After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 30

Li Sui had fallen asleep in the car, lulled by the motion and the quiet hum of the engine. Shuyi, noticing her wife’s fatigue, had lowered the volume of the music to a whisper and draped a soft blanket over her at a red light.

When they finally arrived at the villa’s underground garage, the sudden stop caused Li Sui’s head to tilt toward the window. Shuyi moved with lightning speed, unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching out to cradle Li Sui’s head just before it hit the glass.

She stayed like that for a long time, holding her, afraid to wake her. The car was silent save for Li Sui’s steady, rhythmic breathing. Shuyi watched her in the dim glow of the night-light, a soft smile tugging at her lips. The fact that Li Sui could sleep so soundly in her presence was the ultimate sign of trust.

*****

When Li Sui eventually stirred and opened her eyes, she was disoriented. She was in a room she didn’t recognize—comfortable, warm, and decorated in the soft pinks she loved. An osmanthus-scented candle flickered on the nightstand, and her phone was already plugged in and charging.

She spotted a row of plush dolls on the desk—identical to the ones in her own bedroom. Even the colors of the window seat were familiar.

“Bai Shuyi…” she called out, her heart racing.

“I’m here,” Shuyi’s voice responded from just outside the door.

Shuyi walked in immediately, her eyes full of concern. “Did you have another nightmare? You can sleep more if you’re tired.”

“No, I just… lost track of where I was,” Li Sui said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “Where are we?”

Shuyi placed a pair of slippers at her feet. “Put these on. I want to show you something.”

Li Sui followed her out of the bedroom and gasped. It wasn’t just the bedroom; the entire living room was an almost perfect replica of the villa they lived in now—the same furniture, the same vases, even the same arrangement of decor.

“This used to be my primary residence,” Shuyi explained, her eyes dancing with amusement at Li Sui’s shocked expression. “I had it renovated to match our home.”

Shuyi walked over to a side table and pulled open a drawer. Inside was a stack of files, bank cards, and several sets of keys.

“I’m having this house transferred to your name tomorrow,” Shuyi said, her voice as calm as if she were discussing the weather. “And these… are the records for the rest of my assets. From now on, they belong to you.”

Li Sui: “…”

I must still be dreaming.

The drawer held everything: black cards, credit cards, property deeds (at least a dozen of them), and the keys to several luxury cars. Li Sui knew Shuyi was wealthy, but seeing her entire life’s fortune laid out on the table was overwhelming.

“I… I don’t know how to manage money,” Li Sui stammered, backing away instinctively. “Maybe you should keep it…”

“It’s fine,” Shuyi said gently. “The family finances should be in your hands. Just give me a little allowance every month. If you have questions, you can ask me or Secretary Li.”

Li Sui’s voice was trapped in her throat. This was so… proactive. She’d heard of couples where one partner managed the wealth, but Shuyi was handing over a multi-billion dollar empire with zero hesitation.

“You really trust me this much?” Li Sui asked, her voice trembling. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll run away with the money?”

Shuyi laughed and stepped closer, looking like she wanted to pull Li Sui into her arms. “If you ever decide to leave me, it will be because I did something wrong, not because of the money.”

Li Sui felt a tiny version of herself inside her head screaming in delight. How can anyone say no to this? “I’m not that kind of person,” Li Sui said, her eyes beginning to shine with a new resolve. “Fine. Since you trust me, I’ll learn how to handle it.”

Shuyi led her to the elevator. “Now, for the best part. Let’s head to the roof.”

When the doors opened, Li Sui felt like a country girl entering a palace. She wasn’t on a rooftop; she was in a lush, green forest.

Under a massive glass dome, the space was filled with exotic plants, moss-covered logs, and blooming flowers. Soft, warm lighting illuminated the greenery, creating the atmosphere of a romantic, enchanted woodland.

Even though winter was approaching, Shuyi had created a pocket of eternal spring.

“I know you love flowers,” Shuyi said, watching the bright smile spread across Li Sui’s face. “I wanted to bring you here during the day—the sunlight is incredible—but I think it’s even better at night.”

“It’s breathtaking,” Li Sui whispered, looking up through the glass at the starlit sky.

“Let me show you something even more beautiful.” Shuyi tapped a few commands into her phone, and the lights slowly dimmed until they were in total darkness.

“Don’t blink,” she whispered.

Suddenly, a massive glass wall on the far side of the garden came alive. Hundreds of tiny, glowing fireflies began to dance, their flickering lights tracing golden arcs through the shadows like forest spirits.

Li Sui was mesmerized, the sight taking her breath away. It reminded her of a viral debate she’d seen online: Do fireflies even exist anymore? In the concrete jungle of the city, many people had forgotten that nature could produce its own light. But Li Sui remembered seeing them at her grandmother’s house as a child—her most precious memory.

