After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 25

At the Hospital.

Su Tan left the Antique City, her chest still tight with a lingering anger. She despised Li Sui, and she extended that hatred to the loud-mouthed woman by her side. Every fiber of her being felt a deep-seated revulsion.

She quickly bought some snacks and headed to the hospital, intending to vent her frustrations to her grandmother. However, Mrs. Su intercepted her, explaining that she would be taking over the care duties personally. She urged Su Tan to focus on the wedding instead—after all, the big day was only a week away.

Mrs. Su looked at Su Tan with a flicker of internal conflict. Knowing her biological child was suffering somewhere while this girl lived in luxury filled her with a subtle, aching melancholy.

Su Tan, sensing the shift in mood, asked softly, “Mom, is Grandma really doing better?”

Mrs. Su looked at her. This was the girl she had raised with every ounce of her devotion. She wasn’t to blame for the past; an innocent child shouldn’t pay for the sins of the adults. She forced a smile. “I wouldn’t lie to you. The priority is for Grandma to rest so she can be healthy enough to attend your wedding next week.”

Su Tan threw her arms around her mother, leaning in like a spoiled child. “Mom, you’re the best. Can I see her just for a minute?”

Mrs. Su sighed, shaking her head. “She just took her medicine and fell asleep. Go home; I’ve already ordered the staff to prepare your favorite bird’s nest soup.”

Something is definitely off, Su Tan thought. A wave of unease washed over her, but looking at her mother’s calm expression, she dismissed it as pre-wedding jitters. She truly wanted her grandmother to be there to witness her “happiest day.”

She didn’t linger long, fearing that if she stayed, her mother might start questioning her recent extravagant spending. She beat a hasty retreat.

Right now, she desperately wanted to see Liang Xiaona. She had questions, but mostly, she just missed her. She drove straight to their new villa.

Su Tan had been decisive about buying a home in the Ningcheng district—the most affluent area in Gan-Du—as soon as Xiaona mentioned it. When she arrived, she found Xiaona in the courtyard, supervising the gardeners as they redesigned the landscape.

Xiaona dropped what she was doing the moment she saw Su Tan. “Sweetheart, are you coming from the hospital?”

Su Tan handed over her designer bag, her lips pouting. “Mom wants me to focus on the wedding. I don’t have to go back to the hospital for a few days.”

Xiaona caught the small mood and pulled her into a hug. “I was there this morning, too. Didn’t they say Grandma was improving? Why the long face?”

“Ugh, don’t even get me started.” Su Tan thought of Li Sui and Mimi, her expression souring. “I ran into two women today. They scammed me out of over ten million yuan.”

“Ten million?” Xiaona asked, stunned. “What happened? Did you call the police?”

“I got played,” Su Tan said, fixing her gaze on Xiaona to catch her reaction. “I don’t want to call the police—it’s too embarrassing. But I found out one of them is named Li Sui. Apparently, she went to the same university as you?”

Xiaona’s heart skipped a beat, but her face remained a mask of calm. “I know her. We dated for a while back then for… various reasons. But she wasn’t my type, so we broke up long ago.”

Su Tan smirked, satisfied with the admission. “I was shocked. To think she’s your ex… I suspect she was targeting me on purpose. I really have to question your taste, dating someone like that.”

Xiaona felt a prickle of irritation. If you got scammed but won’t call the police because of your pride, that’s on you, she thought, but she was smart enough to let the subject drop.

“I get angry just thinking about it,” Su Tan continued. “Why did you two break up anyway? I heard you chased her for months. What was that about?”

Xiaona shrugged indifferently. “It was just a game. Some friends dared me to get her to be my girlfriend. I won a car out of the bet, and once the game was over, so were we.”

“You never liked her?” Su Tan stared at her, trying to find a crack in the story. After all, Li Sui was beautiful, and two years was a long time.

“I told you, she’s not my type.” Xiaona chuckled, reaching out to pinch Su Tan’s cheek. “Are you jealous, baby?”

“I’m not jealous,” Su Tan said pointedly. “I’m just telling you: if she ever tries to crawl back to you, don’t give her a shred of hope. I won’t forgive you if you do. I’m not joking.”

Xiaona smiled, pulling her closer and speaking in a low, seductive tone. “Relax. If you hadn’t mentioned her today, I’d have forgotten she even existed.”

Su Tan’s pout vanished, replaced by a hidden grin. “Good.”

The Villa

Li Sui arrived home and saw Shuyi’s car in the driveway. Her heart lifted. She knew Shuyi’s schedule was brutal lately, so seeing her home early was a treat. She hurried inside.

Sure enough, Shuyi was in the living room, looking relaxed as she held the Russian Blue cat.

