
Lu Yicheng chuckled. At least she rembered to ask if he’d eaten—not completely heartless. “About to go now. What about you? When are you coming back to school? I’ll pick you up.”
“Not going back yet. Teacher Yu just returned from N Province yesterday and brought back so lamb and those big red willow skewers. We’re planning to grill them at ho. Do you want to co back and eat?”
Lu Yicheng flexed his fingers and switched the phone to his other hand. “If you just want a chef, just say so. ‘Do you want to co back and eat?’ Really…”
Jiang Lan laughed. “Well, are you coming or not?”
Of course, Lu Yicheng was going back. “Yeah, I’ll co. What else do you want to eat? I’ll grab sothing on the way.”
Jiang Lan said it wasn’t necessary. “I’m heading to the supermarket soon. What do you want?”
Lu Yicheng thought for a mont. “Get so bread for toasting. That should be good. And so fruit—just eating at isn’t healthy. Little pig… You get so excited when it cos to food.”
Jiang Lan was in a good mood today, so she let it slide. Yu Wanqiu gave Jiang Lan the Lu family’s address and dropped her off at a nearby mall. Jiang Lan could walk back later.
Yu Wanqiu went ho first. Since Lu Shuangchen wasn’t there, she had to thaw the at.
The lamb had just been slaughtered—it was incredibly fresh. The skewers were already prepared, each several tis larger than the ones sold outside. Yu Wanqiu had tried them once in N Province—grilled, the at wasn’t as gay, and the first bite was pure bliss.
It was already past eleven, and Yu Wanqiu knew they wouldn’t be eating anyti soon. Luckily, it was the weekend, so there was no rush.
Besides thawing the at, Yu Wanqiu had another important task—preparing a room for Jiang Lan.
The Lu family’s ho had plenty of spare rooms. Aside from the two occupied by family mbers, the rest were empty.
The housekeeper cleaned them daily, so they were spotless.
Yu Wanqiu picked a spacious one—sunny, with a small balcony and an ensuite bathroom. The balcony and bedroom were separated by cream-colored sheer curtains. The furniture was already in place. Yu Wanqiu called Little Xu and told her to sneak in through the back door with a few pretty dresses.
“Also, grab so spare clothes—Jiang Lan wears size S… Since she’s coming, it’d be rude not to have her stay the night. Get so pink plushies too—don’t all girls like pink? Hurry!” Yu Wanqiu planned to share the room with Jiang Lan that night. Secretly, she loved pink too, but at her age, she felt a little embarrassed wearing it.
With Jiang Lan around, though, they could wear matching pajamas!
By the ti Yu Wanqiu finished setting up the room, Jiang Lan still hadn’t returned. She hurried downstairs to check the fridge for anything they might need.
Just then, the sound of an engine cutting off ca from the front gate—Lu Shuangchen was back. His footsteps were quick as he first asked about Madam Wu Qing’s well-being, then said, “What do you need to do?”
Yu Wanqiu replied, “Go change into sothing more comfortable first.”
How was he supposed to wash vegetables and cook in a suit?
Lu Shuangchen obediently went to change. Following Yu Wanqiu’s instructions, he began breaking down the lamb—separating the legs, the ribs, and the remaining at, which could either be stewed or skewered.
The Lu family had a cleaning lady who ca regularly, but since they rarely ate at ho, there was no live-in cook.
Yu Wanqiu directed Lu Shuangchen to move the grill and table out to the lawn. The grass had started yellowing with autumn, but it didn’t matter—the weather was perfect for an outdoor al.
Lu Shuangchen worked diligently as the manual laborer. By 11:40, Lu Yicheng arrived. His eyes swept across the yard. “Where’s Jiang Lan? Not back yet? I’ll go look for her.”
Yu Wanqiu waved him off. “Go, go.”
Lu Yicheng called Jiang Lan, who said she was almost there. “Stay where you are—I can see you now!”
Lu Yicheng turned in a circle before finally spotting her.
Jiang Lan was carrying a large bag of groceries, with a rose sticking out of one of the bags. She waved excitedly at him. “This place is huge—I almost got lost.”