“How did you do this?” Li Sui asked, her eyes wide as she looked at Shuyi. “Are they… robotic?”

“It’s a secret,” Shuyi teased, her voice full of mystery.

Li Sui felt a flush creep up her cheeks. She understood the effort, the planning, and the sheer romance behind it. On a sudden impulse, she leaned forward and planted a quick, soft kiss on Shuyi’s cheek.

She pulled back just as quickly, her face burning, her voice a mix of a command and a plea. “Now… will you tell me?”

Shuyi’s eyes sparkled like the starlight above. “I never said I’d tell you if you kissed me.”

“Ah…!” Li Sui laughed, half-exasperated. “Sister Shuyi, that’s cheating! You’re teasing me on purpose.”

Shuyi let out a soft, genuine laugh. She loved the way Li Sui’s eyes softened when she was happy, and even her “angry” voice sounded sweet.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell you,” Shuyi said, her gaze melting. “It’s a climate-controlled ecosystem inside the glass. I had specialists breed them so they could thrive even in the winter.”

Li Sui listened as Shuyi explained the concept, her heart swelling with a warmth that had nothing to do with the temperature of the room.

Technology really is the engine of progress.

To think that the wealthy can recreate the magic of summer fireflies in the dead of winter simply by spending enough money.

Perhaps sensing that her explanation was becoming a bit too clinical for the setting, Shuyi adjusted her gaze and asked softly, “Would you like some pastries?”

“?”

Li Sui felt a pang of disappointment. She had planned to linger a while longer; it would be a crime to waste such a stunning environment without capturing some reference material.

“We don’t have to go down,” Shuyi said, catching the reluctance in her eyes. Her expression was pure indulgence. “I bought them specifically for you. If you want them, I’ll go bring them up now.”

“That sounds great.” Li Sui looked down at the photos she had just taken. “Should I go with you?”

“No need, I’ll be right back.” Shuyi didn’t want to interrupt her flow. She turned and headed for the elevator.

*****

Meanwhile, after leaving the engagement banquet, Li Mimi didn’t head straight home. She decided to swing by Li Ke’s flower shop first.

Orders had been piling up lately, and since she had left in the middle of a shift, she felt she should check in with her sister and head home together. She sent the driver back in a taxi and took the car herself.

The flower shop wasn’t far—less than a thirty-minute drive. On the way, Mimi stopped at a supermarket to pick up some snacks and daily essentials.

As she was busy turning the steering wheel to pull into a parking spot, a sudden thump rocked the car.

What now?

Mimi reacted instantly, checking her rearview mirror. An electric scooter was wedged against her back bumper. She’d been rear-ended.

She braked, killed the engine, and flipped on her hazard lights. It was her first time dealing with an accident like this. Taking a deep breath, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out.

The rider was a young girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen, wearing a helmet and a school uniform. Her large, watery eyes were wide with panic; she looked terrified.

“I’m so sorry, big sister!” the girl stammered, her voice trembling. “I was in a hurry and I couldn’t brake in time.”

“Are you hurt?” Mimi asked, scanning the girl for any obvious injuries. Finding none, she breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention to the back of the car.

It wasn’t bad. Just a bit of chipped paint. The impact hadn’t been serious.

“I’m okay,” the girl said, shakily pulling out her phone. “How… how much will it cost to fix?”

Mimi scratched her head. Looking at the scared kid and her own minor damage, she decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. “Forget it. It’s not a big deal. Just be more careful next time.”

The girl blinked, stunned. “But… is that really okay?”

“Mimi-jie!”

A clear, youthful voice called out from nearby. Mimi turned her head.

Walking toward her from the other side of the parking lot was a lithe figure in a crisp tracksuit, her hair pulled into a high ponytail. It was the girl from the hot spring—the one who had asked for her WeChat.

Mimi’s brain short-circuited for a second before the name clicked. Since that day at the resort, this “pretty sister” had been sending her money transfers and daily “good morning” and “good night” greetings without fail. Even when Mimi asked why, she never got a straight answer. She’d worried it was a scam, but who scams people by giving them money every day? It was like the girl was using Mimi’s chat as a savings account.

“Cheng Nai?” Mimi muttered the name under her breath.

“Mimi-jie!” Cheng Nai stood before her, looking delighted to have run into her. She glanced at the scene with concern. “Is everything okay?”

Mimi didn’t see a reason to hide it and briefly explained what happened. She reassured the schoolgirl again, telling her not to worry, but urged her to ride safely. The girl was incredibly grateful; she insisted on writing down her contact info and bowing several times before finally departing.

Once Mimi had finished parking the car properly, Cheng Nai was still there, waiting with a bright smile.

“Mimi-jie, do you live around here?”

Mimi met her curious gaze. “No, just running some errands.”

Since they had finally met in person again, Mimi decided to voice the question that had been bugging her. “By the way… why do you keep sending me money?”