“Sister Shuyi, you’re back!” Li Sui’s eyes sparked with joy. “Did you just get home?”

“Just now,” Shuyi said. She set the cat down and walked over to take the shopping bags from Li Sui’s hands. “Out shopping with Mimi?”

“It’s been a while since I checked on the shops in the Antique City,” Li Sui said, grateful for the help.

She collapsed onto the sofa, her legs swinging happily. Shuyi watched her with a fond gaze. “Something good happen today?”

“Guess?” Li Sui said playfully.

Shuyi poured her a cup of tea. “You picked out the perfect gift for Grandmother?”

“Half right.” Li Sui took a sip and burst into a laugh. “I did get the gift, but I also made a massive profit.”

She recounted the story of how she and Mimi had double-teamed Su Tan, tricking her into overpaying by seventeen million yuan. She left out the history with Liang Xiaona—she didn’t want Shuyi to think she was vindictive. She preferred to keep a bit of mystery.

“She’s a total ‘sweet-rich-dumb’ girl,” Li Sui concluded. “She was practically begging me to take her money.”

Shuyi’s eyes crinkled. “You said her name was Su?”

Li Sui nodded, then lowered her voice as her “gossip mode” kicked in. “About that—have you ever dealt with the Su family? Mimi’s aunt showed up today, claiming Mimi is their long-lost daughter. And the ‘dumb girl’ I scammed? She’s the Su family’s most pampered princess.”

Shuyi understood everything now. The girl was Su Tan, and the catalyst was Liang Xiaona. She mused that Secretary Li was doing an excellent job; everything was proceeding exactly as planned. But it wasn’t enough yet. The fire needed to burn brighter.

They eventually moved to the kitchen to prep dinner. As Li Sui helped wash the vegetables, Shuyi spoke casually. “By the way, my niece is getting engaged next week. Would you come with me?”

“Oh, your mom mentioned that,” Li Sui said, biting into a fresh strawberry. She knew the “niece” wasn’t a blood relative. Shuyi’s sister, Zhixue, had been with a woman named Liang Jun for a decade before their messy divorce. “Should I prepare a gift?”

“I’ve already handled the gift,” Shuyi said with a mysterious smile. “Just be there with me. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Sure,” Li Sui agreed. “I haven’t met her yet. She’s around my age, right?”

“Almost exactly your age,” Shuyi said, her knife rhythmic against the cutting board.

“Are you two close? Do we have to invite her to our wedding?”

“Our relationship… isn’t as good as you’d think,” Shuyi admitted. It was the truth. She hadn’t spent much time with Liang Jun’s daughters. She hesitated on how to explain that the “cheating piece of trash” Li Sui hated was actually her niece, Liang Xiaona. She couldn’t exactly admit she’d hired someone to dig into Li Sui’s romantic past. Li Sui would definitely have questions.

She noticed Li Sui’s expression turn serious. “What’s wrong?” Li Sui asked. “Is it that bad?”

Shuyi snapped out of it, setting the knife aside. “I was just wondering… would your ex-girlfriend dare to send you a wedding invitation?”

“If she dares to send it, I’ll dare to show up,” Li Sui said with a cold laugh. If Xiaona tried to invite her, she wouldn’t just sit there—she’d make sure everyone knew what kind of person the bride really was.

She turned the question back on Shuyi. “What about you, Sister Shuyi? Would you ever go to an ex’s wedding?”

“I’ve never dated anyone else,” Shuyi said. She stopped what she was doing and looked Li Sui directly in the eye, a playful tilt to her lips. “I don’t have an ex. I only have a wife.”

Never dated anyone?

Li Sui’s heart did a violent somersault. Since they’d met, Shuyi had been nothing but gentle and protective. Hearing such a direct confession sent a wave of sweetness through her. She remembered Shuyi’s proposal—how she’d said she had no prior experience and wanted to build a real relationship. It turned out she had been telling the absolute truth.

On a sudden impulse, Li Sui leaned in and planted a quick, firm kiss on Shuyi’s cheek.

Shuyi froze. Her pupils contracted in sheer disbelief. She could feel the lingering warmth and the faint scent of strawberries on her skin. Her heart skipped a beat, her brain short-circuiting.

She kissed me?

On the cheek?

Why just the cheek?

Li Sui calmly popped another strawberry into her mouth, enjoying the sight of the legendary lawyer turning a deep, vivid shade of red. It was a delicious sight.

She’s almost thirty, Li Sui thought, how is she still this innocent?

“Cough.” Shuyi tried to regain her composure, her voice tight with suppressed emotion. “It’s… it’s still broad daylight. I still have to cook.”

Li Sui’s lips curled upward as she whispered softly, “Oh. Well, keep it up then.”