The Lu family’s villa was in the Purple Gold Manor, a high-end residential area where the wealthy lived.
The location was pri—not in the suburbs—with top-notch security and property managent. The staff had even offered to help Jiang Lan when she arrived.
Villa No. 18 was a three-story European-style mansion with a small garden. The sheer size of it made it impossible not to admire.
Who wouldn’t want a villa like this?
Jiang Lan thought, If only I could afford a place like this soday.
Maybe not this big, but a smaller one would do.
Lu Yicheng took the bags from her. “What did you buy? So much stuff… And where’d this rose co from? For ?”
Jiang Lan: “…Hah, if you just swap the last two words, you’d be right.”
Lu Yicheng: “……”
There were plenty of flowers in the garden—he could pick as many as he wanted. He wasn’t desperate for this one. He picked up the rose, then set it back down. “Just asking. Didn’t actually want it.”
Jiang Lan shrugged. “I just grabbed whatever looked good. Let’s hurry back—I’m starving. Aren’t you?”
Lu Yicheng was already hungry. He took Jiang Lan’s hand and led her ho.
Through the railing, Lu Yicheng called out, "Mom, we're back!"
He had a strange illusion—as if he and Jiang Lan had been married for a long ti, coming ho on the weekend for a al before returning to their own little place.
Just the thought of it made his heart race.
The Lu family ho was enormous, surrounded by black railings draped with pink roses. By autumn, most had withered, leaving only a few dry blooms and scattered petals on the ground.
The yard was paved with gravel paths, except for the driveway leading to the underground garage. The lawn was neatly trimd. Yu Wanqiu waved at Jiang Lan, "Are those flowers for ? Thank you. Co on, let show you around. Lu Yicheng, go help your dad with the barbecue. I’ll take Jiang Lan to see the house."
Jiang Lan greeted Lu Shuangchen, who nodded in return. His gaze was warm, yet oddly, there was a hint of respect in it. "Go ahead. Lu Yicheng, co here and cut the at."
Lu Yicheng washed his hands and rummaged through the things Jiang Lan had bought—fruit, chips, and braised pig trotters. The trotters could be grilled, and he took a few bites of the chips first. "Dad, want so? They’re cucumber-flavored."
Lu Shuangchen lowered his eyelids. "I don’t eat that."
Lu Yicheng snacked a bit to curb his hunger, then seasoned the lamb leg and skewers. He mused that if he ever quit his job, he could set up a food stall—he was good at cooking anything.
Lu Shuangchen watched intently, asking about unfamiliar seasonings with genuine curiosity.
Father and son exchanged cooking tips while Yu Wanqiu gave Jiang Lan a tour of the house.
The interior was decorated in a European style—bright, spacious, and elegant. A large aquarium stood in the foyer, and the living room downstairs was so vast it felt nearly half the size of Jiang Lan’s own ho. The staircase spiraled upward like sothing out of a castle.
And it practically was a castle.
Yu Wanqiu didn’t imdiately show Jiang Lan the rooms. Instead, she said, "It looks nice, but there’s one downside—and I’m not bragging—it’s too big. It feels empty. The housekeepers don’t live here, so usually, it’s just the three of us."
Relatives rarely stayed over. With three floors, many rooms were left unused.
Truthfully, Yu Wanqiu preferred the setup from the show—two families living in separate floors of the sa building, connected by an elevator. Close enough for convenience but with their own space.
A smaller ho, with just three rooms, a living room, and a dining area, felt cozier. A warm little nest.
The villa was grand, but it was too hollow.
Though Jiang Lan couldn’t relate to the woes of the wealthy, she understood Yu Wanqiu’s sentint. "Cutting the size in half would probably be perfect. A small garden, fewer rooms—otherwise, you’d have to shout to get soone’s attention."
"But a place like this is beautiful. You could have a ga room or sothing. It’s just that there are too many rooms to use." Jiang Lan glanced around nervously, afraid she might accidentally bump into so priceless antique.