Seeing the look of suspicion, Cheng Nai’s expression faltered. She lowered her head slightly. “Do… do you not like it?”

Mimi: “…”

Is it a question of liking it? Who hates money?

But for nearly half a month, she’d been receiving daily transfers labeled “Voluntary Gift.” It made her feel incredibly uneasy. You can’t even enjoy free money when it’s this weird.

Seeing her silence, Cheng Nai looked up, her voice a bit unsteady. “People say that words are cheap, but a huge transfer shows you care. That’s how my friends say you’re supposed to pursue someone.”

Mimi almost laughed. She leaned in, her voice teasing and provocative. “Oh? So you’re trying to pursue me?”

“Yes.” Cheng Nai nodded vigorously. “So… will you give me a chance?”

Mimi had to admit, she’d never met anyone like this. The girl was exactly her type visually, and her mix of shyness and blunt boldness was… interesting. Very interesting.

*****

Li Sui spent two hours lost in the rooftop garden.

Shuyi had brought up a platter of pastries and fruit, and Li Sui had spent the time taking reference photos before pulling her iPad out of her bag to start sketching. The garden was so beautiful it felt like it had been plucked straight from her imagination.

She occasionally glanced over at Shuyi, who was reclined on a lounge chair nearby, arms tucked behind her head as she watched the night sky.

Beautiful scenery, beautiful company.

In the following hours, Li Sui worked through her sketches with a quiet intensity. When she finished, she logged into her main art account on Weibo and posted her progress.

[#60DaySketchChallenge# Tonight’s work, Day 56. The countdown begins! (Image/Six sketches)]

After posting, she noticed several familiar tags trending on the Hot Search:

#SuTanSuFamilyAdoptiveDaughter#

#LiMimiTrueSuHeiress#

#SuFamilyTrueVsFakeHeiress#

She frowned and clicked into a tag. It seemed a journalist had been undercover at the engagement banquet and sold the footage to a major entertainment outlet. The internet was exploding. Her first instinct was worry—Mimi’s life was about to be put under a microscope by millions of strangers.

She exited Weibo and immediately messaged Mimi.

“Finished?” Shuyi asked, sounding like she had just woken from a nap. She stretched, her movements stiff. “I think I have a crick in my neck.”

Li Sui looked up, feeling a wave of appreciation. Shuyi could have gone downstairs to sleep in a real bed, but she’d stayed here just to be near her.

“Did you sleep wrong?” Li Sui asked. “Let me give you a massage.”

She stood up and walked over. “I spend a lot of time sitting, too. When my shoulders get tight, I use these pressure points. It helps a lot.”

Shuyi started to object, but the moment Li Sui’s cool, fresh scent drew near, the words died in her throat. Li Sui stepped behind her and placed her hands on Shuyi’s shoulders.

Li Sui’s touch was gentle but firm, and her technique was surprisingly good. Shuyi started out stiff as a board, but slowly, her muscles surrendered. She closed her eyes, letting out a satisfied breath.

After about ten minutes, Shuyi felt so relaxed she almost drifted off again. She opened her eyes with a lazy smile. “That’s enough. I feel much better now.”

She stood up to stretch, mostly because she didn’t want Li Sui to overwork herself. These hands belong to an artist, she thought, not a masseuse.

“Well,” Li Sui said, a soft curve to her lips. “If your neck ever gets tight again, you can always find me.”

Shuyi’s eyes sparkled. “But won’t that be exhausting for you?”

“Cough.” Li Sui thought for a moment. “I don’t mind. Since you’re ‘family,’ I’ll give you a lifetime of free service.”

A ripple of warmth spread through Shuyi’s chest. “Okay. A lifetime, then.”

*****

They packed up the remains of the snacks. Exhaustion was finally catching up to Li Sui, and she told Shuyi she wanted to soak in the tub before heading to bed.

As she headed to the bathroom, her phone remained on the sofa.

Shuyi, acting on a sudden, inexplicable impulse, glanced at the screen as it lit up with a notification. A message from an unsaved number appeared:

[Sui Sui, let’s meet at our old place.]

Shuyi’s gaze cooled. Her lips pressed into a hard, thin line.

She didn’t need to guess. It was Liang Xiaona.

A sharp, jagged feeling of irritation flared in her chest. Is she seeing Su Tan’s status crumble and crawling back to Li Sui already? Some people just never learn.

She wanted to make sure Xiaona couldn’t cause any more trouble, but then she remembered her sister. If Zhixue and Liang Jun really did get back together, they’d all be “family” again.

Shuyi’s eyes narrowed. An icy resolve took hold of her. She pulled out her own phone and messaged the contact labeled “Don’t Knock”:

[Take that dirt you gathered. Release a portion of it now.]

[Stir up the public opinion as much as possible.]

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