With that playful remark, she picked up the plate of strawberries and sauntered out of the kitchen, humming a cheerful tune.

Left alone, Bai Shuyi was still reeling from the flirtatious exchange. Suddenly, a sharp sting shot through her finger—she had accidentally sliced her left index finger with the knife. The pain acted like a splash of cold water, snapping her back to reality.

I’m not a teenager anymore, she scolded herself. To think she was so distracted by a simple kiss that she’d cut herself; it was enough to make anyone laugh.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile played in the depths of her eyes as she held her finger under the running tap.

“What are you doing?”

Li Sui had doubled back to the kitchen, only to find Shuyi hunched over the sink. A strange, metallic scent hit her nose, and she frowned. “What are you washing?”

“Nothing.” Shuyi tried to hide her hand behind her back, forcing a smile despite the throbbing pain. “Dinner isn’t ready yet. If you’re hungry, have some more fruit first.”

But Shuyi’s suspicious movement didn’t escape Li Sui’s sharp eyes. She sniffed the air again—the iron-like smell of blood was unmistakable. She looked at the cutting board, her heart leaping into her throat, and marched over.

“You cut your finger, didn’t you? Let me see.”

Shuyi marveled at how perceptive Li Sui was. Before she could offer an excuse, her hand was gently but firmly seized. The cut was deep, and blood was still seeping out, making Li Sui’s heart ache. That must hurt so much!

“I’m fine,” Shuyi said, trying to pull away. “I just wasn’t paying attention.”

“Stop saying you’re fine,” Li Sui scolded, giving her a sharp look. “Were you actually planning to hide this from me?”

A wound like that needed immediate attention to prevent infection. Li Sui ushered Shuyi into the living room and began rummaging through the medicine cabinet near the TV stand. She pulled out iodine, cotton swabs, and a box of band-aids.

“Let’s see if we can stop the bleeding. If it’s too deep, we’re going to the hospital.”

Shuyi remained silent, watching intently as Li Sui carefully cleaned the cut with iodine. Even at her age, this was the first time—aside from her aunt and mother—that someone had been so visibly worried about her. It made a soft spot in her heart ache with happiness.

Li Sui, focused on the task, had plenty of experience with kitchen mishaps. When she first moved out, she’d tried to teach herself to cook via online videos. Nine times out of ten, she’d ended up with a smoke-filled kitchen and a bandaged finger. Eventually, she’d just given up on the culinary arts.

Just as she thought she was being as gentle as possible, a sharp intake of breath came from Shuyi.

“Sss…”

Li Sui froze, panic flickering in her eyes. “Does it hurt? Is it really bad?”

Shuyi stared at her. “Yes. It hurts quite a bit.”

“I’ll be even more careful,” Li Sui whispered, her movements slowing to a crawl. The wound looked nasty. How was she planning to hide this? Once the bandage was on, Li Sui sighed. “Maybe we should still go to the hospital?”

“No need.” Shuyi looked down at the band-aid—it had a cute cartoon pattern on it. “It doesn’t hurt as much now.”

Li Sui assumed she was just being brave. She glanced back at the kitchen. “Maybe you shouldn’t cook anymore. Takeout isn’t so bad; there are plenty of good restaurants around.”

“Alright, less kitchen time from now on,” Shuyi chuckled softly. “But everything is already prepped for tonight. I just need to fire up the stove.”

“No way. Not with your hand like that.” Li Sui looked at the half-finished meal. “Sit down. I’ll handle the rest.”

She had, after all, learned a few things from Auntie Zhang. Her Braised Fish and Prawns from last time had been a hit, hadn’t they?

Shuyi looked at her skeptical but determined face. “Do you know how to make Boiled Fish with Chili Oil?”

“No,” Li Sui laughed sheepishly. “But you’re right here. You can be my coach.”

Shuyi’s eyes crinkled. “The ingredients are ready, and the fish is already marinated. The remaining steps are simple; you’ll pick it up in no time.”

The atmosphere in the kitchen turned into one of focused cooperation. Li Sui sanitized the knife and board before following Shuyi’s instructions, heating the peanut oil in the wok.

Shuyi stood by her side like an anxious mother hen. She worried about the oil being too hot, about Li Sui getting splashed, and about her lack of experience with a spatula. She patiently guided her through every step.

Li Sui’s face was a mask of intense concentration, nodding along as if she were preparing for a major battle. Shuyi could tell Li Sui wasn’t a natural in the kitchen—she suspected the “love lunch” from before had been largely Auntie Zhang’s work.

These hands should be holding a brush, not a wok, Shuyi thought. Seeing the beads of sweat on Li Sui’s forehead, she reached out to wipe them away. She decided then and there to message Secretary Li to hire a full-time live-in auntie who specialized in Gan-style cuisine. It would save them so much time and trouble.