Yu Wanqiu nodded. "We’ll buy a smaller place later. Actually, if you two get married, we should get adjoining floors. That way, when I’m away filming, you can water my plants for ."
She thought stacked floors were ideal—close enough to share als but separate enough to maintain privacy. Now, influenced by Jiang Lan, Yu Wanqiu found herself wanting to spend more ti with Lu Shuangchen too.
A nice residential complex with good security, a lucky floor number—that would be perfect.
Before eting Jiang Lan, Yu Wanqiu had imagined keeping her future daughter-in-law at arm’s length. She was strong-willed and demanding, both of herself and others.
Once a month for dinner would’ve been enough.
But who could’ve predicted…?
After the tour, Yu Wanqiu led Jiang Lan outside, where the aroma of barbecue already filled the air.
Lu Yicheng and Lu Shuangchen each manned half of the grill, smoke billowing as they worked. The heat was intense, and Lu Shuangchen had rolled up his sleeves. They were grilling lamb legs, skewers, and an assortnt of vegetables.
The spread included lamb chops, skewered lamb, mushrooms, and potato slices. Even the pig trotters Jiang Lan had bought were sizzling on the grill. Nearby, prepared dishes awaited—bread slices, eggplant with garlic paste, and enoki mushrooms.
The ingredients were top-tier, sourced from the best producers nationwide. The flavors were guaranteed to be exceptional.
Yu Wanqiu whispered, "See? A man who cooks is the most attractive. Praise them more, and they’ll love doing it."
Jiang Lan nodded emphatically and gave a thumbs-up.
That said, neither of them wanted to just sit back and be served.
Jiang Lan washed vegetables and fruit while Yu Wanqiu stead rice, planning to make fried rice later.
Lu Shuangchen had never tasted her cooking before. In the past, Yu Wanqiu never lifted a finger in the kitchen—there was no need. Lu Shuangchen didn’t cook either. But now, everyone in the family pitched in.
Jiang Lan’s instant noodles were legendary. Yu Wanqiu craved a bowl for dinner.
Lu Shuangchen stayed silent, focused on flipping the skewers. Lu Yicheng tested the lamb with a bamboo stick. Satisfied, he called, "Jiang Lan, co here."
Jiang Lan humd in response, biting her lip as she walked over.
Lu Yicheng handed her a skewer. "Try it. Is it too salty?"
Jiang Lan finished the entire skewer without registering the saltiness—only how delicious it was. The outer layer was crispy, the at juicy with just the right amount of fat. Each bite was bursting with spice, the aroma of the seasoning, and the rich flavor of lamb. One skewer wasn’t enough.
Lu Yicheng grinned and gave her another. "Try again."
Nearby, Lu Shuangchen frowned, perplexed. After watching Jiang Lan eat two skewers, he waved at Yu Wanqiu. "Wife, taste mine. Is it okay?"
Yu Wanqiu glanced at him and smiled softly. "Mm."
A breeze carried the scent of grilled at into the distance. Alongside the lamb skewers, two whole legs roasted in foil to lock in tenderness. Yu Wanqiu shredded so of the at for fried rice—golden grains, crispy lamb, diced carrots, and bell peppers. A huge panful.
Lu Shuangchen stared at it, eyes wide. "I want so rice first."
Yu Wanqiu arched a brow. "Serve yourself. You think I’m going to dish it out for you?"
The outdoor feast lasted until past three. Jiang Lan devoured skewer after skewer—Lu Yicheng really could open a stall.
The garlic eggplant was heavenly, and the final dishes—roasted lamb leg and honey-glazed bread—were divine.
Jiang Lan could’ve eaten an entire bag of the bread slices herself.
A small bowl of fried rice later, she was stuffed to the point of immobility.
Post-al drowsiness hit hard. Jiang Lan checked the ti. "Ms. Yu, I should get going."
Lu Yicheng said, "It’s still early. It’s the hottest part of the day. Why don’t you nap upstairs first?"
Lu Yicheng glanced at Yu Wanqiu, who cleared her throat and said, "Are you free tomorrow? Co over, I want to show you sothing."
What did Lu Yicheng matter? She had long been prepared.
Jiang Lan's room was next to the master bedroom. As soon as the door opened, a sea of pink greeted her—pink bedsheets, stuffed animals piled high on the bed.
Both of them still carried the scent of barbecue, clashing with the room's delicate atmosphere. Yu Wanqiu said, "If you're not in a hurry to leave, why not stay the night? It's been so long since we last shared a room."
Yu Wanqiu added, "We have everything here. If anything's missing, we can go shopping this afternoon."
She flashed Jiang Lan a smile.
That smile hit like a critical strike. Jiang Lan felt her HP draining rapidly, and before she could even process it, she found herself nodding.
Yu Wanqiu was thoroughly pleased. "We'll sleep together tonight. Take a look around—see if anything's missing. If you're tired, you can nap now."
She subtly gestured for Jiang Lan to check the wardrobe.
Had it been just Lu Yicheng asking, Jiang Lan would never have agreed to stay at the Lu family ho. She could refuse Lu Yicheng, but Yu Wanqiu was another matter.
Opening the wardrobe, she found several dresses, silk pajamas, and an assortnt of adorable stuffed animals—like a princess's room.
What girl hadn’t dread of being a princess? It was all too beautiful.
Jiang Lan buried her face in the clothes, inhaling deeply. The bed was so pretty she couldn’t bear to ss it up. Grabbing a set of pajamas, she headed to the bathroom to shower.
Lu Yicheng wanted to ask Yu Wanqiu how she’d managed to convince Jiang Lan to stay, but Yu Wanqiu simply shook her head. "You wouldn’t understand. Go to sleep if you’re tired. If not, go water the lawn or sothing."
Lu Shuangchen had eaten far more than usual—a natural consequence of dining with a crowd.
But the main reason was simple: it was Yu Wanqiu’s cooking.
Delicious. The best fried rice he’d ever had.
So, without realizing it, he’d overeaten.
Lu Shuangchen still had to return to the office that afternoon. Strangely, he felt reluctant—sothing he rarely experienced. Normally, work was just work, but today, he didn’t want to go.
He was genuinely reluctant.
Glancing at Yu Wanqiu, he said, "I’m heading to the office. I’ll be back for dinner."
Yu Wanqiu asked, "Did you like the food? If so, I won’t bother calling the housekeeper."
Lu Shuangchen chuckled helplessly. "I thought I made that obvious enough."
Yu Wanqiu burst out laughing. He’d eaten so much today—like he’d never seen food before. A man who’d tasted everything, yet he’d fixated on a simple plate of fried rice.
"Co back early," she said.
Lu Shuangchen smiled.
That evening, they had millet porridge with leftovers from lunch. The lively atmosphere had made everyone eat more than usual.
Lu Yicheng and Lu Shuangchen couldn’t stop smiling—it felt different from dining at the Jiang family ho.
After dinner, Lu Yicheng and Jiang Lan went for a walk. The neighborhood was lovely, perfect for an evening stroll.
Lu Yicheng asked, "Should we let Professor Xie know?"
His mother had been the one to invite Jiang Lan to stay—he shouldn’t take the bla if Xie Yunzhen found out later and docked points from him.
Jiang Lan had already texted Xie Yunzhen, who, knowing how close she was with Yu Wanqiu, didn’t object.
"Sent it ages ago," Jiang Lan said. She’d napped all afternoon and was full of energy. "This is amazing! Wow, my first ti staying in a mansion!"
"Everything’s pink! So many stuffed animals!" She was practically vibrating with excitent. And tonight, she’d get to chat with Yu Wanqiu. "Your ho is wonderful."
Lu Yicheng hoped one day she’d say, "Our ho is wonderful."
The next morning, Jiang Lan and Lu Yicheng returned to campus.
By late October, Tsinghua University’s military training had ended, leaving students a shade darker after three weeks under the sun.
Following the training showcase was the freshman welco party, for which seniors had prepared nearly a month.
Jiang Lan was part of a musical dley performance—a collaboration between the violin club and other groups, featuring a short solo from her.