Li Sui stared at the bubbling pot of fish, sprouts, and lotus root, removing the foam from the surface while swallowing her own saliva. “Is it ready yet?”

“Taste it and see,” Shuyi suggested.

Li Sui scooped a piece of fish and some broth into a bowl. She blew on it carefully before holding the chopsticks up to Shuyi’s lips. “You taste it. Is it salty enough?”

Shuyi froze for a second, then took a bite under Li Sui’s expectant gaze. The flavor was remarkably close to her own.

“You did an excellent job,” Shuyi praised, her smile wide and encouraging. “Honestly, the first time I tried this, it was a disaster. Yours is much better.”

“Really?” Li Sui’s eyes crinkled into a shy smile. “I’m glad.”

“It’s perfect. Transfer it to the tureen, then pour the broth over. Yes, just like that. Now sprinkle the green onions on top.”

Li Sui followed the instructions to the letter. For the final touch, she heated a small amount of oil until it was smoking and poured it over the onions. The satisfying sizzle filled the kitchen, followed immediately by the mouth-watering aroma of fresh fish and hot aromatics.

Li Sui immediately pulled out her phone to snap photos of the steaming bowl of Boiled Fish. When the prawns were added to the table, she took another shot, grinning. “I can’t believe I pulled that off. I might start challenging myself with more recipes.”

Shuyi pulled a bottle of wine from the rack. “Want a glass?”

Li Sui’s expression immediately turned stern. “You’re injured. No drinking tonight.”

Shuyi didn’t think the cut was that big of a deal, but seeing Li Sui’s protectiveness, she didn’t argue.

“I’ll drink with you once you’re healed,” Li Sui said, taking the bottle from her and putting it back on the rack.

Shuyi nodded, a warm feeling spreading through her. Her gaze lingered on Li Sui’s lips for a few seconds before she smiled. “Alright. When I’m better, you’re drinking with me.”

Dinner was a cozy affair. The Boiled Fish was Li Sui’s first successful complex dish, and the prawns were Shuyi’s favorite. They chatted about nothing in particular, the atmosphere light and easy.

When Li Sui went to clear the table, Shuyi stopped her. “Leave it. Secretary Li is bringing over a prospective live-in auntie later. If she’s a good fit, she can handle the cleanup.”

Li Sui’s eyes lit up. Auntie Zhang belonged to the old estate, and Li Sui had felt bad about asking too much of her. Having their own help would be a huge relief.

Later, while Shuyi took a call on the balcony, Li Sui cleaned the litter boxes. She made a mental note to take Dudu and Dundun to the vet tomorrow.

As she finished up, she saw Shuyi was still on the phone. Li Sui washed her hands and prepared to head upstairs, idly scrolling through her social media feed.

She froze.

Bai Shuyi had posted to her Moments thirty minutes ago:

[My wife is a natural-born chef. (Heart)]

[Attached: Two photos]

The first photo was a candid of Li Sui’s back as she worked over the stove, and the second was a shot of the finished spread on the table. Both were taken from casual, intimate angles.

Li Sui had checked Shuyi’s profile before—it was usually a desert, with posts few and far between. To see such a public display of affection… was she really that happy with the meal?

She noticed a comment from a mutual acquaintance:

Bai Yiyao: [Shocked! Marriage really does change a person. Since when does my cousin show off her love life like this?!]

Li Sui couldn’t help but smile. She’s right, she thought. This is a total “soft launch” of our relationship. She discovered another side of Shuyi—one that wanted the world to know she was loved.

Li Sui quietly “liked” the post.

The warmth of the moment made her think back to her two years with Liang Xiaona. Xiaona had never once acknowledged their relationship on social media. She had even made Li Sui delete her own posts, claiming they were “unprofessional.”

I was so blind, Li Sui realized. If someone truly loves you, they don’t want to hide you. They want the world to know. She shook her head. There was no point in comparing Shuyi to someone like Xiaona. Shuyi was a thousand times better.

“Sui Sui, look up.”

Li Sui looked toward the balcony.

Click.

Shuyi had been ready, capturing a stunning, candid shot of Li Sui’s face in the soft light. She immediately set it as her phone’s lock screen.

“Let me see!” Li Sui said, suddenly nervous. “Did you use a filter? I probably look a mess.”

Shuyi looked at her with genuine seriousness. “Sui Sui, why would you ever need a filter? I think they only hide how beautiful you actually are.”

Meeting Shuyi’s burning gaze, Li Sui felt a familiar flush creep up her neck. She really knows how to say the right things, Li Sui thought, her heart racing. I need to learn how to flirt back.

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