With nothing scheduled for the end of the month, Yu Wanqiu secured extra tickets. After the welco party, they’d head to Yunnan for a week-long tourism promotional shoot. Once that wrapped up, Yu Wanqiu would start filming for a new project, and Jiang Lan would return to normal university life.
Today, she wore the lilac dress Yu Wanqiu had gifted her—her first ti putting it on.
The hem reached mid-calf, with irregular layers of tulle embroidered with clusters of lilacs. The thin straps and ethereal color made it look like sothing out of a fairy tale.
Her hair, styled by Xu Xiang, was braided into delicate strands.
Jiang Lan loved the look.
The musical dley was second-to-last, a showcase of skill. She and the violin club mbers waited backstage.
Lu Yicheng stayed with Yu Wanqiu in the audience. The earlier performances were impressive—Tsinghua students weren’t just book-smart; many were multitalented.
Singing, dancing, even stand-up cody heated up the crowd. Aside from reserved seating, the audience was mostly freshn.
First-years, wide-eyed and eager, watched the stage with rapt attention.
"Jiang Lan’s on the program list—the only senior performing! We’re so lucky!"
"Where’s Lu Yicheng? He’s definitely here, right?"
Two freshn, who’d followed the sumr reality show, were fans of the "Lanzhou Noodles" pairing (and honestly, all the Lu family’s pairings—they were just fun).
After starting university, they checked the "Irreplaceable CP" fan forum daily, balancing fandom with studies.
Tonight was the welco party; tomorrow, National Day break began. The auditorium was packed, phones and caras recording the show.
The emcee took the stage for the final acts. "Next up, a musical dley!"
In Tsinghua’s small theater, the lights dimd as perforrs carried their instrunts onstage. A spotlight landed on the first—a flute.
Clear, lodious notes filled the air for about twenty seconds before transitioning to a guzheng.
The lody shifted again—guzheng to pipa, pipa to saxophone—a feast for the ears.
Finally, all sound ceased. The other perforrs’ lights went dark, leaving a single white spotlight on Jiang Lan.
As her bow moved, the violin’s voice soared through the theater. Yu Wanqiu, masked, watched. This wasn’t Jiang Lan’s performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, but she’d kept her promise—to be Jiang Lan’s audience.
Yu Wanqiu didn’t know much about music, but it sounded beautiful. Onstage, Jiang Lan was radiant—poised, her chin resting lightly on the violin, head slightly bowed, her hands steady on the bow. Unforgettable.
Lu Yicheng listened intently, his gaze reminiscent of the starstruck fans Yu Wanqiu had seen at idol auditions.
He didn’t look away until the very end, reluctant to miss a second.
"I’m going," Lu Yicheng whispered, slipping out of the audience. Outside, he took a bouquet of daisies from a roommate and headed straight for backstage.
The musical dley was a hit. The final act was a junior’s street dance performance—Lin Xing’s robotic routine from Because of You, We Form a Group’s finale.
The dance had gone viral after Lin Xing’s flawless execution, and later, Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan’s rendition. Now, everyone was learning it—celebrities, influencers, the whole internet.
The venue was buzzing with energy. Jiang Lan peeked from backstage—the performance was quite good.
"You guys have fun, I'm heading back first. See you another ti! Happy National Day!" Jiang Lan waved to the crew backstage and prepared to wait outside for Lu Yicheng and Yu Wanqiu.
But as she stepped out, she spotted Lu Yicheng right by the door.
He was holding a bouquet of colorful daisies and walked toward her. "Congratulations on a successful show."
Jiang Lan couldn’t help but smile. "Thank you, I love them."
She always gave the most enthusiastic reactions. Lu Yicheng nodded. "It’s almost over. Let’s wait outside."
Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu had a flight that evening—they were heading to Yunnan Province early the next morning.
The shoot would last a week, overlapping with the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays. Seven days off, yet no chance for a date.
Lu Yicheng had wanted to go with them, but Jiang Lan had asked, What would you even do there?
He supposed she had a point.
Now, he had to personally hand the princess over to his mother.
Lu Yicheng: So what kind of experience is this, really?
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